My Favorite Beginner Bluegrass Guitar Improv Exercise

[@nixternal]

"Be careful that you're not letting any previous knowledge you might have interrupt your bluegrass training." - you have no idea how hard this is. Only the past few days I've started really adding bluegrass practice to my practice and your endless lines. Oh my it is crazy how hard it is for me to improvise and not try a bend, a slide, ho or po. After blue improvising for the past 2 years really, it is so freaking hard. Also, wish I would have tossed in more "open scale" work when learning scales because open position scales are so hard for me too & it is weird. I'm trying to master them the way I did others by practicing them in sequences & doing endless lines. You rock by the way & a huge thanks for all of this!

[@bananasam2112]

Dude, your editing skills are LEGIT.

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

Thanks man, although I might prefer the robot dance I did after the green screen pull in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnK7l6GBa9Wsmck

[@haroldq.pinhead8818]

Great beginner lesson, thanks! Such a help! Could you do a video about the dominant 7th? Kind of like you did here with the "dirty third". I think it would also be useful to us beginners. Maybe combining the two, or would we even do that? Thanks from a beginner.

[@MasonCroneMusic]

Fantastic editing. I love how you pulled the screen out of the floor🤣

[@lukeleeburton3072]

Definitely one of the best instructional videos I've ever seen on youtube. Thanks for this!

[@daningram3143]

You’re are absolutely the best out there!!! Thanks for everything you do!

[@BenJohnMcCall]

This is one the best beginner bluegrass lessons out there. Your truth bombs are absolutely spot on. ✌🏻

[@dunhamchris]

This is great - I'm a pretty savvy guitar player but improv has always eluded me - This gives me somewhere to start - thanks !

[@markwillie]

Your playing is phenomenal and your video lessons are very comprehensive. I love bluegrass music but I don't read music or tabs and this stuff is too complicated for me. I'm just a simple 68 year old guitar player. Thanks for sharing your talent!

[@alan4sure]

Music and tabs are a crutch. Developing a musical ear is far better. Evening knowing name of the scale isn't that important. It's hearing and remembering sequences and runs, then replicating it.

[@greenlandgarry]

OK Brilliant Goat, this is absolutely fantastic (fan boy here). I have used something very similar for several years in teaching banjo and mandolin but never thought about doing it for bluegrass guitar (lazy and dumb). Now I don't need to do that, I can just send my guitar students to this and the other improv lessons. However, I know need to rewrite my banjo and mandolin tabs to better explain what I was trying to accomplish in light of your explanations here. This video is a great lead in into your improv lessons elsewhere. I continue to be amazed by your explanations - so clear - I now feel old and lazy but inspired and challenged. Old Guy Garry Greenland

[@strangsnsuch4765]

I used that lick in my video (4:35) love it a lot. Helps me to get up the neck w/ ease. I love these kinds of lessons!

[@guitar_player_bernie]

I have been playing guitar for a long time. I'm relatively new to bluegrass as far as playing it. It definitely helped. Thanks.

[@marilynsinclair8877]

Just happen by this video. It totally inspired me. Thanks, Marcel. I'll be looking for more of you on You Tube.

[@joshwiersummusic-yw7gf]

Every time I go looking for bluegrass lessons I always end up back here!😂 This channel is great!

[@JoshSnodgrass]

Amazing lesson Marcel! I got the book you referenced a while back "Hot Licks for Bluegrass Guitar" and that has been helping me a lot. That book combined with your videos has me finally making some progress learning how to do flatpicking solos.

[@bikebum2006]

Is this book in standard notation and tab? I only know tab, lol.

[@JoshSnodgrass]

@@bikebum2006 Great question, it is both standard and tab. I think the best thing for me about the book is that it helped me learn how to create licks. I got through the first couple of chapters and I was already making up a lot of stuff that I never would have understood before.

[@BS-gj5ot]

thanks, great tips for a bluegrass newbie like me

[@HughJengine]

A really creative and fun way of presenting a lesson. 👍

[@gregwaldrop3810]

I've revisited this video several time over the past year. I don't have any idea how to generate that tab like you are doing. I know you say make your own, but it would be helpful if you made 10 - 15 of them and I could randomly pick one of those, so I could work on picking strings vs being frustrated about using some software I don't even have. But its a helpful lesson and I will continue to return. Thanks Marcel.

[@johnmohr]

Would love to see the tab up on your website. thank you!

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

You got it! lessonswithmarcel.com/product/improvising-endless-lines-beginner/

[@johnmohr]

Thanks so much!!’

[@joeycovington4681]

Thank you

[@RickyMier]

I love this guy

[@joelcarlyle6579]

Great video, love the shirt!

[@mpress469]

What is the music notation/tab software being used. Any recommendations for a guitar teacher? Thanks

[@markpeynado9013]

Love this video Marcel. It’s very timely for me right now! Love your channel too man. Keep it up!!

[@erbrophyiii]

Great Video! Thanks!

[@leonardcamarda6554]

Yea, tab would be great thank you, very helpful

[@alan4sure]

Tabs interfere with developing an ear for music and melodies.

[@michaelglass9604]

Thanks! I was finally able to follow you for the entire lesson. I just learning. LOL

[@scottmagri6306]

In short, what is the theory behind bluegrass licks. Emphasize 1 3 5 b7 of chords (on which beat?) and use all others as passing notes?

[@patfarrell1832]

Very informative, as always! Also, ever think of doing a bluegrass clichés video? Wonder what you'd pull out of the ole trick bag

[@patrickcostello2429]

Thanks Marcel ... your channel is amazing ... greetings from Italy...⚡👍

[@Highshelfremedy]

Hey Marcel, this is bloody awesome, I'm loving your videos.. What software are you using here,?

[@Steve-si8hx]

The filthy 3rd always sounds good to my ears

[@artbylarry]

This is great

[@collinfields9571]

During the lockdown 2 years ago, I was exposed to Billy Strings for the first time. I immediately knew I wanted learn Bluegrass. It took a long time, but I started learning parts of different fiddle tunes, Red Haired Boy, Whiskey for Breakfast and a few others. But the first song I learned all the way through was Salt Creek. I contracted Covid so I've been under quarantine for 4 days so I had nothing better to do than play guitar. Finger speed will take some time but I have Salt Creek down pretty well. Now I need a new song to learn as I still have 6 more days on isolation. Can you recommend a suitable song as a second project for a beginner? Also, I would like some info on taking Skype lessons from you. Thanks a lot.

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

Try learning Big Sciota! For info on Skype Lessons go to lessonswithmarcel.com/skype-lessons

[@collinfields9571]

@@LessonsWithMarcel Right on! I just listened to Big Sciota. I'm gonna have a lot of fun with it. By the way, I've been praying for ya, I hope you got your voice back. Thanks again. I'll let ya how it goes.

[@Mega_Casual]

Marcel, do you have some videos on picking tutorials? Specifically, the best technique to hold the pick and then achieve FAST picking? I'm having a horrible time perfecting a fast flat picking technique. Especially when moving across from the low E to the high E strings to sound consistently picked with equal attack and decay sounds. Also some tabbed exercises to help improve speed would be helpful too.

[@adamkoepke1366]

For improvisation, is it better to have a good knowledge of theory or a good arsenal of licks and fiddle tunes?

[@allenronaldson4381]

Good stuff!

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

The answer is C, all of the above. You're synthesizing new information when you improvise and you end up using a little bit of everything you know. I think your question is pointed in slightly the wrong direction. It's almost like if someone said, "I want to be better at hide and seek, should I practice hiding, seeking, running, or sneaking?" Well you're going to need all that stuff to play hide and seek so work on all of it I guess!

[@adamkoepke1366]

@@LessonsWithMarcel thanks for the response Marcel!

[@notmyname3681]

Having a lower level of skill in all areas will serve you way better than being great in one. Without some theory those licks won't be much use if you switch keys, but licks are a great way of understanding why certain theoretical things work in practice, and as Marcel says you need to learn tunes to learn the language or dialect of a style. I also found the best thing for improv (for me) was to play jam sessions with bette rmusicians. Can't express how much it has helped my playing and understanding of both the guitar and music.

[@gregsanders7064]

What software are you using for transcription?

[@slpc30]

Just subscribed

[@seanmilam8437]

ily brotha

[@rainbowloomoverflow5106]

If this is me 2 years ago, I would had just played the tab and not understood it, luckily, my guitar teacher has taught me more about theory and the fretboard more so now I totally understand it. Now, I’ve been revisiting some of your old videos and it makes total sense. Guess I wasn’t fully ready then. Btw, this is copperdome bodhi 1973 from IG.

[@mattfountaine1389]

What’s your thoughts on using a 12 strings for bluegrass?

[@alanfloyd3205]

how about a flat 7? Is that off limits?

[@hoopie_304]

Thx bro

[@MrMandoManiac]

Marcel, can you tell us what software you’re using to create these scores/tabs? I write, but your software looks to have a MUCH more intuitive interface than my current software.

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

Look up Guitar Pro 8!

[@jasoncounts8249]

Is there a good beginner bluegrass guitar instructor that does lessons online you can recommend?

[@AdamLopezMusic]

I’m new to the bluegrass world…You are referring to the m3 as the ‘blue note’..? I have always known the blue note to be the b5 … is this a bluegrass thing? @lessonswithmarcel 5:46

[@L0uisRp]

Idk if you figuered it out since then but if someone is wondering the same thing, the flat 5 is the blue note in the minor scale. In the major scale, the blue note is the flat 3

[@robmiller3464]

Marcel, your lesson’s are the best on u-tube period. However for most beginners which I’m not, I feel viewers find them very comprehensive but sometimes too complicated because you enjoy tab’s and notes. Just wondering if maybe you gear yourself to beginner and intermediate players and think this is what they want, instead of what they really need. I personally like tabs but find them too time consuming. I’m a seasoned player and practice daily with great passion to learn, but having watched your numerous videos and read comments, I feel it would be great to facilitate some of those requests the viewers have. If you’ve determined this is your preferred method teaching that’s fine.

[@hollerboy2758]

What do you u use to make tabs?

[@TheBigRig]

Here is my problem. I can play some fiddle tunes really well...Red Haired Boy, Salt Creek, etc, and they sound pretty good in a jam setting. When I get to a song that I know, but don't have the melody memorized, I sound really weak. I try to improvise using the pentatonic scale, but it still come out sounding much less impressive than the memorized fiddle tunes. Not sure what to do to make he improvised songs sound more full. I guess the simple answer is practice this video....lol

[@omarethiop6778]

Confused again. Isn’t the root note E (open E) which would then make this an E pentatonic scale? This is the problem with learning online. Everyone has a different answer 😩

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

It's not that everyone has different answers, although I see why you'd think that. This is a question that has two correct answers depending on context. This collection of notes can be named an E minor pentatonic scale or a G major pentatonic scale depending on context. In this context I'm feeling G as the root note, so I'd call it the G major pentatonic scale. This concept can be called relative major or relative minor. Hope that helps!

[@omarethiop6778]

@@LessonsWithMarcel Yes. Thanks! I need to stop overcomplicating. There’s a reason it’s called “Music Theory.”

[@jeremydenhof5815]

New to your channel Marcel. Exactly what I’ve been looking for. Your putting up some great stuff! Thank you! If I have capo on 2nd fret playing G shape (key of A) do I use G pentatonics (with capo) over that or A shape 1st position with capo?

[@alan4sure]

Play like in G.

[@donnieterry2992]

Beginner, tabs pleas

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

Here you are: lessonswithmarcel.com/product/improvising-endless-lines-beginner/

[@randycraig]

You started out doing straight 8th notes but then you when to a dotted note rhythm even though you are writing even 8th notes. Why? Thanks!

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

Bluegrass can swing a little when it's slower. It tends to straighten out when it speeds up! This 'groove' interpretation is rarely notated. For instance, swing music has a delayed '+' but is almost always notated with an 8th note rhythm. Don't over think it!

[@TheBladepolisher]

Tried to download the free tab and it ended up being a task akin to parting the red sea ! ! No download option at all. What gives ? ?

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

Let me help! Follow the link in description, click add to cart and checkout like any other website. You still have to go through the "checkout" process even though it's a free item because bots were crashing my site when it was just a download button. After checking out you'll be taken to a page with download links, you'll also receive an email with download links. Check your spam folder if you don't get the email.

[@markchristopher4165]

This is fantastic

[@erwinvandijke6169]

you're not only a great guitar player, but a computer programmer as well ;-)

[@thepsychedelectricbard]

Omggggg say Dirty Third in an Irish accent 😂👌🍀

[@skiphardin7259]

👍

[@Ezloopz]

Is that a frog in an ashtray?? O.o

[@LessonsWithMarcel]

It's actually a cane toad.

[@christineblack4654]

you should know the lesson and show it. faster. there is wayyyyyy to much talking.

[@mgibby63mg]

The only thing I learned is I just lost 15 minutes and 24 seconds of my life ill never get back, lol... head has spun !

[@freebee8221]

Too much talk for me

[@ObscenePlanet]

The NASCAR shirt is essential for bluegrass

[@blindfeline]

What program do you use for writing tabs?