What is the COUNTRY SCALE?

[@lamper2]

THANKS for doing what many teachers don't, YOU NAMED THE KEY! right at the start.

[@highwaymoses]

keys are redundant in 2024

[@josephgomez3562]

Music being an aural art form, you should make finding the key by ear essential.

[@brucehelppie6119]

thanks, steve...i own a tele and want to play country style, but nobody teaches it on youtube. this is very helpful.

[@stevetharms]

Happy to help! I would check out Matheus Canteri here on YT, he has a lot of great country lessons, Jason Laughlin also has some awesome country content that might be worth checking out, and of course keep watching my videos 😂 hope this helps!

[@Tuesdaysgone777]

Scott Groves at Groovy Music also does excellent country lessons

[@sthubbins4038]

What’s also fun is realizing how many of these licks are used by Jimmy Page in Led Zeppelin to add country flavor to hard rock licks.

[@leonard4054]

Just discovered your channel. I’ve been playing a long time, and I gotta tell you, your method of teaching this stuff is outstanding! Well done sir and thank you!

[@stevetharms]

Appreciate the kind feedback, welcome to the channel!

[@BreauxBobby]

@@stevetharms Do you have a site that people can "tip" you at for all the effort it takes to put these lessons together? I would tip you regularly. I watch these lessons a lot and I'm gaining some serious ground with my playing.

[@stevetharms]

Appreciate you asking! I’ll see if I can get a link to my Venmo or PayPal in the video description

[@stevetharms]

Hey man, finally got around to putting a PayPal link up, definitely don't feel obligated but if you wanna throw me some coffee money I'd be honored! I'll also add a link in the video description. paypal.me/StevenHarms376?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US

[@BreauxBobby]

@@stevetharms Add it to your description of your channel where your links are at, so that people can bless you back. And put it in each video.

[@nathancourtney2006]

Thanks great lesson. I can read tablature. But I get more of it watching you play.

[@stevetharms]

Thank you, I thought about trying to tan everything out but was kinda all over the place so I just figured I’d leave it the way it was! Glad you’re getting something out of it!

[@frankstephenson1746]

Holy smokes man You packed a lot of tips into 26 min. I’m the typical blues/rock guy that plays county like a blues guy. You opened a couple things up for me, thanks a lot!

[@stevetharms]

Rock on! Glad you found it useful!

[@Texas1836Band]

Without a doubt, you’re the best source of lessons for country guitar on the internet! I also appreciate your references to the CAGED system which really helps me greatly. Please do more lessons in G and D. Thanks and keep on giving us this musical mana. 👍

[@mosheteitz7441]

This is stellar. It addresses a lot of the questions I’ve had and has useful explanation/examples. Very good intermediate level explanations. Really like this Steve!

[@stevetharms]

awesome, glad you got something out of it!

[@martynspooner5822]

Excellent lesson full of relevant and sensible information, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@stevetharms]

My pleasure!

[@ElmanAuthement]

Just stumbled across your page. Man, if all of your lessons are this good, I'll be visiting a bunch.

[@stevetharms]

appreciate it, thanks for checking it out!

[@markc15057]

I'm an old metal head trying to expand more into country and blues. Looked at a lot of youtube channels, and yours really stands out to me. Keep doing what you're doing.

[@stevetharms]

So glad people are finding the stuff helpful, thanks for the feedback!

[@adamneel3349]

I've been playing rock and blues for 25 years, always wanted to learn some country. Been watching videos for a few weeks now and your video has been one of the best! Excellent job making the information easy to process!

[@George-fh9zm]

15:23 What you did do is be a teacher that knows what concept to teach. I've looked for this lesson for years on KZbin. You have unlocked the key to the country guitar sound I've been looking for. You named the key and the pentatonic scale we need to reference and then you used the notes of the country scale and stayed with those notes to show us how it all creates the country sound. You have a gift to teach. THANK YOU!!!

[@stevetharms]

Thanks for the comment! Glad to hear this stuff is making sense to people!

[@Jef-sj6zc]

Your last remark about listening when you are what playing ( timing , pauses , the right lick at the right time ) is very important ; glad you made that remark at the end. 👍

[@stevetharms]

Glad you caught that, definitely an important part of the process!

[@robmoss7580]

Gotta say Steve these are some of the best country lessons out there. Clear, relevant and encompass the range from getting started in country to more advanced licks. Extremely well done!!

[@stevetharms]

Man thanks for the comment!

[@NicholasStein]

You explained the concept very well. I play Grateful Dead, 20th century jazz standards, and classic rock tunes. I have always wondered how Jerry Garcia, Johnny Highland, Greg Koch and Chet Atkins got that sound. You solved that riddle for me. The added minor third and Mixolydian 7th really makes that sound is a nice addition to my arsenal of tools. Thank you for opening up my playing.

[@guitar01able]

Great lesson! I love this scale, gonna start using this shape as it adds a couple notes. I’ve been using the minor pentatonic with the major 3rd, flat 5 and maj6 and it comes pretty close to being this same thing!

[@stevetharms]

Yeah the real magic comes from being able to switch between the two shapes, sounds like you got it figured out!

[@guitar01able]

@@stevetharms kinda 😂

[@prtzllgc80]

Best video I’ve come across on country licks so far, thanks!!!

[@RustGL]

A very, Very Great Lesson! Many thanks!!!

[@jonalexander8935]

Great Lesson Steve. Southern and classic rock is full of these awesome licks, scales, and fills. You are such a great (freely giving) resource. In my day we had to put on a cassette and explore.. Thanks for your time sir. God Bless you and yours!! 🙂

[@stevetharms]

Thanks so much!

[@carlhuffman6792]

This is a very nice useful lesson can’t wait for your next your next lesson on your 1 4 5 positions u referenced to as well thank you sir I have not witnessed a single bad lesson from u yet and I appreciate your style of teaching thank you 😊

[@stevetharms]

Appreciate that, hope to start working on that video this next week!

[@GodsStoryteller]

Thanks for getting me started on the country scales. And extended thanks to those you learnt these from. I subscribed

[@Docsjeff]

Man,this helped me a lot. Thx for sharing. I’ve been a frontman rythm player for 45 years but now in a new band and needing to play more leads. This was very helpful.

[@larrywithrow5876]

Absolutely awesome Steve. You are an amazing teacher 👊🎸 Thank you for all you do for us wanna be guitar players😎

[@stevetharms]

You bet…this was a fun one to make!

[@la5t1]

You're a great country player and teach very well Steve.... Thank you!

[@mannylee4777]

Awesome video! I've been looking for a video like this for a long time. Thanks for taking the time to explain. Great playing!!!

[@Hoodrio]

This lesson is pure GOLD. Thanks so much and please keep them coming!

[@blakevanhouten1672]

Been wanting to dig into this style and until haven’t found a lesson that has made sense to me. Well done!

[@MowbsContemporary]

Yes, that's the way I was taught.. I always visualize the scale as "major pentatonic, add blues scale", like you hit upon. Important video!

[@Azariel98]

Im big on Waylon Jennings and been looking forward to learning some scales to try to get that sound, this is what I needed! Thanks!

[@loganbrown3565]

This pattern helps develop hand placement for Major arpeggios root on the low E string as well.

[@BlackRaven156]

This was a FANTASTIC video!!! I got so much out of it and your other videos too! Some time could you cover some 50s and 60s country licks? I'm thinking guitarists like Paul Yandell of the Louvin Brothers, Grady Martin, Hank Garland, Billie Burden, and Leon Rhodes(I don't know if I spelt his name correctly but I'm talking about Ernest Tubb's Texas Trupadeur player). I have trouble finding lessons on country from those decades. Thank you so much for what you do!

[@stevetharms]

Hey thanks for the comment! I’d love to start posting more stuff from those guys. Check out Ment Morris here on KZbin though, he’s got some killer lessons covering those players! @MentMorrisGuitarLessons

[@1970Richiez]

Im a fan, I can tell you and me are going to be great friends... please dont stop making these videos you are great and love your content.. its right up my alley Thank you

[@mcjc7807]

This is a really good tutorial lesson. Thanks for putting this together.

[@LoneStarRKW]

Great video! You are very generous with your knowledge, and your humble, totally relaxed, and even sometimes self-effacing style puts the viewer at ease and gives us confidence to try these ideas out. (A lot of YT guitar guys somehow leave the viewer feeling like they've failed if they can't get it right, even though we the viewer are home by ourselves with no-one to judge us!) I really look forward each time to follow along with what you are showing. Well done and keep it up!

[@stevetharms]

Wow, thank you, really appreciate the comment. Glad people are finding this stuff useful!

[@PatrickDavidTaylor]

Wow! Lots of good stuff here. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@gerrymcgill3209]

Really useful intro to playing country style ....and so very well explained and demonstrated...I learned a lot there...thanks.

[@stevetharms]

right on, glad to hear that!

[@benbush1227]

Thank you for your lessons, top shelf! Sure nuff a blessing !

[@stevetharms]

Thank you, glad you like em!

[@mudwiser1391]

Glad I found your channel. Some great info and your explanation is top notch.

[@brianbeergah7649]

Thanks for your lesson- really good and helpful stuff

[@Echocat59]

Great lesson. Great playing. Subscribed. Thank you

[@FrugalBC]

Great stuff man - love how you handle the lessons. Straightforward and understandable. I appreciate it!

[@stevetharms]

Thanks for the feedback! Glad you found it useful!

[@FrugalBC]

@@stevetharms Very much and I look forward to watching more of your videos!

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

Great video. Using more minor 3rd and flat 7th is modern. Getting to the major 3rd quicker is more Brent Mason 90s or early Eagles.

[@dminick1021]

Thank you for this! Was just about to put in the work and plot this kinda thing out but found this and it saved me a good couple of hours

[@stevetharms]

Glad it helped!

[@garycates5194]

Finally had someone make it make sense for starters. Thanks!

[@stevetharms]

This is where it all starts! Glad it made sense

[@ZeroFretGuitar]

Just found your lessons and they are a huge help bro!

[@coreygarcia805]

great video. and 3 note per string - pattern is very good. i try and play alot of paul gilbert or buckethead. so i want to add country to my style. thanks.

[@stephentheyounger9235]

Solid stuff, man. Great intro to country pickin!

[@mule761]

Cool stuff and great advice thanks a bunch Steve

[@stevetharms]

No problem 👍

[@Kevin_Fallin]

New subscriber here. Thanks for the video! Your lessons have been awesome! I'm an intermediate primarily worship guitarist with some blues and rock "flair" looking to expand my musical vocabulary. This was a perfect and very comprehensive intro to country guitar. I also watched your "how to create country guitar tone" video and was able to create a Helix patch based off of your recommendations that sounds 👌👌🙌. Thanks again for the highly informative content!

[@stevetharms]

Glad you found the channel!

[@PatDeJongeSoundwise]

nice! thanks for the video, very clear and structured. Well done buddy!

[@j11smith]

Great video lesson. Opened up the idea door perfectly

[@stevetharms]

Perfect!

[@bruceewing166]

Thanks Steve A great quick scale to get some country licks down. A blues guy.

[@stevetharms]

Hope it helps!

[@ronmorey3475]

You're a great teacher! Thanks!

[@thechetpicker]

Awesome video. I've happily subscribed 👍

[@stevetharms]

Thank you sir! 🙏

[@caleshtcincredibles]

That was a fun tasty and very useful lesson

[@stevetharms]

Glad to hear it, thanks for the feedback!

[@teleuser]

Nice tone and cool licks.

[@alancosens]

That's a pretty frickin' schweet guitar sound you got there Bro.

[@stevetharms]

Thank you! It’s all from the line6 helix in this video

[@Docsjeff]

Your music room looks a lot like mine w/the mandolin and the psg.& a few guitars. I’m thinking bout getting a Vic AC30.Ive always been a Twin guy.

[@parismetro2012]

surperb Steve and many thanks!

[@johnnyride]

It's a mixolydian scale... basically you're playing A scale over the E chord adding the G which is the E minor III.

[@Dlee966]

Good video man!! Keep em coming

[@TCoulter1]

Pure gold dude! For the theory challenged like me.

[@marklangley1533]

Found this very helpful.

[@jlt8000]

Great stuff! Thanks!

[@stevetharms]

you bet!

[@BrandonAlbert]

So good, thanks a ton Steve!

[@meloysmusicstudio]

Very helpful - THANK YOU!

[@1man1guitarletsgo]

For me, country guitar solos are usually based on the major scale of the song's key, and involve a fair amount of chromatic runs, on all the strings, along with pedal steel style bends and double stops. Pretty much like Steve describes here, but (in my case, anyway) not worrying too much about whether I'm playing a minor fourth or whatever. it just has to sound country.

[@patricklane2623]

Thanks heaps, great lesson

[@rlittlefield2691]

Thanks I have been playing guitar since 1969 never saw scale before. Except I think I have people playing it.

[@normanddaviau8787]

Tank you for your great teaching

[@stevetharms]

You're welcome!

[@KevinSaundersPaperAirplaneGuru]

Nice lesson, thanks!

[@gibfen1235]

Love your videos but will have to come back to this later. :)

[@drewcaster]

Not a theory expert but I believe the b7 in a major makes it mixolydian and the b3 is obviously minor, so I suppose this is mixing minor and mixolydian. Cool lesson!

[@JheridanSoe]

Great video 🎸🤠

[@stevetharms]

Glad you think so, thanks!

[@felixayala05]

Great stuff. Subscribed. Thank you.

[@stevetharms]

Thanks for the sub! Glad you found the channel!

[@toddwilliams3224]

I’ve been playing a while and am just now learning country guitar, your videos are really helping me get there quickly! You’re a great teacher, thanks for making these. Btw, Rogue is awesome too, are you in PNW?

[@lowercase3635]

This actually helps a lot.

[@stevetharms]

glad to hear that!

[@JamesRayment-f8j]

Great lesson! Not a lot of good country based lessons out there. Loved this one. Do you play that scale over a minor chord or is there a variation?

[@davidivanjosephsalonia4566]

Brother, Thank You very much. Your Spirit which is Peace, makes doves land in trees. Brings daylight, and the nightime, Spins a galaxy. Cheers🍺🙏🎉

[@johnmacmillan627]

Great lesson, thx!

[@johnwarren5492]

Good video. I liked it a lot.

[@gregjgman]

What you're calling the "country scale' is really the Dorian bebop scale

[@jaycareaga9929]

Stuff Jay Graydon, Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather play.

[@jameswhite5806]

Excellent stuff

[@stevetharms]

Thank You!

[@ReturnTheSanity]

What model tele is this? Is the neck pup stock? This guitar looks and sounds great!

[@stevetharms]

Nothing stock about it lol, it’s a partscaster I bought used and then modified a bit more myself. Neck is a tv Jones filtertron with a SD quarter pounder in the bridge

[@haramismusicalhardware]

Great lesson.

[@stevetharms]

Thanks! 😃

[@johnhartley3022]

Great lesson ! Western swing = country jazz. The changes are way different than red dirt country

[@lorenvguitar614]

Good stuff, although the scale is based out of the G caged shape. Excellent lesson

[@Thomcat1954]

Thank You so Much

[@jamescarlucci9867]

Very Good video

[@MikeArwineGuitar]

So mixo with both types of thirds? Is that a correct way of thinking about it?

[@СерегйСоболев]

THANKS MAN!!!

[@sjdanthem]

For better or probably worse, I've always started my scales with that pinky note on the root. In some ways it's good because early on I was stretching the pinky for the 7, but, I don't know, nobody I know visualizes stuff that way and they are all better than I am. :-) Anyway, to me this is a just mixolydian scale with an added flat 3, no?

[@stevetharms]

Yep it’s the same scale, I just felt to relate it to the major scale since more players are familiar with that and not the modes…

[@sjdanthem]

@@stevetharms Very cool. I love it. I'm not much of a chicken picker but that looks like a great minor/major "toggle" scale. Very much appreciated.

[@stratocumulusnimbostratus328]

Great stuff thanks

[@stevetharms]

You bet

[@dry509]

Thanks. How are you getting that country tone, sound, or twang?

[@stevetharms]

I have a whole video where I go into this! Check out the video on “how to get country tone” on my channel!

[@garlandpoolfredpool]

Subscribed! What kind of compressor pedal do you use?

[@stevetharms]

🙏 I use a Keeley compressor

[@tylerwilliams1052]

What about adding an Augmented 5th in here?

[@stevetharms]

Can work great as a passing note, diminished 5th too! If it sounds good it is good 👍

[@thomasd9237]

👍👍

[@blase.tattoos]

You should do a How to sound Bluesy

[@spudvader]

Is that a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pounder in the bridge?

[@stevetharms]

Yes it is!