Improvisation Lessons
Welcome to the section on guitar improvisation. The lessons in this category focus on use of scales, modes, and arpeggios to improvise (or make up) music over chord progressions. This could also be referred to as soloing. One of the guitar players jobs in many forms of music is to solo or take a lead in the section of a song where he or she has free expression of melody. These lessons will focus on these concepts and give you specific licks you can use to build your vocabulary.
Soloing with Pentatonic Minor
In this lesson we will analyze the pentatonic minor scale and how to apply it along with other embellishments to the art of playing lead
Bells and Whistles
In this lesson we will cover more tricks to add to your lead playing. Trills, Double Stops and vibrato are demonstrated and discussed.
More Pentatonic Minor Licks
In this lesson we will learn and study several popular licks using the Pentatonic Minor scale.
Transposing Licks
In this lesson we will practice and learn how to transpose licks to different keys.
Open E Pentatonic Minor
In this lesson we will study the open E Pentatonic Minor scale and study some licks based out of the open position.
Riffing with E Pentatonic Minor
In this lesson we will learn two riffs based out of the open E Pentatonic Minor position.
Blues Scale Licks
In this lesson we will study ways to apply the Blues scale in your lead playing.
Tying It all Together
In this lesson we will cover blending the Pentatonic Minor scale and the Blues scale in your lead playing.
Some Major Pentatonic Riffs
In this lesson we will learn and examine some licks and riffs using the Major Pentatonic scale.
Relative Pentatonic Major and Minor
In this lesson we will discover how Pentatonic Major and Minor are related and how we can use this relation to move around the neck and expand our lead vocabulary.
More Pentatonic Major Licks
In this lesson we will learn some examples of how to use the relative pentatonic minor scale to expand our major pentatonic licks.
Some Dorian Licks
In this lesson we will study and learn some ways to use Dorian in your soloing and improvisation.
Applying the Mixolydian Mode 1
In this lesson we will learn how to apply the Mixolydian mode to our lead playing
Applying the Mixolydian Mode 2
In this lesson we will learn more examples of how to apply the Mixolydian Mode to our lead playing.
Combining Mixolydian with Blues Scale
In this lesson we will combine the Mixolydian mode with the Blues scale in our Blues improvisation.
Chuck Berry Style Blues
In this lesson we will study blues improv in the style of Chuck Berry combining Mixolydian and Blues scale
Using Pentatonic Major in Country
In this lesson we will learn how to use the Pentatonic Major scale to make our leads sound more country.
The Country Scale
In this lesson we will learn the Country Scale and how to apply it to our improvisation and lead playing.
Country Riffing
In this lesson we will learn some country style riffs using the b3rd and b7th.
Country Licks
In this lesson we will learn some country licks you can use in your lead playing.
More Country Licks
In this lesson we will learn some more country licks you can use in your lead playing, combining the country scale and pentatonic major.
The Pentatonic Box Fingerings
In this lesson we will cover the 3 remaining pentatonic box shape fingerings. These shapes can be applied to pentatonic minor or major depending on where you start and the root notes you choose.
Applying the Pentatonic Boxes to Minor
In this lesson we will learn some example licks in pentatonic minor using the pentatonic box shapes.
Applying the Pentatonic Boxes to Major
In this lesson we will learn some example licks in pentatonic major using the pentatonic box shapes.
Improvising 101
In this lesson we will discuss basic concepts and approach to improvising over chord progressions. We will talk about analyzing chord progressions, determining scales to use, and arpeggios.
Blues Improvisation
This lesson is a basic introduction to improvising over a 12 bar blues pattern. Use of pentatonic major and minor are discussed.
Blues Improvisation 2
in this we will continue with concepts on soloing over blues changes.
Soloing with Dorian
In this lesson we will be studying concepts for improvising with the Dorian mode. For this lesson you should be familiar with the 5 pentatonic box shapes and all the modes of the major scale.
Improvising With the Major Scale
In this lesson we will learn about soloing with the Major scale.
Dorian Box 2 (Relative Phrygian)
In this lesson we will be continuing our study of improvising with the Dorian mode. This lesson focuses on the use of box 2 or the relative Phrygian fingering for Dorian.
Dorian Box 4 (Relative Aeolian)
In this lesson we will study the use of box 4 of the Dorian mode. Box 4 is the relative Aeolian fingering.
Adding Blues Scale and Octaves with Dorian
In this lesson we will experiment with adding the b5 from the blues scale and octave techniques to the Dorian mode.
Ascending and Descending Dorian Licks
In this lesson we will cover the concept of ascending and descending licks within the Dorian scale.
Phrasing
In this lesson we discuss the concept of phrasing as applied to soloing over chord changes. We will study some possibilities and things to focus on to develop this skill.
Double Stop Bends in Style of Stevie Ray Vaughan
In this lesson we will study some unique bends in the style of SRV. This technique can be great for adding to your vocab of licks
Beginner Minor Blues Solo
In this lesson we will study a beginner level minor blues solo. This lesson is specifically designed for those just beginning their exploration of blues improvisation and soloing with the pentatonic minor scale. We will go through one pass of a minor blues chord progression note by note. You are encouraged to expand upon the specific solo taught and come up with your own style.
Beginner Major Blues Solo
In this lesson we will study a beginner level major blues solo. This lesson is specifically designed for those just beginning their exploration of blues improvisation and soloing with the pentatonic major scale. We will go through one pass of a major blues chord progression note by note. You are encouraged to expand upon the specific solo taught and come up with your own style.