Theory Review: If You Know These 7 Things, You're Good!

1) Notes on the fretboard
2) What a major scale looks like
3) How that makes chords
4) Common progressions
5) What a minor scale looks like
6) How that makes chords
7) Common minor progressions

My Truefire "Guitar Zen" Courses:

Sound Tools Used in This Vid:
Vox Bobcat Reissue
Silvertone 1484 Cab

00:00 Intro Jam
00:54 Notes on the fretboard
02:37 The Major Scale
06:02 How That Makes Chords
07:44 Common Major Progressions
13:35 The Minor Scale
15:15 How That Makes Chords
17:48 Common Minor Progressions

[lukepanaccio]

“I don’t even think of it as sad anymore. It just feels human.” Thus spoke the dude.

[ivanterrible]

The Bob Ross of guitar with a little affirmation that you are better at this than you thought.

[davymoore]

Hi, Eric. I just wanted to say that after playing for 8 years I discovered your channel. The music theory lessons, or as I call them "guitar knowledge pills", really pushed me to start learning more, and develop this beautiful relationship I have with music now.

It's been a year now, and to realize that my journey has just begun gives me such joy. You've created a beautiful thing here in this place.

To all reading this I wish you the best, keep enjoying music and life.

[swampduck]

Your an incredibly gifted teacher. If there is anybody reading this who is just starting and overwhelmed by all the YouTube teachers. You found the right one.

[PittsburghTimeMachine]

This is it. This is the guitar instructor channel for me. All due respect to guys like Marty Schwartz, of course. You lay down a foundation, but you refer to musical ideas and artists who actually interest me (like Idles). It makes sense to learn from someone who likes and plays the same type of music I’m into.

[DrProgNerd]

Most of this was a review for me but I have to say that your teaching method is outstanding. There are a lot of great players who aren't great at teaching. I think it's because they fail to see the material from the P.O.V. of someone who is starting out. This can lead to the student feeling like they are 'stupid' or that 'the material is too hard'. I absolutely loved the Philip Seymour Hoffman description of the minor flat five. When I've taught my friends 'some theory stuff', I noticed that they were intimidated by the chord names. I'd always tell them to just imagine that the chords were named Bob, Dave, Mike, etc. You wouldn't avoid someone because their name was Antonio Gustavo Hernandez-Reyes. They have a long name....but they're cool to hang out with. F# Sus 4 is cool to hang with too. Find out what group of friends hang well together and make music. Great lesson.

[stevesoundsgood]

In many ways and on multiple levels, this brief and unassuming video has, at once, made me a better player, writer, teacher, and student. You've made something special here, and you are clearly cut from that same indescribable yet unmistakable cloth from which the world receives it's greatest teachers. Thank you for the insight and inspiration.

[robertyoshimaru]

"You have to prepare yourself to adapt" I love that. 💯 Life Application

[macsarcule]

ERIC!!! THIS IS SO GREAT! No one has laid out a roadmap like this before for me, this is so helpful to have a direction and plan of progress. So cool to have a way towards a solid foundation. Thank you and so excited for the jazz sessions coming up! Thanks Eric! ✌️😌🎸

[jeffrowlette]

I love your channel and the style and approach you teach.
While I play with a much more dirty bluesy style, EVERYTHING you teach her applies.
Absolute gold mine of essential knowledge 👌

[timheil]

Eric, you are a fantastic teacher and seem so genuinely excited about music and sharing your knowledge! As a lifelong guitar nerd and now a music educator I watch your videos to study your pedagogy and consider different musical perspectives. Your videos are invaluable and very inspiring - thanks for doing what you do.

[hrishimittal]

Philip Seymour Hoffman… that cracked me up 😂 Love your channel, Eric!

[universalcloudmusic]

You have helped me in more ways than you know. I now feel so much more confident and free when creating and learning new guitar bits. It's completely changed the way I see and feel this instrument. thank you, thank you, thank you

[joshnova]

Eric: love this video — from the clipboard presentation to the commentary on cliched progressions

[jacksonmighell]

I love how you explain theory in practical and scale-able ways! It is hard to overestimate how much this has helped me enjoy the learning process. Thanks Eric!

[marvo]

Love your style dude. You are the Mr Roger's of YouTube guitar teachers!.

[cristoff]

Great lesson! You have a gift for teaching and I appreciate you sharing.

[jnh]

Sometimes you watch a video and the content just clicks... this is one of those videos for me. Great lesson and really digestable. Even that bit about learning the notes on the fret board, so much easier to skip the inbetweens like you said, the gaps will fill in themselves. Thank you so much for this video.

[lakervoxx]

Dude, you have the calmest, coolest pedagogy . For me, this really works. Thank You. Good Man. ✌🏼Rock n Roll.

[TheLakeJake]

Eric I always learn something from you that inspires me to pick my guitar and listen to what I’m playing in a way where things don’t sound as stale if only just for a while. It’s the best feeling in guitar though. Cheers!