How To Turn Scales Into Pentatonic Licks

[@mdyerlrb]

I HIGHLY recommend David's Fingerstyle Five membership. I joined 2 years ago. He's a world-class player and world-class teacher.

[@johricpea]

You have very clear and simple approach to teaching. These are high-quality instructional videos. Thank you.

[@fairenoughthenwhat]

If anybody is interested in learning or improving their fingerstyle blues guitar playing, David's lessons are brilliant, inexpensive and pay dividends. I've only been using the service for a few months and already really feel like I'm getting somewhere with it.

[@robharris6874]

I play fingerstyle & this is really good stuff, simple but very effective !!

[@annemariekaczorowski1863]

Nice lesson

[@bocabenkolstad]

I've been watching your videos for years. Every now and then, I think "I know where he's going with this. This'll be a cinch!" And every time I do that, I learn something I didn't expect. I've never seen so clearly demonstrated before how different the same tones can sound with just that bit of syncopation.

[@TheStringDojo]

Hi, I needed this. Thanks. A few years ago I asked this exactly. And because in my formation years I also got into rudiments, and the idea behind it was answered here in this video, I guess the language barrier for me is larger than anticipated, good thing I'm here in your path to learn how professionally address my learning course. Now I have this info to start developing a solo for Little Surly.

[@edseloliveira]

Great lesson!

[@sideman7117]

I thought the rakes in the demo added a little spice to what you were doing. Maybe you could say something about that in another video. Thanks!

[@jonathangrass1559]

I dig it! Great idea

[@78tag]

"Delusions of Grandeur" - boy do I know that one!!!! I wasted some $ on a used keyboard thinking I would pick up where I left off at 12 years old (holy s**t that was 60 years ago#*!). I have to admit that the structure/layout of notes still makes way more sense to me than that maze we call a fretboard.

[@sanoysuelto]

Thank you Maestro !!!

[@78tag]

Speaking of "executing rhythmic playing", pick up a Scruggs book and learn some banjo licks - eeeh haaa. That is another example of "get it down to a subconscious level". My problem with it is that my brain has been trained to play the syncopated note with my thumb. Man is that hard to change!

[@jonneville2287]

I think drums are unnecessary with this music. It would be overkill. I once saw a guy in Sydney playing the back room of a pub - acoustic guitar, vocal, and he had a bass drum pedal hooked up to a hat box. He was miked, and it sounded great. Acoustic blues similar to David's style. He was better than the main act in the front room!😂

[@dgmg1578]

I'll play drums with you. I'm pro.

[@tensitystarker]

Ha! I was going to email you about learning drums a few weeks back. Guess the time is now. I was going to say how learning the drums, especially getting a good groove, is a lot like how you teach getting a fingerstyle groove, by lining up bass and melody with pinches and upbeats. Try this: Slow tempo, 4/4, quarter notes on hi-hat/ride, bass on one and three, snare on two and four, count in eighth notes. Oh yeah, get it feeling good! Your cymbals are pinching with you drums. Now switch your bass drum to the “and” of two and three. Now you have a syncopated groove making you sound like John Bonham! It’ll be awkward at first, getting that kick on an off-beat. Try exaggerating bringing your cymbal hand up during the off-beat, helping you to feel when to kick. Once you get it, sky’s the limit. Now time for eighth notes on your ride and then on the kick, in various combinations. Start toying with all that and then throw in sixteenth syncopations on the kick with lots of intervening space, and you’ve turned into a groove machine. Get your Bonham on!

[@tensitystarker]

In the “try this” example, when doing the bass off-beats, kick on one, too. A little less floaty. Throw in another kick on the upbeat of four, if desired, to help propel things along.

[@tensitystarker]

OK, OK one more tip (although you’ve probably already figured this out): practice just the kick drum, no other kit, on one and three and their preceding eighth notes. Once solid, add in the rest of the kit. It’s a straight, solid groove. After this, removing the kicks on the downbeat and syncopating them should be easier. I’ve gone on this long because the first time I successfully got a syncopated groove going, it was like magic. It felt so good. Everyone should experience it. Good luck!