Guitar Phrasing Explained - The Basics

This weeks guitar lesson is Guitar Phrasing Explained - The Basics. If your solos sound like scales, or you simply want to improvise in a more musical manner, this lesson is for you. We'll be covering ideas such as motifs, call and response, leaving space, acquiring vocabulary, and how to change that vocabulary on the fly. Although basic, these concepts are the secret to better guitar phrasing and the best way to take your solos to the next level.
📚 Lesson Chapters
0:00 Intro Jam
0:37 Lesson Overview
1:13 What's A Motif?
2:19 Phrases
4:16 How To Acquire Vocabulary
6:55 Motif Demo
7:15 Call And Response
8:32 Call And Response Demo
9:01 Leaving Space
10:39 Modifying Phrases With Pitch
11:22 Modifying Phrases With Pitch Demo
12:53 Modifying Phrases With Rhythm
13:26 Modifying Phrases With Rhythm Demo
13:53 Modifying Phrases With Articulations
14:31 Modifying Phrases With Articulations Demo
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• Guitar Phrasing Explai...

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Got any topics that you would like me teach? Let me know!

[@MashO356]

In the video you mentioned leaning licks by ear, some techniques on how to go about this would be helpful.

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

@@MashO356 I've actually got a video on playing by ear coming out in a couple of weeks, you should subscribe so you don't miss it 🙂

[@darkknight2304]

This is with regards to your chunking video. You mentioned you were gonna make a video about holding the pick. I would love it if you could add any insight of the type of guitar construction that is suitable for playing fast.... Like fretboard radius, neck type/shape, fretwire size, string gauges. It might not be a controlling factor but it does have an effect on ease of playing fast. This would help immensely for those wanting to buy a guitar. Thanks

[@oliverdonohue9876]

I would love some guidance on songwriting. Particularly verse to chorus chord progressions

[@donk.5730]

I'm having a challenge remembering the fretboard, coming from a first instrument: Piano. Is it just play, practice, play, etc. ? Or is there a simpler way ? Thank you , DK.

[@hitesh_blues2353]

John Mayer; "It’s my failure to sound like my heroes that’s allowed me to sound like myself.” :)

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Wise words!

[@TylerGreenMusic]

Damn that’s one of the best quotes ever

[@isaiah.s]

dude i’m not even joking, this genuinely the most helpful video on phrasing i’ve ever seen. The whole language analogy was way more helpful than i thought. Thanks man!

[@john6316]

Thanks for this lesson. After ages of pratting about trying to copy others note for note, or just rambling, this has given me a real lightbulb moment. Again thanks.

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Glad it helped!

[@alegreone]

It has to me, too-I’ve been looking for this for a long time.

[@Sd-yo2kd]

I've been watching guitar instruction videos since KZbin was invented and this is my favorite

[@JacksonSanders22]

In awe of how much I’ve absorbed from this video. I’m in the process of learning my third language and memorizing all the notes on the fretboard so you just set off some fireworks in my brain. Thanks for taking the time to make this!

[@afro.thunder]

Any advice on how you schedule language learning around musical practice. I'm looking to do a similar thing

[@starfighter2952]

This was a great video. I learned so much very quickly. I had no idea what phrasing was. Now I think I can actually do it.

[@Luketheripper13]

As others have said, you just helped me understand a huge part of my problem with soloing. I think I’ll be advancing more than I’ve ever been able to. And it’s all because of the way you described this.

[@streetlegal008]

Lots of great tips in this to keep in mind. Another one would be emphasising a certain note or note within a phrase - just as people use emphasis in their speech patterns. Also just playing the melody lines from songs - and think the words when sounding the notes.

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

This is great advice!

[@slimbuttermilk]

It is a good analogy and great advice. Folks are so fortunate these days, with internet, and especially you tube. Decades before PCs and all of that, when I first started, you would pay some jazz guy that knew theory, so you figured "this person will teach me, not only the hows, but, the whys". But, after you would be a few hundred dollars lighter in the wallet, all you would have is, "here, go practice these scales, then over chord changes, you just mix them all up, that's how you do it!" One would walk away feeling you squandered a lot of your hard earned money, for nothing. Can you imagine sending you kindergartener to school, and they give them a paper with the alphabet on it, sending them home with the advice "just mix all those letters together, and you'll find you've learned words and sentences magically on your own"??? Such a foolish approach. Yep, great advice by this presenter, and now those who clicked on this page, are years richer in their own guitar journey.

[@mxnstvr]

​@@slimbuttermilkI feel like through this video I may have finally found the missing link to understanding why great guitarists' solos always sound so impactful. And it is just as you said. The internet is truly an invaluable tool for any musician and im a thoroughly convinced that anyone can learn music now.

[@mskima001]

There are now so many good musicians on KZbin who gives 'good' lessons that helped normal players all over the World. Players like myself who'd benefitted massively , learning new things and also correcting our mistakes or flaws. God bless all you amazing people for helping us. Also, this video could be shortened to just 5 - 7 minutes minus the unnecessary examples, telling personal experiences or off topic jokes and short stories !!! THANK YOU.

[@seanlowe6092]

well done - you're onto something here, I haven't heard it put like this before,... natural teacher. thanks

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikelundquist4596]

Yes! Learn melodies from vocal lines, and also horn parts, like saxophone and trumpet.

[@zenlandzipline]

This is a great video. This guy is awesome. One thing I would like to point out is that when speaking words in conversation, we pretty much do it chromatically. There isn’t a big variance in pitch. It’s more like done in micro pitches. When people speak using a high variance in pitch, it’s called “singing”. So, basically I’m just saying that emulating a singer on your guitar would be more beneficial than emulations of conversation. Just a small point, really. I loved the way this guy uses analogies to connect ideas.

[@Multiabuse]

What a great metaphor - copy the "words" that speak to you. As you master the language, you end up using the words you once blatantly copied, but now they reflect your own take on the story. I can't tell you how inspiring it is to have someone so young take the central pillar of my own approach and "phrases" it so perfectly that I now better understand my own methods. I've told students for 30 years to steal EVERYTHING, and the more they steal from different sources, the easier it is to find their own voice. They way you explain it works on so many levels. BRAVO!!

[@ceickhoff]

Excellent video! One of the best guides to soloing that I have seen.

[@deeminor6565]

First of, u r a fantastic guitarist! U make it look easy! Your explanation was very lucid and gives a logical base or discipline to playing. Thank u so much.

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@donweightman5466]

Humble enough to use a Squirer, kudos mate

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

😂 Thanks! They're great guitars!

[@andresugueruaga6920]

Howeher. In Argentine is expensive even a Squire lol

[@GreenGuitarNerd]

Squiers aren’t as they were in the past

[@0000song0000]

@@OlicanaMusicGuitar is it a bullet one? 🙆🏻 i am considering one just because of the lighter body Whats the neck pickup?🙉 sounds killer!

[@TheGoaterGoat]

and what’s wrong with squirer

[@laskartrece]

You hit the nail here!! Excellent perspective and practice.

[@therealremo]

Yes, my old band partner and I used to always play one acoustic set per night, and we used to do a similar thing that we called 'yes or no'. We pick a key and one of us would start with a phrase and if the other person liked it it repeat it for usually about eight bars and then in enhance it or completely change it. Sometimes we do it with a cover, Paul Simon's 'Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard' worked well! Thank you for stirring a fun old memory for me!

[@buke45]

One of the most outstanding and HELPFUL educational guitar videos i've ever seen!!!! thank you!

[@remilahousse]

Awesome explanation, even though I'm not good enough yet to pull all of this off! Keep up the good videos! :)

[@chrism4948]

Just discovered your channel. I’ve seen several videos on phrasing. This is among the best. You are a great communicator and your method was very interesting. Thanks

[@johnruppmusic6641]

Pure GOLD! Thanks for sharing, very helpful

[@straightshooter8662]

I've always noticed that it's the basics that I always come back to when I get stuck or find myself noodling endlessly thanks great lesson

[@irmaosmarcelino2635]

the best teacher on youtube Thank you so much mate you’re great!

[@spirals1789]

Great explanation video. Definitely one of the best I’ve heard with this topic

[@holdenharvey783]

the first video I’ve watched on how to modify your solos, great info thanks man😎🤘

[@KerryLiv]

One of the best analogies and teaching I've heard! ~ It works. The concept will revolutionize one's playing! Satisfying ENJOYMENT of expression

[@salookie8000]

I really liked how you demonstrated the question and response tactic and the pauses...Very elegant.

[@jlhuz]

I have been doing this naturally but having what I’m doing explained to me has expanded my knowledge so much. Now I have loads of ideas to try out using your lesson. Thank you.

[@thunderlung5964]

Fantastic, finally a simple explanation. Cheers

[@peterchung623]

Thank you, I see music as a launguage, you make so much sense,

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Thanks Peter!

[@phayzyre1052]

This here is the meat and potatoes of playing guitar and the way you explained it was excellent! Guitar scales are important but just going up and down a scale all the time leads to boredom. Knowing how to apply them like he’s doing here is the key to breaking out of a redundant scale pattern boxes and actually making music.

[@banksy8207]

Great video! Very informative and explained really well

[@rtcommodore9354]

Excellent lesson. Very useful, accessible, achievable concepts.

[@thomaschin3841]

Awesome, you covered ALOT in this one video, very well explained 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@pauloTARSO-sb3gl]

Great lesson ! Man!! I saw lost of videos about improvisation.. and you tell our language, you could communicate perfectly!!

[@frankswildyear]

I can’t get over how good that Squire sounds!

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Thanks!

[@patgaff2536]

Best explanation I’ve seen on the topic. Thank you.

[@bradparker9664]

Just stumbled upon your channel and am quite impressed. You have a great way of presenting material that a lot of video hosts lack. Very, very nice, and quite informative. I kind of wish you were around when I started playing 30+ years ago. Best wishes, sir!

[@reececollingwood7489]

Just came across your channel and subscribed. Such a well put together video with visual queues, interactivity and great explanations. Thank you!

[@YTisverycool2007]

Thank you for this video! I am new to electric guitar playing and your explanation in this video greatly help me understand how to better play electric guitar parts in a meaningful way. Thanks!!!

[@pjokivuo]

Really fantastic lesson, many thanks!

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Glad you liked it!

[@bttojon]

Really like your explanation of letters to notes, and language to phrasing; the clearest video I've seen on the topic :)

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Awesome! Glad you liked it!

[@Andreas_Straub]

This was really helpful - thanks a lot🥰!

[@METALMISFIT6]

You make more sense than anyone I've ever seen..thank you

[@srscott10]

Thx, great way to think about and play phrases.

[@steveb4400]

Nice job. You have a great and effective teaching style! Thank you!

[@brianstephens6759]

Cheers Mate for helping a 30 year intermediate player with a passion to learn improvisation and have the ability to play solos without thinking and struggling to do so. Great job being plain and thorough teaching this skill we all strive to learn. 👍🏻🙂

[@auss1eman]

Great lesson....very well articulated...thank you👍

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Thank you! 😃

[@jstnxprsn]

Thanks man. I'm an old player, but your lesson pointed out I've gotten a bit lazy with my phrasing. I think I'll make a list of your suggestions and keep it in view while I'm practicing. Much appreciated. - Jstn

[@michaelbeasley5783]

Useful instruction. Thanks.

[@indignow]

Thanks for posting learning stuff with AFFORDABLE gear 👍🏼

[@williamreaves3780]

Thanks so much Olicana. I called, and you responded! This is a very good lesson. You helped me to get a better understanding of how the really good guitar players become so. I've yet to find a lesson this valuable at any point in my journey. It makes SO much sense.

[@enriquemonroy271]

Same here (o:

[@thinkzen]

Very clear and helpful lesson. Thank you!

[@ancient_living]

Mind == Blown ! I think this is the best secret of music language given to us so easily. No one has evr put it like this...This is how one should train and think about training !!

[@frankdardano3182]

Phrasing is the only way to sound original. Copying to use a lick,is just that,copy, but if you can put it together in your language on guitar,its a part of you, l like the way you think,you must be gold to beginners!

[@lonieeg6463]

this is so far one of the best lessons on ytb ngl

[@smokingjazz5067]

Thanks very much. I put in practice right away. I was aware of the call and response but you made me more aware , and it makes sense. Precious advice for me as a busker and session clarinet player that has to improvise playing with other musicians

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Glad it helped!

[@LeondalePhotographer]

That was well explained. Thank you.

[@donk.5730]

Brilliant. I've heard the language is music before, but you've put this into a form I really understand. So, A Big Thank you for your perceptive approach and no nonsense instruction- from a beginner. -DK.

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@niguel4438]

Just watched Rick Beato interviewing Andy Sommers. He said you can be a great guitarist without understanding phrasing and leaving spaces. So I went in search and found your video. Many thanks for explaining so well.

[@MustafaBaabad]

Thank you very much for reminding us that when we play guitar we should generate musical melody. Not just dumping bunch of non enjoyable notes. Series of notes that make sense. Cheers from Indonesia.

[@trevorpugh6475]

Plenty to take away from this excellent video... reminds me of the old adage, "less is more" something I need to be reminded of when soloing...!thanks for this tutorial!

[@MMPPunch]

Thanks very much for this video. Very much appreciate it.

[@gabopalacios2028]

I'll be honest with you: KZbin is always showing me these kind of videos and I always watch them... But... I'll admit I really enjoyed yours. The way you explained the subject really made me wish I had my guitar with me right now. I can't wait to go home and practice everything you spoke about in this video. I guess I'm suscribing right now!

[@baldemarmiranda2067]

Love this video, the ideas you share, my friend

[@vintagefrets]

Thanks makes a lot of sense

[@roberthancock2563]

Great explanation! Thanks so much👍👍

[@1Skinnys]

Great player, great teacher, great lesson 👌

[@johnmacmillan627]

Thx. Very helpful!

[@RavdeepSandhu]

Very valuable lesson. Thanks

[@neiljcunningham]

Great video. I'm guilty of solos all sounding a bit scaley. Thanks for the tips.

[@ellebhee5045]

I needed this video! Nice one :)

[@barnaclerusty]

you made this so easy to understand 🙏

[@viveksrivastava448]

thanks mate. Really helpful.

[@donpollo476]

That tone is incredible

[@bigbb416-5]

Hard work pays off!! The algorithm has led us pentatonic players to the perfect video. Finally. Respect from the North!!

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@tontoninbas9496]

Excellent! Merci beaucoup

[@DieselWeazel]

Thanks great tips

[@buschovski1]

play like you speak yes. Love that man. this vid is good and makes a lot of sense to me

[@bettylane1984]

Wow...great way to describe. Got tons out of that! Thxs!

[@DrDeez69]

So good mate! Cheers from Arizona!

[@neilmartin99]

I've noticed some guitarists use some of the methods you described. Dickie Betts and Eric Clapton immediately come to mind. Others like David Gilmour seem to be more free in terms of constantly building on a solo rather than returning to familiar phrases or a home base.

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

It's definitely not a hard and fast rule, motivic development is another fantastic phrasing tool!

[@bananafrica6421]

Nice lesson mate!!

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Thanks!

[@RonRegan]

Great job explaining phrasing

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Thanks!

[@lgp4960]

Well done, nicely presented

[@VincVEVO]

Very nice video man. ❤

[@congamike1]

Great lesson. Love the guitar; it sounds great! Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

My pleasure!

[@MustafaBaabad]

Thank you very much chief. It is a very excellent lesson. It gives inspiration and direction to exercise. Cheers from Indonesia.

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@johnnyshae2601]

Good Video, Very Helpful. Thanks

[@Kevin22_11]

Great comparrison to speech, very cleaver!!

[@aScotRockzScott-sc2st]

The easiest way to understand how and why you got my vote !🎉

[@gordonbuss3981]

So helpful and well presented thanks

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Glad it was helpful!

[@morespamfortom]

Great lesson. I've got that same guitar and love it. I end up playing it more than my Mex and American.

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

They're great guitars!

[@corbiewhite7113]

A fantastic video, sell done.

[@drdre4397]

There's a video on Tom papa's channel where he has kirk fletcher on and if you just study the first 3 minutes of kirk jamming over what tom is playing, you'll learn so so much about phrasing, feel and everything. It all happens before the talking starts and he breaks some of it down throughout the video but if you want to learn soul/blues phrasing and some classic Hendrix stuff, can't recommend it enough. It's only 3 minutes and yet there is 3 months worth of teaching in those 3 minutes.

[@randomgraham4302]

Wow I’ve been kind of depressed due to hitting a wall /plateau with my playing but your video has helped to educate me on my outlook on improvising vs just playing random notes on scales

[@OlicanaMusicGuitar]

Glad to hear you found the lesson helpful. Keep playing and you'll definitely bust through that plateau!

[@davidmurray8396]

Very informative video.

[@evilmikeb]

I’m 60+, and just learning. I think you’re explanation of phrases and everything in this video is helpful and inspiring. Thank you.