Free Lessons
In the right hand column are some samples from my “Derryl Gabel Guitar Technique E-Book” In the PDF and Power Tab formats.
“One of Two” from the album Signals by Wayne Krantz
“Have You Heard” from the album Letter From Home by Pat Metheny
“Home” from the album Metal Fatigue by Allan Holdsworth
Allan Holdsworth’s “Funnels” from the 1992 REH instructional video ( later released in 2007 )
If you don’t know who Allan Holdsworth is he’s undoubtedly one of the best guitarist to ever live. This was one of two tunes which were not transcribed in the book “Just for the Curious” that accompanied the REH video. I painstakingly went through and transcribed all the guitar parts ( the comping and the solo ) in meticulous detail, slowing down the video to get all the fingerings as accurate as possible. Not only that, I got with Chad Wackerman ( the drummer in the video ) and Steve Hunt (the keyboard player ) to make sure I had the time signatures and harmony correct! I transcribed the score in Power Tab but also have it in Guitar Pro 6 as well as PDF versions. Here is a video of the tune Funnels
I worked so hard on transcribing this that I injured my index finger on my right hand with all the mouse clicking.
Here is what a student of mine had to say about the transcription:
“an outstanding achievement! must be the best quality tab of his playing anywhere by anyone, you should feel very proud!”
Jon Hepworth ( brilliant guitarist from the UK )
If you need help understanding the harmony of the tune, learning how to play it, applying what you learn, achieving the technique to execute the chords and the solo, please consider booking a webcam lesson with me on skype. For lesson bookings just refer to the top of this page. Thanks for your support!
Click here for a sample of the transcription. For the complete transcription, please email me at derrylgabel@gmail.com
Playing along with a live performance of Allan Holdsworth’s “Pud Wud” which he performed at the ’97 NAMM Show
Triadic Sus, Minor, and Add 4 Chords Taken from the Mastering Chords and Harmony DVD
THE SUSPENDED TRIAD
Examples 18 – 23 are two types of sus chords: Sus2 and Sus4.
To create a sus 2 lower the 3rd to the 2nd.
C sus2 = CDG = 125
To create a sus 4 raise the 3rd of the chord to the fourth degree.
C sus4 = CFG = 145
LYDIAN TRIADS
Examples 23 – 29 are types of Lydian Triads
Raising the 4th to the #4 or b5 (F# or Gb) will give a lydian sound. This chord would come from the C lydian scale
C D E F# G A B C.
Now try taking a C major triad, C,E,G and lowering the G a half step to Gb. This to will give a lydian sound as well.
THE MINOR TRIAD
To convert the major triad into the minor triad lower the third a half step.
C – E – G this is the major triad 1 – 3 – 5
C – Eb – G this is the minor triad. 1 – flat3 – 5
Examples 30 – 32 are the Cm triads in all the inversions.
ADD 4
Examples 33 – 35 are C minor add4 chords. To create these chords from minor just lower the 5th to the 4th.
Examples 36 – 38 are C major add4 chords. To create the chords from the major form just lower the 5th to the 4th. Using add4 chords gives a more modern sound like the sus2 and sus 4.
“Zigzag Rolling Shifts” taken from the Fretboard Intensive Training DVD
Zig Zag Rolling Shifts
This is an excerpt from my Fretboard Intensive Training DVD.
Examples 1 and 2 are exercises designed to help you see both scale patterns side by side using a series of shifts creating a zigzag motion.
These patterns are based on the C major scale.
Rules for Descending
Not counting the pickup roll, after a roll go to the next string.
After a 3 note descending phrase, shift down or up depending on last shift.
Rules for Ascending
After a roll, shift down or up depending on last shift.
After a 3 note ascending phrase, go to the next string.
Skype Interview on the 313313 Concept
Here’s an interview I did via skype with long time friend Claude Johnson of GuitarControl.com He was asking me about the “313313” concept.
“The 313 Concept” taken from the Pentatonic Passages DVD
The 313 Concept
The idea behind this concept is to break out of the traditional 2 notes per string box pattern. By playing 3 notes on the low E, one on the A, 3 on the D, etc… you get a wider range and it works great for gaining a lot of speed.
Extended Pentatonics in Groups of Four taken from the Pentatonic Passages DVD
Pentatonics in Groups of Four
Here is a way to play pentatonics in groupings of four and go the entire range of the fretboard.
This is similar to the type of long passage you might hear Eric Johnson play.
Measures 28 – 31 = Db Minor Pentatonic in groups of four ascending.
Measures 32 – 35 = Db Minor Pentatonic in groups of four descending.
“Pentatonic Extensions” taken from Supersonic Sweeping DVD
Pentatonic Extensions
The idea behind this concept is to break out of the traditional 2 notes per string box pattern. By playing 3 notes on the low E, one on the A, 3 on the D, etc… you get a wider range and it works great for gaining a lot of speed.
Example 1 is a typical A minor pentatonic using the 313313 concept.
My instructional DVD “Pentatonic Passages” goes into this extensively so I recommend you pick up a copy if you haven’t already.
Example 2 extends the pentatonic by skipping to the next position in the second half of the lick. You can take this as far as you want.
Example 3 is a long lick based on this idea.
“Tetratonics” taken from Supersonic Sweeping Part 2 DVD
Tetratonics
This idea is taken from an A minor pentatonic although I am not using the full pentatonic scale each time. I suppose this could be called a tetratonic scale since I’m only using four notes of the pentatonic.
I’m fingering this using the “1-3” concept which refers to 1 note on one string and 3 notes on the adjacent string. By using this fingering we will gain speed, articulation, and range.
Notice the economy picking used.
Example 1 is built from the root form of the A minor pentatonic.
Example 2 is built from the 1st inversion.
Example 3 is built from the 2nd inversion.
Example 4 is built from the 3rd inversion.
Example 5 is built from the 4th inversion.
“Sequenced Sus Arpeggios” taken from Supersonic Sweeping Part 2 Blu-ray Edition
Sequenced Sus Arpeggios
Examples 1 – 5 are descending sextuplet sequences based on the pentatonic scale using a combination of pull-offs and sweeping. This gives us a sus arpeggio sound.
Measure 1 is based on the root form of B minor pentatonic.
Measure 2 is from the first inversion.
Measure 3 is from the second inversion.
Measure 4 is from the third inversion.
Measure 5 is from the fourth inversion.
“Melodic Minor Modes” taken from Supersonic Sweeping Part 2 DVD
Melodic Minor Modes
Examples 1- 8 are the modal scales from the key of D melodic minor.
Be careful not to rush the consecutive downstrokes. It’s best to practice with a metronome or backing tracks so as to make sure of your timing and eveness. Always start at a slow tempo and once mastered gradually increase.
Pay close attention to the patterns formed in each position. These patterns will always stay the same and be in the same order.
In this particular example we are starting with the lowest possible note excluding open strings. This happens to be “F” which is the third degree of the D melodic minor scale.
Ex. 1 When playing the melodic minor scale starting on the third degree the modal name is Lydian Augmented.
Check out the rest of the examples on the DVD.
“Heptatonics” taken from the Cool Legato Phrases DVD
Heptatonics
This melodic concept came from the Pentatonic ideas using the 313313 fingerings. I thought it would be cool to be able to do the same things with triads. I chose the name Heptatonics because there are seven different notes used. In some cases there are passing tones added.
The geometric principal is to envision triads stacked in fourths across the strings, three notes per string. Now play the corresponding triads except on every other string only play the center note which is the 3rd of the triad that would have been there.
Licks from the Cool Legato Phrases Part 2 DVD
Lick #2
Lick#6
Lick#17
Lick#32
Lick#45
Examples from the Outside Secrets Part 2 DVD
Examples from the Outside Secrets Part 4 DVD
Skype Interview about 4 Note Per String
Sample from “Fusion Solos” CD-ROM
Here is a sample from my Fusion Solos CD-ROM
Click here for the transcription of the “Forty Year Journey” guitar solo in the PDF format.
This tune starts off with a D Lydian progression in the key of A major. Notice the bass guitar’s groove
that centers on the D note. Instead of playing D Lydian I chose to start off my solo with G# minor
pentatonic. I was going after a bluesy sound reminiscent of Scott Henderson. One of my favorite solos
from Scott is from the Tribal Tech album entitled “Tribal Tech” from the tune “Dense Dance”. Have a
listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBWyyyLDRZ4
His solo starts at 1:59. From there I get a diminished sound by taking a whole step phrase and playing it
descending in tritone intervals. In measure four I use the Giant Steps cycle to create tension and segue
into the next progression which is bizarre. Basically you have Csus2 to Bbsus2 over a pivoting bass that
moves from C# to B and back again. I chose to play diminished lines over this starting on the last beat of
measure five through seven. I show these type of lines in the “Lick” section of my Outside Secrets part 4
video. I was going for a Holdsworth type of vibe. In the last 2 beats of measure seven I quote from
“Devil Take the Hindmost”.
Have a listen http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLukR6J‐06o
The lick is at 4:35
Next I use G7b5 into an F# minor pentatonic in measure eight and then conclude with a very stable B
minor pentatonic over the ending D Lydian theme.
Note Recognition
Here is a methodical approach to memorizing the notes on the guitar. I cover this in more detail in my Fretboard Intensive Training DVD. Click the Buy Now button below for more info.
Exploring The "1-3" Concept