Variations on the Minor Sound (Guitar Lesson)
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Variations on the Minor Sound
Enter back into the realms of improvisation in this lesson and have some fun experimenting with different flavors of the minor sound. You'll get a sense of how to use some 'unexpected' sounding notes while working out the melody.
Taught by David Isaacs in 50 Years Of Guitar seriesLength: 22:20Difficulty: 2.0 of 5
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Supplemental Learning Material
50 Years Of Guitar
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsJoin Dave Isaacs for a comprehensive course covering some of the most well-known sounds of the last 50 years in guitar playing. Come straight out of Isaac's Phase 1 series and learn songs in the style of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Eagles, Stevie Wonder, and more! You'll also learn how to practice new techniques and apply more musical ideas as you work through each musical example.
Lesson 1
50 Years Of Guitar Introduction
Join Dave Isaacs for a comprehensive course covering some of the most well-known sounds of the last 50 years in guitar playing. Come straight out of Isaac's Phase 1 series and learn songs in the style...
Length: 7:38 Difficulty: 0.5 FREELesson 2
Ride The Cycle - Chord Review
Get warmed up and bridge the gap between Dave's extensive Phase 1 course with this lesson on chords. You'll have a nice track to play over and you'll be able to review many of the common chords you may...
Length: 16:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Passing Thru - Passing Chords
Learn how to use inversion chords to link other chords together. This happens all the time in the Rock and Roll style of bands like AC/DC. Grab your overdrive pedal and and make a statement with your...
Length: 18:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Home - Picked Arpeggios
Work your chords in a melodic and soothing way. Picked arpeggios make it possible to extract melody from ordinary chord shapes. Once you have the concept and shapes down, try your hands at playing over...
Length: 17:03 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Trippin' - Bass Note Riffs
Do you remember the first time you heard "Day Tripper" by The Beatles? Learning these techniques and playing with this track will take you back and help move your playing forward a huge step. Learn how...
Length: 14:34 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Stix Stax - Moveable Partial Chords
Get comfortable playing small, musical chords around the neck in this lesson. You've likely spent some time moving your barre chords around the neck. You'll use parts of those chords and be able to realize...
Length: 20:46 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Santa Ana - Filling Out The Pentatonic
The minor pentatonic scale is a great place to start and a bedrock of popular music. Dave used those shapes and adds in the rest of the notes from the natural minor scale to tip his hat to one of the...
Length: 20:00 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Minor Blues - Rhythm Riffs
You're familiar with a standard 12-bar blues. Now, you'll get to experience some of the twists and chord possibilities that can be present in a minor blues. Riff away!
Length: 14:43 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Scaling The Heights - In C
Learn how to navigate the neck by connecting simple C major scale patterns together. Do it in a musical way with a nice, catchy example to get your feet wet with.
Length: 18:05 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
The Mountain: Melody & Chords
Scale the neck with both single notes and chords with this catchy musical example. This track moves at a slow pace and allows for a very contemplative mindset while learning the different positions of...
Length: 20:54 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Stone Face - Play Like Keith Richards
You'll spend some more time with moveable chord forms, journey around the neck a little, and learn bits and pieces of a classic rock style.
Length: 13:50 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Down The Road - Boogie Groove
By making small adjustments to a simple scale, you can make something very normal, sound much more interesting. It's been done for decades and is often not well understood, but Isaacs breaks down this...
Length: 26:23 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Berry Pickin' - 50's Style Double Stops
Put a little Chuck Berry in your playing by incorporating some of the most familiar sounds in all of Rock 'N Roll. Chords, rhythm and lead playing all come together in this style.
Length: 15:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
River Flow - Fingerstyle
You might think of fingerstyle guitar as something that mostly only happens on acoustic. While acoustic players will get a lot out of this lesson, electric players will also be given the tools they need...
Length: 13:23 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Bend Don't Break - String Bending
Bends are always one of the signature sounds of any guitar player, but bending musically and in tune consistently can be quite a challenge. Dave sheds some light on this subject in this lesson and also...
Length: 12:55 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Walking Chords - Moving Triads
Wanna play chords anywhere on the neck? Learning and applying your triad shapes is a GREAT place to start. Learn how to use triads all over the place with this simple and fun musical example.
Length: 21:41 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Blue Peaches - Improvising
Using nothing more than the simple Major Pentatonic scale, you'll create some catchy music and learn some nice licks. There's a lot to play with when it comes to this classic 5-note scale.
Length: 19:53 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
52 Blues - Slow Blues Rhythm
Triads, double stops and slides intertwined with tasty slow blues phrasing are going to make you proud to learn and practice this piece. Dig in
Length: 19:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Waltz For Pinky - Melodic Arpeggios
Arpeggios are not just for classical guitar players and shredders. They are fantastic musical vehicles and make your playing sound spacious and dynamic. You'll also give your pinky a good workout.
Length: 10:06 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Swinging In A - Melody Around The Neck
It's bright and bouncy... It's "Swing". Learn this simple melody and learn the feel that always brings the moods up a notch. You'll get a good hand workout and get a catchy tune stuck in your head at...
Length: 23:34 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sweet Strum - Triads
Practice moving triad shapes around the neck in a musical and even soothing way. You'll learn how to connect these small chords so that you're making little melodies as you're moving around!
Length: 15:05 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Stomp It - Pentatonic Riffs
Rock out a little bit with this Bluesy and driving track that will make you want to play lead guitar all day long. Get ready for some straight up Rock and Roll. You'll be working a lot on slides and...
Length: 18:11 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Down Home - Clean Country
Laid back, clean, and soothing to play, this lesson will have you focusing on double stops and slides in a Classic Country setting. Set the overdrive pedal aside and make it ring loud!
Length: 17:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
CAGEY - Chord Connections
It's time for a geography lesson. Look at the way the CAGED patterns relate to each other around the neck. You'll be moving up and down the neck with ease after you master the material in this lesson!
Length: 17:15 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sally's Impala - R&B Sounds
Dig in to some R&B-style grooves and playing here! You'll be using a lot of we've already covered previously, but with a good deal more 'bounce'. Each lick will contain a lot of different types of techniques...
Length: 14:37 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Like An Eagle - Double Stop Bends
Do you like Classic Rock? Do you like Country-tinged, laid back leads? Well, get ready for a treat! You'll learn a solo in the style of the Eagles today and have a chance to work on musical bending...
Length: 19:11 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
What It Is - Improvisation in A
Improvisation might be a scary word for some, but Dave lays out a method and a track that will have you making music that easily comes out of your stream of conspicuousness. You won't need to over think!
Length: 11:30 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Funky - Syncopated Rhythm
There's lots to unpack here with all of the various rhythmic variations. It has a chime, yet it is tight and full of range. Have fun with this one!
Length: 27:44 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Variations on the Minor Sound
Enter back into the realms of improvisation in this lesson and have some fun experimenting with different flavors of the minor sound. You'll get a sense of how to use some 'unexpected' sounding notes...
Length: 22:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
About David Isaacs
View Full Biography
Nashville-based Dave Isaacs has made a name for himself as one of Music City's top guitar instructors, working with both professional and aspiring songwriters and artists at his Music Row teaching studio. He is also an instructor in the music department at Tennessee State University and is the coordinator and artistic director of the annual TSU Guitar Summit.
A seasoned performer as well, Dave has released eight independent CDs and gigs steadily as a solo artist, bandleader, and sideman. He continues to write, record, and perform as well as arranging and producing projects for other artists.
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