It's NOT a controversial topic! It's impossible to play without using scales just as it's impossible to paint without paint! All arpeggios, Chords, melodic shapes and melodies are made from scales! It's only controversial to idiots.
@@trevortimoko7512 I’m saying he’s making a false distinction for the sake of attracting attention to his site. He has fairly consistent partial knowledge but he’s by no means the last word on the subject.
Spot on Tim! When Miles said about music theory, "Forget that s**t and just play!" He did NOT mean don't learn theory, or how to read, he meant exactly what you spent 17 minutes explaining so beautifully. It's got to come out of you on the gig, so you have to know it so well that you don't think about it.
Actually, there is video of Miles explaining how disdain for certain journalists who asked him if his ability to play the blues comes from the fact that black people or his forebears were enslaved. Miles responded (I'm paraphrasing), I grew up rich, I play like this because I studied. Then you gave Dizzy taking about Miles asking him, "in this chord, where does this note come from?' talent yes, but learning also.
I think of knowing scales like the alphebet. if you dont know the letters youll never read. if you dont know the order you cant find what your looking for in the library.
Wisest lesson I've had in ages. Music is sound and feel and not fingerings. We practice to learn the sounds. Then we learn to speak with the sounds. "We want to hear a real person, playing real music that they hear in their mind and that they feel in their hearts." Singing along with your playing. "Close your eyes and look away."
Well Said...! We have reached a point culturally where the "possession of information" has been weaponized and not just in music. We need to change this. Thanks for putting up your thoughts They are very important... B-)
This is great advice. The longer I play, the more I realize that finding the balance between technique/knowledge and "feeling" is one of the hardest thing to get right. Spending too much time on scales, patterns, etc will result in boring and robotic playing. But "going for the feeling" is not an excuse not to invest the time to build a solid foundation. Few get this right, actually.
Thank you all for your great support and kind comments. Please share this video with your friends and with your social media crowd. Visit www.timlerch.com for recordings, lessons and TrueFire courses.
Not just a master guitar player but a master teacher and human being, love your channel and courses Tim. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and inspire us!
“Live in the world of sound” - great advice. I’m still trying to get there, but it’s a great journey. Thanks Tim for your brilliant insight and generous heart in sharing your experience and knowledge.
I love the way you explained this! Teaching week-lone Swing & Blues Guitar workshops at a music camp (so not much time and needed/expected results), I try to explain and teach not only "Swing chords", but a bit of how to solo, and try to explain what you said here. Your video gave me much more ways of explaining this! Thanks!! Kevin in Port Townsend (met you last year when you played the Vintage on Water Street, the day before our show there) You probably forgot, but we talked about my fully hollow Turbocaster guitars (Turbocaster Electric Guitars on Facebook).
10:20 this concept completely changed how I approach guitar. The pattern, scale, fingering method "does not" teach you music. the "sound" is where it's at!
A quote from my teacher, Norm Zocher, that has always stuck with me and still reveals it's mysteries to me over time, is simply "You can't sound good if you don't sound good!"
In my experience, you are 100% correct. I would only add that the whole point of improvised music, particularly American jazz music is to be present in the moment when improvising. I often surprise myself while soloing with a melodic or rhythmic idea that then takes on an energy and forward motion that propels me into the next idea...it's fresh to me and the audience shares that sense of spontaneous creation. Of course I need the tools (scales, modes, arpeggios, and let's not forget knowing the actual melody of the tune) to draw on...and one other thing...none of this happens in a vacuum. You're playing with other musicians that are also bringing their rhythmic and melodic ideas to the table...I can't tell you how many times while listening to other soloists I've been inspired by my fellow bandmates! In fact...always! Oh, and another thing...how about comping and responding by supporting other soloists? It's one of the great joys of being a guitar player.
This is the most beautiful thing I've heard all week. It's about musicality, which can be amplified & freed by technique but is not inspired by technique. Musicality is inspired by *listening*. I am totally fascinated by music theory and the amazing relationships it describes - and I'd love to have much better technique. But neither of these wonderful things can create the excitement & joy that really hearing music (outside & inside my head) brings me.
Excellent discussion from a master player. Love the little improv moments between comments! "When you're practicing, you're doing one activity. When you're playing, you're doing another activity." Needed to hear that.
I’ve had the honor of being around several good music teachers in my life. When I listen to you, I hear them, but I also hear me… thoughts and feelings that have been simmering, trying to materialize and then WHAM, you say them out loud! Thanks for that, it really helps me go where I want to go.
I think the real sad thing in human nature, that naturally carries over in learning an instrument, is looking for shortcuts. The internet is awash with players looking for the secret trick or formula to somehow avoid learning the neck and some basic chord/scale theory. I've been playing for 27 years now and only recently (because of Jazz) made it my goal to buckle down and finally do it right. It's the only pathway I see to real creative freedom. A painter needs brushes, paints, and canvas.
I was skeptical when I saw the title of this video, but after watching it I'm convinced this is the best video and the last word on scales and modes. First time watching Tim Lerch and now a subscriber.
The last word... and I think you made the point. Music first, which can be harder if you don't know scales/modes, but it is the music first. Maybe the raw materials are still a mystery, or maybe they are holding you back... it is up to the musician.
I should add that I dig Tim's music a lot more than Ted's. But Tim plays tunes that I know and love in such inventive ways. Ted played a lot of things that are a bit too 20th century for me, if that makes any sense. I can only compare it to bird and Coltrane: I think bird was actually better than trane, but trane talks to my soul and my intellect, bird talks to my intellect or lack thereof.
You're fired up on this one. Alright! And your point is good. I've noticed that however skillful the player, the strongest solo is one that is built from melodies.
100% spot on. Aimee Nolte, on her piano channel, tells a story of Branford Marsalis coming to her friend's jazz music school and after listening to the students play (keep in mind, these are students working on their masters in jazz!) one at a time, he said nothing. Finally one brave/nervous student raised his hand and said, "Can you please tell us what you think?" He looked at that student and said, "YOU need to listen to more jazz!"...."And YOU need to listen to more jazz!"... "And YOU need to listen to more jazz!"... right on down the line. So yes, you can know/learn every scale/arp, but can you be creative with it? This was eye opening for me and I've never stopped thinking about it. Nor have I stopped listening to "MORE JAZZ!" 😊
I loved the wisdom of this lesson. It reminded of the music philosophy of the bassist, Victor Wootton, another musician who focuses on the creative and expressive (versus the technical) aspects of music. I stumbled upon Timothy while l looking for a guitar lesson on “Killer Joe”. His chord melody / walking bass / and solo on that piece is one the best solo guitar pieces I’ve seen on RUclips. I’m looking forward to learning more from this musician.
I find the magic in crafting the improv feel within the partnership of scales, the melody shaped by the chords and then the "information" around those chords and variations to lift the melody to something very satisfying. I build the song and craft with what I feel works best. The process is very fun and Tim's influence has been great in expanding this creative freedom.
Makes a lot of sense. I was already doing this but not confident that I was on the right path of conceptualising it. It takes a teacher like yoda to give you the wisdom to point you in the right path, and someone who isnt leading you down the garden path of shred.
CREATE! Brilliant, Tim. That one word says it all. It’s kind of analogous to learning to speak: learn the vocabulary, and then...converse. Most of us learned words as a child before learning what letters they were made of. Then we learned more vocabulary and with more experience and maturity we started carrying on more interesting conversations. Music is the language we want to use to communicate feelings, so we need to know some scales and arpeggios to find the notes and harmony that create those feelings. End of ramble. Thanks for this, Tim.
I don’t like watching other’s videos and you explained exactly why I was feeling that. Tim, thanks for the great lessons over the years. In my opinion, world need people like you. If you would not mind, please do videos like this sometimes. Thanks, from Japan.
“But Wes Montgomery didn’t know a lot of chords or theory . . . “ haha, a teacher told me that. Great point that yes, we’re still here watching RUclips and not playing like Wes!
I think of it like we all build patterns and connect the dots in our minds. We might not know what to call those patterns based on someone else's system (music theory is a name for a system), but it doesn't necessarily mean we don't know music. But music theory gives us a way to communicate these patterns to other people, also help us remember something because we can name it. There still is the very real work of learning melodies.
As a basic starting guitarist pretty old you have just given me then style of music I will try and learn to play. It sounds beautiful so thank you for inspiring me
I've been playing over 50 years, have done thousands of gigs and have a degree in guitar performance and I've never heard this topic addressed any better than in this video. Incredibly well done. Anyone who thinks this is controversial doesn't understand the first thing about making music. It's fundamental. Kudos to you on a beautifully crafted lesson in musical realty. BTW, speaking of tools, Are you using any fingernail with your right hand, or is it all skin? Also, am I right in observing that your right hand attack seems extremely light thus creating a bigger rounder tone? Thanks for all you do to cut through the crap in a low key and encouraging way. It's a rarity.
I'm new to your channel but just wanted to say that I really loved this video. I thoroughly enjoyed the message, your beautiful playing and your wonderful sounding guitar too! Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
Actual music. Man that's well put. I've been trying to express this to my old colleagues whom I used to make countless hip hop tracks with. They're like 'why dont you make beats anymore?' (I went back to guitar playing, and studying music) And listening to this video I now realise I'm in the pursuit of Actual Music. Thankyou Tim I appreciate your music and words it's always beneficial to hear what you say (in words and on the guitar!)
Hip hop tracks are also actual music in my opinion. I don't think people should be so hung up about guitars and "real instruments". there's just too much good music made electronically to just ignore. That being said, I still wouldn't want to miss playing a physical instrument that you have a direct connection with.
@@bluefoxfox1459 yeah true that. But usually 1 or 2 loops of actual music is ample for a hip hop track. Some of my favourite tracks in that genre are the shortest loops in terms of measure. I enjoy the creative aspect of making the loops and endeavour in my new pursuits to make tracks that although may have the same progression, are not looped. That way I can be up to my neck in the creative process of music writing from start to finish. A lot of what I used to do was cutting breaks, processing samples, mixing down, mastering. All of which are valid in terms of production of music but the actual music to me is found on the neck of a guitar or on the keys of a piano. Having said all that hip hop is actual music you are right. I wasnt discrediting hip hop at all.
Very helpful advice. The experience of a novice facing a silent space and an attentive ear can be daunting. I hope I can find my sound and communicate a sense of shared humanity.
Great words of wisdom. Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, John McLauchlin et al spent years and years practising scales & arpeggios and learning songs so they could play what they did/do.
Really enjoyed the insights.I am diving deep into music theory and this helped me place that in perspective. When I do experience the most joy in my playing its when I play what I feel in the moment. Playing with my eyes closed is actually so liberating.
The best guitar RUclips yet. I’m retired, a singer using all this time to push beyond the guitar accompaniment I’ve played all my life. I’ve been learning some great tools that have opened up the fretboard for me and helped me find the notes I’m looking for, but I get quickly distracted from all of them, as soon as I start hearing melody in them, I start writing songs. I thought I was being undisciplined. You just set me free. Scales, triads, arpeggios, CAGED…you said these were just learning tools. I get that. I think I’ll get them all to teach me new songs!
This is so true and good to hear. I've spent so much time learning scales and arpeggios but now I find I have to practice shutting down my brain when I'm actually playing. Love you're take on it and advice.
Wow, Tim. Spot on. You probably can't imagine the impact your message here might have on guitarists of all stripes - but I promise you THIS guitarist will be doing much soul-searching over what you've said here. I have the utmost respect for you, brother. You are a treasure. Keep up the fantastic work. Maybe we'll run into each other again sometime...I'm hanging out at Jay's shop these days...please come visit when all is back to normal. We'd love to see you!!
Love the verbal expression and insightful advice. Also, was loving the melodic playing really relaxed me before a day of typical tasks and stresses, wonderful!
Tim. Thanks for a very thoughtful encouraging conversation. Also for sharing your experience in an open way, it has helped me open up and play more freely.
I’ve been playing for 3 months. Almost at the beginning I started practicing several scales in Aminor. A few weeks in, I saw a RUclips video about practicing scales and Legado’s with a backing track in said key. I typed in ‘Backing Track for Guitar in A minor’ on You Tube, and accompanied that track. Immediately I was playing beautiful sounds. Weeks later, I taught my left handed friend. Now we ‘jam’ together. Of course I’m learning more about the different keys and positions to add to this. Yesterday I took my portable Amp (cube) and guitar to the park so I could play full blast. A few people came to watch and later complimented me on my playing. I mean, I can barely transition from a Gm chord to a C, yet this scale thing is magical! I make beautiful sounds with my guitar! I believe I’m able to do this because at 61, I’ve kicked my inner-critic to the curb when it comes to the guitar. I’m grateful when anything I play sounds decent. Please, listen to Tim, what he’s teaching in this video is life changing! Thank you T.L. You play so beautifully. You inspire me to want this so badly and to love more what little I have.
Such a great thing to hear. I’ve been so guilty of memorizing, copying and studying ...I want to be creative but I know it’s just the start... thanks for the advice! You are a wonderful musician and teacher - thanks Tim!! Hope to hear you play live again post pandemic!!!
Tim, your wisdom is of really great value even to those who have been doing this a while. Thank you! One thing I've found really helpful in breaking out of the scale box is to record different chordal ideas and then go back and practice melodies over them, without monitoring which harmonic concept I'm currently practicing over, so that I don't have a particular set of preconceived shapes in mind before I set about creating melodies over them. Using your ears instead of your eyes is of the utmost importance, like you so eloquently point out. Keep jammin' my man!
The world needs more of these videos. Inject this into my veins. I can play chords over the entire neck, the major and pentatonic scales that pass each chord shape. But I haven't had that click yet where I just just blend it into music :(
I love Jimmy Bruno's definition of scales. He calls them "pitch collections". That definition alone will change your concept and approach to scales.
Great discussion on a controversial topic, Tim. Really like your thoughtful approach to this topic
Thanks Jens, love your work.
I thought so too .
It's NOT a controversial topic! It's impossible to play without using scales just as it's impossible to paint without paint! All arpeggios, Chords, melodic shapes and melodies are made from scales! It's only controversial to idiots.
@@chadrew6 so r u saying Jens Larsen doesn't know what he's talking about?
@@trevortimoko7512 I’m saying he’s making a false distinction for the sake of attracting attention to his site. He has fairly consistent partial knowledge but he’s by no means the last word on the subject.
“Modes aren’t fingerings.” There’s a lot of wisdom there.
Every music theory community should have this pinned to the top of their feed.
“Live in the world of sound”
Now that is some priceless advice. Thank you Tim
Spot on Tim! When Miles said about music theory, "Forget that s**t and just play!" He did NOT mean don't learn theory, or how to read, he meant exactly what you spent 17 minutes explaining so beautifully. It's got to come out of you on the gig, so you have to know it so well that you don't think about it.
Actually, there is video of Miles explaining how disdain for certain journalists who asked him if his ability to play the blues comes from the fact that black people or his forebears were enslaved. Miles responded (I'm paraphrasing), I grew up rich, I play like this because I studied. Then you gave Dizzy taking about Miles asking him, "in this chord, where does this note come from?' talent yes, but learning also.
Nicely put them as far as I'm concerned you're preaching to the choir here. Thanks so much for your insights.
I think of knowing scales like the alphebet. if you dont know the letters youll never read. if you dont know the order you cant find what your looking for in the library.
@@rillloudmother it wasn't a journalist, it was his teacher at Juliards.
Wisest lesson I've had in ages. Music is sound and feel and not fingerings. We practice to learn the sounds. Then we learn to speak with the sounds. "We want to hear a real person, playing real music that they hear in their mind and that they feel in their hearts." Singing along with your playing. "Close your eyes and look away."
Well Said...! We have reached a point culturally where the "possession of information" has been weaponized and not just in music. We need to change this. Thanks for putting up your thoughts They are very important... B-)
Absolutely
Beautiful put, Don
This is great advice. The longer I play, the more I realize that finding the balance between technique/knowledge and "feeling" is one of the hardest thing to get right. Spending too much time on scales, patterns, etc will result in boring and robotic playing. But "going for the feeling" is not an excuse not to invest the time to build a solid foundation. Few get this right, actually.
Thank you all for your great support and kind comments. Please share this video with your friends and with your social media crowd. Visit www.timlerch.com for recordings, lessons and TrueFire courses.
Please consider hitting the *Thanks* button to show your appreciation.
Not just a master guitar player but a master teacher and human being, love your channel and courses Tim. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and inspire us!
“Live in the world of sound” - great advice. I’m still trying to get there, but it’s a great journey. Thanks Tim for your brilliant insight and generous heart in sharing your experience and knowledge.
I love the way you explained this!
Teaching week-lone Swing & Blues Guitar workshops at a music camp (so not much time and needed/expected results), I try to explain and teach not only "Swing chords", but a bit of how to solo, and try to explain what you said here. Your video gave me much more ways of explaining this!
Thanks!!
Kevin in Port Townsend (met you last year when you played the Vintage on Water Street, the day before our show there)
You probably forgot, but we talked about my fully hollow Turbocaster guitars (Turbocaster Electric Guitars on Facebook).
"Live in the world of sound." I'm taking that with me. Thanks.
fantastic!! this is the only video you need to watch in your life about this subject.... period ;-) greetz from austria
10:20 this concept completely changed how I approach guitar. The pattern, scale, fingering method "does not" teach you music. the "sound" is where it's at!
I love everything about this...especially the "you aint Wes Montgomery" part!! Thank you Tim, you're the greatest!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Omg, such a great line. You’re on the internet looking for help improvising...
"...and you can tell somebody on the Internet what scale to play over what chord..." Classic.
A quote from my teacher, Norm Zocher, that has always stuck with me and still reveals it's mysteries to me over time, is simply "You can't sound good if you don't sound good!"
How you make a tele sound like a fat bodied jazz box is mind blowing... God bless you Tim.
It's 12am and you've got me way too inspired. Now I gotta jam on my guitar instead of sleeping. Curse you!
“Live in the world of sound, that’s what I recommend”... Master! Best piece of advice I heard in a long time. Thanks!
In my experience, you are 100% correct. I would only add that the whole point of improvised music, particularly American jazz music is to be present in the moment when improvising. I often surprise myself while soloing with a melodic or rhythmic idea that then takes on an energy and forward motion that propels me into the next idea...it's fresh to me and the audience shares that sense of spontaneous creation. Of course I need the tools (scales, modes, arpeggios, and let's not forget knowing the actual melody of the tune) to draw on...and one other thing...none of this happens in a vacuum. You're playing with other musicians that are also bringing their rhythmic and melodic ideas to the table...I can't tell you how many times while listening to other soloists I've been inspired by my fellow bandmates! In fact...always! Oh, and another thing...how about comping and responding by supporting other soloists? It's one of the great joys of being a guitar player.
A very wise musician. Thanks that has given me plenty of things to think about and to work on.
Seriously, when this stupid pandemic is over, I’m going to go to Seattle and hear Tim play a gig. Greetings from St. Paul and thanks for all you do.
pandemic so called has been over for me 10 months ago
I ll go too I think
This is the most beautiful thing I've heard all week. It's about musicality, which can be amplified & freed by technique but is not inspired by technique. Musicality is inspired by *listening*.
I am totally fascinated by music theory and the amazing relationships it describes - and I'd love to have much better technique. But neither of these wonderful things can create the excitement & joy that really hearing music (outside & inside my head) brings me.
Excellent discussion from a master player. Love the little improv moments between comments! "When you're practicing, you're doing one activity. When you're playing, you're doing another activity." Needed to hear that.
I’ve had the honor of being around several good music teachers in my life. When I listen to you, I hear them, but I also hear me… thoughts and feelings that have been simmering, trying to materialize and then WHAM, you say them out loud! Thanks for that, it really helps me go where I want to go.
I think the real sad thing in human nature, that naturally carries over in learning an instrument, is looking for shortcuts.
The internet is awash with players looking for the secret trick or formula to somehow avoid learning the neck and some basic chord/scale theory.
I've been playing for 27 years now and only recently (because of Jazz) made it my goal to buckle down and finally do it right. It's the only pathway I see to real creative freedom.
A painter needs brushes, paints, and canvas.
Yep ... just imagine how many years Jimi Hendrix must've played to sound like he did.
Jimi Hendrix played for approximately 15 years then he passed away. It might be more fun to imagine how he would sound if he hadn't died so soon.
Right on! I tell my students that scales are just bags full of notes. You articulate it so well!
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Thanks... I needed that tim...good to hear your wisdom and common sense insight...nice.
I was skeptical when I saw the title of this video, but after watching it I'm convinced this is the best video and the last word on scales and modes. First time watching Tim Lerch and now a subscriber.
The last word... and I think you made the point. Music first, which can be harder if you don't know scales/modes, but it is the music first. Maybe the raw materials are still a mystery, or maybe they are holding you back... it is up to the musician.
I don’t mean to embarrass Tim but, for me, he is the modern day Ted Greene. What a wonderful video!
i was thinking this the other day.
I should add that I dig Tim's music a lot more than Ted's. But Tim plays tunes that I know and love in such inventive ways. Ted played a lot of things that are a bit too 20th century for me, if that makes any sense. I can only compare it to bird and Coltrane: I think bird was actually better than trane, but trane talks to my soul and my intellect, bird talks to my intellect or lack thereof.
@@rillloudmother well put, I feel similarly!
I think that Ted taught him
I was just typing it!
A displaced major scale. Best description I have heard yet.
You're fired up on this one. Alright! And your point is good. I've noticed that however skillful the player, the strongest solo is one that is built from melodies.
100% spot on.
Aimee Nolte, on her piano channel, tells a story of Branford Marsalis coming to her friend's jazz music school and after listening to the students play (keep in mind, these are students working on their masters in jazz!) one at a time, he said nothing.
Finally one brave/nervous student raised his hand and said, "Can you please tell us what you think?"
He looked at that student and said, "YOU need to listen to more jazz!"...."And YOU need to listen to more jazz!"... "And YOU need to listen to more jazz!"... right on down the line.
So yes, you can know/learn every scale/arp, but can you be creative with it?
This was eye opening for me and I've never stopped thinking about it.
Nor have I stopped listening to "MORE JAZZ!" 😊
That's wisdom sir. Thank you! 🙏❤️
I keep coming back to this after 2 years. It’s all the right notes and all the right words.
Yes Tim live in the world of sound , because that’s the world we live in for those of us who have the ability to hear.
Thank you. I love the idea of living in the world of sound. Very helpful and important ideas and thoughts. Again thanks for sharing.
Glad it was helpful!
I believe Charlie Parker said learn and practice all the scales and then when you improvise forget everything and play from the heart.
Sound. Thanks for reminding all of us Mr. Lerch. It's about SOUND. And what we can do with those aural frequncies. The language of the heart.
Wise words, you are in the top 5 of my favourite guitarists
I loved the wisdom of this lesson. It reminded of the music philosophy of the bassist, Victor Wootton, another musician who focuses on the creative and expressive (versus the technical) aspects of music. I stumbled upon Timothy while l looking for a guitar lesson on “Killer Joe”. His chord melody / walking bass / and solo on that piece is one the best solo guitar pieces I’ve seen on RUclips. I’m looking forward to learning more from this musician.
Thanks Meldon for this very kind comment.
Thank you for yet another fabulous video, full of insight, deeply real ad honest
I find the magic in crafting the improv feel within the partnership of scales, the melody shaped by the chords and then the "information" around those chords and variations to lift the melody to something very satisfying. I build the song and craft with what I feel works best. The process is very fun and Tim's influence has been great in expanding this creative freedom.
I'm the transcription guy...this hit home for me. Fantastic video! And what a beautiful tele
What a smart man !! I will start singing everything I like , all the scales and phrases. Should not play by eye
Great lesson Tim. Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Makes a lot of sense. I was already doing this but not confident that I was on the right path of conceptualising it. It takes a teacher like yoda to give you the wisdom to point you in the right path, and someone who isnt leading you down the garden path of shred.
CREATE! Brilliant, Tim. That one word says it all. It’s kind of analogous to learning to speak: learn the vocabulary, and then...converse. Most of us learned words as a child before learning what letters they were made of. Then we learned more vocabulary and with more experience and maturity we started carrying on more interesting conversations. Music is the language we want to use to communicate feelings, so we need to know some scales and arpeggios to find the notes and harmony that create those feelings. End of ramble. Thanks for this, Tim.
Thank you for clarifying this topic Timothy
Dude thanks. Humbleness went a long way to making me stay and listen to what you had to say.
Tim thx for sharing this, right on the money IMO, A simple musical idea is better than scales or modes with no musical end.
Great video! I like the magic words Be Creative! Or CREATE. That is what the fretboard is about.
I discovered you when searching for pickups, you were doing a demo, just a 4-5 second riff was enough to know you were a great guitar player.
I believe this words should be put in the introduction section on every music books, thankyou so much, it help me a lot
I don’t like watching other’s videos and you explained exactly why I was feeling that.
Tim, thanks for the great lessons over the years.
In my opinion, world need people like you. If you would not mind, please do videos like this sometimes.
Thanks, from Japan.
“But Wes Montgomery didn’t know a lot of chords or theory . . . “ haha, a teacher told me that. Great point that yes, we’re still here watching RUclips and not playing like Wes!
Exactly!
I was hoping he'd say, "I knew Wes Montgomery. I've worked with Wes Montgomery. RUclips watcher, you're no Wes Montgomery." :-D
He couldn't read music. I wouldn't say he didn't know his chords.
I think of it like we all build patterns and connect the dots in our minds. We might not know what to call those patterns based on someone else's system (music theory is a name for a system), but it doesn't necessarily mean we don't know music.
But music theory gives us a way to communicate these patterns to other people, also help us remember something because we can name it.
There still is the very real work of learning melodies.
As a basic starting guitarist pretty old you have just given me then style of music I will try and learn to play. It sounds beautiful so thank you for inspiring me
I've been playing over 50 years, have done thousands of gigs and have a degree in guitar performance and I've never heard this topic addressed any better than in this video. Incredibly well done. Anyone who thinks this is controversial doesn't understand the first thing about making music. It's fundamental. Kudos to you on a beautifully crafted lesson in musical realty. BTW, speaking of tools, Are you using any fingernail with your right hand, or is it all skin? Also, am I right in observing that your right hand attack seems extremely light thus creating a bigger rounder tone? Thanks for all you do to cut through the crap in a low key and encouraging way. It's a rarity.
thank you
@@TimLerchGuitar lmao
Lol wut
keep listening.
Wonderful Tim, thanks for the great discussion. Really enjoyed this video.
I'm new to your channel but just wanted to say that I really loved this video. I thoroughly enjoyed the message, your beautiful playing and your wonderful sounding guitar too! Looking forward to seeing more of your videos.
This is one of the finest clips on guitar! Thank you so much!
Actual music. Man that's well put. I've been trying to express this to my old colleagues whom I used to make countless hip hop tracks with. They're like 'why dont you make beats anymore?' (I went back to guitar playing, and studying music) And listening to this video I now realise I'm in the pursuit of Actual Music. Thankyou Tim I appreciate your music and words it's always beneficial to hear what you say (in words and on the guitar!)
Hip hop tracks are also actual music in my opinion. I don't think people should be so hung up about guitars and "real instruments". there's just too much good music made electronically to just ignore. That being said, I still wouldn't want to miss playing a physical instrument that you have a direct connection with.
@@bluefoxfox1459 yeah true that. But usually 1 or 2 loops of actual music is ample for a hip hop track. Some of my favourite tracks in that genre are the shortest loops in terms of measure. I enjoy the creative aspect of making the loops and endeavour in my new pursuits to make tracks that although may have the same progression, are not looped. That way I can be up to my neck in the creative process of music writing from start to finish. A lot of what I used to do was cutting breaks, processing samples, mixing down, mastering. All of which are valid in terms of production of music but the actual music to me is found on the neck of a guitar or on the keys of a piano. Having said all that hip hop is actual music you are right. I wasnt discrediting hip hop at all.
Very helpful advice. The experience of a novice facing a silent space and an attentive ear can be daunting. I hope I can find my sound and communicate a sense of shared humanity.
Such a wonderful player and teacher
Joe Diorio should be proud of you Tim. You honestly get it , and that makes you a blessing to the world.
in your heart . in your mind. love you man.
Great words of wisdom. Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, John McLauchlin et al spent years and years practising scales & arpeggios and learning songs so they could play what they did/do.
Really enjoyed the insights.I am diving deep into music theory and this helped me place that in perspective. When I do experience the most joy in my playing its when I play what I feel in the moment. Playing with my eyes closed is actually so liberating.
The best guitar RUclips yet. I’m retired, a singer using all this time to push beyond the guitar accompaniment I’ve played all my life. I’ve been learning some great tools that have opened up the fretboard for me and helped me find the notes I’m looking for, but I get quickly distracted from all of them, as soon as I start hearing melody in them, I start writing songs. I thought I was being undisciplined. You just set me free. Scales, triads, arpeggios, CAGED…you said these were just learning tools. I get that. I think I’ll get them all to teach me new songs!
This dude is so chill, so real. Cool guitar too
One of the best lessons in music! Thank you Tim!
This is so true and good to hear. I've spent so much time learning scales and arpeggios but now I find I have to practice shutting down my brain when I'm actually playing. Love you're take on it and advice.
Your words of wisdom actually help to find purpose and joy in studying and practicing. Many thanks, Tim. A loyal admirer from Italy, here.
Thank you for supporting creativity and exploration. That's what music is about.
Really a nice discussion. "Live in the world of sound." I like that. I gotta do that more.
I cannot express what this advice, at this time, means to me. Thank you!
Wow, Tim. Spot on. You probably can't imagine the impact your message here might have on guitarists of all stripes - but I promise you THIS guitarist will be doing much soul-searching over what you've said here. I have the utmost respect for you, brother. You are a treasure. Keep up the fantastic work. Maybe we'll run into each other again sometime...I'm hanging out at Jay's shop these days...please come visit when all is back to normal. We'd love to see you!!
This was beautiful and helpful - thank you, Tim.
Wonderfull how you present this topic! Delightful for the ears and the knowledge.
Thank you for sharing these thoughts. Thank you again.
Love your approach , thx for all your advice and lessons
Wonderful message. Very inspiring.
Just stumbled upon this... and subscribed. Wisdom and wonderful playing is a great thing. It's all about listening, and knowing your pallet indeed.
This was everything that I needed to hear thanks so much!
a fantastic rant. Exactly what I needed to hear right now! Thanks Tim
Thank you for the wonderful wisdom.
Thanks for this Tim! Time to back to guitar again for me, it's been a while.
BTW, the figuring of your guitar neck is hypnotic!
This is a brilliant and inspirational video - much appreciated.
Great points and very inspirational. Thank you.
Briliant, thank you. Best guitar lesson I ever had.
Love the verbal expression and insightful advice. Also, was loving the melodic playing really relaxed me before a day of typical tasks and stresses, wonderful!
Tim.
Thanks for a very thoughtful encouraging conversation. Also for sharing your experience in an open way, it has helped me open up and play more freely.
I’ve been playing for 3 months. Almost at the beginning I started practicing several scales in Aminor. A few weeks in, I saw a RUclips video about practicing scales and Legado’s with a backing track in said key.
I typed in ‘Backing Track for Guitar in A minor’ on You Tube, and accompanied that track. Immediately I was playing beautiful sounds.
Weeks later, I taught my left handed friend. Now we ‘jam’ together. Of course I’m learning more about the different keys and positions to add to this.
Yesterday I took my portable Amp (cube) and guitar to the park so I could play full blast. A few people came to watch and later complimented me on my playing.
I mean, I can barely transition from a Gm chord to a C, yet this scale thing is magical! I make beautiful sounds with my guitar!
I believe I’m able to do this because at 61, I’ve kicked my inner-critic to the curb when it comes to the guitar. I’m grateful when anything I play sounds decent.
Please, listen to Tim, what he’s teaching in this video is life changing!
Thank you T.L. You play so beautifully. You inspire me to want this so badly and to love more what little I have.
Such a great thing to hear. I’ve been so guilty of memorizing, copying and studying ...I want to be creative but I know it’s just the start... thanks for the advice! You are a wonderful musician and teacher - thanks Tim!! Hope to hear you play live again post pandemic!!!
Tim, your wisdom is of really great value even to those who have been doing this a while. Thank you!
One thing I've found really helpful in breaking out of the scale box is to record different chordal ideas and then go back and practice melodies over them, without monitoring which harmonic concept I'm currently practicing over, so that I don't have a particular set of preconceived shapes in mind before I set about creating melodies over them. Using your ears instead of your eyes is of the utmost importance, like you so eloquently point out. Keep jammin' my man!
The world needs more of these videos. Inject this into my veins.
I can play chords over the entire neck, the major and pentatonic scales that pass each chord shape.
But I haven't had that click yet where I just just blend it into music :(