A Video Illustration of the concepts so Far

Be Patient :-)  Never done a video before LOL

Seriously it is pretty good!

This is My PRS Mira, My favourite guitar ever!

OK so the next trick to make things More interesting

I TRUST YOU HAVE BEEN PRACTICING :-)


The Pentatonic scale patterns I reference below are most easily implemented on the root notes which place the pattern in the Key those root notes in each pattern denote.


Now I know that is a little too much like theory, but let me try and illustrate as that what theory is supposed to do for us.

Minor Pentatonic on 5th fret 

Notice their are 3 notes that are root notes 2 on the 5th fret on the High and Low E strings and one on the D string 7th fret.  all 3 are A's. Rest a phrase on one of these will resolve the tension of your solo.


But I digress the Purpose of this is to show you who to make your solo more dynamic so that is what we must do :-)


Now I beleive we already covered that the 12 fret is the point at which the Guitar repeats itself so the Open A string plucked and the A string at the 12 fret plucked are both A's an octave apart.  With me so far?


Now we Know that this pattern is in the Key of A
Meaning it can be played against an A, D E Blues progression. Key of A Chart Below for reference. Basic Blues Is a I, IV, V progression.  Ok now we are into the blues LOL...  I will get back to that...

So Hopefully this is all making sense...  ask questions or leave comments I check daily.

Here is the Secret I have been promising...

The Pattern above Played on the 17th fret is also in the key of A just one octave higher.  Slide down to the 17th fret and play it like you would on the 5th fret see...  Same Key....  and the Pattern above this pattern.  Pattern one in our Minor pentatonic patterns in an earlier post fits right above it....

this works it the Pattern above is moved up two frets as well... we would start on the 3rd fret and the Key would be G, slide down to the 15th fret and you are in G.

There that is a good weekends worth of data.

I am far from complete :-) I know this is alot to take in, but relax read it over, try and play it... I know you can work it out...  

Theory is important, critical in fact, I am trying to also make it approachable.  I hope this helps.

AM

Well Let me tell you what I just found HEHE

There is a site out there that has a complete catalog of Backing tracks for practicing to...
Don't get drawn in my offers to sell you this stuff it is not necessary to spend money to get good tracks. This site provides an amazing list of options for practicing with, you can play right from the site and even download the MP3 version for free.

Check it out! Guitarbackingtrack.com is a great site for guitarists!

I enjoy it greatly!

So How is the practice going?

Well I have spent a little time a created a couple of Grooves to practice the Minor Pentatonic's to.

One of the MP3 files is a blues inspired riff in the key of A  like the lesson below, the Other is a test :-) it is in the Key of G  :-)  with a pretty tough drum beat!  Both are 120 BPM....

Blues In A
Download

Right click and "Save AS" to get your copy.


Blues In G
Download

Right click and "Save AS" to get your copy.




Have fun and try to create new phrases as you go...

I am here to help if you need any info let me know!

Comments are welcome and feel free to email if you have and questions..

The Minor Pentatonic

Does this sound Scary?

Does it look scary?

Do not dispare.....

The First thing you need to know is the Key these are in is based on the same principle as the Barre chords we have already discussed.
The Root notes are marked by the white circles.
Notice the first pattern, the one marked 1? See the 2 root notes on the same fret... those two are important...  they setup several key links in knowledge that will take you many places...

Image via Wikipedia

  1. They mark the point of key based upon the Bar Chord model...

• if that part of the pattern was on the 5th fret the pattern would be played between the 2nd fret and the 5th and be in the Key of A  and if You played an A barre chord the bar is on the same fret

  2. The patterns Link together and stay in the key of pattern one based upon the details above.

• Pattern 2 links into pattern 1 and you will notice the bottom fret in pattern 1 and the top fret in pattern two are the same... yes they are shared.
• Can you see how the other patterns link together? 5 into 4 into 3 into 2 into 1 :-)

Give this some thought we will come back to this theory.

For now start practicing Pattern 1 in the key of A if you assume the top blue bar was the nut, it is in the key of A :-)

learn it well there is lot's more to come.

To practice start just playing it in any variation you can up and down from middle to bottom..... what ever do not repeat too much be get the pattern down pattern 1&2 are your foundations for playing in any key.

Now back to basics..... Practice practice practice......

I know you can do it!

So as promised here is more strait talk on Guitar :-)

There are so many offers promising you the opportunity to be the next Solo Master... everyone has a gimmick that will get you there in one week...  or one month or  oh my if you pay enough we can get you there in one day! LOL

Well Sorry to disappoint, but that is just not how it works.   Every guitar player ever to make the stage has had the same experience.  Lot's of alone time with just the Guitar for company and Sore fingers LOL.

In my next post I will begin to tell you about soloing.  Teach you the foundations that will make it possible to interpret and understand any solo work in the rock scene and provide you with some idea's to help you learn.

It is not an easy path becoming a free floating improvisationalist, but the path is very rewarding and opens so many doors.

So here we go on the next adventure.

Too Long away!

Well Hey all!  Been away too long!  the sure fire sign of a blog gone bad LOL
I did not intend that so I will get things started again in the next day or two!  I have lot's of good guitar advice just screaming to get out!


Please feel free to leave me questions!  My goal is to provide valuable advice and no gimmicks :-)

So enjoy the ride and practice Practice Practice.  The problem with learning guitar is it is often impossible to feel or hear the difference until a bunch of practice adds up to a cumulative moment.  then wow!  So stick with it!   I have a cumulative moment yesterday and am driving to my next one!