Chord Changes Using Arpeggios | Guitargate

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Instructors
Jamie
Lyle
Guthrie
Jack
Michael
Chord Changes Using Arpeggios

In this masterclass, Lyle Brewer dives into the intricate world of arpeggiating chord changes on the guitar, catering to players of all levels. He begins with the basics, explaining what an arpeggio is and how it forms the backbone of understanding chord tones. Lyle emphasizes the importance of arpeggios in enhancing musical communication and connection with the music. He illustrates how arpeggiating chords can help guitarists more effectively communicate with band members by mirroring interesting elements within a tune. The instruction is clear and accessible, promising insights even for those who have a lot of experience with arpeggiating chords.

Moving forward, Lyle demonstrates various arpeggio patterns over common chord changes, using a G chord as a primary example. He meticulously explains the concept of root, third, and fifth in forming chord tones and extends these ideas to minor triads, providing a comprehensive understanding of both major and minor arpeggios. Through practical examples, he showcases different ways to arpeggiate chords across the fretboard, emphasizing the creative aspect of guitar playing. The masterclass is interactive, with Lyle encouraging questions and participation from viewers, ensuring a dynamic learning experience.

The latter part of the masterclass focuses on applying arpeggios to real music scenarios, using songs like "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd as an example. Lyle breaks down the solos to demonstrate how arpeggios are used to outline chord progressions in famous songs, offering practical tips for incorporating these techniques into one's playing. He encourages participants to practice arpeggios in various positions on the fretboard and to experiment with arpeggiating chords from familiar songs. Concluding the session, Lyle looks forward to exploring more complex chords and arpeggios in future classes, promising continued growth for attending guitarists.

Transcript Summary

  • Introduction to Arpeggios (00:31:215)
    • Explanation of what arpeggios are
    • Different levels of familiarity with arpeggios among students
    • Importance of arpeggios in understanding and communicating musical ideas
  • Basics of Arpeggiation (01:01:155)
    • Arpeggios as chord tones played in sequence
    • Example of a G chord arpeggio
    • Connection between arpeggios and triads
  • Practical Application of Arpeggios (00:56:605)
    • Improving musical communication through arpeggios
    • Arpeggios as a tool for soloing over chord changes
    • Techniques for playing arpeggios in different positions
  • Learning Minor Arpeggios (01:54:555)
    • Connection between minor pentatonic scales and minor arpeggios
    • Examples of G minor and C minor arpeggios
    • Exploring different positions for minor arpeggios
  • Creating Musical Ideas with Arpeggios (03:04:245)
    • Using arpeggios to craft musical phrases
    • Combining different arpeggios for chord progressions
    • Technique and creativity in arpeggio application
  • Conclusion and Assignment (10:10:055)
    • Summary of the lesson and importance of arpeggios
    • Assignment to practice arpeggios with familiar songs
    • Encouragement for experimentation and exploration

Lyle has been one of my very favorite guitarists for the past few years, and I’m THRILLED to announce that he’s agreed to join the Guitargate teaching roster!

Lyle - if you didn’t know - is a big deal. He is a wildly respected member of the guitar community and is a monster player in what seems to be every genre. He is the lead guitarist of the band Neighbor, and also teaches at Berklee in Boston (so bring him the hard questions).

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