Guitar Picking Exercises

Latihan Guitar picking sangat penting untuk memahami bagaimana motor bekerja tangan Anda & semakin nyaman dengan span string (lebar & lokasi dari semua string -   Anda akhirnya mencari saku [zona kenyamanan bagi gerakan halus & nada manis] memilih Anda.
Memilih Single String di 4's & 2's

Open String Arpeggio

Salah satu cara bagi Anda untuk membuat memilih konsistensi adalah untuk memahami gerak yang paling efisien memilih Anda, lalu pindahkan lengan Anda ke mana pun Anda akan memilih [kita sebut 'meninggalkan' ini]. Lengan memilih Anda bergerak untuk menjaga hubungan antara tangan Anda & sebuah string tertentu konsisten. 'Ini adalah bagaimana saya memilih, sekarang pergi sana. "

Kadang-kadang Anda akan menstabilkan tangan Anda [ke jembatan, string, atau badan], tapi dalam latihan ini, tangan Anda tetap mengambang. Pilih ke mana Anda dibutuhkan berikutnya (ruang string - mempersiapkan berikutnya atas atau bawah).

Kita juga bisa berpikir dalam bait string (set 2 string berdekatan) & jika kita memilih di bagian luar pasangan atau di dalam.
 

Guitar picking arpeggio exercise using fingerpicking

Circle of 5ths

The circle of 5ths is an organizational system for key signatures. Roughly modeled after a clock, the circle indicates the 12 (15 including enharmonic keys) different key signatures for the Major and relative minor keys.
Each key signature (you can think of as a logo for tones to be used in a given piece of music) represents a Major key and a minor key. This is called relative keys. Each key signature has a minor key that is the relative of the Major key (2 keys per logo [signature]- a Major and a minor one).
Key signatures are indicated at the beginning of a piece of music (right after the clef and before the time signature).

Some Pointers about the Circle of 5ths

A key signature indicates which family of tones will be utilized for a given piece of music.
In tonal music, it is an arrangement of sharps or flats which define pitches to be used. Sharps & flats can be mixed in a key signature, but not in this basic set of Major keys.
Each key signature defines a diatonic scale in two modes: Major & minor.
The natural minor can be found by beginning the Major scale on the 6th scale degree.
A diatonic scale is one which utilizes the seven pitches defined by a key signature for melody & harmony. Diatonic means 'within the key or across the tones of a key center'.

Is the minor key signature really the same as the Major? (Are they really relatives?)

The natural minor key tones are identical to its relative Major key. They share the same tones (chords & scales), but calling a different chord the one (calling vi of the Major key the i).
Natural minor is a member (somewhat viable, but cannot fully stand on its own harmonically) of the minor key family. Yet, it truly doesn't relate (isn't a true relative harmonically) of the relative Major. For example, A minor is a modification of A Major and ultimately isn't 'born of' C Major.
The Circle of 5ths, in one view, is an incomplete organizational system for key signatures. Even with its positive aspects, it has a limiting quality that doesn't show the complete picture (the relationship between Major & minor). Plus, it can be difficult to memorize. Often, using a set of visual tools allows for quicker memorization. For memorizing how many sharps or flats are in a key, we've built the Lines of 7.
You have choices on how you view tonal music. If you choose not to learn about the 3 versions of the minor keys (natural, harmonic, melodic), that is your decision (and a common one for non-advanced students). If you decide to learn the 3 forms, you'll know a bunch of cool (and potentially limiting) stuff, depending on how you view it.
After you put in the time to learn it, keep in mind that most people will have no idea what you are talking about when you try to explain it (yet, explaining it to others can help you learn it). Caveat: if you are going to play Jazz, put in the time and learn it. You'll need to know the modes & the chords derived from the minor key system. There are a lot of useful & great sounding melodic & harmonic potential on the minor side of the street.
Someday, we might not have this conversation because there may be a more suitable minor key signature learning tool.
Chords in ALL Major Keys

Guitar Chord Building - EON

A 3 tone guitar chord is called a triad.

In this lesson, we will build the triads in C Major.

First let's review what we've covered so far...

The Major Scale pattern is 221-2221 (dial up the major scale).

2 = whole step & 1 = half step. On guitar, a whole step = 2 frets & one half step = 1 fret.

Here are some more points to remember about the major scale...

We can build a LINEAR C Major Scale by starting on the C tone located on the 5th string, 3rd fret. Practice improvising with this scale.

• Right
• Left

Right

Now that we are certain about the tones in the KEY of C Major, we build chords. Chords are created by selecting a ROOT (a tone to build something from), and then selecting Every Other Note (EON).

There are 7 tones in a Major scale; therefore, there are 7 triads (each tone becomes a root).

Upper Case Roman Numerals = Major chords [I, IV, V]

Lower Case Roman Numerals = minor chords [ii, iii, vi]

Lower Case Roman Numerals with a Degree sign [o] = diminished chords [viio]

Go to Guitar Chord Charts

Aeolian mode

E Natural Minor (Aeolian mode) Guitar Scale

We can create an incredible amount of guitar scales from any given tone. It may just be endless. Ultimately, all scales are a division of an octave, or any interval determined by cultural decisions.
We can create an E Natural minor scale by using our knowledge of Derivative vs. Parallel in this E Linear Major lesson. We can use scale formulas by comparing or paralleling to what was previously derived.

Using the E Major (Linear) to make these comparisons, parallels, modifications (MODS), we build other types of scales (in this lesson, the E Natural minor).

The Major scale pattern numbers the tones for a given ROOT. We then modifiy (MOD) tones in the Major scale to get new type of scales (using formulas)..

TAB for E Natural minor

The Root, 2, 4, 5, stay the same, while the 3, 6, & 7 tones are lowered.

E Natural minor on a Grid

E Major on a Grid for Comparison

We can clearly see the differences. The 3, 6, & 7 have been lowered a fret.

If a tone is a sharp before it is flatted, it becomes a natural. If it is a natural before it is flatted, it becomes a flat. If the tone is a flat before it is flatted, it becomes a double flat.

Guitar Scales: E minor Pentatonic

beginner guitar

Beginner Guitar Scales

In addition to the CAGED chord system, there are also CAGED Scale Forms (5 of 7 shown). Each of these is an 'open position' or 'open string' scale (a scale at the nut with open strings). Some of these scales are identical to the patterns you will find in our 7 Major scales system, and some are slightly modified to utilize the open strings where possible. Some shifting is used.
As you build your scale knowledge (to ultimately transcend patterns), you will determine which fingerings work best for the type of melodic phrasing you are creating.
With all of these beginner guitar scales, we will start with the root, play to the 'highest tone' in the position, then play to the lowest tone, and back up to the root. You can also just play lowest to highest tone. Or, practice the scale just descending, as this sometimes gives early hands more of a challenge than ascending. You can also repeated in sequences (ie. cde, def, efg, fga, etc.).

The C Major Scale - C D E F G A B C

This C Major scale in first position is very important. When learning to read music, these 17 tones provide the basis for the process of notereading. They are all natural tones.

G Major Scale - G A B C D E F# G

This G Major scale could be considered 'the C scale with the f's moved to f-sharps'.

D Major Scale - D E F# G A B C# D

A Major Scale - A B C# D E F# G# A

E Major Scale - E F# G# A B C# D# E

Play through each scale slowly. To start, you can play all down picking. Then, try alternate picking (down-up consistently).
Some keys to playing beginner guitar scales and melodies accurately...

• Be one step ahead in the process. This one step ahead manifests itself in both hands. As you play a tone, you are preparing the next tone in both hands. You snap to the next pick location (The Leave), and you snap your fretting hand to be prepared for the next tone.
• Hold on to tones as long as possible. Let go only when you are about to land the next tone (legato - connected), unless you are intentionally playing staccato.
• Sing the tones as you play them. Say the note names as you play.
• Take your time. As you build preparedness (the leave) into your scale playing, you'll find that chording and other techniques are quicker to process.
• Take breaks.
• Start scales from different tones. Example: start on highest tone and just descend. Then repeat.
• Use a variety of rhythms. Use repeated tones (say 4 repeated tones, then go to next).

Blues Guitar

Blues guitar provides a solid foundation to learn to play tunes and to follow a song form.  Blues is a style which developed in the 19th and 20th centuries based on the mood or feeling that accompanied the Black Experience in America. Blues provides a basis for rock music and some types of jazz. The variety and types of blues music in the world is truly astounding.
For blues to be blues, certain voicings (chords) and rhythms need to be sounded. We will explore this topic and play the blues in this lesson. We will focus on providing accompaniment.

12 bar blues progression

The above progression is a very basic from of the 12 bar blues.

A Bar

The term bar is another word for measure.  Bar and measure both mean a grouping of beats. In the example above, the beat grouping is 4. There are 4 beats per measure (bar) in this exercise. Bars are created or separated by bar lines (the vertical lines on the staff).

Slash marks

The slash marks are a visual substitute for the quarter note (in 4/4 time) [not to be confused with slash chords]. Since the slash mark is a quarter note, you can also play eighth notes (strum down-up or down-down).
You can also play triplets (rounded feel of 3 strums per beat) in place of each slash [ / = trip-o-let, or 1-2-3]. To get the blues shuffle rhythm, you play triplets, but miss the middle strum [ / = trip- -let, or 1- -3]. When you do this, this is called swinging the 8ths. You may want to play triplets, & swung 8ths all down strumming.

Roman Numerals

The above progression can be a blueprint or a template for the 12 bar blues. We can play the progression in any key (any of the 12 tones can be the I).

One, Four, & Five chords (I, IV, & V) in Popular Guitar Keys

Our example uses the Dominant 7th chords. You can play the progression using triads, but it won't sound as bluesy.

After playing the simple form of the blues, we can start making some changes. Our first change is measure 10. Going forward, we will keep any previous changes.

Changing bar 10 to the IV chord

With this change, the 10th measure is the IV chord rather than the V. This creates a bit more movement.

Changing bar 12 to the V chord

With this change, the 12th measure is the V chord rather than the I. This gets us on the path of the turnaround. A turnaround is a creative & common way to get back around to the head, or the beginning. It involves a harmonic movement which leads the player & listener back to the beginning. The turnaround typically begins in measure 11.

The Quick Four or Quick Change

With this change, we are plugged right into one of the most common 12 bar progressions, the Quick Change or Quick Four, titled for the quickness which the IV chord arrives (measure 2).
At playing gatherings, we see the Quick 4 quite often (but even with a further alteration - the complete turnaround). It is important to listen & follow the changes of blues tunes. Blues musicians do not use only one type of 12 bar, & they use 8 & 16 bar forms.
Blues guitar chord voicings

Guitar Octaves

Guitar octaves are a very effective way to see how tones on the guitar are organized. They are consistent for every tone. Once you know the shapes for any given tone, not only are they the same for every other tone, but they always cycle in the same order (the same as the chord forms). Octaves are the bare bones of standard tuning. They are the skeleton chords, scales, & arpeggios fill in & wrap around.

An octave is an interval of an 8th, such as C to C, or A to A. It is a frequency doubling or halving of a tone (twice as fast or slow).

In Western music, scales are typically heptatonic (7 tones). Therefore, the completion of a scale, whether Major or minor or other, is the 8th, which is the same letter name, or tone, as the first. (Oct- means eight). Within an octave are 13 tones (13th completing), and 12 half steps.

In cultures using Pentatonic scales (5 tone scales) as their primary melodic & harmonic tone material, the 'octave' could be called a 6th, rather than an 8th. In 12 tone music (dodecaphonic), the 'octave' could be called a 13th.

What follows is all 7 of the octave shapes with 1 double octave (8 total, unless you can reach some more double octaves - go easy & never strain your hands).

Octaves

Often we fret these & try to mute the other strings, so we can move them around.

Some are more difficult to mute & move than others. Here is some TAB for showing which octave shapes we consider more & less useful (depending on how you use them):

Guitar Octave Shape Exercises for the Tones of F & E

In the video, I used a 3rd finger on the 6th string, 13th fret, rather than the pinky. Use the fingering below the TAB. FH = Fretting Hand.

Guitar octaves with scales filling them in