Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Slow Country Lead Guitar Lesson in C – EP173

Description

In this guitar lesson, I’ll show you how to play a slow and easy country lead in the key of C. This lesson is full of takeaways, including how to play around chord shapes, pedal steel licks, and double stops. I’ve tried to keep this one slow and fairly easy, so that anyone can follow along. Even if you can’t play all of the specific notes of the lesson, I’ll show you how to improvise so that you can play along with the jam track and use whatever notes you want. If you like this lesson, here is another slow country lead guitar lesson that is similar, and here’s another that you might like.

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

  1. jimbostrat says

    First again (to comment), Brian!! Right away I’m pleased beyond belief to get some more lick ideas in the Key of C played around the 5th fret for a nice change…….plus those cool double stops bends!! I’m not necessarily a country player but “singing with our fingers” is a cool description……….not to mention country guitar has been gaining in popularity more and more and learning how to improvise in the major scale if/when we wind up in a country type of playing scenario…..is very pertinent!!

    Great lesson and fantastic mixing up of styles to keep our interests and stretching our styles, Brian!!

    Jim C.

    • Marcus Widmer says

      I echo what Jim and indeed all other commentators in this forum said. I have almost become addicted to Brian’s weekly messages on Email. I wonder, what he proposes this time, I say and I am never disappointed. May you continue for a long, long time, dear Brian.

      A great fan of yours,

      Markus from Switzerland

    • Oliver R says

      I just discovered this great lesson in your archives. What a great way to learn so many country bents and double stops. I have so many takeaways from this lesson, and your instructions have led me to try all these techniques in other keys. Thanks for an extremely useful lesson and a great country tune. I’ve just subscribed to your site a few days ago; what a treasure.

  13. madams says

    I’m not a country music fan, but there are still lots of takeaways that I can apply to the blues.

    I especially liked the licks based on the chords and combining them with the major pentatonic scale.

    Michael

  14. JRI says

    Fantastic Brian, lots of comments “I’m not a country fan but..” Well, I am a country fan especially this type of very soulful guitar picking. Those country pickers are some of the best and if you listen to any of the classic rock players your likely to hear some country type licks in there. You do an outstanding job of explaining and creating within this style and there are so many take aways from this that can be applied to any playing, Love all your lessons, I swear this is the best thing I’ve every run across on the internet. PLEASE keep on doing what you do.

  16. Doug T says

    Thanks for helping me out on playing over the cord shapes, haven’t been able to mix them in a jam yet, but I know with practice I’ll have the third piece. M, m, & cord shapes. Thanks

  22. neil groves says

    Hey Brian….another excellent lesson as always, my question is about the licks, I have tried the same patterns of notes and licks in several positions on the neck and they all seem to work nicely, what am I actually doing here, just playing the same song in a different key?

    • Brian says

      Yes, if you’re playing the same licks (same patterns) but in different positions, you’re playing that in different keys. Now here’s a challenge for you – take the jam track from EP144 and use some of the licks from this lesson and see if you can make them work. I can’t remember what key EP144 was in – G I think?

  23. rockingringo says

    Like the use of a different genre here to play around with. What I found was the temptation to keep using bluesy bends and vibrato which seems to have taken over my playing these days but seem to need controlling with this slow country track. Great lesson Brian as always!

  27. clay says

    Lots of guitar teachers on the internet. In my opinion though only a FEW really good ones. And Brian is definitely one of those few!!! It amazes me how WELL you explain things without getting too deep into theory. Just the right amount. And especially the QUALITY of the lessons. AND the fact that you do this WEEK after WEEK is amazing. I like the fact that you cover lots of different styles too.

  30. bri-uklefty says

    Hey thanks for this package the triology if country and information in these lessons look fantastic.
    So now they are officially my winter homework pack and will enjoy learning these skills on slow burn lol!
    Cheers Bri

  32. H says

    Hey Brian, lovely melancholy song, I can just hear Willie Nelson, Charlie Rich, and or John MichaeL Montgomery, singing with those deep resonant voices. And yes your song would easily lend itself to lyrics, I may have a go. Cheers H

      • Geeetar crazy says

        Fabulous lesson Brian and I love that Tele. I have a very similar one, a 2004 American standard and it’s a thing o beauty. The pickups were custom shop that year on that model too apparently. What model and year is yours?

  38. Champagne Charlie says

    I enjoyed this one as the chord progression is quite complicated and its quite a challenge to follow the backing track. I particularly love the bend up from the forth to the fifth on the fifth fret of the second string. This sounds just great.

  41. Ned B says

    Hey Brian,
    This lesson is sooooo sweet…the dynamics, vibratos and your touch…awesome ya’ll!!
    Could you recommend any recordings or tunes that this solo might work in? My knowledge of

  42. Ned B says

    The country repertoire is really limited…some slow tune that you know would be great or just the names of artists who play like you do on this solo. I’ve played drums for 59 years and guitar for the last couple…this one may be simple enough for me to get down…love the space and the timing.

  45. Mike K says

    At 68 and only 3 years of learning, I have been looking for a site that gives what Active Melody does.
    It was this lick that got me. The soulful sound and the totally engaged look on your face when you play.
    I’ve been at it for 2 weeks now and it is just starting to come together.
    Cheers from Mike in New Zealand.

  46. Jeff B says

    Hi Brian. I just signed up based on this lesson you shared. I am a country fan, and not only does this soulful ballad pull at my emotions, but the licks and theory you teach here I feel is opening doors to my playing and understanding of the fretboard board that I never was able to grasp until now. Please continue to make these excellent videos for all of us, and I’d love to see more country and Western swing style too!

    Thanks, Jeff

  47. John V says

    Brian, even though I have canceled my monthly subscription and its in effect until end of January roughly, I really like this slow country ballad and I have learned it, although it doesn’t sound as good as you playing it because I haven’t mastered vibrato technique yet, however that being said, I did find a suggestion for a turnaround and want to see what you think. EP 173 is a slow country ballad lead lick but at the end when you play that last section of 8th 10th fret 2nd string then 10th fret 3rd string, I added this as a turnaround in order to bring it back around to playing it twice so its a complete song. Play 10th fret 3rd then 8th fret 2nd string and then a double stop on 6th frt 2nd string and 7th frt 3rd string and then finish with the original starting point by barring the 5th frt 3rd and 4th strings as a double stop. Then you are right there ready to repeat. Try it and tell me what you think, or if you have a better turnaround. Thanks

  49. Daniel G says

    My fiddle playing has always lacked a “the sound of music” but this lesson you posted gives me new hope and something (a sound) to reach for. Thank you. Looking forward to possibly you adding fiddle tabs to your music. I the meantime the extra work I have to put into fingering locations does nothing more than make me grow.

  50. isaac e says

    In this lesson, you played the F chord At the 5th fret and G chord at 3rd fret assumming the E shape barre chord. I know you in in key of C with the relative A. But it is difficult to follow.Please write a lesson or tell me what book to buy to learn to improvice like this. HELP
    Isaac

  58. Michael says

    I’ve watched quite a number of teachers on u-tube and this lesson and teacher is the first one to make me want to spend my money! Hope for lots more inspiration from you Brian. Thanks and will be watching.

  59. David J says

    Hi Brian,

    I just signed up as a member due to this particular piece. What a great song to learn. I am doing ok with it so far, just having a tough time on the G chord but with me being a beginner guitar player, it will just take time to get my fingers to do as I need and not what they want. Seems they have a mind of their own.

    Thanks again,
    David

  65. Charles S says

    Dear Brian I think I are great already learned a lot just keep those emails coming I am a prime member wish I could learn half of what you know. You sound great and also a good teacher wish we lived closer together so we could jam some Charles Shelton

  66. David S says

    Brian, Fantastic description singing with fingers.Love it.Hope you will do more like this.Thought at 72 I was about through with learning and found out with the right teacher I am learning moe and faster than ever before.Keep up the good work. David

  68. Peter A says

    Hi Brian
    Love what you do.
    Anymore Western Swing on the horizon ?

    Recently signed up as a Premium member and I feel this is all I need to get me where I want to go.I’m 72 by the way.

    Thanks Peter A.

  70. FRANCIS C says

    Brian, ditto with all the great comments above. I have a great idea, how about once a year you have a guitar rally, maybe a picnic, or a dinner at either a hall that we rent or a rented farm house picnic grounds. I live in Issaquah WA. near Seattle, but I would travel anywhere in the country for this one yearly event to see Brian’s pupils and meet the man who creates this wonderful music for us to learn…Put out some feelers to your members and see what the interest is. I would pay a couple hundred dollars if need be to have such a day. A BRIAN RALLY DAY.
    Frank Conley

  71. Michael G says

    Interesting lesson. As a question regarding form I have discovered that the required E note is also available at the 9th fret of the G(third string) So long story short, my fretting technique has my ring finger on the ninth fret at the beginning of the second bar your tab indicates a move to the 5th fret of the second string also an “E” note. Which according to the tab requires a 1/4 bend. so if i stay on the G string at the ninth and do my bends (which are much less strenuous) there it allows me to throw a bar which takes me though at least four more more measures with only minor sliding of the bar shifting from strings 5,4,3 to 3,2,1 utilizing the index finger. …. So the question is maintaining the E note on the 9th fret ultimately a ‘dealers choice’ or is there a intonation difference (to your ear) that would indicate a move to the 2nd string 5th fret. Oh btw i really don’t expect an answer to this…just wondering out loud

  72. Philip H says

    Great lesson. I particularly like all the Cord and scale context and especially the playing philosophy in part one. Also, a three in one I see. I’ll have to check out those other two lessons tied in with this one. Thanks Brian for giving caged and or String/fret references, very helpful to the visually impaired.

  74. Robert and P says

    Brian,
    I’ve been listening to the first half of this soulful slow country blues and it has made me want to get out on the dance floor with my wife and romance until the virus ends. So, i paid for a full year subscription and may even see if i can learn something on this beat up ole guitar I have kickin around. No doubt, there is music in your fingers. Hope some rubs off on me. Thanks

  83. Douglas N says

    No words…..been picking up a guitar since I got out of the Army in 70 ….started lessons a few years ago….very worthwhile…… but your program has so many tools & ways to understand’& practice…..I feel like I can actually play guitar……Thanx✌️🎸

  84. Douglas N says

    No words…..been picking up a guitar since I got out of the Army in 70 ….started lessons a few years ago….very worthwhile…… but your program has so many tools & ways to understand’& practice…..I feel like I can actually play guitar……Thanx✌️🎸

    👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

  87. Wil W says

    Hi Brian, what a great lesson and for me an eye opener.

    Replacing the C-chord (with the G-shape) in the CAGED system by just the Major Pentatonic scale. Never looked at it this way.
    So between frets 0-3 play the C-chord (with the C-shape), between frets 3 – 5 play the C-chord (with the A-shape), between frets 5-8 the Major Pentatonic form 1, or just the C (Ionian) scale, and between frets 8-10 play the C-chord (with the E-shape). This makes much sense. Thank you for enlightening me on this subject.
    And this can also be done for the other Major chords in the key of C.
    F-chord: frets 1-3 use E-shape, frets 5-8 use C-shape, frets 8-10 use A-shape, frets 10-13 use the Major Pentatonic form 1 or just the F (Lydian) scale.
    G-chord: frets 0-3 use the Major Pentatonic form 1 or just the G(Mixolydian) scale, frets 3-5 use E-shape, frets 7-10 use C-shape, frets 10-12 use A-shape.

    One question remains: If you want to play the C-chord between frets 10-13 (normally with the D-shape), do you also replace this with a Major Pentatonic (in your number system I guess form 3) or just the C (Ionian) scale?

    D-chord:

  90. Kennard Y says

    I have to lead with some constructive comments then praise…I am very grateful, as I go back to earlier lessons like this one, that you don’t go down rabbit trails quite a much now as when this lesson was created.

    “Did you get that? Oh, and you can play that in D or blues if you want over this chord…”

    Heck, I’m trying to keep up with the lesson in front of me.
    Now to the good. I am constantly impressed with your musical creativity and your lessons overall. You really are the best guitar teacher in the modern YouTube era and I appreciate your hard work and consistent posting of new, relevant lessons…and for reading your comments.
    I am very happy for your success.

    Thank you.

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