Description
In this MicroLesson (ML043) I’ll show you how to play some simple, but powerful embellishments over a G and C chord. The goal of this lesson is to make your rhythm playing more interesting.
Free Guitar Lesson
Slow Walk-Through
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Video Tablature Breakdown
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Wow – another great little MicroLesson. As a result of these lessons I’ve begun to really enjoy rhythm playing – an area in which I had little interest and even less ability. Thanks Brian; your efforts have made playing even more fun and has gotten me on track to becoming a more complete guitar player.
Rick
I agree, rhythm is fun when your learning more than just basic strumming. I like it as much as lead and much of it incorporates lead work anyhow.
Thanks Brian. I’ll be using this a lot.
Love these chord embellishments!! And I like the way the micros break things down into bite size pieces. Thanks so much!! Is the next step the three positions up the neck of minor chords and the embellishments on those?
Sure 🙂
Sweet! Looking forward to trying this one in different keys.
Great lesson Brian, and very sweat sounding chord embellishments
Thanks
Ray P
This is exactly the stuff I want to be playing – breaking out of the standard chords. Thanks a lot.
another great lesson Brian ! thanks Love the sound of your Ceo-7
I’m a big Martin fan. So big I went to Nazareth in september to visit the Martin factory (and bought another Martin)
greetings from Belgium
Bit of an esoteric question but does the fourth of the fourth work because it’s the dominant seven of the root?
EXCELLENT LESSON. EXCELLENT. Love it. In case anyone is unaware this is a perfect example of using the CAGED system for improvising chords. I understand this even though I’m lacking in the ability to use it like Brian does. I have not joined this site yet but I am repeatedly seeing lessons that are very usable. Some teachers show different things that are great but due to my lack of experience with improvisation I don’t know how to use the great information. Learning another lick is fine but when you can actually use that lick in real music (you know, songs, etc. 🙂 ) that ‘s when it gets great. Everyone knows songs in G. Using this chord lick in a song I already know should be pretty easy as well as make it more interesting. In addition to that, as Brian says “using the 4 chord of the 4 chord” is a piece of music theory I was unaware of. Maybe it isn’t in a theory book but still it is a guideline to remember. Thanks Brian. You are gradually sucking me into being a full fledged member of your site. What I like is having the tabs to what I just learned. I could write the tabs myself but that is time consuming. Being able to see them download them, print them, etc. makes it possible to always have them to reflect on later. I can’t count the times I’ve learned something and then as I learn other things that one thing gets forgotten about. With the tabs or access to different lessons as a full member makes stumbling upon an old lesson easy AND great. It’s like finding that $50 in the sock drawer you forgot about. 🙂 Thanks Brian.
Hey, just jump on with both feet. It’s awesome! I did the free portion of the lessons for a couple of months before signing on. I’ve learned more usable tips and techniques in the last 8 months than all the chord plunking and memorizing I’ve done in the past 40 years. My friends hear me play now and ask me, “what happened? Man that sounds great”. It’s Active Melody…that’s what happened!! Finally I can start piecing together little instrumental breaks and fills for songs I’ve been strumming for years that I could only dream of doing before….and shoot it isn’t that hard when it finally starts to click.
It’s very inexpensive to get one of the best players on the web to show you his style. IDK what it is about this style I like so much…But it always makes me just smile…I’m learning a new way after 25years…
Really a lot of useful stuff packed into a short lesson…very very cool.
Great lesson Brian! I noticed in your strumming patterns the way you use rests can you do a lesson maybe start simple on counting the strumming pattern out and using rests to get that consistent melodic feel that you always play with. Thanks.
Awesome! Thanks Brian! This also sounds so awesome when incorporating ml044! When I learn how to post videos properly, I’d love to share what I’ve came up with using these two ml!
True not only for this micro lesson but so many more as well as weekly lessons: I signed up only about a month ago and learned so much more than in years! – In all fairness to other teachers, I just wasn’t ready for this universe to which Brian is now opening the door to.
By the way, I play most of this with and without a pick (finger style and alternate picking like similar to Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler, J.J. Cale). Give it a try too if you are looking for extra spectrum.
Love your lessons…You play and bar the top 4 string a lot…D G B E and create great things with that bar. I’m trying to get that down, but I’m not there yet as I seem to be muting strings in the process. can’t figure that out but I’m working on it. Great Lesson again Brian. Well Done.
Just found the ML lessons–excellent. Lots of good stuff packed into a short lesson. Keep em coming…
Love the guitar–I have a CEO 7
If the four of the target four chord can be substituted for, or used as a transition to, the target chord, can lead work notes, theoretically, be used the same way? In other words, if the lead work notes, for example, are around an F chord can those same notes be used if the song changes to a C chord? Just wanted to know before I tried.
Brian,
I signed up a few weeks ago and just love your lessons. I was ready for a site like yours and have gathered so many small wins in the ones I have done so far. Thank you so so much!
I’ll take a simple C to G and feel brand new about it- Alan Toussaint
4 chord of the 4 chord Franklin’s Tower all the way for my fellow Deadheads
I don’t own an acoustic but I do have a hollow body Gretsch electric so I have the best of both worlds. Love this MicroLesson and the theory behind it. I’m hearing a bit of James Taylor in that 4th of the 4 chord descension Brian!
Sounds like the beginning of a CSN song, the name of which escapes me at present.
Wow, Brian! This micro lesson was a MAJOR lesson! Enlightful and inspiring! Thank you!
Just want to say thank you. Sheltering in pace ; the micro lessons are fantastic. And free too, you sir are are a generous soul.
A gentleman and a scholar, and there only a few of us left.
Regards and much thanks
And the best way we can repay Brian the generous soul for all of the knowledge he shares with us is to sign up and become a paying member. 🙂
Thanks Brian for all that you do.
Jules
Hi Brian.
Thanks for these great tips!
How about doing a micro lesson on Sus2 and Sus4 chords along with chord diagrams for the various shapes.
once again, excellent tips for learning this lovely instrument.
Hi Brian. Would you explain the strum tablature?
Thanks.
Reuven
Very cute, Brian … always pick up a neat trick or two from your lessons!
Beautiful!!! Thanks Brian
Brian, I never walk away from one of your lessons without some tasty tidbit … in this case, going from the sus2 to the major in that A position is tre chic!
Anybody know what song that has that exact G embellishment that starts this? Oh Black Crowes – She Talks to Angels. Knew I heard this somewhere
Would a version of these embellishments work for Take Your Money And run by the Steve Miller Band? It mostly uses the same G-F-C progression.