Lesson 3 - The Dumb Machine

[@_GrumpyOldPunk]

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

[@palpalonpalpalon]

i guess I'm very lucky to find it as a 14 year old.

[@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.

[@henryskillern3259]

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

[@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!

[@chadcoady9025]

SAAAAAAME. Started learning guitar at 35 years old. I'm 47 now and see myself passed up by kids that have been playing for only 3 years haha. I know it MAGNITUDES easier for kids to learn with their undeveloped plasticity brains, but I'm still trying :)

[@benji_thetree]

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

[@DrymouthCWW]

Me too man!

[@horchata37]

let’s do it 👊

[@philipp5756]

how are you coming along?

[@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 :)

[@rockhardwhiskey]

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!

[@prsmantse1]

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

[@Yoursoulismine814]

I'm a pro level player and I've needed this lesson for 20 years. Thank you

[@jordangordan8980]

same. This is a great course.

[@KrwiomoczBogurodzicy]

[01:03:35] Fin [01:27] Welcome [16:15] [33:22] Proper chromatic fingering. Are you in control or not? [36:54] • if you can have instant access in a comfortable way to those 4 frets at any time… [37:20] • 1st exercise: Chromatic scale across all strings [37:50] Cue (4 fingers on 4 frets) [42:21] Actually, control 5 frets

[@Kevin-uy5bz]

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

[@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.

[@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

[@radhey_87]

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

[@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!

[@ThomasLester119]

Just completed this one. This chapter had my first “AHA!” moments with the change in sitting position and the finger shifts. Mind blown!

[@Cibaze]

I just want to thank this guy for his amazing lessons. His intelligence is notable, and to be able to get for free all these lessons is an amazing gift. Thanks, and I wish you the best!

[@hip04hop85]

so much information concise and clearly laid out like NO other course/video paid or otherwise.

[@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 🙏👍👌

[@minivanmachoman]

I studied music while in college and I wish I had found this series then. Music theory was made so convoluted and difficult to understand. Sight singing (ear training) as well. I am 3 videos in and feel like my knowledge is 10 fold what I was taught. Things are clicking that never really clicked before. Whereas I used to groan thinking about music theory before, I am now like, oh, this makes MUCH more sense and I was taught an overly complicated version. I truly think that you have nailed the order of importance and have built our foundations solid! Thank you! Can't wait to continue on and start really learning and improving and go from a guitar player to a real bona fide musician!

[@justinf8650]

This was such a useful video especially from 29 min on. Ive been self learning classical guitar for years and finally understand the reasoning behind the order in which certain techniques are learned. Mind blown!

[@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.

[@K3VLaR]

Its unbelievable how many "ohh.." moments i have watching this series.. im lovin it

[@lunargeographer]

What a good teacher!

[@supadupahilton6848]

OMG -I'm a keyboard guy who's always looked at the guitar neck my whole life, like it was a six headed space alien. This makes sense! I'm crying!!

[@emmanueldeguzman5626]

I purchased the downloadable support package and it's one of the best purchase I ever made.

[@Playsinvain]

I keep thinking I can fast forward a little…and that would be a mistake. This man is GOAT

[@kevinswierzbiolek4966]

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

[@RonaldFrey-w7m]

EXCELLENT INSTRUCTION OF BOTH INSTRUMENTS..

[@lucaslimadellaflora]

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

[@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).

[@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 😂

[@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.

[@ULOOKP-u5n]

47:28 how come its 2 octaves apart? Isn't 3 octaves apart? Cause at E string 12 fret is the first octave and D string second fret is the 2nd octave and the Low E string is the 3rd octave

[@nicholasfierstos1061]

Enjoying these lessons, stuff I should have learned years ago. Question though. When we start the chromatic scale with open strings, we would start with the E. Why would we not do an index shift into the C note when we get going in the box up the neck? Seems like that is what would match what we were doing with open strings.

[@absolutelyunderstandguitar60]

Hi Nicholas, If I'm understanding your question correctly, YES you can start off with a finger shift further up the neck but it's not really necessary so I don't emphasize it. Go which ever way you feel best.

[@nicholasfierstos1061]

@@absolutelyunderstandguitar60 Thank you! I am loving these lessons.

[@slowswimmer9169]

how do you like that?

[@justketh4298]

35:13 how to hold guitar Scott way!

[@jkydiego]

How do you like that? I like it.

[@ccspaul99]

These videos are fucking great!

[@amel1832]

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

[@Tviesle]

Does anyone have finger stretching advice I can’t reach the first four frets

[@scottyxcom]

Hi Tviesle, Make sure you're sitting right. You know I favor the classical stance with the guitar on the left knee. You look like a young guy. Is it possible you would benefit from a 3/4th size guitar?

[@Tviesle]

@scottyxcom Thank you, directly after this comment I randomly figured out that I can actually stretch my fingers to the four frets. I think I was either overthinking it a little too much or not the right wrist placement like you said, but if I somehow see myself going back to that error I’ll try out a 3/4th size guitar. Again thanks for the quick response and I’ve really appreciated your lessons thus far. Glad I ran into you Scotty, stay creative.

[@K3VLaR]

The moment where he explains the scale up the neck with the index shift.. shouldnt he start with a index shift on the low e string? When playing the scale at the start of the next you also start with an open e

[@jeromesteckler1081]

I was wondering the same thing...

[@nicholasfierstos1061]

i posted the same question

[@stephensmith60]

As an older beginner, I'm learning a Bunch here!

[@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. 🤙

[@yappster-n9u]

im 14 mins in and HOLY SHIT wtf this blew my mind. i have been playing guitar for around 10 months, and HOW COME NOONE EVER TOLD ME THIS

[@Fl_Music_Producer]

I have a question, My guitar has 24 frets so that would be 2 octaves per string? Right? MY guitar also has 6 strings so wouldn't it have 12 octaves? 24x6= 144 notes.

[@absolutelyunderstandguitar60]

No. Remember the strings overlap in tuning. Also a piano with its 88 keys is only 7 octaves. Think of it this way. From your low E string to 2nd fret on your D string is your 1st octave. From there to your high E string is your 2nd octave. From the open high E to its 12th fret is your 3rd octave. From there to your 24th fret is your 4th octave. Trust me. That's all there is. You'll figure it out.

[@Fl_Music_Producer]

@@absolutelyunderstandguitar60 ok thanks

[@jer0916]

Wait. Do most guitarists really hold their guitar this way (right handed on left leg)? It kind of makes sense but I dont see any other guitarists play this way sitting down.

[@absolutelyunderstandguitar60]

All classical guitarists sit this way and some of the jazz guys. But you're correct. Most popular guitarists don't sit this way which I've always found surprising as I get much better access to the fretboard this way and it puts the guitar in a more similar position that it is in when standing with a strap on.

[@danielc196]

@@absolutelyunderstandguitar60 I would guess it's just as Scotty says in the video, for appearance, so as not to look like those 'uncool' classical players and more rock and roll!

[@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. 😁

[@bradymom10]

My fingers will NOT stretch that far

[@michaelpuncel5411]

Anyone else feel like it’s easier to play 2 notes with the index finger on the way down too?

[@absolutelyunderstandguitar60]

Actually Michael you're correct under some circumstances. Often an index finger "REACH" is easier than a pinky SHIFT when going down the scale. In the end, do whatever feels right.

[@marktaiman2934]

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

[@xbjrrtc]

It's a good practice for learning the fretboard

[@RawwestHide]

King

[@dareelevi9945]

Wonder how he's doing now...

[@BlueberrieVR]

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

[@gigisalinger]

🤯

[@unknownkingdom]

Can he play 400bpm metal riffa

[@Zain.Basi1]

Mr. West but I have 5 fingers

[@mikecappadocia5959]

I'm a dumb machine

[@johnnyx9892]

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