Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Learn to play lead over the chord changes in a Western Swing style composition – Online Guitar Lessons – EP304

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play lead by playing the chord changes over a Western Swing Style Rhythm. These licks work nice over country, blues, or even rock – once you understand the principles being demonstrated you can start playing over any chord progression in any style of music.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walk-Through

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

      • Norman M says

        To each his own on a ‘cup of tea’ but you will find few, if any, other websites that offer the variety of musical styles as this one. Have to believe that this lesson is very applicable to any musical style since they all use the same twelve notes and chords – just simply express them in different manners.

      • Will K says

        Totally agree— this is one of my absolute favorites. I play it ALL THE TIME now. I see how I can apply parts to swing blues, and other genres. I’d love to see more rag time guitar. Keep up the fantastic work Brian — especially acoustic stuff. Can’t get enough!

    • Jeff M says

      David – Brian isn’t your personal guitar teacher…If you want to only focus on things that resonate with you immediately, you can hire a guitar teacher. Otherwise, please don’t use this forum to post negative comments or to let us know what you personally like or don’t like – frankly, none of us are interested…

      Brian teaches “concepts” that are broadly applicable to anybody’s growth and development as a guitarist. He’s pretty f’ing masterful at that and offers this to you at no cost, or nominal cost as a premium member..

    • obie123 says

      Like your teaching style as you actually learn something each lesson even for this thick old head. Not to interested in memorizing songs so glad you don’t have to deal with all the copyright traps. Thanks

    • Sharon C says

      Can’t wait to dig into this! Looks like a lot of take aways.

      The last two lessons have been refreshing changes. Maybe some bluegrass in the future, it has been awhile!

      There are several lessons that aren’t exactly my musical taste, but I always get something from them.
      Thank you for being so versatile with styles and skill levels. It’s tough to please us all, you do a great job.

  5. Michael Allen says

    Funny, I never feel like this type of music is my bag but after going through the lesson I always find that I’ve learned something useful. Thanks for helping me to think out of my bubble. Nice guitar!

  9. Gary W says

    Diolch, thank you Brian.
    As always, a composition full of technique and ‘takeaways’.

    As a Classic Rock and Metal player,
    it is refreshing to journey with you into Blues, Jazz and the like..

    Thank you again for the time and effort you put into making Friday such a special day!
    Gary, Wales UK

  10. Gary W says

    ps. interesting guitar

    Always nice to see you take time out to talk about the instruments.

    Very disappointed to read some earlier negative comments.

    As always, a rock solid composition, brilliantly presented, full of useful takeaways..
    Thank you Brian

    • Mark G says

      I’m a classic rock alternative rock and reggae guitarist so this style is new to me. Great stuff. Love this country swing style guitar & the major pentatonic scale as well as the inverted chords. I can see how this relates to and can enhance my solos in the styles I normally play. Thanks Brian..

  15. kevin m says

    Great one again Brian!! so many great tips and takeaways.

    I believe the variety of styles you give us will make us more

    well rounded musicians. The negative comments are very

    puzzling though!! Keep up the great work.

  16. Peter M says

    Hi Brian! Just watched the first half and really enjoy the theory that puts notes, phrases and chords together. Great practice coming up for me this afternoon. I happen to love all genres of music from Bach to Pearl Jam. Thanks for your site, it’s a great place to learn.

  17. Raymond P says

    Another great lesson with lots of good take a ways Brian. It never ceases to amaze me that no matter where you go there’s always the nay-sayers. Please keep mixing it up with all styles of guitar playing, it keeps your lessons fresh, interesting and well balanced.

    Thanks
    Ray

  18. Stephen T says

    Hello Brian

    I just wanted to say that having been been a member for a couple of years now that my playing has improved immeasurably thanks to your lessons. This latest one is of your usual very high standard if I may say so and there is a lot to take from it.

    I only have a battered old acoustic and I simply cannot justify the expense of buying an electric guitar etc.. at the moment so stand alone lessons ‘unplugged ‘ as it were are the ones that I really value. However, call me old fashioned but I always felt that it was important to try to master an acoustic before using on an electric guitar because it requires more effort.

    Once again, this is a superb site and I continue to derive massive pleasure and satisfaction from being able to play so much better thanks to your lessons.

  21. Matt C says

    Its funny how different kinds of music can work for some and not for others. This is a miss for me, though I do appreciate that others will love it. Maybe country music just aint for me. Thanks brian. I also appeciate the diversity (its like a box of chocolates……..) and enjoy all you country lovers.

  24. Arnold M says

    Wow, so many take away’s again Brian.! Thanks.
    Although at first, Western swing would not be something I’d listen to, there is so much transferable in there as you explain. ( recognizing and moving the harmonized 3rds, the great lick from Jerry Garcia).
    Could you consider a lesson (a micro lesson?) on the rhythm used in the backing track? I hear a number of interesting walk ups/downs. And I have trouble understanding and hearing the time signature of this Western swing (the two 16th notes sounding like a quarter and 16th) that I would certainly like to hear more about. I would like to figure it out to put into a looper for a longer use than your backing track. Thanks.

  25. Allen M says

    A lot of GOOD take a ways in this lesson. Light bulbs going off every where. I Like the Gibson, not a big P90 fan but this one the way you have it set makes me appreciate the p90 a little more.

  27. luc v says

    Not only “how” to play the lessons, but also “why” to play it in a certain way, big fan of all your lessons, nice job! CAGED system is indeed THE key to play better guitar, for sure, and every style has his advantages to expand and to develop the guitar playing.
    Nice to see Brian how you still grow and improve in teaching and making your lessons. Thx!!
    One little question: is it possible to finish the mp3 tracks with and “ending” chord, so we can use it als a real backing track?
    Greetings from Belgium!

  28. John D says

    Excellent lesson on so many levels Brian. The sliding 6th’s, linking the licks to the caged system, and linking the pentatonics to the caged shapes — all very useful materials. I work your lessons by key and find that this reinforces the shapes and helps me link my rhythm and lead playing. I use the archive and focus on a particular key on a particular day. This system has helped me really link my leads to chord shapes and has enhanced my fretboard knowledge. I have gained so much knowledge from working with your site. I find that certain themes or pattern re -emerge as I work through the lessons. This has really helped me to develop my own voice on the instrument. Equally of value are the lessons which encourage the player to lay back and play just what is needed. The right note at the right time is crucial or perhaps even silence where need be. Revisiting lessons regularly allows a person to pick up even more that the first time through. I have been playing for decades and am still learning tons! Keep up the great work !

  29. Paul L says

    Wonderful. This lesson and arrangement helped me break on through (omage to J.M.) to a new level of guitar playing. I too need some instruction on ending chords to complete the arrangements.

  31. André H says

    Hi Brian,

    It is my cup of tea. What a fine job! Seems to me all is in this lesson. For who do to like this kinda music, try to get in deep you’ll see a lot of roots of different styles.
    Thanks Brian, really good time with that.

    André;

  33. Davie d says

    I recently watched a video tribute for Chet Atkins and they said he tried to learn from all styles of music! Need I say more about his virtuosity! This is what your site provides and I love it! Love that you not only teach how to play it, but also you give valuable insight to use in other songs! You don’t just feed us the notes, but give us the recipe and ingredients!

    Thanks you Brian

  36. sunburst says

    second day for couple hrs before work,, really cool licks ,,double stops with chromatic runs into some cool triads.. for such a small lesson,,there is a lot of great take a ways in this ( as with all your lessons ) ,, enjoy and thanks Brian!

  38. Greg R says

    Hi Brian,

    Thank you so much for all of your lessons…the takeaways you provide are exactly what I need to apply to my playing.
    Your site has helped me so much – I keep singing your praises to other guitar friends. Trying to be on your marketing team!

    I bumped into the same head scratcher that Jeremy F had above. I don’t tend to dwell on the theory, but thought I was finally snapping together the key structure of songs. I guess I would have looked at this song and thought it was in the key of E (with the F# being the “2”)… is there a way to explain what I’m missing without making me a music major? 🙂

      • sunburst says

        your first part was so amazing .. like how you remind the students not to get caught up in theory at the end .. this was very good master class if I ever seen yet.. going to part 2 now because I want to watch your finger chord positions ascend and descend (I like throwing in the index D string for the F# and hold the E dominant position using pinky!

  44. Wheelman says

    Brian,
    As the ES is a basically acoustic w/ a pickup I was wondering if you put electric or acoustic 13’s on that baby? I have electric 10’s on mine and the “G” string resonates/feedsback pretty bad when plugged in. I have read where that is a common issue with this model.
    regards…

  48. wrightclick says

    When i first joined my like of music was very narrow and now i can see how naive i have been i love western swing now there is value in all styles for sure . On first hearing this number it reminded of the amazing Chet and Knopfler duet . Great lesson

  49. David S says

    Brian, Never knew much about Western Swing but after hearing all the different chords and changes this is a great learning tool for all varieties of music Keep up the good work.Happy Easter and good teaching.Keep it up David

  50. Mike T says

    Hey Brian I loved Chet Atcins ( sorry if I spelled his name wrong ) as a kid , this isn’t the same but it sure put me there, thank you . Also real dumb question , where did you get that tee shirt , I want one . Thanks again for the lessons , best money I have ever spent !

  51. David M says

    Just what I was looking for. I’ve been trying to figure out how to follow chord changes on my own. Very helpful to see how you do it. You said you didn’t want to get into theory, etc and I was wondering when you are composing if you do what sounds good or go for theory?
    want to see more.

  55. Ken S says

    Thanks Brian for being the best guitar teacher and for your lessons in so many diverse styles. I have grown so much as a player since starting with you. Variety is what allows us to develop our own style. At 81, I’m still growing. Thanks.

    • brian b says

      I am 67 and you have made guitar playing fun again. I started playing late in life and have always wondered how they played all those wonderous fill licks and seemingly impossible leads. Now I get to do some of that because of your instruction. Just Wow!

  58. sunburst says

    well, here I am again today once again going to rehearse this phenomenal lesson,, even watch you and listen to you explain the details while i rehearse the tab .. many terrific lessons to look back on!

  59. Dan S says

    This seems like an appropriate time to reflect on Brian’s methods. This my favorite lesson, but I find myself picking up a few runs and styles and when I start practicing them I end up just wandering off into space and wake up an hour later. Seems I can never finish a lesson, but that’s okay. That’s the best method to teach and he has mentioned this numerous times.
    Take these licks and work them into your own style and you’ll be good. I keep going back to the fundamentals too, especially when I find myself looking for an answer to why something works.
    All in all — this is a great resource.

  64. Guy H says

    Hi Brian, My name is Guy and I have been working through your lessons for quite some time now and I am curious if your jam tracks can be added to a looper (I have a NuX)? Since I’m 73 and not very tech savvy I was wondering if you or someone from your site might be able to give me some advice in this matter. I also use apple products. I’m currently using and iMac. Thank you for any help you (or anyone for that matter) might be able to offer.

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