Description
In this guitar lesson, I’ll break down the natural minor scale in the key of A, and show you the notes. Keep in mind, this is basically the minor pentatonic scale with just a few extra notes thrown in – so don’t let it intimidate you. If you aren’t sure what the minor pentatonic scale is, take a look at this lesson: Understanding how to play blues guitar solo: Minor Pentatonic Scale.
I’ll demonstrate how to play 3 different licks in this lesson (each of them have only 4 notes), and for premium members I’ll throw in an extra lick that has 7 notes.
Natural Minor Scale Guitar Lesson - Lick 1 - 3
Lick 4 - For Premium Members
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I loved the lesson/ Thank you for pointing out the beauty in simplicity
Oh, end of the week and what a smooth tune ! Relaxing. Thanks
great lesson Brian, it was fun
Truely notelisious !!! Love it..
Thx Brian
Cool. Look forward to this one, Brian.
Thanks for this lesson Brian, I really like it, in particular the little classical twist at the end of lick 4.
once again, Active Melody is great blues for your buck. great lesson
Excellent Brian, nice sound.
Brian: It just seems that the simpler the riffs get the more and more we can do with them! Btw, thanks again for all of your assistance!
Brian, one of my favorite lessons so far. The minor key has always sounded good to me. I jammed to the track for an hour using the licks and a few of variations of my own. Old Love written by EC and Robert Cray would be a good song to consider for a future lesson as I believe it uses the natural minor scale.
Great lesson Brian,I’ve been waiting for you to show us some real slow bluesy stuff.Clapton is my all time favourite player and I can really hear his influence on your style.Many thanks
Enjoyed this lesson Brian-great way to learn to play the minor pentatonic in an easy relaxed fashion.
Hi again Brian! Take no notice of my previous E mail. Blame my brand new Windows 8. I still haven’t got to grips with it!!! Been trying for days. don’t like it.
Anyway, thanks again for this and all previous lessons.
Regards-Rick E
Hi Brian, very nice lesson. Thanks. However, tho’ I am a ‘Premium Member’ I can’t seem to get into Lick 4 of this lesson, nor any of the associated downloads. Can you enlighten me as to what is (not) happening. Thanks again. Rick E
Hi Brian, I am logged in but can’t access lick 4. Any suggestions? thanks!
I can’t thank you enough for the help of all of these videos.
As always Brian, useful stuff that we can immediately begin playing and getting fun from, thx so much Dr Paul UK.
great lessond Thank you Brian
thanks brian, having the jamtrack to the lessons is pure genious. i used to get bored just playing scales, now im playing music.
Thanks for this brilliant lesson Brian. i had almost give up on ever playing lead guitar but your lessons have made a HUGE change for me.
I love you “Man”
Hi Brian, Great site, as I have said before,I have been checking out the a minor natural scale, I can get all the tabs and backing but cant get lesson 4, it states premium members only, its not a huge problem as I have the tabs and you play it right through, its just in case I am doing something wrong…Cheers Alex
Thanls Brian for opening up a whole new scale and releasing me from the"pentatonic prison” !
Hey Brian I believe that I am a premium member but after logging in, it doesn’t give me the resources as in lick 4 and the backing track and tabs. Help please. Cheers, Tony Dyrsmid
can’t get to lic 4 or jam track ken briegleb
Ken, make sure 1) you’re logged in and 2) a premium member.
***Lick 4 Video Issues***
For those who can’t get it to play - even if signed in and a Premium Member, try this, it worked for me:
CLICK the ‘HD’ and make sure it’s High-lighted to BLUE.
When I first tried watching it, it wouldn’t play - ‘HD’ was gray - no matter how many times I clicked the play arrow it wouldn’t work. Then I clicked ‘HD’ and it was fine.
Very smooth lesson. I love this type of slow blues! Thank you for bringing it to life for me!
Hi Brian
I was overcome by this lesson on youtube that I joined your premium membership last week.
I am impressed by the simplicity and step by step Lead Blues course that I have started.
Many thanks for inspiring me.
Kim
So Nice and relaxing! Love this smooth Style. Thank you Brian!!
Awesome lesson. I’m actually starting to sound like I know what I’m doing. I have a question about the 4th lick. Shouldn’t it end on the 2nd fret A ? It sounds good to my ear.
Thanks Brian, this is the best $7
I’ve ever spent!
Jimmy, you could end it on the A note, but I like the contrast is created there on the 4th fret. Either way would work. I’m always looking to do something a little less predictable, but that’s just a matter of taste.
I can never log in to this site. I have to go on the ‘payment page’ and try to buy it again until it finally tells me I am already a premium member. What am I doing incorrectly?
Tom, that’s a browser issue. Probably an old version of IE i’m guessing. Try downloading Google Chrome (it’s free) and then you should be able to log in no problem by clicking on the Log In link at the top.
Hi Brian
I was a free member .I just became premium member . I just love all the lesson and the jamtrack . This lesson I think is the best. Keep up the good work.
Always love to hear slow blues keep up the good work. Best guitar lessons anywhere at any price donals c
Brian,I believe you have a good heart;Helping people to play the guitar.But it also takes great talent and ability to be able to put it all together. You ought to win an award of some kind. Thanks for helping.
the tabulatur won’t download
Wonderful lessons Brian. I love these nice sad sounding tunes. By the way I have a question in that you mentioned with the Jam Track we can jump in anytime without having to wait for the right beat ? How does that work? Also, do you have anymore of these sad sad licks? And lastly, can you confirm that the Jam track is only played in the key of A minor?
Brian,
Great lesson but I do have a question. You took the A minor pentatonic scale (A, C, D, E ,G) and added B and F. If I am not mistaken, isn’t this the C major scale also?
Tom
Wow…you hit it out of the park with these Brian! Thanks so much.
Brian this natural minor scale, is it very close to the chromatic scale like the do re me scale that I learnt in your Jazz lesson EP004
Brian I give myself goose-bumps when I play this stuff, this is some pretty deep shit here! Man I love it…..
Thanks Brian from an ‘old guitar player’ of 50 years. I need a good review as well as new learnings to keep me clean and to remove the rust! Your videos are a great way for me. I am a member and find your work very good and helpful. I have used Totally Guitars and Riff Ninja also and I like what you do. If I may add a suggestion for this lesson when you mention adding two notes to the pentatonic scales – you could add that some call it the Diatonic scale meaning 7 notes. Thanks again and I always look forward to your weekly lessons.
What are the chords?
In the tab, you really should have the chords showing as that is very important to why ceratin notes sould so powerful.
PLEASE! More Natural Minor Scale solos. I love to play blues and ballads in this scale.
I think this scale makes you a more well-rounded player. When you play “Modal” aren’t
you playing this scale, sort of?
Brian, as a newbie, I stumbled onto this “oldy” circa ’13, and found progressive combinations that immediately worked for me. This makes sense. Is there any chance you can revisit this, take it further up the fretboard and gradually make it even more challenging? If so, I might actually become a real player rather than just a riff memorizer. ! Thanks.
I am having no luck downloading and printing the tab for all four of these licks. No problems with other lessons, just this one. Is anyone else having the same issues and how can I resolve mine?
Thanks…and I absolutely love, love, love your playing and teaching skills Brian. An inspiration.
Richard
Got the download figured out and printed the tab. Ready to go….
Yes, I am also not able to download the tablature for lesson EP022. I will continue to try hoping it will work at some later time.at 70 years young I’m really enjoying the challenges!
three days of premium and already playing around with something this nice. Thanks for your lessons. Love your melodic style.
Been a member for ten months. Mostly plowing through the beginners and blues courses. Was getting kinda tired of the same thing so I looked around and found this lesson. I have to say I could pick it up fairly fast. However, is I hadn’t spent months learning the basics, I don’t think I could have enjoyed this lesson so much. thanks Brian
Gladly became a premium member, and happy to be under the gifted teaching of Brian. Thanks for making the lessons available. Please keep teaching us in the future. Also, do you have the 3rd chord of the backing track available? Or all the chords?? Thks, Al
Hi Brian, I’ve been a member for 2 years but only just realising what a treasure-trove of older lessons there is with such a lot for me. I was guitar George with all the strictly rhythm chords but this lesson wants me to make it cry or sing! Your straightforward approach with simple options available are a real confidence booster to us non-shredders!
best wishes from old England
Roger
So enjoyed this one. Definitely slow blues works for me……Anymore like this in different keys, excellent….I was such in a rut…Bored just strumming to chordify….not really getting anywhere. This lesson captured me…..THANK YOU BRIAN…..
Hi Brian,
I am wondering what are the chords your using for these licks they are really nice !Iwant to be able to play that first but you don’t have it tab anywhere ,I know its in A minor but your doing something really nice in there and i would like to know if possible.