A GUIDE TO
UNDERSTANDING
GUITAR "THEORY" ©

LESSON SIX: ANCHORING THE "DOTS" WITH SCALE DEGREES

The first thing to do in this lesson is to SAY (Out Loud, at least until YOU are comfortable) the EXACT name of the notes AS YOU PLAY THEM. If you were only able to learn ONE lesson say, in a month, you would STILL have at least "8" SCALES and the INFORMATION (Theory) about each one, in LESS THAN A YEAR.

PLUS, the practice will increase your Speed in addition to actually LEARNING the Chords, Scales, and the Sounds that accompany each KEY.

(Don't forget that music is as much HEARING as PLAYING. A good "listener" (especially using this method) will be able to follow most changes (if not all.. that's up to YOU) quickly if you "Stick with the Program")

If some of this seems REPETITIOUS, it's to show the many ways to do the same thing, just pick which "Mental" method works best for YOU.
EXAMPLE: starting on the 5th String - (3rd fret ..remember? It's OUR 1st "dot")

 

C

 

D

=

2

 

4

E

F

 

G

=1

2

 

4

A

 

B

C

=1

 

3

4

(Remember ! Say note names so you will KNOW THE NAME of each one. The "Chord" and "Tetra-Chord" section is in the NEXT lesson ! ..and you must KNOW the correct FORMULAS (Scales) in order to get the best out of these lessons.)

Using the DIAGRAM ABOVE as a model, draw one of your own for each of the following examples (if you need a little extra help on these Mental Exercise, that is). Eventually though, you will learn them without a "cheat sheet".

 

Then move on to the next example: 6th String - (also 3rd fret)

G A

2 4

B C D

1 2 4

E F# G

1 3 4

(Say note names !)

Then on to the next example: 5th String - (now at 5th fret, OUR 2nd "dot")

D E

2 4

F# G A

1 2 4

B C# D

1 3 4

(Say note names !)

 

Then on to the next example: 6th String - (at 5th fret, OUR 2nd "dot")

A B

2 4

C# D E

1 2 4

F# G# A

1 3 4

(Say note names !)

 I don't feel the need to put all examples on this page, because a lot of "learning" comes from doing (use lessons 3 & 4 to cross reverence). If you have followed me up to now, it should be fairly obvious. Just alternate strings/fret "DOTS" up to fret 9.
Also, continue "Saying Out Loud" this pattern as you play, until you've reached (and learned the note names) the "C#" Scale, then go on to the NEXT lesson. (...or at least SOME of the Scales !)

It is VERY, VERY important that you understand what we have learned up to now. The next lesson begins "CHORDS" & "TETRA-CHORDS" Construction, and requires some written work on YOUR part, but will finally "tie" together a lot of loose ends we have learned so far, but ONLY "IF" you know the INFO from this and previous lessons.

 

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW!
(See YOU next Lesson? C' mon, don't stop till you Rock !)

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