UNLOCK Your Improvising/Soloing Skills with this Method!

[@stratonicc2651]

mike accidentally playing "The First Noel" killed me

[@Cuzzazbuzz]

I’ve been stuck working in boxes and this feels like someone has opened the gate so you can out to play. Love it. Thank you.

[@senorcmasmas]

I am in awe. Today, you helped me break a hurdle I have had for years. I just turned this off and solo'd for over backing tracks for 1/2 hour with confidence. THANK YOU! Also nice in this exact position to noodle over Em (of course).

[@JoeR203]

Another fun thing to do for improvising is to duel yourself. It works best with a Les Paul because you have the dedicated tone control for the neck pickup so it'll sound like another guitar. But just play something on the bridge pickup, then switch to the neck pickup and try to copy what you heard with the bridge pickup. Granted, you should be able to copy it exactly anyway, but it's fun to pretend you didn't just play it, and try to replicate it. Not getting it perfect also adds to the feeling that you're dueling someone. But just keep switching between bridge and neck, and then change it to make the neck be the "Pro player" and now the bridge has to try and follow.

[@tdesq.2463]

Brian May does precisely that in BICYCLE RACE. Great note.

[@dylanhammonds8084]

So many years of just kinda arpeggiating and not really learning scales like that just for this guy to come in and tell me something so simple and improve the way I play so fast

[@mini_moose_x]

This clicked right away considering improving is my weak point right now, this is an awesome way to get the ball rolling. Thanks! 😊💙🎸

[@becksvlogs9057]

Thank you thank you thank you for mentioning backing tracks!! I'm self-taught, using KZbin for almost four years now, and I learned rhythm and improvisation by playing along to backing tracks. They are one of the most underappreciated tools in 21st Century/digital age guitar learning.

[@GuitarLessonsMadeEasy]

backing tracks are a staple. Improvising can become a style if you do it long enough. My best playing is always improvising

[@infernoloco64]

What is backing tracks

[@rw100]

@@infernoloco64 Pre-recorded tracks for you to play over. They usually have drums, and often bass and rhythm guitar, but no lead guitar (and no vocals), so you can fill in the lead guitar part yourself (or whatever is missing, eg. you can play your own bass over a drum track). KZbin has plenty of them; try searching by tempo, key, and maybe style (eg. "120BPM E minor hard rock backing track") and you should find something usable.

[@grilledcheese1318]

Long time guitar player here. This bridged a gap between my standard pentatonic shapes that I've beat the crap out of my whole life. Immediately usable and now have a way to add some legato to my improvising. Thanks!

[@MichaelBuilds]

I like the new camera angles on this one! That guitar is effing sweet!

[@descent13]

This is excellent. I learned these concepts a long time ago but it took me a lot of time to get it. When you combine this with octave visualization it really opens things up. For the rock and metal guys G major has the same notes as the venerable favorite key E minor so once you learn the G major you’ve also got the E minor but the focus is on the G note in the major and the E note in the minor

[@Homermad81]

The greatest part of fooling around with this is realizing this allows me to now play all the notes to the "Dueling Banjos". My dog just ran away with my truck, thanks a lot.

[@HannahCope88]

Improvising is one of my major lesson tasks at the moment. Using the g major scale across the strings, learning where all the g notes are has been another small part. I've been using a lot of the YT backing tracks, I try and use a different one each time. So this is absolutely perfect! Looking forward to trying this out 🤘🏻🔥

[@PressuredSpeechBand]

I love how big music is and can give a lifelong hobby of learning to improve!

[@MisticWays]

Yes indeed my friends! Yes indeed! Music is life!😁💓🎶

[@Ghost-lf2qj]

This feels like a huge step in my improvising/soloing journey, yet such an easy concept to grasp with how you explained it. Thank you! Earned a subscriber.

[@goldagent77]

Great video, improvisation is both one of the most important and most fun things you can learn

[@neurocosm]

This is a great concept in understanding how to MAP the fretboard. These are the types of lessons and exercises we need.

[@bobparsonsartist564]

As a teacher and player, i love simple! Beautiful discovery!

[@reinheitsgebot490]

Dude! Picking this one up and just messing with it made me sound almost good! :D Thank you! It was very helpful! You and Bernth are my top two favorite YT guitar teachers, and videos like this are why.

[@kagenotatsumaki]

I found this out on my own but your explanation of it by comparing it to piano and singing are a great point!

[@loman83509]

always a pleasure with the uploads man, you kill it every time!

[@TXprimeFishing13]

Thanks for taking the time to explain these concepts clearly and helping me to better understand how to navigate around the neck of the guitar with purpose. I’m an intermediate level player and really appreciate these types of videos 🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@SteveMirabole]

Great vid! Only been playing for about 3 months and only play scales, nothing up and down the neck. Wow, for the first time I am going up and down the neck. Thanks!!!

[@YoungJasper]

If anyone was wondering if you should buy this guy course or not… I personally 100% recommend it yo 😂 This man taught me guitar!

[@eliljehorn]

Ok, this just boosted me massively.....found it late, but better late than never. Now I'm gonna go through all your vids for more!

[@scottstollery2191]

I really loved your solo at the beginning of the video! Nice, melodic lines!

[@ianbrown1718]

Me too, really nice.

[@scorpionleader1967]

I haven't learned too much about playing lead, but when I started to learn the solo for "Hotel California," I liked sliding into the middle of the neck. Now I know what to do next for my own lead playing.🥰

[@littleguitarontheprairie4843]

This is an eyeopener, it solves the problem I've been having, moving from one shape to the next. I'm glad I subscribed to the website.

[@Steven-u5w]

I've also been stuck as well and it's not helped with with moving from one location to another over the years and getting loads of flack that doesn't help nice! Nice video. I'd like to come back and check for more wonderful 💯 experiment improvise. Explore to your heart's content. God bless

[@669rd]

Dude I can’t help but to notice your guitars are immaculately clean. Just like that Ebony custom that you have. Good choice for guitars as well, you inspire me to get more guitars!

[@serbianhammer]

Amazing. Thanks for changing my playing in a single video 😂. I know all of my modes pretty well, but this connects them so much more.

[@FreeUrMindz]

Love this. Philosophy is the king over any individual lesson.

[@jeffwilkey5135]

One of the best lessons I've ever seen

[@austinjohnson3452]

This video broke me completely out of the pentatonic box and I suddenly understood several more minor and major scales and how the connected 🤘🏻

[@Ryo7_7]

Those shapes are a must to build from. I like the idea of starting at middle C. Great tip. 👍

[@thelightning77]

This is amazing..... I am in a place where I want to start teaching guitar probably going to do go with the whole school of rock franchise. I've been playing for about 30 years and I feel like music is always been there for me and to be able to be in a place to teach people to love music and create it is probably one of the best things I could do with my life. Thank you for sharing an inspiring me.

[@ericnaylorguitar]

Hey Mike, nice solo & tone in intro, & good lesson I've always loved soloing in 6 note groupings & shifting them across the neck works great for moving sequences through octaves & positions

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Honor coming from you!

[@ericnaylorguitar]

@@TheArtofGuitar Thanks Mike ❤🤘

[@jordangamble3515]

@@TheArtofGuitarthat solo was beyond sick af man🤘. I showed my mom and she said “ now that’s a guy who can rip a guitar solo.

[@sgtpepper4971]

I’m beginning to learn again. only this time I have a acoustic guitar. this video and your beginners video are the two I’m learning from now and I don’t see any problems between electric and acoustic at this stage. I just thought I’d share this tidbit and let you know I appreciate and respect your talent, skill and teaching old starter overers like me!😂😂

[@Whollyworshipministries]

I want to thank you for opening up these ideas. Truly …. It was like “unlocking”. I just tried them on my guitar and wow ….. it really works and sounds really musical and melodic. Thanks ….. I just added these ideas to my tool belt and I will think of you when I use these new shapes. Bless you for taking the time to pass these insights on to others.

[@gopilotmusic]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 This lesson was very much a golden key to me.. it REALLY unlocked melody making along the whole length of the fretboard. It's freedom. Thank you friendo!

[@nathancourtney2006]

You’re playing has improved since my last visit. Thanks for teaching

[@JondogMoto]

30 years of guitar. One of best explanations ive heard

[@luckylicks3497]

These type of smooth curved guitar bodies in white (various Ibanez models) did it for me when I was 11 years old, I knew then I had to have my own electric guitar

[@Cameron-ue7lu]

Thank you! Your lesson just took me up another two levels in one minute! The fretboard is becoming less and less of a mystery🤟🤟🙏

[@jeffrobodeenyehcmon5925]

I'm a minor player. I just love melodic tones but I have to get back to major for awhile. I'm a David Gilmour junkie. This lesson is going to help me so much. Such a easy way to take change it up. Cool thanks

[@jatin7361]

That is an extremely impressive amount of education is such a short amount of time. Bravo!

[@PR-BEACHBOY]

Thank you for this tip! It’s definitely something I’ll use and the value provided is amazing. Why doesn’t this come up on other instructional videos? You may have come up with something truly unique. I forgot to mention that when demonstrating the technique I got a definite feeling that the sound was reminiscent of “Thin Litzy’s” “Whisky In The Jar” Great tone and a great song!!

[@mindtorquemusic]

Improvising is my life. I'd go insane playing everything the same way every time. Learn the five pentatonic positions move em around, and get minor, major, dorian etc.In every key. Nothing worse than seeing people stick to root and octave positions. No such thing as mastering the guitar, always something to explore and learn. Love it!! Great lesson here for starters.

[@noproblemguitar7395]

Mike, thanks for decoding so simply. This really helps tie together a lot of other “methods” to make it more fluid. I’ve been working on modes using the “3 on a string” shape method (not sure where I learned it, maybe you, maybe Creative Guitar Studio or Marty. . .), which helped me personally gain smother flow up and down the neck. This unlocks the connection I was “feeling”, but I couldn’t “see” what I felt. Be safe my 🎸 brother

[@MattWilhelmbmx]

OMG... So simple and perfect. I've learned all the big shapes for most scales... BUT I've come to learn that the best and most creative playing often comes from thinking in smaller shapes. Thanks for putting this together in such a digestible way.

[@JTAspra]

The world needs more videos like this

[@chrishudson4940]

That rake at the beginning. Love it

[@NoahThul]

WOW! Now this one definitely locked it in for me. Totally perfect timing too, was right on what I was trying to see in the scales. The rest of the shapes are falling into place really fast.

[@LethalVenom02]

wow i saw this last night and had to try it. this works. i just played in g major than in em since em is the relative the shapes are the same. its very easy knowing where those notes are and the same shapes apply. its nice to use to pass and get to other postions and knowing the scales in those areas add more for decending and just to play with. thanks for this!!!

[@Chris_Lohmann]

I love that guitar! I came to this video after just having watched a live version of Joe Satriani’s “Cryin’”. I recognized the guitar in the thumbnail as an Ibanez JS guitar by the single coil Sustainiac in the neck position and the smooth curves. I’m very tempted to get one.

[@simonize251]

This dude is smart One of the best guitar channels

[@Beauyuhkfer]

What you just laid out there I was never taught as a student, thankful I saw this

[@Youreout]

I'm not looking to shred, really! I'm an old guy that likes classic rock etc. and more. Can you demonstrate other genra that this concept works with please? I've learned so much from your channel. Thank you Mike!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

On my website I'll have many styles. This is great for classic rock. Starting Pentatonic in the middle with these shapes is huge fun.

[@JohnCollins-mo7sl]

Great advice! I’m already working it into my practice.

[@deanalioness]

This was a very helpful video for 1st time soloing. And amazing that you did this in 6 min instead of 20 like a lot of other videos that were more confusing. I've played rhythm guitar 10 + years and have wanted to branch out to electric/soloing and this blew my mind how simple the soloing can be. Thank you!!

[@jimmeymcgee2840]

Excellent video an very nice intro that caught my ear you now have my attention!

[@WhiteDove73-888]

I literally watched Donnie Darko yesterday. Great video. I teach this to my guitar students first soloing lesson

[@Raymond-rr5iv]

I like your approach and I just picked up my guitar to incorporate this into my playing. Thank you. I subscribed too.

[@KingBeevr]

Damn brother, that tone is on the money. Giving me serious '80s Satch vibes.

[@jeanpascal4242]

Hello from France,Excellent démo and analysis thank you.

[@mygrandmaisatoaster40]

I feel like you just broke me out of my box of confusion 🙏

[@Funkytut]

This is big! Just have to merge with scales and modes. David Gilmore stuff. Never seen this before, it’s golden. Thanks!

[@JJvienneau]

The Art of Guitar: Making my Sunday mornings bearable!! :) Awesome playing and tone man!

[@trusarmor4957]

wow, great lesson, simple, and Memorable ! i think i may have leveled up by doing this for 15 minutes. 👏👏👏👏

[@bigbwatt7872]

Great approach! I found the same thing a few weeks ago. I’ve been trying to explain it to my beginner student. He’s quite advanced in a very short time. I can’t get him to see this however. I’m gonna let you explain it to him. 😅. Sometimes it’s the delivery. I think you did a nice job. Thank you…

[@v33patrick]

Wow!! that has just blown my mind? Thanks for Sharing thaT!

[@totallyawesome80s55]

New guitar? Thanx for making this video, Mike. It really gave me something to think about.

[@icarusi]

I usually start circa 5th to 7th fret because I started off with blues, which had a lot of lines around there. Someone mentioned when I solo, I start in the middle then move high, then back to middle, then low then back to the middle and repeat. I don't often do 'jumps' but ascend or descend trying to link everything, but I have a couple of bigger moves to straddle more space without sounding too obvious. I play a lot of major scale/dom7 stuff and was playing mixolydian by accident, just modifying the 7th note to suit. I now base most things off that mixolydian fingering, modding as required to fit. If I start something in a particular non-diatonic scale or mode, I tend to mod away and back from that, rather than use anything mixolydian. I was playing some Dorian stuff recently, after a lot of fusion players were constantly mentioning it, which I hadn't examined, but after playing I found it surprisingly familiar. I realised it was Celtic folk music I'd played in the past. I then wondered why folk players would use it. I suspect it's because, on diatonic folk instruments, you can get most of a minor scale just one note higher than its key note vs 5 note higher for a full relative minor. I now run the same note-order of lines, in dorian, melodic minor, harmonic minor and minor, in sequence just to hear how they sound

[@TheMasonator777]

The whole/half step pattern is all I figured by myself out at the beginning. I used to solo just on one string, then two, then three. I found the root note (which I didn’t even know the term for) and then trial and errored the pattern on one string. Those limits really taught me how to phrase. My thought process was “two frets, two frets… hmm … one fret… two frets, two frets, two frets… hmm… one fret… ?!”

[@kidwave1]

Dude, that opening lead was awesome! Tender, warm, tasty.

[@robsgarage4746]

Thank you for the lesson! Great vid and 2 thumbs up. I like your approach and insight'🎸

[@geraldyafchak4365]

This will be the first video I watch after this spinal surgery. Hope I can play guitar soon

[@facefullofsteve]

What is the method called? Does it have a name? I've just spent an entire afternoon playing with tis method and it is incredible! I am not a soloist by any stretch of the imagination but this has given me confidence that I can learn!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Ummmm, let's herby coin it the: Inside Out Technique. ;)

[@sam-jams6689]

Thanks for the shapes, looking forward to playing with them

[@gunslinger80sguitars]

Thank you I need more lessons like this🤘🏻👍🏻

[@razlo14u]

You’re freaking awesome bro I love it. I may be able to go somewhere.

[@guydouglas6094]

I liked the intro - very melodic.

[@jordangamble3515]

Same I could hear it on repeat

[@doctordales2273]

Such a simple but awesome concept!

[@firemonkey1015]

Weird you talked about starting in the middle because over time practicing improvising I just realized I always start in the middle. Not sure why, I guess I just naturally developed that.

[@Dave-Rough-Diamond-Dunn]

Now you shred - great channel for backing tracks.

[@JoeFuller-h6c]

Wow this is a real game changer, cant believe i never thought like that before

[@MyBichSustained]

Em Mode is my go to improvisation path...love modes! All those notes are in the EM mode!

[@mykneeshurt8393]

G major and E minor are like best friends scales. They're like.. related.

[@mememan5466]

G Ionian (major), A Dorian, B Phrygian, C Lydian, D mixolydian, E Aeolian (minor), F# locrian. They all contain the same notes but have a different root note

[@rishz7857]

I got no clue what all the scale, dorian, mix, lid, flat is? Sounds confusing. Like I'd want to quit if I had to learn theory. If the next fret or two away or other string(s) sounds cool, I go for it.

[@MyBichSustained]

@@mykneeshurt8393 Nothing beats family!

[@MyBichSustained]

@@rishz7857 Find full scale modes and instead of numbers you want the Letters(ABCDEFG, # Means go HIGHER in pitch And flat symbol is lower in pitch.... Look at a piano, black keys are your sharps ascending in tone and flats descending in tone. Just find the full Em scale and Jam it! Get some tab books out and compare them to that scale or others....the notes that are not in that specific scale there's the key change....I'm still studying my self...it's just a easier,quicker communication between musicians.

[@MindsEyeVisualGuitarJourney]

Hey man, I really enjoy your content, and presentation. This video inspired me to do a very similar lesson on my channel....As a thank you ai included a link in my description back to this lesson.

[@QBRX]

Cool, I try it out. I like the concept of starting in the middle.

[@quailstudios]

This is really good content Mike. Thanks!

[@ReedHomanMusic]

I’m looking forward to this one! I just started getting into improv and making up solos

[@ardiris2715]

LOL! I have played for 50 years, and I never saw that. I built my scales off the 5 pentatonic boxes. This is good! (:

[@bobfurlani3314]

Excellent lesson. Months of study involved

[@StefanGBucher]

Always excellent information! Thank you! If I might ask: How do you develop a melodic solo that isn’t just noodling along in shapes?

[@scotteisner8366]

Ok…I’m liking it. I’ll use this in my every day playing.

[@MusicMotivator]

Yes. A useful approach. Sure, can use G major over an emin progression, but thinking about the scale as emin is more musically correct. why does it matter? Emphasize of the correct chord tones over the chords in the progression. emin-D-bmin7-C

[@wilberhernandez970]

Thank you for saying it took many hours. I sometimes wants to give up when I see it’s taking me too much time

[@Det3rnate]

@TheArtofGuitar Hey Mike 🤘🏻 *1.* ... thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with us 🤗 (I seriously appreciate it 🫡) *2.* ...I already did upload a Video from My practice session yesterday where I improvised over a A Minor Track but... dang! 😂 ... after I saw this video now, I instantly got the urge to play over an G Major Backing Track *right now and record it too* ...just to try this out haha 😆 *[ Edit: I forgot to mention that like it says on the Thumbnail from this Video, it literally "CLICKED" in my Head haha 😆]* The love & passion for playing Guitar is absolutely contagious 🤣🤘🏻🎸 Thanks 😤

[@chrispistol6043]

Great lesson. I’m interested in finding the entire lesson with these shapes, is it on your website?

[@TheArtofGuitar]

Yes they are. :)

[@Zombie_13x33]

Thats a cool looking ibanez. You dont see the rounded bodies often. I forget what its called.

[@octaviohenrique.n]

nice ibanez, which model is this? I aways sucked improvisation, specially solos lol Thanks for the advice man! Cheers from Brazil

[@elduderino4579]

Great lesson Mike! Definitely need this advice, great lesson as always. What model Ibanez is that? I really love the look of it and sounds great too.