The Hidden Secret Of Top Guitar Players

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[@KenGray-nl8ml]

Wow. The connected scales up the neck that you are describing is the way my teacher taught me to play way back in 1972. I never thought of life as five pentatonic scales, rather there were just two connected scales that encompassed the entire neck using the five pentatonic notes. In reality he taught me where to slide up from one position to the next, but to me it was just part of the two scales that I learned. He then had me add what he called the "color notes" which was effectively the half step intervals and the "blue notes" ie the minor blues scale. The final trick he said was to realize the same shape could be moved 3 frets down and it was a major scale. All the modes were just moving the pattern a different number of frets and learning where the root note was. Then he added where to bend and double stops. All that was conveyed in about 6 months of lessons. Over the years I filled in the gaps, but that approach has worked wonders for me for 50 years now. And yes, it made soloing much more musical from day one. It's a great way to think about "scales" and playing over the entire neck.

[@marcusbevz6500]

For some reason, moving the scale around methods never got me sounding the way I want in my head, for me it wasn't until i started interval training and learning the relationships between the different notes that get me where I don't think about the fretboard, I prefer to hear/feel my way through the notes, then sometimes we all have licks arpeggios or scales we fall back on to reset but I think that's impossible to avoid especially when playing really fast notes all over the neck For axample, when soloing over mixolydian mode instead of moving the scale and finding the root note, I keep everything the same and flat the 7 instead, it's the same notes but my playing sounds much better moving notes rather than scales

[@davespin9034]

Back in the 80s my guitar teacher gave me a printout of the 7 diatonic scales, some csll them modes. One day the light came on and I saw the patterns overlapped. Ionian, Dorian, phrygian etc. For each string the Dorian 1st note on each string is the 2nd note on the Ionian, etc. That was my 💡 💡 💡 moment that changed my guitar playing life. I got colored pens, drew a fretboard and overlapped them, each of the 7 having a different color. Each fret each string having 3 different colors. Its a perfect puzzle. Ionian start with 1st fret, 3 notes per string, Dorian starting on the 3rd fret, phrygian starting on the 5th fret. Keep going. Its do ra me fa so la te do. Each scale ratcheting up one note. Ionian do ra me fa so la te do Dorian ra me fa so la te do ray Phrygian me fa so la te do ray me Practice, make it automatic. Your subconscious will take over eventually

[@jeffdubuque3755]

you lost me bro.

[@dakingfish7000]

Great explanation of a semi abstract idea. Thanks!

[@davespin9034]

@@jeffdubuque3755 the 2nd note of the first diatonic (aka modes) is the first note in the 2nd scale. The 3rd note of the first is the 3rd scale. If you stacked the 7 diatonic scales up on a sheet of paper you'd notice the shapes (3 notes each string) fit like a puzzle. Now think of these 7 scales (shapes) different colors printed on plexiglass. They stay in the same order no matter the key, you slide the plexiglass up the neck and down depending on the key. In addition, the 5 pentatonic scales are found inside the diatonic scales with 2 half steps removed. Pentatonic scales linked by stacking, 2nd note of the first pentatonic is the first note of the 2nd and so on. Pentatonic = stacked Diatonic = overlapping Starting on the 1st fret. 1 3 5 diatonic 1 Low E 3 5 6 diatonic 2 Low E 5 6 8 diatonic 3 Low E 6 8 10 diatonic 4 Low E 8 10 12 diatonic 5 Low E 10 12 13 diatonic 6 Low E 12 13 15 diatonic 7 Low E They overlap and interconnect. And these 7 scales stay in the same order and move up and down based off key. Like they're printed on plexiglass. Like one giant scale. Diatonic position 1. Diatonic position 2 starts on the second note on low E, and so on. They overlap. E • • • B • • • G • • • D • • • A • • • E • • • If you draw this on paper you can easily see it.

[@jaaziahraymond3306]

This came at the right time

[@AntwhaleNearfar]

Something your girlfriend rarely says about your.......

[@RaisonBaby]

Absolute gold for developing fluidity

[@scottjones6624]

I liked the fresh distinction of talking about the negative consequences of some of the things we habitually do. That is a nice new outlook!

[@zenlandzipline]

Here is one way you can tell when a player has natural talent: if they can stay in 1 box position for 5 minutes, playing over a track, and they can play interesting, musical, and rhythmic phrases without repeating themselves over and over. They can play a great solo staying in 1 position. That’s the sign of a person who has natural musical talent. When they can then start moving to different positions effortlessly, and maintain great phrasing and musicality, now you’ve got a natural who has been practicing a whole lot. I can effortlessly move through different positions like this guy in the video, but I don’t have natural musical ability. A player who has been playing 1/100th of the hours I have played, who has natural ability, will sound better just hanging in 1 position for a whole solo, than I would wizzing around the neck. I think this guy has worthwhile knowledge to share, but I would recommend to beginning players to focus on rhythm and melody, bending and hammering on and all of the things that make up phrasing, in 1 position. Create little melodies and connect them together and try to keep doing it without repeating yourself and without pausing too much. Then, you can start to think about shifting positions, while still focusing on playing melodically. In my young days, I used to go watch this girl play. She basically stayed in 1 position, (except to move everything up 12 frets to the next octave, but still playing the same box position). She could jam for 20 minutes straight, rarely repeating her phrases, staying in that 1 position, sounding interesting and musical. It pissed me off to no end, because I couldn’t do it. Also: even players with average musical ability can play great melodic phrases in 1 position without sounding boring. IF they practice it. Just my 2 cents. Or dollar. Lol

[@stickmanmusic5840]

I realized long ago that legends like Hendrix or Santana could do what you describe, playing interesting variations just using a few notes in one position. Simple isn't easy! So many players try to cram in as many notes as they can. Rhythmic spacing is what makes simple riffs interesting.

[@zenlandzipline]

@@stickmanmusic5840 yup. Here is a little experience I had 30 years ago: some friends of mine had a band, and they got a record deal with Geffen Records. Their music was more in the vein of Guns and Roses than Motley Crue or Bon Jovi. They were more “roots rock”. Their second guitar player departed the band, and they were looking for someone to fill the spot. And they said “hey, let’s give Pete a shot”. They had heard me practicing for 2-3 years, shredding Yngwie Malmsteen licks and other Shrapnel shredders of the era. They thought I could really play. So I go to their rehearsal room to audition. It didn’t go well. (In some fairness to me, it was a last minute thing, and they didn’t give me any tape to learn any of their songs. Nevertheless…) So the other guitar player shows me the chords to the first song. Then the band starts playing. I’m supposed to just play along, embellishing what the lead player was playing. I didn’t have to learn any pre-arranged parts or anything. They just wanted a player who could “jive” with them. I totally choked. I’m trying to play fast scaler stuff over a simple 3-4 chord progression. I wasn’t playing with the groove. I was playing minor scale stuff over chords that needed major pentatonic licks. After we stopped the first song, the guitar player (who was probably 10 years older then me, the oldest and most experienced guy in the band) shows me some simple major pentatonic scale and licks, and says “just play this kind of stuff. Real simple. You gotta FEEL it.” And I’m standing there tryna give him lessons in theory, like “well, the melodic minor scale would fit much better over the F chord in that progression”. They didn’t want to hear that crap. Just play and sound good. Anyway, we tried another one of their songs, and the same thing happened. After 20 minutes, they figured I wasn’t the right guy. (Actually, I think they knew after 1 minute into the first song lol). The band recorded 1 album and it didn’t go anywhere. But it could have, and I would have blown my one shot at becoming something. I realized after that, I need to go back to the basics and quit trying to be a guitar hero. Learn to play melodically, and nobody cares if you can shred up and down the neck with fancy scales at 200 bpm. I learned the basics, but to this day, I’m still shredding up and down the neck, playing concerts in my basement to an imaginary crowd of 10,000 people. The shred thing can be a hole that swallows you up and holds you down to a fake premise of greatness.

[@stickmanmusic5840]

Maybe I should be grateful I can't shred. I have to play melodically. Your story reminds me of a guy I played with in a band. He would overplay beyond his technical ability. When we'd suggest simplifying his rig would make his job easier, he would give a lot of theory. The difference between theory and practice is in theory there is no difference.

[@zenlandzipline]

@@stickmanmusic5840 haha. I like that one. Going to remember it.

[@georgerodrigues4638]

There's a girl on KZbin who does that-Mimi. She really plays the most soulful licks. Sounds like Jeff Beck crossed with Santana.

[@SixEightSixty]

Whenever I improvise it sounds really hit or miss, but after playing around with this for like 20 minutes I can clearly see you where not lying about results over night. This should help allot thanks! :)

[@HigherPlanes]

For me, once I learned all the shapes vertically and horizontally, the next logical step was to focus on phrasing- creating small statements and connecting them to create solos- so playing doesn't sound like you're just going up and down patterns, and really using your ear to listen to the sound of the intervals will really connect everything together.

[@nomandad2000]

Then after that, i realized that actual music is created in the mind, and not on the fretboard, and I started looking for the melody….

[@HigherPlanes]

@@nomandad2000 That's a big one... I know singing works with creating melody, but I wish I was a better singer.

[@nomandad2000]

@@HigherPlanes yea, definitely!!!!

[@HigherPlanes]

@@nomandad2000 Rock on, my Dude!!

[@demej00]

Awesome! Wished I had had this shape in highschool (1970s).

[@masterbuilder3166]

I found a video called “Building a Better Scale “ that over night practically helped me to play anywhere on the neck, I highly recommend this video !! Claus , I hope you don’t find it disrespectful that I share this .The video truly opened the gateway for me. Thank you for another excellent lesson 💯👍🎸

[@SubsurfacePodcast]

I've been playing guitar over 20 years (hobbyist) and this has been probably the most relatable and "weight off my shoulders" video/lesson I've ever seen. I grew up learning easy stuff like Blink-182/Green Day and then mostly Metallica by ear, until the internet was more common and then I relied on tabs to learn songs. But jamming with friends, improvising or writing songs was just something I found so difficult, that it was something I rarely ever wanted to do. This video is inspiring. Thanks buddy.

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

Find yourself some videos explaining the circle of 5ths for songwriting.

[@SubsurfacePodcast]

@@MrJohnnyDistortion thank you

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

@@SubsurfacePodcast Greetings from Tampa Bay

[@SubsurfacePodcast]

@@MrJohnnyDistortion Small world. Me too. I live in Wesley Chapel.

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

@@SubsurfacePodcast West Paso.

[@carylee7118]

Your a great teacher my friend. My skills have and are still rapidly improving at an alarming rate all the sudden. Appreciate the thought and effort that went into the lessons.

[@ardennenwijzer2583]

Thanks a lot! You''e my favorite teacher on YT. I've got expensive lessons for 4 yrs. Thanks to your great lessons, after about 4 months a made a massive improvement. My teacher who was altough a good player never told me these secrets and tips. But I also have to say it's thanks to my new Spark Posive amp that give me so much fun to practice on backing tracks.

[@terrencelovebush9831]

Love the new setup sir! I've learned so much from your lessons and always look forward to what you'll be teaching next, you're amazing and please keep it going!

[@CynHicks]

The thing that helped me with the most very early on was practicing a few basic arpeggio shapes for like an hour per day. The muscle memory I learned from the fast shifting was invaluable. One based on pentatonic SHAPES and the other based on maj and min SHAPES.

[@endo-poptart]

This is perfect! I've been learning vertical scales and I was wondering how to traverse the neck in that scale. Boom! Here you go 🤘🏼 Also I love that Chesterfield and the amp beside it 😁 Subscribed 🤙🏼

[@arpeggioblues5924]

This is great stuff.. highly recommend his "Tonal Transcendence" course. It's all about this horizontal playing AND enticing you to change from the standard tuning : E A D G B E (or BEADGBE if you play 7 string) and retune your guitar to "E A D G C F" [ This is called 4s tuning, each string is tuned a perfect 4th, no shift between 3rd and 2nd string; now all triads (ALL) have the exact same pattern; since nearly ALL chords are triads built with other triads... 2/3 less to learn. And all (ALL) scales of any type always have the same pattern (and and they can be played anywhere on the neck) I've gone 4s tuning, and I don't think I'll go back; you learn 2/3 less chords/scales/sequences/patterns. break out of the BOX ! go 4s tuning.. take his Tonal Transcendenc course. My playing has increased in the last 4 months more than in the past 30 years.. Amazing.. Claus is the best on-line teacher, don't put it off. This is the place. (not a payed for accoldate.. lol.. it's real baby) !

[@langstarjarain2622]

Thank you Sir, I've got it it's make me very interested

[@meltoninyourmouth]

Man this guy ain't wrong. I've been playing for years on and off. I didn't take it too seriously but never totally quit. After dorking around with pentatonic major and minor scales I started noticing my brain started hearing the next note in my head and then my fingers just seem to know where to go. I'm thinking about the shapes some and the stopping and starting points. But he's right you just sort of end of playing horizontally. I think about the shapes vertically mainly when I'm switching strings.

[@mikehill666]

I wish you were my teacher when I first started playing you’re very humble straightforward and genuinely try to help people that’s awesome. Thank you so much.

[@bmrbca3658]

This is a great way to learn movement. But I think you still need to know and practice traditional scales to learn the note (root, 2, 3, etc) patterns and their relative positions to each other. Once you do that you can move fairly proficiently between root notes and always be able to play around the root note.

[@vicktorv]

i want this guy in my house with a couple of beers, he with a guitar, me the same, and practicing and discussing by hours!

[@drpawanthakur7106]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for the clear and straight explanation.

[@fadge4105]

Such honest, clear and sensible advice...thanks for sharing your knowledge man..

[@paulcollins8122]

Brilliant stuff claus, you always show what us guitarists need, up and down the neck is so natural..

[@thebomontellano4996]

I love lesson.

[@A.J.99]

Cool trick! It seems to be a powerful tool for improving phrasing 👍

[@jesterraj]

I'm sticking here!

[@jriguez5150]

Loved the explanation using the term "paths". Thank you. It helps me piece more knowledge together. 🙏🏼

[@ThiloSausMUC]

Great imagine-engine the idea with the power paths! 🤩👍Always a good path to think a moment about playing before playing instead of playing in all directions and wondering why it doesnt feels good even after hours 😅GREAT

[@kevinnielsen1356]

I love this psychological approach. This is exactly what I need to learn now, as I'm just learning the caged ideas (which I find boring). I'm convinced you are on to a psychological break through that the masters have all experienced. A form of stepping out of ones concepual habits to allow expression to dominate. Like a form of wisdom. I will learn what you are presenting. Then explore other positions of this and in other keys. Only after becoming familiar with this method will I then learn those caged ideas. Thank you

[@georgerodrigues4638]

Finding a path through the trees is a great analogy. Allan Holdsworth saw the whole forest but there's always one exception to the rule, heh lol. Great lesson, thanks.

[@lifegoes2074]

Beautiful looking guitar

[@MadScientistGuitarLab]

Years ago someone contacted me about the Fretboard Dots program I wrote. I lost the source code and could make the changes, but I think you found a way to make it work… assuming that was you all those years ago. Good job man!

[@Douglas_I]

13:20 That's what she said! 😂 I know, I know, I'm very immature! Joking aside, this is a realllllllllyyyyy good lesson! Thank you so much!!! I'm going to 'keep being playful with it' now, lol! 😏

[@realmentalpulse2622]

Absolutely love this lesson. I do a lot of it already but the vibe you added makes me want to go play.

[@JP-uy9kq]

honestly man, this video really helped me break out of a rut.

[@Rikarthru]

You teach very clearly 🙏

[@maxbull7839]

Wish I had seen this 30 years ago. Much needed lesson that is not often spoken of. Thank you so much.

[@jeffskyberg5615]

Good stuff!

[@alansmith4655]

Always slide up to the root note because the pattern you came from on the lower root note simply repeats itself.

[@master214able]

This is a cool concept instead of memorizing up and down typical pattern of modes and scales..can be applied to all modes as well ..thank you..

[@edwardheins2930]

Awesome ! Once again thank you

[@congamike1]

Oh! This is what I need. Thanks

[@wesleyalan9179]

Great! Lesson! Thank you!

[@Numocron]

Wow Claus this is a really awesome video I love it.😃👍❤️🔥⚡️🎶🎸

[@syndicateproductionstarana4925]

Nice,great video man.Rocknrolla New Zealand

[@bubbles3161]

I know this riff, it’s awesome. Worth learning because it applies to Major and minor pentatonics with the added passing tone. Excellent must know stuff for any style guitar player.

[@sparkie119]

I remember ordering audio cassette lessons back in 1983.

[@haroldhals73]

dammit Claus... I wonder why i kept following personal courses... you taught me more in a few lessons...

[@darrell5228]

Man this helped men alot I am having to relearn guitar all over again I was wondering what they were they playing when they would run up and down the neck like that. Thank you.

[@guitarchique]

Best lessons I've had so far this year!!! Thank you Claus!!! Finally breaking out of the boxes!!! Rock on people! Cheers, lady guitarist (ie, almost 😉)

[@misterreality]

Went to GIT, studied with Greg Howe Steve Ross and Petrucci, this is a GREAT video. ,

[@herehere3139]

Man You do such a great job and service with your channel. Thanks so much !

[@tdesq.2463]

It's like a Staircase ... with Landings. Great Stuff! ~TD, Boston

[@steveb4400]

Very tactical lesson. It seems I need permission to try new things. Talk about getting stuck! Thanks for freeing me Claus. I love your teaching style.

[@johnr3369]

This guy makes great movies and he’s a kickass guitar player! Hell yeah! Gotta love Jean Claude van Damme!

[@josephrusso7069]

OMG I love his jam room!

[@CUZ_2]

Im a drummer but my son plays guitar & ive been around guitars & players my entire life. Just wanted to complement you on your playing & style. Sweet guitar as well. 👍

[@sirius7507]

Coming back around - great to see this !

[@robertr.jordan7675]

I've also been playing for years, but this has helped me a great deal. Love it, thank you and new subscriber.

[@iamredoctober]

As a Charvel fan, I must say that is a beautiful guitar!

[@mustangspitfire6835]

Thank you for the great lesson. Love the ambience in the room. I'm going to copy it more or less once I get a room!

[@craig2468ful]

Awesome thank you so much I really needed this as I feel a bit stuck with what I have been playing so far 👍🏻

[@davemartel5225]

Absolutely outstanding! First time I’ve seen one of your videos and I’ve been on KZbin for years. I subscribed and look forward to other lessons! 👍👏

[@erho2967]

Every vid hits with some real knowledge of stuff I knew but in a different perspective. Paths in the forest is a good way to put it

[@jodyferguson3068]

I really wished a lot of teachers would teach this how to use the pentatonic scales up and down the neck like you are teaching you can practice the pentatonic scale all you want to but making it work all over the neck is hard for a lot of students this is really awesome an interesting thank you

[@lgp4960]

Thanks

[@shanerose5348]

Super tasty intro. Subbed!

[@Mdjagg]

Seriously, listening to this guy talk on half speed is pure gold! 6:20

[@exzentrische]

Finally first really handy guitar lesson. Really useful.

[@artytoney2057]

So freakin awesome , been playing for years and have been stuck in pentotonic scale for so long , and this is so cool , thank you ill be practicing this for a while

[@roballen49]

Great lesson! Another arrow in the quiver!

[@philipbeasley72]

That's the correct path. Eventually, we learn it

[@hanshansen9935]

For me too came at the right time. Great, thank you!!👏👏👏👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@spincity4049]

Great ideas, and we’ll explained thanks! It’s sad that we firstly learn our pentatonic patterns vertically cause it really doesn’t sound very musical at all.

[@keovongvilaykeo4799]

Great lessons 😊 thank you

[@rocinblues]

Nice, really impressed with the teaching method as explained in the lesson.

[@tomtoss2463]

I just subscribed. I will write this down tonight and start playing it. Thank you!

[@williamroachford538]

Thanks for sharing this. Really helpful.

[@jwilkinson341]

One of the best lessons, thanks

[@keovongvilaykeo4799]

Great lesson thank you 🙏 😊

[@myproverb]

great lesson; thanks 🙏

[@davidparkes7977]

This is brilliant Bro thankyou

[@jibicusmaximus4827]

nice phrasing on that intro solo mate.

[@michaelquintana1098]

This seems very practical .Thank you sir..

[@mabblers]

You're very good, and fast. I am 65 and just learning guitar. How long will it take to play that fast? After a month, I know all 5 pentatonic scales, but fingers don't seem to want to speed through like that. I know I am probably being hard on myself.

[@musec07]

I'm fed up hearing " this will save you 1000s of hours " nothing will save you 1000s of hours. It's nice to believe there are short cuts with music and channels like these prey on that.

[@shaterproofblosm]

If anyone deserves Patreon it is music teachers on KZbin. Thank you for your life changing videos. :)

[@ChristianRobinson]

I can do this with modes.... but all of the "techniques" is what is more confusing.... not the actual notes themselves.... shapes is a great way to learn....BUT I actually want to KNOW what notes Im playing not just what shape im playing... I feel its good to know BOTH not just a "short-cut" short cuts are great... to get you started playing.... but if I ask someone what mode, scale, or arpeggios they are using with this method, they wouldn't have a clue... but I would... so I can add both this "secret" along with the theory that I do know and embellish even further... my playing has been stifled BECAUSE of "short cuts" and not knowing what notes, scales, chords or arpeggios... and even triads that I was playing.... learning theory is much harder than memorizing shapes!

[@Xer0xo]

I like the color on that guitar 👌

[@seriously3130]

Outstanding. Thanks!

[@lechstryzewski9350]

OUTSTANDING !!!! - Thank you !!

[@estebanpadilla7566]

The best video thanks!

[@Vaxeii]

Great video! Is this the type of stuff on the Crushing The Pentatonics?

[@raofsonshine5975]

Excellent, thank you!

[@bobravenscraft5376]

Legato mind-blowing 😮

[@sandyreece3004]

Nice studio ..great playing as usual

[@DizGuys]

Love it...subscribed instantly 👍🔥

[@TIZZIE313]

Thank You!!!!