Active Melody

Learn to play blues guitar.

Soulful Rhythm Fills – Create a more interesting rhythm – EP403

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play soulful rhythm fills based off of chord shapes you already know. Classic example of how to make your rhythm stand out and not sound like you’re just strumming chords.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

Part 2 - For Premium Members

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Slow Walkthrough

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Video Tablature Breakdown

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Comments

  5. Michael O says

    EP403: I’m basically a blues/R&B kind of guitar player. It’s funny that when I would pull up a lesson I would put it into my favorites. I had to quite because the lessons especially blues would all go into my favorites. In other words all of the lessons are that good. There is always at least one technique that I can and will use in my playing. Brian, your approach and style are so close to mine- very cool!

  7. steph_70 says

    Dude! You always speak about light bulb moments. This was mine, it just clicked for me today and yesterday watching your CAGED system explanation. You make things so easy to understand. I am glad you got you’re light bulb moment years ago when you decided to quit your office job and get this site up and running! I hope you have great success for years to come. Kudos.

  9. charjo says

    Brian,
    I love Hendrix-style embellishments and you just showed me an effective use of small pieces of them. Thanks for the insights, week after week, and for sharing all the skills you worked so hard to incorporate.
    John
    P.S. Could you share your tone profile this week? I’m still considering the Kemper and I’m curious how often you’re using it.

    • Brian says

      This week I was using a Fender Showman amp profile via Kemper – no effects added, just the amp.. slight amount of overdrive and reverb. That Showman is one of the best clean channel sounds I’ve found.

  13. Michael L says

    Really amazing lesson Brian. This connected for me that the little vertical ‘fence’ triad linking the A and G shapes is also the m7 of the E shaped minor chord. Of course it is… I’ve noticed that before, theoretically, but never in a context that made it so obviously playable. Then slap the minor pentatonic and dorian /mixolydian scales on top… magic!

  17. Tremelow says

    Great lesson again and wise words at the end of the part 2 video. I have long given up on thinking I could learn any lesson in its entirety. Your lessons are so good, because there are always some truffels to find that I can easily digest.

  20. Capt Dan says

    Great Lesson Brian….Hello from White House, TN. Love this stuff and the John Prine fingerstyle you posted this week. I can see, play and relate to all the melodic chord changes. I am really enjoying playing guitar and making music. Ive been a premium member for going on 3yrs. Best (bang for the buck) money invested!

  22. Geof C says

    I can relate to your story of being envious of people with access to video tutorials. I went out for cello in 6th grade as it was the only place to turn for one-on-one instruction in the public school. I never really cared for the music or the way in which it was taught. If I had those ten thousand hours back with guitar tutorials, who knows what my relationship to music would be now. I’m grateful to get on board late in the game, however. Love your lessons!

  23. Keith S says

    Hands down the best guitar instruction on YT! Been with AM 2 years; it’s taken me that long to complete the “circle” where things begin to really fall into place and I don’t have to refer back to another lesson always. Been playing for 20 years, but Brian is the best teacher I’ve found. It is a marathon and not a sprint. Give it 30 minutes a day and before you know, you can improvise, etc. and really understand what and why you’re doing it and it works. Thanks, Brian!

  25. Jordan B says

    This is a great lesson Brian. It really connects to your previous lessons on triads, modes and navigating the fretboard. The chord progression is also really fun to play just by itself. Look forward to next week!

  28. Mateusz S says

    so far I’ve watched loads of your videos and enjoyed them a lot but I think this is one of my favourites lessons. “light bulb” came on quite few times. thank you, Brian. looking forward for more materials in this style

  30. Michael W says

    Fantastic lesson! The tablature at the bottom of the screen is a tremendous help. I threw away my pick and I’m loving the feel and sound of bare fingers on strings. Peace Brothers & Sisters

  36. Robert H says

    I’m 57 so I relate To the no YouTube. I tried To teach myself on those big piano books. I grew To despise tab frustrated the hell out of me. But I broke Down because you were holding the fourth fret for the A hammer on?? Then more importantly I found The chords that I’m playing over easily. I just Put this in there in case other people were having this simple problem that’s solution has been right in front t of me. Stupid me. Keep more lessons on alternate rhythmic ways of playing. I think If I get The chords the scales just kinda fall out

  37. Michael M says

    Sitting here with my Cobain Jaguar and loving this stuff. Grew up with alt-rock, lo-fi, electronic etc and would never listen to this types of genre but love sitting playing especially the slow blues stuff, must be me turning 40 or something. EP387 was what convinced me to sign up full time actually. Keep them coming Brian, hopefully my J Mascis Jazzmaster arrives shortly to give me an excuse to fire up the website even more.

  38. cbuck says

    brian, i can’t figure out how to ask a question other then on a reply from a lesson. there must be a easier way. anyway where are the lessons you have been giving that are not ml or ep but advice or idea lessons. how to visualize cord changes easer then you think or how to use licks for example i see them on u tube but not on active melody sight. thanks anyone

  43. Walter D says

    Brian, you always emphasize the chord structure of a song when creating fill licks – the chord structure exposes embellishments/licks to add color to the song. When creating a song from scratch as you do in this lesson, you have pretty much the full pallet of licks to chose from to create a melody. But if the song already has a melody and chord structure, you have less freedom since you must play within the boundary of the melody – or else get kicked out of the band. Curious which situation you prefer and or find more challenging. Thanks, great lesson.

  44. Edward K says

    Brian, your lessons are excellent. I wanted share a little triad discover that I found. I think this trick works in several fretboard locations. If you play the A major “D” shaped Triad on fret 9
    which is 8e, 9B, 8G and move the depressed fret from 8G to 10G you are now playing the relative minor of A or Fm as a triad 8e, 9B, 10G small movement to play the relative minor
    It works for all keys

  50. Michael says

    love the comment – if you do something (clever) too much it looks like you don’t know what you are doing, but do it only a little and you look very accomplished. Very true that.

  52. Tom D says

    I have just rejoined your lessons after being absent for about a year. My comments are not about this lesson but are about modes. I have been revising lessons EP178 and EP375 and I love playing them. Probably because I am a big Santana fan. Regarding modes I would like to recommend a book I purchased a long time ago by a great Australian jaz guitarist named George Golla who used to teach where I was learning jaz & classical guitar at that time. It was published by J Albert & Sons in 1975. It is probably out of print, but I could e-mail you parts of it if you like. I am addicted to your lessons which have modernized my guitar playing .

  54. ZagerGuitarFan says

    Great lesson, Brian! Is the constant buffering in the Premium Members vid on your end or ours? I don’t get that but in that vid only; the others are fine. If you can fix that, it woudl be greatly appreciated. Look forward to your lessons every week!

  56. Will C says

    I’m intermediate on the acoustic and made the jump to electric at Christmas to electric, and I found it slightly harder than maybe I imagined, I think it was maybe a lack of direction or focus on what I want to be playing. And then I came across this lesson of Brian’s and loved it. I became a premium subscriber and couldn’t recommend it enough to anyone thinking about it. Thank you so much Brian.

  57. Frank M says

    Just joined a few weeks ago, and I am in awe in how much I am learning. I knew the working parts, but not how to use them. I’ve already learned 4 or 5 pieces and learned so much. My goal is to compose my own solo using your techniques.

    Thanks so much! you are a gifted teacher!

  58. Michael C says

    Hello Brian

    I consider myself a beginner (but that’s fine). Good things don’t need to be easy you have to work for them.

    I have just joined a couple of days ago after watching and trying some of your lessons on YouTube. You are a great teacher and I am transforming already into a much better player.

    Just to say thank you for the great teaching and the resources.

    Michael

  59. Gary W says

    Hi Brian, I wanted to send just a quick thank you/acknowledgement of your work. This lesson has had be absorbed for many, many hours – I’m finding it is enabling be to come off-piste and experiment with sounds in other contexts – it is EXACTLY – what I need just now. Thank you for such fulfilling and intelligent content. Best wishes 🙂

  61. Mwendabai K says

    Really enjoyed the peddle steal sounds, worked out the lesson 100%, rarely do but this was super lovely and that B minor pentatonic lick over the Bm chord is to die for especially if one can get the timing right 🙂

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