Chapter 1Let’s study the most basic scale, “C major scale”, that is, “Do, Re, Mi, Fa, SO, La, Ti, (Do)” we all know. With a general electric guitar, you can play “C major scale” in three octaves.So, let’s focus on “Fretboard Positions” to find the most efficient fingering in each octave. The goal is to be...
Chapter 2Whole tone & Half tone When you start studying music, you will definitely see the word “scale”You might have heard of the words like “Lydian scale”, “Dorian Scale”, and “Aeolian scale”.These scales are built based on certain rules.Of course, the “C major scale” described in the first chapter is also built based on a certain...
Chapter 3First, take a look at the diagram below. The diagram shows intervals between two sounds. Can you image the sounds? The intervals are very important for studying scales (melody) and chords (chord voicing) described later! First, all twelve sounds are shown. Twelve sounds (one octave) These are all the notes in one octave.It’s amazing how...
Chapter 4Triads and 7th chords you can get on C major scale described in ＜Chapter 1＞ are referred to as diatonic chords. Chord Basics To understand the diatonic chords, let’s fist study the chord basics. C chord is a harmony you get when three notes C, E, and G are simultaneously played.Here, C is the root....
Chapter 57th chords will be described more in detail.As you already know, the 7th chords each comprise the basic triad and one 7th note. C7 comprises:C・E・G・B♭Root, 3rd, P5th,♭7th CM7 comprises:C・E・G・BRoot, 3rd, P5th, M7th By adding the M7th note, the sound changes from C to CM7. Furthermore, by adding B to the C triad, you can get...
Chapter 6-1A scale is derived from each of the diatonic chords described in the previous chapter. Such a scale is called “Diatonic Scale”. The description is given with Key=C involving no accidentals “”# or “b” as an example. ① Ionian R(Root), 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7The scale is the same as C major scale described...
Chapter 6-2The seven scales described in the previous chapter are also called church modes. Now, you have to know about a tricky concept of Avoid Note. Avoid & Available Tension notes that can be used are called Available notes. The tensions will be described in detail in ＜Chapter 8＞. Available Note Dissonant notes that should not...
Chapter 7It is very important to study triads. It took quite a while for me to realize this. Hope you realize it as early as possible. Triads are chords constituted of three notes. Basically, triads comprise root, 3rd, and 5th. Let’s go back to degrees described in Chapter 3.Triads are very simple, but I assure you...
Chapter 8The word tension, which means metal and emotional strain, is also used in the world of music. The word “tension chord” used by a musician does not only mean that stress is provided to the sound but it also means that the sound is made more colorful. Basic chords comprise notes within one octave. Tensions...
Chapter 9Have you ever heard of the word “upper structure triad”? The upper structure triad is used in all sorts of popular music but cannot be played on the guitar. Still, knowing about the upper structure triad will definitely help you write and arrange a song. ① Let’s take C chord comprising C, E, and G...
Chapter 10-1Pentatonic scales are most scales that are used in all sorts of popular music such as Rock, Blues, Jazz, and Pops. So many melodies are made of a pentatonic scale. You can play awesome phrases with pentatonic scales on the guitar, so practice them hard until you can play them without even thinking amount them....
Chapter 10-2Now let’s study the positioning for playing the pentatonic scales on the guitar. The pentatonic scales comprise five notes as described in the previous chapter. The subject of this chapter is to play D minor pentatonic scale comprising D, F, G, A, and C on five positions. What’s the relative scale of D minor pentatonic...
Chapter 11The circle shown below is circle of fifth showing tonal areas. One step toward the right from C at 12 o’clock is perfect fifth higher than C. One step toward the left from C is perfect fifth lower than C. Letter on an outer side of the circle=major key Letter on an inner side of...
Chapter 12In this chapter I will introduce you to three popular styles. Funky Style There are so many great players but I personally recommend James Brown and Curtis Mayfield. You get the better feeling with solid guitars, but since I don’t have one, I will play it with a semi acoustic guitar. The wah-wah pedal is...
Advanced Class 1Now I will show you how to effectively use a note that is outside a chord or a scale. Outside phrasing roughly includes the following three concepts: making a phrase with a note that is not a chord tone shifting a tonality superimposing completely different chord progression” (my personal favorite) First step of outside phrasing...
Advanced Class 1In the previous chapter, I showed you how you can play “outside” by knowing the “inside” and by changing the key. In this chapter, I will show you the simple and yet bold way to play outside phrases. In the following description, “Cm7” is assumed to be in the key of Bb. The simplest way...
Advanced Class 1Each people have their own way of playing outside the chord. The important thing is maintaining balance. In a tune with many changes of keys, you don’t need to play outside to make good phrases, and in a tune with little changes, you can make the melody interesting by playing outside the chords. I’ll show...
Advanced Class 1Let’s study Whole Tone Scale. The following two patterns are all you need to know so it is very easy to remember. A: Six notes from C each separated from its neighbors by the interval of a whole step. B: A: Six notes from D♭ each separated from its neighbors by the interval of a...
Advanced Class 2In this class, I will teach you more about chords. First, “Diatonic chords” described in Chapter 4 will be described more in detail. Can you tell the name of this chord? The chord includes three notes “C, A, E” from the lowest note to the highest. Although “C” is the lowest sound, it does not...
Advanced Class 2Chord Voicing From this chapter, description will also be given on 7th chords. This is how the chord sounds when the “5th” is the lowest note. Diatonic Chords/5th Bass This is how the chord sounds when the “5th” is the highest note. Diatonic Chords/5th Bass & 7th Top Sounds different from that played in Chapter...
Advanced Class 2Wide Voiced Triad Here are examples of simple triad inversions.In the video, “3rd” and “5th” of triads are used as the lowest note. Wide Voiced #1 Wide Voiced #2 Wide Voiced #3 See how the chord sounds richer just by changing the arrangement of notes in a chord. Studying difficult tension chords is good, but...
Advanced Class 26 types of triads The following chords are obtained by simply inverting triads. You should memorize these to be able to use them freely. If you know the basics, you can learn more advanced way of playing. C Triads Cm Triads C dim Triads C aug Triads C Sus2 Triads C Sus4 Triads
Advanced Class 3Melodic minor scale, also known as Jazz minor scale, can be very easily obtained by replacing the major third in a major scale with a minor third. This scale has a very cool eccentric sound. Please learn it so you can use it freely. In some cases, the ascending pattern and the descending pattern of...
Advanced Class 3In this chapter, I will teach you 7th chords in the melodic minor scale. Let’s divide the chords into groups as described in Chapter 4. Each group includes chords with common chord tones. Tonic Chords Group Sub Dominant Chords Group Dominant Chords Group Here, Am7(♭5) is little tricky. This chord and CmM7 in the tonic...
Advanced Class 3Which scale matches with what chord will now be described. Lydian ♭7 scale Let’s start from Lydian ♭7 scale played from the fourth note in the melodic minor. This scale goes perfect with “dominant 7th” chords. In such a chord progression, use Lydian ♭7 scale in the first and the second bars. The scale can...
Advanced Class 3You now know how to use the melodic minor scales, so let’s see how they actually sound. The scales are played on “F9(13)”. First, I will play F mixolydian Scale, which is not in the melodic minor scale. F mixolydian Perfectly inside sound. F lydian ♭7 This sound is obtained only by replacing the perfect...
