Maximizing The 12 Notes

Skill Building Guitar Course from Monte Pittman

Twelve notes, six strings, twenty-two plus frets - a massive amount of combinations! How do all these elements work together? Where do all the puzzle pieces fit? Monte Pittman's wealth of teaching experience is the perfect match for getting us up to speed on just how all of these things work with one another.

40 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

88% Appoval

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Tabs & Info

Download tabs, helpers, JamTracks and docs included with lessons.

Included

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Full Course Breakdown

Twelve notes, six strings, twenty-two plus frets - a massive amount of combinations! How do all these elements work together? Where do all the puzzle pieces fit? Monte Pittman's wealth of teaching experience is the perfect match for getting us up to speed on just how all of these things fit together. Madonna's long time guitar player takes us on an exploration of scales, chords and exotic tonalites, designed to give us insight into how the entire fretboard is tied together. Discover practical ways to access every note and chord available to you, along with the ability to hear what you're learning in context over backing tracks. Then, Monte will show you how he puts many of these things to use in his own songs!

1

Series Introduction

Twelve notes, plus your fretboard equals a massive amount of combinations! Join Monte Pittman in this series introduction as he tells us what to expect in his course.

2:01 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

2

Diatonic Scale

We start with the diatonic scale. Monte shows the scale in all it's positions, getting you familiar with it's shapes on the fretboard.

19:57 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

3

Diatonic Chords

Each of the notes in the diatonic scale has a chord associated with it. In this lesson, Monte shows us those related chords, and explores other notes in the scale that can accompany them, giving us unique tonalites.

17:41 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

4

Combining Diatonic Shapes

There's no rule book that says once we are in a scale position that we have to stay there! Monte explores combining different diatonic shapes in this lesson.

24:21 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

5

Pentatonic Scale

Now we take the diatonic scale subtract two of its notes. What do we get? The pentatonic scale. Join Monte as he shows all of the positions of this common, often used scale.

21:18 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

6

Diagonal Pentatonic Scales

One of the most useful and cool ways to play our pentatonics is diagonally across the fretboard. Monte shows us how to use this technique, moving across all the positions.

14:21 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

7

The Blues Scale

The blues scale is very similar to the minor pentatonic scale, so much so they can be interchangeable. But there is a very specific and unique tonality that it has that makes it a "must learn" scale for any guitar player!

14:28 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

8

Diminished Chords and Scales

The diminished scale will add a unique tonality to any player's sound. In this lesson, Monte shows us this scale and it's related chords.

8:44 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

9

Enclosures

Think of enclosures as surrounding your target note with its upper and lower neighbor. Monte gives us some useful exercises to get us familiar with this technique.

9:25 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

10

The Grand Scheme So Far

In this lesson, Monte uses all of the techniques we've gone over so far, putting them in the context of a track.

13:18 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

11

Harmonic Minor Scale

So many of the scales we're learning a simply changing one or two notes in our original diatonic scale. Harmonic minor is like that. Even that simple change can result in a completely different mood and tonality. In this lesson Monte shows us the various positions of harmonic minor.

16:16 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

12

Harmonic Minor Chords

Now it's time to learn the various chords that accompany harmonic minor.

14:34 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

13

Hungarian Minor Scale

The hungarian minor scale can be viewed as a modification of the harmonic minor scale. It has a very exotic sound, and is sometimes referred to as the "snake charmer" scale. Join Monte as he reviews the various positions of this unique scale.

11:01 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
14

Hungarian Minor Chords

The chords associated with hungarian minor open tonalities that can be a challenge to the ear, but at the same time can create a unique world of sounds and moods. Monte walks us through the various possibilites.

18:28 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

15

Uncharted Territory

Now it's time to do your own exploring of the various tonalites we've discovered so far. Monte gives us a track to play over with the goal of incorporating many of the techniques we've learned so far in the course.

14:26 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

Melodic Minor Scale

In this lesson, Monte shows us the melodic minor scale and it's positions. This is one more tool in your tonal toolbox!

23:10 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

Melodic Minor Chords

The chords for melodic minor are different and unique to say the least. Hopefully this lesson will open your ears to the possibilities of this jazz-like tonality!

12:51 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

The Whole Tone Scale

The whole tone scale is a scale that works well over augmented chords. In this lesson, Monte shows us how to associate this scale with the augmented chord.

17:36 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

19

The Half Whole Diminished Scale

As certain patterns emerge in certain scale shapes, they often lead us to other types of scales and tonalites. Such is the case with this scale, whose pattern we've seen emerge in some of the recent scales we've covered - the half whole diminished scale.

22:52 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

20

Intervals

Intervals are the distance from one tone to another. Being able to recognize them by ear can take you a long way in your guitar playing. Here, Monte explores different types of intervals and how the patterns are the same in various keys.

27:33 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

21

Triads

Triads are the three notes that make up our chords. In this lesson, Monte shows us various places these can be found around the neck.

17:58 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

22

Harmony

In this lesson, Monte talks about the different types of harmony: static, parallel and counter point.

25:37 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

Chord Substitutions

Chord substitutions are a great thing to know if you want to take your basic progressions and add a different flavor to them. Here, Monte shows us some common progressions and how to use substitutions in an effective way.

16:06 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

24

I-IV-V Progression

Monte takes the basic progression of I-IV-V and shows us some different ways to approach it, resulting in some cool explorations of tonality.

22:35 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

25

ii-V-I Progression

Now Monte approaches the ii-V-I progression, and looks at the chord substitutions that will work with these chords.

25:29 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

26

Song Creation

Monte now takes some of the progressions we've been working on and dives into creating our own song!

15:47 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

27

I-vi-IV-V Progression

Let's take a look at the classic I-vi-IV-V chord progression, but in the context of using only certain notes in the chords from certain scales. The results are eye opening!

28:20 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

28

The Power of Three - Diminished

Monte talks about the versatility of the diminished chord and scale, and being able to repeat it every three frets on the neck.

15:56 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

29

The Power of Three - Augmented

Now it's time for the augmented chord and scale. Knowing where and how to move this around gives us a great tool to use!

17:06 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

30

The Power of Three - Dominant

In this lesson Monte combines the concept of moving diminished and augmented chords with the concept of chord substitutions.

12:12 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

31

Guiding Our Way Through all 12 Notes

Now we're at the point where we've learned to play a chord with all twelve notes. Whether it's movable shapes or chord substitutions, Monte has shown us a comprehensive way to use the twelve notes. Here he puts all the techniques together!

21:17 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

32

Finding Chords

When you think about it, there are so many combinations of notes that give us a wealth of chords. In this lesson, Monte shows us how to come up with some creative chords; hopefully some you've never imagined that will open up some unique tonal possibilities!

14:18 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

33

Using the Same Chords to Switch Keys

Monte takes a look at using common chords when switching keys.

16:11 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

34

Creating Your Own Exercises

Practicing the scales and chords in a specific way can help you overcome certain hurdles you may face when trying to learn patterns and shapes. Sometimes the best way to go is to create your own exercises! Monte talks about this specific concept in this lesson.

26:10 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

35

Two Hand Tapping

In this lesson, Monte uses his song, "Changing of the Guard" to show us a cool two handed tapping riff.

23:14 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

36

Two Hand Four Finger Tapping

Two hand, four finger tapping sounds very difficult, but Monte uses his song, "Before the Mourning Son" to break down the technique.

14:02 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

37

Harmonics

In this lesson, Monte shows us a creative use of Harmonics from his song "Obliterated".

19:55 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

38

Picking Hand Tips

In this lesson, Monte discusses and demonstrates various tips and tricks to help get your picking hand under control.

10:29 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

39

Diminished and Augmented Chord Shapes

Now to see diminished and augmented chord shapes in action. Monte uses his beautifully haunting song, "Beguiling" to show us how to implement these chords in a real song setting.

11:03 Runtime

3.5 Difficulty

40

Ethereal Chord Sounds

In the final lesson, Monte shows us how to achieve the haunting, ethereal sound in his song "Beguiling".

16:24 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

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Prong, Ministry, Madonna

  • Los Angeles, CA - California
  • Playing since 1988
  • 40 lessons at JamPlay
There are great guitarists, great vocalists and great songwriters, but Monte Pittman is one of the elite few who can truly lay claim to all three titles

There are great guitarists, great vocalists and great songwriters, but Monte Pittman is one of the elite few who can truly lay claim to all three titles.

To assert that Pittman has had a storied career is something of an understatement. His resumé includes an ongoing and fruitful collaboration with multi-platinum selling artist Madonna, having recorded and toured with her extensively over a period of more than fifteen years. Then there’s his first band, Myra Mains, his stint in the metallic behemoth that is Prong, and collaborations with a broad spectrum of international artists. If his time with Prong did not fully communicate just how much metal flowed through his veins, with 2014’s Flemming Rasmussen-produced The Power Of Three – his first release with Metal Blade Records – he compellingly blended killer riffs, blistering leads and gigantic hooks to deliver an album that was equal parts anthemic grandeur and in-your-face attitude, making metalheads around the world sit up and take note.
Reviews & Feedback 88/100 with 52 ratings
DesertHawk

He's challenging. He assumes you know a lot and throws out a lot of information quickly, but watching and rewatching and learning by doing that really leads to some solid learning.

ChrisNC1

This lesson was right on time. The interesting subtopics for me was Monte's descriptions of modes via scale degrees and the way to think about chord choices based on which diatonic scale position was being considered.

jonec82

What a great program.