By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Desi_Serna]Desi Serna
How to learn guitar scales:
* 99% of popular music is Pentatonic and Major scales.
* Scales aren't just for playing guitar solos.
* Rhythm guitar players can benefit from scales too.
Guitar players don't need to learn a bunch of scales.
Guitar players need to learn the theory behind all the different ways of playing and applying the pentatonic and major scales. When a player learns guitar scale theory properly, they'll have 99% of the music they listen to covered. That's the truth! If a guitarist wants to explore additional guitar theory and more exotic scales later, then they'll have the proper music theory foundation to do it.
Pentatonic Scale Patterns On the Guitar
The pentatonic scale creates the simplest patterns on the guitar neck and the theory behind it makes it very easy to apply. Guitarists use the pentatonic boxes to play melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines. All styles of popular music utilize this essential guitar scale including pop, rock, blues, country and jazz. Some classic songs that utilize the pentatonic scale, and make great learning material for any guitar theory program, include:
“Lowrider” War (G minor pentatonic scale)
“Lady Marmalade” Patti LaBelle (G minor pentatonic scale)
“Susie Q” Creedence Clearwater Revival (E minor pentatonic scale)
“My Girl” The Temptations (C major pentatonic scale)
“Wish You Were Here” Pink Floyd (G major pentatonic scale)
“Tweezer” Phish (A minor pentatonic scale)
“Purple Haze” Jimi Hendrix (E minor pentatonic scale)
“Breakdown” Tom Petty (A minor pentatonic scale)
“Pawn Shop” Sublime (E minor pentatonic scale)
“Turn Off the Light” Nelly Furtado (E minor pentatonic scale)
“Honky Tonk Women” The Rolling Stones (G major pentatonic scale)
“Hey Joe” Jimi Hendrix (E minor pentatonic scale)
“Yellow Ledbetter” Pearl Jam (E major pentatonic scale)
“Sunshine of Your Love” Cream (D minor pentatonic "blues scale")
“Baby Please Don’t Go” Them/Van Morrison (F minor pentatonic "blues scale")
“Iron Man” Black Sabbath (B minor pentatonic "blues scale")
“Roadhouse Blues” The Doors (E minor pentatonic "blues scale")
“Heartbreaker” Led Zeppelin (A minor pentatonic "blues scale")
“Maggie May” Rod Stewart (D major pentatonic scale)
“Sir Duke” Stevie Wonder (B major pentatonic "blues scale")
Rhythm Guitar Players Use the Pentatonic Scale Too
The purpose of learning how to play the pentatonic scale, or any scale for that matter, isn't limited to guitar riffs and solos. Even rhythm guitar players can study guitar theory and utilize occasional scale phrases. Guitar theory further teaches that pentatonic scale notes can be added to basic chords and create rich new sounds.
Compose On the Guitar with Pentatonic Scale Theory
There's one more thing about learning the pentatonic scale all serious guitar players should take into consideration. The pentatonic scale isn't a scale unique to only fretted instruments. All instruments utilize music theory and the pentatonic scale including singers. Many songs have pentatonic scale vocal melodies, keyboard parts, horn parts and more. These things can be worked out and arranged on guitar with the right music theory knowledge.
Play Until Your Fingers Bleed!
Desi Serna
Author of Fretboard Theory http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Desi_Serna http://EzineArticles.com/?Guitar-Scale-Theory---Learning-the-Pentatonic-Scale&id=705720
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
How to Learn Guitar Theory on the Fretboard
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Desi_Serna]Desi Serna
All guitar players may have different ways of thinking about music theory initially, but they all end up applying musical concepts to the guitar fretboard in a similar manner. This is because the fretboard is a grid and learning it properly requires mapping out chords and scales in the forms of shapes and patterns. So the end result is the same. Today's guitarists can focus on this end result without dwelling too much on the details of written notation or traditional theory. This guitar specific application of music theory, which focuses on the guitar fretboard, is called guitar theory.
Guitar players make many attempts to learn more about how music works. They study notation, learn about the circle of fifths, memorize step formulas for certain scales, and the list goes on and on. What good does all this do in terms of affecting how guitarists play? Not much. There's more to it. Without following through to the guitar fretboard new musical information is useless.
Traditional thought has corrupted the teaching of guitar for too long. Guitar players shouldn't base their studies on methods created for other instruments, like the piano or orchestra instruments. Good musicians prepare themselves to understand and play their instruments specifically. Modern guitar players need to focus on mapping out guitar scales, chords and progressions on the fretboard and this is precisely what guitar theory will teach.
Guitar theory will focus on properly visualizing shapes, patterns and how they connect on the fretboard. Good guitar players understand how musical components relate to each other by the way these pieces fit together. Taking a hands-on approach to learning guitar theory can save players from much frustration and literally add years to their musical development.
Play Until Your Fingers Bleed!
Mr. Desi Serna
Author of Fretboard Theory http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Desi_Serna http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Learn-Guitar-Theory-on-the-Fretboard&id=630758
All guitar players may have different ways of thinking about music theory initially, but they all end up applying musical concepts to the guitar fretboard in a similar manner. This is because the fretboard is a grid and learning it properly requires mapping out chords and scales in the forms of shapes and patterns. So the end result is the same. Today's guitarists can focus on this end result without dwelling too much on the details of written notation or traditional theory. This guitar specific application of music theory, which focuses on the guitar fretboard, is called guitar theory.
Guitar players make many attempts to learn more about how music works. They study notation, learn about the circle of fifths, memorize step formulas for certain scales, and the list goes on and on. What good does all this do in terms of affecting how guitarists play? Not much. There's more to it. Without following through to the guitar fretboard new musical information is useless.
Traditional thought has corrupted the teaching of guitar for too long. Guitar players shouldn't base their studies on methods created for other instruments, like the piano or orchestra instruments. Good musicians prepare themselves to understand and play their instruments specifically. Modern guitar players need to focus on mapping out guitar scales, chords and progressions on the fretboard and this is precisely what guitar theory will teach.
Guitar theory will focus on properly visualizing shapes, patterns and how they connect on the fretboard. Good guitar players understand how musical components relate to each other by the way these pieces fit together. Taking a hands-on approach to learning guitar theory can save players from much frustration and literally add years to their musical development.
Play Until Your Fingers Bleed!
Mr. Desi Serna
Author of Fretboard Theory http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Desi_Serna http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Learn-Guitar-Theory-on-the-Fretboard&id=630758
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Get To Know Your Basic Guitar Chords
Learn Guitar Chords - Advice For Beginners
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Larry_Gordo]Larry Gordo
What are chords?
Chords are usually set keys of three or more. In order to be successful playing the guitar you must learn the chords of guitar. You will have to master the sets of two different chords in order to achieve this success.
Even if you are interested in playing the bass, knowledge of the chords is highly important. Not only will you be able to learn to play by ear by learning chords, but you will also quickly produce hit songs.
Jimi Hendrix’s success is due to Chords
Jimi Hendrix’s success is completely due to chords. With in depth knowledge of the CAGED system (C-A-G-E-D) he was definitely able to produce the great and legendary songs that we know today.
Even though an overwhelming majority of beginners will not reach the level that Jimi Hendrix was at, you can adopt some of this successful habits and begin learning the CAGED system in-depth.
What are the two different types of chords?
The two types of chords are major and minors. By playing these two types of chords, you can make the greatest songs. It is important to master the skill of playing chords in order to create songs that are pleasurable to the ears.
Remember the difference is that a minor chord is one that has a third minor above it’s root, while a regular chord as a major third. If you remember this, you will be able to quickly discern through the difference between a minor or major chord.
Are You A Beginner And Want To Learn The Guitar With Ease?
Do You Want To Play By Ear? Or Have the Ability To Ready Sheet Music?
Read Free Here: [http://learn-to-play-the-guitar-now.blogspot.com/]Jamorama - Easy Guitar Lessons
Larry Gordo has been observing & playing guitars for 10 years and has even seen the worst guitar beginners turn into extraordinary talents.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Gordo http://EzineArticles.com/?Learn-Guitar-Chords---Advice-For-Beginners&id=778485
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Larry_Gordo]Larry Gordo
What are chords?
Chords are usually set keys of three or more. In order to be successful playing the guitar you must learn the chords of guitar. You will have to master the sets of two different chords in order to achieve this success.
Even if you are interested in playing the bass, knowledge of the chords is highly important. Not only will you be able to learn to play by ear by learning chords, but you will also quickly produce hit songs.
Jimi Hendrix’s success is due to Chords
Jimi Hendrix’s success is completely due to chords. With in depth knowledge of the CAGED system (C-A-G-E-D) he was definitely able to produce the great and legendary songs that we know today.
Even though an overwhelming majority of beginners will not reach the level that Jimi Hendrix was at, you can adopt some of this successful habits and begin learning the CAGED system in-depth.
What are the two different types of chords?
The two types of chords are major and minors. By playing these two types of chords, you can make the greatest songs. It is important to master the skill of playing chords in order to create songs that are pleasurable to the ears.
Remember the difference is that a minor chord is one that has a third minor above it’s root, while a regular chord as a major third. If you remember this, you will be able to quickly discern through the difference between a minor or major chord.
Are You A Beginner And Want To Learn The Guitar With Ease?
Do You Want To Play By Ear? Or Have the Ability To Ready Sheet Music?
Read Free Here: [http://learn-to-play-the-guitar-now.blogspot.com/]Jamorama - Easy Guitar Lessons
Larry Gordo has been observing & playing guitars for 10 years and has even seen the worst guitar beginners turn into extraordinary talents.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Gordo http://EzineArticles.com/?Learn-Guitar-Chords---Advice-For-Beginners&id=778485
Monday, December 3, 2007
The Relationship Between Keys & Chord Forms
by Nigel Rowles
In my last article, Guitar Chord Theory - Hang-in There Its a Long Story we looked at scales and the order of steps and half-steps that are used to make a scale. If you haven't read it you probably should as it will make this article much easier to follow. It's important to remember that different scales have a different number of sharps or flats in them.
A key for our purpose is a bunch of related chords that sound good together. If you already play guitar you may have noticed that a song that starts with a C chords is very likely to have F & G chords with it and maybe an Am chord also. This tells us that the song is in the key of C, not so much because the song starts on C but because if the relationship of the chords, if the song started on the F chord it is still in the Key of C. another example would be a song with G C D and maybe Em, this song would be in the key of G because of the relationship of the chords.
Let's use the C Major scale as it suits the purpose best. C Major Scale: C D E F G A B C Scale Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Roman Numerals: I II III IV V VI VII VIII
All major chords are made up of the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of a scale. This would give us in the Key of C: C E G This is known as a tonic triad. The C is the root note of the scale and chord. It is also the tonic note. C E G is a C major tonic triad. 'Tonic' since it has the C as the first note and 'triad' since it has three (tri) notes in it.
When we talk of chords built on the different degrees of a scale we use Roman numerals.
The most important and best sounding chords that blend in with the C Major scale are chords that are built on the IV & V degrees of that scale. This gives us chords built on F(IV) and G(V).
A chord/tonic triad built on the IV i.e. F would be F A C (F A C being the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of an F scale) the chord/tonic triad would be an F Major chord.A chord/tonic triad built on the V i.e. G would be G B D (G B D being the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of the G scale) the chord/tonic triad would be a G Major chord.
The reason these two chords are so suited to C is that they both have notes in common with the C Major chord. F(IV) has the note C in common and G(V) has the G note in common. These common notes make the changes between the chords easy on the ear. Both the IV and V are major chords. The next most likely chord to be used is one that is built on the VI degree i.e. A and the 1st 3rd 5th of the A scale is A C# E, well we shouldn't have a C# in a in it as there is not a C# in the C scale. The C# must become a C and would then be A C E and this is an A minor chord. So in any key, a chord built on the VI of the scale needs to be a minor chord. This follows with all chords built on the notes of a scale, they must conform to the C scale.
All chords we wish to play in a key should be built on the notes of that scale. This applies to any key we play in i.e. in the key of A we use only the notes of the A scale. In the key of G only the notes of the G scale.
Below is a chart with the C major scale and the different chords that can be built on each degree of the scale, the note found in each chord, and the type of chord.
All other Keys have the same association of chords i.e. the II, III & VI should always be a minors. The VII will always be a minor b5. It isn't essential that this method be used and many songs have been written using whatever chords the writer likes. It does however give us the theory behind compatible chords that can be used as additional or passing chords within a song.
Chords built on the scale degrees
Scale Degree Tonic Triad Chord Type
C I C E G C (Major)
D II D F A Dm (Minor)
E III E G B Em (Minor)
F IV F A C F (Major)
G V G B D G (Major)
A VI A C E Am (Minor)
B VII B D F Bmb5 (Minor b5)
C VIII C E G C (Major)
About the Author
1986 Diploma in Music - Classical Guitar Major. I have been performing for 34 years either as solo instrumentalist, in duos, trios and in rock bands playing guitar or bass guitar. 10 years ago I started teaching guitar, bass and music theory which led me to independently writing, producing and publishing The Guitar Instruction, Musicianship & Reference Manual with DVD on Left & Right Hand Techniques.
www.nofretguitarlessons.com.au
In my last article, Guitar Chord Theory - Hang-in There Its a Long Story we looked at scales and the order of steps and half-steps that are used to make a scale. If you haven't read it you probably should as it will make this article much easier to follow. It's important to remember that different scales have a different number of sharps or flats in them.
A key for our purpose is a bunch of related chords that sound good together. If you already play guitar you may have noticed that a song that starts with a C chords is very likely to have F & G chords with it and maybe an Am chord also. This tells us that the song is in the key of C, not so much because the song starts on C but because if the relationship of the chords, if the song started on the F chord it is still in the Key of C. another example would be a song with G C D and maybe Em, this song would be in the key of G because of the relationship of the chords.
Let's use the C Major scale as it suits the purpose best. C Major Scale: C D E F G A B C Scale Degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Roman Numerals: I II III IV V VI VII VIII
All major chords are made up of the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of a scale. This would give us in the Key of C: C E G This is known as a tonic triad. The C is the root note of the scale and chord. It is also the tonic note. C E G is a C major tonic triad. 'Tonic' since it has the C as the first note and 'triad' since it has three (tri) notes in it.
When we talk of chords built on the different degrees of a scale we use Roman numerals.
The most important and best sounding chords that blend in with the C Major scale are chords that are built on the IV & V degrees of that scale. This gives us chords built on F(IV) and G(V).
A chord/tonic triad built on the IV i.e. F would be F A C (F A C being the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of an F scale) the chord/tonic triad would be an F Major chord.A chord/tonic triad built on the V i.e. G would be G B D (G B D being the 1st, 3rd and 5th degrees of the G scale) the chord/tonic triad would be a G Major chord.
The reason these two chords are so suited to C is that they both have notes in common with the C Major chord. F(IV) has the note C in common and G(V) has the G note in common. These common notes make the changes between the chords easy on the ear. Both the IV and V are major chords. The next most likely chord to be used is one that is built on the VI degree i.e. A and the 1st 3rd 5th of the A scale is A C# E, well we shouldn't have a C# in a in it as there is not a C# in the C scale. The C# must become a C and would then be A C E and this is an A minor chord. So in any key, a chord built on the VI of the scale needs to be a minor chord. This follows with all chords built on the notes of a scale, they must conform to the C scale.
All chords we wish to play in a key should be built on the notes of that scale. This applies to any key we play in i.e. in the key of A we use only the notes of the A scale. In the key of G only the notes of the G scale.
Below is a chart with the C major scale and the different chords that can be built on each degree of the scale, the note found in each chord, and the type of chord.
All other Keys have the same association of chords i.e. the II, III & VI should always be a minors. The VII will always be a minor b5. It isn't essential that this method be used and many songs have been written using whatever chords the writer likes. It does however give us the theory behind compatible chords that can be used as additional or passing chords within a song.
Chords built on the scale degrees
Scale Degree Tonic Triad Chord Type
C I C E G C (Major)
D II D F A Dm (Minor)
E III E G B Em (Minor)
F IV F A C F (Major)
G V G B D G (Major)
A VI A C E Am (Minor)
B VII B D F Bmb5 (Minor b5)
C VIII C E G C (Major)
About the Author
1986 Diploma in Music - Classical Guitar Major. I have been performing for 34 years either as solo instrumentalist, in duos, trios and in rock bands playing guitar or bass guitar. 10 years ago I started teaching guitar, bass and music theory which led me to independently writing, producing and publishing The Guitar Instruction, Musicianship & Reference Manual with DVD on Left & Right Hand Techniques.
www.nofretguitarlessons.com.au
Who Needs Guitar Music Theory?
Some people say that if you do not learn musical theory and notation, you are not a "real" musician. You can probably think of some people who make real music without having learnt to read or much about music theory. But theory does have its uses. It's essentially a means of communicating. Learning theory - how different aspects of music are connected - can save you time. If you are not one of those people who must know where they are going before they take the first step, you might need all your patience to give guitar music theory a fair hearing. There's lots of other stuff you can learn about if theory is too dry - Learn How To Play A Guitar For Free has video lessons, articles on theory and many other subjects and links to other guitar lesson sites.
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