Create TENSION & RELEASE in the Pentatonic scale | Guitar Lesson

In this video, I talk about how to use different notes within the pentatonic scale to create tension & release.
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[@andresdavid6412]

Bro I´ll be completely honest, u are the greatest guitar teacher in youtube, really amazing lesson, simple and helpful, without going through overwhelming things and aspects of improvisation. new sub

[@joemacedomusic]

Really appreciate the kind words man. Thanks for the sub too

[@jasonvanswol5585]

1/2 way through this video, & you’ve already beautifully explained tension & release better than I’ve ever seen or heard. Thank you

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad you think so. Thanks man

[@GBgames946]

I would also suggest, please learn to name the notes over the whole fretboard, or start with the notes of the pentatonic scale in all positions. And then learn to begin with the 3 most important notes of each chord in a progression. 1st 3rd and 5ths of the chords on a song. In this case as the G chord is a vey quick, you actually just need the notes of an A minor which is? Or if you want you can squeeze in notes of a G chord as well to make melodies. Comment below if you know the notes of th A minor and the notes of the G chord

[@joemacedomusic]

Learning the note names is a great idea. I have a whole video on that

[@GBgames946]

@@joemacedomusic Indeed, nice videos. Keep it up

[@atlaswraith]

Haven't learned to think question/answer for improv yet, but now I understand why it is that some solos just feel like...idk, just "aahhh". Thank you, good sir.

[@joemacedomusic]

You're welcome, thanks for watching

[@ByTheSpirit84]

My go to on the Major Pentatonic is slightly bend the 2 then resolve down to the 1. Never fails

[@joemacedomusic]

Great sound. Very gospel/soul vibe

[@hogs150]

I like question-and Answer instead of Call and Response

[@joemacedomusic]

Keeps it more conversational

[@jimbrennan1181]

Subscribed! As a younger man (I'm old now) people would ask me, how are you so good? THIS was the reason, but i had no idea that I was doing it in any formal sense, I was just playing by ear. Now, 30+ years later it all makes sense. Thanks.

[@joemacedomusic]

Awesome, sounds like you have a great handle on this stuff. Thanks for the sub

[@johndeerman2105]

I like the idea of questions and answers. That made very clear sense to me. A eureka moment. To me it sounds very Mark Knopler in style and feel. Great lesson. Thanks. ✌️😎🎸

[@joemacedomusic]

Awesome to hear. Mark Knopfler is the man!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Actually this was one of the most useful videos I've seen on this subject. I'm still learning, but have started to push my boundaries. My only critique is that I want to learn Major chords and scales first until I've got a better mastery of them. Same with triads. So I'll use this with Major pentatonics, and it made perfect sense. The one problem with the b3 in a Minor scale is that it's the relative Major of the minor, so it can pull you out of the minor vibe if you aren't well anchored. I'm using my piano method books to try to learn this on my ukulele, and it makes much better sense now. Question & Answer. Great analogy.

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad it helped. And learning major harmony first is a great idea. I have a video here explaining switching between major & minor pentatonics you might find helpful kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpmxh41-Zc5mpKs

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

@@joemacedomusic Merci beaucoup

[@cris_horizons]

this is not completted i will gonna do a video about it...

[@ryanfox6260]

Everyone just starting improv needs to see this video

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks for the kind words

[@JonathanLukeAvery]

Great work! You deserve more subs for the quality

[@joemacedomusic]

Appreciate the kind words, thanks

[@ajorta3416]

Can’t wait to start practicing this

[@joemacedomusic]

Hope it goes well

[@lexaunculpt]

Would love to hear how you handle other chords besides the tonic…. What’s the decision making when it goes to a IV or V chord or the ii, iii, vi chords. Do you focus on the root and 5ths of those?

[@joemacedomusic]

It depends on the context. At this point, I mainly go off my ear and intuition. But it depends on context. If I play changes in a jazz-style context trying to outline them, I'll tend to target 3rds & 7ths. But otherwise, I like going for colour notes of the modes. For example on the IV chord, the corresponding mode would be Lydian & so I would target the sharp #4 (colour note of Lydian) of that chord.

[@davidireland6952]

From the UK and 57yrs old i have been on and off learning for over 3 yrs (bought 17 electrics and one yamaha acoustic to keep me trying to learn, new guitar you pick it up lol), i am now giving guitars away to kids who want to learn but parents cant afford one..took guitar seriously 7 months ago..putting as much time as i can in between work..I know the pentatonic 1 & 5 scales and how to mix them clockwise and anti clockwise and where the minor and major notes are for backing tracks ..i am improvising over backing tracks..do you think a loop pedal to throw a few chords at first, would help me out to make my own music style? new sub for you , loved the vid and the knowledge you gave out 😁🤘 I see you are using a Shecter diamond series guitar..i bought a shecter c-6 in magenta, 3 weeks ago..i cant put it down..my god it is a perfect guitar love it ❤

[@joemacedomusic]

Awesome man. Good on you. Yeah, a loop pedal is a great idea. In terms of developing style, I recommend learning lots of songs/solos from different guitar players you like, then try mixing different aspects that you like of them together to get your own sound

[@nilseng99]

Hey i really love this Video!! but I dont quite understand the difference in Tension/ Release for minor vs major pentatonic. For example Position 1 minor/ 5 major is the same shape, same notes, but obviusly different tension and release notes. What does this mean for my improvising/ licks? should i adjust my licks according to wether i play over a major or minor chord progression to properly create tension and release? or can i simply take my 1. position minor licks exactly like they are to 5. position major? Thanks!

[@joemacedomusic]

Good question. The tension & release notes will be different in the shapes depending if you're playing in a major or minor key. You can still play the same licks, they'll just have a different feel to them. Will be making a video on tension & release in the major pentatonic scale soon, so stay tuned!

[@wagonet]

This is awesome and so helpful for someone learning how to solo. This is clear and practical. Subbed. I like how yoh explain the questikn and answer. 🎉

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks for the sub

[@TheRichardmay1]

Extremely helpful, really appreciate this explanation...it really changes the way I view the notes and scales

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad it was helpful!

[@James-nv1wf]

So if you were playing a 1,4,5 progression, would 3 be an answer on the 1 chord, 6 on the 4th, and 7 on the 5th?

[@joemacedomusic]

Yes. You're talking about targeting 3rds which is a very strong 'answer' sound in most contexts. Nice one!

[@bitodin]

Slightly bummed I was not taught this when I struggled with question answer and making it sound lyrical.

[@joemacedomusic]

Easy to look over this kinda stuff. Hope you found it helpful

[@Jake66564]

Is that a Nick Johnston Schecter I see? Beautiful guitar, I absolutely love mine

[@joemacedomusic]

Yea man, they're awesome eh!

[@KenithCopeland]

fantastic video and brilliant guitar, those nick johnstons punch way above their weight

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks man. And yea I absolutely love it

[@danielswan5662]

What a great video. Thank you. Ps. Is that accent South African Kiwi?❤

[@joemacedomusic]

You're welcome. It's Kiwi

[@DeathScythe_XXG]

Hi just stumbled across your channel! Do you have a video on aeolian scale? Give thanks!

[@joemacedomusic]

Hey man, this video might help kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKqon5psgK-qeqM

[@DamienSawyer]

A lot of cool KZbinrs have Novo guitars. Now I want a Novo guitar. That explains so much about the world.

[@Doni5717846]

HMMM, I always thought of the 5 to be a tension note and needs to get resolved.

[@joemacedomusic]

Fair enough!

[@guitarplaya1359]

Answer notes are chord tone question notes none chord tones

[@joemacedomusic]

Pretty much

[@KlausStoermer]

Very helpful lesson, just what I needed. Thank you.

[@joemacedomusic]

You're welcome

[@MB-kk8px]

Is there an error in the free diagram you posted? The third row shows the same frets/location as the top two rows but the notes are all different?

[@joemacedomusic]

No there isn't. I know it looks a bit confusing. Ignore the specific frets on the diagram. The key is to line up the '1' with the root note of the key you are in. So in the key of A minor, you would line the 1 on the first shape with an A note on the E string (5th fret) to make it the key of A minor. On the second shape, the '1' is on the A string, so you would line it up with the 12 frets of the A string which is an A note. Hope that helps, hard to help properly in the comments section. I suggest watching this video if still confused kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5yoemR-fsqmjrc

[@MB-kk8px]

@@joemacedomusic Thanks a lot Joe. I really appreciate all you are doing and you're response.

[@matt79hz]

Obviously the root is a resolve, but why is the 5th ? Or is that a weird question.. 🤔

[@joemacedomusic]

It's a great question. The reason it sounds stable is because of its harmonic properties and the way it interacts with the harmonic series. It has a 3:2 ratio with the root which is a simple ratio and sounds stable & resolved to the ear.

[@matt79hz]

Uhuh .. the Fibonacci my friend. V cool. I did enjoy the lesson. Roughly at my skill level. 🫡👍

[@nadiaaraujo209]

I feel like I've seen witchcraft 😮

[@joemacedomusic]

Nope, just some music theory!

[@julio9683]

just what i needed! Thank you

[@joemacedomusic]

No problem, you're welcome!

[@FUUUUU1111]

That's mindblowing! I just need to practice it more. Maybe I'm an idiot, but it feels like this video improved my improvisation in one evening. I'm lacking mechanical fluency, of course, but it already made me sound better. Big thanks to you! And yeah, that pentatonic form you shared is the best one, it instantly unlocks almost the whole fret.

[@joemacedomusic]

Awesome to hear man. Glad it's giving you some ideas. If you want to develop technique, this video will help you out kzbin.info/www/bejne/d57ReqBpmddjqpY

[@djmileski]

I like this concept, way of thinking about it. I’ve been transcribing a lot of Sonny Rollins and this may help my adventure in becoming more Sonny of the guitar

[@joemacedomusic]

Awesome man, keep it up

[@anthonyvillaa]

As someone that just learned the minor pentatonic scale, thank you. This seems like something I should focus on after getting used to the positions on the fretboard. Also, I can't believe you don't have more subscribers, this was video was really well put together, keep it up🤙

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad it helped. Thanks for the kind words

[@TreetrunkVneck]

Cool! Keith Urban’s solo in “Don’t Let Me Down” on the Crossroads video closely resembles intimate relations: absolutely gushing with repeated tension/resolution from the beginning to its climactic finish. Steal what you can, and experience it for yourself!

[@joemacedomusic]

Just checked it out, awesome playing. Thanks for the recommendation

[@karlsmith3281]

Cool info with that question and answer analysis, I've known about call and response but plain English drove it home - are ya Kiwi or Saffa, maybe both?

[@joemacedomusic]

That's another good way to put it. Kiwi

[@faosa73]

I thought the five was not resolved until you would go back to the root

[@joemacedomusic]

Fair enough!

[@oliverillingworth55]

That’s more referring to the 5 chord of a key the 5th scale degree sounds resolved cos it’s a chord tone

[@joemacedomusic]

@@oliverillingworth55 Yes the 5 chord definitely wants to resolve to the 1

[@AM2PMReviews]

Oh what if you are playing in a mode then that tonic is different in the same Ionian scale. Right?

[@CoenBijpost]

The fifth of the scale is actually IN the root chord. The fifth chord contains many of the unresolved intervals of the scale, that get resolved when returning to the root chord. It’s important to understand the difference between melody and harmony in the context of tension resolution.

[@sgazzz]

Phenomenal lesson...idk why people dont talk more about hitting specific target notes lwt alone tension and resolution notes like you did here ... subscribed 🙏🏽

[@joemacedomusic]

Appreciate it man, glad it helped.

[@SS-yn4oc]

Looks like you have the fret numbers wrong on the lower graphic. Otherwise, a helpful video, thanks

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad it helped, you're welcome

[@the_guitar_generation]

Good stuff! And a great way to put it. Question and answer notes. Interesting 😎🎸

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks man

[@space_kat1]

i love doing that loose bend on the 3rd to resolve it to the root, its very bluesy! ive been improvising on rock for a good time now and i actually never really stopped to think about it this way, it just always felt kinda instinctive to me, like, some notes sound good in some contexts, some dont, some sound unresolved, some dont, i never really stopped to think about this "question and answer" thing but i was doing it this whole time lol great lesson!

[@joemacedomusic]

Great that you've been doing it intuitively. Nice work

[@bradhorne6552]

I have never seen this topic presented like this so cool and easy to grasp answers and questions! That really resonated with me. I have been wondering this same question and you are the only person to have been able to answer it simply and concise. People state things like call and response or solo like your speaking etc, but none ever had identified what notes do that. Great lesson, now subscribed.

[@joemacedomusic]

Awesome man, glad you found it helpful. Thanks for the sub

[@coloaten6682]

Saw this video and thought it looked interesting. 1st minute of watching I subscribed :) Really useful way to teach this subject. People talk about knowing the fretboard in terms of notes but knowing it in terms of tensions relative to a root are what the pros know how to do so well, I think. They play a series of tension and release notes, rather than note names, so this video is great for beginners who want to learn that skill! :)

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks for subscribing. Glad you found it helpful

[@saltyglacier9226]

Can you do chord tone solos?

[@joemacedomusic]

Yea man, that's on the to-do list

[@techlaw997]

What loop pedal do you use?

[@joemacedomusic]

Boss RC-500

[@zilled]

Great lesson, thank you! Subscribed.

[@joemacedomusic]

You're welcome, thanks for the sub

[@chrishowitt9654]

Nicely explained, will most likely help me a lot. You earned a subscriber.

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad it helped, thanks for the sub

[@chaoechidna]

what looper pedal do you use/recommend? Thanks in advance!

[@joemacedomusic]

The Boss RC-500

[@playerone166]

What is the idea of question and answer ?

[@joemacedomusic]

The question note sounds unresolved, answer note sounds resolved. By intentionally choosing which notes to finish phrases on, you can create tension & release

[@playerone166]

Thank you sir keep it up ❤

[@Malcolmthebold]

Super helpful

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad it helped

[@csaba8774]

It's interesting how I can now identify those question-answer combos in lots of songs :). Thank you for those awesome lessons!

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks for watching. Glad it helps

[@Marcnshae2011]

Love it! Thank you for the advice!!

[@joemacedomusic]

You're welcome

[@HaenZky]

Thanks for that useful lesson! I just realised that on the vertical pentatonic all the Answernotes are located on the right side and the questions on the left side of the shape, nice to remember 😊

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks! Do you mean the horizontal shape? (the one with slides)

[@HaenZky]

@@joemacedomusic yes, my bad! I meant the horizontal shape

[@ATAsgard1]

S+

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks!

[@ClaudioMartella]

Great! Would love to see something similar but targeting the chord tones of the chord currently underneath -- rather than only the pentatonic of the key

[@joemacedomusic]

Awesome suggestion. Doing a chord tone targeting video is definitely on the to-do list

[@ClaudioMartella]

@@joemacedomusic great to hear. Keep up the great work!

[@sawyerelliott9178]

really needed to see those vertical positions thank you!

[@joemacedomusic]

No problem, thanks for watching

[@birage9885]

'Do you feel like we do....'

[@joemacedomusic]

Frampton is a master at this

[@birage9885]

@@joemacedomusic Agreed, that is what came to mind watching the video.

[@bigke0x64]

Good explanations taking the time to not make all this overwhelming. Great video!

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad it was helpful, thanks

[@Ahlex]

What camera are you using? really nice quality! nice video!

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks. It's a Sony ZV-E10 with a Sigma 16mm lens

[@Ahlex]

@@joemacedomusic Awesome! DId you use any professional lightning as well?

[@joemacedomusic]

@@Ahlex Yea I use a Newer softbox as the main light in front of me and a GVM LED light to my right on a warmer tone

[@bobbyarthur-yf3yf]

Nice work … curious what guitar is that ?

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks. It the Schecter Nick Johnston signature

[@dylanolds1878]

This is an incredible lesson thank you!

[@joemacedomusic]

You're welcome

[@theme6530]

Really informative, thanks!

[@joemacedomusic]

You're welcome

[@seanc.5310]

Really valuable and concise lesson!

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks man

[@thomasbuck6250]

Very helpful, man! Thanks!

[@joemacedomusic]

No problem, thanks for watching

[@treyskrobarczyk25]

This helped! Thank you!

[@joemacedomusic]

Awesome man

[@FullMetalDMZ]

Great video! This is the way scales should be teach!

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad you think so, thanks for watching

[@wagonet]

Thanks! What a great lesson

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks man, appreciate the generosity!

[@TS-so2xi]

This is a great lesson. Thanks

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad you liked it

[@clementcomes1516]

Brilliant! Thanks a lot 🙏

[@joemacedomusic]

You're welcome

[@fabi0325]

trying this today!!

[@joemacedomusic]

Good luck

[@Domn879]

Great stuff, subbed.

[@joemacedomusic]

Much appreciated

[@michaelhayden9647]

more of these pls !

[@joemacedomusic]

On the way

[@leemcford7088]

Love it. Thanks

[@joemacedomusic]

You're welcome

[@Neil-914]

Great lesson, thanks!

[@joemacedomusic]

My pleasure

[@markpeynado9013]

Great video. Keep it up.

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks man

[@theScytheofGod]

Good simple lesson. Bravo.

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad you liked it

[@keovongvilaykeo4799]

Great lesson thank you 🙏

[@joemacedomusic]

Appreciate it, thanks for watching

[@guitaring1]

Brilliant! Thank you!

[@joemacedomusic]

Glad it helped!

[@frankgallagher2374]

Great stuff thanks ❤

[@joemacedomusic]

You're welcome

[@FirstLast-nn2bj]

Great lesson!

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks

[@Fake_Jesus]

I never finish a guitar video. The moment I see a point I need to practice, I'm gone. 1/3 through for this one. Thanks

[@joemacedomusic]

Good idea, sounds like you have a solid system. Thanks for watching

[@bluemeaway]

Best guitar lesson of 2024 👏👏👏

[@joemacedomusic]

Really appreciate the kind words

[@anthonyobermier8191]

Nice video.

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks!

[@slickwillie3376]

Fascinating!

[@joemacedomusic]

Thanks