Pentatonic Scales: The Easy Way!!

[@stevehebert-jk5rz]

Omg! Somebody finally showed me how to work the fret board in a language that is understandable. Nobel Peace Prize coming you way. Thanks so much, now I can go learn how to use this with practice and confidence. Sooooo appreciated.

[@curiousguitarist]

Hey Steve! This is a great comment, so glad this one landed well. Once you start to look at the fretboard like this it unlocks rapidly. Chords, scales, arpeggios all follow this mechanism. Welcome to the open door!!

[@geralynpalacol3764]

Great Lesson! Thanks again Chris🥰🎸🎸🎸

[@MikeyBakerMusic]

"It's always better for you to find the limits of the instrument than the instrument to be limited by your capability." That is gold sir.

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks, Mikey! See you at the end of the month!

[@MikeyBakerMusic]

@@curiousguitarist Stoked!

[@lukeyduke9732]

Wasn’t that LAO TSZU ?

[@MikeyBakerMusic]

@@lukeyduke9732 Who? Tzu?

[@Bassic778]

Absolutely 24 karats!!!

[@bobbyharrellalonewithmygui932]

I’ve been playing for 20 years, and I’ve been in a rut these past few months. You just reignited my passion, and gave me something exciting to learn again

[@curiousguitarist]

Best thing I could have read today, Bobby! Thanks for this!

[@ryanphillips5412]

Been playing 25 years and this was a light bulb moment for me. Thank you!

[@curiousguitarist]

You are so welcome, Ryan, glad you’re here!

[@tullyaussie]

me too!!!

[@danielmiller2886]

Same here

Watching your extraordinary explanation I come to the conclusion that the Master is not the person from which you will learn "everything" you need to know, but the person from which you will learn "the only" thing you need to know. Thank you so much

[@curiousguitarist]

That is so kind, Tudor. Thank you and I’m so glad you’re here

[@mauriceb9996]

It's been about 3 weeks. Got Am mapped and playing all over the fret board... up and down.Got an Am backing track. I impressed myself. Throwing in some slides, vibratos and bends...yeah baby!

[@curiousguitarist]

Man that's GREAT news! Thanks for the update.

[@ednaplate]

Such a simple concept and an approach I’d never considered. This lesson is gold!

[@curiousguitarist]

I'm so glad you enjoyed it ednaplate! I'm glad you're here.

[@coloaten6682]

And that's not even an exaggeration! 👍

[@tiemenbouma]

Man, Ive been playing for ages and hit the famous intermediate plateau. Im trying to break this with learning the basics of the pentatonic scales. Your vid helped me find the logic in the guitar again! Much appreciated!!!

[@curiousguitarist]

So glad to hear that! Happy that this one has landed well for you.

[@ChadwickRider]

Thank you Chris, much appreciated. I've played for over 25 years, mostly as a vocalist and rhythm guitarist so I have the dexterity... these little nuggets are super valuable to guys like me who are wanting to get into more lead guitar.

[@curiousguitarist]

So glad you enjoyed it!

[@hb2289]

The simplicity here is mind blowing. I'm digging this approach and finally moving the scale around the fretboard. Yes!

[@curiousguitarist]

It’s so great to hear this is helpful! You can take this approach with any scale, as well as any chord too. This idea can really crack things open. Thanks for posting

[@hb2289]

@@curiousguitarist After watching your video and applying the knowledge you shared I suddenly find similar posts in my News feed. One instructs to halve the pattern and move the second half to the 5th fret or the A note on the lower E string. It sounds exactly like the first half. I use your method of switching from index to ring finger here too.

[@Mosteller777]

"Taking the cognitive load out of mapping the pentatonic scale across the entire fretboard" is an incredible hook and deserves a subscribe on that alone.

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Chris, I appreciate that. Glad you're here.

[@skymycat1]

It is addicting isn't it

[@johnnewman8412]

That's actually a very good exercise and one that, unusually, provides more benefit the longer you've been playing. It's very easy to play scales the same way over and over again, which means that when we land on a note and our brain finds an appropriate scale pattern we will end up playing the same way over and over. Being able to switch to a different shape than we're used to opens up all sorts of ideas that normally would never see the light of day. Great lesson!

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks John, I’m glad you enjoyed this one!

[@johnflorian6745]

This looks really helpful to me. Anything that requires memorization causes me to struggle and learning scales in various positions has been slow and challenging and worse, demotivating. I like how this strips away things that, while they may be useful to know eventually, aren't really a prerequisite. Kudos for providing such clarity.

[@curiousguitarist]

That is EXACTLY it, John! Glad you’re here!

[@The_Macaroon]

Playing over 30 years. Learned something new. Many thanks

[@curiousguitarist]

You bet!!

[@MrDoneboy]

Excellent video Chris. As a 50 plus year veteran of the guitar, I am constantly amazed of the multitude of approaches, that can be applied to learning the fretboard!

[@danqodusk8140]

You only need one approach. Take the time to learn basic music theory, chord and scale construction, and note and interval names. You only have to learn this once and you can discard all of the nonsense you learned up to now.

[@MrDoneboy]

@@danqodusk8140 Brother, I have been playing guitar for 55 years now. I just now am a fan, of all of the innovations that are constantly occuring with the instrument! Peace!

[@aliasproductions81]

Ty so much! I'm an intermediate player and this breaks down the wall for me in transcending to the next step with improvising solos! Splitting each position into two halves alone is huge for me! I can't believe I've never thought of it like this (using only 2 fingers for root placement too), but now with some more practice and quizing my memory I won't have to pause before knowing exactly where I need/want to be in a scale to improvise solos with new phrases/runs!

[@curiousguitarist]

That’s it, exactly!

[@Pathological_Flyer]

Thank You for this lesson Chris ! I combined your technique with Stich’s “never-lost” system and now I am INVINCIBLE ! (both systems compliment one another) 👍🏻🎸🤘

[@curiousguitarist]

That is the greatest news I could get here! Glad you're here, and tell Stitch I said "hello!"

[@djbny2la]

@pathological Flyer I instantly thought of the stitch "never lost" as well. I agree, these complement each other .. Next up the Major Pentatonic "Sherland" method

[@curiousguitarist]

@@djbny2la I need to collab with Stitch someday!!

[@MUGSYBROWN]

Doing the Exact Same thing Myself. Can’t Wait til it All clicks together ….. I’m gettin there, and enjoying the SHIT out of it the Whole Way Through !!!

[@robertbrown9669]

[... link 2 'Stichs technique' PLZ !!! ??? ...]

[@t.marcell3092]

Terrific video. Absolutely one of the clearest and most straightforward I’ve ever seen for guitar!

[@curiousguitarist]

So glad you enjoyed this one!

[@rachelghanem6298]

You always turn the most boring theory and fretboard lessons into fun and exciting rides ! love your lessons and I thank you for them !

[@curiousguitarist]

Of course, Rachel! Thanks for watching

[@MrPhilharmonica1]

Thank you. I simply jam. I am very green. On the harmonica I jam by ear. Now jamming on the guitar. I am boring. I have a visual of the 5 pentatonic patterns. All blues keys are now possible to have fun with because of the patterns. A well placed half tone sets it up good for some melodic latin stuff. I want to learn more and when I end up jamming with backing tracks I fall into my meditative mood and just jam. I can certainly say that I learned something I will remember from your video. Baby steps for an old guy lol. Your teaching sets it up for me to search the root from a different approach. Normally using the G string to find my favorite pattern to start with. It will change as of today. Index and ring finger. My name is not Django he was great.

[@acousticadventure1]

👌 great stuff Chris. I've been waiting for one of my you tubers to release this very thing. When I figured this out couple years ago I think it was my biggest AH HA moment ever. Only thing to accompany this is learning where all the root notes are.

[@curiousguitarist]

Exactly! Great context, thanks!

[@acousticadventure1]

@@curiousguitarist I also see the relation to CAGED (where the root notes are) and am currently trying to apply same to modes, just a bit trickier.

[@brette]

What's remarkable about this approach is that it simplifies the problem by focusing on just two constraints, even though there are still numerous other factors and various patterns at play. However, when you approach it from this perspective, your brain naturally starts to make sense of it. It's truly an intriguing approach.

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Brette, sometimes a fresh take with less noise helps reveal what’s already there :) Thanks for the views and comment

[@markgoodwin5306]

Great video once again. The minor pent is perfect for minor 7 chords, seriously so perfect. I like to call the major pent, the major pentatonic, plus. Haha, because because if you wanna cover a chord, you’re hitting the chord tones, plus whatever you wanna add or what you think is important

[@curiousguitarist]

Nice way to look at it, Mark!

[@mr.fenderb.bender512]

Doing this helps to find the notes themselves. In other words, looking for all the A's and then doing it in each key, makes you familiar with where all the notes are in addition to being a great way to look at the scale. I've used the shapes for so long I don't think I can ever not be somewhat aware of them, at least in the background as I play. Great style of teaching. I became familiar with you through Marty Schwartz, another great teacher.

[@curiousguitarist]

Great comment! Yeah, Marty is the man! I taught him to play when he was in college! I'm glad you're here, and enjoying the videos.

[@brettdbrewer]

While practicing pentatonic scale shapes, I happened upon this method myself, where I started with the 1st and 3rd fingers and found all instances across the fretboard. I found it helped orient me to finding the scale at any point vs thinking 5 scale shapes first and backing into it. Good for quickly knowing the notes on the fretboard too as you anchor off the roots and finding them. I'm doing this same kind of method for major scale and its modes to with same success. Totally agree that guitarists should learn it this way first vs. going first to playing the full 5 scale shapes and thinking "shape" more than "scale from root".

[@jack6136]

Chris, Don’t feel bad about it. A lot of musicians are better than me and you and a whole bunch of other musicians out there. However, when you go out and get a bar gig hopefully you learned a lot of tunes and how to play them flawlessly and hopefully you don’t spend a bunch of time blabbing in between tunes and for the love of GOD Do Not play Loud! The best way to wreck a gig is to play to Loud ! I went to hear the Johnny Winter Band at Pinckney Park Rowayton CT And the opening band was Manny and the Mojomatics . The opening band was no where near as loud and everyone could HEAR them! The Johnny Winter Band was so loud I had to walk a few blocks away to lower the volume to be able to hear them and yes they were rather good!

[@JaysonT1]

Knowing that there are guitarists that utilize some tools better than The Guitarcheologist and that there is more to learn is the both awesomely inspiring and depressing.

[@curiousguitarist]

Go for the inspiring impulse...it's SO much better than the second one.

[@hmcpimpslap480]

I’m a 60-year-old beginner and this is the first time the guitar has started to make sense to me!

[@curiousguitarist]

@@hmcpimpslap480 fantastic! I’m so glad this channel is helping!

[@scottkidwellmusic9175]

Well, consider this old guitarist's curiosity piqued and mind kinda blown... amazing what happens when one can simplify things. Thank you, Chris 🙏

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Scott, so much. I really appreciate you being here, engaged, and all your support.

[@DaveKoczan]

This is incredible and definitely a light bulb moment! especially as i learnt to play that Am Penta shape all over to solo in different keys! It's the anchor shape now can use it more musically in each key anywhere! thanks Chris!

[@curiousguitarist]

Of course!!

[@5150show]

Absolutely brilliant thank you 🙏

[@curiousguitarist]

You’re so welcome!

[@StevenWhittum]

Holy shit! 29 freaking years! This is amazing. I’ll be subscribing to your patreon.

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Steven, looking forward to it!

[@glennmartin8355]

Hi Chris, you only have to watch Stevie Ray Vaghgn live at El Mocanbo once to have your pentatonic world change forever. The greatest blues palyer ever and a complete master of the scale.

[@curiousguitarist]

So true! He also used Mixolydian, Natural Minor, and the Blues scale a ton. Thanks for the comment!

[@blindponyband]

Great addition and enhancement on the last vid you did on this subject.

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Kent. Still looking to get together in LA!!!

[@blindponyband]

@@curiousguitarist Just lemme know when! I'm in Silver Lake.

[@craigmurray1017]

I am just starting to learn to play Blues guitar. I have played bass for years and sat in the pocket .. Thank you for demystifying this concept for me.

[@curiousguitarist]

You are welcome 🙏

[@musicman42896]

AHA! I have seen the light! Definitely an AHA moment so thanks a million! After days of agonizing over every which way to use the PS, you have simplified this so easily & have given me new energy! Its funny that when you have understanding of something, how much better you can make it work. Cant wait to go through your website. Thanks again Chris!

[@curiousguitarist]

So glad it was helpful, Greg!

[@andreeromero4970]

Got my guitar last week or so, this has helped me ao much, thank you

[@curiousguitarist]

Ahhh, happy to hear this landed well for you.

[@kurtgally526]

Thank you sir. I was in a rut with the pentatonic scale. This helped me play something new!

[@curiousguitarist]

So glad! Playing from the root to the root again and focusing on that really allows the scale to be heard and thus, controlled as you play it

[@briandonovan5687]

This makes so much more sense to me because I also am confused by patterns, shapes n scales oh n boxes. I'm assuming u can use this same concept for all scales? I guess I'll find out. . . hopefully lol. Thanks for ur lesson

[@curiousguitarist]

Yup, all scales, and all chords too.

[@462rob]

CONGRATULATIONS! You've taken a complicated, difficult to understand topic and made it IMPOSSIBLE to understand. Bravo!

[@curiousguitarist]

Did you try this? I would argue that you haven't.

[@462rob]

@@curiousguitarist It's like a lot of these videos (not just you) "Unlock the fretboard with the CAGED system!" " A new way to learn pentatonics!" Learn all of that stuff and what do you have? You have SHIT. Have a chick over and show her how you can find shapes all over the fretboard. I'm sure she'll be impressed. Not one....NOT ONE video on what any/all of it MEANS or how to use it. Oh and btw.... again not just you, without a different camera angle or a graphic, we can only estimate where your fingers are or what you are doing....

[@Ted007-r5r]

I'm starting at 74, some Tabs would really help me to see where to go. Thanks for the great video

[@curiousguitarist]

Indeed Ted, I'm so glad the content here is helpful, and yes, all the TABs are available on Patreon here: www.patreon.com/chrissherland You can grab them there, and thanks in advance if you do decide to support the effort!

[@flightofthebumblebee9529]

Brother, Wildwood was like Heaven to me as a kid in the 90s. I cried when I saw on the news Dracula's Castle was burned down. Great vid! 🎸

[@FirstLovedUs7x7]

Years of playing,... I see your AH-HA and raise you to 1M. Your teaching style and method is a palatable feast. Thank you.🎉

[@curiousguitarist]

Ha! So glad you found your way here, Frank!

[@crate5150]

I like you saying about finding the limits of the instrument. Thanks for an interesting way to approach a minor pentatonic that I can put in my tool kit and always use.

[@curiousguitarist]

You bet!

[@eclecticexplorer7828]

Great lesson! I have struggled with scales, and I believe this is really going to help me. Also, great philosophical advice in the first minute and a half.

[@curiousguitarist]

Glad you enjoyed this one EE!

[@coloaten6682]

I'm a beginner but coming from piano and with a (small and recent) home studio. I want to be able to play drums, bass, piano/keys and guitar on my compositions, which will be quite basic in the beginning. Your video is what I was looking for, a kind of 'cheat' to be able to add - after much practicing - simple guitar solos. To my surprise I'm enjoying guitar more than I thought I would and am excited to expand my horizons. Keys, drums and bass are OK but not quite guitar! Really happy to be a new subscriber! :)

[@curiousguitarist]

So great to have you on board! Welcome

[@coloaten6682]

@@curiousguitarist Thanks a lot! :)

[@priskilly]

Love your teaching, you are the Pep Guardiola of Guitar - Pep Guitarola!

[@jackiedixon5076]

Tho' 11 months out from this video. I just came across it July 5th 2023. Nobody breaks the pentatonic scales down like this, that I have found. Thanks, great teacher.

[@curiousguitarist]

I very much appreciate the kind words, and I'm glad this one landed well for you!

[@bayan211990]

Refreshing kind of a way looking at the Am pentatonic. It’s really fun to understand and goo deeper

[@curiousguitarist]

Exactly!

[@philam1307]

Very unique trick. Especially helpful if you already know all the positions and want to find different starting points. I'd say the only barrier left is to memorize where the roots are, otherwise this trick can be hard to call forth during a performance.

[@curiousguitarist]

@@philam1307 it gets easier and easier the more you woodshed the two patterns. Thanks for the comment!

[@MoutchouPitchou95]

Additional benefit of this way of learning: you learn easily where is the 2nd, third, seventh and so on ... Great tip!

[@curiousguitarist]

Ahh yes, great tip. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MoutchouPitchou95]

@@curiousguitarist Oh when I wrote "great tip" I meant "your video is a great tip :))" Cheers from France :)

[@curiousguitarist]

@@MoutchouPitchou95 cheers!

[@gtr1952]

I've learned a lot of tips and tricks in my 52 years of playing guitar, now 1 more to play with. Thanks for that! At this point, I've learned a lot of 'what not to play'! I don't read music. I learned 'the Nashville system' long before I ever heard it called that. I got dragged on stage by some 'friends' when I knew about 9 chords. Several years of 'woodsheading' and trial by fire taught me to play rhythm pretty OK. LOL Linking some triads, I could muddle through a lead, of sorts. Then one night the bass player didn't show up. They handed me a bass and said I was the bass player that night. Long first 2 sets, the second 2 were better. Now I have 50 guitars and 2 bass's. LOL What a long strange trip it's been. LOLOL 8) Thanks for the tip(s)!! 8) --gary

[@curiousguitarist]

Great to have you here, Gary!!

[@patrickunderwood5662]

Absolute beginner (for the last 40 years or thereabouts) and often rant (drunkenly, usually) about how experienced guitarists don’t “get”, just by the insidious nature of muscle memory, the awful struggles of noobs. You’re definitely catering to people way past the noob stage, BUT this lesson really fired my brain. What a great exercise, for a true noob or a professional noob like me, to map this out on paper and make it a daily ritual. Awesome, thanks.

[@curiousguitarist]

I try as much as I can to recall what it was like BEFORE I knew the subject in the lesson. I'm glad you enjoyed this one Patrick!

[@robshaffer2274]

I learned both the Major Scale and the Natural Minor this way many years ago from a gifted teacher. He called it a Zig and Zag pattern, so valuable, so freeing.

[@curiousguitarist]

Truth! Sing it, brother!!

[@robshaffer2274]

@@curiousguitarist l learned Root to Root (Zig) playing towards the bridge and a (Zag) playing towards the nut. I was never made to play all the way across in one position unless I chose too. I also wonder why it's not taught this way. I never got stuck in the box because no one put me in there.

[@curiousguitarist]

@@robshaffer2274 love that!

[@TheeRocker]

.. I like this one... I remember learning this, well discovering actually. I was around 13 and been playing every day for probably 3 years. That was about '75 and a new friend showed me the blues chords, open D, and the Hendrix E blues chord lol. Bar chords I heard but never played. Other than a power chord type thing, which is what he said I knew. The fret board opened up for me visually at that time. Everything improved. Slide playing not just blues, but stuff like Zeppelin, Floyd, Foghat, and Walsh, Eagles, ZZtop etc... songs all came together. All because I looked at the E and AM chords now with a base/root, and playing where, not just in the 5 fret open chord stuff. lol. D chord helped me understand the E B G D, the 1st four strings relation to the G D A E patterns of those strings. ALso, getting the pedals for the effect needed was crucial learning. Really helps to actually learn when it sounds correct lol. Cool how we innovate and really develops the finger expression and picking tone/style of each note. Technique for a purpose maybe lol.

[@curiousguitarist]

Great story and context! Thanks for this comment! I’m glad you’re here

[@TheeRocker]

@@curiousguitarist I'm here, because you were here already, lol. Thanks man ;)

[@davemorton7988]

Great lesson for digging deeper for all cords used in a song.

[@noelpatrick5074]

Yo Chris stating that you always look at someone better,,, makes you a great teacher,,, regard from India

[@curiousguitarist]

Thank you Noel! Welcome!

[@pipertime1]

Great guitar science! I like the ease of moving up and down the neck off the root.

[@curiousguitarist]

@@pipertime1 glad you enjoyed it!

[@tomtoweli3827]

Didn't know it could be so easy. I play for 15 years but never realized this. Thank you 👍

[@curiousguitarist]

You are so welcome, Tom!

[@rickm4295]

I gotta say, this is a much more useful way to explain the pentatonic scale. Ive been playing with the scale for 40 years and have a decent grasp on it. This lesson should save these young folks a lot of time and self discovery. Using the two different fingers as starting points opens every door possible and thats the trick. Learn the notes of the neck, know your roots and do this lesson. Fret board command will happen soon after.

[@curiousguitarist]

Great comment! Thanks, Rick!

[@morgantrueblood7156]

Super cool lesson and perspective of looking at that scale. EXTREMELY HELPFUL !!! Thank you for your time ! Also, you articulate your thoughts clearly. Good teacher

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Morgan, I appreciate that, and I'm so glad this was helpful.

[@chriswinow3395]

Holy #!@$& Finally over getting lost!! Between this and your Circle of 5th's 101--I learned more than I have tried to learn ever! This puts everything together and makes the most sense out of anything I have ever seen. Patterns are how I can comprehend-because then, things make sense. Thank you sir!!

[@curiousguitarist]

So very welcome, I'm so glad this stuff has landed well for you. Staying "found" is a bit of work at first, but eventually your ears start to lend a hand too and it gets easier and easier.

[@mauriceb9996]

Way to break it down Brother! Easily digestible and transferable directly to my practice sessions!

[@curiousguitarist]

Beautiful!

[@tullyaussie]

i have watched a ton of pentatonic videos & have never seen it presented like this!! thanks!!

[@curiousguitarist]

Ha! So glad you enjoyed this perspective, Ron.

[@wilsonsiroi2024]

That 'just' made my day! Now am on my way to playing with confidence; thank you soooo much sir!

[@curiousguitarist]

You are so welcome!

[@Roots222]

Very helpful. Thanks Chris. I mapped B and D notes after the A. Learned a lot.

[@jamrackmusic2198]

That looks like one of the newer Gibson Les Paul Standard 50's colours? I have bought 2 of these 50's Standards this year [both 2023 models]. One Gold Top, and a few weeks ago a new White Top. Beautiful! I've totally converted to Gibson Les Paul's now. These are some of the best Les Paul's Gibson has ever made. Great channel by the way...

[@curiousguitarist]

I’m with ya! Love love love this guitar!

[@JCFern]

Simple. Sweet. Straight to the point. A lovely lesson indeed. Going to grab an axe and learn my minor pentatonic from my ring finger now. Time for this old dog to learn new tricks and give that ring finger the starting role( and at least understand that I don’t always have to lead off with the index finger) 🙏

[@curiousguitarist]

That’s it exactly Joe! Thanks for all your support, it’s great to have you here.

[@fraso2000]

Thank you so much! Currently I‘m struggling to use all the existing CAGED minor and major shapes for playing chord changes in different positions on the fretboard. Now, with your video, this seems to be much easier. By the way, you should mention the major scale as well, right?

[@curiousguitarist]

@@fraso2000 ahh that’s great news! Yes the major scale is a critical component of understanding the fretboard, but I never want to over complicate a single video. I have a ton of major scale videos here in the playlists and on my Patreon page too! Thanks for the comments

[@mattprince9204]

Great video! What I’m hearing is the emphasis on the A note. When I go outside of shapes I know I’ve f-up when I hear a wrong note

[@curiousguitarist]

Yeah that’s the right direction. Once you get the root located then you can easily resolve phrases, and once you’re in control of tension and resolution, you start making musical sense when you play, and then you simply can’t undo that and your journey to playing more lyrically has begun!

[@danielgustafson6209]

Thank you Chris. I’m impressed with how much “simplicity” is the key to solving “complex”. Thank you!

[@curiousguitarist]

So true, reducing to the core elements allows for such great focus.

[@jeffpodrug8942]

I subscribed halfway in. I just like the way you present things. I'm going through some issues with my fretting hand, I don't know if it's nerve damage or something else, but I live to play. It sucks, but I'm hoping it can be fixed. Ring and Pinky fingers and weakening and there's numbness and pain in my wrist. I'll keep coming back. Thank you, Chris!

[@curiousguitarist]

Ouch! Thanks for the sub, but do take care of that hand! Keep us posted.

[@jeffpodrug8942]

@@curiousguitarist will do, Chris. It's like a cosmic joke. You never think this is going to happen, but I sure appreciate the gift I was given, and will keep fighting. I just hope it's something that can be fixed. I've had to get tricky just to be able to play, but I can't be the only person this has happened to. Thanks again, Chris! 🤘✌️

[@curiousguitarist]

@@jeffpodrug8942 had a crazy bout of tennis elbow (common for violinists actually), took me over a year to get it to heal and it STILL flares up occasionally. I'm sending the good vibes your way Jeff!

[@jeffpodrug8942]

@@curiousguitarist I really appreciate it. I'm a 3rd generation Well drilled, and I had to get out in my mid 30s because it was just too hard on my body. I have tendinitis in both elbows, and bone spurs in both wrists, not to mention shoulder injuries. I think it's in my wrist because I feel the most pain there, but I'll be seeing my doctor to find out where to start. I'm an Owner Operator OTR trucker. I just turned 59, and I guess I should've expected something to happen like this, but you always feel invincible until you don't. I'm self taught, and continue to noodle around. I have no intention of putting my guitars away, unless I'm told to by a doctor. I have times where I can almost do it, however, they are rare. So I'm going to try to get myself fixed. It's just always been something I could lose myself in, and that's the hardest part. Thank you for the positive vibes. I'll be back destroying music the way I used to soon. It's the ultimate release. ✌️❤️🤘

[@curiousguitarist]

@@jeffpodrug8942 you have to chase it, music is that kind of thing. Peace!

[@colmfarrell5625]

Really opened my eyes. Simple but very effective. Many thanks.

[@curiousguitarist]

You bet! A simple point of view shift is always refreshing and usually insightful as well. Glad you enjoyed this one

[@theguitarcarpenter3574]

Pentatonic is my sidewalk and you just introduced the escalator. Had to watch a couple of times but makes sense once you apply to the fretboard. Your approach is refreshing. Thanks from an old guy with a guitar.

[@curiousguitarist]

Glad it was helpful, welcome to the channel!

[@davidhallowell3457]

Helpful aha. By focusing ‘small’ the bigger patterns take care of themselves. A related insight is…wherever you are on the neck, for any interval or melodic line, there’s always a ‘toward the bridge’ (starting on index) route and a toward the nut (ring finger) route. When you put that together with CAGED, it helps highlight the way the adjacent chord shapes interlock and hand off to one another. You may have already covered that. I really like your approach and teaching style.

[@curiousguitarist]

Hey David! No I haven’t covered that yet, but I probably should! Great context!

[@DoctorDeuce]

Glad I have found your channel and a few other relatively small ones. When I find a good teacher, I usually end up thinking the same thing "why doesnt everyone teach it this way?".

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Doc! Glad you found the channel, welcome!

[@randyandamberthompson9972]

This is exactly the the lesson I needed. And I love that guitar.

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks, Randy! So glad to hear this one clicked. Once I started to see scales this way my dependence on patterns vanished, and I could return to them when they posed value, rather than feeling stuck in them

[@JunkYour925]

Chris, it’s funny but when I first started learning the 5 shapes using the usual ho hum training I knew it was the wrong way to go and to make a long story short I formulated my own way which is what you teach here. Love your channel. I even have the caged shapes memorized in 4ths order. GCEAD. Just like changing chords it’s Super helpful to know because you can do relative movements while running through a progression. I also know where all the triads live in each. Also being the sick person I am 😂 I have the circle of. 4/5ths memorized in scale degrees, 7362514 b7 b3 etc. even more useful (fast efficient) when analyzing a chord /scale/solo you don’t recognize etc. Some don’t realize this but the 5 shapes occur because there are only 5 unique strings on the guitar. It becomes more obvious if it wasn’t for the kinky B string. 😅

[@curiousguitarist]

Great comment and context, love the GCEAD context!

[@unlmitdbeastmode]

This was something floating around in my head on scale shapes and positions. The question are you starting with your index or ring finger just simplified all of that. Great lesson with immediate application in my playing. Thank you!

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks for this great comment, so glad it was helpful!

[@alwilson6490]

Very helpful for me--thanks! btw, that is one awesome looking Les Paul Chris!!

[@curiousguitarist]

You're welcome, Al. Glad this one was helpful for you. And yeah, this LP is crazy wonderful. I've owned many Les Pauls in my day, but this one is by far the best. The color is called "Sweet Cherry" and originally it was a deeper red, but it's faded to this really pleasing red-orange and I've never seen a 'Paul quite this color before. I am a lucky man.

[@alwilson6490]

@@curiousguitarist awesome color on the LP, thanks again!

[@TS-Music-57]

Thank you Sir for taking/showing us a slightly different approach on a widely used scale. 👍

[@curiousguitarist]

Very welcome

[@jeffpecosky5682]

Thank you so much for this lesson , learn something new everyday is what i love about Guitar thanks again .

[@curiousguitarist]

You bet!

[@deerfeeder2076]

Light bulb moment for me, wow. Thanks for this lesson. This is beautiful.

[@curiousguitarist]

I'm so glad it was helpful, DeerFeeder.

[@PeterS-lt6cv]

After wasting a year or two, I'm ready to finally move forward working the whole neck. Thank you

[@curiousguitarist]

I wasted 5 years, so I got you on that one :)

[@Gr8FriknApe]

Cuz I have no idea of WTFudge you're talking about. That's why. Thanks for letting us beginners understand there is shiz coming up that we have no idea of when or how we will use it. Keep up the great work.

[@curiousguitarist]

As a beginner you should focus on the following: Open chords Barre chords The major scale Seek out information and lessons on those subjects from channels that cater to beginners. Try Marty Music for example, his material for beginners is really fantastic. I hope that helps.

[@Gr8FriknApe]

@@curiousguitarist Awesome and, yes, you are right. Self taught and totally lost in some of the music theory. Just purchased my first guitar. I am an intermediate on the keyboard and have learned several guitar chord patterns in the last 3 weeks. It's starting to come together. Barre chords are a little beyond my finger coordination at the moment (smile) but I'm learning fast. Fingers hurting but coming along well. Thanks for the recommendations.

[@RaveGamingCommunity]

YI agree buut it would help to slow down going 120 mph is really hard even for a simi Intermedate player it would be much easy to follow

[@curiousguitarist]

I wrote TABs for this exercise that are really helpful. They can be found here: www.patreon.com/chrissherland

[@StephenSgro]

Wow! Speechless. Pentatonic scales while learning where the root notes are. So important. So helpful. Thank you Chris.

[@curiousguitarist]

Glad you enjoyed it, Stephen. Thanks for the views and comments!

[@anthonylove821]

You’re welcome anytime. Oh ok.. never been out west but hear the scenery in Colorado is amazing. Jersey is boring lol 😂

[@im58woody]

Very helpful and I look forward to working on this for the foreseeable future. Thanks for the great stuff you do 👍

[@curiousguitarist]

Of course!

[@whowho8470]

First time watching one of your videos and I appreciate this approach. In my experience, the better I am at knowing each note on the fretboard, the better I become at pentatonic because it makes the patterns more apparent.

[@curiousguitarist]

Of course, that makes huge sense. Glad you’re here WhoWho84.

[@andydsouza507]

Once I got past the many many extra words, the concept is actually very cool!

[@curiousguitarist]

You can use the chapters function if you'd like to skip the context I provide. Glad you enjoyed it ultimately, Andy.

[@michaelhorton6158]

Thanks! I've watched tons of this stuff and you've the best presentation of all! Well, time to practice...

[@curiousguitarist]

Wow, thanks Michael!

[@eddieestrada7279]

Chris! I used to work under you at ibotta. Good to see you jamming my friend! Wish we could played together and I coulda learned more from you while I was there. Cheers!

[@curiousguitarist]

Hey Eddie! Hope all is well these days.

[@thisistimwoods]

Nice lesson Chris 👌🏻

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Timothy!

[@joeurbanowski321]

Amazing vid..! Once again Chris..! I usually pick up the scale further up to fretboard with my index finger on the root.. BUT the ring finger deal..?! You just flooded my fretboard with available pentatonic notes.. Thanks Chris..!👍🏼❤️

[@curiousguitarist]

That's the ticket! I love the "flooded my fretboard..." phrase! Might use that :)

[@joeurbanowski321]

@@curiousguitarist .. feel free Chris.. I’ll look for it in the Studio..🤣

[@musicaleltd]

definitely opened my eyes with respect to seeing the pentatonic notes; seeing the notes has been an issue since i started playing...must try

[@curiousguitarist]

Great!! Glad you’re here

[@victormichael9271]

I'm in love with this lesson. Thank you sir.

[@curiousguitarist]

You are so welcome, Victor!

[@samlee2562]

Great lesson well done sir 👏💪 My favourite scale discovery in recent years has been the hexatonic scales which get very little limelight and sounds so fresh! Right between pentatonic and standard modes is a cheeky 6 note combination of your choice that sounds like almost no one else... 😉

[@curiousguitarist]

Agreed! Great point! The only caution I'd provide is don't allow the specific example or the name of a thing to limit your exploration... Try designing a simple scale phrase of your own, and moving that through the "modes" as you suggest. The method becomes the thing that makes you sound fresh when you invent your own scale/chord time fragments.

[@circlemover]

As a 14 year old git whizz back in the 70s, I stopped playing solos in the 80s. Now at the age of 67 its time to return to my roots...I never had any theory back then, only ears and a old cassette recorder to learn riffs. For me, scales never existed. Your understanding of pentatonic scales and how to play intuitively is simply wicked (youth term in the UK!). Very intuitive and absolutely invaluable lesson for all beginners...like me...ha! Ha! thanks so much.

[@curiousguitarist]

That's the kind of comment I cherish, thank you! I'm glad you're here.

[@circlemover]

@@curiousguitarist so am I. I know there is a lot wrong with Utube, but for a person my age its a revelation! A great resource platform - I am sure your channel will flourish and grow with content like this and your cool approach to music and guitar playing. As they say around here ...more power to your elbow.

[@gordonpelto1069]

Great video, I remember when I learned this way, it really helped to unlock the fretboard. I love the pentatonic scale, no half steps to worry about.

[@curiousguitarist]

Exactly!

[@joeurbanowski321]

True..👍🏼 but tastefully using some of the half steps can really add something.. not always good…🤣🤣