Do This To Unlock The Fingerboard!

[@eddiecarter9831]

One of my favorite things about Jeff is that he keeps pushing us to practice and learn the fingerboard, but for the purpose of making music and not just playing notes. When I was first learning guitar, I knew my fretboard. Over the years, I got away from playing as much lead and have forgotten much of what I knew. I'm now having to relearn a lot, and in the process with teachers like Jeff, learning how to use it properly. If you haven't purchased any of his courses, I strongly encourage you to do so. His stuff on TrueFire is amazing!

[@jonnybeck6723]

"Nice and slow" At 1st I thunked the scale wuz like some weird flavor I'd not yet tasted... but as you played it it was like a lovely melody line... Most inspiring. Thanx Jeff

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks man!!

[@Dany12156]

Many thanks for the intro jam, Jeff! I almost forgot about this trick to repeat tonic on the other string during the bend :). Will use it more. I havent check the tabs , but if you are like me , caught by some elements of the solo , then here are 2 of them : Double bend at 00:07 6 and T then doubleslide to 5 and b7 respectively. Then one string up : 4 and 6 doublesliding to b3 and 5 . It feels that 6 resolving to more stable b7 and 5 in both cases, creates this new aftertaste and makes these 2 slides sound simmilar but still different. And Pink Floyd`ish kinda phrase at 00:26 : is a bend from b7 to T and the during bend release, while lowering sound from T to b7 , play T on first string again and repeat b7 to T bend vibrating . Then quick run tonewise down (real world up) from T on the first string that ends with the bend 4 to 5 on 3rd string and pull-hammer : T-b7-5 , 4 bend to 5 , then 4 pull to 3 and then b3 and hammer on back to 4

[@texaspete7897]

Jeff Been playing for 50 years and have to admit that I never thought of running scales that way. The cool thing is that, since I'm not just running the usual "shapes", I'm listening to the notes as I play to make sure I'm playing the correct notes. What a great concept. Should come up with some interesting melodies applying it to a couple of melodic minor modes ( always looking for ways to apply the altered dominant without sounding mechanical ). Just subbed so I look forward to more lessons from you. You're a great player. I'm proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks. Thanks for the excellent lesson. Keep 'em coming! Thanks again

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you and thanks for being here!!

[@SONICBOOMERSOONER]

I've been playing over 40 years, and enjoy his Truefire content a lot.

[@rattleshakti]

I rate this one of the most important guitar videos out there for unlocking the neck. Many thanks Jeff.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!

[@brachashighhopeshomestead226]

@@JeffMcErlain Really!

[@dragon15151551]

I just discovered this after viewing your great Jimmy Page (Since I've Been Loving You) lesson. Now I cant' stop practicing all the great stuff you've shared. I'm learning a ton, Jeff! :)

[@azapura]

Great lesson! Awesome playing! Thank you

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!

[@tommyraper3895]

Thanks for a different perspective on how to move up and down the fingerboard Jeff! Eye opening for me.

[@JeffMcErlain]

That’s great! Thanks Tommy!

[@musiccreation1198]

Thank you for taking the time to create this content!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you for taking the time to watch it!!

[@TheBLSCamo]

Love it when you drop a video. Really enjoyable ☺️

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks!

[@CRP2426]

Great lesson! Simple and very effective. Will do Harmonic minor as well, Thank you!

[@michaelmerrullo2043]

Your in my number one guitar teacher spot all week. I'm a KZbin guitar lesson addict, I chart my guitar teachers 😂. Right now your number one. Always tasty stuff ❤

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you VERY much. I really appreciate that and you being here. 🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@jeffreyreid7036]

Thanks for the fresh approach I'll be making plenty of mistakes working on this.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Ha! Thanks Jeffrey!

[@marcschonbrun585]

I really enjoyed this lesson - a fresh way to look at it. Thanks, Jeff!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks Marc!!

[@sionmichel]

Appreciate you! Another incredible thoughtful, insightful and dare I say very useful and groovy lesson from a master guitarist and educator. Backing track is super cool. Thank you.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you as always!!

[@loveguitars]

Hey Jeff, You are an amazing musician!🔥🎸

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@BillDutton]

Always inspiring Jeff!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks Bill!

[@SRHMusic012]

Hey, Jeff, great lesson and tone (as usual!).

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you!!

[@luiscastro9933]

This was an eye opener. Thanks for the video.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tedaldridge9474]

Man I love your playing so much!

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@dekalbes335]

Playing with authority...like this here. Big plus ....in getting attention. Brought ME here.

[@jteichma]

Cool idea!

[@guitareputz]

very kool stuff, thanks Jeff

[@timchalmers1700]

Wow!! Very cool!!

[@MetaphysicalMusician]

This is so cool its..pulling out ideas or things I hear but could not play.. Side Slipping in and out key works with this..THANK YOU

[@dogit5988]

Really enjoy your calm guidance and encouragement. Typically the go to guy on the other instruction platform.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Ha! Thank you very much! I appreciate it! Please also check out my teaching platform, www.jmguitarlessons.com

[@nickpage6931]

dude nice lick i love your stuff..thanks

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a wonderful day also stay safe jeff

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks as always!

[@cmonsterz]

Great tool, Jeff. The contrary movement to what the ear is hearing is vitally important!

[@robertclarkguitar]

Love this channel. I need all the lessons and all. Hahaj

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks!!!

[@Fastfritz63]

Cool backing track! Thanks for sharing this!

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@pedrodavidos271]

Great lesson Jeff. Thanks very much

[@JeffMcErlain]

You’re welcome!

[@davidblanche7961]

So basically you’re playing the modes or major scale starting with Dorian or shape 2 using 2 notes per string. That’s how I see it. Never the less another way of looking at the fret board. Thanks for all your content

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@rainfieldmusic]

good stuff thanks

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@lloydmourant8055]

Some very tasty ideas in this tutorial.👍😎

[@jaltsch1]

Hey great lesson! FYI I was the one who awkwardly said hello before the Oz Noy / Guthrie Trapp show at the Bitter End. Great show and cool to be able to shake your hand I learned so much from you!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Hey!! Thanks so much and thank you for saying hello!

[@johnlagreca6288]

Thanks, you popped into my feed as I am an avid Peter Green student. Green to me is a bit like the Dark Side of BB's Obe-Wan, LOL. Patterns are a great tool, but they trapped my thinking quite a bit. I am a moderately accomplished player, and I can say I learned WAY more by studying where the I iii/III V and vii/VII for a chord is, throughout the fingerboard, than I ever learned by studying patterns. I already had the theory though, which may have made the difference. Degree relationships between strings, plus/minus frets, made more sense to me than the patterns. Good lesson, will give this a wack with some different scales and see where it goes. Edit: The progression in this lesson is interesting as well. Going to experiment with it and see if I can find somewhere else to take it for a bridge/verse/chorus etc..

[@jimmcdougall9973]

As always, great tutorial! If only I had this info back in my day, when KZbin didn’t exist (or personal computers, internet etc.). We used to sit down with a tape recorder and wear the tape out trying to learn solos…

[@JeffMcErlain]

I know!! I was the same as you, but honestly, there is something I miss about that. Maybe it’s rose colored glasses. But I have also learned so much from YT. Thanks for commenting Jim!!

[@jimmcdougall9973]

@@JeffMcErlain ❤️

[@mknewlan67]

I just heard A M Zona for the 1st time, outstanding song Jeff. On my daily play list now.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Oh thanks!! I really appreciate that!

[@ecojot]

brilliant

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙏🏻

[@georgechristiansen6785]

Thanks for these lessons. I think your videos hit on something a lot of people don't want to accept: you just have to spend the time consciously THINKING about what you are doing. Seems like most guys want some matrix of play x over y and then some patterns that they can mindlessly "practice" while watching TV. The two best things I ever did when I played bass were just playing every major key notes all over the neck without regard for position or note order and learning the layout intervals of the chord tones. Both are kind of boring and hurt your brain, but they unlock everything else because everything else relates back to them. Took me a while to transfer it to guitar because of that evil B string, but those tow things cover so much.

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thank you! It did take me a while to accept this reality as well! I certainly think it’s more prevalent with the amount of information we have available to us. But I did exactly what you did and it does pay off doesn’t it? Thank you for being here and commenting! I really appreciate it.

[@georgechristiansen6785]

@@JeffMcErlain I always joke that people used to be ignorant because of lack of information, but now we're ignorant because of too much information. Turns out that separating the chaff from the wheat is what matters most.

[@nedim_guitar]

I've got my basics down. Including good. Now I need lessons that push my limit. But, no time... Anyway, great tip, a good reminder.

[@JeffMcErlain]

🙏🏻🙌🏻

[@peebee12456]

Really great idea! FYI - the free stuff is locked unless people enroll in the course. Assume that's not on purpose.

[@JeffMcErlain]

It says “course” but it’s all the free KZbin assets like tabs, tracks, pdfs etc.

[@peebee12456]

@@JeffMcErlain Thanks for the reply. Human error! (by me)

[@WickBeavers]

But can you play that Dorian scale on a unicycle going backwards? Upside down? Thanks this is a cool lesson!

[@JeffMcErlain]

Yes. That’ll be my next video. Thanks as always man!!

[@brachashighhopeshomestead226]

@@JeffMcErlain we look forward to it!!

[@philjones8693]

Good tip Jeff, I would never have thought of doing it that way. About locating the notes in E Dorian - do you just commit to memory the intervals for Dorian, or do you do a mental switch and say, well the notes are just the ones in D major, which I can easily locate (because we all spend time learning the major scale inside out)?

[@JeffMcErlain]

Both actually but first just the notes of D major. Of course then you have all the modes of D. To pivot to the key of G, I just think, all natural notes except for F# etc . Then I worked on the intervals. After a while, it starts to become second nature.

[@philjones8693]

@@JeffMcErlain Cool, thanks Jeff!

[@PhilippeEme]

Great tutorial thank you! What is this awesome Strat you're playing here?

[@JeffMcErlain]

Thanks! The Strat is a custom shop Landau with a different pick guard!

[@PhilippeEme]

@@JeffMcErlain understood thank you Jeff

[@brachashighhopeshomestead226]

What a piece of true art! a real beauty in the right hands & heart~

[@notwaiting]

Nice!!! Check out Terry Kath sometime.

[@mykneeshurt8393]

D major? My brain has to relate everything back to major. Which may not be correct but my ears don't work well enough to distinguish the sounds of a mode. Other than Ionian.... This is a great pattern / lesson

[@JeffMcErlain]

Yes! D Ionian and E Dorian share the same notes. It’ll only sound like E Dorian over the progression.

[@superuserdo1]

Are you just seeing the notes when you are playing then, completely ignoring any pattern/box shape? How would that work if you suddenly were asked to play in like Ab Dorian?

[@JeffMcErlain]

At the risk sounding snarky, practice. If I fall into a situation where I have to play over difficult changes in keys I’m not as happy to play in, I’d maybe change my approach to be more positional until I had time to work on the tune and practice playing over it. But the more you work the scales this way over time the more you know the notes the easier transitions to other keys become.

[@JeffMcErlain]

At the risk sounding snarky, practice. If I fall into a situation where I have to play over difficult changes in keys I’m not as happy to play in, I’d maybe change my approach to be more positional until I had time to work on the tune and practice playing over it. But the more you work the scales this way over time the more you know the notes the easier transitions to other keys become.

[@superuserdo1]

@@JeffMcErlain Ok, great! Thank you so much!

[@ronkresch9228]

How do you know to play the Dorian mode over this chord progression?

[@JeffMcErlain]

That’s a pretty involved answer. But quickly the chord progression Em G A D are all contained in the key of D major. But the tonal center of the progression is Em. A Dmajor scale starting on E is E Dorian. The key signature is the same but this chord progression is centered around the Em. Not sure if that helps or confuses things more. Understanding modes is tricky at first.

[@ВладимирПрименко-о5б]

It seems to me that it is inconvenient when you play and at the same time you do not understand what step of the scale it is, the names of the notes do not interest me. The standard method is more convenient when you immediately see where which step is.

[@JeffMcErlain]

All roads lead to Rome. 😉