The underrated pentatonic box you should use (because Joe Bonamassa does!)

[@troydownwardmusic]

Hi all! Thanks for watching - I show you some foundations of the licks I play in this video here kzbin.info/www/bejne/qJvQlZaMnLCZftE

[@ptguitars4163]

It was the Eric Johnson box first!!!! lol

[@troydownwardmusic]

😂😂 yes!

[@heavyrelic8506]

It sure was 😅

[@rodneyminchey]

Both are incredible!

[@mikegeld1280]

@@ptguitars4163 I think ur right about that seriously

[@troykelso]

​@@mikegeld1280 Of course he's right about it - you can tell that Joe Bossanova took a ton of stuff from Eric Johnson.

[@robertgross9431]

Great Job Troy !! I'm glad I checked this video out. .I've been playing guitar for over 45 years. Being self taught, it's been hard to shake my old and bad playing habits. Watching talented and dedicated players like you, has challenged me and boosted my abilities. . even at 60 plus years old. Thank you for the inspirational lesson !. . and BTW, thanks for keeping it short. I find many players go on for too long.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks heaps Robert! Glad you got the point of this video! Keep Rockin!

[@stephenearl1578]

I found that one by accident. Yours is the first video I've seen using it. I can't play like you, but I like playing over Jazz funk backing tracks and it works really well in that style. Thanks for the vid :)

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks so much!

[@SjaakShirly6559]

Just recently found your channel. Love it Troy!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you very much!

[@ron3676]

Joe B. Learned the Eric J. Style. Because it's great to have that ability to intertwine things together, ❤it.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Totally!

[@johncostigan6160]

Thanks Mate! After playing guitar for 60 years (no foolin') I decided to put a little Shred in my diet. This tutorial and your wonderful playing are just what I needed! Thanks Again

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@Farehaven]

Good stuff

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks!

[@timothyholloway5981]

Nice ideas there Troy. The blues is like alchemy to me. Any new insight is always welcome.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks Timothy!!

[@Flipp2011]

I use this pentatonic box all the time, its also great for Bebop phrasing too when crossing minor and major

[@troydownwardmusic]

🤘🏻🤘🏻 totally!

[@davedewhurst1095]

Really enjoyed lesson cool sounds .love bonamassa seen him live in Blackpool grand theatre. Where he first preformed in England

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks Dave. That would been unreal!

[@mdgtr20]

love this

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you mate!

[@davidivanjosephsalonia4566]

Thank you very much Brother. 🙏🕊️

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@gavendelrio9193]

Good grief man… Thank you! Awesome lesson!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers!

[@mr.roby_blues8676]

Hi Troy, I just discovered you today, September 21, 2024, I'm using Google Translate so sorry for the mistakes. I love Joe B. you're giving me a double gift, because besides him, I've loved the Blues all my life, I'll follow not only this lesson, I saw a comment to which you responded rightly, it's a lesson, not a performance now you know who I'm referring to, I'll be very attentive to all the videos, I subscribed to your channel..... thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, I need lessons, I started playing again, after 40 years, because my left hand, rebuilt after an accident, they told me, that I would never be able to play again, 1 year ago I tried again, now I strum of course, but for me it's a lot, thanks!🎶🎸

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks so much!!

[@JazzStrat781]

Awesome video 👍🎸 glad to have found your channel, I'm subscribed!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you so much !

[@johnyblandofoz952]

Maaaaate 2kool you certainly got control of it all... Well done... yep I will start practising this avenue... Cheers... PLEASE KEEPEM COMMIN WE ARE ALL WITH YOU... onwards n upwards...

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you mate!

[@cryptoking8060]

I often wondered how the ascending runs were able to be played so fast. It's easy as heck to descend with speed yet the other way seemed a lot more work. I was trying alternate picking, economy picking and struggled figuring out how to make it happen smoothly. UNTIL I noticed the hybrid picking done by most players, including you. This is a game changer for speed in both directions. Easy to implement and makes those ascending runs effortless. Awesome lick to personalize to your hearts content! Subscribed.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks heaps for watching!! The hybrid picking helps me get to the speed I want! I’ll make another video about this for sure! Thanks again.

[@rfphill]

Where was the hybrid picking?

[@cryptoking8060]

@@rfphill On the ascending part of the run. Watch his middle finger. It's subtle but essential for ascending speed.

[@peterwilliams716]

Great video and tuition thank you.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks Peter!

[@gnawbabygnaw]

It’s what I learned as the third position with a few extra notes. DAMN,son. Chase your dreams. You already got more chops than anybody would ever need. Cheers 🤙🤙

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers! 🤘🏻

[@edigabrieli7864]

Definetly a Bonamassa classic run you are spot on.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks heaps mate!!

[@ERB616]

This is really good. Been wanting to put my finger on what Bonsmossa/Johnson were playing for a while now. Really amazing playing man

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks Eric! I definitely gave it that EJ vibe in some of those lines, glad you picked it up!

[@0107latasha]

Great video again mate your phrasing is masterful👍

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you mate!

[@TechMetalRules]

Sweet vid, man! EJ loves that penta-position as well (sorta where the "dorian" position would be relative to a diatonic scale), so it's no wonder Joe hangs out there a lot!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Totally has that EJ vibe! Love it mate thanks for watching :)

[@bobolson5423]

Very cool! As a teacher I’m always looking for other ways to inspire my students. This is great and easy to follow. Subscribed!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers mate!

[@joshsklair8356]

Great vid!!👍🏼 and playing 🎸

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you sir!!

[@allantaylor4025]

Beautiful tone and such clean playing. Thank you.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks so much!

[@icing777]

Good point! Thank you!

[@guydouglas6094]

Great lesson Troy. I love your Joe Bonamassa 'Box' and the BB King 'Box' reference - you combine both major and minor pentatonics! The 9th note is very Joe Bo. Your guitar sound of deep reverb and wide echo repeats make a such a big difference in playing - I likes. From east coast DownUnder mate! 👍

[@troydownwardmusic]

Legend! Thanks Guy! Nice sunny day here in Melbourne FINALLY! Cheers.

[@youngandrew66]

Awesome. It's the high little finger note (and when you use it) that makes it bonajohnson

[@troydownwardmusic]

Totally!

[@GTR1000ify]

Wow! This is great and really useful. I'd really like you to break down some of the licks that you are playing in the middle section with details on up/down pickstrokes, economy picking, hammer on/pulloffs. Especially the licks including major 9th and blues notes.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks so much mate!

[@royrensburg3099]

Excellent lesson ! Thank you

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@yragnellaable]

Love it. Very Eric Johnson as well.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you! Yes totally EJ!

[@totoguitar3-tg374]

Great Troy!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you mate!!

[@markjohnson1020]

Dude. You look like Sad Wings era Rob Halford. And I mean that in thee most complimentary way! 🤘🏼🤘🏼

[@troydownwardmusic]

Hahaha I’ve not heard that - but cool!

[@jochenbecht6191]

Thanks my friend. Take care and god bless.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you mate!!

[@dickiemoe7530]

I hit this box all of the time, but you make it sound amazing!!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you!

[@mr.roby_blues8676]

Hi Troy, I just discovered you today, September 21, 2024, I'm using Google Translate so sorry for the mistakes. I love Joe B. you're giving me a double gift, because besides him, I've loved the Blues all my life, I'll follow not only this lesson, I saw a comment to which you responded rightly, it's a lesson, not a performance now you know who I'm referring to, I'll be very attentive to all the videos, I subscribed to your channel..... thank you so much from the bottom of my heart, I need lessons, I started playing again, after 40 years, because my left hand, rebuilt after an accident, they told me, that I would never be able to play again, 1 year ago I tried again, now I strum of course, but for me it's a lot, thanks!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks very much for watching and following!

[@theseferalkids7750]

that sounds a lot more like the big Eric Johnson kind of styled runs you here Bonamassa do. a lot of lessons show it in first position pentatonic but this sounds much more like it. Great lesson!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers mate!

[@theseferalkids7750]

@@troydownwardmusic just stumbled upon your channel, great stuff! binge worthy guitar lessons!!👍👍

[@troydownwardmusic]

@@theseferalkids7750 love it mate thanks for the kind words! Enjoy!

[@SolarVergmoid]

Definitely cool stuff man…thanks for showing. Great playing BTW! (nice axe too)

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers! 🤘🏻

[@troydownwardmusic]

Hey legends! Thanks for watching me ramble about some ideas I had in this position. Grab your guitar and slow some of this stuff down to get your fingers around it! The full pentatonic lick is at the end (with TAB)!

[@servethesongs]

Why are you trying to show off your speed instead of playing clearly... its a lesson.. not a performance... grow up

[@troydownwardmusic]

@@servethesongs hi Taylor, it’s a bit of both in this case. I’m inspired by those fast phrases that Joe plays, and the demonstration throughout was to make this point. It then led to the last lick that I go through slowly and provide the TAB on screen (you didn’t get that far?) If you’d like some more note by note lesson type licks and explanations, I have some other videos that go through in more detail. This was just a quick off the cuff video for fun! I’ll even link it here to save your time - kzbin.info/www/bejne/e5CXkKWvjbSNp8ksi=tot60_SYQJ32RZLO

[@fred3893]

Congratulations for your response to the post from 'servethesongs''. VERY classy.

[@robertclarkguitar]

Man that strat is beautiful.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks Robert 🤘🏻

[@ronaldpapa8182]

Terrific!!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you mate!

[@MrCarlos1335]

GOOD JOB, WELL DONE

[@troydownwardmusic]

Ha thank you!

[@andrewdevlin2255]

Awesome Troy 🙏🔥

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers Andrew :)

[@scottdrumm4828]

Great lesson thanks!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks Scott!

[@rds1882]

Thanks for a great presentation of what can be done with the shape. I will be trying it out. Nice picking technique.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers!

[@conkey_]

Insane tone 🔥

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you!

[@johndooley7812]

Great video, thank you. New subscriber from NZ.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers John!!

[@MsSmee2]

This is Joe Phillips from the Alley Tones Blues Band. Thank you for showing that Joe B likes that pentatonic position. I'm experimenting with it and I think it is easy to lace it with diminished chunks. It is a comfortable and super fast position. It has sort of an extended range feel. There is a disadvantage of having the tonic on the e strings.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Totally agree! Thanks for watching.

[@Planet9_music]

Bro this was insane!!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you bro!

[@johnkavaudio4695]

That was great, thanks mate

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks for watching mate!!

[@danielgonzaleztejedor9486]

I've learned something. Tx.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@Mr77pro]

Great lesson Troy! Keep up the great work!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks Kevin!

[@Peter-sk5vg]

Really clear and enjoyable. Chopsy!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks Peter!

[@samchipner1131]

Very cool this poped on my feed at 5 am o had to grab a guitar.lucky it was still out from last night.

[@troydownwardmusic]

I love that!! Thanks for watching 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@KarlHourigan]

Nice lesson, thanks.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks Karl!

[@mraggrovator]

Awesome

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks heaps!

[@Mraknz]

Nice lesson bro

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you brother!

[@deanrpritchard]

Yeeesssss bro!!! Thank you for this knowledge:)

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks for watching bro!

[@deanrpritchard]

It has occurred to me we have played together with Aaron Schembri up in Tamworth many moons ago.

[@troydownwardmusic]

@@deanrpritchard oh Man that’s incredible! That seems like forever ago!

[@Faltermeyer123]

banger of a lesson!!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks!

[@larryrogalski4067]

That’s awesome!

[@joaoperico5608]

That sounds great! Thanks for sharing

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you mate!

[@jimilee8979]

YEP, Yet another one of God's Children that has been Blessed..............AMAAAAAYYYYZZZZZIIIINNNNGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!! Been playing for 45 years and still can not acheive that level of playing.... Thanks Troy for allowing some of us to Dream. You are truly inspirational.....................................

[@troydownwardmusic]

Very kind words, thank you!

[@mabblers]

Great playing, and fast fingers. I'm working on getting my faster.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you mate!!

[@imluckyman10]

Thanks, 70 years old and just learned something new.😂👍

[@troydownwardmusic]

Awesome!

[@WardHake]

This was great. Wish you could have added a little more detail on your picking approach. Especially the ascending line.

[@JAFOpty]

excellent lesson

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers!

[@mr.yellowstrat3352]

Beautiful strat! Always wanted a Suhr guitar

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you!

[@clotban]

Thank`s 👋🤛

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@devonswars]

Reminds me of the lead from Just Got Paid- Live. Nice

[@TheRumbles13]

Nice guitar bro!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you brother!

[@TheRumbles13]

@@troydownwardmusic subbed! Thanks for your hard work. I've been a player for 20 years bit frequently find myself hitting plateaus

[@troydownwardmusic]

@@TheRumbles13 thanks so much mate!

[@thelemonademan6235]

I recently found your channel and I dig it, love it. !!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks so much!!

[@thelemonademan6235]

@@troydownwardmusic your a good dude brother, I can tell.

[@SuperMrThom]

This is absolutely brilliant! Thanks Troy

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers! Glad you enjoyed.

[@MarkPickering-s8q]

A great solo to learn is an Albert Lee playing further on up the road on Eric Clapton album live just one night. It's a wicked shuffle blues. Not to crazy technical but it connects all the pentatonic scales horizontally. It would be a great solo to teach

[@troydownwardmusic]

Great! Thanks Mark I’ll check it out

[@ScoobyDoo-kt9pv]

I love what you played and I like to use that pentatonic box as a way of shifting the box one if you are in a Dorian location you can play it instead of box 1 just for flavor. I hope that makes sense. I love all the Pentatonic boxes you get me a little more hooked on 5 and this is 3. 2 is more of an old school box. Everyone uses one. 4 is one of my favorites when I'm playing it'll sound melodic when I play 4. 4 has some melodic choices I like and I'll play them in more difficult less obvious locations. I like that you name the major 3 etc It helps.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks for watching!

[@jobaci]

Thank you. Your explanation put it together for me.

[@ScoobyDoo-kt9pv]

@@jobaci Huh? We were just talking. What are you taking about bud?

[@troydownwardmusic]

@@jobaci thank you mate!

[@KenFernbach]

So glad to see this - should help many! ❤️🎸🎃

[@fabiomoro7556]

Muito legal, toco contra baixo e agora estou querendo aprender um pouco de guitarra. Seu canal esta me ajudando muito, parabéns!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks so much!

[@BrooksShepherd]

Carbon Dating myself here but that sounds more like Eric Johnson to me, just saying. Rock on Troy, sounds great!

[@troydownwardmusic]

You’re right! Cheers 🤘🏻

[@robertsuszek2327]

Thank you.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks for watching

[@adoubleU587]

Liked and subbed

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thanks heaps!!

[@buck7477]

Man I think you’re faster than Joe. Dang! I wanna play that fast, teach that!

[@troydownwardmusic]

I wish! Thanks for watching

[@timholtguitar6999]

Late to the party but excellent video and lesson!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you!

[@andyg1245]

Blah da bloop da doodly bloop, doodly bloop da bloop da blah. Nicely done, Mate.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Hahaha, thanks I guess?? 🤘🏻

[@andyg1245]

@@troydownwardmusic I love the video!

[@troydownwardmusic]

@@andyg1245 haha oh good! Thanks Andy 😀

[@ferpirata76]

I agree about the Eric Johnson point but most importantly of all is that this guy has shared an excellent lesson. At leasr it taught me important stuff whatever it came from. I don't understand why the internet has to be about putting down people that dont deserve it. Thanks Troy. Suscribed!!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Hi mate, I appreciate those words, thank you!! The internet is a crazy place 😂😂

[@ferpirata76]

@@troydownwardmusic thanks to you for the great lesson. I’m learning by myself and you gave me lots of homework haha I just hate how people use the internet to trash people or say negative things. It’s just a reflection of our society I guess. Anyway, best wishes from Spain and Rock and Roll all nite 🤘🏻🎸

[@samb759]

Hi Troy, This is the first one of your videos I've seen, and I really enjoyed it. Your tone is really great, can I ask what you're using? Thanks again

[@troydownwardmusic]

Hi mate thanks so much! It’s just direct into my fractal fm9, then straight into my Apogee. I think this video I was using a dumble amp sim.

[@RCOZONER]

I've always thought of the Pentatonic Scale as the backbone notes of the Greek Modes.

[@troydownwardmusic]

That’s definitely a good way to think of it!

[@4133-m8i]

It's the Blues Scale, in B. 3rd position. Nice use of it.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers

[@claudaniella]

I see you doing some hybrid picking there. Sneaky 🤣

[@markanstey2654]

That’s a great sounding Strat. What humbucker is in it? Super playing too !

[@kimdejbjergjensen2201]

BB often went to minor pentatonic (dorian) on the IV chord ... it's the BB box in my book

[@troydownwardmusic]

Love it!

[@dumple7182]

This guy must like Eric Johnson. Even has the sound and the pentatonics.

[@TroyShahanMusic]

Dude this is hilarious!!! My name is Troy, and this is my favorite pentatonic shape too!! Hahaha!!! Awesome!!!! And when you “overlay” it’s major shape on top of the pentatonic-That’s probably my favorite major pattern as well.

[@troydownwardmusic]

Man - my mind is blown! It’s love at first fright!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@thorstenriedel3152]

Damn.......cool

[@troydownwardmusic]

Cheers!

[@tm1180]

Would be nice to show an illustration

[@justincheney2925]

Yesssssc🎉

[@rainfieldmusic]

Yeah man way cool 😎

[@troydownwardmusic]

Thank you man!

[@Pantalooj]

Great playing ... and great advice. I knew this shape/position already, but you've flipped a mental switch for me ... will try starting with this position instead of the default "box" and see how much I can stay there and develop new licks/thinking. Thanks! Also, what's in your signal path on this clip? I've replayed several times just to listen to that tone 😁

[@troydownwardmusic]

Hi mate thanks for the kind words! Sometimes just trying something different right out of the gate can bring a whole new side to your playing and open up your ears in a different way. This is just direct into my fractal fm9. Potentially an ODS amp model if I remember correctly.

[@Pantalooj]

​@@troydownwardmusicLove it. Thanks 🙏 ... Subscribed

[@thebomontellano4996]

Wow. A young Guthrie Govan 😮😮🎉

[@troydownwardmusic]

😂😂 if only! Thanks for watching

[@ngaoutdoors4715]

Well I know what I’m practicing for a bit now.

[@troydownwardmusic]

😂😂😂😎😎🤘🏻🤘🏻

[@kyleconnermusic]

Bro, I need to know what your amp tone is because WOW! So good!!

[@kyleconnermusic]

nvm i found it in another comment. Too bad i'm using a kemper instead of a fractal haha! Still, sooo good!

[@troydownwardmusic]

Haha! I did change from Kemper to Fractal in the last year. Kempers are still great!!