It is like this; follow this system and you will be able to play any song in any scale, and anywhere on the fretboard. Sounds farfetched? Just try it out. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. It has worked for me, and I had been playing for nearly 4 decades in an ineffective manner prior to learning this system.
This approach is simultaneously so much more simple and more powerful than the traditional CAGED boxes system, I don’t know why it’s not the standard that everyone uses. It’s like taking these big, complex box “molecules” and breaking them down into their component “atoms” that appear in each one, just rearranged. I also like that it teaches you what’s actually in the boxes, so you can understand them in a musical context. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Prokopis, the SFS really works well for me and the way my brain puts things together. Keep up the great work, and thank you for making this available 😁
i'm glad i found this video. i've spent the past few months workig through the big boxes, but in the back of my mind this idea kept creeping up but i didn't fully think it through. this is really great video.
Me too :-) You can still use this concept to jump between the boxes you already know or to connect them moving laterally on any string (ex. SF3 always connects up to SF1 of the next position, SF2 to SF5, etc.).
This method is one i have learned a long time ago but in a slightly different manner and it disappeared from my memory just as quickly.. this was a great (and easily comprehensive) way to show this method!
I started from learning box patterns - it took me much time to rich fluent switching between positions and use it during improvisation. It's ridiculous that a few years ago I subscribed Prokopis's channel and even saw video but didn't use it in my education - why ? I don't know answer. Today I see how many hours of practicing I've spent senselessly. Somebody told that is never to late for return on the right way..Many thanks for Your e-mail with info on Fretboard Memorization Toolbox and other courses.
Thanks for the kind words. Indeed it's never too late. I was a professional with two music degrees when I started developing my methods, and I literally re-learned everything with new ways. It didn't take as long as I thought, and it was well worth it because I quickly realized how further I could grow with better and more effective systems. Good luck in your guitar journey. I'm glad to be a part of it 👍.
Hello Prokopis, Just watched your video and I think it's fantastic. I'm an older beginner, but your style of instruction has motivated me to look at tackling some lead guitar. Thanks for posting so that much younger players can truly benefit from your talents. 😎
You're welcome! I actually developed this around 8 years ago, and used it with my private students, but I didn't have enough sense to publish it on the internet back then :-)
I looking forward to your lessons. I like the way you split the screen at end of the video, where you were playing rhythm on the left side and lead on the right side.
Hello George! Thanks for signing up (I just answered your email btw). This is lesson 1 from the old version. You signed up for version 2.0 which I believe you will like even more :-)
It have change my life or make my life easier on the guitar fretboard and give me more guitar frerboard knowledge. Is so easy to remember and I don´t have to memorization anything. Thank you for the amazing lessons.
Yes, I think that in general, breaking complex skills down into smaller digestible components is always the most effective way to master them. Thanks for the feedback :-)
It's weird. I don't quite approach my guitar fretboard the same, I learned the basic box shapes of each mode. Then any time you shift from the root, you just need to know which shapes come right and left of the initial position root, The box shapes are to break down how each string fits in with each other, Once you can play the first position you move left and then right, Learn how those fit in relation to one so you can slide between them easily, then the next positions and it's not long at all until you look at the neck from any root position in the mode your in and know what is in your scale anywhere on the neck, and how weird it will sound if you play say a phrase completely out of key then return to chord tones that are in key to create an unsettling feeling then relieve it with a good consonant tone. This system I think can be beneficial to a lot of people though, I look at how the shapes interlock and make bigger shapes. Not everyone can visualize like that, and for those people, this is probably a way better alternative than what I do. In any case, it's an interesting approach and ANY approach that yields good results is a correct approach.
Hello Charles. Thanks for the kind words. Actually, SFS can be developed to achieve the same result you are describing, ie. building all positions, and connecting on any string. This is just a 3 string example, but in my step-by-step courses we start with just 1 string fragment, and gradually add more until all positions can be built (which requires 5 string fragments). I understand that some people can handle doing this using the box shapes, but in my teaching experience I have found that building this step by step makes the process fun, faster, and easier for the majority of players. I already knew all box shapes for most scales when I developed this system, but I'm like you. I explore all systems. For me this turned out to be much better. I move more freely, and I learn new scales faster this way. I was never the visual type, so memorizing boxes was never fun for me :-)
@@Effectivemusicpractice I do like exploring every method I can find, This one is actually wonderful for those that aren't like me where I look at the fretboard and can visualize where all my notes are without much thought. In the end I appreciate what you're doing here, it makes learning the fretboard more accessible to more people, in the end that is what matters, making it more accessible to everyone that wants to learn. I really do think this system has a lot of merit, I almost do the same thing really just it comes natural to me to look to the right of any aeleon root and see a locrian shape to continue it. but really, when I'm looking at it as different mode shapes to create a giant diagram, I'm really doing something similar piecing together the shapes into something that made sense to me, I'll be looking into your system more, Because I may have my way, But I'll never turn away from a chance to learn something new, or a new way, that's what allows us to grow
Learning guitar for a while now. Was struggling in boxed system or TNPS a lot. Until I realized for myself something similar to what you call SFS. Your approach is much better founded and in system. I think this is the much more easy and flexible way to get familiar with the guitar.
Hey Thomas, thanks for watching! Yup, I'm discovering more and more people that came up with a similar system. I find it much more practical than traditional box memorization, and it becomes even more useful as you go into more advanced improvisation (degree knowledge, navigating chord/scale changes, etc). It's also a lot more fun to practice this way :-)
Good stuff. Drummer-turning-guitar-player here. I had a HUGE Eureka moment about a year ago when I realized I could view the guitar as simple Octave shapes. All the "box" shapes are just the simple octave shape (which uses 3 strings) all stacked on top of each other like tetris shapes. I keep track of where the Root is, and then I'm off to the races... I've had my quitar for 20 years, but it mostly collected dust for 18. Back then, I was like, "it will take a lifetime to memorize all these shapes!" - two years ago, I was going, "there HAS to be a better way", and realized this. It's cool to see a "real" guitar player seeing things in a similar fashion! It's pretty wild, because in the end, all of the "systems" are the same. But wow, what a difference it makes to be able to visualize things in a simpler manner. (As a drummer, I compare it to seeing the entire fretboard as a paradiddle-diddle - to play different modes, I simply start in a different place on the paraddidle-diddle). (Which is R-L-R-R-L-L). (I really need a better rudiment as an example - one with seven notes, like the major scale... I was darn near jumping up and down with excitement when I figured this out. I suspect Prokopis' videos will save other people the 18 years I wasted / procrastinated in frustration...
Your story is very similar to mine, thanks for sharing 😀. I liked the paradiddle analogy. That's exactly what is going on. Another example is finger permutations. You get 24 possibilities for 4 notes with 4 fingers, but mechanically they are really just 4 (1234 is the same as 2341 etc).
As a guitar player beginner, I am really glad to find and use your teaching method. It is much clearer than anyone else I tried to learn from. Thanks. By the way, nice city you're living in :)
Wow. Very impressive. I do know the box shapes but as you say they get pretty boring after the first amazing month or so. This seems to be the next step for me. Looking forward to diving into SFS and your offerings on your website.
Hello Phillip. Glad to hear you enjoyed the lesson. I think that the more you play using SFS, the more you are going to like it. I was already a professional player when I figured this out, but I decided to re-learn everything using this system, because the freedom and creativity it allows is unmatched. Thanks for the feedback, and let me know how it works out for you!
Just happened to come across your video Prokopis. Wow! What a great insight. I have learned the 5 Pentatonic shapes but this focus on the root note and then progressing from there makes it a lot easier to improvise and eventually fall into the shapes. Great system! Thanks. Will definitely explore further. New sub 😊
Hello again! This is a great video. I have to ask a a follow-up question from a previous video... I understand moving up 1 fret between strings 3 and 2...but why does string 1also move up? shouldn't it be tuned in line with string 3 rather than follow string 2? Maybe it's over my head Theory- wise, so to keep it simple, Is the rule to ALWAYS move up the bottom two strings relative to any of the top four strings (assuming standard tuning on a 6-string guitar)? Thanks again for your help and accessibility!
Hi Tony. Yes, strings 1 and 2 always move up one fret relative to the rest. The reason is that the interval between any 2 adjacent strings is a perfect 4th, which allows the system to flow normally. The exception is from the G to the B string, where we have a major 3rd interval instead, so we shift in order to compensate. But then the final two strings are again a perfect 4th apart, so the system flows normally through them. It's like we have 2 groups (strings 6-5-4-3 and strings 2-1) one fret apart. Some people like to tune the guitar completely in 4ths, which gets rid of this challenge, but messes up your ability to play standard chords. In my years of teaching this I find that, with just a bit of practice and patience, students can easily get so used to this shift and do it automatically. And the cool thing is that when you get used to it, you can immediately apply it to other kinds of scales. So someone who studied SFS Pentatonics will go faster when studying SFS Modes for example. Thanks for watching and commenting :-)
Thanks Prokopis! I think I finally understand. After playing through it and thinking about it, I now understand that both strings move up because the 1 string is tuned in relation to the 2nd string, so therefore the SFS works with those two strings as a group similar to what you mentioned! Keep up the good work. Thanks for taking time to reply back it's much appreciated!
I need you to comment on something. Watching your fret hand as you demonstrate each fragment, It appears to the eyes that you keep your index planted on the root and move the other 3 fingers around. Is this really what you do and is there a right and wrong way about fingering? Also, as a beginner, it is hard to tell how you make the sound I here in your demo. For instance, after to introduced SF2 (by the way, what is the significance of the blue note and do you pick it or skip it?), you play a quick melody. At that point are you going forward and backward on AC (sf1) D3EF (sf2) - which is ACD#EF I FED#CA?
Hello Wayne. Let me answer one thing at a time: - I don't keep the index planted, it just seems so because I don't lift it much. But that doesn't mean that it's wrong to plant it. There are cases where it's convenient and correct to keep it planted (like when playing trills, or "pedal point" where you keep returning to the same note). As general advice though, it's usually recommended to lift all fingers that are not playing. You can keep them touching lightly on the other strings for muting purposes, but that's a little more advanced and only necessary when playing with heavy distortion. - The Blue Note is an extra note. If you skip it you get the more pure sound of the pentatonic scale. If you play it (or bend the previous note up to it), you get the more bluesy sound of the Blues scale. So you get two colors to play with :-) - In the examples I just play random combinations of these notes to give you an idea of what can be played. SF1 contains A-C, SF2 is D-D#-E, SF3 is G-A. So the complete A Minor Blues Scale is A-C-D-D#-E-G-A. If you learn to play all 5 string fragments, producing complete positions using all strings, the notes are still the same, just laid out differently. Here's a lesson on complete positions: ruclips.net/video/H3DCpJlGQFA/видео.html Thanks for watching, hope this helps :-)
Does you SFS Pentatonics Course cover playing diagonally up and down the fret board and how to play in the respective boxes (Note) ? If so, I'm interested. I just signed up for you $10 Intro course. Thanks.
Thanks for the donation 😀. In SFS Pentatonics we build the system in all positions and all keys, step by step, one string fragment at a time. At the same time we add improvisation tips to improve your musicality. I think you will like it a lot! But you can actually try the SFS Pentatonics course for free through the 7-day subscription trial. No credit card is required, so you can easily check out all the courses for yourself. Here's the link: courses.string.systems/p/free-trial-pps
Hi great lesson man,really an eye opener for me,I signed up for the free courses but I like your approach and would like to sign up to some of the other courses on your website, is what we learn with your lessons going to mix me up if Im already very familiar with the 5 patterns of the pentatonic scale and also can we use this system for the major scale?
Hey Tony, thanks for watching! With SFS you end up with the same exact box patterns that you already know. You just get to them from a different angle which is more musical and effective. So there's no conflict there. On the contrary, once you get to the more advanced lessons, your knowledge of the boxes will kick in, and help you make faster progress. But you will see them from a totally different perspective! I have a separate course called SFS Modes where we apply the same system for the major scale and its 7 modes. You can actually try all premium courses free for 7 days to see if my approach is a good fit for you by signing up for the String Partner Subscription 7-day trial. The trial will give you the opportunity to explore other courses as well, and includes an orientation that helps you to organize your practice strategy. Here's the link: courses.string.systems/p/free-trial-pps Enjoy the lessons and feel free to email me with any questions or comments 👍.
@@Effectivemusicpractice that's awesome, after so many online courses I purchased in the past none of them were as detailed as yours,looking forward to continue my guitar journey with you. Thanks for your quick reply, Regards Tony
Thanks for watching! Yes: Pentatonic + Blue Note = Blues Scale. But if you want some more interesting details on this, check out this video: ruclips.net/video/OF-JU0SgdRU/видео.html
Hello. Thanks for watching! I don't think that this is suitable for a beginner, especially the later lessons. But you can try it and see for yourself, it's free anyway :-)
Tried this approach some time ago. B string idiosyncrasy renders it completely impractical in my experience. Maybe works better for some people though.
Hello, thanks for signing up! There's no email sequence for Fretboard Memorization Toolbox. You just practice at your own pace. Just log in at effectivemusicpractice.teachable.com/ and you'll see your course there 👍
I'm completely lost. In the first video you show SF1 as the A key on the sixth string, 5th fret. No problem. But on SF2, you show the B key as being on the fifth string, 6th fret. That's not a B, it is a D#. Unless you're changing the tuning of the 5th string, I'm not sure how you're getting a B key where you are. I'm obviously missing something. Please explain.
Hello John. The B in the blue circle represents the Blue Note, not the note B. I can understand how that can get confusing. I mentioned it in the video at some point but I guess I should make that more clear. Sorry about that :-)
some good info but the constant references to "the course" and "the package" and "feed back" and "other players" and breaking the information flow is just really annoying . You should get all that out of the way at the start and then a reminder at the end but focus solely on the information in the middle. Thanks
I agree man... I was studying to learn some things about marketing at the time that I made this, and I guess I went a little overboard with promotion, haha. I'm still learning to be more concise, and to the point, both in my teaching, and on the business side. I appreciate the feedback :-)
Hello Abhik, thanks for watching! The discrepancy is the result of the way the guitar is tuned. The interval between any two adjacent strings is a perfect fourth (equal to 5 frets). But between strings 3 and 2 the interval is a major 3rd (G to B equal to 4 frets). This makes all fingering shapes inconsistent. If a guitar was tuned purely in 4ths then this inconsistency would disappear, but it would make some things more difficult to play (mostly chord shapes). For example an open position E major would look the same when moved down a string to an A major. I think that it's this inconsistency that has kept guitar players memorizing box shapes instead of seeing how you can move everything everywhere, like we do with SFS. It's just a matter of getting used to ignoring that inconsistency and automatically compensating for it. It doesn't take too long to do that, and once you get used to it, you can apply it to every type of scale imaginable, and learn it quickly instead of memorizing a bunch of boxes 😀.
THANKS A LOT! But one tip. Please. Talk less about selling your course on your videos and make them short. I loved the system man, but it became really boring as you talk over and over about the same thing... :(
My propensity to speak too much is well established in the comments of these lessons, haha 😀. But I'm getting better. In more recent videos I try to be much more concise and to the point!
It is like this; follow this system and you will be able to play any song in any scale, and anywhere on the fretboard. Sounds farfetched? Just try it out. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. It has worked for me, and I had been playing for nearly 4 decades in an ineffective manner prior to learning this system.
This approach is simultaneously so much more simple and more powerful than the traditional CAGED boxes system, I don’t know why it’s not the standard that everyone uses. It’s like taking these big, complex box “molecules” and breaking them down into their component “atoms” that appear in each one, just rearranged. I also like that it teaches you what’s actually in the boxes, so you can understand them in a musical context. Thank you for sharing your insights.
You're welcome! I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying the benefits of SFS. Thanks for watching and for your feedback 😀👍.
Prokopis, the SFS really works well for me and the way my brain puts things together. Keep up the great work, and thank you for making this available 😁
the best system that is there for learning lead and rhythm guitar and becoming a true master of the instrument
love this -- makes PERFECT sense -- esp to someone who has played for many years
Thanks, Scott! Glad to hear you enjoyed the lesson 👍.
i'm glad i found this video. i've spent the past few months workig through the big boxes, but in the back of my mind this idea kept creeping up but i didn't fully think it through. this is really great video.
Wish I’d seen this before I memorised the 30 something scales that I have so far...it really would have helped!
Me too :-) You can still use this concept to jump between the boxes you already know or to connect them moving laterally on any string (ex. SF3 always connects up to SF1 of the next position, SF2 to SF5, etc.).
I really enjoyed your intro course on Blues scales. It was very enlightening.
.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching 👍.
How can I not want to sign up!!! I've noticed my playing has leapfrogged since I've embraced "learning music is neverending!!!"
This method is one i have learned a long time ago but in a slightly different manner and it disappeared from my memory just as quickly.. this was a great (and easily comprehensive) way to show this method!
I started from learning box patterns - it took me much time to rich fluent switching between positions and use it during improvisation. It's ridiculous that a few years ago I subscribed Prokopis's channel and even saw video but didn't use it in my education - why ? I don't know answer. Today I see how many hours of practicing I've spent senselessly. Somebody told that is never to late for return on the right way..Many thanks for Your e-mail with info on Fretboard Memorization Toolbox and other courses.
Thanks for the kind words. Indeed it's never too late. I was a professional with two music degrees when I started developing my methods, and I literally re-learned everything with new ways. It didn't take as long as I thought, and it was well worth it because I quickly realized how further I could grow with better and more effective systems.
Good luck in your guitar journey. I'm glad to be a part of it 👍.
This is EXACTLY what I've been hoping and looking for. I've been holding off learning scales for every reason you gave! This is a GOD SEND!!
Glad to hear SFS is motivating you to get into scales. Learning to improvise is a lot of fun if you do it the right way :-)
Hello Prokopis,
Just watched your video and I think it's fantastic.
I'm an older beginner, but your style of instruction has motivated me to look at tackling some lead guitar.
Thanks for posting so that much younger players can truly benefit from your talents. 😎
Hello Fred. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the lesson. Thanks for watching!
S.F.S concept has changed my whole approach to learning the guitar ...wish i had discovered it 15 yrs ago .P.S PLEASE KEEP UP THE FANTASTIC WORK
Hello Barry. Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad to hear SFS is helping you 👍.
You have developed an incredible teaching method, thank you so much!! Please keep making videos, i wish i had SFS ten years ago!
You're welcome! I actually developed this around 8 years ago, and used it with my private students, but I didn't have enough sense to publish it on the internet back then :-)
This is exactly what I've been looking for! Feel as if I have been wasting my time and accomplishing nothing before this.
Glad to hear you're enjoying SFS Frank! Thanks for the feedback. Don't forget to get the new version of the free course at string.systems/secrets
Eukaristo - you are amazing teacher!!!
Awesome. Efharisto! Blessings. ~ GV
Thanks for watching :-)
I looking forward to your lessons. I like the way you split the screen at end of the video, where you were playing rhythm on the left side and lead on the right side.
Hello George! Thanks for signing up (I just answered your email btw). This is lesson 1 from the old version. You signed up for version 2.0 which I believe you will like even more :-)
Very nice and unique break down to learn any scale.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for watching!
It have change my life or make my life easier on the guitar fretboard and give me more guitar frerboard knowledge. Is so easy to remember and I don´t have to memorization anything. Thank you for the amazing lessons.
Thank's for the positive feedback Mike! I'm very glad to hear that you are putting SFS to good use :-)
I agree. the lesson is excellent. Can you please point me to a clear SFS chart for MAJOR pentatonic. Either of you. Thanks
Teaching fragments has always seemed to be the sensible approach. Your system makes it clear and, well, systematic.
Yes, I think that in general, breaking complex skills down into smaller digestible components is always the most effective way to master them. Thanks for the feedback :-)
It's weird. I don't quite approach my guitar fretboard the same, I learned the basic box shapes of each mode. Then any time you shift from the root, you just need to know which shapes come right and left of the initial position root, The box shapes are to break down how each string fits in with each other, Once you can play the first position you move left and then right, Learn how those fit in relation to one so you can slide between them easily, then the next positions and it's not long at all until you look at the neck from any root position in the mode your in and know what is in your scale anywhere on the neck, and how weird it will sound if you play say a phrase completely out of key then return to chord tones that are in key to create an unsettling feeling then relieve it with a good consonant tone. This system I think can be beneficial to a lot of people though, I look at how the shapes interlock and make bigger shapes. Not everyone can visualize like that, and for those people, this is probably a way better alternative than what I do. In any case, it's an interesting approach and ANY approach that yields good results is a correct approach.
Hello Charles. Thanks for the kind words. Actually, SFS can be developed to achieve the same result you are describing, ie. building all positions, and connecting on any string. This is just a 3 string example, but in my step-by-step courses we start with just 1 string fragment, and gradually add more until all positions can be built (which requires 5 string fragments). I understand that some people can handle doing this using the box shapes, but in my teaching experience I have found that building this step by step makes the process fun, faster, and easier for the majority of players.
I already knew all box shapes for most scales when I developed this system, but I'm like you. I explore all systems. For me this turned out to be much better. I move more freely, and I learn new scales faster this way. I was never the visual type, so memorizing boxes was never fun for me :-)
@@Effectivemusicpractice I do like exploring every method I can find, This one is actually wonderful for those that aren't like me where I look at the fretboard and can visualize where all my notes are without much thought. In the end I appreciate what you're doing here, it makes learning the fretboard more accessible to more people, in the end that is what matters, making it more accessible to everyone that wants to learn. I really do think this system has a lot of merit, I almost do the same thing really just it comes natural to me to look to the right of any aeleon root and see a locrian shape to continue it.
but really, when I'm looking at it as different mode shapes to create a giant diagram, I'm really doing something similar piecing together the shapes into something that made sense to me, I'll be looking into your system more, Because I may have my way, But I'll never turn away from a chance to learn something new, or a new way, that's what allows us to grow
Thanks a lot! that's useful.
Thanks for this tip, man it's what I needed and boy did it help thanks a million.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching :-)
Learning guitar for a while now. Was struggling in boxed system or TNPS a lot. Until I realized for myself something similar to what you call SFS. Your approach is much better founded and in system. I think this is the much more easy and flexible way to get familiar with the guitar.
Hey Thomas, thanks for watching! Yup, I'm discovering more and more people that came up with a similar system. I find it much more practical than traditional box memorization, and it becomes even more useful as you go into more advanced improvisation (degree knowledge, navigating chord/scale changes, etc). It's also a lot more fun to practice this way :-)
Good stuff. Drummer-turning-guitar-player here. I had a HUGE Eureka moment about a year ago when I realized I could view the guitar as simple Octave shapes. All the "box" shapes are just the simple octave shape (which uses 3 strings) all stacked on top of each other like tetris shapes. I keep track of where the Root is, and then I'm off to the races...
I've had my quitar for 20 years, but it mostly collected dust for 18. Back then, I was like, "it will take a lifetime to memorize all these shapes!" - two years ago, I was going, "there HAS to be a better way", and realized this. It's cool to see a "real" guitar player seeing things in a similar fashion!
It's pretty wild, because in the end, all of the "systems" are the same. But wow, what a difference it makes to be able to visualize things in a simpler manner.
(As a drummer, I compare it to seeing the entire fretboard as a paradiddle-diddle - to play different modes, I simply start in a different place on the paraddidle-diddle). (Which is R-L-R-R-L-L). (I really need a better rudiment as an example - one with seven notes, like the major scale...
I was darn near jumping up and down with excitement when I figured this out. I suspect Prokopis' videos will save other people the 18 years I wasted / procrastinated in frustration...
Your story is very similar to mine, thanks for sharing 😀. I liked the paradiddle analogy. That's exactly what is going on. Another example is finger permutations. You get 24 possibilities for 4 notes with 4 fingers, but mechanically they are really just 4 (1234 is the same as 2341 etc).
👍(the SF3 label is missing for the open G string in your diagram).
Hello Marc. Thanks for watching, and for letting me know about the mistake :-)
Efkaristo poli file moo ! Greetings from England ! Great idea . Kali soo mera !
You're welcome file moo!
I am excited to go through this course.❤😂
As a guitar player beginner, I am really glad to find and use your teaching method. It is much clearer than anyone else I tried to learn from. Thanks. By the way, nice city you're living in :)
Thanks for the kind words Alex. Glad to be a part of your guitar journey :-)
LOVE YOUR GREAT WORK BUDDY !
you are the best teacher on the internet...you remove the mystery.
I know... It's lonely here at the top... Haha, just kidding. I do appreciate the compliment, and I'm happy to hear that my lessons are helping you :-)
Sounds great I’ll try
Thanks for watching James!
What a guitar!!! Instant "Like" for the guitar!
Very cool exactly what I was looking for!!! Thank you!!!
You're welcome JP, thanks for watching 👍
Wow. Very impressive. I do know the box shapes but as you say they get pretty boring after the first amazing month or so. This seems to be the next step for me. Looking forward to diving into SFS and your offerings on your website.
Hello Phillip. Glad to hear you enjoyed the lesson. I think that the more you play using SFS, the more you are going to like it. I was already a professional player when I figured this out, but I decided to re-learn everything using this system, because the freedom and creativity it allows is unmatched. Thanks for the feedback, and let me know how it works out for you!
outstanding
Thank you!
Just happened to come across your video Prokopis. Wow! What a great insight. I have learned the 5 Pentatonic shapes but this focus on the root note and then progressing from there makes it a lot easier to improvise and eventually fall into the shapes. Great system! Thanks. Will definitely explore further. New sub 😊
Thanks for subscribing Kishen! I think you'll like SFS even more as you explore it. Let me know how it goes 😀.
Thanks this has helped my playing tremendously.
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Excellent
Thanks for watching :-)
Excellent lessons Prokopis .... thank-you!!
You're welcome!
Είσαι καλός δάσκαλος προκοπή ευχάριστο για τα βίντεο σου !!
Κι εγώ ευχαριστώ για το σχόλιο Nick 😀. Thanks for watching!
Great lesson. Just can’t find part 2.
Thank you! Here's lesson 2: ruclips.net/video/RG1xyk38uWE/видео.html
Hello again! This is a great video. I have to ask a a follow-up question from a previous video...
I understand moving up 1 fret between strings 3 and 2...but why does string 1also move up? shouldn't it be tuned in line with string 3 rather than follow string 2?
Maybe it's over my head Theory- wise, so to keep it simple, Is the rule to ALWAYS move up the bottom two strings relative to any of the top four strings (assuming standard tuning on a 6-string guitar)?
Thanks again for your help and accessibility!
Hi Tony. Yes, strings 1 and 2 always move up one fret relative to the rest. The reason is that the interval between any 2 adjacent strings is a perfect 4th, which allows the system to flow normally. The exception is from the G to the B string, where we have a major 3rd interval instead, so we shift in order to compensate. But then the final two strings are again a perfect 4th apart, so the system flows normally through them. It's like we have 2 groups (strings 6-5-4-3 and strings 2-1) one fret apart.
Some people like to tune the guitar completely in 4ths, which gets rid of this challenge, but messes up your ability to play standard chords.
In my years of teaching this I find that, with just a bit of practice and patience, students can easily get so used to this shift and do it automatically. And the cool thing is that when you get used to it, you can immediately apply it to other kinds of scales. So someone who studied SFS Pentatonics will go faster when studying SFS Modes for example.
Thanks for watching and commenting :-)
Thanks Prokopis!
I think I finally understand. After playing through it and thinking about it, I now understand that both strings move up because the 1 string is tuned in relation to the 2nd string, so therefore the SFS works with those two strings as a group similar to what you mentioned!
Keep up the good work. Thanks for taking time to reply back it's much appreciated!
Thank you very much ❤️❤️❤️ sir
that is one helluva shiny guitar.
I think I must have polished it on that day :-)
Big thanks to you sir! Kudos
You're welcome 😁
this is awesome, thanks a lot!!
You're welcome :-)
Wow....🤗🤗🤗🤗👍👍
Excellent method. Beautiful guitar indeed (Godin?). Greetings from Colombia.
Thanks for the comment! Yes, it's a Godin Montreal (the original model). Great guitar, I enjoy it thoroughly 😀.
I need you to comment on something. Watching your fret hand as you demonstrate each fragment, It appears to the eyes that you keep your index planted on the root and move the other 3 fingers around. Is this really what you do and is there a right and wrong way about fingering? Also, as a beginner, it is hard to tell how you make the sound I here in your demo. For instance, after to introduced SF2 (by the way, what is the significance of the blue note and do you pick it or skip it?), you play a quick melody. At that point are you going forward and backward on AC (sf1) D3EF (sf2) - which is ACD#EF I FED#CA?
Correction: ACDD#EGA
Hello Wayne. Let me answer one thing at a time:
- I don't keep the index planted, it just seems so because I don't lift it much. But that doesn't mean that it's wrong to plant it. There are cases where it's convenient and correct to keep it planted (like when playing trills, or "pedal point" where you keep returning to the same note). As general advice though, it's usually recommended to lift all fingers that are not playing. You can keep them touching lightly on the other strings for muting purposes, but that's a little more advanced and only necessary when playing with heavy distortion.
- The Blue Note is an extra note. If you skip it you get the more pure sound of the pentatonic scale. If you play it (or bend the previous note up to it), you get the more bluesy sound of the Blues scale. So you get two colors to play with :-)
- In the examples I just play random combinations of these notes to give you an idea of what can be played. SF1 contains A-C, SF2 is D-D#-E, SF3 is G-A. So the complete A Minor Blues Scale is A-C-D-D#-E-G-A. If you learn to play all 5 string fragments, producing complete positions using all strings, the notes are still the same, just laid out differently. Here's a lesson on complete positions: ruclips.net/video/H3DCpJlGQFA/видео.html
Thanks for watching, hope this helps :-)
Thanks bro.
Does you SFS Pentatonics Course cover playing diagonally up and down the fret board and how to play in the respective boxes (Note) ? If so, I'm interested. I just signed up for you $10 Intro course. Thanks.
Thanks for the donation 😀. In SFS Pentatonics we build the system in all positions and all keys, step by step, one string fragment at a time. At the same time we add improvisation tips to improve your musicality. I think you will like it a lot! But you can actually try the SFS Pentatonics course for free through the 7-day subscription trial. No credit card is required, so you can easily check out all the courses for yourself. Here's the link: courses.string.systems/p/free-trial-pps
Great
Tight! Lovely
Thanks for watching!
Hi great lesson man,really an eye opener for me,I signed up for the free courses but I like your approach and would like to sign up to some of the other courses on your website, is what we learn with your lessons going to mix me up if Im already very familiar with the 5 patterns of the pentatonic scale and also can we use this system for the major scale?
Hey Tony, thanks for watching! With SFS you end up with the same exact box patterns that you already know. You just get to them from a different angle which is more musical and effective. So there's no conflict there. On the contrary, once you get to the more advanced lessons, your knowledge of the boxes will kick in, and help you make faster progress. But you will see them from a totally different perspective!
I have a separate course called SFS Modes where we apply the same system for the major scale and its 7 modes. You can actually try all premium courses free for 7 days to see if my approach is a good fit for you by signing up for the String Partner Subscription 7-day trial. The trial will give you the opportunity to explore other courses as well, and includes an orientation that helps you to organize your practice strategy.
Here's the link:
courses.string.systems/p/free-trial-pps
Enjoy the lessons and feel free to email me with any questions or comments 👍.
@@Effectivemusicpractice that's awesome, after so many online courses I purchased in the past none of them were as detailed as yours,looking forward to continue my guitar journey with you.
Thanks for your quick reply,
Regards
Tony
@@tonymediati8274 Thanks for the feedback Tony. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the courses!
@@tonymediati8274 Did it open up a lot i.e. did it give you much and make you underatand what you're doing scalewise or perhaps intervalwise etc.?
Is the blue note which makes it the blues scale????
Thanks for watching! Yes: Pentatonic + Blue Note = Blues Scale. But if you want some more interesting details on this, check out this video: ruclips.net/video/OF-JU0SgdRU/видео.html
Sir I love ur music
Great great gtreat
Prokopis, Is this course suitable for the very beginner???
Hello. Thanks for watching! I don't think that this is suitable for a beginner, especially the later lessons. But you can try it and see for yourself, it's free anyway :-)
Γεια σου Προκοπη μόλις έκανα εγγραφή μια ερώτηση ζεις στην Ελλάδα η στο εξωτερικό;
Hey Nick, thanks for signing up! Ζω στην Κύπρο, εσυ;
Tried this approach some time ago. B string idiosyncrasy renders it completely impractical in my experience. Maybe works better for some people though.
I am not receiving an emails for the Fretboard Memorization Toolbox. I did for the SFS.
Hello, thanks for signing up! There's no email sequence for Fretboard Memorization Toolbox. You just practice at your own pace. Just log in at effectivemusicpractice.teachable.com/ and you'll see your course there 👍
why can't I get fretboard memorisation system? I enter my email but no confirmation email arrived
Perhaps there was temporary problem with the server... Btw did you look in your spam folder? Sometimes confirmation emails get there by mistake.
@@Effectivemusicpractice got it... Thank you, it took a while tho
I'm completely lost. In the first video you show SF1 as the A key on the sixth string, 5th fret. No problem. But on SF2, you show the B key as being on the fifth string, 6th fret. That's not a B, it is a D#. Unless you're changing the tuning of the 5th string, I'm not sure how you're getting a B key where you are. I'm obviously missing something. Please explain.
Hello John. The B in the blue circle represents the Blue Note, not the note B. I can understand how that can get confusing. I mentioned it in the video at some point but I guess I should make that more clear. Sorry about that :-)
There is no link.
Hello, thanks for watching! The link is in the description of the video, but here it is again 👍: string.systems/sfs-fretboard-secrets-2.0
some good info but the constant references to "the course" and "the package" and "feed back" and "other players" and breaking the information flow is just really annoying . You should get all that out of the way at the start and then a reminder at the end but focus solely on the information in the middle. Thanks
I agree man... I was studying to learn some things about marketing at the time that I made this, and I guess I went a little overboard with promotion, haha. I'm still learning to be more concise, and to the point, both in my teaching, and on the business side. I appreciate the feedback :-)
Is there something else that I should know before watching this video?
I m a beginner
Why is that discrepancy, i.e, the shift by one fret on moving from string 3rd to the string 2nd ? 🤔 🤔
Hello Abhik, thanks for watching! The discrepancy is the result of the way the guitar is tuned. The interval between any two adjacent strings is a perfect fourth (equal to 5 frets). But between strings 3 and 2 the interval is a major 3rd (G to B equal to 4 frets). This makes all fingering shapes inconsistent. If a guitar was tuned purely in 4ths then this inconsistency would disappear, but it would make some things more difficult to play (mostly chord shapes). For example an open position E major would look the same when moved down a string to an A major.
I think that it's this inconsistency that has kept guitar players memorizing box shapes instead of seeing how you can move everything everywhere, like we do with SFS. It's just a matter of getting used to ignoring that inconsistency and automatically compensating for it. It doesn't take too long to do that, and once you get used to it, you can apply it to every type of scale imaginable, and learn it quickly instead of memorizing a bunch of boxes 😀.
@@Effectivemusicpractice Your quick and vivid explanation to my query is appreciable. 😃😃
Nothing a news
THANKS A LOT! But one tip. Please. Talk less about selling your course on your videos and make them short. I loved the system man, but it became really boring as you talk over and over about the same thing... :(
too much taliking
As soon as I hear someone talking about letters over numbers, immediate thumbs down. Learn the number system that’s all you need
I fell asleep with the talking
You talk to much
My propensity to speak too much is well established in the comments of these lessons, haha 😀. But I'm getting better. In more recent videos I try to be much more concise and to the point!