Most people have lessons on soloing over chord changes. How about a lesson on soloing/writing melodies over metal guitar riffs? Maybe even ones that dont stick to a specific key
Bonus tip.... always keep in mind that the 4th and 6th string are perfect octaves. You can flip your 3 string cord shapes and have an easy peasy inversion.
There's a reason other players like Ola Englund mentions Uncle Ben so often. He's found a way to communicate theory to us everyday day git-fiddlers and makes us more betterlier. Thank Unc! #Skankbanger 🤘#MissingTheGrungePedal
Ben, thank you so much for this video. It blew my mind! I've been playing bass for 20 years (only self-taught, for fun, no theory at all) and only recently fulfilled my midlife-crisis wish to get an electric guitar. Obviously, without any theoretical backround, it's a bit of a steep hike, so I tried to get by with my previous bass experience, a handful of more complicated chords and power cords. As I'm playing in Drop A, this video totally expanded my vocabulary and I can finally start to play the riffs that I have in my head so much more easily. Playing these minor, major and sus power chords is a total game changer for me. Finally feeling motivated to actually learn more theory and chords. Thanks again!
Hahahahaha bass player dropping electric guitar bass string to A does not surprise me at all Also I am considering switching to bass guitar because the bass strings are all I really use on electric anyway
Love the "cheese pizza" analogy. That's a great way to picture the major scale!! Love what you do and the humor that you throw in. Thanks for the time and effort you put into it. It's appreciated.
The drop tunnings were the greatest thing I learned during my two guitar lessons in the mid 90s, that and how to read guitar tabs. That was all I needed.
I was constantly going back and forth with myself between "Ok I like to write in Drop C" and "screw drop tuning I'm going back to standard!" but after I discovered these chord shapes I realized how much more expression I could get out of drop tunings.
Personally I can never go back to standard tuning The bass string in E just doesn't sit right for me as a bass string Also stepping the lowest string down to D increases the dynamic range available on the instrument
Ian D’sa from Billy Talent uses these sort of stacked powerchords in a really cool way. Simon Neil from biffy Clyro does some similar stuff as well. Great vid!
Brother, I have been a drop D player from the very beginning… The first piece of music I ever learned on the guitar was, “Everlong.” And from there, I’ve been playing the different variance’s of drop D throughout my entire musical career. But I’ve never had anyone explain the drop D chord vocabulary in this manner. 👌 And I just wanted to say thank you!! Thank you very much, Ben!! This really helped me to visualize the theory behind the noises those “well-known” shapes make. I hope you are well, and still shredding my friend!!! 💪❤️🔥
Good way to show how to break out of dead Drop "D" sounding. And those are called inversions, but Uncle Ben has that in another video, rock on Unc Eller!
My favorite tuning is CGCFAD (if I just say "Drop C", some people will think I mean C Standard for some reason) and if you have a problem with that, take it up with Kurt Ballou!
@@cloneboy42 I responded earlier and my comment got deleted, I'm guessing because it had a URL in it. I found an interview that claims he uses CF#CF#CF# and calls it "open Slayer", neither of which checks out at all lol
I love drop D tuning, I do a riff alternate picking lifting up the added note on the up stroke, so I can demolish in the back seat of a VW beetle if you know what I mean.
I've been diddle fiddling around with the gat for years but really can't be fluffed learning theory. Your videos really inspire me to put in more better effort and I'm a even more betterer player because of it.Thanks Ben, ya bloody bastard.
Loved this video. Also if anyone is interested in extended shaped chords Page Hamilton gets into those extended Drop D chord voicings. Love his interviews on Rig Rundown. He talks a little bit about theory and shows a couple examples of those shapes on the fretboard. Thanks for the great video Youngcle Ben.
I know very little about theory, and this is the first video I've seen that was both interesting and helped it all make more sense. I loved the everlong reference. That was super helpful
Great Lesson, love the style of teaching. but major/minor so much easier in standard tuning! Less stretch! And the natural minor is the aeolian mode of the major scale! I know you already know that! But some people get scared out of their minds when they hear that they have to learn a whole new scale, when the natural minor just starts off at the 6th of the major scale, and follows the same pattern
Thank you for the awesome lesson Ben! - I was actually considering going drop D for one of my things lately, mainly to rectify that mean stretch to the 9th. Also I think I've heard Plini talking about a similar concept - just taking your basic mom's basement chord progression, and embellishing it with spicier intervals.
Learn the notes in any scale and just put your fingers on them till you find all the different chords. It’s lots of fun. For some reason I always gravitate towards 7sus4 chords.
I like how you made a foo fighters song for the intro lol, I like how TH-cam recommends me these videos like a year too late, like I already learned how to good at drop tuning and 7 string, I wish I saw these like like last year
That Tele is stinkin' gorgeous, especially that neck. Aside from that you're like a non-coastal Chuck Schuldiner with all the animal love, I dig it... GOBLESS.
Funny that you mention Everlong. That was the first thing that came to mind because I heard you play that first chord. And Im also amused that you go back and forth between pizza and ice cream. Thanks Uncle Ben!
I liked your video, and I got my favourite number of 108!!! Also thanks for the lesson, was thinking of trying out a Drop D, but yeah, thought then if there's more than just power chords? It's as if the universe has heard my question, and you brought me the answer :-)
Awesome! I felt so silly messing around in Drop D and having a brain delay in visualizing scale shapes on the low D string with the other strings being tuned standard. Then I was like "DUH, its the same pattern as the other D string" which you and I hopefully already know lol.
Also worth reminding that we aren't limited to playing these chords on the first three strings. If you don't have quite enough hand to play, say, 3-3-7 cleanly, feel free to mute the D string and play it as 3-3-x-2. Heck, mute the A string too! The 3-x-x-2 and 3-x-x-1 shapes have a really focused, almost open chord sound and are hella easy to slide around the neck.
Why mute the d string? Just play it as 3-3-3-2 if you want a moveable shape without the stretch. That way it includes an octave and you don't have to mute strings.
Although personally I definitely fall into the "not enough hand" category, so trying to fret 3-3-3-2 would probably result in the 2 being accidentally muted by whichever finger is barring the 3s. 😅 So I use the 3 (pinkie) 3 (ring) X (x) 2 (index) shape out of necessity more than creativity.
@@ericolson326 I'll never have monstrous Vai or Holdsworth hands, but learning to play Bark at the Moon correctly with help from Ben turned my left hand into play-doh and really improved my stretching/dexterity. Try it if you haven't. It helps.
If you are stuck with a floating trem, you could try a tool call the Skyscraper. You can set intonation without loosening the string all the way. I use it all the time if I switch from Drop-D to E on my Charvel So-Cal. If you have the less expressive hardtail or ashtray bridge, then all you need is a tuner and MAYBE a thicker string.
Thanks for watching and expanding your drop d tuning chord vocabulary!!! What do you wanna learn next?
Most people have lessons on soloing over chord changes. How about a lesson on soloing/writing melodies over metal guitar riffs? Maybe even ones that dont stick to a specific key
This is why you suck at guitar: you're not rhythmically interesting
Major and minor scales in drop tunings?
I ask this because I’m trying to get my coguitarist to get a little theory knowledge and see if that helps us both write more interesting stuff
Back seat of a Volkswagen…..dude thats from Mallrats! Lol
Nice concept man.
He sure is
Drop D sus2 is such a Hum thing and now I know why I love it so much
Yeah, I'm a total sucker for the DropD sus2.
Listen to it, it's a bit more of a whine. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
Failure too
When I was 12 I tuned my guitar to drop D for the first time.
That summer my parents sent me to Bible Camp.
😆
Billy Talent made me expand my Drop D playing skills. They have an unique way of playing around uncommon riffs and chords for their genre.
I agree, Ian D’sa has such creative riffs. Try Honesty is a great one with interesting drop chords
THIS. Fallen leaves is always my go to drop D song along with a bunch or rage against the machine.
They?
@@ZeddSays ?
Bonus tip.... always keep in mind that the 4th and 6th string are perfect octaves. You can flip your 3 string cord shapes and have an easy peasy inversion.
This was awesome. I feel like less of a step-dad and more of a real dad with a troubled relationship with his kids.
Man, Mark Tremonti is seriously one of the best at this!!! His alternate tuning voicings are amazing. Plus I hear he’s an Uncle Ben fan 😉
Mark rules!!!
Sus2, Dim and the inversions (1st and 2nd) are the spice of life for drop tuning.
There's a reason other players like Ola Englund mentions Uncle Ben so often. He's found a way to communicate theory to us everyday day git-fiddlers and makes us more betterlier. Thank Unc! #Skankbanger 🤘#MissingTheGrungePedal
Thank you buddy
This may have been the best theory lesson I've ever had. I really needed this info, condensed into this one video!
Thanks dude!!
Ben, thank you so much for this video. It blew my mind!
I've been playing bass for 20 years (only self-taught, for fun, no theory at all) and only recently fulfilled my midlife-crisis wish to get an electric guitar. Obviously, without any theoretical backround, it's a bit of a steep hike, so I tried to get by with my previous bass experience, a handful of more complicated chords and power cords. As I'm playing in Drop A, this video totally expanded my vocabulary and I can finally start to play the riffs that I have in my head so much more easily. Playing these minor, major and sus power chords is a total game changer for me.
Finally feeling motivated to actually learn more theory and chords.
Thanks again!
Hahahahaha bass player dropping electric guitar bass string to A does not surprise me at all
Also I am considering switching to bass guitar because the bass strings are all I really use on electric anyway
This entire video was an insane help but that Diminished chord substitution was actually mind blowing, that's legit bloody brilliant!
17:43 Hey that sounds like "Where is my mind" by The Pixies! COOL!!
Love the "cheese pizza" analogy. That's a great way to picture the major scale!! Love what you do and the humor that you throw in. Thanks for the time and effort you put into it. It's appreciated.
Just started learning some Trivium songs. They definitely use some of these techniques and take full advantage of the possibilities of drop tunings
More better... Well, that's all we waited for, man! Thx 👍
The drop tunnings were the greatest thing I learned during my two guitar lessons in the mid 90s, that and how to read guitar tabs. That was all I needed.
I was constantly going back and forth with myself between "Ok I like to write in Drop C" and "screw drop tuning I'm going back to standard!" but after I discovered these chord shapes I realized how much more expression I could get out of drop tunings.
Personally I can never go back to standard tuning
The bass string in E just doesn't sit right for me as a bass string
Also stepping the lowest string down to D increases the dynamic range available on the instrument
I live for phat sounding low effort techniques. Thanks Youngcle Ben!
Ian D’sa from Billy Talent uses these sort of stacked powerchords in a really cool way. Simon Neil from biffy Clyro does some similar stuff as well. Great vid!
Brother, I have been a drop D player from the very beginning… The first piece of music I ever learned on the guitar was, “Everlong.” And from there, I’ve been playing the different variance’s of drop D throughout my entire musical career. But I’ve never had anyone explain the drop D chord vocabulary in this manner. 👌 And I just wanted to say thank you!! Thank you very much, Ben!! This really helped me to visualize the theory behind the noises those “well-known” shapes make. I hope you are well, and still shredding my friend!!! 💪❤️🔥
Those minor and sus2 (or as I call them, 5-9) chords are THE reason to play drop tuning, great stuff :)
Substituting the 7th chordal interval dim with the 1st inversion, where the III is the bass of the diminished, is an epiphany! Thank you!
I took some of these ideas here and tried them out in the saddest of all keys, but then metalized, and gotta say, it sounds killer.
Great lesson, one thing I like to do with Drop D is play songs that aren't in Drop D and then adjust all the E string notes on the fly two steps up...
Thank you for explaining in terms we can all understand! This is why you are the greatest Uncle Ben!
Good way to show how to break out of dead Drop "D" sounding. And those are called inversions, but Uncle Ben has that in another video, rock on Unc Eller!
My favorite tuning is CGCFAD (if I just say "Drop C", some people will think I mean C Standard for some reason) and if you have a problem with that, take it up with Kurt Ballou!
Little known fact, he actually plays in CGCFG#C.
@@cloneboy42 I responded earlier and my comment got deleted, I'm guessing because it had a URL in it. I found an interview that claims he uses CF#CF#CF# and calls it "open Slayer", neither of which checks out at all lol
Literally the first Awesome Drop D specific lesson I've seen in such detail.
So MORE BETTER!!!!
Awesome lesson Ben. 👏
I was looking for a video just like this. Actually experiencing the same issue only with Drop C which also works.
Awesome!
My man dropping some serious D knowledge on us. 👍
Yay! Some more valuable guitar, and life lessons, from my favorite Uncle, Ben and his faithful, but tired sidekick, Turkey (who's adorable BTW)!
Thumbs up for the Mallrats reference!
I love drop D tuning, I do a riff alternate picking lifting up the added note on the up stroke, so I can demolish in the back seat of a VW beetle if you know what I mean.
These types of in depth, useful videos are why you're my favorite TH-cam uncle...
Thank you so much, this is the video that got me to understand triads and triad chord shapes, with the bonus of being in drop D. You're awesome!
This is great stuff. Maybe part 2 with 7th and 9th chords? The chords of modern prog? (Plini, Sithu Aye, Intervals, etc).
Brilliant. “ As uncomfortable as the back seat of a VW”🤘🏻
I've been diddle fiddling around with the gat for years but really can't be fluffed learning theory. Your videos really inspire me to put in more better effort and I'm a even more betterer player because of it.Thanks Ben, ya bloody bastard.
Glad to help!
Loved this video. Also if anyone is interested in extended shaped chords Page Hamilton gets into those extended Drop D chord voicings. Love his interviews on Rig Rundown. He talks a little bit about theory and shows a couple examples of those shapes on the fretboard. Thanks for the great video Youngcle Ben.
Great video thanks.
Nice mallrats quote too
Haha glad you noticed!
Great Mallrats reference!!! And another great video Ben!!
This video is incredibly helpful! I would always avoid using the 6th string when making chords in drop tunings, but now I don't have to!
I know very little about theory, and this is the first video I've seen that was both interesting and helped it all make more sense. I loved the everlong reference. That was super helpful
**sees the video title**
Me: Hello, I've waited here for you
I think I’ll be a patron supporter tomorrow. It is pay day.
Thanks Daniel! Looooots of exclusive goodies over there and a LOT of cool people.
Great Lesson, love the style of teaching. but major/minor so much easier in standard tuning! Less stretch! And the natural minor is the aeolian mode of the major scale! I know you already know that! But some people get scared out of their minds when they hear that they have to learn a whole new scale, when the natural minor just starts off at the 6th of the major scale, and follows the same pattern
Very helpful. Gonna try this in Open C.
You are once more confirmed as best guitar teacher on YT.
Thank you for the awesome lesson Ben! - I was actually considering going drop D for one of my things lately, mainly to rectify that mean stretch to the 9th. Also I think I've heard Plini talking about a similar concept - just taking your basic mom's basement chord progression, and embellishing it with spicier intervals.
i've been using these shapes. but i had no idea what they were. thanks
classic Mallrats reference (the soundtrack of which featured Silverchair)
always like Ben's vids in advance. Thanks mate!
Thanks so much, Uncle. I'm terrible coping with math. You make learning fun! 👍
I seriously can't with Turkey
What a cute little pooch, he melts me
Helmet is the first band I've thought of. They seem pretty based in that tuning but Paige Hamilton always finds some good fresh stuff to do with it.
Thanks 🙏
Yellowcard has some really cool chords in drop especially in Southern Air and self titled album.
00:10 Nirvana 00:25 Foo Fighters
Learn the notes in any scale and just put your fingers on them till you find all the different chords. It’s lots of fun. For some reason I always gravitate towards 7sus4 chords.
I like how you made a foo fighters song for the intro lol, I like how TH-cam recommends me these videos like a year too late, like I already learned how to good at drop tuning and 7 string, I wish I saw these like like last year
Dude you’re a great teacher
Excellent lesson Ben. Nailed it.
I learned some new chords from this. Thanks.
That Tele is stinkin' gorgeous, especially that neck. Aside from that you're like a non-coastal Chuck Schuldiner with all the animal love, I dig it... GOBLESS.
This lesson is absolute gold!
Thank you!
Brilliant explanation. So many ideas can be gleamed from this for songwriting.
Wonderful! Thanks Ben.
Thanks! Great cookbook!
That was an awesome video, it gave me a new angle to look at it. Ty!!
Another great video Uncle Ben, this was so educational and inspiration. Thank you Ben for this video. 🎸
Suspended chords do sound awesome!! I use A-D-A-D-G-B-E tuning omg the possibilities are amazing!!
there's a, band called loathe who uses a similar tuning to yours, they use E-A-E-A-D-F#-B, it has the double octave idea
Great explanations! Loved it.
How have I got this far without seeing that dim7 replacement thing before!? Nice!
This just changed my understanding of music theory man, it makes a lot more sense now, it clicked
Nice mallrats reference at 10:07
Funny that you mention Everlong. That was the first thing that came to mind because I heard you play that first chord. And Im also amused that you go back and forth between pizza and ice cream. Thanks Uncle Ben!
Loved this lesson Uncle Ben!! 🤘🏻🔥thanks man!! 💯
Needed this one!
Woohoo, Unkle Ben. Tasty video!
Loving that Graveyard Goods shirt! I have like 15 shirts from him
Dude! This is my first, and won’t be the last!!!
@@BenEller awesome looking forward to seeing what you choose 🤘🏻
Thanks Uncle Ben! You've inspired me to give drop D tuning a try.
Thank you!!🤘
God damnit that Silverchair remark got me so good lmfao
I liked your video, and I got my favourite number of 108!!! Also thanks for the lesson, was thinking of trying out a Drop D, but yeah, thought then if there's more than just power chords? It's as if the universe has heard my question, and you brought me the answer :-)
Amazing video man thanks
Another great informative video. Thanks Uncle Ben
you are an awesome guitar player!
Guess i love the best of both worlds the awesome heavy drop d riffs and 80s George lynch type solos is there a combination of this anywhere ????????
very helpful! thank you!
Thanks, Nen.
Awesome! I felt so silly messing around in Drop D and having a brain delay in visualizing scale shapes on the low D string with the other strings being tuned standard. Then I was like "DUH, its the same pattern as the other D string" which you and I hopefully already know lol.
Also worth reminding that we aren't limited to playing these chords on the first three strings. If you don't have quite enough hand to play, say, 3-3-7 cleanly, feel free to mute the D string and play it as 3-3-x-2. Heck, mute the A string too! The 3-x-x-2 and 3-x-x-1 shapes have a really focused, almost open chord sound and are hella easy to slide around the neck.
Why mute the d string? Just play it as 3-3-3-2 if you want a moveable shape without the stretch. That way it includes an octave and you don't have to mute strings.
@@happiness1772 True, but I was just trying to point out that the same triad can be more than one shape.
Although personally I definitely fall into the "not enough hand" category, so trying to fret 3-3-3-2 would probably result in the 2 being accidentally muted by whichever finger is barring the 3s. 😅 So I use the 3 (pinkie) 3 (ring) X (x) 2 (index) shape out of necessity more than creativity.
@@ericolson326 I'll never have monstrous Vai or Holdsworth hands, but learning to play Bark at the Moon correctly with help from Ben turned my left hand into play-doh and really improved my stretching/dexterity. Try it if you haven't. It helps.
I finally quit playing my drop tunings like a step dad!!!
THANKS UNCLE BEN!!!
Thx u for the lesson bro. GBU
I learned a lot from this one. Thanks man.
You had me at 30 seconds. Good stuff!
I'm sick and tired of not having enough guitars for all the different tunings. I NEED MORE GUITARS!! .. pain in the rear to re-tune all the time.
If you are stuck with a floating trem, you could try a tool call the Skyscraper. You can set intonation without loosening the string all the way. I use it all the time if I switch from Drop-D to E on my Charvel So-Cal.
If you have the less expressive hardtail or ashtray bridge, then all you need is a tuner and MAYBE a thicker string.
Then tune the High E down to D get those super pretty bluesy chords sounds best on acoustic 12 string