Playing "Outside" the blues riff lesson 1 (without using scales) by Shawn Tubbs

[@elephantfootrisers]

Dude! I don't know how you did it but you unlocked the "outside" door for me today. Brilliant playing AND teaching. Thank you!

[@harrybee3093]

Thank you so much, Shawn. Please, please give us more of that stuff !!!!!

[@Taylor-kd6lr]

Not only are you an outstanding guitar player, you are an outstanding teacher as well. Love that Eastman guitar your playing. They make high quality instruments.

[@GREENMTGENE]

I second this

[@therealdealblues]

Just from your amazing playing ability I totally figured you for a Theory guy who knew all the scales, modes, notes, etc. Guess there is hope for the rest of us. But seriously, very cool lesson, can't wait to try it! I'm definitely a shape person as I learned everything by ear growning up and so now I am working backwards trying to see/learn more chords and voicings, etc.. I can learn and play about anything I want but have no idea where it comes from so like a lot of players without any formal music training, I think a lot of us are trying to go backwards and learn these things and I think lessons like this are exceptionally helpful, so great job Shawn and kudos to you for sharing.

[@rowbags3017]

Thanks Shawn! As a self-taught player with no theory to fall back on, your "think in shapes" approach is wonderfully intuitive!

[@zachfenske8583]

Love this! Thank you! More please sir!

[@dkelley9661]

Sharping, flatting by half steps, great trick. Been doing it for years. Love the silliness!

[@jamesrobinson529]

I love these types of lessons. Honestly, whenever I see the word "Outside" referring to guitar, it's like click bait in a good way. I can never get enough of outside playing tutorials.

[@Wellcee426]

Shawn, I don't think you give yourself enough credit for your style. Obviously I'm a nerd and love gear demos but I tend to only watch demos of players I find inspiring and you're up there with the best of them. Watching a demo with great playing is a two for one deal you get to get an idea for the product plus get inspiration to practice, to me that's invaluable. I know you've gotten some flack for your explanation of your musical decisions but everyone has a unique approach and I really appreciate when you break it down like this. Keep it up!

[@tonepoet]

Next level Robben Ford that has a bit more of your style thrown in. Your mind is a wealth of knowledge. Thanks for sharing this stuff, Shawn!!

[@mattkozink7488]

Whenever you post I always tune in but this was particularly interesting. What got me most is the insight into how you conceptualize some of what you are playing. For an ear player like me that’s a very useful thing. Also enjoy the self deprecating style but I don’t think anyone is going to underestimate your knowledge of music theory. Would love for you to do a get-together with Rick Beato. That would be epic.

[@PongMessiah]

Love these "Outside" lessons, and how they reinforce (or remind?) the value of shape-wise thinking!

[@AKustik632]

I'm sure a lot of folks are like me, I first admired your unique style then your knowledge of demos! You are great Shawn!!!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much!!

[@tonelocrian]

Hey Shawn, great to hear you again. Keep on rockin' those tasty jams.

[@christianlavin6722]

Hi Shawn! Love your playing and love these ”outside”-episodes. I’ve been a string bender for god knows how many years and your way of looking at the guitar has really inspired and thougt even a old dog like me some new tricks. Keep it up! Much love from Christian, Sweden

[@billysmith5075]

Thanks to you tube I've discovered some of the best guitar players on the planet in the last year or so. Just found out the other day you toured with Carrie Underwood for over a decade.Anyway very cool lesson easy to understand sounds great thanks Shawn 😊

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much!

[@evanward4303]

I like that you're showing your sense of humor more and more in your videos. Cool riffage as always and nice P90 sounds in this one. 👍😎🤘

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much Evan. Yeah, those Lollars in that guitar sound great!

[@JDeligero]

Man, I wish I figured out about you sooner! Playing, tone, feel & vibe is stellar! Sending love from Dubai!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much Jerome, you're very kind indeed!

[@jeremyversusjazz]

worlds best guitarist who doesnt know what mode hes using!! amazing. your lines are insane dude.

[@ryanreeves8931]

Thanks a ton Shawn!!! I've used the shapes as chordal stabs w/in the track to help navigate it both as a rhythm and lead (knowing how and when to use those notes in context). This a great session!!! Thanks a ton!!!!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@BackingTrackKing]

Do I ever wish I could play with such timing, such swing and such confidence! Thanks Shawn, for the inspiration!

[@martydibergi5228]

You nailed it again. Notes phrasing touch tone... WOW

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks very much Marty!

[@willgoodfellow4235]

Great lick and that Eastman is gorgeous!

[@TheDarinAmes]

Thanks form this, Shawn. You seem to be having more and more fun in your videos and I dig it! Please keep the great Idas coming. And while you’re at it, come join my band!

[@drbakker]

Dude, first of all, your "outside" videos (all of them) have been super helpful - really appreciated. But what I really wanted to say is that your tone on this video is killer. Kudos to that!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much! I'm pretty sure I was using my Revv D20 amp direct into ProTools. The overdrive pedal was my Rockett Pedals Majestic.

[@rogerbehle4928]

Excellent. Keep these coming, Shawn. Thanks.

[@SplintersWorld]

Killer. Love the shapes approach...gonna explore that much more. thank you :-)

[@danielspangler8358]

Shawn, thank you so much for sharing this. You're too kind. Much appreciated.

[@ceneg]

Marvellous! Thanks for putting this 'out' there.

[@davidbowen169]

Great playing, lessons and comedy too. You’re a triple threat. I laughed out loud on the speed bump line.

[@halfemptyful]

Thank you for this! I love the "shapes" approach you are taking here. It opens up some new avenues. Super grateful.

[@Firebrandrock]

What could be better to start off the holiday weekend...A++

[@keoni927]

Thanks so much for sharing this Shawn. You are definitely the "Tone King"! Please keep'em comin'!

[@fourthofseven]

Excellent lesson done with humor & logic, a great combo. I got a lot out of this. Thanks!

[@Br4dSp34d]

Your comfort in front of the camera keeps getting better man- hilarious delivery and quips/self deprecation. Also the playing is top notch as always! Please keep releasing stuff like this

[@insideoutNOTW]

I remember you from Fountain valley lab sound. Your parents business was closing and I bough a 2290 the same day it came in. Won't forget all those Mesa Boogie racks on display! I think it was 1995 or 1996! I would of never know it was you, until I read that you and your brother worked at Lab Sound. Love the petty John pedals, especially the dual channel one.

[@insideoutNOTW]

Oh my mistake the store was called "Think music." I think you and ya twin brother were working there. I also remember ya older brother. You have a musically gifted family. Keep on Rockin!

[@tbluesboye]

Cool lesson Shawn! Thank you!

[@JasonHobbsGuitarist]

Reminds me of Robben Ford style. Thanks! Great video! \m/

[@357jazzman]

thank you shawn, more , more.......

[@mathiass-l2281]

Love your silliness! This was really helpful for me, getting away from thinking scales/modes and really focus on the shapes. And even more importantly, the phrasing! Thanx for sharing your great talent!

[@markinthemix6055]

Every second golden moment. 🙌🏻

[@chriscamm3966]

Killer video, Shawn. Thanks for sharing. We're all waiting for a solo release.

[@p911c32]

I was searching that kind of riff for a long time... Great stuff. Thanks mate.

[@wimdewild9345]

Very cool lick! The C sharp and B flat shape fit nicely in the E diminished scale .

[@digitaldrive1192]

Saw you over with Brett Papa. Fascinating interview, super inspiring.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much, I appreciate it!

[@PIPA1302]

Amazing Shawn as usual...always sharing..

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much!!

[@TheActressAndBishop]

Love this - cool to see how such a line is formed ..

[@GraemeCampbellMusic]

I came here via hearing that stellar tone from the Lollars on your instagram. Loving this too, going to try and incorporate some of this stuff it into my soloing.

[@Mainstreet2006]

Fantastic lesson!🎵👍👍👍👍

[@just.some.dud3]

Yessssss!!!!! I love this stuff Shawn, please do more of it!!!

[@maxsalasr]

Interesting approach. Playing outside licks is a very hard thing for me, this indeed helps to incorporate some new vocabulary, Thanks Shawn! Keep'em coming

[@slonskiceline3150]

Hello Shawn . Thank you for this one . It's exactly the kind of work that I want .

[@patrickcarroll1754]

So useful, Shawn. Maybe in ways that you don’t even realize. Thanks so much.

[@mcstratoman]

What a treat Shawn. Love your playing. Cause it's always tasteful and may I say...downright tasty! Also, you have a great sense of humor. You have one of the better guitar instruction channels for sure! Keep up the good work my friend!

[@DrMordiBenhamou]

Such a nice playing....And how good instructor you are! It's a real pleasure. Thank you Shawn. Greetings from Israel.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much for the kind words and for tuning in all the way from Isreal!!

[@robrobinson8410]

Great stuff Shawn! Always a pleasure - keep these perspectives coming!!!!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks very much for watching!

[@takaokutsu2980]

Go by "Shapes"! Great lesson! Thank you so much for your excellent practical and intuitive video. I am in mid 50s, playing guitar since high school days. But I cannot read charts and know little about scales, so I naturally work on my soloing / backing by looking at fingering shapes. It works good for me, and I think I am doing OK in our band (jazz, funk, r&b big band), but always feel inferior as I am the only guy in the band cannot read charts and having no musical theory. I truly appreciate to watch your video today, it gives me confidence that my approach is not an inferior way. You are a wonderful player with very nice tones and sounds, and also very friendly, making us very happy. Thank you!

[@5tw8se74]

I did some poking around on the internet. Found your album. Love it. Excellent.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much, Anthony! That means a lot!

[@MrCgar18]

thats a great sound

[@Breuschling11]

Awesome as always. You and Tom Bukovac have the most useful content whether it be riffs and licks or how to approach a musical concept, it’s always time well spent. Thanks, brother!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks very much Brian!

[@NathanJFotiMusic]

This was awesome stuff. love that country accent. had me rollin'.

[@andrewlavogue3950]

This is absolutely my favorite guitar channel - you rule dude!!

[@jeffmaldonado8094]

Hey Shaun. Super cool riff idea here! Been watching some of your gear demo vids here and there for a while now, but this is first "lesson" one I've watched. I just subscribed! Definitely going to incorporate this in my playing. I love chromatic "outside" sounding stuff to make things interesting for me and the listener. Thanks again!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much for subscribing! I appreciate it Jeff.

[@onefiveeights152]

Sounds so good - thank you Shawn!

[@georgenauful9623]

Love you playing and ideas, Shawn! After seeing your LsL demo I bought one from Lance and I'm digging it. I like these kind of lessons so keep doing more. I've produced and released records by many other great guitarists but you are one of my favorites! Thanks for playing for us.

[@blewzman]

Love it. You can hear Larry and Robin all over this. I find it cool that I am not the only one who thinks or sees in “shapes”. AMAZING as always Mr Tubbs. PS I would love to know who the inspiration is for you “country guy” voice.

[@ShawnTubbs]

It's funny because I'm not southern or "country" at all. I was born in Denver but I somehow was at many points in my life surrounded by some really charming, sweet, and funny southern folks. I have to be careful because I'm not making fun at all. I've learned a lot about life from them.

[@blewzman]

@@ShawnTubbs it's pretty hard to offend a true southerner.

[@westwind1386]

I know most of the major chords, at the top of the neck, I can play probably 4 chords well, just don't know much about leads, we're to put my fingers, how fast to move them, watching you gives me some motivation to practice more, thanks for the good vids, rock on

[@billlee4265]

i really enjoyed this.

[@MrMewsique]

That was entertaining. Great lick

[@duanewilson3941]

Tons of info here, keep them coming. Thx.

[@philroselle1514]

Thank you for this Shawn! Too cool!!

[@caryboudas5359]

Finally learned something Outside thanks!

[@adamantoniak1765]

Thank you for the lesson. I always asked a video about the "outside" solo.

[@JakeBisognin]

Another great lesson! Thanks for sharing your knowledge, and especially your humour 😂

[@elfieborimera3178]

Great helped me out heaps

[@petek55]

You make me want to play my guitar , thank you Mr Tubbs

[@markusschmid6315]

Such a great lesson! Thank you very much. I like the shape idea a lot, it‘s like another point of view.

[@TheRealBalloonHead]

Nice tone

[@truescotsman4103]

your fingering patterns are so different than the classic rock and blues patterns I've learned over the years. I usually have no problem learning by ear unless it gets really weird and fast. your playing is difficult to pickup mostly because of the way you finger your licks. I used to learn by looking at peoples hands but your hands don't move in a familiar way. I'm learning!

[@giorgosgalanosofficialmusic]

Awesome!! Like you did in another video, these major triads you're using as "outside" reside within the diminished scale. The diminished arpeggio of E would be E-G-Bb-C#, thus we have within the E diminished scale, both the major AND minor triads of these notes. So any time we want a diminished color, using these triads instantly gives it! It's a very easy way to think of it.

[@truthninja7115]

That riff is scrumptious 🌶🌶🌶

[@Michael-lp9tt]

Im learning so much from you. I also play leads by using shapes. Thanks for the help brother. 👍

[@oldguysguitarvlog183]

Brilliant lesson! Thank you!!

[@danmedawar8610]

Very cool, thanks!

[@JazzStrat781]

Always awesome, killer stuff that you share! Would absolutely love more of this kind of video. Thanks so much, always appreciated!

[@ATreeForFive]

You're the guitar player i always wanted to be. Awesome chops as usual !

[@leonbarron368]

Just fantastic Shawn. You should really do a course on this stuff or do a 20 shapes/licks set of videos type thing. The "shape/chord"-view you have on things makes things so musical

[@frankquinn1296]

I'll never be able to call a fret a fret again, great simple lesson but at the same time really advanced.

[@jayfoster]

Moving Dom7(b9) chords in minor thirds works because they can be derived from the diminished scale.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Ah, that makes sense! Thanks Jay!

[@truthninja7115]

Symmetrical scales are your friend

[@rabbirelax]

Awesome!

[@jaykafcas4342]

Amazing guitar!! I said it before: You’ve mastered them extensions, I mentioned a while ago, I can hear you buttering those extensions..in a smoky rendition of “Sultan’s Of Swing”. I learned a lot from you here, with those “thumb beats” that sorta’ lubricate the drag to the 4. Awesome stuff dude.

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much!!

[@organjoe]

As expected, another great vid! Thanks.

[@shinjial]

It's weird that it sounds so much more 'outside' than it actually is. It's a pretty cool sound. I like videos/lessons like these that just introduce a quick concept, just to get you going. Then it's up to the player to try and apply it in practice.

[@tonelocrian]

I got some new homework - thanks professor shawn ;) !

[@embreesmith7613]

it's a good thing you stopped that opening riff where you did ! I was about to smash my monitor --

[@robertwhitcomb6105]

Embree Smith I started slinging profanities immediately....

[@embreesmith7613]

@@robertwhitcomb6105 sheesh .. these nashville guys will jam anything ! :)

[@richardweidner1625]

Nice

[@SteveSterlacci]

Amazing lesson man. Thanks for this ! I can never follow your style or figure out what the hell you're doing (in the best way possible) so this is great stuff to hear 🙌🙌🙌

[@stratodan27]

Great video Shawn. I've been so bored with what I've been playing over 1-4-5 changes lately, so I'll definitely check this out! Funny, I'm sorta in the same camp as you...knowledge wise. I took private gtr lessons from the ages of 8-15 where I was taught how to read via the Mel Bay instructional books. I've forgotten more chords than I now know. I think the studio was trying to get us students to become session players, or jazz cats that could read and play anything on the spot. But looking back at it, they never spent any real time on music theory, modes, scales, etc. I learned a tiny bit about that stuff in my later years just so I could at least pretend to know what my band mates were talking about. I get the basics of it, but I don't think about it too much. I mostly think about shapes and patterns and the key of the song. And then I use my ear to play as musically as I can. Totally dig your style. I'm always "wowed" when I see you play! You and Pete Thorn are the guys I watch the most on KZbin. All the best!

[@ShawnTubbs]

Thanks so much!!!

[@GerryBlue]

Great video, thanks for sharing!

[@jonboynumba1]

This is awesome 👍