If YOU need to know the key BEFORE you solo… then you’re playing your guitar BACKWARDS

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

While earning my Bachelor of Science degree at The University of Illinois, I took A course called "Ornithology," the study of birds. As part of our practical exam, the professor would play various bird songs on the tape machine (this was before compact discs) and we had to identify the species of the bird singing. We could do this, because every bird learned to sing from its parents, not the bird across the field. Of course, the birds had no idea what key they were singing in, the scale, nor even the notes. But, they were so consistent, that all we had to do was identify the bird species, memorize its song and whenever we heard that song, we could identify the singer's species, without even seeing the bird! This is a very useful skill, because when you go out searching for birds, you will hear at least 10x more birds than you will see! 😎

[@janice234]

Wow, we might have crossed paths! I majored in Ecology, Ethology and Evolution at U of I.

[@benjaminhawthorne1969]

Remember Morrill Hall? Class of 1991 🙂 @@janice234

[@Voirreydirector]

Wow Fil! I fully believe in 1979 this leisure suit hippie named Ken Bell gave my music class this exact lecture. He turned into one of my greatest mentors. Kids, this guy is the real deal.

[@theresahoward7216]

Fantastic as always. There are as many ways to learn music as there are musicians. I think being chained to any one way limits the outcome no matter who you are.

[@PaulJonesy]

I think that’s the key (no pun intended), look at all the approaches and take those bits that make sense to you.

[@theresahoward7216]

@@PaulJonesy agreed. I was in traditional music lessons as a kid and I still struggle with the restraints that type of learning puts on a person ( or at least that is how I felt about the process).

[@StratsRUs]

Prince's father was a Jazz musician. Prince learnt a ton of theory but was practicing it instantly as well as writing songs with other musicians and performing very early. I saw him play three times.He played everything.Danced better than the Devil too.

[@PaulJonesy]

I like the idea of being able to predict the note being playing it, and as someone who plays live and has played guitar for decades, I can relate to hearing the next few notes while soloing. I think music theory is more important for composition, but I’ve found that learning some theory concepts has helped when I’ve reached a plateau with my guitar journey. Concepts such as relative minor, the intervals, the modes have all led me in interesting directions.

[@MightyJonE]

Totally agree with you Fil. You’re the only person I’ve seen express this approach to solos which I’ve always done naturally - can’t imagine doing it any other way. Knowing theory isn’t the be-all and end-all of everything

[@glamgal7106]

I took theory in community college. The first semester I had to learn counterpoint in which I had to write Georgorian chants--using the word limited to describe the experience would be an understatement. Though the one advantage I had was that I already knew how to read music, I felt I was being squeezed by an anaconda the entire time.

[@MightyJonE]

@@glamgal7106 Yes, I can imagine. I did teach myself to read music moderately well, along with most scales, but it’s never dominated my decision-making. I like being able to think freely, to hear a solo in my head, then hum it as I find the notes on keyboard or guitar and refine it. There are rare occasions when I’ll totally improvise something on the fly, knowing from the chord sequence which notes are likely to work, which can sometimes surprise, or I might even combine both methods. But mostly it’s about hearing the solo melody in my head first then finding the notes on the instrument. I like creative freedom without theory being at the forefront of expression

[@robertakerman3570]

@@MightyJonE I vaguely remember live performance where the singer was mimic(ed) by the guitarist. Possibly started as a "battle" in studio, & they kept it for the Audience. Same idea of knowing the notes.

[@Dirtbiketrike72]

Wow Phil this has been my approach for years. I always thought I was crazy until now. Lol

[@georgeedward1226]

Since public schools (public schools in the American sense) have pretty much given up on teaching anything about music - real music; I think that channels like yours have become increasingly valuable. Any decent school system would hire you in a heartbeat to teach kids a thing or two about music. Maybe then they wouldn't listen to so much crap.

[@chrishelbling3879]

Hi George, great point! American public school music teacher here. I watch all of Fil's videos, and show some of them to my classes. His analyses on vocal technique are especially outstanding.

[@georgeedward1226]

Excellent. Keep up the good work. I am a believer in that musical education stimulates the brain and improves study in other subjects.

[@curtrice1822]

That is a perfect explanation of how music theory doesn’t really work. Example-I have a cousin who isn’t a savant at all, but can listen to, then play any lead solo-this includes all the hammer-ons, hammer-offs, bends, and harmonics….BUT-he can only play whoever’s lead it is THEIR way. I asked him to do a decent solo on one of my albums, and after several hours, all I heard was someone else’s solo that he was throwing into my song. He can play it all note for note, but he can’t express himself-just copy! If you go see a blues guitarist play, and then go see them a few more times in a row, you notice it never is exact. They express what they feel or think during the song. Great video Fil!!!

[@futuredirected]

Here in America, almost everyone does almost everything posterius primum. This video really resonates with me. I always sang my solos in my head, and let my guitar (usually my tele) sing it into the world. My tele is a better singer than I, because I tune it. No auto tune needed. Roy Buchanan said that was how he played, also. Eric Clapton, on the other hand, rarely escapes a pentatonic pattern. He does it really well, though. Very insightful and illuminating video, Dear Fil! Good job!

[@matchrocket1702]

That's one of the things that hooked me on this channel straight away, it's not heavy on theory. It matches my approach to the guitar rather closely. One thing that has helped my tremendously is to learn all the chord positions up and down the fret board. At least the basic major, minor and sevenths. It has demonstrated to me for instance that the D position is simply the bottom part of the C position.

[@freespiritwithnature4384]

I love the fact that you don’t get into the Theory . It definitely held me back when I was learning. I love everything you do on your channel . Back to basics naturally leads into trusting your intuition,and you just know after that what to do , or where to go . ❤️

[@drewpall2598]

This is so informative! you are a natural when it comes to teaching Fil. You Rock Sir. 😊🤘

[@Parseenfroo]

I agree.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@tracyzimmerman7912]

This video really binds with my mind😁 I mean for reals... Your right take the shackles off and play what's inside of you. This is what I do and it started when I was a kid. I hear melodies in my head. I have more to say but I don't want this comment to turn into a novel.

[@28carter]

Learning years of piano through exact music theory hurt my ability to improvise later on. Appreciate this so much!

[@geoffclarke1974]

Great video, just fantastic. I'm glad you mentioned hitting the wrong note towards the end because you're referring to the journey to get there as well.

[@davidcatalano3781]

Wow Fil, THANKS! Be safe, and well. God bless!!!

[@1Moonchild]

Thanks, Fil, for a terrific topic - playing guitar with your voice. Makes me think of something Rory Gallagher would often do, literally. He would scat sing along with his solos and at times scat "harmonize" as he was playing. Stunning to hear.

[@tammydoolittle6054]

Wow Fil, that was incredible! I don't play guitar, but you made this easy to understand. I admire you for everything you do on your channel to make things fun and educational! Thank you! 🙂🎸🤘

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@ellie698]

Same here I don't play anything now, played violin and recorder at school. I sing now but only from listening to singers and copying them. I have no idea what key I'm singing in

[@Mike-rw2nh]

Hi Fil, learning theory was fun, but I’d be utterly lost without relative pitch. Theory is knowledge. RP is freedom. Excellent upload!

[@glamgal7106]

Ah Fil, your mention of "being shackled" reminded me of my early community college music theory classes: I had to write Gregorian chant music--talk about being limited. On a much more pleasant note--both literally and musically speaking--I truly enjoyed your video regarding developing one's individual approach in guitar playing. I was improvising vocally while you played the guitar and/or sang. Thanks for providing this experience that was both educational and engagable. Most importantly, thanks for being YOU! P.S, By the way, Chipper was whistling away while I listened LOL.

[@jasonking2976]

Thanks for this. Really interesting approach. It occurred to me that, in some ways, this is a circular thing. Most people can do those things intuitively, like the football chants, because they already know those scales via everything from nursery rhymes to the latest chart hits; especially the major and pentatonic scales. They know them 'by ear', because they have heard them so often. As you say though, it is very useful to be able to play what you hear in your head regardless of theory knowledge.

[@paulbillingham6769]

So True. An important benefit of this method is how my Phrasing influences my note choices and vice versa, which gives me the feeling that I am truly expressing my own self. It really is a high.

[@stevewest4994]

Great video and a real eye-opener for me. Here's an admission...Yesterday I played a gig with my band and at the final rehearsal I had asked for the setlist to be altered slightly because there there were two songs, one after the other, where I always play the same minor pentatonic scale, with very similar licks. I wanted at least one song in between them so that it wasn't so obvious to the audience! Time for me to try your way, Fil. But I've never previously practiced singing a note and finding it on the fretboard--I normally do the opposite. So, yes, I play the guitar backwards.

[@joeozelis6313]

I agree that in developing a solo over a chord progression or structure, the way to do it is "organically", letting the melody of your solo come from within... I think of it as a vocal part that is designed to harmonize or blend in with other parts - except it is "sung" by guitar. It's true you don't need to know the key - necessarily - if you have a well-trained ear. Although I find it can be helpful to know the key, and understand how different modes with the same tonal content of that key, can lead to a different "character" of the solo, or take it in a different direction than maybe you were first intending. I guess what I'm saying is I develop solos basically from a melody I'm feeling inside.. but if I'm not completely pleased with it, it helps to understand something of keys/modes to provide an alternative tonal palette. As far as speed - it has it's place, analogous to dynamics - it has to serve the emotion you are trying to communicate. Speed for speed's sake is just a parlor trick. And perhaps an unwritten point in this discussion is the importance of ear training - how crucial it is.

[@paulgee6111]

My theory is...if it sounds good repeat louder...if it sounds bad try not to do it again😁

[@jonathanlyerly8501]

Totally right on. That’s how my brain works!

[@matchrocket1702]

I recently moved. I had to clean out my house where I had been living for the last 22 years. I found a bunch of cassette tapes I had made throughout the years. Once I got settled in my new digs I began the slow process of going through them. Many of them were pretty bad examples of the music I had played. For example the years in the 80s when I played in a wedding band. But I also found numerous examples of original music I forgot all about and one example of a tape I thought was long lost. The first time I recorded an original piece from 1972. But the most important thing I learned from the many hours spent digitizing my old music was this, the only guitar player I want to emulate is myself. I realized that I'm a mature guitar player and it shows in my playing. I found there are many subtleties I never noticed before. Now I will try to develop them, mostly by simply practicing more.

[@claraconlan6557]

Thank you so much. I’m beginning to learn hammered dulcimer and I was about to approach it with deadly seriousness. I wanted to play it because I love the sound of it. I’ll start there.

[@tnmoppylaura5476]

Well well well. Thanks Fil.

[@jefffuhr2393]

Never heard THIS POWERFUL GUITAR-PLAYING CONCEPT in any video I've ever seen.... Doesn't mean no one has; just that this is my first time hearing it. So, thank you Fil. Game changer for a newbie like me.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Yeah I haven't seen anyone saying it so I thought I would make a video! So many teachers on KZbin are keys, modes and scales first, music second. The theoretical relationships already exists naturally but people don't seem to realise it!

[@PlasmaBurns]

Once I learned the basic blues scale patterns and how all 5 connect, it became easy to solo to any song without bothering to know the key. Once I find a match to pattern 1 on any given song, I can solo to anything, I dont know the notes I play, or the chords I make up within those patterns, I just know its in key. (sliding the 5 pattern sets up or down the fret board until I find a match thats audibly in key.)

[@wingsofpegasus]

Do you know what the notes will sound like before you play them? It's a cool exercise!

[@robertakerman3570]

@@wingsofpegasusFantastic vid Fil. Too, We sing the songs & are unaware of the actual timing between the bars(2 and uh for example). It's just in the brain when to come in.

[@zenawarrior7442]

Don't change what you do. Love how you break things down. Being a non-musician, but having a keen ear, I understand each time. Best music is free-form I feel. Thanks Fil😊🌜🎇🎤🎵

[@cytwc]

Great video Fil. I’d almost forgotten about this technique of playing and how important it is.

[@chriscraddock6748]

I enjoyed your video, Fil. I like to study theory and scales, practice them. But the ultimate goal is to sing through your instrument, and to express yourself. Will check out your other videos, enjoying the ones about singers a lot.

[@glenkepic3208]

Nice offering, Fil. I'm glad the hand is recovering. I'm a 'cover' player, getting paid to do this at gigs. Just turned 65, with a 'gift' guitar (Epi Firebird) and living in an apt, CyberTwin thru head phones lately, pedal board there to help. Sometimes i surprise myself with things i remember. Worked with a guy i liked who was older than me and didn't play but loved the good stuff. He mentioned 'muscle memory' and i almost fell over,,,never heard this before. For me, its a gift. Wish i still played out (last band still gigs). I couldn't handle it.

[@brentmadden789]

I would call this process "audiation": singing what you hear in your head and then applying to your instrument.

[@58icarus]

Made it through the whole way 😎. And I did so having already been taught this through the good fortune of having a friend with 50+ years playing experience. I wanted to hear how you expressed it, Fil. And you did so admirably. It seems simple enough, but it really is not that easy to explain.

[@shawnbrisbon9304]

Getting into lead guitar and I really needed this. I’ve seen that Prince Bambi solo performed uniquely several times. The song may stick to a familiar framework, but the solo seemed unique each time. In fact it’s the same with Hendrix, SRV and all these guys people love. I’m gonna try this exercise. Thanks Phil!

[@melissawilliamsmusic]

THIS IS THE WAY! I know from 50 years of playing the piano. Now if I can just do it on guitar. Lol

[@suehollar2578]

This was helpful, I'm so happy I don't have to be an expert in theory!

[@alicesmith8297]

…it will make you see a performance in a different light.” Learning about the vocal singing and the extension of the guitar continuing the lyrical line makes so much sense. I learned to play chords to accompany a singing line; the guitar was never a continuation of my voice line. I cannot play guitar any longer, but this is a great lesson, Fil, for all the young lead aspiring guitarist who will listen.

[@lindadescafano3749]

Thanks for sharing your guitar knowledge in a way to help others understand they have the ability to play what comes to them naturally.

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

I'm a ways from thinking of notes to sing/play while playing, and I will focus more on singing something in my head before or while playing it, as least during practice. I've read that great improvisers hear the notes in their heads before they play them. Taking it slow and doing a few notes at a time could be a bridge to there from where I am now, mostly playing either the same patterns or memorized passages.

[@karenb4583]

Enjoyed this content very much. Reminds me of two things: 1. Our need to internalize our music to express ourselves. 2. We can't all be Billy Strings ...particularly his more recent musical adventures! Thx Fil:)!

[@Erik_Swiger]

Great video, Fil. This is stuff I've always wondered about, too. I first heard vocal harmonies in my own family. Then one day, I heard a group of villagers on an island, or in a desert, don't really remember, but they were singing and suddenly others added harmony. At that moment, it struck me that this "harmony" that so fills my ears, is something basic and innate in all humans, everywhere. Whatever music "is," it's magical.

[@jesusisl]

Great explanations! Doug 🇺🇸

[@lintollefsen7166]

Just so logical! Many thanks!

[@robertpassarella5348]

Great video.Its always refreshing to know I have been doing the right thing all these years(15)even though I have a very limited knowledge of theory. I would add that if you wat to sound original learn how to play styles that you dont nessesarily listen to. I had zero interest in playing blues or jazz or rockabilly when I started but over the years I realized that adding the elements that I did like from these styles and developing a context in which they could corelate with one another along with my punk background gave me great satisfaction and originality.Dare to be experimental.

[@andydiamantis5553]

'you tell from my hair that's what I'll like the sound of'. Ha ha. Brilliant. Great vid.

[@TheRandyDowning]

Enjoyed this very much. Clear and helpful explanation of this important concept. Thank you!

[@laurajarrell6187]

Fil, Wings of Pegasus is perfect for your name. LOL, as one who started listening because of who you were looking at, this showed me..you! You must be a hell of a teacher. This was waaay better than 'do, ray, me' from sound of music! Just wow. 👍🌊💙💙💙🌊🥰✌

[@verycrankyperson]

Great lesson!! Thanks Fil.

[@SelinaLeah]

Love this. Thanks Fil!

[@quailstudios]

Hi Fil, It's great watching your videos. I love your perspective. Thank you!

[@robbaphett]

This has really helped me see a better way of learning to play lead. I've been playing guitar for a long time, riffs and licks are my jam and have no trouble coming up with singing melodies over the top. But I've always struggled with lead and knowing what to do with scales. My formative guitar years were spent learning Nu metal and grunge so there wasn't all that much solo work I wanted to learn. I'm also a lifelong Prince fan and always wished I could do lead even a little bit like he can. (I even made a cloud guitar like his out of a cardboard box when I was a kid to play along with) I'm going to approach it this way from now on. Thanks Fil.

[@MarrsAttax]

This was fantastic - thx Fil!

[@teresagoodingmovingforward]

Very interesting video thanks for your work Fil!

[@rosco1pug]

Great analysis Fil. Brings straight to mind Buddy Miles, Billy Cox and Jimi Hendrix grooving together on 'Who Knows' from the wonderful Band of Gypsys album. They are so in synch mentally that it's all pure tight multi voice groove - don't go askin' for no tabs!

[@cadeevans4623]

Very informative man thanks for sharing on this topic buddy interesting stuff

[@phil36135]

I've always told people if you can hum a melody or hear it in your head then you can find it and play it.

[@rickthomas2873]

Great video 👍

[@sabocikotic7632]

Thanks for this. 🦁🦁🦁🎸🎸🎸🎵🎵🎵

[@Paulbartoszek]

What a cool video thank you for recording this you definitely have me thinking about things differently and that's good

[@atreb56]

Very interesting video. You have so much talent to play without theory.

[@Clodhopping]

Great video and I'm a pianist. I slightly disagree on not copying your musical heroes. As I teenager I learned Jerry Lewis solos note for note as a carbon copy. That gave me confidence and introduced my hands to different shapes and riffs. I did the same with Dr John and Ray Charles. I found it gave me stepping stones along the way. Nowadays I don't play their styles exactly but can lean on those depending on the song. Wish I had a guitar mate like Fil to chew the cud with. Top fella👍

[@ryjarred7135]

Thanks!

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I will let this video go over my head. I'm trying to teach myself piano at 65 and having no musical training. I look at various piano tutorial channels and have let them guide me. There is one channel that did a similar discussion about singing through the instrument. I decided then that I not considered a musician. I accept that. I joked that I was born with two left ears. What do I want to do with the piano? I have no idea. But it's my project. I rarely turn the volume up or I use headphones. I am most proud of my limited finger dexterity and finger strength, especially the 4 and 5. I picked up lots of strength in my hands through my work treating others, especially for shoulders and low back problems. I have a spam of only an octave, and many shoulder blades are ninths, or tenths, and well muscled. I helped them anyway. I took this video with a grain of salt and hope you don't do too many more like that. I appreciate your comments about the musicians. Lots.

[@jessehayes486]

Wish my music teachers would have approached lessons in this manner, maybe I would have been interested and paid attention.

[@billphelps5611]

Great video! It really is timely...recently I have been jamming with friends I have not played with for a long time and it has been fun but I have played guitar for about 40 years and mainly a rhythm player I don't solo too much. I am going to try to take your advise when it comes to soloing and see if my playing improves. Sometimes its not too bad but other times it can hurt the ears! We do mostly improve so when it works it is exciting.

[@davidl9232]

To me, in this, my response is, ..So, you're saying, what I was doing as a kid. But friends would disregard because it wasn't a full blown piece of music( add drums, bass guitar, an already word melody with held together story line). Which I started disregarding myself because of the, well, it's really nothing. You don't have a song( from myself,.. well not a full song), so, so what. And started telling myself, I really need to learn theory, or, more theory. Oh, teens. Anyway. My mistake. Thanks. I like this video.

[@jgg59]

I really enjoyed this

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Great lesson.

[@annakoziorowska1940]

Music is the best form of communication between LIVING BEINGS, not just between HUMANS . ANIMALS in barns react very vividly to the CLASSICAL MUSIC . I saw such an experience on television made by veterinary students once .

[@johnhewett9483]

Great video. I am a bass guitarist but this is great information and very motivating. Thanks 👍

[@irmaoksanen6830]

Here in Canada we sometimes have a chant 'na na na na na, hey hey hey goodbye' during a hockey game when we want the opposing team to lose

[@vincegotera]

That chant's from a 1969 song by Steam if you want to listen to the original

[@tammyevans7333]

How informative, great!

[@ellie698]

Great video Fil 😎👍🏼

[@jameskesler1930]

It seems common that encouraging singing as you play helps develop that sound in your head to what frets correspond to those sounds more quickly compared to why specific notes sound appropriate, i.e., the theory of what fits and why. The intellectual side of music versus the pleasing sonic side.

[@janice234]

I found this fascinating. As an amateur classical violinist, music theory was thoroughly ingrained in me by necessity. Unless you're a soloist, you have to blend in with the orchestra. Copy exactly what the composer wrote!

[@DavideBaroni]

Hi Fil, thank you A LOT for this video. 🙂 That's EXACTLY what I'm NOT able to do. Well, I can't play along scales and modes either, but that is another story 😉😁. To KNOW where the sounds I have in my mind (or that I sing...) are on my guitar keyboard is the dream of my life. But, in oh so many years, I never got there. I can have a musical "sentence" in my mind/ears, but to move it on the guitar seems as difficult as it gets. Sometimes I think I'm not able to understand when a note is higher or lower than the previous 🙄... Yet I love to play and improvise. I just seem unable to connect the sounds to their position on the guitar's keyboard 🙄. I'll watch this video over and over again, and I'll try to do the exercises you suggest. Who knows, maybe they'll work. But I just LOVE the concept. Thank you again. 🙂

[@konstantia1607]

Hi Davide! You have such a clear understanding of this concept! It seems to me that, because you get it, you're sure to jump into this freely expressive playing one day.

[@DavideBaroni]

@@konstantia1607 Thank you for your kind words, Konstantia, I really wish so. But I'm a bit in a hurry, I'm almost 70, which makes things a tad more difficult 😄. I believe what I really need is practice. I never had the discipline to do so. My fault, and only mine. 🙂 But there are so many things to study, beside guitar... Can't dig deep into them all, can I? 🙂

[@konstantia1607]

@@DavideBaroni Yes! Even at 700 (7000!), wouldn't you have just barely begun to pursue your dreams in music and so many other fields available to us on this planet!? Eccl 3:11---"time indefinite", it really is what we long for. And thank you for your lovely response.

[@delorangeade]

I think I know what you mean. I am able to, given time, break down songs and work out the chords to them, but when it comes to translating melodies I hear in my head to the guitar, I am completely lost, and even when I get something right, I find it impossible to repeat it. That's where modes and scales do help, because I can usually rely on them when my ear for melody lets me down.

[@richardlevasseur6771]

Yes, yes, yes! May I add sing the notes whether you think can sing or not!

[@lindleyhunter4537]

very insightful video fil, i think scales should be used more as musical “erms” (if you get what i mean) while you move from one phrase to the next, rather than something you build a whole solo off of

[@Totem360]

Yep that's the way I do it. Same thing for rhythm. But it does make it challenging when playing with guys that got to have the click track, always talking about key signatures, counting out beats, and referencing these different modes and scales. It drives me nuts. Especially when they're so involved in that they don't take anything from the singer.

[@suzanchamness376]

I loved this video Thank you so much You're greatly appreciated 👍❤️

[@wingsofpegasus]

Thanks!

[@karthain5742]

Generally speaking, people using their voices as far more intuitive than figuring out where notes are on an instrument. That’s why knowing chords, and the key of the song is very useful. Intuitively knowing where a note is on a guitar neck is not natural like using your voice. Because people use their voices from the day they’re born.

[@fergo7010]

interesting Fil thanks 👍👍✌🤘

[@NoCoverCharge]

I have no idea after 30 years I play my solos … I don’t even know the major scale … so I do what I do

[@tmatheson54]

Brilliant Fil. Good insight. I loved your statement ‘Bind to your mind.”. Or even maybe “Mind your bind.”. Ha. Over the years of playing I heard someone once ask something like this, “Do you play what you hear? Or do you hear what you play?”. At first I’m not sure I understood that but it is possibly sort of what you hit on in this video. What do you think? Thanks and cheers!!!

[@wingsofpegasus]

Haha yes playing what you hear is the goal, hearing what you play means you've actually had no input into it's creation!

[@grasshoffers]

Would Love to hear the story of how you learned to sing while playing…the good, the bad and the ugly. How did you get over any hesitation or impediment to singing at same time.

[@wingsofpegasus]

To start with I just focused on the timing of the words with what I played. I found there was always an up stroke or downstroke on the words, so I just made sure I said each word with the right stroke! Same principle with playing riffs and singing, but took more practise for me!

[@grasshoffers]

@@wingsofpegasus that makes a lot of sense. I think I always try to start with complicated songs. I will try this. Thank you and loved being a part of the livestream, though I had to leave early. Love your work and the videos!

[@douginny]

Again, I am a big fan of yours and love all of your anlyses. And am truly honored that you thought enough of our discussion the other day to make this real interesting video on how you view music. But I couldn't disagree with you more. You actually said it yourself even: "Prince played that solo without thinking... but.... "HE WOULD HAVE HAD THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCALES OF COURSE." I think it is because you are so advanced and have such a complete mastery of both your voice and guitar that you take for granted that people from beginner to even advanced intermediate level CANNOT do what your asking and what comes quite naturally to you (and Prince). If you break down what your saying to its simplest elements, you are saying to just sing the CORRECT INTERVALS within a chord or a scale. Right? But how will a beginner or intermediate or even advanced player know what the CORRECT intervals are WITHOUT the framework of a scale to guide them? There are 12 notes. Even if one's ear is as developed as your's (through years of FORMAL or INFORMAL ear training); they will not be able to know the intervals without the framework of a scale and intervalic relationships of chords (triads). I again urge you and all of your viewers to watch the YT video BB King teaches the blues. This was a 3 hour Hal Leonard instructional DVD he made in either the late 80's or early 90's. He had an intrinsic knowledge of intervals and where he was within a chord at all times. Like Prince and like you, he didn't do any of his playing by memory. However, he knew his scales and more importantly, how each note of the scale related to either the chord that was playing or to the key he was playing in. This can ONLY be done, WITHOUT THINKING, through years of THINKING and HEARING the relationships of the different notes of a scale (ear training). That's my opinion and their is no correct answer because countless greats have become great your way. I am not a theory snob and can't read music. I consider myself an advanced blues rock player. Knowledge of scales takes the mystery and magic out of what they are doing. And to walk back to what started this discussion with Prince. In his solo, he didn't simply get from here to there. He got there either through an ascending or descending run within the context of a scale. Peace.... (Here is the link to part 1 of 3 of the BB King instructional DVD Masterclass kzbin.info/www/bejne/eH2ZgZiki5V7hNk)

[@wingsofpegasus]

I'll have to make another video! 😂 For reference when I first started playing I couldn't do any of this, it was just getting to know the sound of the instrument compared to the sound I wanted and finding the right sound. Saying that Prince knew the scales, of course he did, as do I, but it is due to being a byproduct of the way you play not a case of having to learn them. He may have actually played not knowing their 'names', but he knew what each notes felt like. I'm also not saying to just sing the correct intervals, the intervals will be automatic because of the way you're playing being led by your ear. Of course playing like this may be alien to some people, but that's what practise is for, bind your guitar with your mind! As I say in the video, I didn't have any frameworks of scales when I started, the SOUND was the framework. I think also you're greatly underestimating what can be achieved when you do away with scales, but I accept it will be very difficult to rewire your mind to do things in reverse. You may not be able to even imagine playing without playing a certain scale, but the intervals will be happening in your mind once you listen to your mind. Just start a backing track and think of notes without your guitar, imagine notes in your head, that's your voice! The guitar is just the translator!

[@Longhorn.Rock_Roll61]

That's the way it should be Fil like if you think it needs a couple extra notes like the Aoleine or maybe the Dorian scale is just a few extra notes with the minor pentatonic or the major pentatonic . You should just be able to hear where they fit I guess

[@Erik_Swiger]

Possible analysis video: Anything from Spinal Tap! Seriously, though, check out "Cash On Delivery." It's an excellent song.

[@annakoziorowska1940]

"MUSIC makes the PEOPLE come togehter, MUSIC makes the bourgeoisie and the rebel" taken from Madonna's Album - back then she was still recording melodic pieces ....

[@rnichol22]

Perfect pitch.. totally agree with what you said. Shredding is great technically but somebody like mark knopfler beats them hands down. One well place note can beat 100 notes.

[@karenhodge3994]

Have you listened to Leonard Bernstein Harvard lectures? Or his young peoples concerts? Must!

[@frankumbro4287]

Hi Fil. I think you posted a video a few months back on how to play in different keys. You pointed out all the different cords when changing to different keys. It was probably the best video on the subject in all of "KZbin Land," for the life of me I can not find it anywhere on your website. Any chance you can provide a link to that video again on your wsite. Keep up the fabulous work. Thank you for all you do. Rock ON!

[@wingsofpegasus]

I'm not sure, sometimes the tips happen in analysis videos randomly! I can't remember the video you're referring to unfortunately, but it'll be somewhere. Maybe if you go through your watch history the video will be in there if you know it was about 2 months ago?

[@Longhorn.Rock_Roll61]

Your coming up with a melody to go with the chord you played

[@bruceclark133]

love your reactions....wish you would react to Angelina Jordan......

[@rogerramjet6615]

What you say is fine for very basic basic music ie. for the non tone deaf. For more complex music such as jazz, theory is very important. This is why all the great jazz improvisors from John Coltrane to John McLaughlin are experts in theory.

[@wingsofpegasus]

Yes I do say for jazz you need to know where you're going before you get there. It's all about what you're into, some people like to know where they're going as they will have things worked out for when they get there, others just like to shoot from the hip. I'd say the latter is much more of a challenge, as I know from experience, it's not very, very basic. Put on a backing track that you don't know the changes to and try and play along. Knowing the changes I would say is very basic, as all you have to do is jump to the same scale. How much you're actually creating yourself through the guitar is then up for debate as you may just fall into pre-rehearsed lines you always play with those particular changes. It's impossible to play pre-rehearsed lines when you don't know where the next chord is going. Try it and see!

[@rogerramjet6615]

@@wingsofpegasus Yes it does depend on what you want to do. A good jazz session player can walk into a studio be given a chord chart and just start soloing with the band. When you say ''try it and see'', I have tried it many times. I've been playing for about 30 years. The thing with some jazz is that the chord changes can go by so quickly that you wouldn't have time to adjust. Improvising over an unpredictable chord sequence with lots of fast changes is then impossible. You have to listen to see what the next chord is and in the second you move to your chosen notes the next chord arrives. The reason it is easy with pop or blues is the changes are fairly predictable (or even a standard sequence in the blues) you can also get away with playing one scale over a whole 12 bar blues if you want. A good knowledge of theory is essential for certain things. I remember an interview with jazz pianist George Shearing. When he met Coltrane, Coltrane decided to test him and instead of doing the tune in the normal B flat he said ''let's do it in 5 sharps'' (B major) while transposing solos on guitar is quite simple (just move the scale up or down the fretboard) on piano or sax, each key has totally different fingerings. With a fluent knowledge of theory one can instantly transpose any chord sequence to any key. While what you are teaching is very useful, it's not a substitute for theory and theory is not a substitute for playing by ear. They are both great tools for any musician to have. I have watched a lot of your videos though and I do enjoy a lot of the content thanks.

[@wingsofpegasus]

@@rogerramjet6615 Yes I agree, I enjoy listening to great jazz players, it's just dependent on your own personal goals. I'm also referring to playing over any chord changes, not just predictable ones as in mainstream pop/blues/rock. Often the more unpredictable they are the more enjoyable it is! As long as the tempo isn't too fast and you have over 1 bar on any chord, it should be possible to solo over with no reference points. It's just a case of hearing the sound, going with it, and playing the notes you're singing whatever they may be!

[@rogerramjet6615]

@@wingsofpegasus Well most improvisors including myself generally do that with single note soloing however if the changes are a bit less predictable you are bound to have nasty clashes with the other instruments for example if the band suddenly moves to a G dominant chord while you are outlining a G majpr 7th, the Fsharp may clash with the piano using the F natural and ruin the musical direction. While this might be a bit of fun when jamming with your friends, it won't cut it if you are being hired to record as a session guitarist for someone. Also not knowing the coming changes forces you to play safe, you can't build larger phrases designed to run over a 3 or 4 chord sequence. Each phrase can only be shaped individually to fit over each single chord while you await the next chord.

[@wingsofpegasus]

@@rogerramjet6615 Yes for playing subconscious pre-rehearsed lines it's not a good idea as the next change could be a disaster! There's definitely the requirement for fully conscious playing, the lead tends to be a lot slower and measured in my case as I can't sing notes very quickly in my head. If you're being hired to do a job then I agree, I wouldn't advise wasting people's time while you figure things out! I'm really referring to guitarists creating their own lead for their own music to find their own voice, or just to have fun while jamming. I have mentioned before that great players always have a mix of conscious and unconscious playing.