Scott Paul Johnson posts
Posts: 662
Files: 1735
OFFICE HOURS 112 | alternate tuning, how to tell if you're getting better, bad habits, etc.
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down to the bottom for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,Here are the questions from this week, timestamped in order:Question 1: Ray asked about how to get into alternate tunings and if they fit with the CAGED SystemQuestion 2: Harsh asked how to tell if you're getting better. how to tell if you need outside help, and how to get back into it after a break.Question 3: David showed a specific fingerpic...
Fun with Thirds | Harmonizing a Scale
New here? Wondering where to start? Click here for my Patreon start page, or here for my recommended lesson plan.Hi Everyone,In this lesson I first talk about harmonizing a scale in thirds. Then I talk about bouncing from Root and 3rd to 3rd and 5th over a jam track. Then I add 5th and 7th. Then I start applying my melody making guidelines from MTM 17-19, showing how you can move through the scale in thirds to play harmonized melodic parts.I LOVE...
Practice Thoughts | Oll Korrect
Where to Start• Lesson Archive• Recommended Lesson Plan • Book a Private LessonHi Everyone,In this Practice Thought, I'm drawing from the funny history of the word "okay" to demonstrate some similarities between the english language and music. Hopefully this will breathe some new life into the old trope "music is a language" and give you some encouragement to explore how you speak the language of music.It's important...
OFFICE HOURS 111 | Writing while fingerpicking, GoodNotes app, Find the key of a Chord Progression
New here? Wondering where to start? Click here for my Patreon start page, or here for my recommended lesson plan.Hi Everyone,Here are the questions:Question 1: Ahmed asked for helping figuring out how to write to fingerpicking.Question 2: Ray asked about my iPad app - I used GoodNotesQuestion 3: Rich shared a cool chord progression and had some trouble figuring out what key it was in.Question 4: Ray asked what the ideal practice session looks lik...
CAGED Basics II | 8 | Pentatonic Pit Stop
Where to Start• Lesson Archive• Recommended Lesson Plan • Book a Private LessonHi Everyone,This one might look different because I moved my studio while filming this course.This is the 8th lesson in my CAGED Basics II series, where I'm systematically working through the relationship between major and minor chord shapes in the CAGED System and how the Pentatonic Scales can overlay on top of this info. In this lesson, we're diving int...
Community Challenge 60 | Write something with a lot of space
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,Every other week I post a community challenge. The goal is remind you that WRITING SOMETHING is the single best way to practice using and understanding the music theory you've been learning here. If you're a private person, you don't have to share your creations to the community forum, but you could let us know what you've been working on - what ...
OFFICE HOURS 110 | Weds, Feb 22, 1:00PM Pacific Time
New here? Wondering where to start? Click here for my Patreon start page, or here for my recommended lesson plan.Hi Everyone,The questions:Harsh was wondering about these kinds of practice bands. Are they worth it? Useful? I gave some thoughts about these, but also about a general approach to practice that might answer these types of questions down the line.Ray was hoping for a quick round up of guitar embellishments. This isn't the way I thi...
Live Song Analysis 02 | Monday, Feb 20th, 3:00PM Pacific
I got a copyright strike on this one so I had to remove a whole section featuring Alrighty Aphrodite - thats the big risk with doing these song analysis videos. I'm trying to see if there is a better streaming platform that won't give me these issues.New here? Wondering where to start? Click here for my Patreon start page, or here for my recommended lesson plan.Hi Everyone,I'm experimenting with making this a monthly thing. Post songs...
OFFICE HOURS 109 | shell chords, being human, switching positions, phrasing, sus4 on a IV chord
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down to the bottom for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,Here are the timestamps for this Office Hours:Sirot asked about shell chordsAhmed asked about (1) making chord progressions more human, (2) jumping between CAGED pentatonic shapes while soloing, and (3) the elements involved in playing an epic solo.Jeff asked for some tips on phrasing and soloing practice in generalMark asked if it's easy to sw...
Music Theory Monday 35 | 13th chords
Where to Start• Lesson Archive• Recommended Lesson Plan • Book a Private LessonHi Everyone,We're tackling the final boss of extended chords: the 13th chord.This is the final boss because we don't have any more notes to add to a chord after the 13th. Sure, there are some jazz substitutions that include notes outside the scale, but we won't be going there with this course.When it comes to diatonic chords (ie chords using only note...
OFFICE HOURS 108 | EQ, slide guitar, moveable shapes, Chet Atkins
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,The questions:Mark R asked if I could walk through how to EQ a trackRay had questions about slide guitar and the fitting context for 11th and 13th chords. Here is a slide guitar lesson I made last yearEthan asked about something related to notifications: Basically, I try to send an alert that the stream is starting roughly an hour beforehand, but you can also su...
Practice Thoughts | Music Theory is Not Music
Where to Start• Lesson Archive• Recommended Lesson Plan • Book a Private LessonHi Everyone,In this practice thought, I'm using some nerdy philosophy to draw out the difference between music theory and music. Sometimes they get confused for each other and it's important (and hopefully encouraging) to remember the difference between them.Throughout your musical journey, you'll likely have bouts of insecurity (it happens!). Sometim...
Community Challenge 59 | Write something using G Am Em D
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,I've been doing these Community Challenges every other week to give you (yes, YOU) more time to participate.What is a Community Challenge? It's an opportunity to write a LITTLE SOMETHING. I emphasize both "LITTLE" and "SOMETHING" to make the idea clear here:By LITTLE SOMETHING, I mean you don't have to write a whole song. It could be ...
OFFICE HOURS 107 | Bill Withers, Practice Tracks, Creativity, String Gauge
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,Great stream, as usual. Lots of great questions. Here they are:Sirot had some questions about the chord progression for Bill Withers' Just the Two of UsD B had a question about wether I had more practice jam tracks than just C Major and A MinorHarsh was wondering about a good approach to the creative sections of MTFG and CAGED BasicsMateus was having issues ...
Music Theory Monday 34 | 11th chords
Where to Start• Lesson Archive• Recommended Lesson Plan • Book a Private LessonHi Everyone,This lesson covers 11th chords. We start with how to make them using the every-other-note concept you're already familiar with, and then go into the reality of using these chords in the wild.Check out the PDF and let me know how you feel about these chords in the comments. Do you like the rich, sometimes intense sound? Not everyone does. If you fi...
OFFICE HOURS 106 | Chord substitution, stronger melodies, switching chords
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,Here were the questions, linked to the appropriate timestamp:Sirot was wondering about two things: chord substitution and secondary dominants.Mark was looking for tips on how to pick up the rhythm of a song AND how to create stronger melodies.Ray was looking for practice advise about switching chords, especially the tricky ones. Ray, you had another question I m...
Live Song Analysis 01 | Tuesday, January 24th, 2:00PM Pacific
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,Tomorrow at 2:00PM Pacific I'm going live to tackle a handful of tunes YOU suggested in a post I accidentally deleted. I'll make a list of those tunes below and I'll try to get through as many as I can!This is a new thing. I'm going in cold with these songs with no prep beforehand, trying to figure them out by ear, and showing how I use Music The...
Community Challenge 58 | Write Something in A Minor
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,This community challenge is simple: Write Something in A Minor!What is a Community Challenge? It's an invitation to all of my Patrons to create SOMETHING. When you're learning guitar, it's easy to lose track of what ALL your favorite musicians have in common. Creativity. Music isn't something to study, it's something to explore, experience, a...
Practice Thoughts | Don't Move the Goal Post
Where to Start• Lesson Archive• Recommended Lesson Plan • Book a Private LessonHi Everyone,In this Practice Thought, we'll discuss the idea of moving the goalpost. This is a common problem: we set a goal, and then if we reach it, we say "well that doesn't count because it was too easy" and then we set a goal farther away, and then if it's not too difficult it doesn't count again.Sometimes this feedback loop can happe...
OFFICE HOURS 105 | 7th vs add9 chords, CAGED Chords, backing tracks
GOING LIVE IN 45! HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,Graeme had a question about 7th vs add9 chordsTony had a question about playing full six-string CAGED ShapesJeff was wondering what kinds of things to focus on while playing with a backing trackHarsh asked if it is necessary to know exactly what notes you're playing all the time.Check out the Lesson Archive for more Of...
OFFICE HOURS 104 | Motivation, Practice Technique
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,This one was very nice and very short! Here are the questions:Ray was looking for some ways to stay motivated.Stevie had a concern about regressing back to simpler techniqueHarsh had a question about when to move on from the Intervals section of MTFGCheck out the Lesson Archive for more Office Hours Live StreamsOther helpful links:Scott's Recommended Lesson ...
Song Analysis - Hot Bodies in Motion's "All Night" pt 3
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,This is the final installment of my little series about the song "All Night" written by me and my friend Ben Carson. Our band Hot Bodies in Motion is releasing the song this Friday the 13th on Spotify and everywhere else.Here is a cool presave link to remind you when the song is available on Spotify. Feel free to share that link (if you feel like it.) Th...
Community Challenge 57 | Write Something Difficult (for you)
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hey Everyone,Here is a fun Community Challenge:Write Something Difficult (for you)You don't have to write something CRAZY difficult, just set out to write something that is hard for you to play. Watch the video for elaboration.What is a Community Challenge? It's an invitation to all of my Patrons to create SOMETHING. When you're learning guitar, it's easy to...
2023 Goals/Welcome New Patrons!
This month's New Patron Welcome thread is open to ALL existing Patrons!If you’re new here, tell us a little about yourself: What brought you here? Where are you in your guitar journey, and what do you hope to accomplish while you’re here?If you’re a seasoned Patron, please give our new members a warm welcome and share your guitar/music goals for 2023! Reply to new Patrons below if you share the same goals, or can relate to their journey...
OFFICE HOURS 103 | 12 Strings, motivation, right hand technique, finding your path, used guitars
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,I was a little under-slept and over-caffeinated for this one but it went pretty well and I was very excited to show off a new feature: I was finally able to offer an easy way to have Patrons ask questions via video live on stream! I'll do more of that in the future. I was only testing this feature for this stream. Thanks Jeff and Tyler for helping me out!Que...
OFFICE HOURS 102 | Motivation, Playing over chords, Remembering ideas, strings, etc
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,These were the questions:Question 1: Jeffery was wondering how to practice when you lose motivation - I also recommend checking out Practice ThoughtsQuestion 2: Richard had questions about soloing over specific chord progressions. I strongly recommend MTM lessons 17 18 19 for melody making and CAGED Soloing for applying that information specifically to the CAGED...
OFFICE HOURS 101 | Percussive guitar playing, switching guitars mid-show, chord identification, tuning with harmonics
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,Great questions this week.Question 1: Ray wanted my opinion of percussive guitar playing.Question 2: Mateus was curious about how/why guitar players switch guitars in a show.Question 3: Graeme wanted help identifying a specific chord.Question 4: There are a variety of questions from chat at this point ranging from how to tune using harmonics, where my music will...
Song Analysis - Hot Bodies in Motion's "All Night" pt 2
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,Sorry it took me so long to post this second installment! I just got internet set up in my new studio here in the Pacific Northwest. I'll get more lessons posted soon and another community challenge this week. I still have a lot of work to do getting this new studio set up, but I'm very excited about the potential for a wider variety of lessons, intervie...
Community Challenge 56 + Moving Updates
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down to the bottom for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,It's going to be a busy but fun season here! Taylor and I are nearly packed for our journey back to the Pacific Northwest. I've got a new, spacious studio waiting for me to set up my camera guitar and main desk, plus room to experiment with a lot of other camera angles and situations. I have plans to build a top down camera set for pedalboa...
Song Analysis - Hot Bodies in Motion "All Night" pt 1
New here? Visit my Where To Start page.Scroll down for more helpful links.Hi Everyone,I thought it might be fun to do a little songwriting analysis on something I've written with my band, Hot Bodies in Motion.We'll discuss the general arrangement and tonality of the song, and then dig into the melody, bass line, and guitar parts. Specifically, we'll focus on how they interact with the chord progression and each other. These lessons ar...
