Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

How To Play Lead Using Chords – Guitar Lesson – EP156

Description

In this guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a bluesy, up-tempo lead using chords. You’ll learn how to play chords using different chord voicings as well as how to play several double stops (lead harmonies) and how they related to the chords. Understanding chord shapes up the neck of the guitar is really the secret behind unlocking the fretboard.

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

  2. JohnStrat says

    Looks like a very tough lesson to learn but all the better for it. In due time I will take it up but the speed looks to be up there for me at the moment.
    Thanks Brian I will love getting this degree of agility under my belt when I get there!!

    • greg l says

      Not really difficult my freind but learning this by rote without understanding it is not what you need, there is a lot of underlying knowledge he is passing on here… partial chords and double stops but all relating to major scale and minor and major pentatonics and learning chord shapes is what you can take to the bank… the bank in this case is your brain.

  5. San Luis Rey says

    Thanks for another great lesson Brian. I do appreciate the side bars and all the other gizmos you put into this. I learned the chords for Dylan’s ” Like a Rolling Stone ” 50 years ago but just now realized the 2 and 3 chords were minor. Some of the stuff you through out there does stick. Look forward to each Friday.
    Mike

  6. sunburst says

    agree with johnstrat! .. WOW,, but very thankful I’m going to get into to this! definitely with a pick!!! might even cheat and do some hybrid picking on the tele..(after I try to get this to tempo) ..man Brian you are a hard working instructor/teacher! and I really am pleased with this one..prelude and all..thank you much!

  7. jimbostrat says

    Wow!! Who’s this “Jim” character Brian and maybe listen to him more often with these brilliant ideas!! Seriously though……if players don’t remarkably enhance their playing and their ideas on this high energy jam and lesson…………then nothing will!! Great stuff to roam off the ranch a bit yet still stick to proper channels and have others just follow suit with you whilst you’re jamming!!

    Jim

    • walter m says

      Thanks Brian.I just joined last month and have learned more from you than any one else that I’v tried listening to. I am an intermediate player but I’m very sure you will bring me up to speed in a very short time. THANKS gain

  8. Jimmy James says

    Awesome Brian! I enjoy your theory behind your lessons and I always learn more each time! Anyone can learn a song or scales but to play a lead with chords is gold. Love the hideaway chord progression you did, you had a Jazzy one in A recently which is one of my favorites.
    Again…..more Tele

  9. Behrouz F says

    hi Brian,

    the open strings make lots of noise when I play it. I just hit the strings 2,3,4,5 but as I move up the next fret by fret,the ringing of open strings (2 and 4) makes the whole thing sound somewhat too much

    how do control them? yours sound a lot cleaner

  13. Maradonagol says

    hi Brian, another winner, just did my first pass, not as difficult as it sounds …but the mix of chord work around the neck makes it sophisticated, this lesson is worth the yearly subscription…..i really enjoy the idea of mixing county-ish sounds with blues….been listening /watching Greg Koch quite a bit and this filled some great gaps for me on his sound……very grateful as always…..

    Roberto

  14. Havasumark says

    Brian,

    Another amazing lesson!! I just can’t express in words how these lesson are opening big doors in my guitar playing. This lesson, (like many others), are just loaded with nuggets that are showing me how to figure the fret board.
    It’s teaching me the road map that will allow me to (eventually), just grab my guitar and just start playing . As you stated, “be a player”…

    Thanks for all your hard work putting these lessons together each and every week.

    Mark

    • jimbostrat says

      Hey Madams: This has nothing to do with yet another great suggestion I’ve made to Brian (OK….maybe a little bit) but: Check out Brian’s fantastic EPO31 (Robben Ford) Lesson!! You’ll thank me for it later if you’ve never tackled it before……it’s like Brian went to another planet (Planet of Funky cool jazzy Blues!!) and developed this one!! I’ve yet to get tired of resorting back to it whenever I feel under inspired…………

      Jim C.

  19. sunjamr says

    When I first hear some of the lessons, I think “I’ll never be able to learn that”, but after I follow Brian through the videos, I have always been able to play them……eventually. I’m hoping that will hold true for this one.

  21. charjo says

    Brian,
    Your ability to incorporate useable skills into musical compositions, week after week, and then teach them so thoroughly, is absolute genius and why there is nobody else like you on the internet.
    John

  22. Buster89 says

    Very true Jim. I also often revert to EP031. It is an old Brian Classic. Has all the Jazzy elements and very technical on top of it. Added difference now is that I understand what I am doing …. ! Well done Brian. Fantastic work to revisit themes and put different perspectives/spins on them. I just cannot get enough of your lessons !!! Is this a starting addiction ??

  23. Dorothy S Guinn says

    I absolutely love this , hope you don’t mind , think I’ll use this to open my shows while everyone is settling in . I always have adrenaline energy and this would get that out of me to settle down for more mellow stuff . You always give me fresh ideas to work with . I rarely learn a complete lesson just grab licks out of them . But you have my full attention on this . Thanks

  24. Art M says

    Wow this is a really fun sounding and fun to watch lesson. BUT about the time I think I’m getting better then a lesson like this comes along. Looks like I will be studying this one for a good while. Looking forward

  27. drlknstein says

    yeah! – we are hear for the side bars – no objection here yo honor!….
    .perhaps the objectors are more interested in just learning and memorizing songs..
    .I think that your loyal students get it, or- we are trying to get it…we want to learn how to play music –not just songs…I have received some nice compliments recently using ideas from the last 3 sessions in different keys and songs

    thanks B

    later

    dr lil blind crazy majic herminator

  28. Chris R says

    Hi there: These are great lessons. I have played for over 50 years but never really pushed myself up to where I had to work extra hard. Brian you have managed to ignite the spark of excellence once again. Perhaps a suggestion if it is possible; I mostly play by reading music but am getting into reading tab. Is it possible to print the music like your active tab video? Music above the tab?

    Thanks
    Chris

    • Brian says

      Hey Chris, yes if you print from the on-screen tab viewer you can. Just click on the little gear icon in the bottom right of the window and you’ll see the option to print.

  31. jnewman says

    Wow, well it took about 3 years but yes, the lightbulb finally went off big time! The last few weeks I’ve been trying to work the natural major scale into my playing and never realized until now that the A chord shape is taken from the major scale. This makes it way, way easier to work major licks into a standard 1-4-5 without getting hopelessly lost on the fretboard. Thanks for a great takeaway Brian.

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