When I was 20 years old, I had a guitar teacher that told me I'd never be a guitar player. I have ADHD and it was very difficult. He said he'd been teaching guitar for 30 years and I should take up playing harmonica maybe. I know I couldn't learn from him... and that was excluded. 50 years later I can understand the way that you teach. I'm inspired and thank you.
Wow, thank you so much! What that other teacher told you was awful. Music is about joy and fun. Enjoy playing and it'll love you back. Thanks again for the kind comment!
@@MarkZabelSame here, thanks for what you’re doing… ADHD sucks despite some advantages it does have which are very few. Thanks for making learning easier.
That old teacher can f off. Literally any one and everyone can play guitar you just gotta work at it. Us ADHD people sometimes gotta work a bit harder or differently. But creativity often comes easier for us.
I’ll make this my practice today. I’m a half ass intermediate player. I have dexterity but lack chord knowledge and only know 2 scales. Inner rhythm and ear are spot on. Playing 40 years and plan to finally see this through properly. I’ll check out your lessons as well. Thanks from Atlanta
I don't distinguish "scales" from "chords" and all that crap. I mean, I do understand the difference, to me the chords are the backbone, but the rest of just melody & "fills." As far as a metronome, I use it once in a while to "check" my timing is still intact. I just never needed it. I learn best by ear. Sometimes, with complicated or fast parts, the music (or tabs) is helpful to learn the right notes, but then I depend on my ear to get the phrasing and rhythm correct.
@@jeffro. Exactly. It’s like the tabs are a reference point, sometimes just not totally accurate, then noodling around it with the ear leading the way to it. I can spot a mistake on any cover run, fill, solo, etc and it really sticks out. Just need my hands to be as talented as my ears!
Thank you for this lesson. I can play a 12-bar blues and know the chords, but sometimes I find it difficult to develop ideas to play rhythm and riffs (lead parts). This lesson has given me a way to look at it differently. I hope you'll do more like this.
Think in terms of a call and response. The chord (in this video) is the call, and the lead lick is the response. It's a good groove to make your lead lines sound more "professional." ✌️
@buddhamus Thanks for the feedback. This was a first lesson on this technique. I'll do more - especially if this is received well. It's honestly transformative if you take it seriously. Master the basics of this and it will repay huge dividends!
Very helpful...i asked a seasoned guitarist how did you get so good? He replied "one bite at a time" that's what your 6 minute lessons are all about!!... By the way thank you for your breakdown of wayward son, it's a work in progress but i found your lesson the best
Thank you as always, Mr. Zabel - Succinct, informative, and imminently useful, great help for the beginners to intermediate players, and a great reminder to old guys like me with these embarrassing episodes of CRS that occur just as we sit down and start playing! P.S. - Do ignore the occasional complainer asking for foreshortened presentations, who seems to be raised on 30 second Tic-Tok shorts, possessing the attention span of a flatworm. Your videos, of any length, are quality information, and your introductions and asides are both instructive and entertaining!
I made a comment, then i was going to add to it. But now i can't find it! Oh, well. I like the way you started out saying not to freak out about it. I apply that strategy to every aspect of my life! I also like using the different voicings of the chords for the 2nd measure. I just think of those as the "upper parts" of the same chords, so i already know them. The only part i didn't like was using the same riff over & over, but i do understand that's a good strategy for someone just learning this stuff. I guess I'm a little beyond this lesson, but i still got value from it. Thanks, Mark! Especially for taking the time to provide free content. I get value from a lot of your shorts, little riffs and such. Plus, you inspired me to learn the lead (and chord structure first) to Rock This Town by the Stray Cats! Thanks for all you do! You're an awesome player, and teacher. Your make it all simple.
Thanks. Yes, this is a first video on how one might approach this. Using the same lick is a great way to start for two reasons. 1. It's relatively easy, and 2. It speaks to an audience well. (Guitarists love to over-play. Audiences love simple things they understand. Simple can be played in a beautiful way also.) Anyway, this is just a start. Hoping to do a few more of these! Thanks for watching!
One of Hendrix's idols as well. Buddy Miles once mentioned in an interview that he and Jimi would hang out to jam at the NCO club when they were in the army. When they were mapping out how they would split the sound, Hendrix told Buddy to "be like Wes Montgomery and I'll be like Kenny Burrell."
@@RelicOnMaui A lot of seriously talented guitar slingers in country music. Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Roy Clark . . . those are some people that can sit on the Jedi Council with Hendrix, SRV and Otis Rush any day of the week.
Awesome. I know, right? It's often the obvious things that escape us. Glad it was helpful. Hey, I'd love to try your picks! (small ones in any event). Would be happy to give you at least a shout out. I'm tired of the "cult of the Dunlop Jazz II". LOL. Let me know if you could make me a small pick starter kit. Think it's really cool you're making them!
You always blow my mind on what and how you teach, (67 and playing off n on sense age 18) so much so that I’ll forgive you for using the "game changer" description…..
Great lesson Mark! I know you know this but I just want to say that the people who are critical of your teaching style in the comments are the necessary evil that goes along with the territory now days. Please don't let any body discourage you. 🙂
Thanks brother. I do know, but it's nice to have a kind comment to balance out the negativity. What's interesting to me is that the people who are giving advice are so sure that their advice will benefit me, while it's really just a, "Why aren't you doing what I want you to do" sort of perspective. Does it really not dawn on people that my "storytelling style" is done on purpose? (To optimize both learning AND video performance.) In any event, thank you for the encouragement. It truly makes a difference. No matter what anyone says, we take comments seriously, and yours was helpful!
For the record: I enjoy your "storytelling style". I also commend the way you craft your lessons. I understand that keeping the audience as long as possible is good for your channel analytics. Keep up the great work friend.
@@MarkZabel Ah yes, I played one, with humbuckers. It felt quirky sounding, but the p90s are great in that guitar. Sounds like you rolled the tone back some as well.
Hi Mark, I've been playing guitar for over 50 years with a missing index finger, (half of it) I lost it in 69 fooling around with fireworks. Two years later at a rock concert I saw Humble Pie and said, I want to play guitar. I had a friend You wanted to teach me, but with my right hand, I couldn't switch hands, so my friend taught me with my left hand. Believe me I struggle with some chord progressions, but I persevered. I'm saying all this because I love the simplicity of your teaching style. I did pick up a couple of few awesome pointers following you. Here a short video of me playing. Watch "Retro Fire Band, Black Magic Women" on UA-cam ua-cam.com/video/blSmW4NGe3U/v-deo.html God bless. Peace brother✌🏽
Hey Mark --- I'm a big fan and admirer of your videos and your great teaching skills. However, I have to make a comment about the backing track. Is this Band In A Box? To my ears the bass is wrong for several reasons. Bad bass tone, detracts from the overall sound, playing too many notes, and doesn't lay back and just play simple. Can this be adjusted or tuned out? BIAB has poor bass tracks, especially their jazz.
Nice guitar looks sounds good and good guy but these lil lessons would be so much more watchable if you would get to the point faster. The stuff you teach at the bitter end.... just show it from the get go....chop chop time is money and there's too much info now to dither with......get in get the money and get out! Make your point man! DO IT NOW o course do what you want ....i will too.... .i JUST GAVE U GOOD ADVICE THO...maybe u should take it
The entire video was 6 minutes long. I don't how quickly you expect someone to get to the point, but I find these (extremely short) videos entertaining and informative, and I've been playing a long time and usually know much of the stuff.
@BopKitBill Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep doing what I'm doing for the time being, as mine are among the shortest lessons on UA-cam AND they provide context. As a teacher of over 40 years, I've learned context is vital for learning and I won't eschew it. Honestly, thanks for your feedback. Feel free to skip ahead or avoid.
When I was 20 years old, I had a guitar teacher that told me I'd never be a guitar player. I have ADHD and it was very difficult. He said he'd been teaching guitar for 30 years and I should take up playing harmonica maybe. I know I couldn't learn from him... and that was excluded. 50 years later I can understand the way that you teach. I'm inspired and thank you.
Wow, thank you so much! What that other teacher told you was awful. Music is about joy and fun. Enjoy playing and it'll love you back. Thanks again for the kind comment!
@@MarkZabelSame here, thanks for what you’re doing… ADHD sucks despite some advantages it does have which are very few. Thanks for making learning easier.
I have/had ADHD. I had to teach myself
That old teacher can f off. Literally any one and everyone can play guitar you just gotta work at it. Us ADHD people sometimes gotta work a bit harder or differently. But creativity often comes easier for us.
It’s because marks the man
I’ll make this my practice today. I’m a half ass intermediate player. I have dexterity but lack chord knowledge and only know 2 scales. Inner rhythm and ear are spot on. Playing 40 years and plan to finally see this through properly. I’ll check out your lessons as well. Thanks from Atlanta
Thanks. Have fun with it!
Helps to learn the scales in your head, humming/singing them before you reach for your guitar.. so you don't depend on "patterns"
I don't distinguish "scales" from "chords" and all that crap. I mean, I do understand the difference, to me the chords are the backbone, but the rest of just melody & "fills."
As far as a metronome, I use it once in a while to "check" my timing is still intact. I just never needed it.
I learn best by ear. Sometimes, with complicated or fast parts, the music (or tabs) is helpful to learn the right notes, but then I depend on my ear to get the phrasing and rhythm correct.
@@jeffro. Exactly. It’s like the tabs are a reference point, sometimes just not totally accurate, then noodling around it with the ear leading the way to it. I can spot a mistake on any cover run, fill, solo, etc and it really sticks out. Just need my hands to be as talented as my ears!
I'm playing since 9 years till date 61 now and still learning all the way.Great done.❤
Thanks!
Always the best lessons and usually bite-sized enough for the likes of me. Thanks Mark.
Rock on!
I’m bald
Nice instructions! Thanks Mark
Thank you for this lesson. I can play a 12-bar blues and know the chords, but sometimes I find it difficult to develop ideas to play rhythm and riffs (lead parts). This lesson has given me a way to look at it differently. I hope you'll do more like this.
Think in terms of a call and response. The chord (in this video) is the call, and the lead lick is the response. It's a good groove to make your lead lines sound more "professional." ✌️
@buddhamus Thanks for the feedback. This was a first lesson on this technique. I'll do more - especially if this is received well. It's honestly transformative if you take it seriously. Master the basics of this and it will repay huge dividends!
@castleanthrax1833 That's right! I wish I would've thought to mention it in the video. Thanks!
Very helpful...i asked a seasoned guitarist how did you get so good? He replied "one bite at a time" that's what your 6 minute lessons are all about!!... By the way thank you for your breakdown of wayward son, it's a work in progress but i found your lesson the best
If you do it correct guitar learning is infinite ❤🎸
@@gergemall so true
@rs3018 Thanks, I appreciate it!
@gergemall Yes, that's a great attitude. I call it having a "mood of wonderment". I don't know that? Cool! I get to learn something new!
You're a good teacher!
Thank you!
Thanks!
Brilliant exercise Mark. Thanks again 🤙🏼
Thank you!
Love your style Mark. You are the man
Thanks!
Super helpful mark, thank you!
My pleasure! I plan on doing a series of these - not all blues.
Thx Mark! You’re an amazing instructor.❤ what a beautiful guitar. I’ve never seen one like this!
Thanks! It's a B&G Little Sister - a great guitar.
thank you for posting this at just about the time ive been wanting to work on my rhythm + lead combo! gotta love a happy coincidence
Awesome!
Thank you as always, Mr. Zabel - Succinct, informative, and imminently useful, great help for the beginners to intermediate players, and a great reminder to old guys like me with these embarrassing episodes of CRS that occur just as we sit down and start playing!
P.S. - Do ignore the occasional complainer asking for foreshortened presentations, who seems to be raised on 30 second Tic-Tok shorts, possessing the attention span of a flatworm. Your videos, of any length, are quality information, and your introductions and asides are both instructive and entertaining!
Thanks so much!
I made a comment, then i was going to add to it. But now i can't find it!
Oh, well.
I like the way you started out saying not to freak out about it. I apply that strategy to every aspect of my life!
I also like using the different voicings of the chords for the 2nd measure. I just think of those as the "upper parts" of the same chords, so i already know them.
The only part i didn't like was using the same riff over & over, but i do understand that's a good strategy for someone just learning this stuff.
I guess I'm a little beyond this lesson, but i still got value from it.
Thanks, Mark! Especially for taking the time to provide free content.
I get value from a lot of your shorts, little riffs and such.
Plus, you inspired me to learn the lead (and chord structure first) to Rock This Town by the Stray Cats!
Thanks for all you do!
You're an awesome player, and teacher. Your make it all simple.
Thanks. Yes, this is a first video on how one might approach this. Using the same lick is a great way to start for two reasons. 1. It's relatively easy, and 2. It speaks to an audience well. (Guitarists love to over-play. Audiences love simple things they understand. Simple can be played in a beautiful way also.)
Anyway, this is just a start. Hoping to do a few more of these!
Thanks for watching!
Love the "picking" animation !!
Thanks!
Very helpful. I struggle with the rhythm and lead mix. But I consider it essential.
Kenny Burrell is the master of juggling lead lines and chords. The master.
One of Hendrix's idols as well. Buddy Miles once mentioned in an interview that he and Jimi would hang out to jam at the NCO club when they were in the army. When they were mapping out how they would split the sound, Hendrix told Buddy to "be like Wes Montgomery and I'll be like Kenny Burrell."
Chet Atkins!!!
... master of multi-part guitar arrangements The guy was pretty much a guitar genius, but few pop players consider him an icon
@@RelicOnMaui A lot of seriously talented guitar slingers in country music. Chet Atkins, Jerry Reed, Roy Clark . . . those are some people that can sit on the Jedi Council with Hendrix, SRV and Otis Rush any day of the week.
My vote would be for Joe Pass with lead+chords. He'd improvise for hours alone like that. None of it was worked out arrangements.
@@MarkZabel I'll check out some of his stuff.
That was a really good lesson. I play guitar, but never too old to learn. Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it. Rock on!
Thanks Mark great lesson!! Love the analogies 👍👏👏👏♥️👋🖤🦋🖤
Glad you enjoyed it Kris!
Just subscribed to your channel,Mark. Enjoying your vids and the clarity to which you explain things.
Thanks!
Nice lesson! Thanks.
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!
Some great playing and lesson!
Thank you so much!
Just superb, thank you. On a different note one of my favourite led zeppelin songs has to be “when the levee breaks “
Rock on!
Nice! I learned a new chord from this video. I have never used that position A7 before. Don't know why not. It is right under your nose! Thanks.
Awesome. I know, right? It's often the obvious things that escape us. Glad it was helpful.
Hey, I'd love to try your picks! (small ones in any event). Would be happy to give you at least a shout out. I'm tired of the "cult of the Dunlop Jazz II". LOL. Let me know if you could make me a small pick starter kit.
Think it's really cool you're making them!
Hey Mark -- great way to apply the wax-on/wax-off teaching method to guitar craft.
Thanks!
Well this is pretty cool stuff. ❤ thank you for this. Can we have more of this ??? ❤❤❤❤❤❤
Absolutely! This is a first step. Glad you enjoyed it!
@MarkZabel thank you so much Mark. Your time is very appreciated...truly!!!
Absolutely fantastic have a wonderful day mark also my favorite year is 2010 2011 also 2016 also 2014 to be honest ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
Thank you so much!
A lesson that taught me a lot: the voices are great. Many thanks, Mark!
What is your guitar which sounds so good?
Greetings from Paris.🗼🥖
I'm glad it was helpful to you! The guitar is a B&G Little Sister. It's a great little guitar.
Cool guitar, I’ve not seen one like it before.
It's a B&G Little Sister. Great guitar.
Luv this Mark !!! TY ,, Can't get the chord sequence out of my head although !!! 😂✝️💕
Awesome!
Hello Mark, What brand of guitar is that? Thanks for the lessons. More power to you!
Thanks! It's a B&G Little Sister.
Great lesson Mark!
What is that guitar? My found in the rubbish 80 year old Spanish guitar has a headstock like this. Gorgeous tone.
Thank you! It's a B&G Little Sister. I really love it.
Great lesson , I am at the stage where I want to compose my own music .. so music theory .. I need ..😅🎸✋🏻
Thank you!
Cool! Thanks!
You bet!
Reminds me of blues licks played on harmonica.
Interesting.
You always blow my mind on what and how you teach, (67 and playing off n on sense age 18) so much so that I’ll forgive you for using the "game changer" description…..
Thanks so much!
Sir, I’m just curious to know the brand of your guitar and model it is. Can you please share.
It's a B&G Little Sister.
Please what is that gutar you're playing?
B&G Little Sister
Thanks
I didn't hear you credit him so I will. Folks, look up a man named Wilco Johnson of the band Dr. Feelgood. He was the innovator this technique.
What guitar is that!?
It's a B&G Little Sister. I love it!
Is this an example of using BLOCK CHORDS?
That's a different concept. Here's a quick reference. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Block_chord
interesting guitar! what is it?
B&G Little Sister. I love it.
@@MarkZabel pretty cool! i like it too. p-90 pickups?
First, please please tell me, what is that guitar?
It's a B&G Little Sister
Great lesson Mark! I know you know this but I just want to say that the people who are critical of your teaching style in the comments are the necessary evil that goes along with the territory now days. Please don't let any body discourage you. 🙂
Thanks brother. I do know, but it's nice to have a kind comment to balance out the negativity. What's interesting to me is that the people who are giving advice are so sure that their advice will benefit me, while it's really just a, "Why aren't you doing what I want you to do" sort of perspective. Does it really not dawn on people that my "storytelling style" is done on purpose? (To optimize both learning AND video performance.)
In any event, thank you for the encouragement. It truly makes a difference. No matter what anyone says, we take comments seriously, and yours was helpful!
For the record: I enjoy your "storytelling style". I also commend the way you craft your lessons. I understand that keeping the audience as long as possible is good for your channel analytics. Keep up the great work friend.
What is that guitar? I have to know.
It's a B&G Little Sister. Great guitar.
@@MarkZabel Ah yes, I played one, with humbuckers. It felt quirky sounding, but the p90s are great in that guitar. Sounds like you rolled the tone back some as well.
cool,,
Thanks!
Hi Mark, I've been playing guitar for over 50 years with a missing index finger, (half of it)
I lost it in 69 fooling around with fireworks. Two years later at a rock concert I saw Humble Pie and said, I want to play guitar. I had a friend You wanted to teach me, but with my right hand, I couldn't switch hands, so my friend taught me with my left hand. Believe me I struggle with some chord progressions, but I persevered. I'm saying all this because I love the simplicity of your teaching style.
I did pick up a couple of few awesome pointers following you.
Here a short video of me playing.
Watch "Retro Fire Band, Black Magic Women" on UA-cam
ua-cam.com/video/blSmW4NGe3U/v-deo.html
God bless.
Peace brother✌🏽
Hi Wayne. Thanks for sharing your story. Very moving. Thank you!
Hey Mark --- I'm a big fan and admirer of your videos and your great teaching skills. However, I have to make a comment about the backing track. Is this Band In A Box? To my ears the bass is wrong for several reasons. Bad bass tone, detracts from the overall sound, playing too many notes, and doesn't lay back and just play simple. Can this be adjusted or tuned out? BIAB has poor bass tracks, especially their jazz.
Thanks. Yes, you can turn off or replace any of the tracks on BIAB. Since this is really a "do it without the backing track" lesson, I left it as is.
💙🎶💙
Seasoned guitar but we are bald
Ahh, I'll do a "hairless version" of this video soon!
6 min? damn, who has time for this? can you make a video for maybe 6 sec or so?
.
What the hell is that. It looks like a Gibson Night Hawk, hollowed, with a slotted Martin headstock. Like an inbred guitar... Ahahaha.
"Inbred" would be the opposite of what you say. A Gibson mixed with another Gibson for example.
You're not playing the chords shown.
Sure I am.
Nice guitar looks sounds good and good guy but these lil lessons would be so much more watchable if you would get to the point faster.
The stuff you teach at the bitter end.... just show it from the get go....chop chop time is money and there's too much info now to dither with......get in get the money and get out! Make your point man! DO IT NOW
o course do what you want ....i will too....
.i JUST GAVE U GOOD ADVICE THO...maybe u should take it
The entire video was 6 minutes long. I don't how quickly you expect someone to get to the point, but I find these (extremely short) videos entertaining and informative, and I've been playing a long time and usually know much of the stuff.
@BopKitBill Thanks for the feedback. I'll keep doing what I'm doing for the time being, as mine are among the shortest lessons on UA-cam AND they provide context. As a teacher of over 40 years, I've learned context is vital for learning and I won't eschew it.
Honestly, thanks for your feedback. Feel free to skip ahead or avoid.
@@gatsbygoodwood2575 I concure♥️
Feel free to move on to another channel if you are so pressed for time….Me, I get a ton of value from Mark and his videos.