• Zurf
  • Zurf
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  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
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Topic: So...Detman101 has a clue.

The first time I jammed with Damien was three or four years ago.  I just fell in love with the sweet, sweet licks he throws into songs he's never even heard before.  It really impressed me.  He told me his 2-step process for how to do it.  1. Learn the minor pentatonic scale shape.  2. Throw in licks. 

So I've been working on the minor pentatonic scale since then.  It's taken me until today to pick up my guitar while some songs were playing on the internet and throwing in some licks.  They stunk out loud for precision and quality, but it was fun, fun, fun.  And Daddy didn't even take the Guild away. 

- Zurf

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

I clearly remember the day pentatonic shapes were explained to me.  It was by one of those young genius kids you hate to love and love to hate for the pure talent they have and you don't.   Anyway, I said "Show me this pattern" and he said "lotta people playing lots of licks with that one."   He played it a little, and the light went on.

There be dragons there, though.  It's so easy, you run the risk of getting "stuck" there.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • Zurf
  • Zurf
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  • Registered: 2007-06-27
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Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

Not a real ferocious dragon, though.  There's worse things than being able to toss out sweet licks in songs.

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 851

Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

Awww...thanks brother!
I appreciate your appreciation of my simplistic view of playing.
It doesn't get you everywhere you want to go, but it will get you 80% of the places that you'd probably want to.

=]
Dm

"Talent instantly recognizes genius,
but mediocrity knows nothing more than itself."

-Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle

Detman101's Website

  • From: Western Kentucky
  • Registered: 2010-03-05
  • Posts: 150

Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

Thanks guys, after reading this I'm going to bite the bullet and learn the Pentatonic scale. There i said it, so I have to do it! Been thinking about scales for a while but, didn't know whitch to start with. There are five positions to learn? am i correct about that? i printed them off in G.   B

  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

Don't think of it as learning a scale in a particular key.  Think of it as learning a pattern that you can apply to a given key.

That way rather than trying to learn 11 * 5 scales, you're just trying to learn 1 scale pattern.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • bunbun
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Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

"Don't think of it as learning a scale in a particular key.  Think of it as learning a pattern that you can apply to a given key."

Exactly! It took me many months to figure this one out. Once I decided to learn the pentatonic pattern I started to try to learn the whole pattern along the fretboard. As I learned I realized it could be used up and down the fretboard for any key.

Unfortunately I was unable to put it together into a good lead lick or even a fill. Until a few weeks ago...

I like playing Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb". I pick most of the parts and then strum other parts. The way I play sounds (to me) good and it is enjoyable to play. The tab I have for it has the lead riff in the middle of the song and the rather long ending riff. I know the middle riff but the end riff is very long (to me) and I never play it.

What ended up happening is as I would come to the end the song sounded incomplete. I did not want to learn the riff off the tab but I ended up doing my own riff in the key of "B". It is not as long and it is ever-changing but it sounds good.

That is one of my "hallelujah" moments that I experience every now and  then. I think I can do a riff in any key using the pentatonic scale. May not sound great and may be slow but it sure is nice to be able to do now that I know the pattern.

8 Reply by beamer (edited by beamer 2012-04-17 05:29:28)

  • beamer
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  • THE METALIZER. Naughty Rocker Boy.
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  • From: WASHINGTON ST
  • Registered: 2006-07-29
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Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

The petatonic is the very first pattern I ever learned, but it was not until last year with my sons guitar teacher  / and a few vids on You Tube that I discoverd the "Blues notes"  I just have trouble running them together or using the "Extended" blues / Pentatonic scale.

If you want to hear this in action heck listen to almost any Iron Maiden solo. Almost all the riffs start with the pentatonic, a lot of the early stuff espically.  Its the scale most Sabbath riffs are built from also.    Its a ROCK scale as well as blues.

( I get lost the min someone say's Midoxylin or Aolieian etc,,, tooo confusing for me)

Cheers!

“Find your own sound.  Dont be a second rateYngwie Malmsteen be a first rate you”

– George Lynch 2013 (Dokken, Lynchmob, KXM, Tooth & Nail etc....)
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

beamer wrote:

( I get lost the min someone say's Midoxylin or Aolieian etc,,, tooo confusing for me)

Cheers!

Here's the dirty little secret for those.

It's the same scale pattern.

Play C major in the open position.  Play it from C to C.  Note where your fingers land.  Now start that exact pattern but start on the D, and end on the D.  Congratulations, you just played the Dorian scale.   Now play E to E.  You've just played Phrygian.

And Aoelian is just another way to say "minor," so you probably already know that one.

It's not about scales, it's about scale patterns.

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website

  • From: Western Kentucky
  • Registered: 2010-03-05
  • Posts: 150

Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

Yet more help from Jerome, I was thinking "I can't learn all these scale keys"
this make it more do-able   Thanks a lot.   I envy your knowledge, and I am thankful for your willingness to share.       B

11 Reply by beamer (edited by beamer 2012-04-19 00:10:10)

  • beamer
  • beamer
  • THE METALIZER. Naughty Rocker Boy.
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  • Registered: 2006-07-29
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Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

I watched this a while back and the next  3  links I  put there have really been great tools, qand I still can tget it as smooth as Pappa.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl … qUv8uPDneo  (playing rythm with the pentatonic scale) (sounds like Trower licks!)

AND

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl … OlSo4bpcvQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVro9hEK … ure=relmfu  (Solo out of the chords)(ala' Van Halen)

Really good stuff!  hope it helps ya!

and just hit on this today! LOLOL 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMVB5Gwk … ure=relmfu

“Find your own sound.  Dont be a second rateYngwie Malmsteen be a first rate you”

– George Lynch 2013 (Dokken, Lynchmob, KXM, Tooth & Nail etc....)
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: So...Detman101 has a clue.

bobwill wrote:

Yet more help from Jerome, I was thinking "I can't learn all these scale keys"
this make it more do-able   Thanks a lot.   I envy your knowledge, and I am thankful for your willingness to share.       B

It's nice that you say that, but it's not knowledge.  In fact, it's the opposite of that.  I have to break things down into really simple patterns or I'll forget them.  smile

Someday we'll win this thing...

[url=http://www.aclosesecond.com]www.aclosesecond.com[/url]

jerome.oneil's Website