Lesson 4 – Rhythm Fill Riffs and Lead Guitar Course
Lesson ID: A0092
Up to this point, we’ve studied how you can use the 5th position major scale notes to create country and bluegrass riffs. Next, to make your riffs sound even more country, you need to mix in the 5th position G minor pentatonic scale. In this lesson video, we’re going to learn the 5th position of the G minor pentatonic scale and I’ll show you how to use it with your fill riffs and chord embellishments. In my opinion, the 5th position of the G minor pentatonic scale is the second most important position of the pentatonic scales when you’re playing country and bluegrass.
Lesson Video
| Video Start Time | Lesson Topic |
|---|---|
| 00:00 min | Lesson Overview |
| 02:16 min | Scale Chart Breakdown |
| 10:04 min | Switching Between Major & Minor Pentatonics |
| 14:21 min | 5th Position G Minor Pentatonic Scale |
| 16:33 min | “Man of Constant Sorrow” Fill Riffs |
Really great job explaining everything. This is exactly what I’m interested in learning right now. Glad I found your site!
I hope you keep adding more videos to this course!! This is really good stuff. Very good teaching and I like this style a lot. I’ve learned more the past few days with your videos than I have in a long time.
I’m still loving this series you’re working on. Keep it up!!
Thanks for your lessons, love the way you teach ??
Thanks Carl!
Isn’t the lick at 13:55 based on the blues scale ?c# to c not minor pentatonic ?
Yep there are some blues scale notes mixed in there…that little run is just to give some high level examples of the difference between the major pentatonic sound vs. the minor pentatonic sound. Later in the series we’ll go over the blues scale and tie it all together. Since the blues scale is basically the minor pentatonic scale with one extra note added per octave, not too much difference between the blues scale and minor pentatonic sound. Thanks for the comment…hope you’re enjoying the lessons! – Devin
I should of watched your next video first . Just thought I would mention it as it may confuse a newbie . Sorry to be so pedantic.
Yes Even though I’ve been playing a while, It good to go back over old ground as you’ll always learn stuff or look at things in a different way from someone else’s perspective .
The layout Of your site I’m most impressed with. Good stuff .
For sure…yeah it’s great seeing stuff through another musician’s eyes. It’s always really interesting to see how other people visualize the fretboard when they’re playing. I’ve learned some great stuff even from basic beginner lessons on YouTube just because the instructor brought a new viewpoint.
Thanks! Been spending a lot of time on site design so it’s nice to hear some positive feedback on it. Hope you keep enjoying the site. Nice Mando. Is that yours?
Yes. It’s my only endeavour at Luthery . I was aiming for a vintage kind of look . In the style of a violin. So it’s got the lipped edges like a violin . It’s not too bad to look at but more importantly it plays nice and has a good bluegrass sound.
That’s awesome. Looks like you did a detailed job. I’ve always wanted to build a guitar. Was there a big learning curve putting it all together? Seems like you’d have to have somebody show you how it’s done but maybe it’s doable following some sort of instructions..?
I think I picked one of the hardest instruments to make (talk about jumping in the deep end ) I have never made anything before like this, few cupboards in my van that’s about it . Carving the front and back was the hardest on your hands . Bending sides trickiest . I used a book . Siminoff . Mandolin construction and YouTube videos . It was very hit and miss to be honest just got lucky . I’m no luthier but it does give you greatest respect for real luthiers once you try it yourself . But like anything… Read more »
You actually carved the front and bent the sides, wow that’s amazing. Sounds like a ton of work. I guess a guitar would be easier since it’s got a flat top. Makes sense. Might take a stab at it someday.
Yes total build from planks of tone wood .
That is impressive
Devin, I am immensely grateful. Your teaching method is excellent, and for the first time I am actually getting closer to being able to sing and play at the same time. Still not as smooth as I would like, but there are moments where the rhythm takes over and everything feels natural (I never felt that before, so THANK YOU!) I still miss the occasional alternate bass string, but I feel that I am getting there.
Great stuff, Devin. Glad I joined. Note: Before signing up, I asked if you were going to do a lesson of fill riffs in the key of C. Now that I am into this, I see there is no need. Simply learn these scales in whatever key you want and GO.
Thanks for this enterprise. You are helping folks enjoy.
Thanks, glad you’re putting the lessons to good use! Your right on…once you learn the scales and figure out the formula for these fills, you can apply it to different keys fairly easily. Some of the scale shapes in different keys will have to be modified in the open position near the nut to fit, but figuring that out is part of the fun. I’m still planning to add fills in C and other keys soon to give y’all some good ideas. Thanks for the note – Devin
Just came across one of ur lessons on YouTube then went to web page, really good explanations of how to play guitar. Thanks so much, I’ve been looking for this level of instruction for about a year
I’ve been looking for this clear, to-the-point soloing instructions for over 15 years (and I’ve been a Jamplay member for a few years!)
your lessons are so well done and helpful! I have to tell you that ive been looking for books or online lessons etc for soloing or improvisation and the teachers play the music so well, but never show tabs so that the student can practice the same riffs ! when youask them to show the riffs and tabs all they say is” its improve and the purpose is for you to use your imagination” very frustrating! I love your lessons and will sign up for longer period! thankyou sir!!!
Man Of Constant Sorrow type Fiffs Are very useful thanks so much James J
Hello Devin- I wanted to take a quick minute, introduce myself, and say thank you for your lessons. I’ve been playing guitar for a lot of years, I put my time in, and consider myself a fairly competent guitar picker. However, I’m still missing a lot of pieces to the whole puzzle. I signed up back in January and have throughly and slowly been making my way through the strumming and lead courses. There is some tremendously useful information in both of those courses. One area that I knew I needed some improvement in was with scales. I’ve messed around… Read more »
Hey Scott! Thanks for your message! I’m right there with you…I’m always fascinated with how other people practice too. Sounds like you’re on the right track with the scales and learning the neck. It’s all about learning a small bit of info each day and before you know it you will have come a really long way. I also think you’re right when you say not one size fits all as far as a practice routine goes. For me, my practice routine is usually pretty random. Most days I just click play on a country & bluegrass Spotify playlist and… Read more »
Devin,
Loving your lessons! Just out of curiouity, since this is a G minor pentatonic scale, why do you start the scale on the 6th string first fret and not the 6th sting 3rd fret?
Thanks!
Awesome, glad you’re enjoying the lessons! You could start the scale on the 3rd fret if you want since that’s the root note G. I guess I play the notes of that position starting on the 6th string 1st fret so I don’t forget that the note there is part of the scale and that I can play it when I’m improvising riffs in G…and honestly, I really don’t play the scales up and down much at all these days. I mostly just see the scale shapes and know what notes I can play in each position. If you like… Read more »
Got it! Thank you!
great lesson on mixing minor and major.
Most of the Time it is G C D .. is there another chord suiting in this pack of 3 chords
Devin – how do you get your speed up to where you are playing on the video. Sometimes you cannot tell one eight note from the other eight note.
Do you have a practice regime that you can recommend?
Great lessons, Devon. One thing I don’t get so far – position 1 starts on the first note of the G scale on the low E string, position 2 starts on the second note of the G scale, position 3 starts on the third note, but then position 4 starts on the fifth note of the scale, and position 5 starts on the 6th note of the scale. Is there any reason to try to make sense of how the “positions” are numbered? Just trying to soak in the best way to remember all this stuff.
It may be helpful to check out the key of E minor pentatonic scale positions here https://countryguitaronline.com/minor-pentatonic-scales/ and I’ll attach a pic below. When you’re in the key of E, the positions one through five of the minor pentatonic scale shapes will be all in a row along the guitar neck moving from the guitar nut to the sound hole. One thing to keep in mind…on the attached chart, Position One in the key of E is shown starting at the 12th fret…you can play Position One at the 12th fret like you see it in the attached chart, and… Read more »
Thanks Devin, I’ll check all this out….
Devin,
I just join a few days ago. Just watching these first videos in this series has done so much for me already. I have been trying to teach myself guitar for decades. I have bought tons of books and have seen these pentatonic scales put in front of me numerous times. But none have made it applicable like you have in just these first few videos. Thank you so much for putting this material out here.
Bobby
Devin, I am a recent member, and I really like the way that you developed the courses to build on each other. Not too fast, but challenging (to a beginner at this). I am looking forward to getting to the point that I actually get it and muscle memory takes over- I know that is a long ways off, but with the structured steps I do believe it will occur. thanks for all the work that you put into these lessons.
Devin’s CGO coarse is probably one of the Best out there He explains everything so you can understand.
I’ve learned more in a short time than all the others I’ve taken.
Thankyou Devin
Thank you so much for what you’re teaching! It’s definitely been most helpful. I’ve recommended your site to several different people.
I play rhythm for my family’s bluegrass/gospel band but really want to take lead guitar breaks.
Your site is definitely helping me head in that direction.
Thanks again!
I was cruising right along until I got to this lesson, lol. I kept on with the following lessons for a while but I’ve come back to this one and listened to it over and over working to understand and follow every element. For a beginner like me, this is a huge step and I want to have the kind of dexterity with finger picking that I see seasoned musicians like you have. I am getting glimpses of this transition coming. Compared to basic rhythm guitar, timing and vocals, learning scales and learning how to apply the timing and rhythm… Read more »
Where can I find a backing track for this erison of Manon constant sorrow?
Wow bad typing lol sorry meant Man of constant sorrow backing track for this version?
Hi Devin,
I’m very new here and don’t usually post online comments like this. However, your excellent guitar lessons really do deserve all the praise they get. I know I’m simply echoing what others have said here before me, but after years of playing guitar and hoping for some sort of musical eureka moment to magically click into place for me, it finally happened…when I came across your amazing lessons!! I cannot thank you enough.
Alan