Create Your Own Songs: Kevin Nichols Guitar Lessons
Lesson 3: Major Scale & Alternate Picking
Well hopefully by now you have a strong understanding of the minor pentatonic scale and are ready to move on to the next step in my lesson series. The major scale is the second scale that we will be learning. You probably are already somewhat familiar with the scale, even if you aren’t aware of it. Perhaps you can think back to your childhood when you might have sang Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do. This is the major scale, so let’s play it!!
As always here is a link to get everyone started. Just Copy and Paste it into address bar.
http://bit.ly/amyIIk
At the very top you should see the major scale pattern with numbers on each dot. These numbers indicate which finger you should use to hold the string down with to allow for the most optimal fingering. As you can see, starting from the 6th (thickest) string, you will play the first note with your 2nd finger (middle) and then your 4th (pinky). Moving down to the 5th string you will use your 1st (pointer), 2nd, and 4th fingers. The 4th string utilizes the 1st, 3rd (ring), and 4th fingers. The third string repeats the exact same pattern of the 4th string. I’m sure you understand now how the numbers coordinate with your fingers and can figure out the last two strings on your own. It is important that you play the scale backwards and forwards using alternate picking techniques.
Alternate picking is the technique of plucking the string using both down and up strokes. Therefore, if we look at the first two notes on the 6th string we can say that the first one would be hit with the down stroke of the pick, while the 2nd note hit will be caught on the upstroke. With practice, this will allow for faster more efficient playing. However, just because you are becoming an expert on the minor pentatonic scale doesn’t mean you can stop practicing it. Every day you practice, you should warm up by playing through the minor pentatonic and major scales using alternate picking techniques. Until next time, happy playing maestros!!!
Tuesday
Lesson 3: Minor Pentatonic Scale (Part 3)
Create Your Own Songs: Kevin Nichols Guitar Lessons
Lesson 3: Minor Pentatonic Scale – Pattern 3, 4, 5
Welcome back!!! We are now ready to begin pattern three of the minor pentatonic scale. If you followed the first two lessons you should be beginning to grasp how all five patterns of the scale fit together. If not, hopefully this lesson will begin to instill the idea. This is the same link I have directed you too in the first two lessons, but for good measure here it is again. To make it easier on yourself, I suggest opening up a separate window for both the following link and this lesson. This way you can easily switch between both screens.
Since my links never seem to be clickable, just paste it into your address bar and it should work..
http://guitarsphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/minor-pentatonic-scale.jpg
Once you have it open take a look at pattern three of the minor pentatonic scale. As we discussed in the last lesson, pattern three will take off from the fret of the 6th (thickest) string where the second pattern leaves off. For instance, if we play pattern one starting on the third fret, but only play the two notes of this pattern that are located on the 6th (thickest) string we end up on the 6th fret of the 6th (thickest) string.
From the 6th fret of the 6th string we then start pattern two. Again, only playing the first two notes of this pattern located on the 6th string will take us to the 8th fret of the 6th string. This is where pattern three begins.
Start pattern three exactly where the last note of pattern two left off, starting from the 6th (thickest string) and playing all the way down to the 1st (thinnest) string. What you should begin to see is that all the patterns of the minor pentatonic scale link together to create one enormous scale that can be played all the way down the fretboard assuming you know all the positions. So now learn pattern four and five in the same manner and you will have truly unlocked the neck of the guitar.
You may be asking yourself, well what happens after pattern five? I mean there’s still guitar neck that hasn’t been touched!!! You would be right, and after pattern five ends just begin pattern one again, then pattern two, etc. The scale basically just repeats itself until you have no more frets to play (or where guitar neck meets guitar body). You now know the complete minor pentatonic scale which can be started from any fret. Good luck players and if you have any questions feel free to comment!!!
Lesson 3: Minor Pentatonic Scale – Pattern 3, 4, 5
Welcome back!!! We are now ready to begin pattern three of the minor pentatonic scale. If you followed the first two lessons you should be beginning to grasp how all five patterns of the scale fit together. If not, hopefully this lesson will begin to instill the idea. This is the same link I have directed you too in the first two lessons, but for good measure here it is again. To make it easier on yourself, I suggest opening up a separate window for both the following link and this lesson. This way you can easily switch between both screens.
Since my links never seem to be clickable, just paste it into your address bar and it should work..
http://guitarsphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/minor-pentatonic-scale.jpg
Once you have it open take a look at pattern three of the minor pentatonic scale. As we discussed in the last lesson, pattern three will take off from the fret of the 6th (thickest) string where the second pattern leaves off. For instance, if we play pattern one starting on the third fret, but only play the two notes of this pattern that are located on the 6th (thickest) string we end up on the 6th fret of the 6th (thickest) string.
From the 6th fret of the 6th string we then start pattern two. Again, only playing the first two notes of this pattern located on the 6th string will take us to the 8th fret of the 6th string. This is where pattern three begins.
Start pattern three exactly where the last note of pattern two left off, starting from the 6th (thickest string) and playing all the way down to the 1st (thinnest) string. What you should begin to see is that all the patterns of the minor pentatonic scale link together to create one enormous scale that can be played all the way down the fretboard assuming you know all the positions. So now learn pattern four and five in the same manner and you will have truly unlocked the neck of the guitar.
You may be asking yourself, well what happens after pattern five? I mean there’s still guitar neck that hasn’t been touched!!! You would be right, and after pattern five ends just begin pattern one again, then pattern two, etc. The scale basically just repeats itself until you have no more frets to play (or where guitar neck meets guitar body). You now know the complete minor pentatonic scale which can be started from any fret. Good luck players and if you have any questions feel free to comment!!!
Monday
Lesson 2: Minor Pentatonic Scale (Part 2)
Create Your Own Songs: Kevin Nichols Guitar Lessons
Lesson 2: Minor Pentatonic Scale – Pattern 2
Glad to have everyone back!! I hope you found enjoyment in our last lesson and are ready to begin the next one, so grab your guitar and let’s play! Position two of the minor pentatonic scale takes off where the first position leaves off, and allows for the connection of the two patterns to create one “monster” scale. So what does this mean you may ask? This allows you to stay in the same key while moving down the neck. For instance, In the last lesson I had you play the first position starting on the 3rd fret and then play the same pattern again on the 4th,5th, etc. The problem is that every time you play the first pattern on the next fret you have changed keys. This time you will start playing the second pattern where the first pattern leaves off on the 6th string (thickest string). This will fix the problem.
So load up the second pattern of the minor pentatonic scale and let’s do it! Here’s the link. Courtesy of guitarsphere.com
http://guitarsphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/minor-pentatonic-scale.jpg
If the link doesn’t work, just copy and paste into your address bar.
To give you an example, if you play the first pattern only on the 6th string (thickest string) starting on the 3rd fret, the second note you play ends up on the 6th fret of the 6th string (thickest string). So now, launch the second pattern of the minor pentatonic scale from the 6th fret and play all the way down to the 1st string (thinnest) and all the way back up to the 6th string from where you started on the 6th fret. So now play the first pattern and the second pattern together. What you should realize, is that doing this allows you to play further down the neck without changing keys. This means any notes you play from these two patterns as long as you link them together will sound in key, correct, and appealing to the ear. While it may take some practice to flow from one pattern to the next, it will certainly become easier the more you do it. Once you get the hang of it you don’t necessarily have to switch patterns on the 6th (thickest) string, but instead can slide in between the two patterns on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th string.
To give you one more example, start the first pattern of the minor pentatonic scale on the 5th fret of the 6th (thickest) string. So if you play the second note in the scale where does your finger end up on the 6th string? If you did it right, it should end up on the 8th fret of the 6th (thickest) string. So this is where you should launch the second pattern of the scale, from the 8th fret of the 6th (thickest) string. If you play these two patterns together, first pattern from the 5th fret and then the second pattern from the 8th fret you will notice that all the notes sound good together. This will allow for greater versatility and certainly more creativity in your playing. Until next time, have an amazing time playing!!! If you have any questions feel free to comment.
Lesson 2: Minor Pentatonic Scale – Pattern 2
Glad to have everyone back!! I hope you found enjoyment in our last lesson and are ready to begin the next one, so grab your guitar and let’s play! Position two of the minor pentatonic scale takes off where the first position leaves off, and allows for the connection of the two patterns to create one “monster” scale. So what does this mean you may ask? This allows you to stay in the same key while moving down the neck. For instance, In the last lesson I had you play the first position starting on the 3rd fret and then play the same pattern again on the 4th,5th, etc. The problem is that every time you play the first pattern on the next fret you have changed keys. This time you will start playing the second pattern where the first pattern leaves off on the 6th string (thickest string). This will fix the problem.
So load up the second pattern of the minor pentatonic scale and let’s do it! Here’s the link. Courtesy of guitarsphere.com
http://guitarsphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/minor-pentatonic-scale.jpg
If the link doesn’t work, just copy and paste into your address bar.
To give you an example, if you play the first pattern only on the 6th string (thickest string) starting on the 3rd fret, the second note you play ends up on the 6th fret of the 6th string (thickest string). So now, launch the second pattern of the minor pentatonic scale from the 6th fret and play all the way down to the 1st string (thinnest) and all the way back up to the 6th string from where you started on the 6th fret. So now play the first pattern and the second pattern together. What you should realize, is that doing this allows you to play further down the neck without changing keys. This means any notes you play from these two patterns as long as you link them together will sound in key, correct, and appealing to the ear. While it may take some practice to flow from one pattern to the next, it will certainly become easier the more you do it. Once you get the hang of it you don’t necessarily have to switch patterns on the 6th (thickest) string, but instead can slide in between the two patterns on 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th string.
To give you one more example, start the first pattern of the minor pentatonic scale on the 5th fret of the 6th (thickest) string. So if you play the second note in the scale where does your finger end up on the 6th string? If you did it right, it should end up on the 8th fret of the 6th (thickest) string. So this is where you should launch the second pattern of the scale, from the 8th fret of the 6th (thickest) string. If you play these two patterns together, first pattern from the 5th fret and then the second pattern from the 8th fret you will notice that all the notes sound good together. This will allow for greater versatility and certainly more creativity in your playing. Until next time, have an amazing time playing!!! If you have any questions feel free to comment.
Lesson 1: Minor Pentatonic Scale
Create Your Own Songs: Kevin Nichols Guitar Lessons
Lesson 1: Minor Pentatonic Scale
Learning to play guitar can be as simple or as complicated process as you make it out to be. Depending on the teacher, the environment, or your desire to learn, it can be one of the easiest or arduous tasks ever devised. Before I began to have a deep understanding of music theory playing guitar was limited to a few basic songs that enlisted basic chords. While there is nothing wrong with this level of playing, personal experience has led me to believe that many people want to be creative with their guitar playing rather than simply repeat someone else’s musical vision. I have had horrendous teachers and extraordinary ones. While everyone learns in their own fashion, there are a few strategies and steps when learned in the correct order can help anyone became a guitar legend (well at least at home), but if structured in an improper manner can lead to confusion and frustration with the instrument. It is my hope that over the next few months I will enable you with all the capabilities to become an amazing musician in your own right. This is not a “become a guitar god in 7 days” lesson series or program, but instead a new perspective on the instrument taught in a way that avoids much of the confusion associated with learning the guitar. I’ve seen the pitfalls of a bad teacher and the results of an amazing one. So let me help, and let me be that amazing teacher for you!
To get the fingers plucking let’s begin with a simple scale that will enable you to start developing riffs even if you know absolutely nothing else on guitar. Now, many teachers will praise learning the major scale as the first step in music theory but I beg to differ. Instead, since this is a new type of lesson I’m trying to teach, let’s do this.
Here is a link to get you started courtesy of www.guitarsphere.com!!
http://bit.ly/bmmflr
*(Open a New page and copy and paste the link up in your address bar: Then in the upper hand corner click: See full size image )
The Minor Pentatonic Scale is a simple scale that provides the basic framework for creating great riffs. Start with pattern 1 on the 3rd fret. Take note that the bottom line is actually the low sounding (thickest) string of the guitar while the dots are where you hold down the fretboard while plucking the string with your back hand. Now practice playing pattern 1 starting from the 4th fret, then the 5th, then the 6th, etc. Don’t worry about any of the other patterns just yet. Pattern 1 will be played the same way down the whole fretboard; the only difference is the fret from which you start from.
Good Luck fellow players!!! If you have questions feel free to reach me through twitter at twitter.com/kevnicholsmusic or comment on my blog page and I’ll respond as quick as possible : )
Kevin Nichols
Lesson 1: Minor Pentatonic Scale
Learning to play guitar can be as simple or as complicated process as you make it out to be. Depending on the teacher, the environment, or your desire to learn, it can be one of the easiest or arduous tasks ever devised. Before I began to have a deep understanding of music theory playing guitar was limited to a few basic songs that enlisted basic chords. While there is nothing wrong with this level of playing, personal experience has led me to believe that many people want to be creative with their guitar playing rather than simply repeat someone else’s musical vision. I have had horrendous teachers and extraordinary ones. While everyone learns in their own fashion, there are a few strategies and steps when learned in the correct order can help anyone became a guitar legend (well at least at home), but if structured in an improper manner can lead to confusion and frustration with the instrument. It is my hope that over the next few months I will enable you with all the capabilities to become an amazing musician in your own right. This is not a “become a guitar god in 7 days” lesson series or program, but instead a new perspective on the instrument taught in a way that avoids much of the confusion associated with learning the guitar. I’ve seen the pitfalls of a bad teacher and the results of an amazing one. So let me help, and let me be that amazing teacher for you!
To get the fingers plucking let’s begin with a simple scale that will enable you to start developing riffs even if you know absolutely nothing else on guitar. Now, many teachers will praise learning the major scale as the first step in music theory but I beg to differ. Instead, since this is a new type of lesson I’m trying to teach, let’s do this.
Here is a link to get you started courtesy of www.guitarsphere.com!!
http://bit.ly/bmmflr
*(Open a New page and copy and paste the link up in your address bar: Then in the upper hand corner click: See full size image )
The Minor Pentatonic Scale is a simple scale that provides the basic framework for creating great riffs. Start with pattern 1 on the 3rd fret. Take note that the bottom line is actually the low sounding (thickest) string of the guitar while the dots are where you hold down the fretboard while plucking the string with your back hand. Now practice playing pattern 1 starting from the 4th fret, then the 5th, then the 6th, etc. Don’t worry about any of the other patterns just yet. Pattern 1 will be played the same way down the whole fretboard; the only difference is the fret from which you start from.
Good Luck fellow players!!! If you have questions feel free to reach me through twitter at twitter.com/kevnicholsmusic or comment on my blog page and I’ll respond as quick as possible : )
Kevin Nichols
Why I Play: Kevin Nichols
It is perplexing that something as complex as audio waves shifting in various fashions and time sequences can be referred to as what we call music. Various genres of music can effect how we see a certain situation, deal with a conundrum, or even completely rearrange our outlook on life. It is these feelings, emotions, or whatever else you may call it that has given birth to countless musician's over the years. One of these children in hopes of a musical life was me.
As a kid I would always roam onto my parent's piano and hit a few keys that would bellow out a dissonant sound. On occasion I would combine a few notes that would develop a pleasant little melody but would last only moments before it quickly fell out of key. Even the guitar would be at the end of my maelstrom style of playing. It wasn't until the age of 13 that I began to take guitar lessons and have songs like “Hey Jude” forced upon me. I would practice meticulously but never seemed to get the same joy out of playing others compositions as I did from creating my own riffs and chord progressions. While I had no former understanding of music theory I worked with what sounded good. I eventually fell out of touch with music and didn't pick the instrument back up until age 17. After a spurt with an awful guitar teacher I quickly landed a spot with an amazing musician. I immediately became enthralled with the instrument devoting myself to learning scales, modes, chords, inversions, and voicings. Putting the instrument down for more than a day was never an option, nothing brought me more joy than simply playing the guitar. I had the greatest pleasure of playing with my best friends in a band and jamming with countless college musicians who stumbled into our house on random inebriated nights. I now sit as a 21 year old college student studying business who can't stop dreaming of bending strings.
As a kid I would always roam onto my parent's piano and hit a few keys that would bellow out a dissonant sound. On occasion I would combine a few notes that would develop a pleasant little melody but would last only moments before it quickly fell out of key. Even the guitar would be at the end of my maelstrom style of playing. It wasn't until the age of 13 that I began to take guitar lessons and have songs like “Hey Jude” forced upon me. I would practice meticulously but never seemed to get the same joy out of playing others compositions as I did from creating my own riffs and chord progressions. While I had no former understanding of music theory I worked with what sounded good. I eventually fell out of touch with music and didn't pick the instrument back up until age 17. After a spurt with an awful guitar teacher I quickly landed a spot with an amazing musician. I immediately became enthralled with the instrument devoting myself to learning scales, modes, chords, inversions, and voicings. Putting the instrument down for more than a day was never an option, nothing brought me more joy than simply playing the guitar. I had the greatest pleasure of playing with my best friends in a band and jamming with countless college musicians who stumbled into our house on random inebriated nights. I now sit as a 21 year old college student studying business who can't stop dreaming of bending strings.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
