Guthrie Govan: "I’m guessing that when most modern rock players say they want to get their 'fusion' down, they don’t particularly want to learn ‘Autumn Leaves’, they want instant Greg Howe! Listen to Charlie Christian, Django, Miles Davis, Wes Montgomery... listen to what those guys could do over a simple blues progression, you’ll start to absorb what’s happening harmonically, and after a while ‘jazz’ ingredients won’t sound so strange to your ears. That’s when you can start really using it!"

Great stuff Greg, looking forward to more!

Why is there always some idiot making comments on these types of videos about "feel". This guy is on the very tip of the spear for human capacity to master an instrument, don't try and take away from that because your plebian taste prefers the simplicity of mainstream guitar players.

Notice how many guitarists with extremely advanced playing style also have quite beautifully developed speech skills and rich vocabulary. Howe and Govan are great examples. Listening to them speak is just as exciting as listening to them do their magic on an instrument.

I had the pleasure of taking a few lessons from Greg a couple of years ago. Great guy, great teacher, phenomenal player. When I asked him how he got his level of technique, he said he's never been the kind of guy to just sit there and do exercises for technique's sake. He would mostly jam with whatever happened to be playing on the radio or TV at the time. You can tell by his incredibly lyrical playing that he's not your typical 'technique' guy. But my gosh, this guy can burn!!!

Cool, humble and intelligent, And, of course, a freaking monster.

I never in my life have heard a guitarist/guitar teacher explain so eloquently the idea of improve and creativity in guitar soloing. Excellent, I felt a gained an immense amount of insight after watching, thank you Greg Howe.

This guy changed the concept of playing guitar. He'll be a legend of guitar mastery. No words to define.

He's a really bright guy in the verbal sense as well. It's great when an amazing player knows how to convey information to others. This is a great lecture...I may even add it to favorites.

This is a wonderful insight in Greg's approach and thinking. I attended Greg's guitar clinic almost 15 years ago and I still remember how down to earth and so talented he was on the fretboard. I find myself returning to this improv guitar lesson video for it is a treasure trove of ideas. I think it's incredible how well structured and grounded his improvisation is. It doesn't feel like notes are being played for the sake of it, but rather to convey an overarching feeling.

Been following Greg since the very beginning & MAN what a journey it’s been! It all came around & evolved nicely!🎸 The videos are great Greg!!

This video changed the way I listen to and play music. Contrast is an amazing concept. Thanks for posting.

I really love the way u play man

Interesting. I like how he can actually try to explain his playing.

Greg’s left hand moves in a really unique way, he‘s like Wes Montgomery in that he doesn’t use the pinky that much. Lots of 3 note per string stuff.

I've only recently become more aware of Greg Howe. He really is an incredibly thoughtful and articulate speaker and player.

Underrated Wizard! I was blown away when I heard the introspection album!

Im a drummer and this was extremely informative to me!!! True musicians tend to explain things in a way that applies to other instrumental approaches. Some of the approaches he uses are some of the approaches i use...obviously on a different instrument. His concepts are universal to all instruments!!! Taping into the mind of a musical genius..PRICELESS!!!

The most fluid and natural guitar player on earth, great teacher!

This is great, Greg should make a comprehensive instructional DVD. 8-)

One of the most informative video's I've seen on KZfaq by one of my favourite players. Thanks Greg :)

Man Greg is such a good teacher, like his licks, his speaking and phrasing of the English language is also precise and intelligent.

Still one of the most intellectual, yet readily usable improv concept out there (been going back to this for years now). The master even gave it to us for free. Cheers!

Wow! Mr. Howe, your improvisational skills and technique are face melting.

I know Greg has been around awhile but I'd never heard or seen him speak until now. I think he just became one of my favorite guitarists.

Beautiful inspirational lesson. This is Greg playing a one chord vamp and showing contrast and polarity.....it's when the chords change that Greg shows who the boss is!! I wish he would make THAT video!!!

it is sooo good to hear a guitar player with such great way of speaking to students...awesome

I'm a new Greg Howe fan since late last year. I like how he has structured licks and phrasing which are characteristics of rock, and also the "meandering" fluid flavor of jazz improvisation. His tone is very clear, not overly distorted, yet it has enough gain for my taste. His low frequencies aren't buried in the mud - I like that too. In addition to tone, his accuracy makes his playing easy to listen to. It's the product of decades of practice. Be patient kids.

What a great guy, and a fantastic talent!

I saw him play live at Berklee and he was INCREDIBLE!

"Teach Me Greg, Teach Me." This stuff is golden.

Only discovered him recently. He is such a great teacher and obviously has monster technique. Extremely eloquent, the man seems to be a true genious, by that i mean very very high IQ.

Great summary of thought!! I've came to the same conclusion in my own playing. Challenging yourself to stay out of " autopilot mode" and be more aware of the moment by moment improvisation and creating new ideas as you go. It should be an intentional expression of feeling rather than a mechanical robotic flurry of notes up and down the scales. Play intelligently and thoughtfully like you're trying to get your musical words across to the audience. Use the guitar to "speak and deliver the message" as EVH often said.

This is exactly what I was hoping would be on the official Greg Howe channel. Great stuff! Love the insight into Greg's thinking

Talking about polarity is what really helped me understand all of this.

Wow impressive. Not only r u giving an incredible improv but ur also giving the mechanix of it. Kinda unique when u think about it.

greg howe is one of the greatest in the ranks of Vai,Satriani,Tony Macalpine etc

Phenomenal. Inside and out never over extended.

Awesome job Greg! Playing is Awesome as usual and great presentation of ideas! Peace, Rod

Great lesson Greg. I've been trying to incorporate more outside playing lately. Been stuck in the run of the mill scales and licks for a while and trying to break free. Thanks

Its about time, we get some new greg howe vids

He is spot on. Good soloing is filled with contrasts. Perfect example, play as fast as you can nearly always and after awhile the ear adapts and it begins to sound normal speed. Play a medium paced flowing section and throw in super fast passages and they seem like lightning++.

Man do I miss him being 10 minutes from my house!!haha..Greg is an AMAZING teacher!!!

At first I didn't think this would be useful but once he started to playing to demonstrate it made sense. Thanks!

Greg is amazing sometimes i get in autopilot mode and i get very frustrated. Now I know how to get out of it. One of the best video lessons on youtube, ever.

he's cool i like his laid back approach to teaching, some other guys begin to sound too technical, with this guy i can keep my eye on the prize and not get confused!

Howe am I just finding this guy now!?!?! Amazing technique man! We have so much in common! We need to get together and jam!

Greg, you were right, this explains it well. What a great new twist. with the Commentary, over the solo, that was great. Keep em, coming. s

This is interesting !!! Nice lesson prof. Greg :) Hope to see more from you, bless Vlad

Hey Greg, I love your playing, you play every time very tasteful and with a amazing tone! Thank you for the lesson! 5 stars***** Best regarts Richard

Greg is GREAT!!! TRuly Amazing and inspirational musician!

Greg; first of all I want to thank you for sharing this with us, you are a real musician basically you can play anything!!! The way you control rhythm amaze me. Wish you the best

Yes,true.I took lessons from Greg for many years.Apart from Greg's ability,He is an Incredible teacher..

I want that guitar, I can't believe ESP did not release it as a sig model.

you know I was just thinking this now for the first time even though I've seen so many vai and howe videos

Greg Howe is the FREAKIN MAN!!! You have GOT to have "Introspection" in your collection if you don't have it. It was the first music I had ever heard from him and a friend turned me on to is back when It first came out. I had no idea who he was, but I IMMEDIATELY went out and got everything I could find from him once I heard it. GET IT!! I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

This helped so much. Improvising is the holy grail of music.

its awesome to see greg talking about those things that he didnt mention in his hot licks first video lesson

This is te most helpfull lesson I've had in the last 2 years or so! You need to know the theory and then you need to know this!

Not only is he incredibly fast but he is such a pocket player. Makes him very enjoyable to listen to. Greg you are in a three way tie with Kotzen and Govan for my absolute favorite. Your new album is perfect.

Marvelous, Greetings from Rio de Janeiro - Brasil

How good are you at shredding the guitar? Greg Howe: Yes!

Great lesson & super inspiring! Thanks! :)

Well done Sir..thanks for the input

Good advice here...!!! Rock on Brother...!!! Lehigh Valley, PA. Sunrise, Florida.

Greg, Thanks for your humble time, & sharing some great insite & info into your style of improv. I feel your grasp of it is very natural, & risk taking, but yet you know where you want to go as well. Bravo! Troy Clark

My best all-time guitar legend is Steve Vai, but all I want to be is playing like Mr. Howe. Greg if this is really your channel, the only purpose of my practicing all jazz/ fusion theories is to make my playing sound like 'Five' album.

without a doubt, one of my all time heros! That hair band trick is just fantastic! It works a treat! I love the ESP/Line-6 combination. (its what I got too)

@snowfosho2 there are e's all over the fretboard as there are every other note, As long as you know where your root note is and your pattern, you can play it anywhere on the neck....

Excellent! I enjoy learning new things and I got alot from this video. Thank You Greg!

These concepts are basically ABSENT in all the minds of the absolute most of your followers and even many or your peers, Greg. This is Exactly what's missing in this entire "guitar shred", finger-driven, muse forlorn culture. Having said that - Thank you for letting people know!! ACTUALLY - THIS STUFF IS WHAT JAZZ MUSICIANS PRACTICE/THINK ABOUT TWENTY SIX HOURS A DAY!!! All improvisers MUST address these topics and many similar ones!! All power to you man!! And thanks 4 a much needed insight!!

Is it just me or does Greg's voice sound like Steve Vai's?

I like what the one guy said "my dad was wrong...I'm not a great guitar player"... that's what I've been telling people for years; I'll never be able to come close to Howe's level (even though I try), but at least there's people like Howe to inspire us guitarists!

@dennoow Yes you can play that over it. But as soon as you add a sharp or flat to the A Minor Scale you've changed keys. Which you would if you played an A Dorian over it as the F is now sharpened; making it in the key of G.

Think of the Chord you are playing over, (or tonal center, i.e. CMin, etc). if you play notes that are part of that chord, you will be considered playing inside, if you play notes that are NOT part of that tonal center.You MAY be considered playing outside.There are several ways to accomplish playing Notes outside, but still be coherent. Greg does it as good as it can be done. When hes playing out, he makes it rhythmically tasty and interesting, and it always resolves perfectly Great Vid!

@jay2xtremefy For it to really be considered "outside playing", it also has to resolve back into the key eventually. The point of outside playing is to use "wrong" notes to accentuate the right notes. Hope that helps.

Really enjoy your videos, amazing to see the evolution from playing covers at Warren Hills HS partier with Albert and Wayne!!!

@MrRuggo I agree. But- just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you should. (Music is considered to be a highly individualized artform,so I get your point.) Players are free to hold the instrument any way they wish. For example- a guitarist could put the end of the guitar on the ground with the headstock facing the ceiling like a cello. Don't expect to play "sounds and notes" like Chet Atkins or Greg Howe,however,with the guitar in such an individualized playing posture.

Thank you Greg!! 😊😊

great work greg. Thanks!

@zappainca An A minor with sharpened 7th is just called A Harmonic Minor. Changing keys refers to whenever you change the tonal centre of an already musically sound scale. Chords can be played in any key and still sound correct (As long as the Root, 3rd and Fifth aren't clashing with an unflattened/sharpened or already flattened/sharpened tone at equal time in the melody). Like playing an AM right on the same beat with the minor in the key of C; which is? :P

Thanks Greg!...You are amazing!!!

Greg.... that genius! thanks for these useful information!

Thank You Greg!

Just the major scale - sounds like A Mixolydian, depending on the chord progression of the backing track. It just sounds awesome because of the intervals he's playing!

@iAreDeekien 1) Pick up solos, start making small modifications to them. 2) Hear live renditions of solos which have been heavily improvised upon (Stairway to Heaven, Comfortably Numb, She Wolf, to quote some) to get ideas. 3) First listen to So What by Miles Davis, then listen to stuff like So What by Centrifugal Funk to realise what can be done.

@zappainca A dorian with a sharp 7 is melodic minor ;) You do need to get out of key when playing outside Harmonically. It depends on the progression, G min 7b5 actually IS outside in A dorian. They don't share the same notes. You're playing one semitone higher which is about as outside as it gets! F# minor 7b5 is the "inside" arp.

Love that tone!

Child's play in the intro is an awesome composition!

love that ESP, never tried Laguna but his model looked like the top of their line.

Excellent lesson, thanks much!

Allright Thanks Man imma look into tomorrow

Line6 Vetta FTW. I wish I could have picked one of those up while they were still being made. It's literally the only product from Line6 I ever liked, and it's a pretty great amp in its own right.

this man is the friggin master!

greg howe ,you are the absolute man on guitar !!

thnx for going into all that.

Venezuela te espera maestro. You are the best.

Awesome lesson. Great concepts. Thanks.

No greg howe, no guthrie govan...only for that he is a legend among legends.

dude, that was incredible.