I’ve been playing guitar since ’66 and never seen this way of looking at note structure. It’s never too late to learn something new! Thanks, Griff.

Clear

What’s next? Will look out for it!

That helps to clear things up a little. Thanks.

Thanks…

nice video…still trying to connect all the dots but I’m getting there…thanks…later.

cowboy

I am a bare bones beginner. I’ve never played anything before so don’t understand a lot of this information. What’s a whole vs. a half step? I understand your explanation of going from A to A# and B to Bb. But how does this play out on my guitar fret board? Do I need to start with something more basic? I feel like I’m in over my head at this point.

Having said that I do like your lessons and teaching style.

Assuming where this is heading, and something that many miss out on, all guitar students need to know to be able to competently and quickly play or compose songs. Fortunately my guitar teacher when I started out went through all this with me and made life so much easier having had to quickly pick up songs in a band environment. Griff is to be congratulated for doing this for us.
Thanks Griff.

I struggled for years … Always wanting to play and never having the confidence to try. Finally at 40 I made the leap. Finding your videos has been a God send. Things are finally making sense, and I am enjoying what very little I can play. Honestly … Most of it I’ve learned from you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Good refresher, I’m pretty sure I got them all but, when might we see the correct answers to be sure? Thanks Griff.

Thank you for making what was hard, easier……..

asusua lGriff you astound me thankyou my friend brian

The link sent via email for video 2 links back to video 1, no video 2

very happy,I am unlearning what I have learned..great refresher,,thx Griff..

Luv all your teaching keep up the great work griff. your friend phil talk at ya later bud.

I’m getting video 1 again. Please send link to video 2.

Good Morning, I sent you an email yesterday??? I appreciate you and your teaching and look forward to further studies.. Thank You smile

Great explanation of the whole and half steps.
Where is the Answers video or pdf?
Look forward to the next lesson.

I have tried to tell this to guitar players for years, and they usually give me a blank look. I like the way you teach this, and I will try to use it the next time I want to show someone how the keys work.
Another thing I hate to see is a capo used, they already know how to form chords, so why don’t they just move them down the neck and quit trying to play with the help of the capo. To me that is much harder to do and even though I own one, I never use it.

I really like your method of teaching.

Thanks for the counting or should I say reciting the scale backwards, and all the other things you share. I have been playing on and off since 1965. Thru the last 10 years or so I have regained passion. Unfortunately work still seems to get in the way and procrastining on practicing happens all to frequent, but I keep on plugging. I drive semi back and forth between Syracuse NY and Augusta Maine these days. When I get to Augusta my company puts me up in a motel.point being after watching your videos I promise to start carrying my Tele with my belt pack every trip and hopefully you can help me straighten out all or at least some of the bad habits I’ve accumulated. Thanks again

I can get the hang of it and I usually have a little difficulty with this sort of thing.

Cant download the videos …pdf was fine

I am in hospital for chemotherapy at the moment but will use it when I get back home. Thank you so much. Yours sincerely Martin.

Excellent !! Very well done. Keep it coming.

Griff hello,
I am not a guitar player however, i have been collecting all your wisdom & expertise for a year & more.
I can make noise with a Harmonica which satisfies my soul but csn do nothing with a guitar.

If I can live long enough & get granted the free time, perhaps that may change.

I hope you dont mind to keep me as a pupil who one day just may manage a noise which will not embarrass me.

I have not managed to examine every mail you have sent but I file & save what I cannot read & though I am retired, one day, my time will be my own & i will try a guitar again.

Its educational & therapy for me to learn with a view to playing.

The foregoing is the reason I did not register for your course not wishing to take up a place which domeone else might benefit from.

Regards,
To you & all who tune in
Vincent

Hi,Griff. Why is it that I cannot seem to open up the PDF file that has the questions. I click on it and nothing seems to happen, result, I cannot do the tests.

I must mention that I am 73 years old and not that computer literate.

What am I doing wrong.

Anthony

Griff, Happy Birthday first of all. I wish that I had viewed your videos many moons ago, it would have started me out on a more solid path, I’ve always just winged it, for about 43 years. My first instructor told my dad not to waste his money so I lost respect for all instructors, my bad. I’ve never seen this information laid out in such an understandable format. It cleared up and demystified music theory for me, I can’t relate well to books. Hopefully my arthritic fingers will allow me to make use of this new knowledge. Thank you for sharing. May the guitar gods smile down upon you all of your days.

when I was much younger in 4th grade I learned about scales and octaves and how to read and play music on my Eb
alto saxaphone.Many years later I bought a beautiful looking and sounding Washburn electric guitar and instruction book that included classical music terminology and timing speed values,most of which I had lost the ability recognize
and interpret properly.The book was too condensed and confusing so began self teaching by using bar chords and
playing by ear songs and solos from my favorite classic rock albums.Now I’m hearing from Zakk Wylde,Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and others and became inspired to try and learn some of it.Now I’m trying to decide which Ibanez guitar to buy whithin my budget that has the best variety of tone selections for what I want to play.

Easy to understand, clear instruction. Thanks, Griff.
(Working on “Blues Guitar” too.)

Very helpful thanks so much

Griff, How do I continue with Lessons 2 thru 5 ??? smile

Good refresher course. An absolute must to know, reading music. Thanks

Everyone should already know this. I can’t believe the number of people on here that didn’t know this. Unbelievable.

I’ve seen this before from you but it never gets repetitive because reviewing even the most simple basics can always help reinforce you’re skills. I had forgotten how simple these note structures really are. Thanks for putting this lesson up. Peace.

Very seldom can I say I completely understand this I accidentally figured it out on my own years ago but didn’t know why. Also played piano when I was 7 can’t remember my teacher ever telling me about the white keys and The Black Keys. It’s so simple really thank you Griff. Everybody that struggling don’t give up never quit keep plugging the light will come on 🙂 Thanks again Griff

Great stuff.
Having previously played piano and am relatively new to the guitar I find I am constantly visualising the piano keyboard when trying to work out the steps and half steps in my head!

This lesson brings me back to a great episode of the Simpsons.
Where Homer forms a barber shop quartet… they call themselves
The B sharps… most people that joke goes over their heads.
But for people who studied music theory get the joke..
B sharp is essentially the note C.

Griff. This video keeps skipping; starting and stopping even after downloading. You might want to put it on YouTube.

I don’t know if you planned this but a picture paints a thousand words. You mentioned to keep in mind the universe of notes and then you drew an outline around the notes, I couldn’t help but to notice it Looked like an outline of the top view of a brain.
I really enjoy your videos Griff when ever I get a chance to view them.
Thanks!

I like many others hate theory but you have explained that perfectly, thank you so much Griff!

Griff, Stumbled across this and it is probably the most lucid explanation I’ve encountered. Thanks

I took piano lessons for 2 years in grade school. The visual layout of the key board really helps the understanding of the construction of the scales. If you are struggling with this, I would highly recommend getting a picture of the piano keyboard that has the letters written on the white keys. It makes counting whole and half steps a simple task!

Why not simply use a piano keyboard for this discussion..it might be a bit less confusing… just sayin”

Thanks to you Griff & bgu 2.0, I understand completely how the guitar neck works. That wasn’t always the case I played guitar for 40 years it’s only been that way for the last four before that I knew nothing wanted to know but knew nothing none of my guitar friends could tell me how to navigate the fretboard I said there has to be a way to figure this thing out there has to be a system. Happy Days when I found the internet I found Griff Hamlin and bgu 🙂 you should hear me play now Griff I might not be an outstanding blues player but boy am I a lot better than I was four years ago thanks so much one day I’ll get to shake your hand

Hi Griff,
I want to understand the pentatonic scale of C, D, E, G, and A. C is the root or tonic. What if D is the root or tonic? That is, what if the song’s key is kn D? In order, what notes comprise the pentatonic scale if the tonic is D? Is it D, E, F, A and B? Is the box for each tonic different?
Thank you for your instructions and video presentations. I’m learning a lot.

This looks like the guitar theory course that I have watched at least 5 or 6 times but I am planning to watch it gain….

Grif; really great video, was very helpful. – I”ve never heard “this” explained, whoever first designed the guitar & set-up the fretboard, WHY does the fretboard start with the open E,A,D,G,B,E notes, while a piano keyboard starts with the C note??? – can you briefly explain the musical theory of this ? – Thanks very much, Doc Holliday.