Music Nuggets: Josh Homme's Wonky Guitar Scales

[@kravatapraimuu]

The other night I was at a festival and a Turkish band played. On their final song there was this incredibly wonky guitar and I was like "wait a minute, I know this sound" and I joked to my friends like "Josh Homme called, he wants his riff back". Then after the show I approached the guy and I was like "Was that Hungarian Major?" and he like smiled and said it was and I was very happy that I had actually retained some music theory knowledge. I came back to this video to share this but also to revise a little bit about the scale. Great stuff

[@egekratl3796]

What was the band?

[@kravatapraimuu]

@@egekratl3796 Lalalar

[@dadoftheyear1]

@@kravatapraimuu I am Turkish and by reading this comment I knew you were talking about Lalalar

[@nipzie]

Dude...thank you! That band is so sick I'm about to dive into stoner Turkish rock for the night. Thanks for the heads up on them.

[@jamesthomas9987]

Josh really should go down as one of the most innovative guitarists of all time. Always catchy but low key technical.

[@clydeg4274]

James Thomas like being technical takes a back seat to the groove.. as it always should

[@jamesthomas9987]

Clyde G well said

[@77retroactive]

He is easily one of the best guitarists in rock history, especially the past 20 years. Technical skill is the most overrated aspect of being a guitarist. Originality is far more important. His unique style/sound/tone combined with the quality of his work should put him in the upper echelon of rock guitarists

[@jakeybball]

Gene Bone I’m a huge Kyuss fan, but I think Queens is just a better band. John was not the best singer, and on Songs for the Dead , when Lanegan, Oliveri and Josh all sang on that album it was so much better than listening to Garcia’s vocals. That said, I’d take Welcome to Sky Valley over any QOTSA album.

[@certifiedchamp7564]

@Gene Bone yeah, no

[@grifter2150]

This was the most thorough explanation I’ve seen on the queens scale, thanks man this is some really great work.

[@lightningmcqueengaming7547]

bro nice profile picture

[@NicholasAGross]

Absolutely. I've watched that guitar moves video about 30 times trying to figure this out -- and Lydian Dominant was never quite right. This is great thanks.

[@gustabartok]

This scale really goes with the flow and no one knows. Besides Josh. And me. And Music Nuggets. And you.

[@Orktyrantik]

The opening solo to I sat by the ocean sounds close as well. Too bad I can't point out what's technically the difference.

[@akwilson1676]

No One Knows cause that's The Art Of Keeping A Secret.

[@TheRatDefence]

@@akwilson1676yeah but everyone knows you're insane

[@BockwinkleB]

The great thing is how he took his lessons as a kid (polka) and made a unique rock rhythm and lead sound. A true genius.

[@michaelarcher4445]

I've been looking for this since Sophomore year of high school. Thank you.

[@MusicNuggets]

You're very welcome!

[@brightearps]

Hungarian major+minor is also really evident on the Arctic Monkeys' album 'Humbug'. Hungarian minor plays a big part in Crying Lightning and The Fire and the Thud. I know Josh worked with them extensively on Humbug and then in bits and pieces later on. Humbug has that creepy dissonant air throughout that is such a key part of Homme/QOTSA's sound.

[@alcrapone1131]

Still my Favourite AM-Record. Love it!

[@davidfinum8503]

This scale can also be heard a lot on Opeth's Heritage (2011)

[@jamiegiffney4702]

The best monkeys album !!

[@dag451]

I recall him mentioning something about learning guitar from a Polka teacher. Surely that would connect with the Hungarian major scale? That would give it a Balkan/Romani vibe.

[@castlestreetrecords]

Dale Garland the scale he’s using is lydian b7

[@ObliviousMiner]

yeah, that was in the guitar moves episode from noisey that was mentioned

[@saam6768]

Yeah I remember him saying that as well.

[@SethTaylor]

@Shockheadd45 Oh my god :O I always thought Josh's sound was a bit like the music I heard growing up at weddings and such in Romania.

[@stevo8782]

Polka yes. He does talk about that.

[@theparalexview785]

Excellent analysis. I've always found Homme's sound to have a bitter, sour, almost ironic edge, like he was using some obscure mode in a rock vein.

[@victorjonsson5231]

I think Alain Johannes also should get some Credit for joshs sound? Feels like he has been a big influence

[@daverlb]

100%

[@SeaOfMadness]

Totally. JHo has been influenced by (OK, appropriated!) a massive amount of Alain's stuff, but has always been honest about it. Clearly he has a lot of respect for the guy. He is on record as happily pilfering stuff from anyone he plays with and mixing it up. Anyway, what a cool little vid this is - Thanks!

[@CCDaDon15]

The massive shift in what Josh was making once Josh worked with Al and Natasha (please don’t leave her out) once he did DS7&8 is noticeable. I’m sure he listened to Eleven before that as well. But I mean. Yeah Al eventually came in and cowrote for two albums where he played a ton of guitar and bass stuff. It’s obvious that Josh really respects Al and Natasha. Everyone does. They made that Chris Cornell solo debut everything that it was. Everyone who knew Natasha basically Deified her. And her Latvian and Russian influences come through a lot in this. As well as Al’s Chilean influences.

[@jakeharper384]

Just the video I was looking for

[@bixumbi]

Very interesting lesson, thanks. And shows how innovative he is in blending this unusual mixture of metal and polka/ gypsy-like tones.

[@H3LLE]

You got the polka part right, he never played metal though and he had to repeat this for decades in interviews. He was mostly into Black Flag, Discharge etc as a kid. Actually his experimental streak resemble more Greg Ginn's than any other (with much more talent and skills added).

[@ColinMasurik]

Thank you for an amazing breakdown. A "trick" that I took away from his Guitar Moves was how while picking notes, he stumbles around with his strokes. Some notes down, some notes up but never in a standard alternate order. Down strokes for power and upstrokes for charm almost.

[@vaughnm0156]

His guitar moves vid I think details some of his thoughts on up vs down, very cool little interview

[@sunshinejonson9060]

After 8 years....finally. Thank you

[@davefawley9353]

Absolutely amazing 👏

[@jjhenn45]

Wow, I was just thinking about going back to that guitar moves video to learn the scale and this popped up. Great video!

[@mrskinner3203]

Bruce Wallace.... The most Scottish possible name. Epic

[@kingloser4198]

Did you bring the cards?

[@killslay]

I know a dude (in Scotland) called Angus MacDougal...

[@noone-fj9sn]

I once met a Jock McSporran!

[@mondegreenmatt849]

King Loser It gets borin eftir a while wi’oot the cairds.

[@YesOkayButWhy]

I lived with a guy in Edinburgh called Archie McCoist.

[@livinghere1972]

The Joshy scale can be found within the scales (as modes) of the Hungarian Major, Diminished Half Whole or Whole Half and the Bebop Melodic Minor.

[@ODAALx]

you did a great job.

[@kurtkluba7492]

Funny story, I hopped on KZbin today to learn how to clean my tower fan and as a bonus stumbled on this excellent video. Your way of explaining through the steps of altering key notes to achieve “the sound” is excellent. I did NOT expect to be inspired today and now thanks to you I am. Thank you!

[@MusicNuggets]

You're welcome, and thank you for the kind words!

[@guy.b.l6351]

kinda like a gipsy scale with the minor pentatonic

[@svarcik05]

Totally

[@0N3T1tan]

this is really cool. I remember watching that video but I never put the thing together.

[@Chris-lv3do]

Awesome job! Spaceship Landing 2.0 when you start looping

[@igorduffer]

THANKS, DIRECT AND SIMPLE

[@lochlanlewis2150]

he came up with these scales from trying to play the simpsons intro

[@radio555]

whole tone scale! The elfman special

[@dalesmith4609]

That's funny right there, lol

[@nu385]

Great lesson. Informative and straight to the point with no fat. Very useful. Thanks.

[@KizmetSirajli]

Very cool - thanks for the detail on this.

[@KsiazeIgor]

I had such a strat in butterscotch blonde too, 2007 AmStd it was. Had to sell it though. Gawd I miss it. Thanks for the video

[@KsiazeIgor]

I used to own same looking butterscotch blonde strat. Nice lesson, loverly accent kidder. Cheers!

[@mkuc6951]

lovely. thank you!

[@JMMJ4791]

Merci d'avoir démystifié le cas J.Homme. Merci beaucoup pour ta vidéo! Un fan Français.

[@knifer743]

Great lesson👍🏻

[@gerzaincorral7990]

Gracias!!! I watched a lot of times the "Guitar Moves" video but did not understand what he was doing until now...

[@rynxlaneran]

Great video, thanks a million

[@claudiomartella243]

love this one. would love to hear an analysis of the scale of "celtic" music. i hope i'm not making a big mistake, but i'd love an analysis of Foggy Dew.

[@michaelschaub5860]

Great video, thanks a lot!!

[@AaronJamesandtheBlackWater]

Well, that was a fund 3 hours of jamming out... thanks!

[@nigelsmith721]

Great insight. Enjoyed this.

[@federicouffreduzzi2601]

Great men! Finally, i studied that video so much! But here's totally better lookin to what i tried to figure out. I'm goin to litteraly "print" this vid!

[@SR91313]

Just take a screenshot and then you enlarge it to study it a little when you need to. But you probably already printed it anyways. lol

[@arthurguitarra87]

First thing i did! Haha

[@simonockas]

This video is probably the best analysis on this I've seen so far! Any tips on qotsa chords though?

[@mikloserhardt1723]

I'm Hungarian and have never heard of the Hungarian major scale (neither has the Hungarian language internet...), so I learned something today, thanks! Fact is, it sounds a lot like Bartók to me.

[@dkatdesign]

did you just call Matt Sweeney "one of their reporters" holy moly dude :D

[@jakebeaudrie]

I kinda thought the same thing.

[@SatanDynastyKiller]

Lol yup, my thoughts too.

[@georgekearney8595]

what is he known for ?

[@dkatdesign]

@@georgekearney8595 question is what ain't he known for

[@Bigbrotherthunder]

George Kearney I think he’s a cool dude

[@Bellski]

Awesome breakdown man!

[@mathisto21]

Holy shit - this video just blew my mind! You're a legend mate. Thanks so much for sharing this killer info!

[@mastertimb]

This is awesome, thank you!

[@Tom-pc9ts]

Well played sir

[@Tillkila]

Just thank you! Finally something to work with :D

[@elephantpuke]

I don't know music theory all that well but these are still fun to play. Cheers

[@bernoulli884]

You have a really concise and clear way of breaking this down. Awesome overview.

[@sniffrat3646]

Great stuff cheers

[@spike7038]

Gawn yersel.......perfect illustration of the Homme scale. Leaning into the 6th you ‘homme’d’ in on....see what you did there. This was great

[@Abrahamhamham]

This made me happy.

[@snakemont]

Thank you!

[@RF-js9yj]

Waited for a tutorial like this. Nice one!

[@medusasnoggin]

Hell yes! Nice work!

[@mattheweastel129]

Fantastic work, you’ve cracked the code I’ve wanted to understand for years. Thank you!

[@jaykelley103]

This is brilliant.Thanks, mate. Cheers

[@ksmosh]

Awesome video!

[@medusasnoggin]

Thank you kind sir!

[@blakehoss6837]

This also reminds me quite a bit of Richard Lloyd.

[@psmaulehlien]

Well done, sir

[@AaronLeeGrosse144]

Very nice, thank you sir!

[@arklowrockz]

Very interesting indeed. One of my favourite guitarists. Who'd have thought it? In relation to music Vice can actually do a good job!!

[@startervisions]

I bet Josh would like this

[@adams115]

startervisions, who’s to say he didn’t

[@startervisions]

@@adams115 idk

[@xxxtentacionspunchingbag2475]

@@adams115 I also don't know

[@carlossaez3586]

He doesn't like people figuring out his thing or sound, at least in the past.

[@SpecialAgentSamCooper]

@Carlos Saenz I spoke to him on the last tour (villains) and he said he has “other things to worry about.” He was also decently fucked up. (as was I) He was pretty laid back and I doubt he cares as much as he used to if at all. Besides he was talking about not doing a tour every year or even every year. That this last tour would be “the last one for a while” along with it being the last “big tour” I don’t think QOTSA will be as active as they have been in the past. I really think he will do another TCV album with Grohl and Jones, keep the Desert Sessions going, (which he’s states he wants to keep it running for as long as possible) he will work with other artists and maybe even start a new project. I think QOTSA will be on the back burner for sometime. Then again maybe I’m wrong.

[@tarkanpasin3417]

Great Video, Funny I was practicing my Melodic Minor Modes got to the 4th and realised how similar it sounded to homme then looked this up. Cheers dude.

[@castlestreetrecords]

Tarkan Pasin thats because its also ludian b7 or mixolydian #11

[@BreyerWhite]

that hungarian major is a game changer. slapper of a lesson mate

[@elrichbeauthman]

Legend, super content mate

[@blumeattempt9805]

Hi, I discovered your channel. Pure gold. Thank you very much!!!

[@kouverbingham5997]

this is the fucking coolest youtube video i've ever seen.

[@MrDieguense]

tremenda lesson!

[@DakTirCue]

Dude 814 ups to ZERO downs! never seen that before. cool vid mate

[@CMM5300]

Good lesson I've been using a lot of other pentatonics within the Hungarian major. 1#235b7 is a good one. 1#2#45b7 I like this new pentatonic. Thanks.

[@conorlaffertymusic]

Awesomeness! This is really helpful

[@jjclaws]

Awesome vid!

[@unconsciouscreator3012]

OMG! No dislikes!! Rock on !!!

[@Josev-TV]

Recap: Root, b3, 3, #4, b7, Octave, 3, #4, 6, b7

[@KidDozzi]

Thanks. Loved this video and it'll help lots of guitarists (maybe even to learn more theory!)🎉

[@M2Mil7er]

I always felt it as a mash up of Phrygian Dominant, Lydian, Double harmonic major and the blues.

[@bendavies8744]

Cheers dude! Very Interesting!

[@kingloser4198]

3:37 - it's the rozzers!

[@jv2781]

The Albanian ones !

[@shoneie]

Great playing man 👍

[@benjaminhartley6578]

Thanks, this is really awesome video

[@boudewijnborger1492]

Perfect, thanks man

[@VLKV_loves_you]

awwwwesome

[@drile00l80]

Well done. Way to make it simple!

[@Driftload]

Great vid

[@blackmagnetband]

This was great

[@mattgilbert7347]

Lydian b7 gets me into Homme mindset. The Hungarian scale makes sense given his Polka roots. Will dig into it, thx

[@madamefeast4824]

Nice video man. New sub

[@CMM5300]

Maybe 1#23#4b7 is better.... Idk. There's a lot that can be done. I guess it was a mixture dropping the #2 for the 6. 1#2#45b7. They all leave out the 4 so it doesn't spoil the resolution. Assuming your playing over a dominant V chord.

[@MusicNuggets]

Yeah I hear him bending up from the 6 to the b7 a lot, rather than settling on the 6, so fair comment. Thanks for watching.

[@LordFuzzman]

Great vid buddy!

[@jacobogarcialondono9499]

Man you are the boss

[@instanceTu]

This man is a great guitar

[@dm4728]

I was hoping this video was shot in November........

[@roksana7146]

Hi! What guitar do you play? Did you use any pedal effects while playing? I have to choose a guitar for me and I really enjoy the sound of yours. I’m also qotsa fan and your video is fantastic, you sound like Josh! Cheers

[@MusicNuggets]

Hi. 2004 50th Anniversary USA Stratocaster in 'butterscotch'. Really though, you'd get the same sound from most Strats. I use the middle pickup mostly. The effects are just virtual (Line 6 Toneport) - Just a slightly overdriven Fender amp with a subtle slapback reverb before the amp. Thanks for watching!

[@heresyisprogress]

awesome man. subscribed.

[@MusicNuggets]

Thank you!

[@victorbcls]

Great Lesson. Can someone tell me when i can use it? When the song is in D ou Dm? or D7? or whatever

[@MythosMachine369]

I need you for my guitar player. What are you doing after covids? lol. Love it!

[@foodank_atr817]

QotSA always sounds creepy/cool...

[@vanessacherche6393]

cool vid!