Richard Lloyd - Alchemical Guitarist #2 Guitar Lesson

Guitar World presents a series of guitar lessons with Richard Lloyd, the influential guitarist from the band Television, called The Alchemical Guitarist.
Lesson #2 is about unlocking the modes with the mystical major-scale diagram.
To buy all 12 lessons on DVD check out guitarworld.com/store

[@ratsofftoya6775]

Richard Lloyd is one of my favorite guitarists of all time. Love his sound.

[@edwina9]

Richard has been my teacher for several months now and has taken me from being another mere"guitar player" to becoming a musician. You mock what you don't understand.

[@jabbahursty]

no, i don't understand at all. it's too fast for me to follow.

[@saturatedneowax]

@@jabbahursty come back in a bit after familiarizing yourself with the major scale, this video rocks

[@christopherjrager]

I've casually watched this video once or twice over the last year, but I finally took the time to dissect and understand what he is showing us... and it's legit. It's not simple and you have to pause, back it up, repeat, make notes and keep at it until it sinks in. I wrote down the number sequences he mentioned and next to each number I wrote the intervals (whole, half)... that's helping me get the hang of what he's showing in this lesson.

[@imannonymous7707]

So the numbers are what the distance that correlate with the # lol I'm lost

[@imannonymous7707]

Ugh I cant even find a way to ask questions about these numbers...damn I want to absorb this

[@wholewurld]

This stuff is so hard to explain in KZbin comments, but I will try to set you on the right path with what he's talking about there. The numbers reference what are called "scale degrees". So if you have a C major scale (C-D-E-F-G-A-B) then C=1, F=4, B=7, E=3, A=6, D=2, G=5. This all relates to what is called the "circle of fifths". If you don't know what that is then you should watch a few videos about it and learn to play the cycle a little bit, because it is central to what he is implying. In the "1473625" thing, each note "resolves" into the next. In other words, if you're in C major and you play a "1", then your ear has the strongest "expectation" of hearing the "4" (F) next. And after that "4" your ear hears the "7" coming, and so on until you hit the "5" and your ear will then expect to hear the "1" coming, so it starts all over. Abracadabra. It's important to understand that this isn't a hard-and-fast rule. You don't have to play an F after every C, but when you don't you are playing against the conventional expectations. I hope I didn't confuse you more. I remember being so insanely lost when I first encountered all of this stuff. Good luck!

[@robwarren4425]

nothing to absorb

[@edwardtaylor9387]

The video is taken from a course he did for a magazine and was accompanied by a column which makes it trickier to follow. The dvd includes the columns and the videos.

[@Secretarian]

When this column debuted years ago, I saw immediately that Richard Lloyd was out there with some kind of fresh perspective. I had a subscription, so I started saving the articles and included them in a binder of music lessons that were helpful. I only missed one or two issues during the run of Alchemical Guitarist, but there is a gold mine of information in that column's span. It's like graduate school for guitar. He had one great lesson about modes where he presented them in their descending order of brightness, as opposed to the traditional progression of Ionian-Dorian-Phrygian-etc.

[@danielstoddart]

Are all of the articles in his AC column available anywhere? I remember searching for them a while ago, but I was never able to find any more than the first two or three lessons.

[@Secretarian]

Daniel Stoddart Don't know if it's still available, but a few years ago Guitar World bundled most of these lessons into a DVD package. Check the GW web site.

[@THEQueeferSutherland]

I got lost at "Hi, welcome...."

[@edwardtaylor9387]

It's worth persevering with.

[@pwalshj]

I got in touch with him after reading an article in Vintage Guitar that had his personal email address in the byline. I took about 6 lessons with him in my late 20's and he fundamentally changed my view of the fretboard. Like most brilliant folks he doesn't have the best people skills but it's worth it. (Me 38yo, started guitar at 5yo)

[@Walsh6141]

I was 22 when I took lessons with him. This was 2009. I took the bus from Boston just for guitar lessons with him lol. He was so hard to understand/follow. He wrote down a lot of what he was saying so I was able to bring home his notes and sort of go from there and revisit what he had talked about. But yeah, he went over my head every time he spoke a sentence. Genius-like and original.

[@huhwha8523]

It's brilliant in its simplicity. Just learn the circle of fourths and fifths and it'll all make sense. And you'll know where the sharps and flats are in each key to boot.

[@bravehart666]

I really like how he dissects the history as well, it makes theory make sense.

[@ClueSign]

Mr. Lloyd went to Stuyvesant High School in NYC -- competitive math genius school. That's why he gets it and you don't.

[@imannonymous7707]

ClueSign well that makes me feel better I really want to get this....but math ughh

[@magdalenaholtz]

dang that's why

[@davegibbs6423]

😄

[@DangerJudy]

Richard is a genius.

[@Ironb3rry]

Really practical exercise.

[@patrickguitar8676]

I like his noodling. At the intro of the lesson and outro...i missed Jim in fairfiels ct at seagrape.gotta stay in control .. 👍🌵👀🌵👍

[@jimdavis8391]

inspiring!- just started picking my cheap Strat copy again.

[@crazyirishdan]

I've read his articles and they're actually really good. I'm sure it's easier to follow in written form. Highly recommended. I don't think that the video necessarily does his column justice but GW thinks that everything has to be multimedia nowadays, though it might make a good supplement to the written material.

[@kzustang]

Man this is probably the most important thing I have ever learned on guitar playing. I have usually learned riffs and this transformed my playing in a very profound way. thanks. love Television. Love your sound. How did you get that great tone on Call Mr. Lee? thanks again.

[@vin-cc9nk]

that is actually really interesting if you follow along

[@smacman68]

This guy is very good. Brilliant, in fact. Don't let his quirky personallity distract you from that fact. It would be like Eienstien trying to explain physics to the layman.

[@mattgarvey737]

Does anyone know what issue, month and date this lesson was in?

[@mackenziegraves1567]

Anyone have any idea where I could find the printed accompaniment that would have went along with this?

[@yonkeythedonkey]

This is only the second place/site I've seen the modes and their relative positions described in the way I think of them but I go by the mode names. Descending, it is LIMDAPL!

[@BoeyChar]

You better obey me! Hahahahaha Love this guy

[@yonkeythedonkey]

This is only the second place/site I've seen the modes and their relative positions described in the way I think of themm but I go by the mode names. Descending, it is LIMDAPL!

[@brianyork5510]

Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand.This video goes with the text in a particular Guitar World issue. It makes perfect sense when you take the time to learn it. He teaches music theory using the unique structure of the guitar which uses the circle of 4ths and 5ths, instead of using the piano. See the first video of this series he explains a little of why the piano is ill suited to use for theory. If you know theory you understand why intuitively.

[@creation23]

5147362. 5147362. 5147362. 5147362. 5147362. 5147362. 5147362. 51473625 Oh God it's stuck in my head

[@saturatedneowax]

147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625147362514736251473625

[@JonathanSchmieding]

that was pretty sweet

[@patrickguitar8676]

Agricultural abra calabra..i have such a short attention span.love this lesson....

[@tylernimon]

Awesome lesson. It took about two hours but I finally see what the point of this is haha

[@dushiemcbag]

@JoeGuitarGuy this is an important step for many players to take,

[@eman420x]

"I don't start my students on the NUT."

[@olystercrowley]

@edwina9 You're very lucky ! I've made a giant leap in my playing since I followed his column in guitar world. How do you get in touch with him ? You just call ?!

[@bobravenscraft5376]

What I learned from his column is what modes have in common and a system of running them anywhere without thought FAST To me best circle of 5ths learn major and minor in a chord progression much easier on mind. ON THE JOB TRAINING Check out Ben Eller major minor chords in a song plus the lonely diminished ezpz

[@plev10]

Genius. But am I nuts or is his ring finger longer than his middle?

[@speedtomas]

This is advanced stuff \m/ I hope some day I can get there

[@bradleyaaron]

TIME CUBE! Don't forget the back corner.

[@thesplage]

This guy's great... I love how he just comes out with class lines such as "you better obey me" with a completely straight face :P

[@Disburden]

cant find the column typed out anywhere, that sucks!!!! very intellectual pattern recongition but the column would help visual learners.

[@MrPisster]

he's not a music "kindergarden teacher". Vast resources for basic music theory are available online. What you're saying about the masses having a lack of knowledge is fundamentally right, but that's not his problem.

[@suihkubad]

Modes. Play c-major scale, but start and end on the d-note and you have yourself a pattern for dorian mode.

[@soundboy3]

@edwina9 very envious... wish I had the money, he's doing lessons via skype as well (for those of us not in NYC)... just can't afford anything right now :-(

[@Themachinegun]

so over my head

[@angelgutierrez9909]

You better obey me!

[@guenwhar]

huh... do only i get this?

[@madamefeast4824]

Oh My God

[@glarange72]

A musician, not just a guitar player... Why did Tom Verlaine not stick with this guy?!

[@ForeverTwenty7]

Bob saget! Nice video. :D

[@THEQueeferSutherland]

I was lost after 3 or 4 words. He's living on another planet.

[@h.o.losbicivoladores2815]

yo si te creo Richard

[@dushiemcbag]

@DwayneJKing hahaha!!! re watch it later on, trust me, this is very important stuff this guy is saying

[@bobravenscraft5376]

He is teaching more than one thing circle of 5ths. And how the neck actually lays out 2 different things

[@slashy04]

lol '' you better obey me''

[@Ramones1234100]

Richard Lloyd is GW's best columnist, IMO.

[@wasup23tube]

wow dude i want what hes on!

[@thegreatestguitaristonmars3608]

I really dont understand what's the point of knowing all this and how having this different perspective of the fretboard can change your guitar playing

[@feedkillchain]

Start the pattern at 6.

[@guitarsandsuchetc]

Giant hands

[@modestvermin995]

What amp is he using? Is that a head next him or a reverb unit?

[@PCDisciple]

What the fffffffffff O___O this is actually next level shit but I'm pretty potato on the fretboard so this is going to take a while.

[@rafaelcabralwilliams]

He makes me laugh everytime he plays the tritone

[@SamK2525]

Funny, I always thought Richard was not the genius of Television but the rock steady, chord driven "Keith" type, especially if you listen to Alchemy. The guy who was more into The Stones , Hendrix and yes, the 13th Floor Elevators! They did a better version of Satisfaction than the stones did. I even seem to recall an interview back in the day where Richard said he didn't know much about music theory, it was all feel and that theory and too much scientific knowledge got it the way. Again, alchemy was great rock/pop album and I didn't hear much of what he was talking about in his lessons. But then what do I know, I think Mick Taylor sucked when he was with the Stones. Not to mention, I don't think he could smoke and play at the same time like Keith and Ron.

[@badmen1550]

Sam K I don’t know...when you listen to Television, you can distinguish Richards style as being more fluid & and more “jazzy” than Tom’s, Richards solos seem to float above your head while Tom’s solos tend to stab you in the heart. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. Look up the live performance of “1880 Or So” for a good comparison of their styles. They’re both great!

[@SoulStatement]

interesting

[@patrickrainey305]

Image seeing sonic youth say fuck it we in ebeebe

[@paullewismumford1608]

AGRICULTURALCADABRA

[@NordicLab]

He got the drug

[@jetermd]

omg he makes me feel like such an idiot

[@sfh113]

I figured this out myself...

[@Testacabeza]

I didn't understanda anything. I feel so bad. Wa she trying to show the different patterns of the major scale or what?

[@ironz18]

I'll have whatever he's smoking.

[@RevisedTV]

@pattikillem666 no one like math period

[@wasup23tube]

where it appears, 2:24 whoops that ain't it, okay

[@cbpk1996]

lol he said "hole in and a half " and said" i have two holes" XD

[@phsychokiler]

@digtbk Its music theory

[@B3llsWizard]

I feel that this guy has not only smoked the marijuna !! Warning about mushrooms : don't smoke ! They lose their essential virtues !

[@fc3603]

it's not your phone number

[@Boosty_Boost]

Charlie Puth Rules! ;D hahahah

[@arniet5257]

I love your knowledge but I don't get it

[@stinkfoot777]

i am depressed

[@GNRrockerdude]

very very old supro thunderbolt head

[@robwarren4425]

classic nonsense but Ritch used to play his ass off.

[@robibm2003]

This borders on the incoherent.

[@Prenner111]

1234125453523532 Get it guys?

[@pattikillem666]

i dun like math guitar...

[@PAA1992]

I didnt understand a god damned thing, eh oh well I don't need to know any music theory.

[@clhona]

maybe I don't understand that because I'm not drunk

[@AlexanderWS92]

i can't understand this logic

[@beetle5000]

Well i'm glad he doesn't start on your nuts

[@seriouscatisserious]

wtf is you talkin about son

[@etguitar18]

This guys scary...

[@cast390]

Sicence cant follow this guy

[@bbnatedogg]

The guy knows theory, but I've yet to hear him play a lick that doesn't sound like DOG SHIT. Call me when he does.

[@kevinmckenzie23]

SMH. He only played lead guitar in Television. No big deal.

[@bbnatedogg]

No big deal is right.

[@nickfanzo]

bluesboynate if you think one of the best guitar albums ever...marquee moon, is shite then I'm sorry you're ears are reversed.

[@bbnatedogg]

Never heard of it.

[@OldSethOnetooth]

+bluesboynate and none of us have heard of you, thankfully

[@RevisedTV]

hmmmm, no wonder he is the Alchmaical guitarst, y axe plays notes and scalse not BR1562156 and 6+335581645

[@Iggytommy]

I'd rather just hear Marque Moon

[@cripitsacrapple]

umm, did this guy get paid for this?

[@JoeGuitarGuy]

How's that acid treating you? Chasing them magic numbers.. Open Sesame agricup agricultural AGRICULTURAL the magic ins to the secret of music... who let this guy in the studio?

[@cast390]

Sounds intresting but i'm not willing to spend the money on this BS,time to check the torrents

[@26bond]

Not really inspiring me here.

[@HenneB]

i can't follow this guy...

[@PanosArvanitis]

pointless lesson.that doesnt makes u a better musician as he says.these r just simple major scales.

[@crispinpollak1473]

Great guitar player, terrible teacher