In this guitar lesson, we’re going to start building the foundation you need to play country and bluegrass lead guitar all the way up and down the entire guitar neck. I’ll show you the main guitar scales you need to know and how you can move these scale patterns to change keys. We’re going to map out the guitar neck so you never get lost on the fretboard, and eventually, you’ll be able to play lead guitar over any song.
After you watch this lead guitar lesson, you should check out our Rhythm Fill Riffs and Lead Guitar Course where we expand upon the concepts covered in this lesson. We’ll talk more about the fundamental country guitar scales and I’ll show you how to use guitar scales to play lead guitar licks and country guitar solos.
We also have a nice collection of country guitar licks and bluegrass guitar licks that will take your country lead guitar to the next level.
Very good lesson Devin, helped me a bunch. I like the logical and systematic way you layed out the tab for all the scales in one place rather thank scattered thru a lot of different lessons like some sites. Looking forward to my time here. Your demonstration is also very good. Thanks,,Jerry
Thanks, really glad it’s helping out!
Devin,,,I am a little confused by the root note on this, you said the root is E, but the black dot on Pos 1 is on F?? Is this an open string? looks like your playing the first fret
to start???? I don’t see a place here on the site for questions so hope this is the right place. Jerry
Yep, you can post any questions in the lesson comment boxes…there’s a contact link hidden at the bottom of the page also, but the lesson comment boxes are probably the best… The scale charts can be kind of confusing, but for the 1st position E minor pentatonic scale, you’re right…you’ll start that scale position playing the root note at the open E string and not the 1st fret F. Right below each scale chart you’ll see the fret numbers written in small print..so you can play that 1st position E minor pentatonic scale down near the nut with open strings,… Read more »
Devin, when playing the scale in position #3 do you use your first finger on the sixth string 5th fret to start? or 2nd and use the 4th finger on 7? thanks
Hey Jerry – There’s no absolute correct fingering you have to use when you’re playing the scale, but I usually find myself using my first finger on the sixth string 5th fret and then my third finger on the 7th fret. A lot of the licks that I like to play in position #3 involve using my pointer and ring fingers right there, and I just feel stronger using those two fingers, but I’ll change up this fingering when I’m improvising depending on what licks I’m piecing together.
Devin, any chance of getting the major scales posted in this format? I am still learning those as well…
You can download a pdf of the major pentatonic scale charts under the “Scales” menu at the top of the site…I’ll have the lesson videos covering the major pentatonics posted here in the next month. I’m wrapping up the minor pentatonics lesson series, then that’s next on the list..
I was referring to a major seven tone scale not pentatonic, but that’s ok, I already downloaded your pdf of major pentatonic. I was under the impression you would need to be fluent in the regular major shapes first. How many are there? I know in the closed position they are all moveable is this all I need? thanks
Oh I see…you’re right, I think it’s a good idea to know the regular seven tone major shapes as well..especially for some of the more melodic country/bluegrass tunes. When I’m soloing, I usually just have the five positions of the major pentatonic scales in the back of my mind, then I’ve just figured out over time where the rest of the major scale notes are within each of those 5 positions…let me work on adding a pdf in the same format that breaks down the major scales.
Thanks so much Devin,, Jerry
strangely enough, I got this as a result of just googling “basics of lead guitar” – I already have a gold membership. Where do I find the rest of these? Like under what heading of lessons is this and where do I find the subsequent ones?
thx
Hey Joe,
I recorded this lesson a while ago, and since then, I’ve kind of broken up the lead guitar concepts in a couple of different courses that are more geared towards country/bluegrass stuff. The most popular course has been the Fill Riffs course –> https://countryguitaronline.com/rhythm-fills-and-lead-guitar-course/ and then there’s another course for bluegrass improvising that you might like as well –> https://countryguitaronline.com/bluegrass-improvising-guitar-course/
Plenty more lead guitar lessons on the way! Hope you enjoy the lessons and let me know if you have any other questions.
Have a good one –
Devin
So after this lesson , where do i have to go ? Penta or licks ? Starting with E then ?
I’d recommend the fill riff course or the bluegrass improvising course. Since this video, I’ve reworked the lead guitar course ideas but I like keeping this older video available because I still think it has some valuable info.
I ll have a look for sure , i ve Been working on the pentatonic scale this evening and then ado this bleu note , fuckin awesome. Back at it tomorrow
Hi Devin! Just wondering how to download the PDF for any of the scales – I don’t see the download button. . . thanks!