Holy shit balls uncle Ben you just showed me in 25 minutes everything i didn't know that my guitar teacher could of showed me years ago that would have helped back then to be a better guitarist your my new teacher from now on you kick ass!! Uncle Ben..
This guy is hands down the greatest guitar teacher I've ever seen in my life, wish I could have met you when I was 8-9, but 33 is better than never I guess.
I've been playing guitar since 1974. This is the most important guitar lesson that is on You Tube. Everything on a guitar is easier if you play in patterns. EVERYTHING .
I have literally watched like 40 videos trying to understand this and failed miserably. But the way you just explained it makes so much sense! If you can't explain it simply, then you don't understand it. These words do very little to convey to you how grateful I am. Thanks so much!
Been playing guitar for 33 years now & considered myself an advanced player. With that said, this lesson is simply awesome! I've never heard of this method before and my mind was blown. I can't wait to implement this new mindset into my playing. Always remember that no matter how good you are, there's always a lesson to be learned. Thanks Ben!
ive playing for over 20 years but not that much. little practice. i wrecked a nice Squire strat recently that i had after giving my Yamaha (first and only guitar) to my friend's daughter. after a couple years i finally bought a nice MIM strat and mini Roland amp. time to actually learn and practice!!!!!
10 Years ago, I started slapping a small piece of plastic against 6 strings on a hunk of wood and called it "playing Guitar". Today, I learned how to guide my Dad back home after he got lost on a trip "buying smokes" 9 years later using the beautiful sounds this sick technique helped me make with my hunk of wood... I mean Guitar. Thanks Uncle Ben!!
I'm going to piggy-back on your comment since your first.. in hope this helps someone else. :) Fantastic lesson. I just wanted to make sure anyone new to this concept might look at this a little differently. I've always just placed my index finger on the root note of the low E string and gone up a whole step 2 times, first with my middle and then pinkie finger. Then.. do the same with the A string. Those 6 notes are the 6 chords you can play (I won't touch on the 7th since the video does a great job and anyone learning this won't be soloing in Locrian anytime soon). In this way you don't have to go backwards to find the minor keys you can play. You look straight down and see all the chords you can play without shifting your fingers or eyes... and you more easily learn the chords you can play as 1 through 6 (when you shift backwards, I feel like you lose that numbering and it can be a great benefit for modal soloing). So.. If a song is in G major. I put my first finger on the G note (3 fret, low E string), next finger on the 5th fret (A note), pinkie on the 7th (B note). Drop down a string (A) but don't move anywhere. Index on C, middle finger D, pinkie E. The pinkie finger on this string will always be your relative minor... or you can work backwards if the song is in a minor key.. and your index finger is now the 1 (major) chord. Your 1,4,5 progression is right there for the major chords (just like any blues song you've ever played) and your 2,3,6 minor chords are easy to see without moving your hand. The video here is superb at illustrating all of this in a different way. I just thought it's helpful to realize you can find the same notes/chords without moving your hand. If your goal is to start soloing in modes, you'll like this because it reinforces the number of each chord. Slide up to the third note.. bam.. start your Phrygian run. Jump to the 5 and knock out some Mixolydian. You're right there without giving it any extra thought. You get the idea. :)
This is a much simpler way to look at it. Being a music geek, I've always looked at it as, in a major key, 1, 4 and 5 are major. 2, 3 and 6 are minor, and 7 is diminished. As for minor, 1, 4 and 5 are minor. 3, 6 and 7 are major, and 2 is diminished. More complicated than it needs to be. This is why uncle Ben is a great teacher.
ElDuderino502 That's how I thought of it. I used the same fretboard patterns too. Slightly different though processes but the same conclusion. Good if you need to work out a 2-5-1 etc.
Thinking of it in numbers is necessary when you're composing on paper.. especially if you know how they (typically) connect, though.. Ha the go to answer; learn both
If you really wanna get in depth 2 3 6 is literally 1 4 5. you just have a major and a minor 1 4 5 in the same scale and youre tritone is always a half step below for better cadence. Hence why harmonic minor exists. Dominant chords always function better as a 5 chord. You're probably never gonna play G7 in A minor. You would play E7 because E is the five and the fifth chord has dominant function. The science behind it is a semitone from the root is a better natural cadence than a whole tone. When you look at a dominant chord the 3rd is a semitone away from the root. Better cadence. Change a G to G7 and go to D now you created a chromatic line. It's really all simpole when it finally dawns on you.
I stopped playing guitar more years ago than you are old, “Uncle Mike”. Had my reasons. But now in my later years I have started again and enjoy guitar very much, though I know I have really missed the boat as far as being an accomplished musician. This video is one of your best. Thanks, guy. We are worlds apart in genre but I still watch your videos because you are a great guitarist.
Best guitar teacher on RUclips. I love how you make everything super easy to understand while being very entertaining. Even though I've been playing for years I come here and still learn new things in ways that nobody else teaches! Keep it up!!
I have been following alot of Guitar Teachers online, and Ben Eller is by far my favorite when it comes to theory.. He doesn't use any of that fancy musical jargon… and makes concepts simple stupid.. all hail uncle ben....
The gold chocobo helps you get the Knights of The Round materia. That materia makes Ruby Weapon easier than your stepdad on Spring Break at Daytona Beach in '96
+Anton Yelchin death +1000 This made it all so clear. After sitting through hours of "tutorials" this one actually explains it in an understandable way. Kudos to Ben. Solid work sir.
Uncle Ben, I wish I'd had this video ten years ago-thank you SO much! I have gotten lost in so many bs abstractions trying to understand this via articles etc, and here you have physicalized it beautifully. Deeply respect and am grateful for this video.
YOU JUST BLEW MY EFFING MIND!!! I can't believe this has not been shown in any of the 100s of guitar lesson videos I've watched over the years. Great job! Also, now I understand how to find the relative minor keys. AWESOME! Thanks so much for posting this.
I never took the time to learn what chords in what key because I'm too lazy and can't be bothered. But my laziness just can't keep up what what you just told me right there. Just to damn simple. Thank you uncle Ben. You're my favourite uncle.
That is easier for guitarists to understand and apply, when theory is explained and immediately shown how to be used like this example.. Most schools and colleges dont do this. This is the way to teach this stuff.
Hey Ben. Without getting all sappy, I have to say that I did not put the time in when I was by younger to actually learn. Was much easier to crank the amp and jam a few songs. Now that I am “cough” older, I don’t have nearly as much time to dedicate to playing. However, your catalog of videos has got to be the most productive 30 minutes of my day. Ok now back to work on that Flux Capacitor….
Although your step father is a bit abusive, he's a guitar genius by showing you this awesome trick! Haha. Seriously thanks for updating the video. The first one was great, this one is even better.
Why have I only just found this out - this makes so much sense and has saved me so much time. Now if only I could invent a time machine and travel back to tell my old self this.
Why not try buying a guitar study book for novices, first, instead of wasting your valuable time listening to an unqualified, unlicensed "hack" like I'll Ben, here.
@@edwardblocker7021 Does that include Sir Edward Blocker, sounds like he's trying be the know it all. PS: If everyone else here is leaving positive comments and you are negative maybe the problem is not with him (I think you just don't like his channel name)
I'm both speechless and shouting for joy at the same time. Every single piece of information in this video landed with me. Ben's teaching style is literally the best I've ever personally experienced.
You have done an outstanding job of putting the insanely complicated into a very simple easy to follow rule of thumb!!! This is god sent to all of us out here trying to put this together... I am in your debt!!!! Thank you 1000 times over!!!
Incredible! I have seen 4 of your videos and have learned more useful information from them then I learned from all the other lessons I had in my 50+ years of playing. That includes spending 3 weeks at a guitar camp i. the early 90’s! Thank you for helping us sucky guitar players!!!
thanks, ben; that video does, indirectly, illustrate why i suck on guitar after many years. but it also proves your talent and natural ability to impart your wisdom. thanks!
Have felt overwhelmed at the prospect of songwriting for some time. Now I have a serious shot in the arm to actually try it. Juicy stuff that I will put into practice right away. Thanks so much!!!
me too. I had 30 minutes in a small room (see closet) in the basement of a music store with a teacher that smoked the whole time. I think I got addicted to nicotine by taking guitar lessons. lol
A min is the relative minor of C Maj. Keeners would have noticed that the chords in the key of C Maj are the same chords in the key of A min. A min just starts on A instead of C. You can also just take the sixth of a major key (A in the case of C) and blammo, Bob's your uncle! Edit: For extra melodic interest, try inverting chords (say, make the third the bass note instead of the root) or using suspensions (say, sub out the third for the fourth) and holy crap, now you're jazzing it up with gasoline. Or if you want to sound like the dudes in Opeth or Mastodon, try harmonizing by using contrary motion or retrograde inversions to really sound like you know what you're doing. I mean, it worked for Bach!
In the key of C you also secretly learn C ionion (Major) D Dorian E Lydian F Phrygian? G Mixolydian A Aolian (Natural Minor) B Locrian I probably butchered the spellings, but you are learning the modes without knowing it!
Great explanation man! This is probably the simplest way anyone could possibly remember it without overheating the brain. lol I now need to learn a few different variations of each major and minor chord.
You are the best, man. I've been "playing" for over ten years, and nobody has ever made it this simple. I've tried to learn theory, but even beginner videos are like Chinese to me.
Unreal. Every guitar sold should come with your hand-drawn chart with colored markers and one paragraph that describes this. All my long life i’ve let a nebulous fear of music theory keep me from learning this critical skill. As a result i’ve never been able to sit and jam with people who say “it’s in the key of F#, dude!” i’ve literally said to them “that doesn’t really help me.” Even though i’ve known all the basic chords and a few fingerings for strong barre chords for three decades. makes me feel like i’ve failed myself, but then Ben Eller swooped in and fixed it for me in 25 minutes. mind blown. thank you. i hope you’re living an amazing life full of happiness. you deserve it.
Thanks man for putting this stuff out. You seem to understand the way a lot of us are teaching ourselves and your lessons definitely hit on what everyone is missing. Just being able to logically piece the guitar together is so much more useful for me, probably because I'm self taught. It seems like a lot of teachers favor a more hands on approach where they are their to fix your missteps. I'm sure this works if they are there the whole time. But you've given us a framework to correct ourselves and I think that makes all the difference when learning primarily alone. Subscribed
I've been taught this about 6 or 7 times by people who taught it to me in a way I'd never remember. Now Uncle Ben taught it to me in a way I'll never forget. I was watching at 2x speed until 15:26 then I needed to hit the brakes big time to about 0.5 speed from there for a bit, but then I got to the point at the end where I was like "you don't even need to go through the minor ones, its obviously built the same way under the major.".
I'm gladly that I started to learn a little bit of english by myself, 'cause I never found out here in Brazil's videos, this kind of helpful tips about harmonies, I'm an enthusiast in guitar play and now I'm thinking that I can try to play around with some songs without ask everything on the internet. THANK U SO MUCH, KEEP DOING THIS WORK, PLS.
@@baronvonsatan The CO5th shows you all the keys and the chords that go in them .so your asking me what to do with the knowledge of the chords in a key ??? Play something !!!
1:01 - this is where I knew I was up for something good! And indeed... you delivered! No-nonsense, straight to the facts, easily understandable. Thanks Ben, I'll stick around!
When it comes to the shape he does, what order are the notes in? From low E string (2 notes on it) and A string (4 notes on it) - not counting diminished. As if someone said “play 2-6-4 in A minor”
AlexVinchenzo Number system considers 1 the major root. 6 would be the Aeolian or what you might call the "relative minor" so still leaves 7 as Locrian/Diminished.
Thumbs up bro. They didn't give me enough thumbs to award you with. I mean this video has given me more useful info than any other by far. MANY THANKS. MUDDy
"This is Why You Suck at Guitar" is so fucking arrogant. The self appointed "I am the way, the truth and the life" guitar Jesus has a serious attitude problem
My method is practice a lot and explore all over the fretboard. Also make up your own chords and scales as long as they sound organized it will sound like music. It aint rocket science..its rock n roll!!
I have been playing for years knowing only the 5 Minor Pentatonic scale positions . I have only recently begun to learn the chord number system to be able to learn the CAGED system . I am so glad I found your channel as you make it easy to understand without being painfully slow and overly repetitious . Thank you Ben . I am now a subscriber !
Wow great explanation and visuals. Being a visual learner who draws similar boards this clicked with me more than many guitar lesson discussions I've had over the years. Thank you, Ben!
I've learned a decent amount of theory over the years, but much of it I don't know by rote. And, my mental map is still the piano keyboard even though I primarily play geetar. Seeing these sorts of applications using the fretboard is extremely helpful. It's another way to think about it that helps turn on the lightbulbs in the old brain. However, the real gem for me in this one was the substitution of the Dom7 for the m7! I didn't know you could do that! As soon as I played it, I realized I'd heard it all my life. Thanks again, Uncle Ben, for another educational and highly entertaining lesson. You're a hell of a teacher.
I show this to any of my buddies who play simple chords (I love how you called them cowboy chords btw) and need to learn how to make songs better. When you said "did I blow your mind? I know" always catches them right when their mind is blown and I always get a good chuckle. Great video man, real easy going way to show a fantastic fundamental
Yeah... you blew my mind. Don't know why that isn't one of the first lessons for a beginner. Here I am after many years playing and a few lousy teachers... and I just get this info. Thanks so much!!!!
@@ChessCat1500 FYI... there is no "one" initial move in the game of chess that has ever been written by any grandmaster in any published chess book because, simply stated... one does not exist in the game of chess nor has there ever been one in any recorded game played in history. "UBER BULLSHIT!!!"
Yeah, "natural talent." I suffer from the same thing. You either have it or you don't. Doesn't mean you can't improve with practice and repetition. I mean, I could practice hockey night and day for the next 5 years and I am 100% sure I will never be an NHL hockey player.
FreD Hahahahaha have you ever seen MetallicA in concert? You can see Lars body still trembling and he's covered in sweat. Idk how my best bro can play all that MetallicA for that many song. It's all old stuff I play too. Fast as fyuck
michael lemay Maybe it's all the hot stage lighting and playing for 25,000 people. Then again maybe Lars sucks and your bro should be metallica's drummer.
This is brilliant simple. 25 years playing and finding the right chords in a given key has remained trial and error because I was late to the party learning theory. This, however, this I can use. I was already using the 1½ step shift to determine major/minor, and now I can expand on that. Thanks so much Ben.
Been playing for over 15,000 years and I never knew this! After thousands and thousands of years trying to figure this out it's crazy how simple it really is! Would have loved to have had this knowledge back when we were playing bone flute in caves. Consider myself to be advanced too!
God damn it. I spent 4 days doin' some fancy book learnin' on the circle of fifth to work this shit out when I could have been watching you tube! Also, great video! Probably your most useful.
And that was not the purpose of the video. Maybe he'll do another one on chord progressions, but this one was about how to find most chords that FIT IN A KEY. Chord progressions are more complicated in a way that they exist in so many forms and there is as much if not more than the total number of genre and subgenres that exist in the universe.
I'm an old guitarrist and never learned this stuff back in the day, we were just making noise in the garage with my mates 😂 You are an excellent teacher Mr 👏
"You might end up accidentally playing some shit ass '3 Doors Down' song." So true. Hahaha. More importantly, super helpful lesson. Good stuff, Uncle Ben. And
Excellent work you did there...for people like me with poor comprehension, others with short-attention spans and what not. Me personally, I've always had a huge struggle in my brain when looking at simple logic, problem-solving, mathematics. Some folks go through a whole life-time doing things the hard way.
Mr "Big Ben" you are an absolute genius!!! I'm a bit scared that you might have been watching me because I suck at guitar for every reason/episode and then some... I've been a beginner for over 40 years because no one else could simply explain to me what basic chords go together in various keys. Thank You!!! Now I can spend the next 40 years and actually learn to play my instrument instead of playing with my instrument.
I guess you haven't studied many reputable music books, lately. A good library's full of them... but, only for people who can read and then from there, take some inisheativ to want to study hard to become a better player.
I guess it's not very hard to impress the uneducated. It's a damn shame that that's the kind of lazy-ass world we live in, today. It's no wonder that a good education is now being wasted on the existing, intellectually and mentally challenged that dictates the educational makeup of our society, today.
I want to thank you Ben. Your lessons have really helped me become a better player and understand the guitar. Literally just after a few of your videos it's like a light bulb turned on. Thanks
![Eminem - Fuel (feat. JID) [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/t5H_CewqpKA/mqdefault.jpg)
Holy shit balls uncle Ben you just showed me in 25 minutes everything i didn't know that my guitar teacher could of showed me years ago that would have helped back then to be a better guitarist your my new teacher from now on you kick ass!! Uncle Ben..
This guy is hands down the greatest guitar teacher I've ever seen in my life, wish I could have met you when I was 8-9, but 33 is better than never I guess.
Cheers, man, thank you very much!
@@BenEller thank you! Sláinte
I agree! I learn so much whenever I watch his videos!
Omg, mate... same here and I'm 42... 😬
I was thinking the same thing. You do a great job!
I've been playing guitar since 1974. This is the most important guitar lesson that is on You Tube. Everything on a guitar is easier if you play in patterns. EVERYTHING .
Im confused any other material examples you could recommend?
Seems if you can't remember how many steps up or down the neck to go for each individual note, you're screwed.
You are being a troll.
I have literally watched like 40 videos trying to understand this and failed miserably. But the way you just explained it makes so much sense! If you can't explain it simply, then you don't understand it. These words do very little to convey to you how grateful I am. Thanks so much!
"Chords that grew up and got jobs." That gave me a major belly laugh that brightened my quarantine. You are my new favorite guitar teacher.
That sound you just heard was the light turning on in my head.. Really enjoy your lessons and your humor Ben.
Been playing guitar for 33 years now & considered myself an advanced player. With that said, this lesson is simply awesome! I've never heard of this method before and my mind was blown. I can't wait to implement this new mindset into my playing. Always remember that no matter how good you are, there's always a lesson to be learned. Thanks Ben!
Same here, I always seen that but never did this association. So simple and helpful.
Amen. Me too.
ive playing for over 20 years but not that much. little practice. i wrecked a nice Squire strat recently that i had after giving my Yamaha (first and only guitar) to my friend's daughter.
after a couple years i finally bought a nice MIM strat and mini Roland amp. time to actually learn and practice!!!!!
Mind Blown!!
I play since 95. This is like i understand everything now.🤣
Stepdads hate him: Learn Uncle Ben's trick for figuring out what chords go in what key
Wait...did he say, "meow"?
Aye Yuh Aye Yuh
hahahahaha
I’ve been playing guitar for over 30 years and I watch Ben to make the songs I play better…..and right. He’s the man hands down.
10 Years ago, I started slapping a small piece of plastic against 6 strings on a hunk of wood and called it "playing Guitar". Today, I learned how to guide my Dad back home after he got lost on a trip "buying smokes" 9 years later using the beautiful sounds this sick technique helped me make with my hunk of wood... I mean Guitar. Thanks Uncle Ben!!
This thing is why we subscribed to the channel Uncle B
Tomas Grikenis I concur. Uncle Ben always has new material to broaden my repertoire.
I'm going to piggy-back on your comment since your first.. in hope this helps someone else. :)
Fantastic lesson. I just wanted to make sure anyone new to this concept might look at this a little differently. I've always just placed my index finger on the root note of the low E string and gone up a whole step 2 times, first with my middle and then pinkie finger. Then.. do the same with the A string. Those 6 notes are the 6 chords you can play (I won't touch on the 7th since the video does a great job and anyone learning this won't be soloing in Locrian anytime soon). In this way you don't have to go backwards to find the minor keys you can play. You look straight down and see all the chords you can play without shifting your fingers or eyes... and you more easily learn the chords you can play as 1 through 6 (when you shift backwards, I feel like you lose that numbering and it can be a great benefit for modal soloing).
So.. If a song is in G major. I put my first finger on the G note (3 fret, low E string), next finger on the 5th fret (A note), pinkie on the 7th (B note). Drop down a string (A) but don't move anywhere. Index on C, middle finger D, pinkie E. The pinkie finger on this string will always be your relative minor... or you can work backwards if the song is in a minor key.. and your index finger is now the 1 (major) chord. Your 1,4,5 progression is right there for the major chords (just like any blues song you've ever played) and your 2,3,6 minor chords are easy to see without moving your hand.
The video here is superb at illustrating all of this in a different way. I just thought it's helpful to realize you can find the same notes/chords without moving your hand. If your goal is to start soloing in modes, you'll like this because it reinforces the number of each chord. Slide up to the third note.. bam.. start your Phrygian run. Jump to the 5 and knock out some Mixolydian. You're right there without giving it any extra thought. You get the idea. :)
Jeff Kastner Another brilliant idea! Thanks!
This is a much simpler way to look at it. Being a music geek, I've always looked at it as, in a major key, 1, 4 and 5 are major. 2, 3 and 6 are minor, and 7 is diminished. As for minor, 1, 4 and 5 are minor. 3, 6 and 7 are major, and 2 is diminished. More complicated than it needs to be. This is why uncle Ben is a great teacher.
ElDuderino502 That's how I thought of it. I used the same fretboard patterns too. Slightly different though processes but the same conclusion. Good if you need to work out a 2-5-1 etc.
Thinking of it in numbers is necessary when you're composing on paper.. especially if you know how they (typically) connect, though.. Ha the go to answer; learn both
Fuck you
If you really wanna get in depth 2 3 6 is literally 1 4 5. you just have a major and a minor 1 4 5 in the same scale and youre tritone is always a half step below for better cadence. Hence why harmonic minor exists. Dominant chords always function better as a 5 chord. You're probably never gonna play G7 in A minor. You would play E7 because E is the five and the fifth chord has dominant function. The science behind it is a semitone from the root is a better natural cadence than a whole tone. When you look at a dominant chord the 3rd is a semitone away from the root. Better cadence. Change a G to G7 and go to D now you created a chromatic line. It's really all simpole when it finally dawns on you.
"Real grown ups like to play Chords with names that sound like Vitamins, like B11 or A7". LOL that was hilarious!! Great lesson as always Uncle Ben!!
I stopped playing guitar more years ago than you are old, “Uncle Mike”. Had my reasons. But now in my later years I have started again and enjoy guitar very much, though I know I have really missed the boat as far as being an accomplished musician. This video is one of your best. Thanks, guy. We are worlds apart in genre but I still watch your videos because you are a great guitarist.
Best guitar teacher on RUclips. I love how you make everything super easy to understand while being very entertaining. Even though I've been playing for years I come here and still learn new things in ways that nobody else teaches! Keep it up!!
I have been following alot of Guitar Teachers online, and Ben Eller is by far my favorite when it comes to theory.. He doesn't use any of that fancy musical jargon… and makes concepts simple stupid..
all hail uncle ben....
The gold chocobo helps you get the Knights of The Round materia. That materia makes Ruby Weapon easier than your stepdad on Spring Break at Daytona Beach in '96
Probably the best "how to learn guitar" video on youtube! thanks for posting it!! LOVE IT!!!
+Anton Yelchin death +1000 This made it all so clear. After sitting through hours of "tutorials" this one actually explains it in an understandable way. Kudos to Ben. Solid work sir.
usbzoso F#ya!
@@godmode3359 Maybe you should try retaking 3rd grade, again. A mind is, still, a terrible thing to waste!
waste of time . just get a circle of 5ths
@@edwardblocker7021 ?
Uncle Ben, I wish I'd had this video ten years ago-thank you SO much! I have gotten lost in so many bs abstractions trying to understand this via articles etc, and here you have physicalized it beautifully. Deeply respect and am grateful for this video.
This has to be at least 2 semesters of classes at MI in 25 minutes! great lesson - my new favorite YT Geetar teacher
YOU JUST BLEW MY EFFING MIND!!! I can't believe this has not been shown in any of the 100s of guitar lesson videos I've watched over the years. Great job! Also, now I understand how to find the relative minor keys. AWESOME! Thanks so much for posting this.
He's cool dude bro
Next time, why not try buying a reputable, music education book.
I never took the time to learn what chords in what key because I'm too lazy and can't be bothered. But my laziness just can't keep up what what you just told me right there. Just to damn simple. Thank you uncle Ben. You're my favourite uncle.
That is easier for guitarists to understand and apply, when theory is explained and immediately shown how to be used like this example.. Most schools and colleges dont do this. This is the way to teach this stuff.
Hey Ben. Without getting all sappy, I have to say that I did not put the time in when I was by younger to actually learn. Was much easier to crank the amp and jam a few songs. Now that I am “cough” older, I don’t have nearly as much time to dedicate to playing. However, your catalog of videos has got to be the most productive 30 minutes of my day.
Ok now back to work on that Flux Capacitor….
I have been waiting for someone to figure out that this is what I needed to hear to move forward! Finally! Thank you!! I can continue life now.
"they all grew up and took jobs" .... this is why I'm subscribed to this channel. Keep it goin' Uncle Ben. Big fan.
Although your step father is a bit abusive, he's a guitar genius by showing you this awesome trick! Haha. Seriously thanks for updating the video. The first one was great, this one is even better.
Why have I only just found this out - this makes so much sense and has saved me so much time. Now if only I could invent a time machine and travel back to tell my old self this.
Edalia,
I love you! That was priceless! Me too!
Why not try buying a guitar study book for novices, first, instead of wasting your valuable time listening to an unqualified, unlicensed "hack" like I'll Ben, here.
@fushapanther Look no farther then the mentally challenged, they are trying to teach!
@fushapanther Simple! I dislike people who try to give the impression that they know more than they actually do or are willing to admit.
@@edwardblocker7021 Does that include Sir Edward Blocker, sounds like he's trying be the know it all.
PS: If everyone else here is leaving positive comments and you are negative maybe the problem is not with him (I think you just don't like his channel name)
I'm both speechless and shouting for joy at the same time. Every single piece of information in this video landed with me. Ben's teaching style is literally the best I've ever personally experienced.
You have done an outstanding job of putting the insanely complicated into a very simple easy to follow rule of thumb!!! This is god sent to all of us out here trying to put this together... I am in your debt!!!! Thank you 1000 times over!!!
Incredible! I have seen 4 of your videos and have learned more useful information from them then I learned from all the other lessons I had in my 50+ years of playing. That includes spending 3 weeks at a guitar camp i. the early 90’s! Thank you for helping us sucky guitar players!!!
uncle ben! actual blew my mind with this lesson get me writing songs in every key hahahah cheers pal
glad to hear that!!!
Wow, this is a mind-blowing lesson. I've learned more watching this lesson than in the last six months. SUBSCRIBE
thanks, ben; that video does, indirectly, illustrate why i suck on guitar after many years. but it also proves your talent and natural ability to impart your wisdom. thanks!
Have felt overwhelmed at the prospect of songwriting for some time. Now I have a serious shot in the arm to actually try it. Juicy stuff that I will put into practice right away. Thanks so much!!!
I wish RUclips existed when I was 13!
...and pornhub
me too
Same
me too. I had 30 minutes in a small room (see closet) in the basement of a music store with a teacher that smoked the whole time. I think I got addicted to nicotine by taking guitar lessons. lol
this makes me feel lucky being 14
A min is the relative minor of C Maj. Keeners would have noticed that the chords in the key of C Maj are the same chords in the key of A min. A min just starts on A instead of C. You can also just take the sixth of a major key (A in the case of C) and blammo, Bob's your uncle!
Edit: For extra melodic interest, try inverting chords (say, make the third the bass note instead of the root) or using suspensions (say, sub out the third for the fourth) and holy crap, now you're jazzing it up with gasoline. Or if you want to sound like the dudes in Opeth or Mastodon, try harmonizing by using contrary motion or retrograde inversions to really sound like you know what you're doing. I mean, it worked for Bach!
In the key of C you also secretly learn
C ionion (Major)
D Dorian
E Lydian
F Phrygian?
G Mixolydian
A Aolian (Natural Minor)
B Locrian
I probably butchered the spellings, but you are learning the modes without knowing it!
phutureproof You pretty much got it, but it would actually be E phrygian and F lydian
Goated comment
Great explanation man! This is probably the simplest way anyone could possibly remember it without overheating the brain. lol I now need to learn a few different variations of each major and minor chord.
You are the best, man. I've been "playing" for over ten years, and nobody has ever made it this simple. I've tried to learn theory, but even beginner videos are like Chinese to me.
I wish someone could have told Mr these tips 20 years before. What an eye opener. Wonderful lesson. May God bless you more.
Great explanation. I feel like that deepened my understanding of the instrument. Thanks mate!
Unreal. Every guitar sold should come with your hand-drawn chart with colored markers and one paragraph that describes this.
All my long life i’ve let a nebulous fear of music theory keep me from learning this critical skill. As a result i’ve never been able to sit and jam with people who say “it’s in the key of F#, dude!” i’ve literally said to them “that doesn’t really help me.” Even though i’ve known all the basic chords and a few fingerings for strong barre chords for three decades.
makes me feel like i’ve failed myself, but then Ben Eller swooped in and fixed it for me in 25 minutes.
mind blown.
thank you.
i hope you’re living an amazing life full of happiness. you deserve it.
That makes me very happy to hear. Cheers, man!!!
finally someone makes a music theory video that i fully understand all the way through. ben is essentially jesus.
little "j" jesus, but still impressive nonetheless
Uncle Ben, you're such an awesome teacher! Really enjoyed and more importantly opened my mind and had a light bulb moment!
Thanks man for putting this stuff out. You seem to understand the way a lot of us are teaching ourselves and your lessons definitely hit on what everyone is missing. Just being able to logically piece the guitar together is so much more useful for me, probably because I'm self taught. It seems like a lot of teachers favor a more hands on approach where they are their to fix your missteps. I'm sure this works if they are there the whole time. But you've given us a framework to correct ourselves and I think that makes all the difference when learning primarily alone. Subscribed
A great basic video every songwriter should watch. Thank you sir
Uncle Ben reveals the secrets of the universe
Joe Oliver uncle ben did bad stuff to me
Thank you for this magic sorcery guitar trick, I love you....
I've been taught this about 6 or 7 times by people who taught it to me in a way I'd never remember. Now Uncle Ben taught it to me in a way I'll never forget. I was watching at 2x speed until 15:26 then I needed to hit the brakes big time to about 0.5 speed from there for a bit, but then I got to the point at the end where I was like "you don't even need to go through the minor ones, its obviously built the same way under the major.".
I'm French and I understood every single word. Thank you for this very helpful lesson !
1:30 I caught that "meow" Uncle B
Another at 19:58
You sir are a bad ass guitar genius! Why in the hell hasn't anyone else offered up such a common sense lesson ...very valuable info right here.
One of the best trick ever !
Thanks for this. This really 'solidified' stuff that a 'half understood', simplified and extended it. Really useful.
I'm gladly that I started to learn a little bit of english by myself, 'cause I never found out here in Brazil's videos, this kind of helpful tips about harmonies, I'm an enthusiast in guitar play and now I'm thinking that I can try to play around with some songs without ask everything on the internet. THANK U SO MUCH, KEEP DOING THIS WORK, PLS.
I sincerely feel educated.
Very cool honest comment man
waste of time . just get a circle of 5ths
@@skutty5773 and do what with it?
Same
@@baronvonsatan The CO5th shows you all the keys and the chords that go in them .so your asking me what to do with the knowledge of the chords in a key ??? Play something !!!
Thanks for making sense. 🤩
Light bulb moment 4 shore.
Thanks Uncle Ben, you have just revitalized my Blass playing that my Step Dad learned me.
1:01 - this is where I knew I was up for something good! And indeed... you delivered! No-nonsense, straight to the facts, easily understandable. Thanks Ben, I'll stick around!
Deniz B. naber
I can't absorb it all at this viewing, but I subscribed and will be watching this again, thank you for your time, humor, and sharing your knowledge!
major 1-4-5
minor 2-3 -6
diminished 7
that is all
@@gettyshiloh Simple
i dont quite understand
When it comes to the shape he does, what order are the notes in? From low E string (2 notes on it) and A string (4 notes on it) - not counting diminished. As if someone said “play 2-6-4 in A minor”
Diminished is also 2nd in minor
AlexVinchenzo
Number system considers 1 the major root. 6 would be the Aeolian or what you might call the "relative minor" so still leaves 7 as Locrian/Diminished.
thanks Uncle Ben, you really do care about your step siblings.
Thumbs up bro. They didn't give me enough thumbs to award you with. I mean this video has given me more useful info than any other by far. MANY THANKS.
MUDDy
waste of time . just get a circle of 5ths
I really can't stress enough that this channel is one of (if not the very best) the best guitar learning resources on RUclips.
I knew all this shit for piano but never knew it until NOW for guitar!! Uncle Ben, you rock and are a wonderful teacher. Thank you 😊
I love how this series is called "This is why you suck at guitar" but Ben and everyone here is so friendly that I am literally surprised.
you're not the only one, ive got click baited by that title too interesting, but then my mind blows.
"This is Why You Suck at Guitar" is so fucking arrogant. The self appointed "I am the way, the truth and the life" guitar Jesus has a serious attitude problem
Now go ahead, watch the video and learn something new.
"watch the video and learn something new."
"learn something new" - Such arrogance from someone own doesn't even know me
Seems eddie doesn't care much for being friendly and would rather die of cardiac problems later in life.
bless me uncle Ben
My method is practice a lot and explore all over the fretboard. Also make up your own chords and scales as long as they sound organized it will sound like music. It aint rocket science..its rock n roll!!
I bet you use an 'Equalizer' :D
I have been playing for years knowing only the 5 Minor Pentatonic scale positions . I have only recently begun to learn the chord number system to be able to learn the CAGED system . I am so glad I found your channel as you make it easy to understand without being painfully slow and overly repetitious . Thank you Ben . I am now a subscriber !
So obvious… but only NOW that you pointed it out. Such simplicity I never noticed in 45 years of playing. Good job, Ben.
uncle ben back at it again with those nasty lessons
awesome lesson dude
Love your Ikari Warriors intro! I almost started pushing A B B A - A B B A!
Ace Ebb and them you did dancing gueen
Ace Ebb queen damnit
Wow great explanation and visuals. Being a visual learner who draws similar boards this clicked with me more than many guitar lesson discussions I've had over the years. Thank you, Ben!
I've learned a decent amount of theory over the years, but much of it I don't know by rote. And, my mental map is still the piano keyboard even though I primarily play geetar. Seeing these sorts of applications using the fretboard is extremely helpful. It's another way to think about it that helps turn on the lightbulbs in the old brain. However, the real gem for me in this one was the substitution of the Dom7 for the m7! I didn't know you could do that! As soon as I played it, I realized I'd heard it all my life. Thanks again, Uncle Ben, for another educational and highly entertaining lesson. You're a hell of a teacher.
Great vid - thanks
I wait for minor chords to reach legal status before I consider playing them.
Just don't get your balls stuck into the acoustic hole of the guitar!
just be wary about touching the g string
I love spending a lot of time in A minor
Too bad more Catholic priests don't feel the same way.
Give this guy a huge freaking medal!;)
been playing ( or sucking at) guitar for almost 30 years and could never remember this!!!! thanks for the hint.
I show this to any of my buddies who play simple chords (I love how you called them cowboy chords btw) and need to learn how to make songs better. When you said "did I blow your mind? I know" always catches them right when their mind is blown and I always get a good chuckle. Great video man, real easy going way to show a fantastic fundamental
Yeah... you blew my mind. Don't know why that isn't one of the first lessons for a beginner. Here I am after many years playing and a few lousy teachers... and I just get this info. Thanks so much!!!!
As Rickie Lee Jones said: "You can't break the rules until you know how to play the game."
When I was a kid, I didn't know how to play chess... But I won every time in 1 fuckin move...
What? Usually, people who brake the rules have very little regard for how the game is played!
@@ChessCat1500 FYI... there is no "one" initial move in the game of chess that has ever been written by any grandmaster in any published chess book because, simply stated... one does not exist in the game of chess nor has there ever been one in any recorded game played in history.
"UBER BULLSHIT!!!"
70% of the time that makes since every time
@@edwardblocker7021 I think he's talking about just flipping the board over and ending the game that way. JMO.
There's many many more reasons in addition to this why I suck at guitar.
Yeah, "natural talent."
I suffer from the same thing.
You either have it or you don't.
Doesn't mean you can't improve with practice and repetition.
I mean, I could practice hockey night and day for the next 5 years and I am 100% sure I will never be an NHL hockey player.
you suck at grammar, also
im a drummer, but after seeing this, i know how to play guitar better than the drum. #holyshit.
The secret to being great at guitar is buy mp3s. You will wow and awe everyone with your insane musical ability to change songs and styles.
FreD
Hahahahaha have you ever seen MetallicA in concert? You can see Lars body still trembling and he's covered in sweat. Idk how my best bro can play all that MetallicA for that many song. It's all old stuff I play too. Fast as fyuck
michael lemay Maybe it's all the hot stage lighting and playing for 25,000 people. Then again maybe Lars sucks and your bro should be metallica's drummer.
Dave Decker
You have zero musical knowledge at all. Maybe you should stop before you get embarrassed
michael lemay Maybe if you worked on your spelling (fyuck? really?) and your fyucked up syntax. I might understand WTFyuck you are talking about!!!
This is brilliant simple. 25 years playing and finding the right chords in a given key has remained trial and error because I was late to the party learning theory. This, however, this I can use. I was already using the 1½ step shift to determine major/minor, and now I can expand on that. Thanks so much Ben.
It's called transposition; look it up and then try playing kazoo. That requires no brains or talent. Sounds perfect for you!
Been playing for over 15,000 years and I never knew this! After thousands and thousands of years trying to figure this out it's crazy how simple it really is! Would have loved to have had this knowledge back when we were playing bone flute in caves. Consider myself to be advanced too!
Dude. Hell yes
God damn it. I spent 4 days doin' some fancy book learnin' on the circle of fifth to work this shit out when I could have been watching you tube!
Also, great video! Probably your most useful.
Protagonist lol the circle of fifths only applies in the piano of course guitar but you don't need it unless your a guitar theory snob
Thank you for helping me to suck less at guitar , very helpful !
And that was not the purpose of the video. Maybe he'll do another one on chord progressions, but this one was about how to find most chords that FIT IN A KEY. Chord progressions are more complicated in a way that they exist in so many forms and there is as much if not more than the total number of genre and subgenres that exist in the universe.
Psychedelic Electric Juice ...or if you want to continue sucking on guitar, then yeah...
Well, hell....that makes gobs of sense. Thanks for sharing your knowledge
I've learned more from you in two videos than I have in any other lessons on youtube. Thanks man, keep em comin
I'm an old guitarrist and never learned this stuff back in the day, we were just making noise in the garage with my mates 😂
You are an excellent teacher Mr 👏
"You might end up accidentally playing some shit ass '3 Doors Down' song." So true. Hahaha. More importantly, super helpful lesson. Good stuff, Uncle Ben. And
"Adults want to play chords that sound like vitamins" ROFLA
This is awesome, thank you!
Excellent work you did there...for people like me with poor comprehension, others with short-attention spans and what not. Me personally, I've always had a huge struggle in my brain when looking at simple logic, problem-solving, mathematics. Some folks go through a whole life-time doing things the hard way.
Mr "Big Ben" you are an absolute genius!!! I'm a bit scared that you might have been watching me because I suck at guitar for every reason/episode and then some... I've been a beginner for over 40 years because no one else could simply explain to me what basic chords go together in various keys. Thank You!!! Now I can spend the next 40 years and actually learn to play my instrument instead of playing with my instrument.
Fantastic. One of the most beneficial video lessons I ever watched. Thanx Ben. Following you and hope to learn more.
I guess you haven't studied many reputable music books, lately. A good library's full of them... but, only for people who can read and then from there, take some inisheativ to want to study hard to become a better player.
I guess it's not very hard to impress the uneducated. It's a damn shame that that's the kind of lazy-ass world we live in, today. It's no wonder that a good education is now being wasted on the existing, intellectually and mentally challenged that dictates the educational makeup of our society, today.
LOL. Ladies and gentlemen, this is what an amateur troll sounds like.
I like when you call me Virginia like my step dad always does
Especially after 2 Piña colada’s
This video was 'recommended' to me. Oh crap that's not good, lol.
I want to thank you Ben. Your lessons have really helped me become a better player and understand the guitar. Literally just after a few of your videos it's like a light bulb turned on. Thanks
I've been playing over 20 years and needed this. Thanks!