Open Up The Fretboard With "The 2 2 1 Rule"

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

**CORRECTION: In the fretboard diagrams I missed one note on the low E string in the position 1 major/minor scale shapes. It should be immediately before the major root (E & G). Sorry about that! Thanks for watching! If you're enjoying the videos, check out my Beginner/Intermediate guitar course here: andrewclarkeguitar.com/p/listen-play

[@christianhoffman7407]

3:35 I always learned that pentantonic position (my favorite for some reason) as the 5th position. That is due to the difference between the major and minor pentatonic scale correct? Edit: I have these charts I downloaded years ago from "yellow guitar books" that show that as the 5th for both major and minor. I am not arguing or anything I just want to get my terminology right because if that is off a lot of confusion could result. Thanks for what you do. Was it you with the $79 lifetime access?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@christianhoffman7407 It completely depends on if you're basing it on the major or the minor whether it's position 1 or 5. Personally, I just always call it position 1 because that's how it makes sense in my brain. I'm less concerned about what's "right" or "wrong" and more concerned with what works best for the individual. My course is $59 for lifetime access :)

[@nomadexplorer6682]

Thanks Andrew. You have opened up the chromatic scale with 221 and connect the diatonic scale of 7 pitches very well. You have shown how to evolve further with the guitar fretboard. You are a superb teacher...

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Appreciate that, thank you!

[@michael4930]

As an over 30 year player, this simple rule which is immediately applicable, has helped me understand the fretboard a lot more. Thank you.

[@SwampWrangler]

Seen this lesson explained many times before but never like this. The 221 method is way easier to understand, and no one has ever talked what you can find in the half steps. Thank you !

[@brazilgriller6073]

STUNNING!!!!!

[@BillCourtney58]

I have been searching for a method to help visualize the fret board. For decades! I watched your video and… I’m still searching.

[@youngfaze513]

😂

[@PR-BEACHBOY]

A fun but very effective type of trick to use in learning the “Major Scale” Just about impossible to forget! Thanks, very valuable! I developed a Nemonic Dive to remember the names of the 7 Modes. Ionian, Dorian Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aolian, Locrian I Do Prefer Lydia Mix Ales Locally How do you like that?

[@sarathw5740]

Thank you. This is a great lesson. This is an extension of tone, tone, semitone tone, tone, tome semitone. I know this in the piano but did not know how it works in the guitar. Now I can apply 221 rule to piano too. You are a great teacher.😃

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You're welcome! Glad I could help. 👍

[@jodyinalaska1]

That is a great way of looking at things. It helped me a lot when I figured out that pattern also, very helpful is a 3-2 pattern with pentatonic scales.

[@Cameron-ue7lu]

OMG! How come no one ever mentions this! we need tricks and codes that get us across the frets without getting bogged down in all that theory. Thanks AC soooo much!!

[@harveyabouchardjr]

thank you for that cool trick. im 53 been playing with now formal teaching since i was 13....im finally understanding more of the frett board.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Glad I could help!

[@DH-CA]

Dude ! Where have been ? You’re the best - can’t say enough !

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thanks! ☺

[@YungStinkyWinky]

CANADA BABY! I've been watching your videos lately to help me with the technical/theory side of guitar that I never spent much time on after all these years, and your stuff has been invaluable. It's much appreciated. And of course, bonus points for being Canadian :)

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Haha thanks a lot! I'm glad I can help :) 🇨🇦

[@killedbycoconuts]

You covered this in your course and in another video and it really helped me. Now I can actually use triads and arpeggios!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Awesome! That's great to hear.

[@timothyfraeyman8667]

This is really helpfull. I am not from the USA and the formula of the phone number doesn’t apply to where i live but this is the first time that freedom units helped me understanding something

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Haha, I'm glad it still worked for you 😂

[@bradwilliams7145]

Thanks for the 221-2221. I must be stupid, because after that, I was lost. It's probably cause I'm 66 and my brain doesn't work like it used to. Thanks again, young man.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Even if you just got that out of this video, it's a win. The other stuff is a little more advanced. Don't worry about it. Thanks so much for watching!

[@MPNNag]

I have that same guitar and i made it out of parts off the internet, it's one of my favorite Tele partscaster.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Nice! This one is one of the MIJ Fenders and I love it. I have to build a parts-guitar someday.

[@bojoemusic]

Tone tone semitone, tone tone tone semitone

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Yes!

[@austridge31]

​@@andrewclarkeguitarOmg. I love you and I want to have your babies! 😂 That did exactly what you said right at the beginning. Just made it... click for me.

[@zxxxAmare]

BRO THATS UNBELIEVABLE

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm happy to hear that it helped :)

[@mykneeshurt8393]

Learning the C major scale on the B string and then using the D major and D minor chord shapes to play the chords from the C major scale (root note on B string), up the neck, really helped me to visualize the fret board. Of course the B diminished is a different chord shape.. Doing this helped me learn the natural notes on the top three strings. I never see anyone mention this method.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Totally! That's a great way to do it!

[@serotoneend5725]

Hey, can you elaborate for me so that i can learn the fretboard too

[@mykneeshurt8393]

@@serotoneend5725 The major scale follows the same formula or pattern. Two whole steps, one half step, three whole steps and one half step. This is what Andrew is explaining in this video. WWHWWWH. Each note of the major scale can be used to build a chord. The chord type are always in the same order. Major, minor, minor, Major, Major, diminished. So, three major chords and three minor chords. If you can play the D major and D minor chord shapes in open position. (cowboy chord shapes), we can use those two shapes to play the three major and three minor chords that are in the key of C major. The root note for each chord will be played on the B string. Starting at the first fret of the B string and playing ONLY the high E, B and G strings.. Apply the WWHWWWH pattern on the B string. C major, D minor, E minor, F major, G major, A minor will be your chords. B is different so I would ignore it for now. Hope this helps.

[@martynrandall7652]

This is really interesting I'm defo gunna knuckle down and learn that. Really useful to visualise what a scales you can play in that key!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

It's a great trick!

[@MusicLabs234]

Thanks from a fellow Canadian.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Cheers! 🇨🇦

[@caryheuchert]

Excellent video and lesson, Andrew! 👍👍👍

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thank you!!

[@Cwilliams2109]

I actually found the 221-2221 but very helpful. But then i got lost on overlaying the scales depending on the 2 1. Especially when some scales did not involve those 2 notes?

[@keithsnowdon8672]

Very good explanation of tone tone semitone tone tone tone semitone

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thank you!

[@jessemayra]

Genius!…i do this but I only ever use pos 1 and 4 of minor pentatonic

[@spinepus]

This was so helpful, thank you man!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You're very welcome 😊

[@joerymer8640]

Another great video, bro! I can't wait for my brain to kick in, so I can do more visualization when look at the neck. 😂 your getting me there, one vid at a time. 😂

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You got this! Glad I can help :)

[@deadsoundradio]

That’s a beautiful tele!!!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thanks!! It’s a MIJ. Great guitar.

[@peterginsburg2465]

When you start, you said E pentatonic 1st position. But, 1st pentatonic position is usually minor pentatoic on the index finger, so I was a bit confused. It might be better to say E major pentatonic starting on pinkie finger. For me, the single interval doesn't really register as a position indicator, since they vary across the 6 strings. I'm still having trouble switching relative major, minor keys and connected scale patterns. The higher and lower scale positions help, but I often get lost trying to connect the two "islands" on the fretboard and if I'm playing the major or minor key either pentatonic or full scale. It gets frustrating. Sometimes, I have to play the whole major scale patterns of a key up the neck to figure out where I am, but that's just me. Your lessons have helped me more than any other teachers, so I thank you so much.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I can understand why that might be confusing. Really understanding the connection between relative major and minor keys is very important. When I play, I pretty much always relate everything back to the relative major. So rather than having to think about 24 possible keys to play in, I only have 12. I'm not sure if you've watched them yet, but I'd recommend this breakdown of relative major/minor keys: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bHTMdZ-AmtWfY9E and this video on connecting shapes closer together: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q56VpX-Oqa-ohqs&t

[@peterginsburg2465]

@@andrewclarkeguitar I've watched your videos on relative major/minor keys and scales which have help immensely. I may be trying to do too much at once, basically trying to resolve solos to root notes across the 6 strings which depend on which relative key a song is in. And then add pentatonic and blues scales at the same time, and trying to expand everything to the 5 hand scale shapes. I can start at a minor 1st scale position root note, then work my way up the fret board with the major scale shapes, and then loose where I am in the minor scale and their root notes, since I know where the major scale root notes are. I know the minor pentatonic shapes, so it might be best to just fill in the extra notes for each position.

[@Trev9]

This is excellent.. now I can remember wwhwwwh and never ever get confused again

[@charlesbryant870]

This is fantastic. Thank you!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You're welcome!

[@andrewjblesson2024]

Your videos really help me man😁😁

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I'm glad to hear it!

[@mabblers]

Great lesson.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thanks!!

[@ripsaltydog1750]

OMG this was brilliant!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching.

[@owentileandmarble4732]

Great lesson!Thanks

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Thanks for watching!

[@thomaswossen878]

Can you do a video Tutorial on what arpeggios are and how can they be applied to our playing. Thanks🙏🏽

[@saalibjonesfer9079]

First time seeing your videos, and first time seeing this as a phone number, great hack! so I subscribed!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Appreciate that! 🙌

[@GaveMeGrace1]

That was good-thank you.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

My pleasure!

[@henryclay3199]

The major scale follows the formula "whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half" or WWHWWWH. Beginning on the note C and following this pattern gives us C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.

[@ChanokchaiChauychoo]

So interesting approach

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Glad you found it interesting!

[@johnbalthazar5826]

Simple to understand

[@Clarence2Worley]

This is so awesome.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@mohammedislam7657]

Super helpful video - just had a question: while I understand that in the one interval I can discover the other scales, it’s unclear to me should I remember the shape of the scale vertically? Example in the G Major scale, the second one position has a different shape than the first. How do you remember that?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Good question. Learning each vertical shape takes time and different things work for different people. Some folks just look up each individual shape and practice going up and down until it's memorized, but in my opinion it's more helpful to use a system like the CAGED system to learn how/why each shape looks the way it does.

[@nickyengle9668]

Thx

[@Darrick-f9d]

Thanks 👍

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You’re welcome!

[@CalvinLimSH-ld5le]

Thanks for showing how to play the R 2 2 1 - 2 2 2 1 which can be play in any 12 musical keys from the strings in the guitar fretboard starting from the root position [ E.g. Key C major scale : C4 D E F - G A B C5 ]. It is good to remember and play it like a phone number format skipping the frets in sequence.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Yes! Thanks for watching :)

[@SolidBuildersInc]

Indeed, This was an awesome lesson for visualization What an Aha moment. Thank you

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

That's great to hear. Thanks so much for watching!

[@imjonkatz]

Very nice job :P

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Appreciate it!

[@JN76]

Awesome. This needs a sequel.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Noted. Thanks for watching!

[@jeffhingpis]

can you please tell what model is your guitar thanks!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

It's a MIJ Fender Traditional Telecaster. Great guitar!

[@koatzingo361]

for the G major pentatonic scale pos. 1 your starting the scale from its relative minor. That makes it a a minor pentatonic scale

[@Wayne-c3x]

I would like to learn more on how play How to play 3:43

[@johnCjr4671]

Whats the formula for natural minor ?

[@chadthomas8199]

Sorry, but I lost you... I get the 221-2221 pattern. But how does that relate to your fingering? Frustrating to not be able to follow.

[@negativeghostrdr]

May be easier to visualize it one string at a time horizontally rather than vertically. Just remember starting from your root note it goes Whole, Whole, Half note (or 2 frets, 2 frets, 1 fret)

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Think of it more as a guide. Not as something to be played. It's there to show you where these vertical pentonic/major/minor scale shapes are positioned vertically. If you want a more beginner-friendly version of this lesson, I'd suggest watching this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/baioaaGwp9qAja8

[@matthewheaton8743]

Whole step whole step half step

[@stevenreyes7458]

What about minor

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

The minor scale fits right in there through the relative minor. Nothing changes. You can just relate everything back to the relative major scale. Sounds a little confusing, but music becomes a lot easier to understand when you start thinking this way. At least it did for me.

[@stevenreyes7458]

Alright thanks

[@whatarefriends4]

Handy

[@MrFrampo56]

Where’s all the Suhrs ?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I've been playing my Fenders more lately! The Suhrs are sitting on the rack to my left.

[@MrFrampo56]

@ Lucky guy. They are superb. Too expensive for me though. Unless I shift my Gibson LP and Gretsch 6128 …. who knows? Cheers

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@MrFrampo56 They are. These days there are almost too many great guitars it seems. I have just as good a time on any of them. Sounds like you've got some great ones as well!

[@MrFrampo56]

@ Thanks. They’re not in the same league as your Suhrs though. I do have a nice Tele though. An American Ash ( only made 2003- 2007 ). Known as an 8502 amongst Telecaster enthusiasts. It’s possibly my favourite. So easy to play.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@@MrFrampo56 Nice! Never heard of an 8502 before.

[@eddanderson1094]

When I play I'm not thinking I'm feeling. 60 years of playing. It's not guitar hero.

[@pageluvva]

Oh thank you for not teaching the dreaded and played-out blues box. Oh thank you.

[@shmelie]

I know it as tone tone semitone tone tone tone semitone

[@AviMus82]

In music theory we were taught WWHWWWH which his whole whole half whole whole whole half

[@CVGuitar]

Tetrachords

[@spencervaughn1897]

so convoluted. This teaches you a gimmicky understanding of the fretboard that will isolate you from playing with other guitarists who use universal terms and standards to communicate.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

We can agree to disagree. This is to be used in tandem with one or more of the standard methods for navigating the fretboard as I stated at the beginning. I've found that it does a good job of getting players to start thinking horizontally about scales while still visualizing the vertical shapes they're used to. Which can be very challenging for some beginners/intermediates.

[@njiscott2399]

I didn't know this guy was canadian lol

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

I sure am! ☺

[@mschreib.TheGet]

Yeah that got confusing & made no sense really fast

[@ltgray2780]

Modes.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Modes are these same scales just starting at different points in the scale :)

[@soumendasgupta2272]

It's 11 notes , at 12 it starts to repeat .. isn't it ?

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

You’re not counting 0 (the open string) which is the same note as the 12th fret. So that makes 12 total notes.

[@soumendasgupta2272]

@@andrewclarkeguitar damn you are right .. thanks!!

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

@ no problem at all!

[@midi1529]

So... yes.... but no. Learn your scales. This can be used after

[@OfficialHawkTuah]

WWH-WWWH

[@johncarlo7395]

You need to slow down a bit, take a breath between sentences, give us a chance to absorb what you're talking about, I was just baffled by your non stop talking.

[@andrewclarkeguitar]

Appreciate the feedback. I'll keep that in mind in future videos. Thanks for watching anyways!

[@grahambarton5507]

KZbin allows you/us to slow down or speed up a video. Try that. Good point and gracious answer. Others may find it ‘too slow’.

[@soccerlover7ish]

@@andrewclarkeguitarbruh the pacing was perfect ,don’t let losers influence u.

[@socialrehab9234]

One thing I do with my daughter who is 7 is to put the subtitles on and then pause it so you can read what they say. That might work for you 🙂 Great video thank you! Really well explained

[@carlajoyvalencia7409]

Actually most youtube watchers even speed up vides because it’s too slow, but this video was right on pace for normal users.

[@condocord7544]

that video is way too long

[@Darrick-f9d]

It's only 8 minutes...my God, have some patience.

[@mavinmusicmethod]

Tetrachords