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  • Guitar Backing Tracks for Improvisation: Practice Over Em–A and Am–G–F–G Progressions

    Guitar Backing Tracks for Improvisation: Practice Over Em–A and Am–G–F–G Progressions

    Whether you’re just starting out or sharpening your lead guitar chops, a good backing track is one of the most powerful tools in your practice routine. It helps you apply scales, explore phrasing, and develop musical instinct without the pressure of live performance.

    In this post, we’re featuring two fresh, loopable backing tracks designed for soloing in E minor and A minor, each with suggested scales and tempo guidance. Great for daily warmups, improvisation practice, or classroom exercises.

    🎵 Backing Track #1: Em – A Major | 110 BPM Groove

    This track loops a simple, yet harmonically rich Em – A major progression at 110 BPM. It creates an interesting tonality shift, offering space for minor and modal exploration.

    Chord Progression:

    • Em → A Major (repeats)

    Suggested Scales to Solo With:

    • E Minor Pentatonic
    • E Dorian
    • E Melodic Minor
    • D Melodic Minor

    What You Can Practice:

    • Minor/Major tonal shifts
    • Targeting chord tones over changes
    • Creating contrast between dark and bright tones

    🎵 Backing Track #2: Am – G – F – G | Slow Minor Groove

    This moody and melodic progression in A minor is ideal for emotional phrasing and expressive lead work. It loops: Am – G – F – G, giving plenty of time to explore melodic ideas.

    Chord Progression:

    • Am → G → F → G

    Suggested Scales to Solo With:

    • A Minor Pentatonic (classic and bluesy)
    • A Natural Minor Scale (melodic and emotional)

    Perfect For Practicing:

    • Melodic storytelling
    • Slow bends and vibrato
    • Phrasing and note placement
    • Dynamic solo structure

    Why Use Backing Tracks?

    Guitar backing tracks help you:

    • Apply scale knowledge in a musical setting
    • Develop real-time phrasing and timing
    • Train your ear to hear changes and resolve notes
    • Build confidence for solo performance and songwriting

    These tracks are also ideal for teachers looking to give students a live-playing feel in one-on-one lessons or group settings.

    🎓 Bonus Resource: Learn the Fretboard First

    To get even more out of these tracks, check out our visual guides:

    🎧 More Tracks Coming Soon

    These are just the first in a growing series of guitar backing tracks created to help players of all levels. Want something bluesy? Jazzy? Up-tempo? Drop a comment on the videos or reach out—new progressions and grooves are always in the works!

    🎥 Subscribe on YouTube to stay updated on the latest releases.

    Guitar Backing Tracks for Improvisation
  • Major Triads on Guitar: Visual Fretboard Reference for All 12 Keys

    Major Triads on Guitar: Visual Fretboard Reference for All 12 Keys

    Triads are the foundation of chords, harmony, and countless memorable songs. Knowing how to visualize and locate major triads on the guitar fretboard is a vital step toward fretboard fluency, improvisation, and music theory understanding.

    Following up on our previous post—“12 Guitar Notes on the Fretboard”—this new series of videos offers a clear and direct way to map out all 12 major triads across the neck of the guitar.

    Each short video in the playlist shows a visual fretboard diagram with every note involved in a major triad: root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th.

    🎥 Watch the Complete Playlist: 12 Major Triads on the Guitar Fretboard

    What This Video Series Offers

    Each triad is broken down using a consistent visual format. There’s no fluff—just note locations. Whether you’re a teacher explaining triads to a beginner or a player studying arpeggios and voicing options, this playlist is an ideal tool.

    You’ll see:

    • The three chord tones of each major triad
    • Their exact locations across all six strings
    • Full fretboard diagrams for visualization and practice

    The 12 Major Triads Covered

    Below are all the triads featured in the playlist. Each one includes its component notes:

    • C Major Triad (C–E–G)
    • C♯ / D♭ Major Triad (C♯–E♯–G♯ / D♭–F–A♭)
    • D Major Triad (D–F♯–A)
    • E♭ Major Triad (E♭–G–B♭)
    • E Major Triad (E–G♯–B)
    • F Major Triad (F–A–C)
    • F♯ Major Triad (F♯–A♯–C♯)
    • G Major Triad (G–B–D)
    • A♭ Major Triad (A♭–C–E♭)
    • A Major Triad (A–C♯–E)
    • B♭ Major Triad (B♭–D–F)
    • B Major Triad (B–D♯–F♯)

    Each triad video is short, making them great for quick review sessions or use during lessons.

    Why Major Triads Matter

    Major triads are not just chords—they’re building blocks of harmony. Knowing where each note lies:

    • Helps you construct full chord voicings
    • Teaches you the relationship between intervals
    • Prepares you for learning arpeggios, inversions, and voice leading
    • Reinforces your understanding of scale degrees and harmony theory

    How to Use This Playlist

    • Study one triad per day for 12 days.
    • Print a blank fretboard chart and fill in each triad yourself.
    • Play the chord tones one by one across the neck to internalize their sound.
    • Use this in classrooms, private lessons, or individual practice.

    Pair this playlist with the note mapping series we featured previously to create a complete note + chord foundation:

    🔗 “12 Guitar Notes on the Fretboard” Blog Post

    Conclusion

    With these 12 Major Triads on the Guitar Fretboard, you now have a clear, organized, and practical toolset to visualize and apply essential chord structures in every key.

    🎥 Watch the Full Playlist: Major Triads on the Guitar Fretboard

    Whether you’re teaching others or growing as a player, this visual series helps bridge the gap between theory and real fretboard application. Add it to your practice routine today—and build from the roots up.

    Looking to Expand Your Fretboard Knowledge? Check Out This Book

    If you’re enjoying these triad visuals and want to go deeper into how chord shapes relate across the fretboard, we highly recommend CAGED: Mastering Guitar Chords and Fretboard Navigation by Henry Bahrou.

    This practical and highly rated guide:

    • Breaks down 12 major chords with neck diagrams and chord grids
    • Shows how the CAGED system applies to minor chords, 7th chords, and scales
    • Helps you see how chord shapes connect across the neck
    • Offers a structured method to build fretboard confidence and chord fluency

    Whether you’re just starting out or looking to unlock new creative possibilities, this book is a valuable resource that will help you truly unlock the full potential of the guitar fretboard.

    📘 Grab the book on Amazon: CAGED by Henry Bahrou

    Major Triads on Guitar Fretboard