Ever heard of "The Mahavishnu Orchestra"? There was this guy, John McLaughlin, that was totally ripping up the guitar scene back in '71. He was one of the pioneers of this scale and that's where it gets its name. The Mahavishnu Scale: https://www.skool.com/intermediate-guitar/classroom/4000ef63?md=af36a049951f452399ecc66a7271e749 "It's essentially a pentatonic Mixolydian scale, but it's so similar to our minor pentatonic scale that the shape feels super familiar under the fingers." Jump on in the classroom and give this one a shot! This one's great for all you blues players out there, but us prog guys can get some real mileage out of it too! Hope the rest of your week is groovy! -Ben

Oh, and while I'm at it, how about a walkthrough for it too! Backing Track:https://www.skool.com/intermediate-guitar/classroom/30045b87?md=43cfc8afdfdf49eba3c5a8012a880776 Walkthrough: https://www.skool.com/intermediate-guitar/classroom/30045b87?md=2d229b68f96549fdb9aebc9561c10eb2 I had sort of a Pink Floyd style in mind for this backing track, specifically that "Breathe (In The Air)" sort of vibe. So strap on your Dorian shoes and go have some fun this week! If you're not a premium member yet, come join us! It's cheaper than a trip to a fast food place per month and you get access to our premium backing tracks with tutorials on how to approach them, full access to all of our courses, and access to all the new stuff as we roll it out! Hope everyone has a great week, and I'll catch you here soon! -Ben P.S.- Here's a little teaser for you, if you still haven't decided!

Old hippie, who now wants to learn some real guitar. It went up in smoke in the 70.

I'm talking about vibrato! A technique that is commonly associated with singers can add emotion and dynamics to your playing. Here's some tips and a few ways to practice it: https://www.skool.com/intermediate-guitar/classroom/1008c20d?md=928cfa9bbcc34834bfa88c1f14bfa2ef One really cool thing about this technique is that no two guitar players will sound the same using it! Look at players like David Gilmour, BB King, Jimmy Page, Zakk Wylde, and Dimebag Darrell. Hearing only one note with vibrato from these players will instantly tip you off to who played it. So practice this technique this weekend and make it your own! Have a great weekend and I'll catch you next week! -Ben

Everyone will tell you something different... "You're not a real musician unless you can read music" - "you have to learn every detail about playing otherwise you're never going to learn how to play" - "Forget about reading and writing musical scores, that stuff is outdated" What's the correct answer? I don't know... But I have this really cool chart to share with you, for when you're ready to dive into reading music. More of an FYI... but very helpful in a pinch. Keep this image for future reference. Whatever you do... Just come back and check-in every once in a while, you might just find that final piece of your guitar playing puzzle. The answers to all of your questions. Speaking of which - any questions about reading or writing musical scores? Ask away and don't forget to tag @Benjamin Wood to get a knowledgeable response! Thanks for being here! Have you checked out our premium backing tracks? We'll catch you in the comments! 🙌🏽