Eric Johnson Pentatonics in 3 Steps

[@JordanSteele]

Do you like Eric Johnson pentatonic runs?

[@cristorres9547]

Yes

[@tfajsh]

Absolutely. Keep it coming

[@nicholasgordon5013]

The exact lesson I've been searching for. Eric's 5 note sequence. Thanks

[@headkickko609]

Now I do, I guess!

[@chaseparker7022]

Yes, more pentatonics & triads & whatnot☑️

[@bluesllamas88]

Thanks for the lessons. What I like about your videos is that you also show the right hand and the picking

[@unabonger777]

its amazing that you are able to play this on that banjo

[@migueldospachangas7716]

Simple, broken down in digestable chunks, succinctly. Outstanding video. You have a subscriber here. Thank you, all the best ! Carry on past the Khyber !

[@timmthelion]

this vid improved my playing immediately. thank you!

[@JordanSteele]

Great man! Glad I could help

[@bulr24]

I've been stuck in advanced beginner mode for years. I love Eric Johnson. This is just the right level lesson to break out and build on. Thanks, Jordan for making it fun, simple and interesting.

[@Faltermeyer123]

great lesson! please do more videos on fast pentatonic runs in the style of Eric Johnson and Joe Bonamassa.

[@JordanSteele]

Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed! I definitely will in the future🤘

[@Faltermeyer123]

@@JordanSteele could you please break down the part from 4:06 to 4:13 from this live performance kzbin.info/www/bejne/aGW7hHemftBgiqc in a future video? This would be awesome!!

[@hkguitar1984]

Ditto

[@RolandSpecialSauce]

Yes! Please do some Joe Bonamassa licks breakdowns.

[@1Phepsi]

Thanks Jordan, my playing hasn't improved, but I sure enjoyed watching you. 😉👍

[@JordanSteele]

Haha thanks a lot Mark!

[@1Phepsi]

@@JordanSteele Well, it would help if I could actually play. lol Anyway, keep up the good work, and keep rocking!!

[@chrisgio7816]

Super useful!! Thanks 🙏🏻 Jordan !! 🎸💥💥💥

[@GS-rt8ei]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@Postbedrock]

Great player. Great teacher. It's usually one or the other, rarely both. I've learned so much from you.

[@ricoe8857]

Yep! My teacher... He's the BEST!

[@JordanSteele]

Thanks man!

[@jeffshirkey3085]

Great lesson for people new to playing EJ-style runs. Nicely done, kid.

[@tpap6827]

Your explanation of Eric Johnson's style for cascading runs using a sort of blend of economy picking, the downstroke always is the first of two strokes on a string, so it's down up, down up, down shift to another 5 note pattern with a downstroke followed by up stroke on the same string, downstroke followed by up stroke on adjacent lower string, shift position to next descending pentatonic box du,du,d. Brilliant. When I do 5 note sequences cutting back only to the closest note immediately lower than where the last 5 note sequence started using all alternate picking, the pick slanting changes from upward pick slanting to downward pick slanting every other 5 note sequence whether ascending or descending. That obviously makes it much harder to build speed and precision using five note sequences. Not only does your explanation make more sense it gives a better cascading effect. It seems like Eric Johnson has his picking sequences deliberately mapped out yet it seems bonamassa just kind of uses the Steve Morse straight alternate picking method where he adjusts his pick subtly to avoid getting trapped between strings. Also, the sequences don't seem to be as structured and you may have four notes followed by five knots followed by 7 (another words bonamassa seems to mix up the sequence of note groupingsmore frequently. Thanks for the lesson I finally understand Eric Johnson's sequencing much better.

[@tpap6827]

Wonderful technique. Odd note sequences with varying number of notes, with string and position shifts, often 2 notes per string is challenging as hell. When it includes including directional changes using both strict alternate and economy picking with speed, precision, proper muting to avoid string noise (which is essential especially and high volumes while playing with other musicians). You appear to do all of the above with a level of facility exemplary of deeply imbedded neural pathways that allow the body to execute without thinking. That is, in my opinion, the most advanced level of flat picking electric guitar mastery that one can achieve on the instrument. To accomplish this at such. Young age is absolutely remarkable. There are brilliant session guitarists who have played some of the best guitar solos ever recorded who are still struggling with this technique. Your ability obviously may be somewhat related to natural talent but what you are showing in your playing is dedication, focus and total commitment to guitar and musicianship. With so many half assed musicians poluting the airwaves, guys like you Mateus Asato, Mateo Mancusso, Ross Campbell and many others representing a tiny percentage of young musicians is totally inspiring. Kick ass video and brilliant playing. Far too many musicians default to the ,"I am a feel player," which really means I am lazy but want all the external benefits of being recognized as a musician. You obviously never fell for that BS. Keep up the great work

[@deathies123]

I am a big fan of Joe Bonamassa and I think this is his style of playing too! These were so fun to learn and I'm very confident it'll teach me creative ways to solo in this style and also improve my playing speed alot! I cannot thank you enough Jordan!

[@JordanSteele]

Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed! Joe Bonamassa does these type runs all day long. Getting step 3 down and even building upon that with any combination of pentatonic positions is super fun and bring endless possibilities. Don’t overlook the intro turn around part. Where you go from ascending to descending. That is very helpful especially when building runs past step 3. It allows you the change direction at any moment in a pentatonic scale! Have fun!

[@ryansheeler]

Eric Gales does a lot of these too. 5 and 6-note groupings. It's kinda weird to watch him pick those since he plays left-handed and upside down (not restrung)

[@danielralec2829]

Thank you so much man I’ve been wanting to learn his runs for a long time now I got em!

[@JordanSteele]

Glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful! 🤘

[@stephenchaulker5521]

You're best lesson yet 🏆 Absolute coolest bedrock penta-shred ✨

[@Vooni.]

why is this vid actually so good

[@nickmillington9813]

Perfect lesson! Clear and concise. You teach it correctly like the Doug Rappoport EJ lesson with the economy picking.

[@gammagongetya8967]

Holy crap dude. Incredible. That first economy pick is the toughest part to get down.

[@stanparchaiski5394]

Great lesson. Thanks for sharing

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

Good to see your vids again.

[@jamesprice6381]

Mixing ERic n Malmsteen licks are very kool, Wingways blues are insane!~

[@robbylee1074]

Thanks for explaining this so well !

[@Ions11]

Awesome! Thanks Jordan!

[@JordanSteele]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed!

[@rahl1233]

Sweet bro. Really enjoyed the relaxed nature of the vid

[@christineblack4654]

you should show that little hybrid picking trick please.

[@boblanglois5786]

Thank to you it s the first time that i see a wonderfull explain..

[@paultostrat7914]

Lovely tone And great lesson

[@willpipes9795]

For some reason,that lesson hit home and soaked in better than most I've watched,Thanks,Man,I'll be following you from now on.

[@isaiahmarquez9717]

Perfectly explained and performed. 🤙🏼

[@iggyfritz7150]

I just discovered you and I have to tell you how much I love your paul. What year? And I love your playing. You're going places.

[@jcs7217]

Great lesson - great examples - and so concise! Thank you. :)

[@ronaldpapa8182]

Enjoying all your lessons!

[@normanwaller2924]

I've been playing for a long time but for some reason I find it extremely difficult to do the pentatonic runs like Eric Johnson Eric Gale and Joe Bonamassa. I was thinking it had something to do with the pull off that I wasn't getting right. But this is the first video where I think it's gonna make a big improvement. Thanks so much I appreciate it..

[@luvguitarCV1]

Fantastic lesson Jordan! I’ve seen a lot of videos on the EJ pentatonic method but yours is the easiest to follow…and the best👍🏻 Love the way you utilize the whole neck like EJ does. The way you explain it is great!! Keep the videos coming man!! 😎🎸

[@mattyoxide3650]

Great stuff. Ties my fingers in knots though on a LP. Not sure when yo use middle or ring fingers on those fast 5’s. Seems to end on middle then sweep down to ring?

[@andreascalzini6189]

Do you alternate pick when descending from the first position? (First lick you demonstrated)

[@lacuevadelchivato]

Excelente trabajo!!!!!!!!

[@JordanSteele]

🤘

[@El_Serch]

Brilliant lesson

[@Zarviat]

Great video thanks alot

[@JordanSteele]

You’re welcome! Glad to help

[@jxrx4577]

Nice stuff. How do you build speed. Would be a cool lesson.

[@JordanSteele]

Thanks! You’re right. I’ll work on a video for that

[@aman2112]

Great lesson

[@fredericadda]

Thanks, amazing lesson! In step 3, I found the position shifts a bit abrupt so I tend to slide up (it doesn't change the picking), which puts me right in the next position.

[@Sportacus.]

Amo tu tono tocas increible que pua usas para ese tipo de licks ? Escuche a Joe decir que sin una Jazz lll no puede tocarlos.Usas esta misma ? Saludos desde Argentina

[@goda1212]

It's such a good lesson video! Thank you!

[@brianmiller2075]

Yes

[@JordanSteele]

🤘

[@brucepuckett3503]

great video thanks!

[@JordanSteele]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@bcampbell185]

Excellent post Jordan ! Have luved Eric since his 1st CD. Time to grab my axe ! :-))

[@stevescontriano860]

And I thought I was improving because I just nailed the intro to SMOKE ON THE WATER !! JESUS JOHNNY

[@SouthMeckStunna]

An important thing I noticed that wasn’t mentioned is you’re using your middle finger to make those hits on the 14th fret and then sliding your ring finger underneath to make the transition to the new group of 5 notes. It’s physically impossible to play it this fast if you are relying on your ring finger to do all the work on the 14th fret. That’s the key!

[@Daz912]

Damn that’s a great sounding guitar

[@JordanSteele]

Thank you!

[@thestagesofgrief6454]

@Whiteyy191 Who asked?

[@Daz912]

@@thestagesofgrief6454 cringe

[@thestagesofgrief6454]

@@Daz912 Who asked?

[@kjanosi73]

why is economy picking necessary on the first two notes? why not just alternate pick the whole run?

[@thomasbramer47]

Because of picking mechanics. Most players have a preferred direction of escaping the strings before a string change. Eric Johnson & Jordan escape the plane of the strings after upstrokes. That makes changing strings after an upstroke a necessity for very fast runs. Most players do this unconsciously. Are you aware of the works of Troy Grady? Check it out. He has a whole section on Eric Johnson and it is fascinating how he avoids string changes after downstrokes like the plague. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nHa3gmB6msiCr68si=mPZsHiM3g2ykSaKj

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

00:23 YOIN? 🤣😆 I love brother. Where's that amazing blazing rock tone that I'm use to hearing? You're getting soft in your old age buddy.😆 ROCK & ROLL 🤘🏼🤟🏽🤘🏼🤟🏽🤘🏼🤟🏽🤘🏼🤟🏽

[@wizardin9365]

for some reason, I am tending to economy pick upwards on step 2. trying to unlearn muscle memory is hard!

[@trustmac]

Thanks man this helped a lot

[@petterisariola]

Really enjoyed this! 👍

[@michaelpipes1974]

I've been watching videos to learn these EJ licks for some time now and yours is the firest one that really clicked with me. Question: Is there an advantage using your first and second finger on the economy picked notes as opposed to using the first and rolling with the third finger? That seems more comfortable for me, but I'll learn your way if there is an advantage. Thanks!

[@JordanSteele]

I’m glad the video is helping you out! That’s a good question. I don’t think there is an advantage to doing it the way I’m doing it. I do find it keeps the pattern consistent when moving through different shapes but at times it isn’t the most efficient way to play the pattern.

[@raredesign]

Is there an advantage to playing with your ring finger instead of pinky when you span four frets? Do you have any trouble doing the same in the first fret position?

[@XxSabergamingxX]

Can you please please explain how your fingering these scales in between positions

[@JordanSteele]

What do you mean exactly?

[@shredgd5]

Killer playing and killer tone on that neck pickup! Which model is it?

[@JordanSteele]

Thanks dude! It’s an 07 standard

[@RandyCapor]

Would love some Randy!

[@bryanmannoia8410]

thank you. subscribed.

[@johnwagner651]

Subbed! Nice lesson. I like the "how to practice this" advice.

[@Himalyantiger]

OMG THE UFO ALBUM IN THE BACK!!! You definitely shred. Also next videos you should make is, How to shred like Michael Schenker.

[@TheLordJesusChristChannel]

i wish he showed how hes holding his pick I cant seem to figure it out. Thanks for sure .

[@deeforty]

I think alot of people over look how difficult these can be on the left hand, getting the strength and speed up to that level is hard, any tips on developing the fretting hand for fast pentatonics? I find when I wana burst into speed over 140bpm with 16th notes I have to bar across 2 strings for 2 note per string repeating licks, the trouble I have is keeping my finger tips bent and close to the strings, my fingers want to straighten out and lift, it's frustrating.

[@pomegranatesour]

I have the same issue- but I’ve noticed what helps is being super locked in to and a step ahead of what the left hand is playing- the more confident I am that I’m going to hit the right note the faster I play.

[@danig77]

I can see what you have PATREON, what platform are you using to upload the videos to PATREON? KZbin?

[@robertbaker3174]

He'll yeah!

[@JordanSteele]

🙏

[@jamesrohr1]

Out of curiosity, has anyone followed the practice plan for these lines he mentions at the end? Did you see results? Why or why not? I can't help but feel it was kind of tagged on in case folks just can't do it in order to create plausible deniability. Thoughts?

[@SoloDallas]

Jordan - Fil here. Thanks for this bud I learned from you, I was looking for this phrase and phrasing for a while, and I have now learned it from you. I appreciate it very much.

[@qwertyzxcv123]

Savant-level licks are important.

[@chrischoir3594]

Nice Paul

[@mattyhjames]

So how the heck do you build up that speed and control of the picking. I just can't get it into my brain to pick like that

[@jakethesnake-84]

Jordan, the format of your lesson video is gold! You give tab and you show the scale while explaining the picking pattern is tremendous that many others don’t do. I see your channel building exponentially sooner then later with fantastic lessons like this. Now time to work! Are there metronome BPMs that we should use for practice you could recommend?

[@vitorauseo854]

Hey Jordan, what kinda picks do you favor?

[@JordanSteele]

Good question. I use a blues chip TD45. The most important thing for licks like this is for the pick to not bend. I usually recommend at least a 1mm pick often with a point but the one I use is the standard pick shape

[@vitorauseo854]

@@JordanSteele thank you for the response. i was just curious. Recently got into Jazz 3s because of Joe Bonamassa and Eric Johnson and i thought maybe you were also using these. You are great. excellent technique, style, fluidity, etc.

[@malmsteen1]

let me give the secret, if you combain with guthrie govan, frank gambale and yngwie picking style then you get the middle spot of each technique rule. you can play fast anywhere and any pattern, any lick, any number per string.

[@theshredguitarist25]

Liked and subscribed!!

[@michaelcschuch3498]

What brand and gauge strings do you use on your Les pauls?

[@JordanSteele]

I use elixir strings 10-46

[@vberga]

I’ve been struggling with that Manhattan’s solo pentatonic run for a while. Does he picks all the notes? It’s so fast that it seem he uses a lot of legatos

[@lgg468]

whats the amp you use? nice tone on the neck pickup

[@filipandersson7238]

Am I getting something wrong or doesn’t the initial economy picking kinda ruin the picking flow? If you go down-down-up for the first three notes the pick is on its way upwards even though I want to play the string beneath it. The same happens when you play the following 2 notes on the B-string because you play down-up before going from the B-string to the high E-string. Shouldn’t it be easier to just pick down-up-down (string change) up-down (string change) down-up-down-up and then proceed from the e-string with an upstroke? Just a thought haha.. Great lesson!

[@JordanSteele]

I don’t personally think so. At least for me I prefer to maintain a downward pickslant for pentatonic runs. Doing it that way for me would make it more complicated. Also, I was trying to replicate and teach as close to the way Eric Johnson does it but if there’s a different way that works best for you that’s great too🤘

[@filipandersson7238]

@@JordanSteele thank you for your answer. Yeah, we probably have different picking techniques ’cause if I play it the Eric Johnson-way I’m so far out of it haha, just sounds sloppy when skipping to the next string. Just wanted to make sure that I wasn’t missing anything ✌️

[@JordanSteele]

Yeah if it doesn’t work for you try out different ways. Everyone has a different picking technique. I’ve literally went through like 100 different ways to pick until I settle on what works for me

[@kingpiano37]

@@JordanSteele how did you decide which picking style works for you? I can’t seem to find one that works well for strumming, rhythmic picking and fast runs.

[@DaveDexterMusic]

nice but I think you also need to master when and when not to zoom your shots

[@chrischoir3594]

I look to Zack Wylde and Eddie V

[@JesusRamirez-vt6lk]

Where can i sign up for more lessons?

[@JordanSteele]

In the description I have a link to my patreon and also a link to sign up for a 1 on 1 lesson over zoom.

[@talatsstories5629]

Jordan .... How much time can be invested if I wanna be a fast guitarist like you?

[@JordanSteele]

First is consistency and spending time on the right things. If you practiced 10 hours a day aimlessly and not designed to achieve a specific goal you won’t see very much improvement. However, if you have a clear goal and consistently practice a few important concepts. 6 months to 1 year later you’ll be surprised by how much you improved🤘

[@lelandgaunt7130]

Give up now. Anyone asking that question is too impatient, lacks discipline and wants everything now. Just trying to save you head aches and frustration. Takes at least 2 years to learn how to practice correctly IF you practice every day. After that, it takes a couple more to get the necessary finger strength and a year after that for the accuracy to come together. That's if you practice daily, at least 5-6 days a week and 2-3 hrs a day. but...before all the above, you'd have a good 5 years of playing under your belt. You're looking at at least 7 years IF you're a freak and you have elite athlete type discipline. If you're the average internet numbnuts asking what you asked, a good 10 years. All of that is if you practice daily and you have a routine. You must have a routine and to do that, you NEED a teacher. Then destroy your hands with relentless trills and hammer ons to get the finger strength required. Learn all 5 boxes of the minor pentatonic and this is a must as well..learn at least 2 sequences and learn them across all 5 boxes. Then you can think about being as fast as this kid or any of the greats. Not what you wanted to hear, but I don't BS or beat around the bush. I lose a good 4 students a month before they even start a lesson because I tell them up front what it's going to take. The number one ingredient is DISCIPLINE! If you're not disciplined enough to get up at 0500hrs to practice before work or school, if you're not willing to tell your gf you're not going out because you need to practice single string, legato sequences, and you're not willing to practice one hr after a long, hard 12hr day of work, you might as well forget about reaching the level you want. Hopefully, you are that disciplined...then agian, you wouldn't ask that question if you were.

[@apostolicwatchman8824]

​@@lelandgaunt7130 your advice is terrible. What does the pentatonic scale have to do with playing fast? Playing fast is the result of technique. Anyone can achieve good results just by practicing with a good ole fashioned metronome and focusing on picking technique. When you practice scales you should be focusing on clean, even picking and staying in time. That's how you get faster. Learning the pentatonic scale is just going to make you look like the average musically illiterate rock and heavy metal guitarist.

[@MrJohnnyDistortion]

2 years of you practice 10 hours per day

[@robertpower-h9m]

Beauty!!! 😮

[@censored7881]

Let's say you were simply playing 15-12 on B, followed by 14-12 on G, repeatedly. What is the reason not to use economy picking (i.e. avoiding the outside string shift)? Couldn't you pick it down-up (B), up-down (G), repeatedly? I thought that's what EJ does, but either way, I'm wondering...

[@Takumo8332]

If it sounds good, then it's good

[@paultostrat7914]

But how to develop the speed? The process of developing speed seems very demotivating most of the time as after a point , progress doesn’t happen for me in terms of bpm Please guide regarding this

[@R3DSHIFTRID3R]

I’d suggest practicing step one by itself slowly first. Make sure to play slow enough that you are playing the right notes and doing the economy picking correctly. This will get your muscle memory to begin developing. Once that slow speed gets too easy for you, step up the metronome bpm to the next bpm. Continue this pattern until you are at the speed you would like to be. Move on to the other steps gradually linking them all together with this same process. You will develop clean playing and speed. I hope this helps, take care.

[@jcwm01]

Frank Marino. Fast pentatonic master

[@tjhannemann]

The most important step is PRACTICE

[@gerardo._]

5:18

[@bluesrockguitaristmikesall2708]

Wow you really taught Lil Wayne to play ,and dress too !

[@crashboredom2]

What made the eric johnson desending 5's really clivk for me, was making it where the downstoke picking that begins and ends each group of 5, i force through the string thats in the way instead of "bouncing" over that string on the way to start the next set of 5.

[@justjames95]

8:32

[@andrewamicarelli]

Excellent lesson! Can you do more vids like this with signature licks from other guitarists?

[@Upallnightagainandagain]

Looks good. Hope you get what you’re looking to do (get a million followers). I like what I see so far but could you spend a little more time on picking / right hand. Not enough people do this. Also, more pentatonic patterns (3 note, 4 note, 5 note, 6 note, 7 note, etc…). Also, 3 note per string pentatonic patterns. Good luck. I’ll be coming back.

[@TheEricJohnsonExperience]

The secret to Eric's runs are the harmonics he throws in from time to time. You can get away with a simple 8 to 12 note run as long as you chime that harmonic at the end.

[@brandonisdumb324]

Are you economy picking as you descend?

[@samlsmithmusic]

How important is the double down-picked thing at the beginning? It feels so awkward, I’m wondering why you think this is crucial?

[@vinny5004]

Essential