Chord Tones + 3 Crucial Sounds | Guitargate

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Instructors
Jamie
Lyle
Guthrie
Jack
Michael
Chord Tones + 3 Crucial Sounds

In this masterclass, Guthrie Trapp dives into the essential elements of creating music with your guitar, focusing on the importance of using your ear to distinguish between major, minor, and dominant seventh chords. Guthrie emphasizes that the goal of playing music is not just to have fun but also to express oneself through the instrument. He shares his philosophy on avoiding getting bogged down with too many technical details like licks, instead focusing on what works musically. Guthrie's approach is practical, drawing from his professional experience rather than traditional teaching methods. He discusses how his teaching style has evolved, especially through the pandemic, and how he aims to convey the bigger picture of music making to his students.

The masterclass also touches on the significance of understanding the song or the chordal foundation behind music. Guthrie explains how the Nashville scene has influenced his focus on the song itself, ensuring that every musical element serves the song's overall feel and message. He introduces the concept of targeting chord tones and creating melodic lines that fit within the context of the song. Guthrie stresses the importance of practicing with a purpose, suggesting that musicians should spend time familiarizing themselves with different chord sounds and how they relate to each other. This includes exercises such as playing arpeggios and scales, starting with different notes of the chord to internalize their sound fully.

Finally, Guthrie delves into the technical aspects of playing over chord changes, discussing how to move beyond relying solely on pentatonic scales. He explains that understanding chord shapes up the neck and how they relate to each other is crucial for improvisation and creating music that resonates. Guthrie challenges the notion that certain scales are specific to genres, arguing that the fundamentals he teaches are genre-less and applicable to any musical situation. He encourages musicians to expand their listening habits to inspire their playing, noting that being stuck in one genre can limit one's musical growth. Guthrie's masterclass offers valuable insights into the art of guitar playing, focusing on ear training, musical expression, and the importance of understanding the foundational elements of music.

Transcript Summary

  • Introduction to the Masterclass (0:00)
    • Guthrie greets the audience and sets up the session.
    • Mentions technical self-reliance with Young Tom's absence.
    • Expresses gratitude for being part of the masterclass.
  • The Essence of Music Making (0:59)
    • Music is about fun and self-expression through an instrument.
    • Guthrie emphasizes the importance of understanding what works in music.
    • Shares insights from his teaching experiences and the importance of the big picture in music.
  • Nashville's Song Mentality (2:52)
    • Discusses the significance of songs, chordal foundations, and sonic backdrops.
    • Links to the previous lesson on practicing with a purpose.
    • Highlights the role of direction and intention in playing guitar.
  • Importance of Ear Training (3:43)
    • Emphasizes the critical role of one's ear in music.
    • Introduces the three important sounds: Major, Minor, Dominant 7.
    • Discusses the nuances that differentiate these chord types.
  • Exploring Musical Phrasing (6:40)
    • Defines musical lines and phrases as coherent series of notes.
    • Compares music to a language with its own form of punctuation and sentences.
    • Encourages practicing with specific chord tones and outlines.
  • Improvisation and Genre-agnostic Fundamentals (11:02)
    • Discusses moving beyond scale patterns to true improvisation.
    • Stresses the versatility of fundamental music theory across genres.
    • Shares personal insights on adapting to various musical styles.
  • Expanding Musical Horizons (12:37)
    • Encourages broadening one's musical listening to grow as a musician.
    • Explains how diverse influences can enrich one's playing style.
    • Addresses the mindset for exploring beyond familiar ground.

These are the people out there doing it each and every night, at the very highest level.  To say Guthrie Trapp is one of the best guitarists alive doesn’t even begin to set the stage.  A true, old school, take it or leave it head cutter, Guthrie is no BS.

Guthrie is going to cut through all the fluff and show you the stuff that really works in the music world - the stuff that he uses day in and day out on the heaviest gigs - with the heaviest players - in the world.

Premium Members get access to Guthrie's and all our pro ZOOM Lessons.