As stated in the beginning, playing the guitar can be very rewarding and also very trying. My best advice for you right now is to develop good guitar playing habits. This will save you lots of trouble later on. Take your time and learn your open chords, the corresponding scale, and go slow with chord changes.
Remember, whenever you have to look at your guitar, look down and not over it.
Practice chord changes and progressions till you know them like the back of your hand. Once you have a good feel for your 5 basic chord forms, try the CAGED system. Don't be afraid to sing the chords to yourself while you learn.
Most importantly, relax when you play and have a good time! There's a lot to know and it's not going to happen overnight, but I know if you put your heart into it, you’ll be playing like a pro in no time!
All the best in your Guitar Adventures!
Friday, December 17, 2010
TABLATURE
What is tablature? Tablature, tab for short, is a form of musical notation with an emphasis on fingerings rather than traditional notation. Tablature is commonly used for fretted instruments.
Tablature reading is used most often by novice musicians. The problem with tablature is that it doesn't indicate note length or duration. This is where understanding note values will help as most tablature is written below standard notation.
Tablature is a closer visual representation of your guitar fretboard, thereby making it easier to interpret music. It virtually doesn't require any training to become quite good at reading it.
Tablature takes the guess work out of which fret to play chords or notes. Standard notation has often left this a gray area but in some cases will indicate frets by placing roman numerals below the staff.
Below is a sample of what guitar tablature looks like and how to read it. Some key points to remember are that tablature will be read upside down in comparison to how the strings are on your guitar. If you remember, your strings read from top to bottom EADGBE. Tablature reads from top to bottom EBGDAE.
The chords E, F, and G:
e|---0---1---3---
B|---0---1---0---
G|---1---2---0---
D|---2---3---0---
A|---2---3---2---
E|---0---1---3---
E F G
Each of the single columns represents a chord fingering. The G string is pressed in the 1st fret and the D and A strings are pressed in the 2nd fret. One problem with tablature is that it doesn't indicate correct finger positions for the chords. Correct finger positions are essential as we move into barre chords, commonly known as power chords used in most music.
If you begin reading tablature instead of notation, you'll find yourself able to get through a piece more quickly, but limited in many other ways as tablature lacks musical structure that makes a song beautiful and dynamic.
Tablature reading is used most often by novice musicians. The problem with tablature is that it doesn't indicate note length or duration. This is where understanding note values will help as most tablature is written below standard notation.
Tablature is a closer visual representation of your guitar fretboard, thereby making it easier to interpret music. It virtually doesn't require any training to become quite good at reading it.
Tablature takes the guess work out of which fret to play chords or notes. Standard notation has often left this a gray area but in some cases will indicate frets by placing roman numerals below the staff.
Below is a sample of what guitar tablature looks like and how to read it. Some key points to remember are that tablature will be read upside down in comparison to how the strings are on your guitar. If you remember, your strings read from top to bottom EADGBE. Tablature reads from top to bottom EBGDAE.
The chords E, F, and G:
e|---0---1---3---
B|---0---1---0---
G|---1---2---0---
D|---2---3---0---
A|---2---3---2---
E|---0---1---3---
E F G
Each of the single columns represents a chord fingering. The G string is pressed in the 1st fret and the D and A strings are pressed in the 2nd fret. One problem with tablature is that it doesn't indicate correct finger positions for the chords. Correct finger positions are essential as we move into barre chords, commonly known as power chords used in most music.
If you begin reading tablature instead of notation, you'll find yourself able to get through a piece more quickly, but limited in many other ways as tablature lacks musical structure that makes a song beautiful and dynamic.
MELODIC MINOR SCALES
A melodic minor scale builds off of both the natural and harmonic minor scales. This is accomplished by raising the 6th step ½ step.
Example:
C Natural Minor Scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
C Harmonic Minor Scale: C D Eb F G Ab B C
C Melodic Minor Scale: C D Eb F G A B C
Here's the trick with a melodic minor scale! In classical music theory, a melodic minor scale is only used while ascending. When you go to descend, it switches back to a natural minor scale.
Here's what that looks like: C D Eb F G A B C C Bb Ab G F Eb D C.
Got it? Good!!!
Example:
C Natural Minor Scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
C Harmonic Minor Scale: C D Eb F G Ab B C
C Melodic Minor Scale: C D Eb F G A B C
Here's the trick with a melodic minor scale! In classical music theory, a melodic minor scale is only used while ascending. When you go to descend, it switches back to a natural minor scale.
Here's what that looks like: C D Eb F G A B C C Bb Ab G F Eb D C.
Got it? Good!!!
HARMONIC MINOR SCALES
A harmonic minor scale builds off a natural minor scale. To play a harmonic minor you raise the 7th step of the scale by a ½ step. The formula for this scale is WHWWHWH.
Example:
Natural Minor Scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Melodic Minor Scale: C D Eb F G Ab B C
Your harmonic minor scales will look like this:
C harmonic minor scale: C D Eb F G Ab B C
G harmonic minor scale: G A Bb C D Eb F# G
D harmonic minor scale: D E F G A Bb C# D
A harmonic minor scale: A B C D E F G# A
E harmonic minor scale: E F# G A B C D# E
B harmonic minor scale: B C# D E F# G A# B
F# harmonic minor scale: F# G# A B C# D E# F#
C# harmonic minor scale: C# D# E F# G# A B# C#
G# harmonic minor scale: G# A# B C# D# E F##(G) G#
Eb harmonic minor scale: Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb D Eb
Bb harmonic minor scale: Bb C Db Eb F Gb A Bb
F harmonic minor scale: F G Ab Bb C Db E F
Special Note:
You have probably noticed the double sharp in the G# harmonic scale. A double sharp essentially means you raise the note a whole step instead of a ½ step. As indicated above an F## is the same as a G. The same principle applies to a double flat. You would lower a note a whole step. A Bbb would be the same as an A. Again it's the same as math, if you increase by 2 half steps, you have a whole step. If you lower by 2 half steps, you have a whole step. 2 halves equal a whole.
Example:
Natural Minor Scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
Melodic Minor Scale: C D Eb F G Ab B C
Your harmonic minor scales will look like this:
C harmonic minor scale: C D Eb F G Ab B C
G harmonic minor scale: G A Bb C D Eb F# G
D harmonic minor scale: D E F G A Bb C# D
A harmonic minor scale: A B C D E F G# A
E harmonic minor scale: E F# G A B C D# E
B harmonic minor scale: B C# D E F# G A# B
F# harmonic minor scale: F# G# A B C# D E# F#
C# harmonic minor scale: C# D# E F# G# A B# C#
G# harmonic minor scale: G# A# B C# D# E F##(G) G#
Eb harmonic minor scale: Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb D Eb
Bb harmonic minor scale: Bb C Db Eb F Gb A Bb
F harmonic minor scale: F G Ab Bb C Db E F
Special Note:
You have probably noticed the double sharp in the G# harmonic scale. A double sharp essentially means you raise the note a whole step instead of a ½ step. As indicated above an F## is the same as a G. The same principle applies to a double flat. You would lower a note a whole step. A Bbb would be the same as an A. Again it's the same as math, if you increase by 2 half steps, you have a whole step. If you lower by 2 half steps, you have a whole step. 2 halves equal a whole.
MINOR SCALES
A minor scale is going to have some of the same principles as a major scale. It still consists of 8 steps, some whole steps and some half step. The formula for a minor scale is: WHWWHWW. Memorize it! I must explain real quick, there are three different types of minor scales, natural, harmonic and melodic. The formula above is for a natural minor scale. I will explain the difference between a natural and harmonic minor scale later. It may be easier to understand a natural minor scale by showing the individual steps of the scale. Remember, there are 8 steps to a scale. 1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7b 8. Steps 3,6,7 are lowered ½ step. You may ask yourself, why does it show a whole step for the last step of the formula. If you remember, on a major scale, step 7 to 8 is only a ½ step. If you lower step 7 by a half what is left is a whole step between the two (just like math 2 halves make a whole).
Let's put what we know to work and construct our natural minor scales.
C minor scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
D minor scale: D E F G A Bb C D
E minor scale: E F# G A B C D E
F minor scale: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
G minor scale: G A Bb C D Eb F G
A minor scale: A B C D E F G A
B minor scale: B C# D E F# G A B
C# minor scale: C# D# E F# G# A B C#
Eb minor scale: Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb
F# minor scale: F# G# A B C# D E F#
G# minor scale: G# A# B C# D# E F# G#
Bb minor scale: Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb
Let's put what we know to work and construct our natural minor scales.
C minor scale: C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
D minor scale: D E F G A Bb C D
E minor scale: E F# G A B C D E
F minor scale: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F
G minor scale: G A Bb C D Eb F G
A minor scale: A B C D E F G A
B minor scale: B C# D E F# G A B
C# minor scale: C# D# E F# G# A B C#
Eb minor scale: Eb F Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb
F# minor scale: F# G# A B C# D E F#
G# minor scale: G# A# B C# D# E F# G#
Bb minor scale: Bb C Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb
SOME BASIC MUSIC THEORY
BEGINNING THEORY
Beginning music theory may not sound like a lot of fun or even something you are interested in. It is crucial that you learn the fundamentals of music so that you can start programming your brain to think in terms of music. Music theory will give you a greater understanding of what you are playing and why. This will probably take the longest to learn which is why I gave you some chords to work on first. Most people like to dig in and play and not sit down and study before they begin to play! While you practice the series of chords given, build on in theory.
MAJOR SCALES
Before I begin with how to construct a major scale, know this as a constant, there are only twelve notes in existence. C C#/Db, D, D#/ Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb, B, C. This is called a chromatic scale which includes every note known. A chromatic scales consists entirely of half steps. Take special note that there isn't an E# or Fb, B# or Cb.
Example: In ascending order, C to C# is a half step, C# to D is a half step, D to D# is a half step, etc. In descending order, C to B is a half step (note that there isn't a Cb or B#), B to Bb is a half step, Bb to A is a half step, etc.
A scale is comprised of whole (w) and half (h) steps. The term scale comes from the Latin word scala which means ladder. An easy way to remember this is that a scale climbs like a ladder of notes. If we use a C major scale as an example while referencing the chromatic scale, the major scale construct will be easier to understand. A scale is comprised of 8 steps which can be either whole or half steps.
Example: C D E F G A B C. C to D is a whole step, D to E is a whole step, E to F is a half step, F to G is a whole step, G to A is a whole step, A to B is a whole step, B to C is a half step. Notice that the half steps occur where the notes don't exist (E#, Fb, B#, and Cb).
Our major scale formula is this: WWHWWWH. Memorize it!
What are the major scales?
C Major Scale: C D E F G A B C ( 0 sharp, 0 flat)
G Major Scale: G A B C D E F# G ( 1 sharp, f#)
D Major Scale: D E F# G A B C# D ( 2 sharp, f#, g#)
A Major Scale: A B C# D E F# G# A ( 3 sharp, f#, g#, c#)
E Major Scale: E F# G# A B C# D# E ( 4 sharp, f#, g#, c#, d#)
B Major Scale: B C# D# E F# G# A# B ( 5 sharp, f#, g#, c#, d#, a#)
F# Major Scale: F# G# A# B C# D# E# F# ( 6 sharp, f#, g#, c#, d#, a#, e#)
C# Major Scale: C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C#) ( All sharp)
F Major Scale: F G A Bb C D E F ( 1 flab, Bb)
Bb Major Scale: Bb C D Eb F G A Bb ( 2 flat, Bb, Eb)
Eb Major Scale: Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb ( 3 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab)
Ab Major Scale: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab ( 4 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)
Db Major Scale: Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db ( 5 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)
Gb Major Scale: Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb ( 6 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb)
Cb Major Scale: Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb ( All flat)
Below is something known as the circle of fifths. This is a wheel of information that will aid you in scale construction, key signatures, and note names. Helpful hints: When you are trying to figure out which note will be sharp, look to the previous note on the wheel beginning with F (F C G A E B). A Gmaj. Scale has 1 # which is F#, etc. When you are trying to figure out which note will be flatted next, look to the next note beginning with B (B E A D G Cb). An F maj. Scale has 1 b which is Bb, etc.
Beginning music theory may not sound like a lot of fun or even something you are interested in. It is crucial that you learn the fundamentals of music so that you can start programming your brain to think in terms of music. Music theory will give you a greater understanding of what you are playing and why. This will probably take the longest to learn which is why I gave you some chords to work on first. Most people like to dig in and play and not sit down and study before they begin to play! While you practice the series of chords given, build on in theory.
MAJOR SCALES
Before I begin with how to construct a major scale, know this as a constant, there are only twelve notes in existence. C C#/Db, D, D#/ Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb, B, C. This is called a chromatic scale which includes every note known. A chromatic scales consists entirely of half steps. Take special note that there isn't an E# or Fb, B# or Cb.
Example: In ascending order, C to C# is a half step, C# to D is a half step, D to D# is a half step, etc. In descending order, C to B is a half step (note that there isn't a Cb or B#), B to Bb is a half step, Bb to A is a half step, etc.
A scale is comprised of whole (w) and half (h) steps. The term scale comes from the Latin word scala which means ladder. An easy way to remember this is that a scale climbs like a ladder of notes. If we use a C major scale as an example while referencing the chromatic scale, the major scale construct will be easier to understand. A scale is comprised of 8 steps which can be either whole or half steps.
Example: C D E F G A B C. C to D is a whole step, D to E is a whole step, E to F is a half step, F to G is a whole step, G to A is a whole step, A to B is a whole step, B to C is a half step. Notice that the half steps occur where the notes don't exist (E#, Fb, B#, and Cb).
Our major scale formula is this: WWHWWWH. Memorize it!
What are the major scales?
C Major Scale: C D E F G A B C ( 0 sharp, 0 flat)
G Major Scale: G A B C D E F# G ( 1 sharp, f#)
D Major Scale: D E F# G A B C# D ( 2 sharp, f#, g#)
A Major Scale: A B C# D E F# G# A ( 3 sharp, f#, g#, c#)
E Major Scale: E F# G# A B C# D# E ( 4 sharp, f#, g#, c#, d#)
B Major Scale: B C# D# E F# G# A# B ( 5 sharp, f#, g#, c#, d#, a#)
F# Major Scale: F# G# A# B C# D# E# F# ( 6 sharp, f#, g#, c#, d#, a#, e#)
C# Major Scale: C# D# E# F# G# A# B# C#) ( All sharp)
F Major Scale: F G A Bb C D E F ( 1 flab, Bb)
Bb Major Scale: Bb C D Eb F G A Bb ( 2 flat, Bb, Eb)
Eb Major Scale: Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb ( 3 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab)
Ab Major Scale: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab ( 4 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db)
Db Major Scale: Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db ( 5 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb)
Gb Major Scale: Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F Gb ( 6 flat, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb)
Cb Major Scale: Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb ( All flat)
Below is something known as the circle of fifths. This is a wheel of information that will aid you in scale construction, key signatures, and note names. Helpful hints: When you are trying to figure out which note will be sharp, look to the previous note on the wheel beginning with F (F C G A E B). A Gmaj. Scale has 1 # which is F#, etc. When you are trying to figure out which note will be flatted next, look to the next note beginning with B (B E A D G Cb). An F maj. Scale has 1 b which is Bb, etc.
PRINCIPLES OF MOVEMENT
The next thing I'd like to go over with you are the principles of movement. Our joints work in three different realms of movement. The gist of this is if you put your hand out in front of you and curve the wrist as far left as you can and wiggle your fingers. You should feel tension and pulling in your forearm and wrist. Do the same for the right side. Now keep the wrist in an unbent position and wiggle your fingers. There should be a marked difference in how this feels in comparison to the other two positions.
You also want to keep your fretting arm next to your torso. You don't want it smashed against your rib cage but you also don't want it out there like a chicken wing.
Correct posture is important because as a guitar player, you want to eliminate any excess tension or straining on your body. Believe it or not, real physical conditions can be the result of bad posture. Take the time to be honest about what you need to work on. Bad habits come easy and perfection takes practice.
You also want to keep your fretting arm next to your torso. You don't want it smashed against your rib cage but you also don't want it out there like a chicken wing.
Correct posture is important because as a guitar player, you want to eliminate any excess tension or straining on your body. Believe it or not, real physical conditions can be the result of bad posture. Take the time to be honest about what you need to work on. Bad habits come easy and perfection takes practice.
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