Change Your Guitar Playing with Cycle 4 Practice Routine

Why do certain players seem to know everything? Why do they know the whole neck and I struggle? Is there something they have I don't?
You are practicing wrong. That's it. Cycle 4 will help!

[@_left_eye]

This video should be the opening of any device reboot! Pure gold

[@danherring5676]

Hang on, something is wrong here. Fewer than 2,000 subscribers? You must still be new on the tubes because this is good stuff. Real good. I foresee many subscribers in the future if you can keep up this kind of content. You just got yourself a subscriber.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Thank you so much!

[@trinity95624]

You read my mind brother-- this was a great lesson. I subscribed also.

[@adidaskid6023]

​@KoreyHicksGuitar I would like to reiterate all of the above. I tip my hat to you, Sir 🎩🎩

[@Raja_Sahin]

Bro you have to bestow us that knowledge of yours! The beginning of this video was already impressive!😂❤

[@thomaspansing4323]

F. Flat: B E A D G. Natural: B E A D G. C.

[@tgs2012]

Thank you, that helped me a lot. I was wondering ‘why not Gb’

[@gbattle]

This makes more sense to me as well.

[@neal_laugman]

I'm older and have some learning disabilities (dyslexia for one). So through my muddled up noodling, I've started to realize what you are showing here. It's like the door is opening up and I am so grateful. I've subscribed, and so you need to get a Patreon page going ! After being a keyboard player forever, I thought I could just pick up a guitar, get a feel for it and go. WRONG! Just watched your vids on scales and it is so straightforward I cannot believe it. I'm beginning to believe I am going to get this. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Neal, I am so happy to hear that! There is more to come and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

[@elliottturner9029]

Well said. I found a video that bob reynolds shared of pat metheny warming up for a master class, and all he was doing was playing arpeggios going through the circle of 4ths/5ths (not sure which way). Funny we talk about 5ths so much, 4ths are where it's at! Cheers

[@peterasmussen2933]

Wow Korey thanks kindly!

[@Sammywhat]

What a glorious approach to 4ths. You, sir, are an amazingly gifted teacher. AND player! Liked, Subscribed, and Shared. This is too good not to share!!

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Thank you so much! More to come!

[@Guscastillonj]

This method of exercise is a game changer! I never thought to do this and it works so quickly because of the jumps!

[@martinmillard1408]

Thank you. Great information, from an educated perspective! One day, I hope not to suck at guitar, maybe this will help!

[@wittwfiii]

I ve practicing major7 arpeggios using this cycle of fourths. Now I see a new direction of practice Thank you!

[@alanmanning3696]

I don't know what's going on, but it's impressive.

[@JosephCompton66]

Wow. What an amazing lesson.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Thanks! 😃

[@shaderlees3975]

Thank you for covering this topic. I was introduced to this concept by Cory Wong’s practice technique for arpeggios. He would run through a 2-octave major arpeggio then play its relative minor while cycling through the circle of 4ths. Your video is the first I’ve found that explains and expands this knowledge to this level. I’m looking forward to your uploads in the future!

[@kamarienedwards1757]

I’ll have to check this video out as well!

[@shaderlees3975]

@@kamarienedwards1757 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jn-liqxqfd-Ml68si=AYflrJgE49r8Wt28

[@davidgerber9317]

Just stumbled onto this channel and I LOVEIT! I just became your 1,000th subscriber! This is exactly the type of stuff I'm working on right now, and I look forward to more of your TOP-LEVEL insights.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Thank you so much, @davidgerber9317! More to come!

[@raulherrera8630]

Korey this is groundbreaking information, I mean fretboard-ground-breaking!!! Amazing! So clear and complete coverage of every note, position, all chords, triads, etc. Best information I ever seen/listened to in my searching for understanding the fretboard. Today you opened my eyes ears and mind. Thank you good friend ! suscribed

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Your comment makes my heart happy! Thank you so much for sharing this.

[@andreasvalkare559]

Impressive. I'm envious and inspired to make the effort. Thanks!

[@stevenjones6780]

Been playing 43 years and I want you to know how good and inspiring you are!

[@81kalebjames]

your my hero! and I'm pretty sure I've got to watch that nice guitar hanging on the wall behind you live on stage a tike or two. thanks for posting these brother! you are really an amazing talent!

[@mikeandrulonis6553]

I wish I could give this lessons a thousand thumbs up. You got yourself a new subscriber. Thanks for this valuable information.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Thank you, so glad it helped! More to come!

[@mabblers]

What a great lesson. You must have been playing for years to get down like this. I have been playing 5 months and got the pentatonic 5 shapes. Now starting cords. It's a slow process. However I am going to get it like you shown one day 😅

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

30 years this year! 20 teaching and over 4000 live gigs 👍

[@boco1951]

Good thinking !

[@jaylukash9184]

Inspirational. As always you make it look so easy...

[@petersepulveda]

Whoa! Sick lesson I’m gonna work on this tonight. Thanks!

[@hammingus]

That’s an interesting approach. One question if you don’t mind: where is the advantage of doing all this based on the circle of 4ths vs just knowing the notes on the fretboard by themselves (or even going with the circle of 5ths or any other sequence for that matter)? Or is it meant to be easier to start with? Cheers

[@TheMegaGamingWizard]

When you kicked it up to 120 bpm the beginning sounded like that baseball theme

[@ryanwalker3015]

Glad I found your channel. Thanks for the videos. I learned the cycle of 4ths before the 5ths and I hear it better than I do the 5ths anyway. So i agree and love this practice method. Will start today. thanks again man.

[@chrisczub4930]

This is great and all very comprehensible but I am wondering how you recommend practicing what you show around 7:10 where you name the relations of notes to various chords

[@marca7434]

Korey Hicks ... Thank you for all your efforts, this is an excellent instructional video. 🎵

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Wow, great video. I've been using the Cycle of Fourths but not to your depth. Time to put this into practice.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ArthurDart]

Amazing video than you soooooo much ! ! ! Month of work in a few minutes 😅🎸🎸🎸

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

More to come!

[@brian106699]

Gotta figure this out for piano. My head hurts. People are amazing. Geez.

[@mirkomisic5884]

Anazing.But whatever channel requires hard work,so to speek has very few followers.but this Hard work is very useful.Great lesson.

[@elilayman3599]

This is awesome 🔥🔥🔥

[@paideepak30]

I just want to say hello. I joined when you so had 1.44k subscribers 😢 I think you will have millions…

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Thank you so much! I’ve been wanting to do this for a while so we will see how it goes!

[@paideepak30]

@@KoreyHicksGuitar I don’t think I know what “deliberate practice” means for guitar learning. And we don’t see that much info on here. So what you are teaching us will take me far. And I think I can say there is a demand for it. 👍✌️

[@numbersabcdefg]

Arpeggios are broken chords. What I've started doing is reverse Arpeggios. Play an Arpeggio but leave as many notes ringing as I can, to build it in a different way in my mind.

[@Dadagagarod]

Omg. This is next level dude

[@semyaza555]

Love this. More content like this.

[@calderfettig2086]

This is gold. Thank you man.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Glad it helped!

[@lokerola]

I've tried for years to memorize the keyboard. I can never do it. I'll always be smashing open chords down at the nut. I have true respect for people who can memorize these damn things. I always wondered why we can't just print the damn note names on the keyboard!

[@Hexspa]

You’ll get there. I recommend writing the names of scales away from the keyboard in three ways: Names, Numbers & Intervals. Names are the letters: A-G. You’ll need to know how key signatures affect them but start in C major if you don’t. F major has a Bb, for instance. Numbers are the intervals from the root. C is 1, D is 2, etc. That’s in the key of C. In the key of F, Bb is 4. This is one of two ways to see the math behind the music. Intervals are steps aka tones. This is the other way to see the math behind the music. Every major scale shares the same pattern: W W H W W W then another H to loop back to the next root. W is two frets/piano keys. H is one. W means whole step and it’s also called a whole tone. H is half step aka semitone. Sing everything you play. With this basic knowledge, you can build your theory to jazz level. These three naming schemes always apply. All you need is the willingness to learn. Without that, you’re doomed.

[@AJFrasercb]

I never comment on KZbin videos but I wanted you to know that this video, and the others you've recently put out, inspired me to bring my guitar in to work today and practice through lunch. I wasn't using a metronome but got up to a pretty good tempo with cycle 4 on the 6th string. Is vocalizing the note important to preventing pattern memorization? I noticed it was quite a bit harder to both play and say the note. Also, when you're playing all of one note on the fretboard, are you starting in first position, then second, third, etc. picking each note twice as you make your way up the fretboard? Thanks a lot and please keep these videos coming.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Vocalizing each note isn’t necessary but good to do if you have the vocal range! Yes, I’m playing each note twice to reset my fingering and actually doing it by octaves and then resetting to the A string. I’ll be showing this in an upcoming video!

[@mickaeldallorso]

You're a machine !!

[@picksalot1]

I'd change the starting point to get: B E A D G C F Bb Eb Ab Db Gb for a pattern that may be easier to visualize and memorize.

[@brettdiaz]

I just subscribed. This is great stuff.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Thank you! Lots more to come!

[@MyLifEcademy-sr4hy]

You caught a sub with this clear cut lesson...

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Excellent!!!

[@robmillsap]

To the point. Loved it!

[@JasonBrocklebank-lj2go]

Thanks for sharing Korey :) Using each note as the root for a chord I can understand. But how should we approach learning all of the different harmonic functions for a single note? 7:05

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

That’s a good question, I find a lot of students memorize notes simply for finding the root of a chord or scale. But (for example in a blues) if I know that F# is the 13th of my A7 chord, and I want to locate that pitch quickly during an improvisation, and do it anywhere on the neck quickly, this helps quite a bit. Also, knowing that this pitch is also the major third of the IV chord (D7) helps me to navigate changes. The skill is not accessible if you only memorize notes as the root of a chord or scale! 😀

[@gbattle]

This is a great video!

[@gbattle]

Using 4ths is also a great way to run through diatonic chords and arpeggios, so in C major: CM7 FM7 Bm7b5 Em7 Am7 Dm7 G7 CM7. Be sure to voice lead the changes using inversions so you’re not jumping all over the neck.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Thank you!

[@MrBluzhound]

Learn 40-60 new songs in 2-3 days or months (maybe!)? Interesting lesson, I’ll try it but….

[@keithbriscoe99]

Why does this order (cycle 4 / circle of 4ths) matter? Is this just A way to help learn the notes of the fretboard, or does it help unlock something else? 7:15 on where F is described as the X of the Y chord - - there's no context here, so not sure what I do with that either. Appreciate any more help - seems like there's a ton of knowledge, just not seeing what is really be taught.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Good questions - this video introduces the concept. Here is the next step: All 84 Major Scales and Modes in Every Position for Guitar, Made Easy | Guided Practice Session kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqTVYa2Hns6Wi7M This particular order is helpful because modern chord progressions typically go in 4ths (iim7 - V7 - I Major 7 are all 4ths apart) the guitar is tuned in 4ths, and because it is the pedagogical tradition in the last century at schools such as Berklee, MI, UNT, etc. you could use sixths seconds or whatever you like as a cycle, but this is just the most common one to introduce students too. It is part of a series of lessons that unlock the chords, triads, arpeggios, intervals, seventh chords, all the other scales and modes, etc., on the fret board. The section you reference later in the video has to do with targeting chord tones for improvisation. I’ve noticed the most students only learn note recognition to find the root of a chord or scale. If I’m playing a blues, for example, knowing where the 13th in an A7 chord which is F#, helps me to voice lead into the 3rd of the IV chord, D7 which is also F#. A lot of our favorite players who seem to have golden ears and hit the money notes are using this specific concept.

[@squashfan9526]

Korey, in the cycle 4 sequence, why F# rather than Gb? With the latter, we have a run of B E A D G all flat, followed by B E A D G all natural. Isn't that better?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Good question! The reason is because the key of Gb we would have an odd situation where the IV chord would be Cb Major. Not a problem, but I can tell you that a lot of modern pop and worship charts will notate this as B Major! Well, this is the enharmonic equivalent, it is confusing to have a Bb minor iii chord and a B Major IV chord in the same key. With F# Major, you would have A# minor as iii and B Major as IV. I’ve noticed on church worship gigs almost all the time the worship leader will print charts for the band in Gb. And every time, the less experience musicians in the band get confused or make mistakes when it comes to the Bb min and B Major in the same song!

[@squashfan9526]

@@KoreyHicksGuitar But don't we have a similar problem with the key of F#? The seventh degree being E# which can be interpreted as F?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

@@squashfan9526 yeah, we do but it’s a less common mistake. Another way to look at it is we are all familiar with F#minor as the vi in A Major (common key) or the ii of E (common key) so F# Major is easier to ‘think of’ on the fly. I honestly do it both ways and the problem I discussed above in tradition are my main reasons for keeping it that way, but a person could do either!

[@squashfan9526]

@@KoreyHicksGuitar Thanks for taking the time to explain, much appreciated.

[@FlaschDJ]

Can you please explain, UNDERSTANDABLY AND COMPLETELY, your REASON for including 7:10 - 8::15.

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

I find some students learn where the notes are on the neck for the only purpose of finding the root to a chord or a scale. Knowing that F# is the 13th of A7 (and knowing that in multiple locations) is extremely helpful in navigating chord changes fast and adding the right note at the right time in improvisation. It’s how you start thinking of a line and then playing it as opposed to being a reactionary player, with the attitude of “I hope this sounds good!”

[@JamesSmith-bo3po]

Ok, but having learnt it, how am I going to apply it when improvising to a song?

[@basicforge]

I'm not sure how cycle 4 is different from the circle of fifths? Reverse the direction?

[@kamarienedwards1757]

Are there any books, teachers, and other resources that get this far in depth?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

I would recommend The advancing guitarist by Mick Goodrick!

[@simple-security]

ugh, I want to disagree with you because of all the work I now have to do, but I'm afraid you're right...so off I go.

[@lisateachey]

Where do I have to move to take lessons from you?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

I do zoom lessons as well, I am having a July special over on my Patreon account!

[@thomaspansing4323]

Is there any reason to prefer the F# vs Gb enharmonic label when memorizing the 4ths sequence?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Yes, the Cb becomes problematic - for example, often worship leaders will write out chord charts, listing it as a B major chord. Well, it’s true that that is an harmonically equivalent, but it has to be some sort of fourth to be the four chord - therefore CbMaj would be the proper way to notate it. Also, it can be confusing to have a Bb minor and a B major chord in the same key. I’ve seen this mess up less experienced players on the bandstand. It’s just easier to say F#.

[@killroy123]

Q: Why the cycle 4 and not the circle of 5ths? Or is that a supplement?

[@gbattle]

Going up a 4th is the same as going down a 5th. Same notes, opposite direction around the circle.

[@wangluyi]

Subscribed. Meanwhile, Is that an Eastman t486 on your rack ?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Thanks for subscribing! It’s a Ibanez Prestige AS2000 (featured in recent videos) Ibanez came out with them a few years ago to replace the AS200 and then they immediately went on back order. There’s only a few of them out there. It’s one of my favorite guitars!

[@wangluyi]

@@KoreyHicksGuitar will check it out. Love Ibanez

[@tomasvillarreal8956]

Holy shit

[@sscott56able]

How can I purchase your material?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

I have a couple of music theory books I wrote for the college I teach at, and I am currently compiling information into a guitar book. It’s easier and probably more effective to do videos right now - but I also do zoom lessons

[@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender]

If im being honest, i think i have a learning disability. I feel like if i could do that cycle 4 at 160bpm, that i would just be doing a trick of syncing up muscle memory patterns to lyrics and that i really wouldnt know all the notes. And even though i can easily play connect the dots with the notes, i still cant seem them all simultaneously. But again i think i have a learning disability

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

It’s like seeing color at that speed. Could you see colors changing at 160? I think you can

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

I also think some people don’t understand just HOW MANY HOURS it takes. I literally just sat there for years, doing some of these things

[@GamerGamer-ok6wu]

Not a learning disability, just need practice and time

[@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender]

@@GamerGamer-ok6wu ive been playing for 30 years and have been working with Korey for almost a decade, and play for a living. My mind has trouble keeping track of what im doing and whats going on around me. Also a little bit of stigmatism

[@samlawlor2059]

Can I ask I stupid question and that's why is it in this order? I know they're all the 4th of the previous, but why this order?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Jazz and modern chord progressions typically move in fourths. (iim7 V7 IMaj 7) for this reason it just became part of modern music pedagogy, and it often taught at the college level in this way. You could do it in any sequence you want, sixths, whatever!

[@lorenzo.n]

but why cycle of 4th and not cycle of 5th or whatever…? what’s the point?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Good question, and it comes from standard jazz, chord progressions (iim7-V7-IMaj7) which move in 4ths (ii to V is a 4th, V up to I is a 4th) and also because it’s tradition. I was first introduced to this when I was at Berklee College of Music. You could do this with any cycle, two or six and it would work as well.

[@lorenzo.n]

​@@KoreyHicksGuitar Ok, got it. Thanks!

[@VokeyDawg1]

Listen man...I just want to play some smoke on the water.

[@stevieboi61]

👌

[@jameslifetimelearner]

Here is the Code to navigate the mysterious Fretboard. Now play Giant Steps.

[@joeurbanowski321]

I really don’t see how being able to run though the COFourths… or COFifths at lightning speed is going to make me ..all of a sudden..be able to form elaborate chords anywhere on the fretboard..😳 You already know all of those chords ..so it’s easy for you… I’m either missing something crucial.. or you’re a fraud.. Please explain.. Thanks

[@gbattle]

The cycle is a great way to learn the chords as so many jazz, blues, pop, and rock songs move through 4ths. This is a structured way to learn how to navigate chords, eventually how to voice lead through 4ths so you’re not jumping all over the neck but grabbing them in the same position. It’s not about the speed, it’s about the navigation, accuracy and intention - the speed will come. Just as how you learned to speak sounds, then words then phrases and sentences, this is a vehicle to get your motor skills on guitar speaking common phrases and sentences. When you can think and play in phrases and sentences, things will naturally come out faster while still making musical sense.

[@trinity95624]

Well, he actually showed you exactly how to do it. Did you watch the video all the way thru? Major, minor, 7th. I don't know that he gave you "elaborate," but he very certainly gave you at least 60 of the most common chords in modern music. Additionally, if you memorized where they are, well, then you know where they are and how to make them.

[@voyxu143]

98% of songs you learn for gigs use major and minor chords. 100% of songs you learn for a gig have an online chord charts available.

[@rawnclark]

i need the tab lol

[@sinistermephisto65]

i dont even know how to start Did you say student? Private lessons?

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Major Scales for Guitar | First Step to Unlock the Neck kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3rWepdunMlsbsU

[@sinistermephisto65]

@@KoreyHicksGuitar Thanks for the link. I can already play these. but I am a bit mindless about it. once I know where to start it is automatic

[@plantdemic3935]

😴😴😴

[@trinity95624]

Seriously?

[@springofbliss3971]

Haha this will take months to imbibe

[@yourmomma6909]

do you give lessons on zoom

[@KoreyHicksGuitar]

Yes I do!

[@yourmomma6909]

@KoreyHicksGuitar great we sent you a email