Loading ...Basic Chord Embellishment
One of the great aspects of Jimi Hendrix’ playing was how he embellished chords using hammer-ons and pull-offs. In this lesson, I show you a simple chord progression, A – E – F#m(7) – D, then how to add notes from the major pentatonic scale to get that “Hendrix feel”. I also show you how players like Robin Trower uses hammer-ons and pull-offs to outline the notes of chord, ala “Daydream”. Even though these are simple embellishments, it makes the progressions sound a lot bluesier. Have fun with this and see if you can’t come up with some of your own variations.
Major Pentatonic Scale in Relation to the A-shaped Chord
The graphic shows the relationship between the major pentatonic scale and the A-shaped barre chord. The red squares are the notes of the chord, and the yellow dots are the notes of the scale. The notes that are two frets up from the red squares are excellent candidates for hammer-on/pull-offs. The video explains all this.
Loved this lesson especially the Trower demo. What was your setup?
admin Reply:
November 12th, 2011 at 7:26 am
Glad you liked the lesson. I can’t remember my setup. I recorded direct to the PC using GuitarRig.
excellent lesson, really helped alot! Thank you so much your teaching style is exactly what I’ve been looking for!!
Bridge of Sighs would be great. That was enough of Daydream to get a guy going and is a good example of the Major pent chord embellishment you outline so well. Very well done vid brother.
admin Reply:
August 15th, 2009 at 8:34 am
Love Bridge of Sighs. I’ll put that one on the list.
Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing your knowledge. You are revealing things to me that I have only hitherto ‘stumbled’ across in the past, but you are explaining how these pieces connect. My playing will improve exponentially with your help. Many, many thanks…
Excellent! I had left you a comment/suggestion for variations on basic progressions, and this is just the kind of thing I was referring to. More like this would be great. On a more specific note (no pun) what’s your timing when using this series of hammer-on/pull-offs? Since there are a couple other additions besides the hammer-on/pull-offs (sounds like quick muted bass note, I wasn’t able to just get it into 4/4 and sound good –or al least, not as good as yours.
Thanks in advance.
Thank you very much. I learned a lot with this lesson!
This site is a treasure trove. I learned more from this one lesson than I did from $$$ of guitar DVDs. I like how you touched on Robin Trower’s Daydream. I’m a HUGE Trower fan. Can you make a formal lesson for Daydream?
admin Reply:
March 24th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I’m working on “I’m Tore Down” right now. Daydream is a great song though. I’ll put it on my list for future lessons. Actually, I was thinking of doing Bridge of Sighs next.
your site is the best yet you explain everything where anyone can understand it and great closeup of frets you are using A
Thanks for the help I sure need it LOL
Blackie
Thank you for that great lesson!
But it took me some time to understand the fretboard image. Usually the fretboard is drawn with the highest string on top, as if your looking on it when your guitar is lieing on your knee.
thanks alot for the lesson. I just found out about this site and this is what I have been looking for. Looking forward to exploring the archives and future lessons….much appreciated!
admin Reply:
January 13th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
Thanks for the comment and enjoy the site. There’s plenty to keep you busy for awhile, and there will be more coming.
Great lesson. I came up with a ton of my own licks while watching it. I’ve got a really cool country inspied one I can send you in powertab or guitar pro format if you’d like.
admin Reply:
January 13th, 2009 at 8:49 am
@Brettski,
That’s what I like to hear. Well done. Send along the tab in both formats and I’ll share it with all the LBL registered users. Which reminds me…I need to create an uploads section.
I must have missed something.. I don’t see a video
if one exists…
Please advise..
BigT
admin Reply:
January 12th, 2009 at 9:46 am
BigT,
You need to be registered to see the videos. Registration is free.
Agreed ,this was definitely a bottle of cold spring water for a thirsty desert nomad and likewise to all the other lessons.
thank you for the nice lesson (these seeds will grow).
admin Reply:
January 10th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
@rlk11747,
You’re welcome. Have fun with it.