Lesson 3 - The Dumb Machine

You've learned that most of what goes on in music goes on in YOUR MIND. The guitar is just the TOOL you use to express the language. But how does the chromatic scale actually play out on the fretboard of the guitar?

[@ddubs7650]

I am only on lesson 3 and I already feel like I have learned more USEFUL information than at any other time. I can not thank you enough for making this accessible. I just need to get my book now :)

[@benji_thetree]

I’m gonna do it. I’m gonna master this dumb machine

[@DrymouthCWW]

Me too man!

[@Wegelius.]

My mind is blown. This is the first time I’m actually excited about practicing a scale because I understand it.

[@totalannihilation9065]

To come across something like this when I'm starting to get serious about playing guitar is amazing. This should be shown or recommend to every beginner

[@dharmendrathacker165]

Yeah, you are right 👍. We should inform other Guitar oriented persons about this.

[@queifjay]

I've been playing the guitar for an embarrassingly long time for this kind of information to finally reach my brain in a succinct manner. Really enjoying this series so far, thanks Scotty!

[@smoothbuddha7212]

Absolute gold - i never knew thats why the guitar was tuned in 4ths because of 4 fingers.

[@henryskillern3259]

this man might be a genius. And he's hilarious. Teacher gold.

[@_GrumpyOldPunk]

This is the instructor I have needed since I was 16.

[@prsmantse1]

You're a legend. This is the most helpful lesson course I've found in years. Thank you very much for posting

[@ccspaul99]

These videos are fucking great!

[@radhey_87]

thank you Scotty. these lessons are basic and fundamental to understanding guitar and yet these infos are missing from most instructors.

[@Kevin-uy5bz]

I am a beginner at guitar and so far this series has been amazing. Thank you

[@amel1832]

Okay this whole episode has just been my mind being blown. Wow. I get it!!!

[@bobbytoledo.]

Everytime I think I'm just gonna hear more stuff I already know he throws something new at me that makes me glad I haven't skipped any part of these early videos. These videos are great, thank you.

[@dharmendrathacker165]

You are absolutely right Scott Sir ; in last 5 to 6 years I have gone through a lot of Guitar Theories and Tutorials but have never come across such so useful basic concepts and secrets of the Guitar 🎸 !!! Voooooowww..!! Amazing man, Amaaazziiiing...!!! God bless you so much 🙏👍👌

[@kevinswierzbiolek4966]

Changed my guitar holding position and can now reach 4 frets without finger and shoulder pain

[@MichaliSarris]

I'm just 3 months into learning guitar and extremely glad someone pointed me to this series. Going to watch it all, already 3 episodes in. Thank you very much!

[@wentworthmiller1890]

My theory about distance between each string (figured just by pausing the vid on piano notes, before reaching the point of 4 fingers logic): Each string is 2 sharp notes ahead of the preceding one. This also explains why there's only a 3-half-step distance between G and B. E->A has F# and G# (2 sharps). A->D has A# and C# (2 sharps). D->G has D# and F# (2 sharps). G->B has G# and C# (2 sharps). B->E has C# and D# (2 sharps).

[@4bigwheels09]

I’ve literally watched 40 or 50 videos on “mastering the fret board” or “music theory on the guitar” and nobody has ever broke it down like this. I always wanted to know why not just how. It’s painfully obvious once you see it so my only conclusion on this KZbin self guided journey is that most “teachers” only know how, they don’t understand the instrument, why it was created this way, and why it is what it is. This is exactly what I needed!

[@Srobinson102]

LOL. I had no idea on why guitars were tuned in 4ths... so embarrasing!

[@LiamWakefield]

The tuning was originally taken from the 6 course renaissance (and later baroque) lute with the exception that it was strings 3 & 4 tuned a third apart instead of 2 & 3 (on guitar) and the lowest note was G as it is a smaller instrument. If you're interested, check out why some lute players, trying to recreate the music, actually have the lowest note tuned closer to what would be F# on our guitars. 😁

[@simplypepe1732]

Oh my god, I get it!

[@jaywhy3178]

Turns out - in fact - Scotty DOES know. Old jokes aside - I'm enjoying the course so far. Learning theory stuff I gave up trying to learn a long time ago (when the internet was still in it's infancy.) Thank you, Mr. West! Very happy you generously posted the course here.

[@lucaslimadellaflora]

Watched on 08/13/24. Definitly an amazing dumb machine damn

[@kdubatx1]

I like the way you have the index shifts and pinky shifts organized for ascending and descending. I have been going back and forth between these with less consideration

[@marktaiman2934]

Anybody thinking of nameimg the notes as they do the scale? Lol

[@xbjrrtc]

It's a good practice for learning the fretboard

[@gregghome3339]

This is a tough position to sit in unless I actively hold the neck up with my left hand, is that expected? Letting it sit "naturally" on my left leg makes the neck dive way too much and I end up tucking my elbow anyway. I guess the other option is elevate the left foot? Looks like he may have done that in the vid.

[@scottyxcom]

You could indeed elevate your foot. The classical players always have a height adjustable foot stool with them. You can get one online or at any music store. . Another option is to wear a strap even when you're sitting down.

[@gregghome3339]

@@scottyxcom you rock, thanks for the help! I have been playing for 17 years holding it the other way, never thought to try this..

[@LiamWakefield]

The general thought with more modern classical teachers is that raising the left leg (right handed players), even with a stool, can throw the lower back out. There are devices, like the GuitarLift, which attach to the bottom or back of the classical or acoustic guitar body to help hold it in the right place. Electric guitarists have the advantage of being able to attach a strap. A nice wide strap made from a quality material and adjusted properly can hold the guitar head from diving, whether it is set for left or right leg. Brandon Acker has a video on how this can also be helpful on classical guitar.

[@lunargeographer]

What a good teacher!

[@sergebraida5622]

The best sentence I ever heard to remember standard tuning is this. Eddie Ate Dynamite. Good Bye Eddie!

[@julesdegiulio2565]

My teacher uses "Every Acid Dealer Gets Busted Eventually". Not necessarily family oriented, but given the right audience, quite effective!

[@wilbo1993]

@@julesdegiulio2565 Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears

[@T0RP3D070]

@@wilbo1993 Eat All Day Get Big Easy. I started plating guitar when I started playing football 😂

[@LiamWakefield]

I learned Eat Apples Daily Grow Big Ears over 45 years ago and it stuck after one telling, but many repetitions 😂

[@slowswimmer9169]

how do you like that?

[@unknownkingdom]

Can he play 400bpm metal riffa

[@mikecappadocia5959]

I'm a dumb machine

[@keenang4705]

If im more comfortable doing the pinky shift each time instead of the index finger, will it mess me up further down the road or will it not make a difference?

[@LiamWakefield]

Good question. I'm afraid it will be limiting for a couple of reasons. 1. It is a good exercise to see that there are 2 ways to reach the same nite across 2 strings. 2. The hand is better at contractions of the fingers in these directions, so putting 1 finger out of the 4 fret "box" and having it relax back inside is kinesthetically easier. There's more to it than that, which you may have already worked out, but I hope that you have been exercising both the index and pinky. 🤙

[@dareelevi9945]

Wonder how he's doing now...

[@gh1985ify]

Modern day version of Scotty does the intro before each lesson!

[@johnnyx9892]

E ddie A te D ynamite G ood B ye E ddie I heard that years ago and it stuck.😀