How to Get Out of the Box

For publisher-quality tabs & backing tracks of this lesson:

My "Guitar Zen" Courses:

Sound Tools Used in This Vid:
Fender CIJ Tele '52 Reissue with

[aaronlarsen]

I used to drive 60 miles each way and pay 60 bucks for one hour, twice a week. Just find 2 or three favorite teachers on YouTube. Rock musicians never had it this good.

[mkentaa]

This full mastarclass being free in Youtube for everyone is the reason I am subscribed to this channel, amazing content, great tones, easy to understand, thank you for sharing!

[thanasis_k]

I used to be a quite good guitarist but I quit guitar for another instruments 20years ago... And then I bought a guitar, change tubes to my old mesa boogie and let's go again... but i didn't remember anything... you are helping really a lot.... not only play as before, but to love again my old buddy and play more musical.. I want to tell you a big Thanx and love to you!! You are a very nice guy and a very talented teacher with really good vibes! Respect my brother!

[gabrielhughes]

After months of not engaging with YouTube instructional videos on guitar theory and techniques... I now can say that I have successfully found a safe haven for my learning journey!

Thank you very much you absolute legend!

Cheers

[patrickcampion]

Good stuff, and from a Canadian, extra points for your gorgeous looking and sounding Godin.

[witte]

it feels like one of the great, simple joys of life is getting to hang out while you play and chat guitar, whilst you simultaneously manage to transmit some beautifully simple yet virtuosic knowledge that make our own playing so much better. <3

[hansenmarc]

1:40 e minor pentatonic from the 6th string (modified frying pan)
5:06 e minor pentatonic from the 5th string (modified upside-down frying pan)
8:40 e major pentatonic from the 6th string (upside-down frying pan)
11:46 e major pentatonic from the 5th string (upside-down frying pan)

This is a very cool way to take parts of my favorite pentatonic shape: the frying pan

[BenjaminSexton]

This is cool. I haven't intentionally learned horizontal patterns, but I started discovering what is basically the same thing through different means. Like you described, I felt constrained by only playing in one boxed pattern. So in my case to fix that I picked my favorite "home base" pattern, memorized an adjacent pattern, and then began exploring specifically how connect the two by chasing melodies in my head. And I've basically ended up in the same place as what you are teaching here. It's just cool to know there are multiple paths to get to the same place. :D

[tombisson]

Thanks for showing this. I am self taught and this is how I have always played pentatonics - butthought I was crazy because the "boxes" are almost exclusively demonstrated. This is a great affirming lesson.

[jeanallard]

Hello Eric, you and Adrian must be talking and that is awesome both covering the same topic on the same day
from my two fav teachers

[PatrickMacCready]

As is most often the case, I sat down with guitar to truly absorb this lesson, and I ended up writing a new song with the inspiration from the new knowledge. Thank you Eric.

[michaelrowe]

Eric you are fast becoming my favorite guitar guru and human being. Always so chill, very informative and entertaining. Thank you

[peternoble]

I watch many of the awesome YouTube guitar teachers. They all bring something different - I can’t articulate it, but you have your own thing Eric and it’s really great.

[peterlenardon]

Adrian at Anyone Can Play Guitar also did a diagonal pentatonic video this week. I guess if my two most watched guitar teacher channels did the same subject this week, the universe/algorithm is telling me I need to learn this.

[NOLAOwl]

That guitar seems awesome. The fact that it is Canadian made and relatively inexpensive is enticing. Great lesson also. Working on your Caged course most nights

[icaro]

One of your best classes yet! Thank you so much. I am a big fan of your work.

[nonethelessbysignificantvi]

Dude, I think you are a new guitar hero for me!!! <Thank you for chosing the guitar as a human being...God bless you

[Magnet]

Relating lessons to actual songs is an awesome technique to learning this stuff. Thank you!

[titussardonicus]

Love that Godin. Ridiculously underrated guitars. I have the 5th avenue kingpin. It's an absolute dreamboat.

[REDBEARDBLACKTEETH]

This is one of my favorite videos of all time. I watch it about once a week and laugh my ass off. Love ya Weege.