Robben Ford Guitar Lesson - Diminished Scale Blues - TrueFire

[@matt89102]

I can't believe the negative comments. I for one am always happy to hear anything he or any great player has got to say or teach. I also appreciate any insight into playing on dominent chords.

[@richardthomas9198]

I've never heard anyone say anything negative about him or his playing, always praise! He deserves it too

[@lokijam]

u young guitarists should feel blessed. you can literally get lessons from the greatest guitarists to walk this earth. utube can be a great place.

[@Veaseify]

How cool is it that he laughs to himself at the notion that the double diminished scale works over a C7 chord? He's been one of the most respected guitar players in the world for 30 years but he's still fascinated by how music works.. its endearing actually.

[@benramsell3245]

Steve Veasey well put

[@ShirleyTyldesley]

Mmkmn mm mm m km mmm mm mm mm nmmmmnn mm mmmm kk my

[@Art-zs6sl]

He probably leveled up his ear right there!

[@guitarttimman]

He's legendary

[@urbanprojectz]

I loved him in 'The Room'.

[@johnreichard4034]

He is indeed a man of many talents. Actor/ director, great guitar player

[@gypsyarc6639]

Oh hi mark

[@jmlfl0ydrose]

Wish he decided to throw the football around halfway through.

[@m.w.7429]

In which room did you love him?

[@tomdecuca3627]

Robben is such an authentic bluesman, I sometimes forget all the theoretical knowledge he has! He uses that knowledge so well, you don't hear it!! That is the sign of a master!!

[@TheKeithbruce]

Robben ... THANK YOU ... for all you've done for the guitar world

[@wanttosayadrem2551]

and forunately is still doing! :)

[@Dcba964]

This is a great lesson for those who want to make blues more interesting . Roben Ford is a master! Respect him so much.

[@stallionstudios]

Yes except those stripe pants are so weird.

[@Jeffum111]

I just love the way he really digs what he teaches. Robben is just plain awesome

[@ElCapinyoazz]

That bit around 1min in where he's saying the C to F is the I-IV (C being the root) in a blues, but is also a V-I (F being the root) is such a great way to explain it. So simple to grasp, especially since most players moving into jazz have a blues/rock background.

[@MarshRHCP]

been struggling with the diminished scale for years, this finally made it click! amazing player and teacher

[@davidtreadway4889]

Mr Ford has a really unique way of blending theory and practical application, he has a natural way of somehow being the teacher yet using ideals and terminology that can easily be understood and relatable to the student and at the same time exhibiting the excitement of the discover as the student, hard to explain but he has the gift of bridging the gap between the abstract and the real music world, and in real time .

[@leifkeane]

I didn't understand 3 words in 4. One thing I DID understand was that the knowledge is the important thing, not how impressive the sound, shown by how happy this guy is to play clean when demonstration, rather than hiding behind compression, distortion, reverb or chorus. Truly at ease with the reality of being a musician. Nice one. Very refreshing.

[@jamesrobinson529]

18 people gave this video a thumbs down. Which leads me to believe that there are at least 18 people that have no reason to ever pick up a musical instrument. Great video TrueFire!!!

[@chuckhough]

+James Robinson it might be because there are other videos where people actually explain ideas. Instead of just saying some sparse musical theory ideas and then shredding the rest of the time.

[@jerky2112]

+chuckhough Shredding? Um, no. If the education given is above your ability to understand, that's no reason to hate it. Simply move on to things you are ready for and one day you will come back and be glad this is here.

[@chuckhough]

+jerky2112 not dissing the man or his knowledge. I just think in this particular video he doesnt do a great at explaining what he's talking about. And "shredding" isn't the right word. I should have said "playing". He could have explained a bit more. That's it. I'm not gonna get into an argument about my skill level on the guitar, let's say I'm terrible. Still doesnt change the fact that this isn't the best tutorial on this subject material. But certainly glad that some people will get use out of it. That's the beauty of youtube. Though looking back on my comment it was kind of "troll-y" and I apologize for that.

[@addigi5598]

Ha Ha James Robertson...spot on

[@ryan.1357]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it's the pants. There is only one objectionable thing in this video, and it's the pants. So that's what I'm going with.

[@jonmaclennan]

Robben is such a wizard! Love his blending of blues and jazz! Great lesson! 👍🎸

[@Matt_Burns]

To simplify: playing the C# diminished scale (C# D# E F# G A Bb) over a C7 is essentially a simplified way of playing the altered tensions that lie on a C7. It's implying the b9, #9, #11/blue note, and regular 13. It can be useful for that reason in adding some tension to your dominant sound. He has a poor explanation for it but that's how it should be approached. It can be effective if you're not over using all the tensions and if you kind of lean on a certain one rather than try to go crazy with it. A nice little touch to your blues stuff to jazz it up a tad would be to play a diminished 7th on bar 6 (second bar of the IV). That's where I think it sounds best on a basic level. There's many ways to add tension to your solos. Playing an Emin7b5 arpeggio over a C7 yields the regular 9 of C. G min7 arpeggio over C7 gives you the regular 9 and regular 11. Bb maj7 arpeggio over a C7 gives you the 9, 11, and 13. If you look at C and add the 7 chord tones to it (C E G Bb D F A) you can look at each chord tone and use it as an "assumed root" (a dick grove concept) and make a triad or 4 pt chord from it and imply the tensions. The further you go up in chord tones the less definition (meaning the characteristic/ sound of the actual chord) and the more color it will be. Obviously you can also alter notes within those 7 and come up with the altered tensions. Cheers!

[@marike1100]

Yes. And another way to get at the altered tones of C7 is with F#7, the Tritone Substitution. So if you use F#7 (the tritone up from C) as a passing chord to the IV chord (F7), you get access to the altered tones (b9, #9, #11 of C7). Tritone substitutions sound great, and work well in a blues context.

[@Skinny_Karlos]

Matt Burns Robben Ford doesn't have a 'poor explanation', he just made a video lesson for a certain quality of student. If people have difficulty understanding certain aspects of the lesson then perhaps they're just overestimating their own skill level. That's common and when the lessons aren't one on one in the same room the teacher cannot identify the pupils level so the video is made 'as is' for a certain level with Mr. Ford's own style of pedantry which appeals to some, not to others. If you have difficulty understanding the video then you obviously are not ready for the subject matter which is nothing to be ashamed of (we're all at a different point on our road to taming this beautiful instrument) or Mr. Ford's style doesn't appeal to you which is a matter of personal taste, something that we cannot help as we all learn in different ways. I found this video helpful but I've been a devotee to Robben Ford's teaching since I first got 'The Blues and Beyond' in the 1980's. He's a great player and a gifted pedagogue who goes far further than he needs to in order to pass on his hard learned skill.

[@mikepostdrums]

+Epi Phone - Both Matt and Robben know what they're talking about.. but I have to agree with Matt on this one. In this video Robben did have a poor explanation for the scale working over C7. But, the reason was probably to keep the video length down, not lack of knowledge.

[@Skinny_Karlos]

Mike Post I never said that Matt Burns didn't know what he was talking about. I simply disagreed that Mr. Ford's explanation was poor, implying a lack of pedagogical ability. I had no trouble understanding his explanation but then I first heard him explain it over a quarter of a century ago so I guess it's subjective. I don't remember being dumbfounded when first confronted with it and while it's possible that his teaching ability has deteriorated Idk. Really though I can't even recall commenting, I must have been inebriated.

[@DavidLarew]

Thanks for spelling it out for those of us that need that kind of thing...

[@GregTorresGuitar]

This basically applying the b9 concept you can play diminished arpeggio a semi tone up from any dominant 7 chord in this case on the C dominant 7 (the 5 chord of F) you can play C# diminished arpeggio and it will resolve nicely to the F (“the home”) Just remember that in a blues all three of the chords can be dominant 7 not just the 5.

[@neoclassic09]

good lord.......jesus what an awful way to think about music. you're thinking way too hard, bro.

[@kitpalmer1583]

@@neoclassic09 what's your beef with it?

[@Wiggy1961]

My musical hero since the early 90s, even though I cant play the guitar, I always find his video's fantastic.

[@jsguitargeek1432]

100% - I've played guitar since that late '50s - never heard anyone so musically/technically/professionally talented. The consummate player

[@BandOfJimis]

Yea it is really cool it just goes to show some people have the gift while others just talk. The ones who don't get it always have to leave something negative.Thanks again to Robben and to all the positive players on this planet for sharing.

[@lonnystarr]

robben; thank you for your time, your talent, and your expertise. priceless!

[@GauravDhar91]

Great lesson Robben! Playing diminished scales over dominant chords is something we do a lot in jazz manouche. In fact a diminished 7 is just a semitone away from a dominant 7! (e.g. C# dim 7 is C#-E-G-Bb and C7 is C-E-G-Bb).

[@tripsr4kids]

my teacher taught me this years ago, and im still working on really mining it for all its worth. esp the four dom7b9 chords that can substituted for one another using this diminshed scale concept. u can also voice them as just dom7 chords (no b9), or just maj triads (no7th or b9 - which is what Robben does here @ 4:14) useful for both comping and playing lead (using arpeggios). learning that was mind blowing. and the dissonance that each substitution offers is rich. Robben doesnt spend too much time on it (prob due to lack of time), but its gold.

[@francescobordino]

Hi! But what when Robben used maj triads at 4:26 after a Gb/C chord he play B/C? After a Gb/C minor third discending there is a Eb/C. What am I doing wrong?

[@righturnonly]

I'm liking this Mr. Ford doesn't waste time, he gets right to it. I've been working on " Ain't got nothin but the Blues" .Find some nice chord voicing there.

[@chrismurphyshef]

Robben Ford is a wonderful person and a wonderful guitarist. The end.

[@illbarry]

Its not about a diagram of chords and searching for one you want that fits. Its about building your own chords from the start off the route note. Its also not about trying to play other peoples music note for note like a record drone geek on steroids. Its about exploring the possibilities of music composition, to think for yourself of how to build a song in your own style.

[@Octoguitarian70]

You are a very good teacher. Thank you for the great lesson.

[@GinoGenero]

My father taught me the diminished scale as a child and relative beginner but it was mostly always played as a warm up. Never tried using it this way. Still learning.

[@halfindy]

Love these videos in which prople at least try to let you in on the way they think and/or feel music.

[@PeterKertesz2013]

This lesson is a game changer in some level, thank you very much for uploading! 6:05 C Blues rhythm

[@mads1454]

I watch this video almost once a month and im understanding more and more every time :D

[@SIXSTRING63]

Hey is a true master. Been listening to and enjoying him since his days with Tom Scott and the LA Express.

[@quantumheron]

Thanks Robben and TrueFire for sharing. Opens up some great new sounds beyond the straight pentatonic blues playing.

[@BandOfJimis]

HEY a big shout out to you drellim 10 It's to bad some people can't realize how fortunate we serious guitar players truly appreciate a player like Robben who take the time to teach,I've been playing for 47 years and I'm ever so grateful to players like Robben who take the time to teach technique and the oh so important style,he offers so much valuable information to the serous players.THANK YOU AGAIN ROBBEN .

[@johnbuffaloe9160]

I've had the pleasure of two of his Master Classes in Ojai, both times sitting front row dead center. He's a really great teacher. He'll show you how he does all of his distinguishable phrasing, then it's up to you to apply it as you will.

[@Marmelademeister]

I have checked the whole video for appearances of 'basically'. Most of all, he used it as a filler word, like in "Basically it's a device to get you from one 7th chord to another" without a deeper meaning. Once he said "Basically it's a diminished scale". This was the only time that he used it on purpose. That time, he really took time to explain it. By the way, this is a video lesson. Anyone who needs time to think can pause the video.

[@JeffreyBurtonYT]

Robben is great. I always learn a ton from him.

[@diz52nd]

I think this works great for the 4th bar of a standard 12 bar blues progression.. Thanks to Robben Ford for a generous tip!.

[@therugburnz]

I used diminished and diminished 7th chords as soon as I got my sisters baritone uke. It sounded natural and pleasant to me. I wrote instrumental music based on it before I learned an actual cover song. I was told by the cool guys that you gotta play your own original music so I learned to play what guitars do by playing guitar. I could already read music for other instruments that I couldn't jam\compose with. Guitar was my jam as me machine.

[@aaronaragon7838]

Bragging? (Yawn)

[@jsguitargeek1432]

Cancel My favorite rock/blues/jazz-ish guitarist....... of all time. Amazing that he's sharing his craft so deeply & so well.

[@diegobrown4947]

This scale reminds me of old classic cartoons. Love it :)

[@andreybenassi1]

+Diego Brown Hahahaha it's totally true!

[@TheDotComKid84]

When he played the dim chord moving it up in minor 3rds thats wehat I heard too lol

[@fiftyeightmellon6902]

matt p yeah! The old black-and white silent movies often had a pianist playing along. These pianist used dim chords a lot. Sit down and play C-D#-F-A-C etc, run your hands op the board playing this and you're in an old movie!

[@arthurblackhistoric]

I've always thought that too. Back years ago I'd always be pickin' on my guitar while everyone was going about what they were doing and interacting with each other. If an argument broke out, I'd play that ascending diminished chord run and they'd all just laugh. It seemed as though I was providing them a soundtrack!

[@chrismorgan7494]

Looney Tunes "Three Little Pigs" is what I hear

[@blacksnakemoan6042]

His right hand is what kills me, so damn clean and articulate. A master.

[@skinnykarlos710]

His right hand is one thing that really "helps" his sound. He doesn't use the pointy tip of the plectrum/pick but the either one of the two rounded ends of the plectrum. I caught this on a VHS video (think it was 'The blues and beyond' ?) back in the early 1990s and if you try it you'll find a warmer, rounder sound. Getting that thing between the index and middle finger to use the fingers is also a great habit to cultivate. If you're a train/bus commuter it's something you can do away from the guitar - even watching tv or listening to endless tirades from your other half haha.

[@lamborn55]

This is for people who actually know something about music, people. There's a lot you'd have to understand before you'd get this, as I'm sure the people who responded favorably would agree.

[@veronicacolucci4082]

I have that scale as the Inverted Diminished (half step whole step) and the Diminished (whole step half step) and a bunch of other crazy scales a teacher wrote out for me years ago that I have yet to apply Terrible! Thanks for the tutorial Definitely looking into this one If anyone wants any of those other scales just reply here

[@CMM5300]

Yes please let me know. I like scale lists. In degrees please. 1234567. I'll send you some good one back!

[@bobs.stevenson9704]

'insert guitarists name' has never ceased to amaze me over the years / is one of the greatest guitarists of all time.

[@tanguydelooz2881]

Best lesson I found on this scale !! Thanks a lot !! What a delight

[@PIPA1302]

this guy is amazing, i would really enjoy having a beer with Robben and talking about music....

[@daveleask2984]

Robbed Ford is a genius of blues jazz fusion!

[@Rouwiinator]

As someone who's really into metal I love this. I don't really what to do with it in a blues context but still love it.

[@MrRagingsloth]

2:37 - chili peppers - road trippin' haha thanks for the vid!!

[@RCGC01]

Awesome demonstration

[@emanuelemazzoni782]

Amazing musician! Really love his approach

[@GeorgeKam]

Alan silvestri predator...along with robben BOTH LEGENDS!

[@Guitareben]

Gotta love Robben ford!

[@opiedeletta1333]

I have no idea what Robben was talking about but it was still great!

[@JeffreyBurtonYT]

I kind of get what some people are saying about this video. Robben's knowledge is so deeply ingrained and encyclopedic that he sometimes doesn't get that most people are not familiar with things like the Diminished scale. I've found that I have to go off on my own and research things that he seems to take for a granted as a knowledge base and come back and catch what he's saying about how to use it. I've noticed this problem with a lot of virtuoso players. So much of what they take for granted is not usually common knowledge to those who are learning. It's often better to have a another educator like Andy Aledort or the like show you their stye than have the artist do it themselves. BUT if you are willing to put in the extra work Robben Ford will open up all sort of new vistas for you.

[@expandwhatyousee]

+J. Burton-69 I think this is more of a putting this technique into a music situation. I mean how much more basic can you get a base of a three chord blues or 1-4-5? If you learn the scale he was showing you how to make use of the scale through the changes of that chord idea. Of course, that was just one example there are many other applications of the scale of course. This by no means isn't a beginner video, but it is really a good lesson for those a little more educated on the matter.

[@JeffreyBurtonYT]

Yes, definitely. I'm a professional player of 30 years and sometimes it takes me a couple passes and time studying on my own to get what Robben is saying. He conveys a lot of info in a very short time and I think a lot of times he's just introducing the concept, the way it was done to him and he expects you to put in the additional work to 'get it' (and make it your own). I've a subscription to Truefire and I'm getting ready to tackle Robben's courses one by one. I've gone through a good bit Larry Carlton's so I think I'm warmed up, lol.

[@geomusicmove]

Many years ago I had a book by Robben on blues I don't remember the name of but it was great and had terrific licks and passages. I learnt a lot from it. Robben is underrated or what? The guy is one of the best! Great video, thanks pal

[@johnmcminn9455]

Music theory is looking at chord, and scale formula possibilities. Applying theory to an actual song, Is finding something that sounds good on a tune , simple rules of thumb "Theory", is an idea of approach... Playing the song is "proof " Proving the idea sounds good . You could have 7 theoretical approaches , but blending 2 of them , may be the one that sounds good . In the blues , you could say every chord is a V7, or ii7, or a I chord . That probably wouldn't sound very good . A player like Robben, knows by ear what sounds good .Robben can play an authentic traditional blues,then analyze and tell you why it sounds good . To blend , " the first chord shall be the V7, the next chord shall be a I chord " Some great blues information right there.

[@1973wildcatman]

Excellent video!!! Now finally my piano player will leave me the hell alone about bloody diminished scales over Dom 7 chords and my musical IQ just went up too! Thanks

[@marlonborreo]

"When you're playing scales, you're spelling out chords." This my friends is the simple yet powerful truth that we all need to fully grasp to improvise as melodically and interestingly as we (individually) can. This is the "secret" to Robben's playing, to Matt Schofield's playing, to John Mayer's blues playing, to Wayne Krantz's playing.

[@TonyClarkeThinks]

Or Charlie Parker.

[@thewoodys_surf_instrumental]

Great lesson - beautiful tele - very cool pants.

[@skinnykarlos710]

His right hand is one thing that really "helps" his sound. He doesn't use the pointy tip of the plectrum/pick but the either one of the two rounded ends of the plectrum. I caught this on a VHS video (think it was 'The blues and beyond' ?) back in the early 1990s and I've done it ever since. If you try it you'll find a warmer, rounder sound. Getting that thing between the index and middle finger to use the fingers is also a great habit to cultivate. If you're a train/bus commuter it's something you can do away from the guitar - even watching tv or listening to endless tirades from your other half haha.

[@thecompletejake]

This guy is among the best players on earth.

[@Geotubest]

This is guitar gold dust.

[@ung2002]

RB : My Guitar Blues Master foever..

[@dfifty2]

When Robben is strumming a chord it sounds like an orchestra

[@zacate1983]

great lesson in rhythm also if you pay attention to the way he strums those chords!

[@qbassu]

Playing bebop over the blues, love it!

[@gregorypease213]

Yep. I understand it. All the understanding in the world won't help. Robben PLAYS so far over my head I can't keep up.

[@PedroMichael-h2h]

He is a Genius!!!!

[@shaman5150]

Mucha gente no gusta del blues por considerarlo aburrido. Pero contiene montones de ideas para generar música en varios estilos. Robben Ford agrega elementos del jazz para enriquecerlo. Esa es la lección importante, junto a la dinámica y la limpieza de cada nota tocada que demuestra, algo que hoy se ha perdido casi totalmente.

[@TheTerrypcurtin]

finally! Thanks so much. Lost my pinky on the left hand. Got me back. Thanks so much

[@BlikeNave]

A great musical tip in this video: the diminished sound is more than just a diminished 7 chord moving in minor thirds... you can also play major/minor triads on each of those roots! (Sounds like 4:21). For me it boils down to thinking of the diminished as an 8-note alphabet (the double diminished as he calls it, but it's also logically thought of as 'half-whole' scale), and people usually only spell one word (chord) out of it (the diminished 7th chord), when it really has a lot more harmonic potential!

[@irrationallynegative]

That was excellent. Thank you very much for posting, I learned something from it.

[@MrCocuphy]

he's the kind of guy who makes u want to pick up the guitar as you realise how much you dont know

[@jeanclaudegardini2785]

Merci maestro Robben pour ses super Moreau musical depuis des décennies merci

[@yzimsx]

Thanks Robben Ford, I just got some kind of an explanation for some things I've been playing for a long time. Like... a major triad falls on a diminished scale (doh!) and if you play a major triad three semitones from it, it will _also_ fall on the same diminished scale. Doh! I thought I was playing "outside" with those triads.

[@renleblanc2993]

That diminished lickis so good

[@josephbarker6075]

this guy is a great guitar player

[@gooseabuse]

Robben is the man!

[@m00nchildblues]

man, i would love to see Robben and EJ jam unplugged! Wonder who has their theory down better?

[@Bflatest]

The scale is cool but also there is the triad on each minor 3rd he spoke of. This opens up lots more. Like playing Minor pent. on the 1 and then switch to Half-Whole but then do a triad riff on a couple of string then back to the minor pent. thats 3 things to do very tasty

[@Gilyslas]

Discern with your ear. Excellent advice!

[@Geotubest]

If you watch enough KZbin videos by many of the great guitarists of today...John Mayer, Josh Smith, etc.. you'll find they'll mention Robben in terms of superlatives ("the Great Robben Ford). If you're serious about guitar you've got to know Robben Ford.

[@armada1999]

SWEET!!!!!!!! Lesson...... Learned a massive amount here!!! Thanks

[@jensenbell]

I understand every word he said perfectly.

[@wayfaerer320]

Robben looks so chilled out here - like he just finished a couple glasses of red wine.

[@jamesbordner1333]

He's just like that. I attended one of his all-day Ojai clinics and he's just this guy all the time.

[@MrNls10]

Yes, Sir. Great stuff. Thanks.

[@mattslavik8159]

Excellent playing with at best semi-coherent instruction. Very common in guitar videos.

[@kingstumble]

+Matt Slavik Semi-coherent? You must be semi-literate.

[@jboughtin7522]

Robben is a great artist. For the best guitar/music instruction I've found on YT, check out Rowan J. Parkers videos. They are clear, concise and to the point. The guy really knows his stuff.

[@jamesbordner1333]

Go back to your Bad Company songs.

[@vittoriopasolini3430]

Great player, great teacher!

[@Thomcat1954]

Thank You Roben

[@davidscott1052]

Check out jimmy Herring' s 'scapegoat blues' ..he uses 4th voicings and diminished licks in the head of the tune ...it will demonstrate what Robben is saying here

[@markbuilder7395]

Great lesson, Thanks Robben.

[@FriendM2010]

Though I am not at this place with playing, i am inspired and motivated. 🤓🤘 So, I’ll buy more guitars. 🥳👍🏌️

[@kylecravens6501]

Haha, I wish I didn't relate so much with this comment but it's true!

[@Bflatest]

also on the 4 he is working to get too with the diminished scale when you get there you can play some cool F lydian Dominant scale licks.

[@Ogma3bandcamp]

GOLD!

[@dispersemedia]

5:45 - The lick you want to learn

[@vmcelvis]

Always great stuff--"I knew this stuff before I knew what to call it" trust your ear--it was heard before it was written down--thanks for sharing --saw at a clinic at Kenelly Keys music with Don Mock years ago--then as now he always speaks from the heart and and soul-

[@amihol]

Very good video. Thanks Robben.

[@klauswhitedreamer]

thank you for the lesson, master Robben !...

[@MrDaveFerrier]

His rhythm playing is mega tasty, great pocket

[@andrewcrane2490]

im only 2 years old but i love the blues :)