Technique Guitar Lesson

This is the Note Circle. It shows all the 12 notes that exist in Western music.

Notice that A# and Bb are the same note (called enharmonic if you want to be clever). They sound the same but have different names. Also notice that there is no note in between E and F or B and C. This is where the white notes are right next to each other on the piano keyboard.

Moving clockwise around the circle makes the notes higher in pitch.

The interval of a semitone (shown on the left) is the smallest step on the guitar, and is one fret. Two semitones make a tone (shown on the right), and these two intervals make up scales.

The note circle can also be used to work out any note on the fingerboard by knowing only the note names of the open strings. Simply count clockwise around the circle, moving up one step for each fret, starting from the note of the open string.

It is theoretically possible to have a B#, it would have the same pitch as C, and would be played the same way on the instrument.

This table should be memorised as it is the foundation of all music

Pretty much everyone needs to develop their technique in order to execute the music that they wish to perform. It is no good having a great idea in your head and not be able to get it out, and you will probably find that there are many songs that you want to play but are not physically capable of yet.

Technique development is the physical development of your hands (and to some extent your body) so that you can play things that you want to play.

For demanding styles (like jazz and fast metal) it is essential to develop your technique to a high level, and then maintain it. Even if this is not your thing, it is a good idea to get your technical ability higher than you need it - so that it will sound easy and smooth when you play.

COUNTRY ROOT :

How do I move scales around and what is the root note (R) on all the scales?

The root note of a scale defines the scales tonality. For example, in the Minor Pentatonic Scale (Position 1) there is a (R) root note on the 6th string, played with the first finger. Where you place this root note will give you the name of the scale. For example, the scale I show in the Beginners Course is the A Minor Pentatonic Scale. To play this scale in Position 1, you need to put the (R) root note on the note A, which is found at the 5th fret of the 6th string. If you wanted to play the C minor Pentatonic Scale, you would place the (R) root note on the 8th fret of the 6th string. The scale can be played anywhere, you just need to place that 1st finger (which is on the root note of the pattern) on the note you want!

All the scales move up and down the neck and you must use the right key for the song. To understand keys, you need to do a little music theory but there is a lot of information about this on the site too, and some below!

What are Positions and what is all this CAGED stuff?

Positions (also called Shapes or Patterns) are different ways of playing the same scale. Because of the make up of the guitar, there is nearly always more than one way to play any scale, chord, lick or whatever.

I think the best way to learn this is to take a blank neck diagram from the Blank Papers are and then copy down onto it the notes from the A Minor Pentatonic scale (A, C, D, E, G) onto the whole neck (hint: every note will be found at least once on every string). A simpler alternative is to put red circles around those notes once you print off the Notes On The Neck diagram...

Once you can see all the notes on the neck notice the way that the same group of notes can be arranged into the 5 Patterns shown on The Minor Pentatonic page. I think that should clear up a lot of things...

Then m,aybe you should try and do the same for the notes of the D Minor Pentatonic (D, F, G, A, C) and notice that exactly the same patterns are formed but are on different frets. That should help you get the concept of the root notes, patterns and way that scale patterns can be moved around the neck to fit in different keys!

The CAGED system explain the relationships between the notes on the guitar and breaks them down into five shapes. C Shape, A Shape, G Shape E Shape and D shape. The relate to the only five shapes that exist on the guitar. Every scale or chord fits into one of these "Shapes". Find more at this link: THE CAGED SYSTEM but beginners might find this a little tricky. Don't be trying to get this until you can play and use your position 1 of the Minor Pentatonic and the Major scales.

What about the Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales?

These are advanced scales that are not used much unless you want to play classical (or neo-classical rock) or if you want to get into jazz. As a beginner you should not waste your time learning these. Spend your time learning things that you will use! Learn things when you need to...

Can all scales be moved around?

All scales (and chords for that matter) that do not use open strings can be moved anywhere on the neck. You need to know the root note though, so you know what scale you are playing!

Start by getting into the idea that your Minor Pentatonic Scale can move around the neck.

Where are the common root notes and where are the notes on the neck?

There is a lesson here that shows you the Note on the Neck and it is a very useful skill to have for many reasons, but you will need to know at least the notes on the thickest two strings to know where your scales can be played.

The common 6th string root notes are: F at the 1st fret, G at the 3rd fret, A at the 5th fret, B at the 7th fret, C at the 8th fret, D at the 10th fret and E at the 12th fret.

The majority of your playing is likely to be in normal EADGBE tuning but there are other common tunings that can be a lot of fun to play with. I love using altered tunings for writing and there and many classic songs that use them too.

Just trying out a new tuning and experimenting is important - in fact, for me one of the most exciting things about being in an unusual tuning is that I don't always know what sounds are going to come out of the guitar and that can be really creative and help me find sounds that I have not found before.

A little bit of research and you will find there are loads of different guitar tunings - but to be honest most of them are not used much - what I am listing below are the more common ones that are relatively easy to work with. There are no rules and you can just make up tunings as you like - like the great Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake - just fiddle about until you find something interesting.

I HIGHLY recommend getting a tuner if you are going to start using altered tunings a lot. Of course it's a good thing to know how to do them by ear, and usually after using a tuner I give them a little tweak by ear anyway - but to get started I always prefer to use a tuner. It's easier, more accurate and faster!

I will get around to making more in depth videos about each tuning sometime soon.

Normal Tuning (E Tuning) :

Tunings are usually described from the thickest string to the thinnest string. Normal tuning being EADGBE - is usually called E tuning.

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Normal Tuning	E	A	D	G	B	E

Eb Tuning (down a semitone):

Many rock bands got into the idea of tuning all the notes on the guitar down one semitone. This means that the strings are a little looser and you can bend a little more easily. It also gives access to some slightly lower notes which can sound a little fatter. You can use slightly thicker strings (which tend to sound a little fatter) and still be able to bend them. Lots of rock bands like Gun 'n' Roses and Nirvana use Eb tuning a lot.

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Eb Tuning	Eb	Ab	Db	Gb	Bb	Eb

To get into Eb tuning you simply tune each string down one semitone. You are best off using a tuner for this! Or tune your 6th string to Eb using a piano or other instrument and then use basic or advanced tuning method (5th fret of 6th string = open 5th string) to tune the rest of the strings to it.

HINT: if you are struggling with this - put a capo on the 1st fret - tune normally with tuner, and then take the capo off and you will be in Eb tuning!! Can be useful if your tuner only tunes to the "normal tuning" too.

Drop D Tuning :

Drop D is also common in rock music, but also in many folk styles and even country. It gives a really nice low D note, which often sounds really fat and nice.

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Drop D Tuning	D	A	D	G	B	E

Getting into Drop D is pretty simple. You already have one of your strings tuned to the note D (the 4th string) so all you have to do is tune your 6th string (thickest) down one tone to sound one octave lower then the open 4th string.

HINT: if you play a harmonic at the 12th fret of the thickest string it should sound the same as the open 4th string if you have done it right!

Songs that use Drop D Tuning: Heart Shaped Box, All Apologies (Nirvana), Harvest Moon, Ohio (Neil Young), Moby Dick (Led Zeppelin), Everlong, Monkey Wrench (Foo Fighters), Dear Prudence (The Beatles).

Drop C Tuning:

Drop C is mostly used by metal bands that want to get REALLY fat big low notes in the riffs. It's essentially the same as Drop D but with every string tuned down a tone. I must admit I never really used this tuning, it's not really my style, but it sure sounds fat and I'd be using it if I still played in rock bands!

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Drop C Tuning	C	G	C	F	A	C

The big deal with this is that you need to use thicker than normal strings or they just get too floppy and will rattle and sound rubbish. Suggested gauge 14-60 or thereabouts.

Easiest way to do this is to use a tuner. Or drop Low E to D and then tune as normal. Then drop the D's down to C.

Songs that use Drop C Tuning: Toxicity (System Of A Down), Bandit (Neil Young).

Double Drop D Tuning :

Double Drop D Tuning means that you tune both the E strings down to D. This is used a lot in fingerstyle guitar, I really love this tuning.

What I like is that the middle 4 strings are all in normal tuning so most of your regular chord shapes word - and the thin string note of D adds a sweet sound to many chords: Regular C becomes Cadd9, Amin becomes Amin11, G becomes G7... to play D you just leave the thin string open. To play E you need to play the bass note at 2nd fret thickest string. It's quite easy and fun to play around with.

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Double Drop D	D	A	D	G	B	D

Use the open D string as a guide to tune your two outside E strings down a tone.

Songs that use Double Drop D Tuning: From Katie's Window (me!), Song For George (Eric Johnson), Cinnamon Girl (Neil Young).

DADGAD (D Modal Tuning or Celtic Tuning):

"Dad-gad" is a common folk tuning, not one that I get one with so much, no idea why... I have tried to like it, but it just doesn't connect the way other have for me... that said there are lots of cats around that make amazing songs using this tuning and it fun to play with.

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Double Drop D	D	A	D	G	A	D

There is only one note changed from Double Drop D - the second string lowered a tone.

Songs that use DADGAD: Drifting (Andy McKee), Kashmir (Led Zeppelin), lots of Irish music & check out.

Open G Tuning:

An "open tuning" is when you can play all the strings with no fingers on them and you will get a chord - for example and "Open G" tuning will produce notes that make up a G chord if you play all the strings but don't hold down any strings with your fretting hand.

Common in slide guitar because you can play the whole chord with all the notes in a line (in the one fret).

The classic shape is to go from G (TAB: x 0 0 0 0 0) to G6sus4 (TAB: x 0 2 0 1 0) - looks like you are playing an Amin7 shape. This chord movement is the big "trick" used by The Rolling Stones and many others. You would also use this shape to play a shuffle 12 Bar Blues. The 6sus4 shape works with barre chords too of course!

Important to note that the lowest root note is the 5th string - hence why Keith Richards famously took off the 6th string during the 70's - it wasn't needed!

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Open G	D	G	D	G	B	D

Get your guitar in Double Drop D and then Tune the A String down a tone.

Songs that use Open G Tuning: Honky Tonk Woman, Brown Sugar, Start Me Up (Rolling Stones), Bohemian Like You (Dandy Warhols).

Open G with a Drop C:

Maybe this is my tuning... I don't know of others that use it - but I very much doubt I am the first!. I write with it a lot, and love the sound of the low C.

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Open G Drop C	C	G	D	G	B	D

Songs that use Open G with Drop C Tuning: Broken, Falling Next To You

Open A:

You have a couple of options here - you can tune three strings up or use Open G and a capo!

To tune it open you tune strings 2/3/4 all up one tone each. That should not cause too much tension on the neck but I still usually get the guitar into Open G and put a capo on the 2nd fret!

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Open A	E	A	E	A	C#	E

Open D:

Lots of old blues styles use Open D but I never got on with it for slide, but enjoy experimenting with it, quite fun.

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Open D	D	A	D	F#	A	D

Start with DADGAD and then lower the G string by one semitone.

Songs that use Open D Tuning: Feelin Bad Blues (Ry Cooder, from Crossroads movie).

Open E:

Again with Open E you can choose to tune strings up, or use a capo with Open D. The risk with tuning strings up is that you create more tension in the neck and also strings are more likely to break. But it unlikely to damage your guitar, and breaking strings is not really a big deal...

So either Tune up strings 4/5 up a tone and 3 up a semitone, or use Open D Tuning and get a capo on the 2nd fret! Your choice.

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Open E	E	B	E	G#	B	E

Open C:

I'll be honest with you... I don't think I have used this one before - it was suggested on the forum, so I thought I would add it in, and I'm going to play with it later today and see what comes out! It looks like my kinda tuning!

Quite a lot to do here... string 6 down 2 tones, 4/5 down a tone and 2 up a semitone.

Note: somestimes the thin E is tuned down to a D.

String ->	6 (thick)	5	4	3	2	1 (thin)
Open C	C	G	C	G	C	E

Conclusion

Well there is a LOT to experiment with here - hope that answers many of your questions!!

If you know some more song examples (especially for the more unusual tunings, then please leave a note in this place!!).

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