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Adding Fills Between Chords with the G Major Scale

Lesson 3 – Rhythm Fill Riffs and Lead Guitar Course
Lesson ID: A0091

In the previous lesson of this series, we learned the 5th position of the G major pentatonic scale and I showed you how to apply this scale to a basic country and bluegrass chord progression. In this lesson, we’re going to start breaking out of the pentatonic scale box using five additional major scale notes. Adding these extra notes is the first step towards making your fill riffs sound more country and bluegrass. I’ll give you some pointers on how you can use the G major scale to create riffs and we’ll also have a tablature download below the video with several nice major scale riffs to get you started!

Lesson Video

Video Start Time Lesson Topic
00:00 min Lesson Overview and Course Recap
03:15 min Major Scale and Improvising Tips
11:39 min Major Scale Fills over a Country & Bluegrass Progression
14:51 min Practice Using the Tablature Download

Scale Charts

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Tim Miller
Tim Miller(@tim)
8 years ago

Keep the lessons coming. I’m really enjoying this course a lot. Thanks!

Mark
Mark (@guest_344)
8 years ago

This is exactly what I’m wanting to learn. Great job explaining and teaching! Thanks, Devin.

a.nath
a.nath(@a-nathgerryweber-de)
8 years ago

great job devin

Steve
Steve (@guest_390)
8 years ago

Really nice guitar tone. What are you using to record?

Keith
Keith (@guest_397)
8 years ago

Wow great lesson! Learned a lot here

Dean
Dean (@guest_565)
7 years ago

Helped me a great deal

falsealarmboy
falsealarmboy(@falsealarmboyhotmail-com)
7 years ago

New member here. Been playing guitar for years but kinda got stuck in a rut. Messed about with electrics for a while but recently invested in a Fender Paramount acoustic and this lesson series is exactly what I need. Keep up the great work, Devin!

Larry Newman
Larry Newman (@guest_729)
7 years ago

Do I need to be able to read music to learn the chord fills and embellishments you are teaching in the
videos? I want to join your club and get access to the lessons but don’t know if I can learn these really neat
sounds that Devin produces for country and bluegrass.

nemo
nemo(@nemo)
7 years ago
Reply to  Larry Newman

I can’t read music and I’m learning these lessons and it’s helping my guitar playing a lot.

joe
joe(@joejbcustomcalls-com)
7 years ago

Tablature-? The one thing I did forget is how to read music. I’ll just watch the videos and try to pick it up from there

Phil
Phil(@psmithphilyahoo-com)
7 years ago

Being new to all this, I’m confused and torn between two different opinions. In this video you show the G Major scale pattern starting from the 3rd fret of the E string (to play the G note), and then to play the next (A note) you pluck the open A string and go on from there to do the entire G major scale. But if I take this pattern to try to play the A major scale (starting at the 5th fret of the E string), it doesn’t work. So with your pattern I can only play the G major… Read more »

Guitar Major Scale.png
Phil
Phil(@psmithphilyahoo-com)
7 years ago
Reply to  Devin

Thank you, Devin, I now see it more clearly. Looking at what you said along with the major scale shapes you referenced made a lot of the fog clear. I can see I was just looking at the 1st position shape and trying to fit it into the 5th position – LOL. Now I can just move along happily in your lessons seeing I am on the right path. Thank you so much for your quick reply!

bcleves92
bcleves92(@bcleves92gmail-com)
7 years ago

I make my living teaching. These are great

davidhunter1947
davidhunter1947(@davidhunter1947gmail-com)
6 years ago

Couple of questions.
What happens when your monthly download “allowance” runs out?
It would be useful to print the Scale Charts – can this be done?

davidhunter1947
davidhunter1947(@davidhunter1947gmail-com)
6 years ago
Reply to  Devin

Did not realise that you have to pay for download pages after 15 so will have to wait a couple of weeks before printing the scales. The “Print Chart” button gives you access to the chord tabs for major, minor, blues, hybrid, etc. However – I am looking to print the example that you show under the Scale Charts in the lesson. For example in lesson 3, the Scale Chart shows the G Major Scale – 5th Position and the Tablature. I should say – it is earlier days but am very impressed with the style and content of the… Read more »

davidhunter1947
davidhunter1947(@davidhunter1947gmail-com)
6 years ago

I have recorded you playing the first six bars and the rhyme that you use on the Fill Riffs does not seem to follow the sixteenth-notes on the tab. I have tried to play back at much slower speed and I still cannot figure it out. It seems like you are putting emphasis on certain notes. Can you help?

lauren.modisette
lauren.modisette(@lauren-modisettegmail-com)
6 years ago

Is there a reason why I shouldn’t use my middle and pinky for the 6th and 7th degree of the scale? I see you are using your pointer and ring finger for those notes…

Lauren
Lauren(@lauren-modisettegmail-com)
6 years ago
Reply to  Devin

cool! thanks for the quick reply.

cassarta11
cassarta11(@cassarta11gmail-com)
6 years ago

amazing scale , in just a week , i improve my fingerpicking ! great coach

hofelzer.russ
hofelzer.russ(@hofelzer-russgmail-com)
6 years ago

Nice job break down the mystery of adding in the cool riffs. I have been relying on simply reading the tabs for years and missing the theory behind the music. Many songs move faster then I can read so then I memorize those parts. I have peaked out as they say; plateau, stuck. Your teaching method shows the importance of doing the ground work and learning the scale and I guess the key of the song. I will stick with you for a long time and so appreciate you providing this course. I am spreading the word to my guitar… Read more »

bachplay6
bachplay6(@bachplay6gmail-com)
6 years ago

i just wish i could play these scale notes faster, but I know it will come

cassarta11
cassarta11(@cassarta11gmail-com)
6 years ago

nice , i m starting this lesson , thanks , really nice chords and embellishments !

cassarta11
cassarta11(@cassarta11gmail-com)
6 years ago

It s great you always do review of previous lesson , professionnal

cassarta11
cassarta11(@cassarta11gmail-com)
6 years ago

Damn , my game change totaly in only 30 min ,, can t thank you enough cowboy

Michael
Michael(@mdyatesgmail-com)
6 years ago

Great lesson and the way you tie it all together.

Stephen
Stephen(@sbhenry7gmail-com)
5 years ago

Devin, how would you recommend progressing through each lesson? How much time would you allot to each lesson? Should I stick with each lesson until i perfect it or should I continue with the next lesson once I have it down but with imperfections. thanks

albert
albert(@albertdbrownhotmail-com)
5 years ago

Devin, great lesson here (5th psn G Major scale riffs). Shows how to integrate strumming and riff picking. Many bluegrass gospel songs are in 3/4. Would it be possible to see a tab like a0091 in 3/4. I have trouble with counting within beat for 3/4. Not sure I am making sense — if not forget note. ADB

Kevin
Kevin(@kevin-mooresvirginmedia-com)
4 years ago

Absolutely amazing course and I’ve only done 3 lessons. I now have riffs and fills based on the major pentatonic and major scales and have already worked out a fabulous “solo” I’ll be introducing to the band at practice tonight on “This Train Is Bound For Glory”. thanks Devin – this is fun!

Oliver Mühlig
Oliver Mühlig(@gitarrenkloppi)
4 years ago

Hi Devin, is there a reason you only use the f# in measure one. In the other measures you “jump” over this note.

Scott Morrow
Scott Morrow(@morrow1616)
4 years ago

when I look at the 5th positions G major scale in pentatonic scales it does not look like this. I do not see this shape or fingering. What am I missing?

Scott Morrow
Scott Morrow(@morrow1616)
4 years ago
Reply to  Devin

thanks for the reply Devin, I think I understand it now (or at least I am starting to understand).

rbeph113
rbeph113(@rbeph113gmail-com)
4 years ago

Great lessons!! Easy to understand. And thanks for including the chord chart

jerseychicadee
jerseychicadee(@jerseychicadee)
4 years ago

I’ve been following your lessons from the oldest one and can feel a major improvement in my accuracy and tone quality. I’ve played scales over and over and over. Now I’m running them with the backing tracks. I like when you give “homework” at the end of the lesson. It gives me a target. I’m amazed when I go to the next lesson and you teach the “why” I practiced those scales. Thank you!

Ric Wilkins
Ric Wilkins(@rookielee)
4 years ago

I have been playing chords for years and always wanted to play with fill ins and think finally with Devin I’ll learn. Thank you.

Peter Stattau Jakobsen
3 years ago

Hey Devin
I’m really enjoy this course. Thank you for that. I’m definitely in progress.
I’m thinking if It’s possible to save the loops i make in the videos?
They gone when return to the selected video
Thanks again

Peter Stattau Jakobsen
3 years ago

Hey again
Sorry, i just experienced that i can juse the lesson topic instead.
Thanks again

Michael Kirby
Michael Kirby(@kirby78)
3 years ago

Just wondering there is only seven notes in the second octave? Great lessons.

Bruce Miller
Bruce Miller(@bruce-m)
3 years ago

ok great lesson – but if I may ask what scale is that … [ie name]. it definitely doesn’t seem to be a major or minor pentatonic that I am aware of …. [but then I came here to learn so …..]

Bruce Miller
Bruce Miller(@bruce-m)
3 years ago

ok in regards to my last comment … sorry I was just being less than bright … what you were simply showing was the full G scale and I had my mind on pentatonic scales//// duh sorry about that

Melanie Marrotte
3 years ago

All these Licks seem all the same and im having a hard time separating them they all seem to go everywhere. Can u put them in a song? Something easy like you are my sunshine. When i play back the tracks i cant tell whiçh chord is playing. So i never know which lick to play when, can u put up the chord changes with the back tracks ? Maybe just getting frustrated, i do like that your putting the licks in chord chànges, im not so lost that way so thank you. Im trying.So yikes help!

Thomas Respess
Thomas Respess(@tsr3phd)
2 years ago

Excellent approach. I like the lessons a lot!

Robert Fierro
Robert Fierro(@bitchbob)
2 years ago

Brother, I can’t download the file .I’ve printed out the entire beginning , including all the comments and your pic holding the guitar but the download button just spins onetime and then stops .

Jason Smalley
Jason Smalley(@jsmalley)
2 years ago

Great lessons and content!

Gerald Borchelt
Gerald Borchelt(@jerry-borchelt)
1 year ago

Hi Devin,

I’m really enjoying these lessons. I’m 77 years old and been playing most of my life. Maybe you can teach an old dog new tricks. I hope so anyway. By the way, great sounding Martin. What model is it. I’m playing an HD-28 right mow.

Éric Brousseau
8 months ago

I took a couplet of guitar courses on line the last 3 years. I didn’t progress. But since I’m here, I have improve my guitar playing to a point where it’s unbelievable. I wanna play strictly country and bluegrass. Most of the others courses on line make you play Hotel California. Thank for being there Devon.