OK, after 20+ years, I think I am ready for lead guitar

Chad

Chad

Slender Hobbit
So for someone who has been playing guitar for ever, where should I start? Do I practice scales? learn the fretboard backwards and forward?

I think I have the Fretboard Logic DVD and I have Mark's book.
 
Chad said:
So for someone who has been playing guitar for ever, where should I start? Do I practice scales? learn the fretboard backwards and forward?

I think I have the Fretboard Logic DVD and I have Mark's book.
Click to expand...
What is it that you really want to do? You should learn your theory and your fretboard but you need to learn some music in the style you want to play too.
 
PH1286DM515.jpg
 
Mark Wein said:
What is it that you really want to do? You should learn your theory and your fretboard but you need to learn some music in the style you want to play too.
Click to expand...

I mainly want to learn what to play when. I have learned a few solos over the years, but just because I can play them, doesn't make me know why I play them. I guess I really need to learn some theory. I have tried in the past, but nothing has ever really explained it in a way that works for me.
 
Chad said:
I mainly want to learn what to play when. I have learned a few solos over the years, but just because I can play them, doesn't make me know why I play them. I guess I really need to learn some theory. I have tried in the past, but nothing has ever really explained it in a way that works for me.
Click to expand...
I'll PM yuo some stuff to look at in a bit.
 
Chad, that is exactly where I feel like I am, too. If Mark nails it, would you be kind enough to pass it along?
 
Chad said:
I think I am like 1 step from the light bulb moment where everything will make sense.
Click to expand...
I bet if you follow what I outlined in this post a few weeks ago with just the major scale the other stuff will start making sense to you pretty quickly with the amount of time that you've played music:

http://markweinguitarlessons.com/fo...es-what-do-you-think-of-5.62464/#post-1031001

Mark Wein said:
None of this is relevant to the CAGED system though. All of what you guys are talking about has to do with people not learning their theory properly in the first place. If someone is just learning scale patterns without understanding basic harmony or chord construction then they will apply all of this information incorrectly regardless of the form it is given to them in. The problem with guitar players in general is that they learn everything by rote instead of how musicians on other instruments learn their theory, harmony, accompaniment and improvisational skills. If you teach exclusively via physical patterns a musician isn't going to train their minds ear to hear what they want and how to tell their fingers where to find it and they aren't going to internalize any of this to the point where they own it.

I look at it this way:

1. The student learns the root patterns from all five CAGED positions. ROOTS ONLY.
2. Student learns how to construct a major scale linearly up one string at a time - they learn the landscape of whole and half steps, we talk about what note names to use and whatnot
3. Student learns to construct their own major scales around the CAGED patterns on paper first.
4. Student learns to play each major scale in time with the metronome while reciting out loud the scale degree (not the note names). This works on their rhythm, ear training and understanding of the relationships between notes in the major scale. The verbalization helps the student actually retain the function of each note in the scale mentally.
5. Student pulls the Root, 3 and 5 from the major scale patterns and learns those major triad arpeggios in time.
6. Student plays over a I chord vamp. First hear the major triad notes and then the non-triad notes against the I chord. What notes provide the backbone or structure of the Major tonality? Where will you resolve a phrase to and where what notes don't provide resolution against the chord? This is the starting point to being able to control the "question and answer" component to phrasing.
7. We work in another chord in that key and practice playing phrases that make sense against each chord within the parent major scale using chord tones for structure and the other scale tones for color.
8. pull the 4 and 7 out of the major scale to learn our major pentatonic scales in each position and to see how they relate to the diatonic major scale.

Then we do it with minor scales. By this point most rock and blues players have a pretty good understanding of basic harmony and the CAGED system is pretty much forgotten about as a system of 5 isolated cells. And chord voicing construction becomes much easier in any position because we know where all of the scale and chord tones are around each set of roots. And don't forget the ear training that happens through the process as well.
Click to expand...
 
Mark Wein said:
I bet if you follow what I outlined in this post a few weeks ago with just the major scale the other stuff will start making sense to you pretty quickly with the amount of time that you've played music:

http://markweinguitarlessons.com/fo...es-what-do-you-think-of-5.62464/#post-1031001
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark. That is a great start for me. I really wish life wasn't so crazy. I would love to take actual lessons at some point. Too bad I probably won't have time for that until the kids are out of the house.
 
I'm in the same boat. I know quite a bit of theory and am getting better around the fret board,but I just can't "apply" it. If you can pass it along to me too I'd be greatful!!
 
Ok so I worked on some of this last night and today and as simple as this sounds, the playing the scale on a single string made things click so much. When I would work with scales before, I always understood the whole and half step but I never really followed it from string to string. I just basically memorized patterns and didn't really pay attention to the steps.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top