Re-Active Listening ™

[BurnsRhythm]

While I understand what Rick @stitch is saying and why he says it, it’s rather off topic.
This is the Re-Active Listening lesson thread. The whole idea is to let your ears guide you to the good notes.
All you need for that is your ears and the scale pattern. You don’t need to know the notes, scale degrees, intervals or chord tones.

[stitch]

No it’s not this lesson is the 4th lesson in the Major Scale Maestro 1 Module. These are the 2 scale diagrams for the entire module. I don’t see a note name or scale degree, interval or chord tone in either diagram.

@TheMadman_tobyjenner Toby I was just trying to help Stuart out without making things more confusing. Fast Eddie gave him some good tips but I know Stuart hasn’t got all the note names down yet.

[BurnsRhythm]

The 4th lesson in the Major Scale Maestro 1 module is the Re-Active Listening lesson!
Watch it and hear what Justin says about the theory.

[BurnsRhythm]

Your diagrams are from the first lesson in the module - Major Scale Pattern 1 - which has its own lesson thread.

[Stuartw]

@stitch

how long did you practice the lesson on intervals I sent you?

For quite a while actually. In fact still doing it although the ‘starting at beat 3’ confuses me no end!

@stitch

This is the Root or Key. So notes pull your ear back to the Root note more than others.

I’ll have to take your word for that as just not hearing it.

[Stuartw]

@Fast-Eddie

Try this:

I have been trying something similar with drone chords.

@Fast-Eddie

Using pattern 1 of the G Major scale (the one Justin uses in the lesson), pick notes that are chord tones (G, B, D). These will sound like they “belong” very well

Why are they chord tones? Still not getting the ‘belong’ bit!

@Fast-Eddie

but trust me when I say that everyone here is trying to help you, not force you to do something you don’t want to.

All help greatly appreciated. I’ll keep plugging away but not too hopeful at this time!

@Fast-Eddie

If your ears can’t tell which notes sound like they “fit”, perhaps simply learning tabs is a path that will bring you the joy that you seek from guitar playing.

That may be the answer!

[Stuartw]

@stitch

@Stuartw this will help you understand what @Fast-Eddie is trying to explain.

Thank you.

[Stuartw]

@Stuartw

Justin notes in the lesson that “I’ve never met anyone who didn’t get re-active listening after a few weeks of consistent practice. So, don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it right away. You’ll get there!”. Well perhaps he has now. If he is up to a challenge then happy to chat with him!

I guess he’s not up to the challenge !!

[Fast-Eddie]

@Stuartw

Why are they chord tones? Still not getting the ‘belong’ bit!

Because a Major Chord is defined as the root, the third degree, and the fifth degree of the scale played together.

Basic music theory. Review these lessons:

https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chords-in-keys-b2-910

https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/chords-in-keys-super-easy-bg-2004

Here’s a text excerpt from the second linked lesson: Commonly, chords start as triads, a 3-note chord. To play a triad, we play one note, skip one note, play one note, skip one note, and then play one note.

[Jozsef]

@Stuartw You will find these tips from @Richard_close2u useful:

Intervals, scale degrees and more

Prompted by a discussion in the theory topic on the Cycle of 5ths. The Cycle Of 5ths Understanding the basics of intervals relies on knowing that they are viewed from the perspective of semitones (= half steps = two notes one fret apart from each other on a guitar). Starting from any note and thinking of it as in first position, there are thirteen intervals, each in their own position, at their own distance, from the start and each with their own name – some have multiple names as a result of e…

3rds & Thirds - What Are They? Playing & Having Fun

INDEX 3rds & Thirds Part A Playing and Having Fun 3rds & Thirds Part B Some Theoretical Foundations 3rds & Thirds Part C The Concerpt of 3rds as Partial Chords 3rds & Thirds Part D The Ambiguous Nature of 3rds as Partial Chords 3rds & Thirds Part E 3rds as Partial maj7, min7 and dom7 Chords 3rds & Thirds Part F: FUN FUN FUN

Triads & Soloing & Targeting Chord Tones Part 1 - getting started

I was first inspired to write this topic by a comment from @balamuthiahv when writing a review of his 1-to-1 lesson with Justin in 2019 in which he wrote: I forgot to ask him were about how to use and target chord notes while soloing You can read Bala’s full write up here and my response to that specific comment in the next immediate post below it. I wanted to elaborate more fully and develop a topic that I hope others might benefit from - simple steps to begin learning how to incorporate t…

[Fast-Eddie]

Here’s another Justin lesson that explains what chord tones are: https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/introduction-to-note-function-4b-004

[Stuartw]

On the basis that I am have issues with this lesson and also improvisation, and that a ‘tab’ approach may be better, is there any point me practicing any scales from this point on? What else do I need scales for?

[Fast-Eddie]

You’ll need the finger dexterity to move your fingers quickly to where the tab tells you to. I wouldn’t make it a large part of your practice routine, but you’ll still need to learn the scale shapes be able to play all over the neck, regardless if it’s your musical imagination or a tab sheet telling you what to play.

YMMV

[jjw]

Agree with @Fast-Eddie : if you have ambitions to play any kind of single note stuff: melody lines, solos, fills and riffs – learning how to play scales is beneficial, probably essential.

This is true whether you are improvising or playing from tab.

[BurnsRhythm]

Stuart, you don’t need to learn scales to play from TAB, you just play the notes on the TAB.

If you want to understand what you’re playing then that’s a different matter and you’ll need to know which key it’s in and which scales are being used.

[jjw]

@BurnsRhythm

Stuart, you don’t need to learn scales to play from TAB, you just play the notes on the TAB.

While this is true, I’ve found that learning to play scales greatly improved my ability to play single note lines from tab. Not just from understanding what I was playing, but actually the ability to move my fretting hand around smoothly to the notes. Knowing the scale also gives you a leg up knowing which fingers to use to fret the different notes, and it helps with the picking hand, too.

I would definitely recommend learning to play scales if you aim to be able to play any type of lead stuff.

[Stuartw]

@Fast-Eddie

You’ll need the finger dexterity to move your fingers quickly to where the tab tells you to. I wouldn’t make it a large part of your practice routine, but you’ll still need to learn the scale shapes be able to play all over the neck, regardless if it’s your musical imagination or a tab sheet telling you what to play.

I asked Copilot the other day for the reasons to learn scales and this was the response which included finger dexterity. I do still include scales in my practice for this reason. In fact I still include improvisation in my practice because I like doing it, even though it may not be ‘music’ as others have noted in various responses.

This overall discussion regarding my hearing and re-active listening/improvisation (incl. responses to my BLIM questions) hit me hard to the point where (not to sound too dramatic) I was contemplating not progressing any further and hanging up my guitar. It didn’t happen, mainly because I like playing even if just for myself, and have put a lot of time/effort to get to where I am at this point.

[BurnsRhythm]

I agree John, but Stuart is struggling with the theory and understanding probably because of his hearing difficulties.
If he can learn some simple and recognisable melodies from Tab, it may help him to distinguish the difference between notes. He already knows pattern1 of the Major scale and pattern1 of the minor pentatonic so he may recognise some fingering in the tab.
From there, he may then become curious about how it all fits together and the value of learning scales.

It’s a different approach to get to the same place.

Stuart @Stuartw
Keep going, you enjoy playing guitar so you’ll find a way.

[GrumpyMac]

My teacher taught me the 2 first shapes and it was great because I linked them together and was able to understand how to think outside the “ box “ of the scales shapes

knowing just one shape is a start , good for practicing technics ( slides , hammers on , pulls off , double stop , bends etc ) but its good to understand how their shapes are linked together to create music

Im pretty sure you ll progress if you hang on and learn more about scales and blues ^^

[stitch]

@Stuartw

mainly because I like playing

This is all that’s important. You don’t need to learn scales but you do need to understand the difference between Major and minor. Which I think is giving you the most trouble with both chords and scales.

I really think you should do a lesson with Richard. You’d be surprised how much one lesson can do to help with the road blocks that are holding you back.