These 2 exercises will help you play the chord changes when improvising. Guitar Lesson - EP488

[@tonytrabort4939]

Brian, a couple of off-topic questions. Your videos serve as late-night, can't sleep educational and entertainment content for this senior guitar fan. I'm over 70, still love guitar, but my arthritically impaired fingers, thumb ligaments, and hand pain make playing nearly impossible. I try to arpeggiate chords and find necks that are wide enough to make finger pressure less critical. I found the Taylor GS Mini, a miniature 6-string acoustic. It feels good. Any thoughts? In electric, solid bodies, which company offers the more forgiving neck with larger real estate to plant fingers on? I'd assume Fender, rather than Gibson.

[@williamrigby4805]

This might be the best guitar lesson I've ever seen

[@MrYatesj1]

By far your teachings are the best on YT. You cover very technical material while explaining it simply on concisely. Thanks for all you do!!

[@stevereynolds547]

He's good!

[@marybethhempel9101]

Yes, I feel like I have more and more AHA moments and find a lot of gold nuggets here with Brian!! Wow! 😀

[@geoffwatson]

I love your passion and your ability to teach in such an enlightening way. I'm 64 and after watching your videos I regain the enthusiasm I had as a teenager. Thank you.

[@michaeljam2132]

Brian, watching you for years and this is the most difficult, easy lesson I've learned. Got it now. Thanks man.

[@nevilletaylor3942]

Fantastic lesson Brian. Thank you. Some mysteries have been solved today!

[@nateo7045]

Anything to help the algorithm. You deserve it :)

[@user-hd1cd4ev5y]

You are an excellent guitar teacher. I love the lesson in improving payying chord changes:)

[@j.markcalvert7961]

I'd love to see your entire guitar collection

[@lizstrangesavage7948]

Hi Brian, I just started guitar about two weeks ago and signed up for your ActiveMelody premium access. I understand what you're saying, but my fingers aren't there yet. Hope they'll be there soon. 🙂

[@activemelody]

thank you Liz - glad to hear you're learning. Your fingers will get there - just be patient :)

[@dougsammons8409]

The last several lessons, especially the major and minor triad lessons, were very powerful in helping me to better understand the fretboard and better visualize the fretboard when I’m improvising. This lesson on playing the chord changes is exactly what I want to begin working on now. I have learned and can play the mixolydian scales in this lesson. However, I feel like there should be a follow up lesson on ways to improvise lead lines based on these scales. Thank you, Brian, for doing what you do here on Active Melody. I am so happy to be a member.

[@onefm1]

Lightbulb moment!!!!!

[@ryanh4975]

Thank you for your hard work. I appreciate it. 😊

[@dumptrump1401]

Thank you for a very clear and enjoyable lesson. I am getting alot out of it.

[@user-sw2hb4bm5l]

Thanks Brian This is right down my alley as the old saying goes

[@mikedriscoll4815]

Great lesson Brian. Always like it when you have lessons to connect the scales to the chords. Keep it up😃

[@albertomascarenhas9010]

I kind of like the way you have explained the concept of maneuvering chord changes, to look at this complex looking subject in a simple way. Much appreciated by me.

[@demitryshenouda350]

thank you 👌👌👌👍👍👍👍👍

[@demitryshenouda350]

Please explain finger techniques for playing blues on guitar

[@MnkyButlr]

No joke, you have taught me how to play guitar over the last 3 years. This channel is pure gold

[@scottydog62]

One of the most comprehensive teachers out there, thank you. Your explanation of the "why" it works is the best.

[@tombarrett7419]

Hi Brian! I've recommended your site a number of times to people on other forums. You explain things clearly and you are obviously passionate about playing and teaching. Thanks so much for creating these lessons!

[@underglas681]

Liked this lesson. Already a premium member.

[@christophercornell3315]

I just got threw the caged corse now the major scale I’m finding guitar is vary challenging but fun you are a vary good teacher

[@elanofigueiredo2893]

You are the best. From Brazil, thanks.

[@chrisharrison6797]

Totally makes sense, will start to implement these ideas, thank you 🙏

[@5StringRob]

Amazing lesson. Not surprised. You are awesome Brian.

[@davidlegalley1161]

Excellent lesson Brian! Well worth the Premium Membership 👍🏽👍🏼🎸🎯.

[@jeanphillippebrideau895]

Thanks a lot Brian!

[@lynfox1533]

Brian, another excellent video, man you are so helpful

[@PeteMartinezRealtor]

Great exercise and helpful knowledge. Thank you.

[@JG6869USA1]

Ha ha ha, I told that to my father years ago. He laughed and didn't understand it and went back to teaching me the major scale in G. With that being said, this is a great way to explain it. Thanks.

[@tomdaigon8707]

At the risk of confusing thing, I would add when playing changes I like to mix in various snippets of scales and triads. This opens up the entire fretboard for creativity and results in a more melodious improv. :)

[@andyjales]

What an amazing way of explaining this topic of music !!! Excellent video!!!!

[@lazylightning5496]

It's bloody brilliant, Brian. I've been like, yeah whatever all 5 positions for almost 30 years. And it's held me back for almost 30 years. I started two days ago on all 5 positions and bang, this lesson comes on my radar and my fingers already k ow the patterns. I just flat the 7th. Bloody brilliant!!!

[@phild7021]

My TBI (traumatic brain injury) won this battle but I loved the idea of adding the 7th to scales. You make my days much brighter Brian, THANKS!

[@mazzap1234]

Another valuable lesson. Thanks Brian

[@otaviozobaran9744]

Beautiful and handy lesson! Tkssss

[@d.l.huntministries8131]

Great information, I like what you said ( fingers have little brains ), I'm taking notes! You are great! Instructor!!

[@ymyasiyadofficial7013]

Thank you so much for being a great instructor for beginners, intermediates, and advancers of guitar players. You have always thumbs up from me because your lessons are just super awesome and helpful. So, Many Thanks again to Active Melody. .

[@fekkyb]

Makes total sense to me. This should be done with Diatonic Chords in all Major, Minor Keys and Modes. 😉👍🏼

[@romaholcomb7768]

Thanks again. I'm gonna go get the scales down, and I'll be back. I love you Man. You are the Goat of KZbin guitar teachers.

[@INHALE31]

This is great I hope you make more exercises for learning to play over chord changes ❤ Great job 👏

[@bungalowbluesman]

Thank you Brian 👍🏻

[@sheilaschaeffer2810]

Really helpful lesson. It's cleared up my confusion about playing the chord changes. Also, helped with my left hand - getting my fingers it the right place. Any chance you would do a "part 2" using a chord progression with minor chords?

[@mattherman6189]

Thanks Brian! Another awesome offering. Super-big fan. You cover the sweet spot for "beginners"/intermediate... assuming just the right amount about student's knowledge. But sure these exercise will benefit a large swath of learners. Intelligent but unpretentious persona, a sincere advocate of music learning! Great stuff. Please keep doing it.

[@vincentday6679]

really appreciative of your lesson. thx so much

[@steveburton2482]

Very much appriciate your ability to explain fretboard. Thank you

[@GuitarJoLa]

You're such a brilliant teacher, Brian! 🤯I love how you make everything so logical, explaining the science of art 🙂 This is a must-do exercise, great lesson! ♪💕

[@richiecullen]

I love everything about all your lessons.At the start of the lessons I say to myself well I won't be picking that up and by the end when I get over the hump of the lesson and the lightbulb moment I understand it.I consider myself a slow learner and when I allow for this its stops the frustration and your lessons really help and improve me and are completing and confirming my musical roadmap 1 lesson at a time.Thank you for your time and experience. Cheers from Ireland

[@ted9876]

Really enjoyed this. A lot of good exercises on many levels. Clear explanations as always. Will tackle momentarily. I need to drill precision and need to learn more. Scales are the answer and practicing with a backing track makes it seem like I’m making some music. Thanks for the hard work. I know you put a lot of effort into the lessons. Never seen you mail one in.

[@marybethhempel9101]

This is one of the lessons that is a true golden nugget!! Thank you Brian!! I am learning a lot from you and I really appreciate your style of teaching!! You are a super teacher!! 🙏😆

[@kutsbothways]

Been playing for many years and had a coupIe of Light-buIb moments in this video, thank you. Very accessible approach.

[@kenhazlin5860]

Thank you Brain. Appreciate you teaching a little more complex topics.

[@nyzombiesquad182]

Unreal...im so ready to try this..what a way to put the thought process into words, just learned all the modes and associated scales, now starting to learn how to play the chords changes and it seems like im standing in front of a 40' wall, you may have just let me use your ladder....ty brotha!!

[@timrokomasi8287]

Enjoyed this lesson thanks Brian especially to be able to play in one spot.

[@jscagle790]

Great lesson Brian! This was the light bulb moment for me that you are always trying to help us find. I’ve learned so much by following you and becoming a member on your site. This really connects the dots for me regarding what to do with the major scale in jam session example. I’ve seen and heard players using this technique but I just couldn’t tie it back to anything. Thank you!!

[@JimRPickens]

Enjoyed the lesson, always learn something new from all your videos including this one.

[@fishzebra]

Love it, simply explained and teaches me both chord change timing and a simple way to think about playing mixolydian chord changes, you are the jedi master teacher.

[@nateo7045]

I guess this makes sense, but I was pleased to see that this naturally applies to the CAGED system. As in, any of the shapes out of CAGED can be used for the modes like mixolydian based on their intervallic relationships. So any time you're in E's shape but mixolydian, you know the major scale comes from the A shape since E is the 5th of A Similarly, if you're playing a G shape mixolydian, the C shape is the major scale for the same reasons This works for all the letters of CAGED. The only tricky one maybe is the C shape, which would be the fifth of F, but because C's root is up a semitone on the B string, that F is also just an E shape moved up a semitone. Also, the easiest way for me to remember a fifth conceptually is by knowing all the triad names.. ACE CEG EGB GBD BDF DFA FAC which all link together nicely by skipping every other letter.. ACEGBDFAC Hopefully this could help someone because it helps me quite a bit(: Much easier to always think in shapes like this. Keys easily become irrelevant this way.

[@MoeJoe974]

Very helpful Brian. Another tumbler falling from the lock. Thank you

[@hermar3656]

I'm super impressed with this guy so far

[@martynspooner5822]

That blew me away I had no idea you could look at the mixo scale that way ie take it back to its major.

[@marcsullivan7987]

And the same thing goes for learning Dorian, Lydian, etc. they all have the same notes (and patterns) of a parent major scale. So G mixolydian is the same notes as C Major, as he said, but it’s also the same as D Dorian, E Phrygian, F Lydian, A aeolian (natural minor) and B locrian.

[@vwu450]

Thank you so much👍

[@Edunvalvojat]

Great lesson! Thx!

[@BurnleyNuts]

So reminds me of the Bluegrass tune you did just before Christmas 2020 EP391 That was Mixolydian and you described the same perfectly.

[@1974xaviers]

Excellent 👌👍

[@marvinrudd5268]

Great explanation

[@steveflowers9273]

I enjoy working with you

[@larryblackburn3109]

You have too be the best..

[@BOOREK100]

On the money as always.

[@dougshemenski3817]

Wonderful explanation I can’t wait to try it

[@j11smith]

really great episode! This is a big help in learning the closest neighbor.... IDK if i'll ever get my head around the mixolydian mode idea, all I can do so far is make it sound like the major scale and confuse myself about where to go next... this is a good exercise for that too, but my head and ears can't hear the mode yet.

[@2000SkyView]

Excellent lesson! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@davidsprague7747]

I am learning a much better way to do all that I want with your lessons

[@ChrisJoneschrisajones]

Playing the most simple annoying sounding things to others in my house... yet my brain is struggling to keep up! I get it when i study it and play slow. when i play fast I have to concentrate SO HARD to stay in the pocket and not get distracted. This is the challenge of our times. Everything is such instant gratification and on to the next thing. to really relax, breathe and stick with it is exactly the challenge I am looking for to level up my playing. It totally makes sense yet its so hard to hang in there! I'm going to add it to my daily practice!

[@activemelody]

And at some point you’ll just switch your brain off and feel it. Your fingers will know where they are allowed to roam

[@ChrisJoneschrisajones]

⁠I found that strumming the chord before each bar helps me orient my brain to the upcoming scale. After doing several rounds with the chord, I went back to the plain scale melody. Surprisingly, was able to quickly think about the chord and keep up with the interactive track in the members area. I love how you end with the Gmaj after the three DOM scales just to keep us on our toes.

[@larryfarkas]

This is a big help. Thank you so much.

[@QBRX]

"Your fingers have their own little brains", I laughed out loud.

[@gregpeterson3144]

I liked the concept of playing the three Major scales in the same spot. I am not sure about throwing Myxolidian into that (yet). Nice lesson nevertheless.

[@LogicalWisdom.G]

Nice one

[@billycramer8066]

Great lesson as usual. Really enjoy your work. Thank you

[@Trickycopter]

Great stuff Brian you rock

[@Rick-fv3yq]

Nice work and a Hugh help. Thanks

[@ferdiaioli]

Merci !

[@sharkey247]

Very helpful lesson!

[@megarxidas17]

Another great lesson

[@larryblackburn3109]

Hey. , thanks..

[@daleschimpf]

I like the exercise and found it way more challenging than I expected when I sat down to play it myself. Was there any particular reason for the choice/use of scale fragments over the different chords other than to just make everything fit within the structure of the chord progression?

[@weps2097]

Awesome lesson! I'll be modifying my practice routine starting tomorrow. Thank you! It was gonna be somebody so why not me...please check the 14:47 (ish) time of the lesson, I think you meant up one string or am I missing something.

[@rehkram]

@Weps, you're correct, I was going to post the same correction.

[@raoulduke8720]

Great stuff thank you

[@adbuuk]

You're brilliant. I was doing well. But seems like I've got a rapid developing rheumatoid arthritis. Life is hard. I'm 55. Not young. Not old. Sad I only discovered my music ability late. Please forgive me for unsubscribing. You're a really awesome teacher. Keep well my friend.

[@xx-ev2sq]

@activemelody HI - 1st let me say your lessons are incredible! I just wanted to mention, the tab headings really confused me for some time. The head on the tab says mixolydian, and you give the CAGED chord shapes (E,A,D) to use for the I IV V in G... but the scale shapes you're using are [in order] A, D, E .. I'm just mentioning it because I'm wondering if other people just learning the caged system might be as confused as I was. Merry xmas

[@stevestrang480]

Great lesson. It would probably help to learn the note names in the scales. Is there a good practice download for that?

[@wykevanweelden]

I was waiting for this one! Thanks so much 🙏🏼🙌🏻 could i ask what martin you have. I just love this one!

[@joebeamish]

I happened to learn the Jimmy Bruno 5 positions thing before seeing this video. So my fingers are used to this concept. But my brain isn’t used to using them.

[@stebeatle4965]

Great lesson brian. While improvising in this key, you could throw in.a bit of g minor pentatonic too?

[@activemelody]

sure

[@manfredbazarov6417]

I'm struggling to get my head around exercise one a little. Is there a logic to the notes that are used to start and finish the scales?? Only the G starts on the root note during the exercise. Thanks.

[@sdr50]

Brian, I think the penny has dropped. Thanks for the leg-up to the next level.

[@joebeamish]

If you’re playing a major blues scale, do you use the b7 for each chord change too?

[@abejacgot]

Question? In the first exercise, when you are playing the "C" Mixolydian (A shape) are you thinking "flat the 7th" A shape or thinking "play the F major scale"?

[@paullennon8586]

Active melody premium member can it work all from phone or have to be computer ?