In this lesson I'm going to show you how to use four simple arpeggios as
a foundation to create a great sounding improvisation. The idea behind this can
really boost your improvisation skills. And the best part, it's gonna be heck of fun.
Let me start with showing you the four arpeggios. So we're following the chord progression. It's
E minor going to A minor then to C major 7 and finally to B7. Start with the E minor.
Here's the arpeggio so I've got my first finger on the seventh fret first string,
second finger is on the eighth fret on the second string and then I've got my third
and pinky next to each other on the ninth fret that's the third and fourth strings.
Now for the A minor.
I'm doing a little partial bar there on the fifth fret that's the first, second and third strings.
I'm using my third finger to cover that fourth string and the seventh fret.
You could also strum these together and they'd be what I call baby chords
kind of high-pitched chords.
Now here's where I'm gonna play C major 7.
My first finger is on the seventh fret first string, second finger on the eighth fret
going to the next string, third string ninth fret and the pinky on the tenth fret
and then finally a four note B7. Again a little partial bar there on the seventh fret.
I'm covering the first through the fourth strings there. I don't care about the fifth or sixth. I'm
not using those but I've got my second finger covering the eighth fret on the third string.
So the first thing to do is to learn the arpeggios. The way I like to have
students practice this is to just get the fingering for a while without even playing it,
just practice getting the fingering. Then go ahead and start striking the chord and do the
same thing. See how fast you get your fingers on the strings. Oops and strike the notes
then move on to the next one. Do the same thing and try the two together. Try just strumming
the chord going to the second one. Do that add the third one and the fourth one until you can
at least reasonably well play each of the arpeggios without totally fumbling.
Now keep in mind don't wait until you get them perfect before you start going to the next step.
I like to use what I call the 80% rule and this is totally your judgment call. In other words
if you think you can get your hand there at about 80% of where you'd like it to be anyway
that's good and move on to the next step.
Now the next step is to practice with a tempo. In other words, try to
play the chords in time. I'm going to use a metronome and I prefer
to at least start with a metronome but you can just tap your foot or keep the pulse yourself.
The key is to start slow. Slow enough so you can pretty much get the chords. Again
you don't go for perfect but start as slow as you need to. Try to fight that tendency to go
faster than you can really play the thing. So I've got to set at about 65 I think.
Somewhere in that area that's in between 63 and 69. So here's what that's going to sound like
really slow. Watch 1 2 3 4 1 2 3. I got plenty of time to change the next chord 1 2 3 4 2 3 4.
I know that seems really slow but this gives me a chance to really get the chords right 2 3 4.
Okay that works and the idea is to keep picking up
the speed. I’ve got this at around 100 now. - 2 2 3 4 -
So that backing track is about 120. I've got it set right there on the metronome.
So the next step is to go ahead and play the arpeggio both going from low note to
high and then from the high to the low. So I'm going to play four notes going from low note
to high and then backwards just three notes and I'm gonna count it out so it fits with
the rhythm. It'll be something like this 1 2 3 4 1 2 ready play and then A minor
and so on you get the idea.
And of course again go as slow as you need to go and then keep picking up the
speed little by little and once you feel like you're ready go ahead and try it with
the backing track. I'm going to show you an example of what that's going to sound like.
So I'm going to start just playing the arpeggio from the low notes to high
and I'll show you what it sounds like when I come back also. Start the E minor 1 2 ready, hit it.
A minor, C major7 and the B7 that gives me time to change chords. Now here's going up and down.
When you get that going well enough you might want to try experimenting
with plain arpeggios and adding some scale wise notes that would sound something like this.
Here we go 1 2 3. Now give me another measure. Here we go 1 2 ready go.
Okay that's all I got for now. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, give me a thumbs up and by the
way I've included a link to that backing track I've been using at the end of this video. So
hang out with me for just a little bit longer and if you haven't already
sign up for my free guitar success checklist. I'll ask you a few simple questions and then I'll send
you a personalized report with recommendations on how you should spend your time to get the quickest
progress on your guitar playing. It's completely free and I would love to send this to you. I'll
put a link in the description below or you can go right to my website at www.tomasmichaud.com
Hope we can hang out again together soon. Bye for now.
you