Blues in A from Minor Pentatonic pattern I & II (Blues Lead 1 Course)

[nzmetal]

Thanks so much for checking this out, Alan, and for your kind words!

@Alan_1970

It’s also provided a very informative thread with lots to digest.

So cool eh?! Very grateful to everyone who’s chipped in with advice and suggestions, lots to work on!

Thanks again, Alan, take care!

[nzmetal]

Hey Lisa! Thanks so much for taking more time to check out the updated version! Glad that version sounded a bit better. Still plenty to work on around tone and dynamics, but absorbing all this feedback and advice will speed up the process significantly

@Lisa_S

For any detailed advice, I’m deffo the wrong person, though.

I beg to differ! You have great insights and experience to share, even if not specific to blues lead technique, your ear for tone and eye for improvements add much value all the same

@Lisa_S

But you’re in good hands here with a lot of great input. This post is a very valuable source of wisdom already (thanks to all!).

Sure am! And so glad this is becoming a useful resource for others too! Have to take every opportunity to glean the wisdom of our more experienced colleagues eh?!

Cheers!

[nzmetal]

Hi Toby, thanks for checking this out mate!

@TheMadman_tobyjenner

So guess I’ll put the cat amongst the pigeons and suggest the Zen path of the middle way.

I’m actually with you on that! I’m thinking of renaming it “Three Bears Blues”, first too hot, second too cold, third just right… hopefully anyway?! Whenever I get that sorted!

@TheMadman_tobyjenner

Good to see you taking those licks, learning, dissecting and rebuilding, exactly what The Man says throughout the BL bundle.

Thanks, yeah it’s quite a fun process eh? I didn’t expect it to happen but it really just evolves naturally after a period of time playing them over and over.

@TheMadman_tobyjenner

but the wise words of sages here, who know who they are, tell you its the application of what you have learnt.

Ah yes, those are wise words! I think I remember from that vid which JK shared of a good guitar player who was talking about how he fails all the time so don’t be fooled by the immaculate performances you see either live or online and effectively everything he does in those he’s practised a thousand times and worked it out in detail before playing it for others (I think that was the gist of it). I know there are players who can do all this on the spot, without thinking, but like you say that probably mostly comes from years of repetition and practice. I certainly found that getting it “down on paper”, so to speak, really solidified it in my mind and gave so much more structure to what I was playing. I can now see the riffs in my mind’s eye, so playing around with them seems less daunting

@TheMadman_tobyjenner

Incorporating GP into the video was really helpful - I could see the lick I am currently struggling with from another piece - so need to read the tech blurb on how you did that.

Glad it helped! If you have any specific questions about it, please let me know

@TheMadman_tobyjenner

All in all good stuff. Looking forward to more.

Thanks buddy! Take care

[DavidP]

@nzmetal

I’ll be working through all these suggestions (and those the shared by others) over the coming weeks, got my homework sorted! If only homework was always this fun!

Drove in this morning to the tasty tones of Robert Cray.

I also suggest a deep dive into Rory Gallagher. A true legend and all time great.

[Richard_close2u]

@nzmetal

I’m thinking of renaming it “Three Bears Blues”, first too hot, second too cold, third just right…

That it classic!

[Richard_close2u]

Jeff, did you delve in to this topic at all?

First Steps in Blues Improvisation using Minor Pentatonic Scale Pattern 1

Here I offer some tips and some advice for all of the folks just beginning with the minor pentatonic scale and starting to explore a little blues-infused improvisation. Firstly - just take it easy, one simple thing at a time. If you want to get in to improvising focus only on one scale, the one scale that is the easiest to do this with, the minor pentatonic scale. Not the major scale. Not the major pentatonic scale. Just the minor pentatonic for blues lead. And start with only one pattern. Pa…

[sclay]

Hey Jeff,

I see you’ve been getting some suggestions for some good blues - all good I reckon.

Couldn’t let it slide without mentioning one of the greats, Gary Moore. Check out his album, Still Got The Blues, and his brilliant Blues for Greeny - Live. Doesn’t get much better than this I reckon.

Cheers, Shane

[nzmetal]

@DavidP

I also suggest a deep dive into Rory Gallagher. A true legend and all time great.

Oooh, nice! Thank you again! Added to the list!

@Richard_close2u

Jeff, did you delve in to this topic at all?

Ah! I think I came across this a while back , before embarking on this journey, and thought that would be good to return to but have subsequently forgotten! Thanks for the reminder! I will be diving into that hence forth!

@sclay

Gary Moore. Check out his album, Still Got The Blues, and his brilliant Blues for Greeny - Live.

Excellent! Yes, of course, Gary Moore! I’ve of course heard the title track from “Still Got the Blues”, but never listened to the album or really dug deep into his catalogue, so looking forward to that! Thanks again, Shane!

[SgtColon]

Loved it Jeff. Some excellent playing to my ears. I thought I was going to like the lower distortion one more but I didn’t. You’ve sure got the blues.

Is there anything you can’t do?

[NicoleKKB]

Hi Jeff, I somehow missed this excellent thread up till now . But I’m glad, I’ve discovered it now - better late than never .

Blues is one of the directions I definitely want to head to along my guitar journey. So I’m always happy to see what others are experiencing and learn from them. (At least in theory, as I haven’t started the practical part yet .)

I was quite surprised to hear you play blues. I somehow haven’t expected that. And - for your first recording playing this gerne - I haven’t expected you to play it that well .

@SgtColon

Is there anything you can’t do?

Stefan, I totally agree with you .

Although I can totally understand your reasons for the first - quite metal style - version, my favourite is definitely the second one. The bluesy vibes come across much better without the distortion - that’s at least my very subjective impression .

As I’m far behind your playing level, I can’t offer any qualified feedback, just wanted to say, that this was a very enjoyable listen, and that I’m very curious to hear more from you along your blues journey .

So well done - and keep cool .

[nzmetal]

Thanks Stefan!!

@SgtColon

I thought I was going to like the lower distortion one more but I didn’t.

Ah! interesting! I really feel like Toby was correct in that there is some middle ground which would result in an overall better outcome, but glad you enjoyed the one with heavier distortion a bit more mate, all adds to my considerations on tone!

@SgtColon

Is there anything you can’t do?

Oh yes, there is soooooooo much!

Cheers!

[nzmetal]

Thanks Nicole!!

@NicoleKKB

Blues is one of the directions I definitely want to head to along my guitar journey.

Cool! Can’t wait to see how you approach it too! Like you say, it is so interesting to see what others do on this topic, there’s so much to learn from everyone’s journeys

@NicoleKKB

I was quite surprised to hear you play blues. I somehow haven’t expected that.

Yeah, I can totally understand why! I intend to do a learning log update soon to give context around adding this pathway.

@NicoleKKB

I haven’t expected you to play it that well .

Thank you! Super kind of you to say

@NicoleKKB

Although I can totally understand your reasons for the first - quite metal style - version, my favourite is definitely the second one. The bluesy vibes come across much better without the distortion - that’s at least my very subjective impression .

Thanks also for this, helps a lot! Tone is a tricky journey, but this thread is helping me a lot and I’m having fun playing around with it. I hope to lock one down that’s somewhere in the middle of these two tones and do a follow-up recording with it at some stage.

@NicoleKKB

So well done - and keep cool .

Really appreciate you checking this out, Nicole, keep cool too!

[Jenndye429]

A little late to the party here, but just wanted to say great job Jeff!

I watched both versions and I thought each one had a little different flavor. As a fellow aficionado of gain and bridge pickups, I liked the more “metal” version But the new recording definitely had more of the bluesy feel I think you were going for. I’m always amazed at the difference tone makes in a song.

You’ve gotten some good feedback from those far more experienced in this genre than me So, I’m just here to clap and encourage down this path! At some point I hope to dive into blues lead a little more too since so many songs that I want to learn solos for are really based on the blues. Amazing progress! I look forward to the LL update

[nzmetal]

Thanks Jennifer!! Really appreciate you checking this out

@Jenndye429

As a fellow aficionado of gain and bridge pickups, I liked the more “metal” version

Alright!

@Jenndye429

But the new recording definitely had more of the bluesy feel I think you were going for. I’m always amazed at the difference tone makes in a song.

Yeah totally! Definitely need to work on my blues tones. I have been playing around a bit and making some progress but still a long way to go.

@Jenndye429

So, I’m just here to clap and encourage down this path!

Thank you!

@Jenndye429

At some point I hope to dive into blues lead a little more too since so many songs that I want to learn solos for are really based on the blues.

Can’t wait to see this when it happens!

[mikemycroft]

Hi @nzmetal
Sorry I’m a bit late to the party for this one, but I am very interested in your approach here because I’m heading to the electric blues course imminently, just got to get a couple of songs under my belt for an open mic next week.
I was reading through the comments, and I generally agree with what @sclay was saying. My feeling is the second take is better. I don’t recall if anyone mentioned dynamics, the backing track rises and falls in dynamics quite a bit, where it does that you might need to give it a bit of welly, or hit the boost button or something. Bit nit picky really but it’s all I can add.
I’m really glad I found this post, it opened my eyes to the possibilities. I’m genuinely excited to get into it!
Cheers and well played

[Jeff]

How about that… Looks like we not only share our names, but our learning journey as well. Having the same musical preference towards the rock and metal genres as you, I’m now working my way through the Blues modules. I gotta say, it almost feels like starting all over. It truly is a different language with its own difficulties.

I think the low gain version sounded better, more authentic. Your phrasing is pretty good already. Mostly good note choices too over the changing chords. Now you just need to learn some more vocabulary.

[nzmetal]

Thanks Mike!
Great to hear you’re diving in to this path soon too.

@mikemycroft

I don’t recall if anyone mentioned dynamics, the backing track rises and falls in dynamics quite a bit, where it does that you might need to give it a bit of welly, or hit the boost button or something.

Very good point and excellent advice, thank you! Yes, listening to the track and using dynamics in my playing and tone so I respond appropriately is something I really need to work. I’m currently doing lots of homework listening to the greats, so hopefully I’ll be able to pick up some guidance on that from their approach.

@mikemycroft

I’m really glad I found this post, it opened my eyes to the possibilities. I’m genuinely excited to get into it!

Good to hear you’ve found some useful tips here too. All the best with your journey, looking forward to seeing the results!

[nzmetal]

Hey Jeff! Thanks mate, really appreciate you checking this out!

@Jeff

Looks like we not only share our names, but our learning journey as well. Having the same musical preference towards the rock and metal genres as you, I’m now working my way through the Blues modules.

That’s awesome to hear! I’ve always admired your solid technique and keen attention to tone, so really looking forward to seeing/hearing what you achieve down this path.

@Jeff

I gotta say, it almost feels like starting all over. It truly is a different language with its own difficulties.

Sure is!

@Jeff

I think the low gain version sounded better, more authentic. Your phrasing is pretty good already. Mostly good note choices too over the changing chords.

Thanks so much! Yeah, I feel there is a lot to take away from this, but hoping also that I look back and cringe at it in the future too (meaning that I have progressed much further down the path of course ).

@Jeff

Now you just need to learn some more vocabulary.

Yes, definitely! It’s a bit like learning a sentence at a time, looking forward to the day where I can “speak” a whole paragraph without getting lost or saying the wrong thing!

Thanks again buddy, take care

[Dro_1]

Hey Jeff, I thought they were both awesome… although I did lean more towards your 2nd version for whatever reason
You always seem to be very technical with what you do and how you play. Great dedication mate.
By the way, when can we expect your username to be updated to nzbluesmetal

[nzmetal]

Thanks Sandro!! Really appreciate you kind words!

@Dro_1

By the way, when can we expect your username to be updated to nzbluesmetal

Any day now, my friend, watch this space…