Description
In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn 4 easy minor lead ideas using triads and scale patterns. Nothing technical in this one. At the end we’ll tie all of these concepts together into a single solo.
Free Guitar Lesson
3 Note Pattern Example
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4 Note Pattern Example
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Solo Example
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Video Tablature Breakdown
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Michael Allen says
I love the idea of extensions of the last 2 lessons. I’ve really enjoyed them and look forward to this lesson. Thanks Brian
Michael W says
Another great lesson. The perfect compliment to the prior two lessons.
Tyrone M says
This one is nice and smooth I can tell by hearing the track it’s gonna help me alot with feel and control👍
Michael T says
Thank you. Very nice lesson, though it almost makes me want to play bass.
kennard r says
Good lesson, thanks.
San Luis Rey says
Sweet lesson Brian! Fun to vamp over this track using your ideas. You are going to make some pretty good
players out of us yet!
Mike
David S says
Thanks Brian, These last three lessons have brought together a lot things I needed to proceed with my guitar playing.Going to stay on these for a while till I can do it without thinking about it.Thanks for keeping it up. we need this. Have a blessed week. Dave
Chris R says
Superb content Brian. What a lesson! How could anyone possibly be short of ideas for rhythm and lead any more? And, of course, the best thing of all is that there’s no ‘note-for-note’ learning in it. It’s just perfect for improvisation, and so simple to play and easy to remember. One of your best lessons ever as far as I’m concerned. Thanks for keeping the guitar gifts rolling, week to week. You’re the best.
Robert M says
This one opens a lot of doorways for me. It’s a nice bluesy/jazz type feel. It’s listening music, nice job Brian.
I might even take my 335 out to work on this one.
Sharon C says
I am hearing some LA woman. Sounds great.
Mark G says
Same
Nick Ll says
I was getting notes of Riders on the Storm, especially with the descending scale pattern.
Bill B says
Very nice job on this one.! I love this approach with the music playing and you talking through your ideas as you go. Thanks for yet another great lesson.
deece says
Thank you, thank you, Brian. Well done. Love how you’ve been tying things together over the last three lessons and reinforcing CAGED shapes, triad shapes, pentatonics….
Best,
deece
Cliff Carbaugh says
Brian, You’re a Mind Reader! I was just noodling with Am, Dm and Em bar chords and thought, “I would love to learn some lead licks to include in a 12 Bar tune,” then this lesson magically appeared! Thank you so much – your timing was perfect! 🙂
Malcolm D says
Super cool lesson yet again, with a simple structured approach to learning guitar. 🙂
Big thank you Brain.
Malcolm.
Jeff H says
Wow! What a fabulous lesson. Every week is a surprise. I love the sound and feel of this one, so inspiring, gives me lots of ideas. Thanks again Brian.
Paris w says
Loved how it’s a follow on from the last two. I’ve got the major triad one sorted as of today, so now gotta get started on these two minor lessons. Improvising will be way better knowing these concepts
Jim says
Was the backing track made with a keyboard? If so – what key is the bass in? Thanks, Brian! Love these lessons!
Brian says
Yes, both bass and drums played on keyboard. It’s in the key of A
David S says
guitar simplified ….thank you Brian…this ole fart is finally getting it…
M & N says
Yep….Ditto to all these comments, I’m really enjoying these lessons on Triads and M m scale improvising . I couldn’t grasp what “unlocking the fretboard was but I feel like Triads are like having the keys to the car.
Jim M says
I like the sound of the flat 7th, minor triad movement, and the reminder to let the solo’s breath. Thanks Brian.
Jace H says
Great lesson Brian ……its got 60s Pennyworth groove …..Love it.
Geoff says
I love way this builds on EP484, EP486. Like one of the other members says, I am busy working through both of those this month and I will certainly move onto this one next.
One of the things I particularly like about this lesson is I think it will give me ideas on how to play more economically. I used EP374 as one of the lessons to learn how to do that and this will add to that and the previous two lessons very nicely.
Thank you, Brian.
alasdair L says
Great lesson, Brian, one of those classes that really inspire.I imagine it won`t be half as easy for me as it was for you but it inspires me to try, Cheers and keep it up.
Raymond P says
A great lesson Brian, I really enjoyed the way you too what a first glance looked like simple notes and turned them into so many uses. Very cool.
Thanks
Ray
John B says
A light bulb went on!!
Martin G says
I am hearing the Doors! Excellent lesson.
John Tillis Jr. says
Brian, This is by far your best lesson for ME yet!!!! This backing track is the bomb Along with the three and four note exercise is what I personaly have been waiting on.
I have been with you a year now and was thinking after 30 years on my own and a year of learning why things work the way they do,? CAGED System This lesson and the caged system really came to life for me.. This lesson should continue with the the sytem Like the G Worked really good with the 3 and 4 note patterns you shared.. LIGHT BULB BABY LIGHT BULB
Now if I could just develope some rythm.. lol
Steve (Ruffcutt) R says
Some lessons I just am lost and have no idea, while others I absorb it like a sponge. This is that lesson for me, and although I may be lost on others this one took my level up 3-4 notches!
Robert G says
Fantastic lesson for SRV and EC but too advanced for this beginner Brian!
Mark H says
I love it. Great presentation, much to steal and tons of jamming fun.
Mark H says
Also, ‘scale patterns’ was yet another term I’ve been searching for forever. It’s one of those things I do but didn’t know how to verbalize it, like another recent one, ‘enharmonics’. It’s so cool to be able to connect what I do with my ability to talk- and think about it.
Thanks coach!
Michael J says
G’day Brian,
This is just too good! LUv it!
M.J.
Patrick J. G says
I wish I would have found years ago. Grateful I found you now. You are the man, Brian!
Michael R says
One great lesson follows the next. That’s how you learn to play.
Great job Brian!
Many thanks
André U says
I consider this to be one of the most usefull lessons you ever did! Thanks so much, Brian!
Paul N says
I absolutely agree Andre. I’ve been with Active Melody for a couple of years now, faithfully checking out each new lesson. and also working on a lot of Brian’s vast archive of lessons. For some reason, this thing just clicked. Simple is Best? Really good stuff. I think the simple backing track, along with the techniques of course, for some reason just made it happen for me.
pan054 says
Yep, I agree too. Together with the previous two triad lessons, they form a solid basis.
Bill W2 says
Outstanding lesson Brian !! Great to see your videos/lessons developing over the years adding newer dimensions to our playing
Charlie R says
Love that 4 note pattern! Zappa used that to great effect on Magic Fingers (from 200 Motels).
Great follow-up lesson to the previous 485 & 486.
kurt neumann says
Brian, great! Do you use the 3 and 4 note sequence in major scales as well, and if so, which positions are the most Useful to get under our fingers?
pan054 says
Excellent, excellent, excellent!!! The ‘simpler’ it gets, the more inspiring it becomes. Thanks B.
Phil67 says
i really appreciate this lesson, but also its different format : rather than taking a complete piece and extracting the take away, here you introduce the takeaway first and finally build a musical piece with them -this is the way i feel the lesson – : it is a different point of view, same result, but matching better my mindset.
Peter B says
I’m sorry Brian this format switches me off.
I will try again tomorrow, see if i can cope with the bells and whistles.
JoLa says
One of your best lessons, Brian!
With the jam track playing in the background this seems like a real time tutoring, teaching us how to jam INSTANTLY! Love the simple concepts applied here, easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to apply right away – and yet so effective (sounding good)! I hope to see more lessons in this format!!!
🙏 👌💕
joe p says
Great lesson thanks Brian
Drew D says
fantastic lesson and oh, that sound of those triads!!! Dig it.
Ronald M says
“Break on through to the other side!”
I found myself waiting to hear Jim Morrison’s vocals. Thanks Brian!
Paul B says
Thanks, Brian!
Another great lesson. Lots of fun and a great way to learn to improvise. Always amazed at your ability to come up with new lessons every week. Your dedication is commendable. And, I liked how you added your music under in the intro, along with the computer graphic – looks great. Thanks again! Really enjoying learning from you!
jaystrings2@aol.com says
Another great lesson Brian. And you break it down so well. Keep ’em coming; great stuff here.
Jay
Bill L says
Thx, Brian. These last two lessons have been spot on for what I was looking for to expand my soloing.
David S says
Brian, having trouble with video examples????
Paul M says
Great lesson. Perfect follow up for the last two lessons. Good lesson concept, easy to follow and play along to. Many thanks!
David S says
Sorry Brian. Rebooted&OK.
Steve says
Brian – IMMENSE thanks for lessons like this one that is easy-to-play and learn, yet sophisticated in their in their sound and tone variance of combined rhythm and lead . Please – more!!
Bob L says
For me, this is the most fun i have had with any lesson bar-none.
Benjamin G says
Great lesson Steve! Simplified and addictive. Thank you!!
Jai Hari K says
Brain, this is a great lesson. Now, if you could follow it with one using the one and four chord followed by one using the one, four and five chord using the same format
and lead ideas.
Aaron P. says
LOVE this one Brian. I seem to get the most out of the “simple” lessons. Thanks so much for pushing out great lessons week after week.
silver_surfer says
Enjoyed the lesson, but I have a question.
In the 3-note pattern, shouldn’t the ascending run be a mirror image of the the descending run? In the tab, and in Soundslice, it’s not, and I’m confused as to why?
Also, I’m messing around a bit with a bass guitar – any chance of posting the tab? (I realize that’s two questions but math is hard.)
Norman D says
Wow. Simple, easy and very, very cool. The difference between a noisy shredder wanna be and true musicianship is made clear by the master.
Roberto B says
I have a Kork M50 with a MIDI sequencer but I do not know how to record tracks on it. Do you have a lesson for this particular issue? Thank you kindly
Dave S says
WOW! I’m new to A.M. and this lesson alone is worth the price of admission. It blew me away, I’m so happy I joined. This lesson enabled me to connect the dots on few items I’ve struggled with for quite some time. Very well done, THANK YOU… Probably just me, but I got a Randy Bachman vibe from this, and gave me the urge to break out some old BTO albums. Thanks Brian!!