Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Chord Neighborhood – Find the 1-4-5 chords along with scales in multiple areas on the neck – EP425

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to locate the 1-4-5 chord progression, and accompanying scale in a confined region (neighborhood) on the neck, and learn a simple composition that will help you practice this concept. The Part 2 video includes a 2nd position.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough - Key of G

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Slow Walkthrough - Key of C

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  2. Michael Allen says

    I like easy tunes that sounds good. I’ve got Tennis and Golfers Elbow and don’t play either. Just a little splinter in the butt sliding down the bannister of life for a 72 year young guy. I’m looking at the lessons differently, with shorter practice periods and concentrating on using a lighter touch. Thanks for keeping me inspired Brian

  3. Juxi says

    Brilliant lesson, Brian. This little tune wraps up so many useful concepts- CAGED, triads, mixing major and minor pentatonic scales… very useful!
    This also could be a topic for the challenges: play a blues song staying in one neighbourhood… 🤔

    (Before watching this lesson I wanted to suggest to maybe do a jazzy-challenge – you could propose some of your jazzy lessons or doing an original jazzy composition (kind of like you did with the call and response challenge we did a few month ago…)
    Anyway, thanks for another superb lesson! 👍🏽

  5. JohnStrat says

    Hi Brian,
    Last night I had a pal over who plays a mean blues harp in his own local blues band. He is recently starting on the guitar road and so I said I would be able to show him a few basic concepts to help him on his way, and of course the AM site. So far he has some open chords. Well I ran through the E A and D and shape concept with him and more. Low and behold you have come up with the perfect complimentary lesson that reiterates it all and to take it forward and beyond. There is so much packed into this lesson I think it makes a wonderful learning and practice vehicle for all of us.
    Great Job
    JohnStrat

  13. jeremiah d says

    Brian I have not even started this lesson. I think I’m into year 3 with you. I’m like a kid in a candy shop as I pick through your archived material. I’m 72 yrs old. I picked up the guitar at age 49 and never have I come across anything remotely resembling what you bring to the table. For the first time sense I started this journey I have found a real teacher. I have been hanging in there by sheer will power all this time. I wish I had found you sooner. But I want to let you know that you are a shining light in this jungle of “want to be” guitar teachers. Thank you for what you do. Keep it up. You are the real deal.

  17. Michael R says

    Having a difficult time not using my entire index finger on the second fret for the D chord. I had to cheat a bit and use the old open D shape for a cleaner sound, hopefully some more practice the C shaped Barr will sound clearer.

  19. Gregory F says

    Another great lesson Brian. I’ll never be much of a guitarist but I’m just loving your lessons and learning the ‘theory’ behind improvisation. Brilliant!
    I have a question please? I’m a ‘lefty’, strongly left handed, but I have always picked up the guitar and played ‘right handed’. Any comments?

  20. Rafa says

    HI Brian and all, I am enjoyning a lot learning the details of this lesson, the way you use everything to make melodic music, I really love that. It is taking me time after joining AM members to find the way to study the big bunch of awesome lessons you have developed, so I thought the best it is to be patience and step by step. Thanks a lot Brian, you are amazing!

    • Brian says

      you’ll get different results depending on the browser you use. If you use Google Chrome or Firefox and click on the “Download MP3” link, it will download the file automatically. Other browsers will try and play the file after it downloads (which is what you’re experiencing). So try RIGHT clicking on the “Download MP3” link if you’re on a Windows computer and then choose the “Save As..” option. If you’re on a Mac, hold down the “Control” key and click on “Download MP3”.

  24. Rich F says

    Hi Brian,

    Just back from a week’s holiday “in the sun” and re-connecting with AM… what a brilliant lesson!

    As I listened to the lovely melody at the start of the video, I thought thst it sounded very gospel-ly, and right at the end you confirmed it, when you talked about the gospel ending…

    As Juxi says, the way that you bring so many concepts into one lesson is amazing! Finding the 1-4-5 chords using the caged system… the use of the 7th chords as dominant tension chords to pull us back to the major chords… the mixing of the major and minor pentatonic (I really love that mixing of the minor pentatonic pattern 1 and major pentatonic pattern 2)….

    This is a brilliant and beautiful lesson! Keep up the excellent work!

  25. Norman says

    Hey Brian,
    Another great lesson, thanks. I’ve been a member now for almost 2 years, and have got a lot out of your site. I guess I’m at the stage where I can visualise and play the different caged shapes and their corresponding chords (triads mostly) and scales, especially in major keys. As I started doing this lesson, I found myself coming up with my own melodies, and strumming the chords in between, which is what you are always encouraging us to do. But the problem I am having is timing. I often use a metronome, and so my timing is ok, but what I mean is fitting in melodies and harmonics across the measures, usually in quarter note. I’m also unsure about how to design a tune by beginning on the second or third beat, or in between. Like, how do you decide on which beat of the first measure to begin a tune, either melodically or harmonically. I hope my question makes sense.
    Thanks

  26. Randy G says

    Really enjoying the extra theory tidbits you’re adding to the lessons. Something as small a ‘this make it a Gsus4 chord’ and pointing out where the notes are coming from which are outside the expected pattern truly add to my understanding and enjoyment of your lessons. Those small details give me the confidence to explore. Thank you!

  27. Randy G says

    Just want to add that I find having a simple and short melody, and in this case two different melodies (which by the way is excellent), allows me to really focus on the underlying concepts without getting overwhelmed with learning bars upon bars of notes that I will only eventually forget in a couple of wks. By the time I’ve finished memorizing, I’m bored and want to move on which sometimes sacrifices the underlying learning.

    With these shorter melodies, I can learn them quickly and get that sense on accomplishment then spend substantially more time exploring the actual lesson by extending and changing the melody with what I was just taught.

    So – thank you!

  31. Felicia M says

    It would have helped a lot if the diagram for the 3 chords you are focusing on in this lesson where in a diagram. You start right off without an actual picture of the chords, …fussing around with fingering for those of us who don’t know. A bit discouraging right from the get go..just saying, and always good lessons

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