Improvising in Open G… Here are some Riffs!
Many days when I pick up my guitar I end up just noodling away… improvising is probably my favorite part of playing the guitar.
Improvising over open chords is probably the easiest way to get started, and the key of G is the best key for that.
When you’re playing in G major, then you solo in Em. Em is the relative 6th of G, therefore is the minor scale that you use to solo in. (See my lesson on I IV V for a better explanation).
Playing in the key of G means that we can use Em Diatonic OR Em Pentatonic. Both of these scales become super easy in the open position…
I really relate to the fretboard in patterns. I find them much easier to get my brain wrapped around than note names. One day soon I am going to do a full-length lesson on that. However, for the time being, have a look at the scale pattern on the page here -- that is the Em diatonic minor scale.
Now go through each of the chords in the key of G (G, C, D, Em, Am, Bm) and find where the notes from each chord fit into the scale. You’ll see that every chord is built out of notes within that
scale.
Next, get that scale pattern embedded in your head and pickup your guitar. That pattern now becomes your structure for improvising. With the pentatonic scale you can truly play any of the notes you want, wherever you want. With the diatonic scale, you have to be a little bit more careful, but you can usually get away with pretty much anything there as well.
Now that you’ve got that pattern stuck in your brain, watch this video, and do your best to follow my fingers and see how everything is coming out of that diatonic pattern. When you’re able to see that, it will really open up a door in your mind in relation to the guitar.
Please note I’ve indicated the extra E and A on the 5th fret. These notes are still in the scale, but those specific spots on the fretboard aren’t in the minor diatonic pattern -- they are out of the G major diatonic pattern. It is important to know they are there though, and can of course be played. You’ll see one of the riffs in the video uses these two notes quite a bit.
One other thing -- PLEASE don’t get hung up on playing the riffs exactly like I do. This lesson is to help you improvise -- not copy. Take my ideas and make them your own, with your own rhythms or sequences.
Just have fun with it and let it all hang out!
As I already mentioned, I absolutely love improvising and playing this type of stuff. Consequently, I have no problem bringing a lot more in this vein, and yes, going into more detail about specifically what I’m playing. However, I need to know if you guys are interested in improvising, or if you prefer to learn common riffs to copy.
Leave a comment below and tell me if you love it or hate it.
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I NEEDED THAT ONE,THANKS.YOUR IMPROVISING IS ALOT BETTER THAN MINE , SO I THINK I CAN USE SOME OF YOUR RIFFS MIXED WITH MY OWN. THANKS AGAIN FOR HELPING PEOPLE GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE GUITAR RATHER THAN JUST TEACHING THEM ASONG OR TWO,KEEP ROCKING,DON*
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Jonathan Reply:
December 5th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Thanks Don!
I guess I’ll be doing more lessons on improvising then! =)
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Thanks Jonathan for the great riffs. I really like warming up with them. It makes me want to play my guitar even more. God bless Brian
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Jonathan Reply:
December 9th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Thanks Brian – yeah I find doing stuff like this is a great warmup and also gets the creative side working! Cheers.
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Keep up the good work.I can really tell my playing is getting better.
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Jonathan Reply:
December 14th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Thanks Shane – that’s great to hear!
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I get a lot from your videos but I have a problem beginning to improvise… is there a hint as to how to start?
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Jonathan Reply:
December 16th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Great question… Yeah, with this lesson in particular, I would start by practicing the scale we’re using a bit first. It’s E Minor Diatonic. You don’t have to be a pro at it, but just get used to where the notes are in the scale.
Now, have a look at the chords you play in this key… G, C, D, Em, etc. If you look closely at the scale, you’ll see that you can actually find the notes for each chord right within the scale. That is a key point – because once you realize everything you’re playing already comes out of the scale, then you can add bits and pieces from other parts of the scale to improvise.
For instance, the F# on the 6th string makes a great passing note going from G to Em, or vice versa. Simply strum the G, pluck that F# (single note), and then strum an Em. I did this video recently which is kind of a toned-down version of the one above… you might find it helpful to start here.
An Easy Riff For Beginners With Open Chords
Back to my ranting on the scales
once you’re a bit familiar with the scale, simply strum one of the chords, like a G for instance, and then try to make a little riff with 1 or 2 notes out of the scale. It doesn’t have to be complicated – a simple passing note like I mentioned above is still considered improvising! Hope that helps…
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Thanks Jonathan… I am sure this will inspire me to be creative if I can just break out of the scale… I have a tendency to only play the note in succession of the scale. Wish me luck…
beauxPatrick
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Hi beauxPatrick – try deliberately skipping notes in the scale, working your way through it, or try going up three notes, then down one or two, then up three, and so on until the end. I find that can be a useful way to help train your fingers into new patterns.
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loved the lesson more please works well with knocking on heavens door
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Thanks Jonathon, Its coming together for me better all the time. I might not have the riffs yet, but I understand how to come up with them. P.S. Thanks for the explanation on 7ths.
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I loved this session Jonathon. I’m gonna have my guitar teacher help me out with this today. Excellent. Thanks and I’m looking forward to more cool stuff like this…
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Thanks, Jonathan,
This kind of got me out of a rut for improvising in G open string positions.
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Hi,
As you referred to what we would like between riffs to copy you, or improvising, I would like to have more riffs to work on. However, I also believe that improvising is important for everyone in order to improve beyond where they are at. I am working on the riffs and when I try to go beyond this and try something different my fingers appears to be drunk and start stumbling around. But you know it is coming. I will get these fingers sobered up at some point here, but these videos are really helping out compared to what I was doing.
In the penatonic scale there are five notes. Now do these notes start out at the root note of a chord, for eg. with the D chord the notes would be D, E, F, G, AND A?
Also, when you do riffs going into another chord, do you start the notes about 4 beats before the chord change if you are going to use 4 notes in your riff persay before you change chords, if this is the riff style you would use if you are jamming with someone else? I hope I am making my question clear here, but if it sounds confusing I will try to explain it again.
Thanks Jonathan for all your help in doing these videos.
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Jonathan Boettcher Reply:
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:22 am
Hi Jesse – you can play the pentatonic scale from each chord root, if you want, however you really don’t need to. Especially when you’re learning… just pick the scale for they key that you’re in, and stay in that same scale regardless of what chord is being played (as long as you’re still in the same key).
I’m not sure I follow the second part of your question – but I think if you experiment using the same scale over different chords, you’ll start to get the hang of it.
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I have been able to do some steps going into the A key between A, D, and E chords and they are not too bad for someone trying to walk into all the chords in this key. All I need to do is practice them till I get them down.
For eg., walking into A chord I hit the E string open, E string 2nd fret, E String 4th fret, then A string open and play A chord.
Walking into D chord, I hit the A string open, then A string 2nd fret, A string 4 fret, then play the D chord.
Going down into E chord, A string open, A string 2nd fret, E string 4 fret, E string 2nd fret, E string open, then play the E chord.
Just thought I would share this in case someone would like it. I sure ain’t an instructor but I will share when I come up with something to help another.
If this can be done better then let me know okay Jonathan? I need all the help I can get here.
Thanks alot for all your time and efforts in this. It is greatly appreciated.
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Jonathan Boettcher Reply:
August 2nd, 2010 at 10:23 am
Hi Jesse – yes, you’re definitely on the right track here…
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Jonathan, I really enjoyed this video. I enjoy copying your riffs but when I get tired of practicing a certain riff it is relaxing to just improvise and mess around with different stuff. Lets have some more on the improvising. Thanks
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