Guthrie Govan on the Pitfalls of Scale Shapes

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  • Опубліковано 25 чер 2020
  • Back in December 2014, we caught up with guitar virtuoso, Guthrie Govan who shared some of his wisdom. Here, Guthrie highlights the importance of phrasing when learning new scale shapes. Learn more about DIME ONLINE courses at www.dime-online.org

КОМЕНТАРІ • 190

  • @diamondbreak
    @diamondbreak 3 роки тому +560

    This is the man who should be recorded as much as possible for the next generations to recognize.

    • @vulfkachnanajza4483
      @vulfkachnanajza4483 3 роки тому +14

      I like the fact that you still have so much faith on the next generation considering all the electronic music that they listen to today.

    • @Citizen_JQP
      @Citizen_JQP 3 роки тому +1

      Agreed

    • @theworsttake
      @theworsttake 3 роки тому +17

      @@vulfkachnanajza4483 electric guitars aren't exactly gregorian chants are they

    • @overtonesnteatime198
      @overtonesnteatime198 3 роки тому +3

      He is a genius

    • @Ace-dv5ce
      @Ace-dv5ce 2 роки тому

      @@theworsttake They are the epitome of that

  • @ultrahighgain412
    @ultrahighgain412 3 роки тому +269

    As great a player as he is, he might be an even better teacher. Love his attitude and wisdom regarding music.

    • @kimmossige263
      @kimmossige263 3 роки тому +6

      Other good teacher (which I might consider as the best I've ever seen) is Frank Gambale. Check him out.

    • @devonboes2376
      @devonboes2376 Рік тому +1

      My favorite thing is he is excited to teach people new things even if over a video. Probably super nice in person too

    • @Morten6842
      @Morten6842 4 місяці тому

      Loved his old guitar techniques column. 👍

  • @steveg6035
    @steveg6035 3 роки тому +60

    the trick in absorbing Guthrie's lessons is to not just give up playing after watching him

    • @ogmakefirefiregood
      @ogmakefirefiregood 8 місяців тому

      I would love to take lessons from him. Just please don't show up at my next gig, Guthrie 😂

    • @AstroSully
      @AstroSully 6 місяців тому +2

      Guthrie is good he actually inspires me to pick up my guitar 😂

    • @jasondub-is-on.
      @jasondub-is-on. 3 місяці тому

      😁

  • @AydinZahedi
    @AydinZahedi 3 роки тому +73

    When I see a Guthrie video I like the video first and then I watch it.

  • @sayanorasonic
    @sayanorasonic 3 роки тому +244

    His loops always blows my mind... He's so good at it

    • @3allz
      @3allz 3 роки тому +25

      Its funny how hes been doing loops for almost 20 years. My brother went to ACM in Guildford for 2/3 years back in 2004ish and Guthrie was one of his tutors. When my brother would come back home I'd hear stories of this guy called Guthrie who is just mind blowingly good... Sometimes, whilst everyone is still entering the class and walking to their seats, Guthrie would already been in the room messing around with some tune he's improvised and looped, not realising how insane he is, haha.
      Fast forward to 2008ish and the dawn of UA-cam, its been great watching Guthrie get the recognition he deserves. Remember even being salty that HE should be part of the G3 tours etc, and how awesome it would be... Years later, now everyone knows how amazing he is.
      And lastly, do you know who else studied at ACM Guildford and made a career out of using loops? Ed Sheerhan hahaha

    • @stratosaurusrex3399
      @stratosaurusrex3399 3 роки тому +3

      3allz I love stories like this. My friend also went to ACM when GG was there. He would always tell me that this guy was just ridiculous. Like, you name it, he could do it. I’ve followed GG’s career ever since I discovered the first video I ever saw and heard him, which was the Larry Carlton track one.

    • @ghophuckurselves3562
      @ghophuckurselves3562 3 роки тому +15

      His loops are better than most bands full compositions. He really is a guitar philosopher

    • @aussiecoastie72
      @aussiecoastie72 3 роки тому +2

      He’s brilliant at everything !

    • @Aardvarked88
      @Aardvarked88 3 роки тому +4

      @@3allz with respect, anyone even remotely plugged into the UK guitar scene in the early 00s knew Guthrie was an amazing player, even if it was just through his work on Guitar Techniques magazine.

  • @luismiramirez
    @luismiramirez 3 роки тому +26

    He does in 2 minutes what others try to do in series of 3 masterclasses. This man is a living legend.

  • @JM-co6rf
    @JM-co6rf 3 роки тому +66

    note to self: A_minor is a quality key

    • @davefx7949
      @davefx7949 3 роки тому +5

      C major is too, I've heard....

    • @mido3ontheway
      @mido3ontheway 3 роки тому +4

      @@davefx7949 E phrygian as well..

    • @axelbelbrun9729
      @axelbelbrun9729 2 роки тому +3

      Well, I love D Dorian..

    • @bitcoinman9202
      @bitcoinman9202 2 роки тому

      F# WHOLE TONE AUGMENTED

    • @sbeast64
      @sbeast64 Рік тому +1

      D minor: sad
      A minor: quality
      E minor: IRON MAIDEN

  • @wagzzzz
    @wagzzzz 3 роки тому +13

    A musical genius. I could listen to him all day

  • @joshjones9087
    @joshjones9087 3 роки тому +22

    Is there not 1 big video of this particular series we can watch with all of his wondrous wizard like knowledge? These 2 minute videos leave me wanting more 😢

  • @Quicksilver_Cookie
    @Quicksilver_Cookie 3 роки тому +11

    The way Guthrie speaks is a great reflection of his playing and composing. It's quite eloquent and elegant. Who else could describe a key as "quality key", and you think yes that totally makes sense.

    • @Jonpoo1
      @Jonpoo1 3 роки тому +1

      Yeah the dude is obviously smart af

  • @diestra_music
    @diestra_music 19 днів тому

    this video ended so suddenly it was like a slap in the face with wisdom

  • @jarrodgeikie870
    @jarrodgeikie870 3 роки тому +10

    Some of them licks were so freakin good! Damn that's some funky blues

  • @hearpalhere
    @hearpalhere 3 роки тому

    What an amazing musician and always has the best advice! Thank you for sharing this.

  • @Jonpoo1
    @Jonpoo1 3 роки тому +15

    This video haunts me. Every time I do a scale run with poor phrasing I hear Guthrie laugh and ask “.. why?”

    • @willem9688
      @willem9688 3 місяці тому

      Haha nice Also with me now.

  • @Kwb1982
    @Kwb1982 3 роки тому +16

    "Check out what I can do now!"
    "Why?"

    • @yardy88
      @yardy88 2 роки тому

      This was easily the funniest way of explaining that particular problem lol

  • @YouTw1tFace
    @YouTw1tFace 3 роки тому +77

    It says “pitfall” of scale shapes. It does not say “don’t learn scale shapes.”
    Everyone learns them by shape at first - everyone. It’s how you learn to play them after you learn them by shape. He’s basically saying don’t do three notes per string scale runs. Learn to be fluid and melodic.

    • @kimmossige263
      @kimmossige263 3 роки тому +8

      I agree. I could never do the things on a guitar that I do today if it weren't for the five shapes of pentatonics back in the days. They are the walls of a house, and the musicality in between is the interior.

    • @Johncowk
      @Johncowk 3 роки тому +2

      @@kimmossige263 I've always referred to the penta as the skeleton, but walls of a house is an even better analogy haha

    • @DanGarGuitar
      @DanGarGuitar 3 роки тому +6

      Definitely, I don't think you can have the level of control that Guthrie has on the guitar without practicing scales and getting the muscle memory, once you have that it's really easy to come out with more musical phrases which for me would be the next step.

    • @samdixon6433
      @samdixon6433 3 роки тому +1

      I started learning shapes but quickly switched to slide guitar and learned everything horizontally on every string. Now I navigate the whole fretboard with and without slide having no need for or awareness of the shapes! I recommend learning scales horizontally to new players, with slide especially.

  • @Jaysinghtherockstar
    @Jaysinghtherockstar 3 роки тому +25

    Even his so called most obvious stuff @1:03 sounds much more musical than an average professional's special stuff.

  • @michael_caz_nyc
    @michael_caz_nyc 3 роки тому +3

    I love this guy. What an incredible guitar player.

  • @petethegreekre
    @petethegreekre 3 роки тому

    Ok, this content has opened my mind. Thanks.

  • @turdhat
    @turdhat 3 роки тому +1

    His bending and phrasing blows my mind.

  • @aimfuldrifter
    @aimfuldrifter Рік тому +2

    Another incredibly accurate (though quite obvious) observation from Guthrie. Would listen to the guy for hours.

  • @Marco-bh9im
    @Marco-bh9im Рік тому +4

    Guthrie is a musical genius and the way he explains things is second to none. Love everything he plays but how he plays it, simply too good!

  • @luigicannizzo2669
    @luigicannizzo2669 3 роки тому

    Very Important Lesson. .. Great Sound' s and Touch Filling. .. Thank' s so Much Mr. Govan ... ☺😊😀/💙💙💙/👍👌👏

  • @ObeseModetoBeastMode
    @ObeseModetoBeastMode 3 роки тому +18

    He’s exceptionally talented and humorous. 😂

  • @cnrbsmth
    @cnrbsmth 3 роки тому +2

    He is such a good teacher, I wish I was as articulate!

  • @dainecarlisle3341
    @dainecarlisle3341 Рік тому

    These are so fantastic and helpful.

  • @LeoTraeger
    @LeoTraeger 3 роки тому

    last part is so eloquent and well said

  • @briandennehy6380
    @briandennehy6380 3 роки тому +12

    Oh Dime Group you beauties!!

  • @juankmarte4046
    @juankmarte4046 3 роки тому +6

    Dude al these new videos are awesome! Great stuff!

  • @jcout25
    @jcout25 4 місяці тому

    This hits the nail on the head, for me. My biggest struggle with learning the modes was not the notes themselves, but the practical application. I still haven't gotten it down. But one day!

  • @Presticles1
    @Presticles1 3 роки тому +4

    Why doesn't this guy have millions of views?

  • @daddyrifflord
    @daddyrifflord 7 місяців тому

    Great lesson!!

  • @aussiecoastie72
    @aussiecoastie72 3 роки тому

    Extremely talented and wise man 👨 🎸

  • @coreymihailiuk5189
    @coreymihailiuk5189 3 роки тому +1

    Absolutely great advice from a world class player who also just happens to be a world class teacher.

  • @syznkrm
    @syznkrm 2 роки тому

    Absolutely love the way he thinks. Maybe that’s why he can do possibly any genre.

  • @lovebassets868
    @lovebassets868 3 роки тому

    Amazing!

  • @mattiasjansson733
    @mattiasjansson733 3 роки тому

    Everytime l see him speak and play I'll get a Paul Gilbert vibe. Nice guys who are great teachers.

  • @NONE2NONE
    @NONE2NONE 3 роки тому +10

    I love when he makes fun of people. He's referencing me in every punchline

  • @ShaneChaffin
    @ShaneChaffin 7 місяців тому

    this guy gets it

  • @brainiac.computer
    @brainiac.computer 3 роки тому +2

    Where is the rest of this vid? It was getting to the good part!

  • @ogmakefirefiregood
    @ogmakefirefiregood 8 місяців тому

    "The obvious stuff" was in itself a masterclass in bending.

  • @bluwng
    @bluwng 3 роки тому

    He was a bedroom guitarist on UA-cam. One positive thing for this platform is discovering this genius.

  • @fragtagninja1633
    @fragtagninja1633 3 роки тому

    Damn this guy is awesome.

  • @joewoodhead2712
    @joewoodhead2712 9 місяців тому

    Probably the greatest piece of advice I've ever heard in regards to guitar improvisation. But he's also just identified the greatest struggle a guitarist will ever face.. Making the modes sound natural and intuitive is something special.
    Then you realise all the exotic scales have 7 modes as well..... Then you cry and the real work begins xD

  • @notsure1135
    @notsure1135 Рік тому

    It’s a right of passage, just getting out of it now. Finding modal pentatonics to sweep and strings to skip. I bend and vibrate a bit so it helps.

  • @buckycore
    @buckycore 3 роки тому +2

    I swear, one could create an audio meditation series to fall asleep too entitled *Guthrie talks about guitar stuff*

  • @martlgr
    @martlgr 3 роки тому +1

    Wow! He’s just explained my playing in a 2 minute video

  • @jimkass9331
    @jimkass9331 3 роки тому

    Last tip was amazingly helpful

  • @JCleggy
    @JCleggy 3 роки тому +10

    Guthrie Govan is my hero.

  • @overtonesnteatime198
    @overtonesnteatime198 3 роки тому +1

    Hahaha i love when he just rips it and is like whyy? Lol 😂 too tru.

  • @RogerSullivanNOLA
    @RogerSullivanNOLA 3 роки тому

    So true. Modes are just a tool in the box, not the end goal.

    • @jonelordieta7573
      @jonelordieta7573 3 роки тому

      I spent years thinking I should 'do' modes, but just not understanding them at all, and they just sounded like shit when I tried to use them...until I saw a Guthrie video where he talked about them as just the pentaonic with 2 extra notes...notes which might sound a little 'off' if you focus on them, but will sound right if you just use them while going to a more 'right' note. He said to use them like a dimmer, to fade them in and out with different levels of strength and accent, rather than an on'off switch. two minutes to teach me what I hadn't understood in 15 years. Such a great teacher.

  • @MrTonemaster
    @MrTonemaster 3 роки тому +15

    "...A minor, a quality key...aww I guess that sounds A minor enough."
    🤣

  • @jamiemacmillan4056
    @jamiemacmillan4056 3 роки тому +1

    You know this is exactly what is wrong with my lead guitar playing. I really wish I had a better ear for recognising pitch because if I did and I learnt the location of every note on my guitar I could play what's in my head sonically, not visually

    • @gustanoid
      @gustanoid 3 роки тому

      agreed. I have insane solos in my head which I can not transfer to fretboard

    • @NeesyPlaysGuitar
      @NeesyPlaysGuitar 3 роки тому

      @@gustanoid everyone does 😂 even non musicians. That's the literal metric by which we measure effectiveness, how well you can express yourself on the instrument. It can be learned. Try practicing instead of lamenting!

    • @notsure1135
      @notsure1135 Рік тому

      Try skipping strings and starting on the 2nd degree of the scale when you skip and then the fourth degree on the next skipped string for the fuck of it.

  • @Cring0r
    @Cring0r 3 роки тому

    so is there a guitar course with dime where we can get access to the rest of these Guthrie lessons in full?

  • @ShredST
    @ShredST 3 роки тому +5

    He's such a great guitar player. I wish he would put out more music. It's really sucks that he will probably no longer work with Steven Wilson again. This is a great lesson, but it's the same stuff that he's been talking about for at least 8 years.

    • @metalheadblues
      @metalheadblues 3 роки тому

      Was there some issue with him and Wilson?

    • @ShredST
      @ShredST 3 роки тому

      @@metalheadblues the impression I got was that there was some drama between Wilson and Marco Minnemann, and Guthrie is in a band with Marco, so he's kinda dragged into it.

    • @michaelciancetta6397
      @michaelciancetta6397 3 роки тому

      @@ShredST Guthrie and Minnemann are just two clowns and that's why they will leave nothing behind them in terms of music..

    • @ShredST
      @ShredST 3 роки тому +1

      @@michaelciancetta6397 you on the other hand left me feeling slightly nauseous so i guess that's something, steven wilson fan.

    • @georgeeldridge7954
      @georgeeldridge7954 3 роки тому +1

      Michael Ciancetta and you are ?????

  • @Hadri_ART
    @Hadri_ART 3 роки тому

    This man knows

  • @barakahfactor
    @barakahfactor 3 роки тому +3

    The solution is take those notes that make modes distinct, and insert them into the pentatonic shapes. Like maj 6th into minor pentatonic for Dorian flavor

    • @zaqintosh
      @zaqintosh 3 роки тому

      Bingo! It took me a long time to realize I should give up practicing modes as scales. If I want to make a Lydian sound, I add a sharp 4th into my licks / melodies

  • @benaiahwright937
    @benaiahwright937 3 роки тому

    Mr. Govan is great and inspiring. Unlike many other musicians on UA-cam who a great but make me want to quit. I wonder why that is???🤔

  • @johananizan4785
    @johananizan4785 3 роки тому

    Is there an 'auto-like' function in UA-cam for every Guthrie Govan video? Coz I would prefer that.

  • @M2Mil7er
    @M2Mil7er 3 роки тому +3

    the Jeremy Irons of guitar.

  • @RaffaeleSansone
    @RaffaeleSansone 3 роки тому

    My A minor pentatonic framework doesn't look like that though

  • @ricklanders
    @ricklanders 3 роки тому +8

    LMAO!! THIS IS SO TRUE!! But what is the answer? Ditch the modes and learn chord tones/arps?

    • @Guppusmaximus
      @Guppusmaximus 3 роки тому +2

      I believe he gave the answer at the end of the video. To make everything you learn sound as natural / fluid as the stuff you are already good at. Which, imho, underscores his mentality about your own voice on the instrument. I believe he mentioned the same thing years ago that he's not interested in "erasing" you from the instrument which supports the statement in this video about technical ability over musicality.In the end, I think he's saying that you have to have a musical vision NOT just a desire to learn. Just my .02

  • @stillnessinmovement
    @stillnessinmovement 3 роки тому

    for a minute i didn't realize he was using a looper...I knew he was good, but holy cow!

  • @ayoungethan
    @ayoungethan 3 роки тому +4

    Great phrasing vs Running through scales is the musical equivalent of the difference between coherent communication and word vomit.

  • @KevinTheCardigan
    @KevinTheCardigan 25 днів тому

    But why did the video stop?

  • @adirsab
    @adirsab Рік тому

    🐐

  • @whynottalklikeapirat
    @whynottalklikeapirat 3 роки тому +2

    I am at a scalemate

  • @peymanzarei1808
    @peymanzarei1808 Рік тому

    how can someone take classes with him in 2023 ? i mean private classes

  • @yuzkramer
    @yuzkramer 3 місяці тому

    what looper pedal did he use?

  • @ikrammaududi6205
    @ikrammaududi6205 3 роки тому

    That loop...
    How is that possible?

  • @caponi14
    @caponi14 3 роки тому +8

    "A minor... a quality key" Hahahahah :D

  • @jameskavanagh4300
    @jameskavanagh4300 3 роки тому +2

    At 02:03 a tasteful player comes back for a 2nd lesson having become Yngwie Malmsteen

  • @balintpalhegyi6864
    @balintpalhegyi6864 3 роки тому

    Imagine him being your guitar teacher

  • @5hinobiGaijin
    @5hinobiGaijin 3 роки тому

    Guthrie plays West LA Fadeaway by the Grateful Dead.

  • @gkniffen
    @gkniffen 3 роки тому +16

    This lesson is sooooooo true lol

    • @Deliquescentinsight
      @Deliquescentinsight 3 роки тому +2

      I find Guthrie tends to speak cold, hard sense in a very novel manner

  • @j.p.7708
    @j.p.7708 3 роки тому

    1:05 I guess the obvious stuff is to play this...... proceeds to in compass Albert King, B.B. King, Hendrix and Clapton in one tiny riff. 🤷🏼‍♂️ What sorcery is this magician using?🎸🇨🇦

  • @Deliquescentinsight
    @Deliquescentinsight 3 роки тому +1

    Once again, use your ears, choose musical options which inform the music and provide objective context

  • @joerectifier
    @joerectifier Рік тому +1

    Can we just stop messing around and assign the term “The Wizard” to this fella. He is a mystical quantity with his level of knowledge and articulation

  • @DimitriMoreira
    @DimitriMoreira Рік тому

    Just like Hendrix and Paco de Lucía before them, Guthrie on the electric and Yamandu Costa on the acoustic today. Gods. Simple as that.

  • @mumenrider862
    @mumenrider862 3 роки тому +2

    I'd love to take lessons from Guthrie and Josh Smith. Oh, and once in a while Robben Ford.

    • @VictoriaIndyTV
      @VictoriaIndyTV 3 роки тому

      I'm sure Guthrie and Josh would love to take lessons from Robben too.
      :)

  • @canuckeh782
    @canuckeh782 3 роки тому +1

    1:03 " You would obviously play this " Me " sure why would'nt I

  • @songwriterscove4515
    @songwriterscove4515 Рік тому

    The loop he laid down even though it was a minor sounded to me like it was meant for the major scale, LOL

  • @mannyfragoza9652
    @mannyfragoza9652 3 роки тому

    I know nothing about modes or scales but when i solo it seems to all workout.I prob learn the worst way ever and that is by trying to memorize all the notes on the fretboard and know what it will sound like before i pay them.

  • @zaqintosh
    @zaqintosh 3 роки тому

    Could you guys post the rest of this video ? Kind of sucks you don’t let us watch the part where he actually explains how to incorporate modes into our vocabulary. Basically a video that says “don’t learn scales” isn’t saying a whole lot

  • @cosmicsea89
    @cosmicsea89 3 роки тому +1

    "All of their phrasing has just evaporated" buurrrrnn

  • @Sonofbishop
    @Sonofbishop 3 роки тому +6

    Gunthrie: The obvious thing to play over that. (Starts shredding sounding amazing)
    Me: ..... I must be oblivious 🤦🏽‍♂️😭

  • @Rude1911
    @Rude1911 11 місяців тому

    I love uppers too

  • @uctube5502
    @uctube5502 11 місяців тому

    So obvious really like if you have A lemon play A blues

  • @AbhayNayak
    @AbhayNayak 6 місяців тому

    The idea of his "obvious" is what I aspire to be one day lol

  • @JDNicoll
    @JDNicoll 3 роки тому

    For the loopers out there: turn Ableton Live into a 16+ channel looper: m.ua-cam.com/video/NCEx5mT-2UY/v-deo.html

  • @GaryBradleymusic
    @GaryBradleymusic Рік тому

    Look what I can do! Weedle, weedle, weedle 🤣🤣🤣 So true 😁🤟

  • @MarkLambertMusic
    @MarkLambertMusic 3 роки тому

    Guitar is the only instrument I know of where the vast majority of players get away without ever learning what the individual notes are across all the fingerings. It's such a ridiculously simple thing to learn that takes little time, but the guitar makes it easy to fall into the shapes trap early on and never progress beyond that.

    • @starthrashinferno1
      @starthrashinferno1 3 роки тому +2

      This. Most people dont realize that it takes just 2 weeks of focused practice to get the notes down. Improvising over changes becomes a breeze after that since you aren't burdening your brain with large diatonic shapes, and focusing on playing the sounds in your head. Its a liberating feeling

  • @7Earthsky
    @7Earthsky 3 роки тому +1

    In a nut shell...Learning the scale is only the start....You have to phrase them with techniques.

  • @serajulislam5580
    @serajulislam5580 3 роки тому +1

    Guthrie: The most obvious stuff to play, of course.
    *plays some alien ass bluesy A minor shit I've ever heard*
    Me: What the??! :O

  • @gregmatchett7110
    @gregmatchett7110 3 роки тому

    What's on the nut of his guitar?

    • @jacksoncroyce6063
      @jacksoncroyce6063 2 роки тому +1

      It's a string dampener. Shredders use them to eliminate rogue drone notes when playing, only the notes you fret will sound and the rest stay mute.

  • @TheLochs
    @TheLochs 3 роки тому

    Don't let the scale play you, you play the scale.

  • @estebanguzmanmusic
    @estebanguzmanmusic 3 роки тому +1

    The one and only mad sweep picker is the one who thumbs downed this video.

  • @judowrestlerka
    @judowrestlerka 3 роки тому +1

    If John The Baptist played guitar.

  • @TJTinerella
    @TJTinerella 3 роки тому

    Everytime I watch Guthrie...I think he should be time portaled back to 1968 and become the lead guitarist for Jethro Tull....lol

  • @steemothy
    @steemothy 2 роки тому

    "show me modes"