Lesson 1 The Basic & Fundamental

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Lesson 1 The Basic & Fundamental

In this lesson you will read some very basic introduction on scale, chord, chord progression, and its position on a guitar.
However this is the introductory lesson, so the topics that discussed here is very shallow and not too deep so that even a beginner guitarist could understand.

1. Score and Tablature

    1st  ---3-------------3---
    2nd  ---3------3----------
    3rd  ---0-----------------
    4th  ---0-----------------
    5th  ---2-----------------
    6th  ---3-----------------

The six line above are representing the six string on a guitar with the top line is the highest pitch string and the bottom line is the lowest pitch string. The number on the line is the fret's number.

The example above is what strumming and arpeggiating The Gmajor Chord looks like on a tablature. It said something like this, fret the 6th string on a 3rd fret, 5th string on a 2nd fret, let go the 4th and 3th strings (but still strum on them), fret the 2nd and the 1st strings on a 3rd fret. After make them ring for a quarter note (1 beat), hit the 2nd string on a 3rd fret for 1 beat then the 1st string on a 3rd fret for 1 beat.

2. SCALE ( introductory )

1.The Chromatic Scale

The chromatic scale consist of all notes that is available on a guitar.
The chromatic scale pattern is (from the root note) 1/2-1/2-1/2-1/2-1/2-1/2-1/2-1/2-1/2-1/2-1/2-
1/2 or G(the root note)-Ab-A-Bb-B-C-Db-D-Eb-E-F-Gb-G(the root note again).
The interval of 1/2 is equal to interval of 1 fret on a guitar, the 1 interval is equal to
interval of 2 fret on a guitar and so on.

2.The Major Scale

The major scale pattern is (from the root note) 1-1-1/2-1-1-1-1/2 or G(The root note)-A-B-C-D-E-Gb-G.
You can change the root note but the pattern is still the same, example C(the root note)-D-E-F-G-A-B-C.

3.The Blues Scale

The blues scale is a pentatonic scale ( meaning 5 notes per scale ).
The Blues scale pattern is 1 1/2 - 1 - 1 - 1 1/2 - 1 or E(the root note)-G-A-B-D-E.
You can change the root note but the pattern is still the same, example A(the root note)-C-D-E-
G-A.

Above is just a little example on scale. There is many more on scale but we will discuss it on a later
lesson.

Below is the note position on a guitar up to the 12th fret (on basic tuning). On and above the 12th fret, the note name and position is loop back to the zero fret (the 13th fret on the 1st string note is the same with the 1st fret on the 1st string, the 15th fret with the 3rd fret and so on). There is also some other "alternate tuning" but I will cover them on a different lessons.

3. Chord and Chords Progression (Introductory)

Chord and chord progression is the skeleton of Song.
A Chord is usually consist of three notes that can be played simultaneously or arpeggiated (Playing a series of note on different strings one at a time )
Here is some of the chord formula and their position on a guitar.

Major Chord (1-3-5) example: Gmaj chord = G - B - D
Minor Chord (1-2 1/2 - 5) example: A minor chord = A - C - E

There is also one chord that is known as the "Power Chord" or "Metal" chord. The Power chord consist of only 1 - 5 - 1
(The root note and the fifth), example G5(G power chord) is G - D - G

.
G5 / G "Power" chord.

(For A5 / A "power" chord, slide the form two frets down the neck. B5 four frets down the neck and so on)

The main advantage for this chord is it can be easily fretted and moved across the fret board. A Rock / Heavy metal music usually employed this kind of chord. This chord also bring some "Power" feeling into the music. Just try it ! its the easiest form of chord.

When the series of chords are being put together, it create a Chord Progression.
For example : |G---|Am---|C---|D---| is play the G chord for 1 bar then the Am chord for 1 bar, C chord for 1 bar and D chord for 1 bar.
A song usually can be directly identified just by listening to its chord progression.
A chord progression is the blueprint of a song.
I will cover more about chords and chord progression on the future lesson.

4. How the lessons work

This lessons were made by me to help others who want to play a guitar
There's an exercise tablature on the next lessons with MIDI and Real Audio samples to hear what the music should sound from the tablature

On the next two lessons, you'll be train to have some basic fingers mechanics skills to fret / play the guitar.
Then on the 4th up to the 9th lessons I'll tell you about some basic musical concepts such as scales, modes, chord construction / theory, chords progression and an introductory lessons on phrasing and improvising the solo.
And from the 10th to the 12th lesson I'll introduce you to an advanced guitar technique such as sweep picking, tapping, three-note per string, natural harmonics, pinch harmonics and so on.
From that lesson onward, I'll write some lessons that (I hope) could open your musical / guitar playing horizon and scope with topics such as alternate tuning guitar, slide guitar, blues guitar, ethnical scale playing , improvising a solo and some lessons on how to write a song / solo.

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