Description
In this week’s lesson, I’ll show you my absolute favorite harmony licks and relate them back to each of the 5 chord shapes from the CAGED System. I use these in just about any style I play and they work for rhythm or lead.
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This will help me a lot get around the fretboard in a sophisticated way.
Alot of meat on this bone. Nice to have all the combinations laid out in a short amount of teaching time. I’ll definitely print out the master compilation PDF. And I’m only 4 minutes in, on the YouTube, TV app!
Oops, 7 minutes in! (And these harmonies sound really nice on a semi-hollow body, electric guitar)
Indeed they do sound sweet on an arch top hollow body. I’ll be spending some quality time with this lesson.
As always, great practical ideas we can immediately use. Never miss a week!
[Fingertips!!] It’s always a challenge with my thick fingers to arch and get a clear note sound on these shapes, especially on the embellishments. I switched from a semi-hollow 339 type to a Stratocaster fingerboard/guitar and there seems to be a little more clearance and I’m definitely arching finger sets more with the thumb behind the neck. Brian’s Telecaster sounds great. One of Brian’s go-to licks I’ve always struggled with is: barring 2 strings with the index, with the ring 2 frets up on the lower string, then sliding that ring finger up to the 4th fret (from the index) then back to the 3rd again with this sliding double-stop ringing clear on both strings. That 4th fret is quite a stretch while holding the index barre ring finger collapses or I’ll lose the index barre. Brian does it so smoothly on acoustic or electric. Perhaps others will relate to this comment. I may post this paragraph under a separate category as well to get feedback.
Yep, I can see why Jimi’s Wind Cries Mary, chimes so well on a Strat.
get the headstock high. don’t be that cool guy with the guitar slung low
I can’t do that index finger slide. I have to use the pinky.
I like that tele.
fantastic. love the backing tracks keep them coming. Are you still using the Kemper profiler mk2 ? not sure if this is the place to ask?
yes
Hi Brian, long time listener, first time caller 😉. Big thanks. I just today finished about a week of intensive work on EP606 (double-stop harmonies in chord shapes), and was wishing for a harmonies lesson within CAGED shapes as dessert. And I was delighted to see you’d read my mind! I’ve been hammering away on the CAGED series (EP556-560) daily – where you show the “box” of 9 different scales/arps/voicings in each shape – since that came out in February 2024. I’d already worked out horizontal and vertical harmonized scales in 3rds in different CAGED shapes as an additional piece for the boxes. My routine: about 1/2 hour of CAGED drills à la EP560 is my daily appetizer, followed by one or more of my favorite Brian compositions as my first course entrée, followed by tackling new comps…
I’ve seen dozens of online teachers in the last 7 years, but Active Melody is the only one that consistently satisfies my hunger for fretboard knowledge whilst making fun music!
Bravo Brian 🥳.
PS My Martin 000-17 and I have been working with you from Hong Kong 2018-2020 through Hamburg 2020-2024, now back home in USA .
Blessings,
Scott M
Thank you Scott for your message — I’ve often wanted a set of episodes that worked together covering the same material from different angles. This helps.
Brian, you’re about to mess up my finances!
I have to decide this weekend whether to accept a good offer for a Butterscotch Blonde Tele, and then you come along with a lesson like that!
i think ya need one!
I love my butterscotch blonde tele
Yet another useful lesson that helps us think in CAGED. Much appreciated.
Thanks Brian.
Brian, it feels like you revealed all my secrets. I came upon these techniques looking at “The Wind Cries Mary”, “Little Wing” and”Axis, Bold as Love”. Jimi Hendrix used these techniques in all his early compositions.
Yes, I should have mentioned that Hendrix would often use these when playing rhythm
Hi Brian
Finding different ways to hammer home essential concepts is an amazing talent you have.
My interest and ear really perked when you played some rhythm and comping examples more of this please
This is a lesson that will be stored in my musical memory. Your lessons never disappoint.
Great lesson!
great lesson…it really illuminates the fretboard and ties everything toghether ( i mean the caged shapes)
love the tele…what year is that?
1976
So many common melodies in here, Norwegian Wood, Into the Mystic… What other ones do people hear?
Hi Brian. This is wonderful, and brings so much together for me. Many many thanks.
“… pay attention to that man behind behind the curtain!” LOL.
You continue to unveil the source behind all these guitar licks I have heard over the years.
This is another lesson that is pure gold. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
It has been quite some time that you have put out something that I really enjoy and that I can really use in my playing. This is really excellent thank you Doug
Great lesson, It was very helpful how you showed us how to create these licks. The PDF is a fantastic reference tool too. Thanks Brian
Hello
Nice lesson, as long as it works! I am really hate to start it again and again every two minutes only course it stops and didn’t work
That’s not funny anymore. I had this problems at the beginning two years ago but now it’s been again not working well
How do I fix this? I know it’s an IT problem but it should work easy. Did anyone else have this experience with that program? I use mac
Thanks a lot and of course Brian you are the best and I don’t wanna lose you
Andreas, I’m not sure what’s going on but I haven’t heard from anyone with this issue and cannot replicate it on my end. I would start by trying a different browser (Google Chrome or Firefox) – something other than the one you are currently using. Also, try disabling VPN if you have that on to see if that’s the culprit.
Hello Andreas, do
wnload Firefox browser. install it. I’m pretty sure all your problems will be solved. If they don’t what do you have to lose? it a quick install. Good luck.
Always interesting and educational Brian. Thanks!
[Fingertips!!] It’s always a challenge with my thick fingers to arch and get a clear note sound on these shapes, especially on the embellishments. I switched from a semi-hollow 339 type to a Stratocaster fingerboard/guitar and there seems to be a little more clearance and I’m definitely arching finger sets more with the thumb behind the neck. Brian’s Telecaster sounds great. One of Brian’s go-to licks I’ve always struggled with is: barring 2 strings with the index, with the ring 2 frets up on the lower string, then sliding that ring finger up to the 4th fret (from the index) then back to the 3rd again with this sliding double-stop ringing clear on both strings. That 4th fret is quite a stretch while holding the index barre ring finger collapses or I’ll lose the index barre. Brian does it so smoothly on acoustic or electric. Perhaps others will relate to this comment. I may post this paragraph under a separate category as well to get feedback.
not.
Fell right in love with that tune. Great lesson.
These micro-lessons are incredibly helpful, Brian. What I have been doing with them all mostly is making a complete song out of the one idea. 4 bar sections of each chord I IV V, and usually a random chord for colour. It makes repeating more interesting. After a while I improvise around it.
Brilliant teaching as usual. Making real music makes learning much more enjoyable!
Great lesson. This goes in my Favorites list.
It looks like you’re hybrid picking some of the harmony licks when they don’t involve the high E string. Any comments?
Great lesson and nicely laid out in easy to understand format. I think there should be a slight correction at 2:52 where you say “strings 1 & 2”. Shouldn’t it be strings 2 & 3?
Yes, you are correct – I guess I meant strings 1 and 2 of the fretted chord, but that is confusing. I should have said strings 2 and 3
I hear a certain Jason Isbell song right off the bat…love that lick
The Norwegian Wood lesson!
The video tabular is a great addition. Also like the D Harmony Licks fret tabular print out. great work.
These same licks also work over a relative minor progression. I looped a 1,4,5 chord progression in B minor, so Bm-E7-F#7 and played the exact same licks for a completely different, minor feel. You can get a big bang for your buck by playing these licks over a minor progression. Add B minor pentatonic licks in E position and you’ve got 2 ways to access these licks. Both of them get you to the same place. I think that qualifies as lightbulb moment.: change the underlaying chord progression to minor and play the same licks as its relative major.
Nice Michael – I like that you’re experimenting like this. That’s how you figure this stuff out!
Hi
I don’t understand the reason there is only one lick in the A shape. Anyone?
Hi Stephane,
My suggestion would be to have a play around with the major pentatonic patterns that link with the chord shapes – listen to what types of harmonic licks you can get out of each pattern. Some patterns have more options than others – for that sweet harmony sound. I found the G shape (pattern 5), the C shape (pattern 3) and the E shape (pattern 1) had the most options.
This is an incredibly helpful lesson!
So many lightbulb moments tying together the CAGED system with the connective tissue of these harmonies. The lego/swiss army analogy is perfect.
It seems like these really are the building blocks for adding color to any strumming pattern and for someone like me that struggles with putting together a lead, these harmonies are go to landing spots.
As always thank you for another great lesson.
I’m pretty good at this Brian much room for improvement a work in progress
Thank you
That was a well thought out lesson for me-shooting across the fretboard between two chords. I will use this lesson as a speed exercise!
Nice! I can hear Into the. Mystic & Norwegian Wood riffs
Humble apologies for being an idiot, but I would like to sort this out. Is Brian looking for the perfect fifth and then hammering on to the third?
Great lesson Brian so many takeaways with this one. Not sure if this is the place to ask this, but virtually everything (in my opinion) is connected to knowing every note (including sharps and flats) up and down the neck in real time. Do you have any guidance on the best method to tackle that task? Thanks so much!
Oh man, I love this. This has so much mileage in it – thank you again Brian. Another fantastic lesson.
Thanks for all the great lessons…
I would like ask if it might be possible to include a page of the scales used in the song along with the downloadable tabs?
I was working on ML067… it would be great to have a page of the B Maj Pentatonic and the B Min Pentatonic Scales for quick reference .
For a lot of other works the same request would apply. For improvising it would give a quick reference for us.. you say these are the scales using in the piece… these are the notes available… etc..
Thanks for all the great lessons…
I would like ask if it might be possible to include a page of the scales used in the song along with the downloadable tabs?
I was working on ML067… it would be great to have a page of the B Maj Pentatonic and the B Min Pentatonic Scales for quick reference .
For a lot of other works the same request would apply. For improvising it would give a quick reference for us.. you say these are the scales used in the piece… these are the notes available… etc..
sorry for the double post…
This is my first time to post and I fumbled the ball in the clutch.
This is Freaking fun to play, breaking every melody down in each chord change at a time. I’m seeing the whole fretboard lighting up like a landing strip at the airport.
Awesome lesson, I think you can never top this one and you always do with another one! Thank you!
Love the harmony and I have been with you for some years. Lessons now for me are really getting what I’ve learned into some good sounding music on my looper pedal. Just 3 or four years all I knew was same open chord songs for decades.
Thank you I live this lesson
Wow! Thank you Brian…Great Lesson, I gain so much especially with relearning to play again after a “Stroke”!
https://youtu.be/mjkuy0bgXPc
Charlie
Great lesson Brian,
I hear a lot of Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood in these harmonies.
Wonderful lesson Brian I have busy on home renovations for last 5 months and have ignored my guitar playing. Can’t wait to get back into it.
Thank You
I have been struggling with playing leads on the first 4 strings (E B G &D) . This lesson really opened my eyes and understanding of what I need to do to start out leads on these first four strings, then walk up to the lower strings when needed. Thank You Brian🎸🎸
Very nice! Bluesy, space sound! Thank’s Bryan, i’m having a great time and i am learning at the same time!