Sticking with the 12 bar form, Daniel looks at different chords that can be used in place of the more traditional blues. He then dives deep into utilizing modes as a form of improvisation over the blues progression.
This series covers scale positions, arpeggios, modes, advanced blues and more! Learn creative, outside the box ways of applying your knowledge and ideas to your improvisation.
Known around the world for his inspirational approach to guitar instruction, Musician's Institute veteran Daniel Gilbert outlines his series on Improvisation.Length: 6:01 Difficulty: 0.0 FREE
Learning can be frustrating! Daniel kicks off his series by taking you through 3 basic stages of how to learn, specifically on guitar. He provides a basic lick to illustrate how to apply these learning...Length: 13:03 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Whether you've practiced a lot of scales or you are new to lead playing, Daniel's presentation of the CAGED major scale patterns is one you won't want to miss! You'll also receive valuable practice advice...Length: 11:40 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Daniel shares and demonstrates a large variety of basic and advanced scale sequences and shares his philosophy behind using them in your playing.Length: 14:59 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Daniel continues his study of "Scale Basics" by teaching the five natural minor scale patterns. He discusses the similarities and differences between the major and minor scales and takes a look at improvising...Length: 11:03 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Need a fresh approach to one of the most familiar and widely used scales on the planet? Look no further. Daniel teaches the five basic patterns, offers some unique sounding sequences to practice, and improvises...Length: 10:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Daniel teaches the patterns of the major pentatonic scale and discusses what makes this scale unique from its minor counterpart. He also shares two unconventional sequencing ideas.Length: 8:32 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Daniel wraps up his "Scale Basics" mini series by sharing a few ways to make simple scales sound a bit more interesting. Ascend one and descend another. Sequence one and play another one straight through....Length: 8:41 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Daniel teaches the "quick change" and "slow change" blues progressions and provides a blues comp idea that he calls "The Chicago". Play with both forms over shuffle and straight backing tracks!Length: 10:57 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Daniel covers one more chord-based blues comp as well as many riff-based comp ideas for the quick change blues. He then goes on to introduce the 5 positions of the Blues Scale.Length: 13:40 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Daniel continues his basic blues mini series by discussing bending as a prominent style defining attribute of one's playing. He then takes you in to the possibly less common realm of Major Blues licks...Length: 9:34 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Daniel introduces the Hybrid Blues sound and uses two B. B. King "boxes" to illustrate some ways that it can be applied.Length: 7:48 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Take the 3 distinct blues sounds you've practiced during this "Basic Blues" mini series and learn a really tasty way to apply each sound over a different part of a blues progression. Getting a grasp on...Length: 9:45 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Daniel kicks off his "Arpeggios Mini-series" with the major 7th arpeggios. He teaches the five CAGED shapes as well as some alternate fingerings for a few of the patterns. Then, he demonstrates some of...Length: 13:17 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Learn the minor seventh arpeggio shapes and how to apply them over a couple of different chords. Apply these arpeggios over the provided backing tracks.Length: 11:09 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
If you took Daniel's "Basic Blues" lessons, you won't want to miss this lesson on dominant seventh arpeggios! These patterns provide you with a nice 'wide' sound when compared with regular scales and are...Length: 11:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Finishing up the last of the seventh arpeggios, Mr. Gilbert teaches the m7(b5) patterns and demonstrates a few conventional and unconventional ways of applying them. Blues players, this lesson will rock...Length: 14:38 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Taking all of the arpeggios learned so far, Daniel takes you through two chord progressions and demonstrates many ways to apply the patterns musically over backing tracks.Length: 8:48 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Saving the three note arpeggios for later in his series was a strategic one. They are actually harder to play! Once you have the seventh arpeggio shapes down, start getting these shapes in your fingers!Length: 9:47 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Daniel begins by teaching the basic CAGED minor arpeggio patterns and then shares an etude that provides a beautiful musical context with which to apply some of the shapes covered so far.Length: 9:54 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Daniel teaches the fully diminished 7th arpeggio shapes and explores several ways of applying them over chords and progressions we use every day.Length: 9:54 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
In this last installment of his arpeggio mini series, Daniel teaches the augmented patterns. As usual, there is a backing track provided so that you can, using Daniel's insights, practice making music...Length: 7:01 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Modes are generally a source of mass confusion for many guitarists. If you're new to modes or struggling to apply them, Mr. Gilbert's mode mini series is for you. In this lesson, learn the Dorian patterns,...Length: 10:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Apply Daniel's same easy method for learning the modes to the Phrygian mode. Daniel outlines the scale patterns and teaches some short musical phrases that help drive home the unique nature of the scale....Length: 9:27 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Daniel teaches the CAGED Lydian patterns, some tasteful phrasing ideas, and explores some chords and progressions that are appropriate for the Lydian mode.Length: 9:47 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Being one of Daniel's favorite sounds, he takes extra care in explaining and demonstrating the Mixolydian mode. Learn the patterns, some musical phrases and put it all together with a backing track!Length: 8:43 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Daniel wraps up his mini series on modes by teaching you how to play over two different modal backing tracks. Learn how to switch between modes and keys and apply scales as well as arpeggios.Length: 12:07 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Welcome to Daniel's "Advanced Blues" mini series. This is an incredibly interesting lesson about how arpeggios and scales in different keys relate to the A7 chord. If you like your blues with a bit of...Length: 16:53 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Daniel explores some conventional and unconventional ways to use triads over an A7 chord and an Am7 chord. When added tastefully, triads really spice up the old blues and pentatonic scales.Length: 12:42 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Sticking with the 12 bar form, Daniel looks at different chords that can be used in place of the more traditional blues. He then dives deep into utilizing modes as a form of improvisation over the blues...Length: 8:25 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Put it all together with this monster modal blues beast and Daniel's series finale. If you've been following Daniel's series and practicing diligently, this is your test... your chance to reach further......Length: 10:21 Difficulty: 4.0 Members Only
Daniel now takes this series to the next step. Here he explains where this series will take you in your improvising techniques.Length: 3:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Daniel explains some practice techniques that will enable you to improvise over a key change of a whole step.Length: 17:22 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Learn some practice techniques that will help you improvise over two different key centers that are a minor third apart.Length: 18:31 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
This lesson is all about intervals, specifically switching between keys that are a major third apart.Length: 11:44 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
In this very detailed oriented series, Daniel now discusses some unique ways to use the A minor scale to you improvisational advantage.Length: 9:21 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Here, Daniel covers ii-V-I progressions and explains some scale choices that can be used when improvising over them.Length: 9:31 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Still sticking within the ii-V-I progression, Daniel delves much deeper into the scale options available when improvising a solo.Length: 15:43 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
Daniel will mellow things out by demonstrating how to play over ii-V-i progressions in minor keys.Length: 8:17 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
This lesson diverts into more of a chromatic direction. Learn how to incorporate basic chromatic ideas over the ii-V-I.Length: 11:27 Difficulty: 3.5 Members Only
In lesson 6, Kaki discusses how the left and right hands can work together or independently of each other to create different...Free LessonSeries Details
Erik expounds on the many possibilities of open tunings and the new harmonics that you can use in them. He explains what...Free LessonSeries Details
Learn a simple mini song that illustrates just how intertwined scales and chords really are. Dave uses a G chord paired...Free LessonSeries Details
In this lesson Justin introduces his series on playing with a capo and dishes out some basic tips, including how to properly...Free LessonSeries Details
JamPlay is proud to introduce jazz guitarist Peter Einhorn. In this lesson series, Peter will discuss and demonstrate a way...Free LessonSeries Details
Lesson 40 takes a deeper look at slash chords. Mark discusses why they're called slash chords, and how they are formed.Free LessonSeries Details
Our electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Dave "David J" Weiner returns with a lesson on how to play with style and attitude. He covers all the basic techniques you'll...Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Brennan teaches this classic rock song by Jethro Tull. Released on the album of the same name in 1971, this song features...Free LessonSeries Details
JamPlay is proud to welcome senior professor and Coordinator of Guitar Studies at the University of Colorado at Denver,...Free LessonSeries Details
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Get an in-depth look into the mind of virtuoso guitarist Andy James. Learn about Andy's early beginnings all the way up to...Free LessonSeries Details
David MacKenzie introduces the tapping technique and teaches a fun exercise. This lesson includes a backing track.Free LessonSeries Details
JamPlay introduces Nashville session player Guthrie Trapp! In this first segment, Guthrie talks a little about his influences,...Free LessonSeries Details
Learn Nashville style country guitar from one of the most recorded guitarists in history. Check out rhythm grooves, solos,...Free LessonSeries Details
JD teaches the pentatonic and blues scales and explains where and when you can apply them.Free LessonSeries Details