Refresher HELP!

HI All,
This might sound funny coming from someone who has played guitar for almost 20yrs,but in all that time I have always played rythem guitar.
I have been in the same band all this time. The guys I play with are not anymore of a musician than I.
Now however I have this desire to learn some lead. This is where the question comes in play.

I use mostly straight chords, a few bar chords but mostly open chords.
I need to know where to start. Do I learn the scales,bar chords, what?
We play mostly country, with some classic rock thrown in the mix.

Any help would be greatly appriciated.

I'd recommend learning the rest of the barre chords first...they will give you additional options for your rhythm playing. After that, you should start learning your pentatonic scales (major and minor).

You also might want to check into some guitar lessons with a good teacher...it'll save you a lot of money and frustration in the long run.

Since you have Full Access, why not take advantage of our online lessons? You can easily search for the stuff you want by using the "By Style" and "By Inspiration" tabs on the left side of the screen to find lessons tailored to your needs.

After 20 years playing rhythm, you may have to force yourself to loosen up a bit. The best leads often play 'around' the actual beat. This is why a solid rhythm section is the backbone of any good band. It allows the lead to be more creative, while the rhythm, bass and drums keep the song on track.

You may also discover that your lead player needs to tighten up a bit in order to lay down a solid rhythm with the bass and drums.

I can guarantee that you both will become better players.

Best of luck! :)

Hey Jim,
I've been playing 31 years now, played rhythm for a couple of years and then started learning leads. Flat picking fiddle tunes, and picking lead in a bluegrass band. I listened to everything, but mostly country. I fell in love with the sound of a tele, and got my first one in 1994. I played bluegrass licks on it for a while, and then started learning other picking techniques.

Listened to every picker I could, and stole every lick I could learn. I based out of Nashville, Tennessee from 1985-2007. Performed with many well known artist, as well as picking on Broadway downtown. That's a little bit of background about me, and what I pick.

I play a lot of lead out of chord positions, I do use some scales when I need to. I would definitely work on barre chord, all E formation positions, A formation, and also A minor formation.

Keep in mind, that all of your open chords can be moved up the neck to make other chords. You can play licks, or scales out of all these positions. This will also help you learn where you are on the fretboard.

Welcome to GT, and we hope you like it here. Be sure to check out my tutorial on country shuffle, lot of useful stuff in there. There are 2 lessons in the useful chord positions tutorial, that you may find interesting. Let me know how it goes, and if I can be of anymore help to you.

JD

That's pretty interesting... I am in the army, and this guy I work with can play rhythm like no other, such as Zeppelin's 'Gallow's Pole' and 'Friends' but he cant play lead at all. Me, on the other hand, I wish I could play chords and rhythm, but all I know how to do is shred like a madman and play powerchords... I guess it's just a matter of what we've invested in. I would suggest that if you are starting lead, begin with the minor pentatonic scales- they are fixed across the fretboard regardless of starting note. As soon as you learn them hands down, you will be soloing awesome- after that, learn the blues scales, which smply incorporates a few different notes, but the pattern is relatively similar. Let us know how it goes...

Originally Posted by: kjuggsThat's pretty interesting... I am in the army, and this guy I work with can play rhythm like no other, such as Zeppelin's 'Gallow's Pole' and 'Friends' but he cant play lead at all. Me, on the other hand, I wish I could play chords and rhythm, but all I know how to do is shred like a madman and play powerchords... I guess it's just a matter of what we've invested in. I would suggest that if you are starting lead, begin with the minor pentatonic scales- they are fixed across the fretboard regardless of starting note. As soon as you learn them hands down, you will be soloing awesome- after that, learn the blues scales, which smply incorporates a few different notes, but the pattern is relatively similar. Let us know how it goes...

Thanks for the info. It seems most are tellling me to learn scales, so that is where I will begin. I will also try the blues scales you suggest.
Thanks again
JIm

I would like to thank everyone for the great input. I will take all into account, and probably use some of everyone's idea's.
This web site is a great place to learn. Thanks again
JIm