so yeah i know the pentatonic scale and its 5 shapes i also know the natural major/minor scale and depending on the back track i can actually sound good the prob is i'm not good at playing lead for long if i was playing like a rhythm i could do some licks in between that sound spot on but even then i run out of ideas or when i try something new it sounds bad but when i play lead to the back track maybe the first bend and licks sound good then ik if i run out of ideas or something but i just start sounding like shit like i play on the high strings going kida fast and try to move to the second position and pay something and it just doesn't mach and yes i am playing in key or even if im playing the first position i usually just do then same lick and land on the same notes because when i try to go up or down the neck i sound like shit like my lead doesn't fit with the song i try and sing want i was my guitar to play but that doesn't work because i still don't really know what to play should i learn just a bunch of licks or more modes/scales because i see john mayor jimi hendrix any body also tomo just playing effortlessly and knowing what they want to play be fore they play it like the first improvisation and solo vid tomos just play and it fit like 100% then i try to play to the rhythm and mine just sound like garbage how can i make my lead sound better? if u have qustions pls text i will anwr im rlly trying t get better but its hard and you guys are the only ppl i can rlly talk to about guitar
Practice songs of your favorite artists so your not just playing notes but following the music.
Here is Tomo's comment:
"Thanks for sharing. You need to learn the basic Major scale without shapes. Try the one-string approach with recognition of intervals. Then, learn Major triads and minor triads. Next, learn the R 3 7 Swing groove, playing over chord changes. Learn these three items in depth. Learn to forget those 5 pentatonic shapes! Focus on chord progressions and harmony first, then add melodic phrasing."
I have the same problem. I know the shapes, and it's what i'm seeing at the fretboard while playing. Which lesson should I watch so I could forget about the shapes? Thanks.
I too, must remember the old exercise of pick a song and pluck a random note and have that be the 1st note and play it all the way through and keep going with more when its done
"Don't play blues shape, play blues sound" -Tomo
I found the triad videos and the major scale video to be really helpful in preparation for the blues. Just hear your pentatonic or major scale sound and practice it on each string. Trust your fingers and it'll become second nature. Learning triads have changed my playing forever though. Took some work at first but it really pays off and I feel like a much stronger player now.
In your situation, I recommend you not focusing on learning licks for a while. On the other hand, I recommend listen more frequently to the old blues songs that has iconic and pleasing phrases and not being very fast. While listening, try to interpret the melodies that you can grasp and understand in your mind, i.e. transcribe simple lines in degrees in your head while listening. Tomo actually recommends some songs such as "lucille", "sweet little angel" by b.b.king and "hideaway" by Freddie King, and it would be great if you have some favorite tunes to learn. If you do this often, you will be able to improvise with melodies (not shapes, scales or formula), first by singing, then by playing them melodically on the instrument (at first limit your self in only one position, expand when you feel comfortable) as you paid attention to the note degree when transcribing while listening to classic songs. The beautiful melodies would all come very natural in your head if you are constantly surrounded by the good tunes from the greatest. Hope can help, you can do it!
If like most of us you already know the minor pentatonic patterns, you will find the minor triads overlay the minor pentatonic patterns just change your mental picture to put more focus on the triads/chord tones or try to combine those pictures. It will take time but it's fun to see how the new picture will help you improve.