MATT'S LESSON PAGE
LESSON 1Hi Matt! Welcome to your lesson page. Let's jump right in...
First, we were talking about Keys and chords in keys. I made this tab/chart to help illustrate the concept. It's pretty simple: find your major scale from the chromatic scale (using the WWhWWWh pattern) and make your triads based on each scale degree. Remember that these patterns will hold true for ALL MAJOR KEYS! I made a video with the licks we added to "This Land is Your Land." I also wrote out a few bluegrass/flatpicking licks in the key of G. The kind of stuff you might find on that True Fire thing. They'll help you to start turning some of these scales we're learning into more musical lines! Good luck and see you next week, z |
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LESSON 2Hi Matt! Today we're talking about the CAGED system, a few bluegrass runs, and some CCR! The CAGED system is pretty simple. 5 major scale shapes based on the open chord shapes C, A, G, E, D. When you practice them see if you can visualize the shapes of the chord tones while you play the scale. You can practice the arpeggios (just playing the chord tones) as well. All shapes can be played in any key!
In the video I review the bluegrass lick we were working on over G, C and D chords. See if you can see how each version of this lick sits in the CAGED system. Once you can see that pattern, you'll be able to move the lick around the guitar to any key you want. Special homework: Play the lick as many times as humanly possible over "Midnight Special." Fogerty won't mind a bit:) Creedence did it in the key of D. So you can change the chart to the key of G like we were working on (good practice!) You can work on it in the key of D too if you have the time. Have fun! See you next week, Z |
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Lesson 3
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Matt - Here is a video going over the C shape in the key of D. Practice the chord shape and arpeggio and then see if you can visualize the scale around that shape. I made you a long D drone so you can blast off and play around with the scale and shape. While your doing that and getting used to the fingerings and such, take notice of how each one of the scale tones sounds over the drone. They each have their own color. Have fun!
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Lesson 4
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Hey Matt! Today we're looking at Ashokan Farewell in D major. You should be able to figure it out pretty well from the video and the chart. Remember to use the C shape from the CAGED system starting on the 5th fret (key of D). Get the melody down and then use the notes in the D major scale to solo over the chord changes. Listen to how the notes sound over the chords as they pass by, and try to get that shape solid in your fingers. Have fun and good luck!
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lesson 5
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Hi Matt! We're looking at some arpeggios this week. Arpeggios are used when you want to outline the tones of a chord. You can think of them as playing a chord as a line or melody (liquid) rather then as a block (frozen). I wrote out all of the arpeggios in the C shape (Key of D) for Ashokan Farewell. Practice them slowly and then see if you can connect them over the backing track to outline the chords as they pass by. It's fun! Like temporal Sudoku. Have fun, and I'll see you next week, Z.
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Lesson 6
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Hey Matt! Today we're talking about intervals. Hopefully this will give you something to grab on to while you search for all those scale and arpeggio shapes!! Intervals are simply the space or distance between two notes. The smallest interval being a half step and the largest being limited only by our ears and instrument. This set of exercises is designed to help you see these intervals as a shape between two adjacent strings. The shapes will be consistent from string to string, with a one fret adjustment between the 3rd and 2nd strings. Check out the exercises and see if you can find these shapes and intervals in Ashokan Farewell. Remember that a Major triad is made up of a Major 3rd and a Minor 3rd. A Minor triad is made up of a Minor 3rd and a Major 3rd. Have fun and good luck! Z
lesson 7Hey Matt! We're talking about arpeggios and ear training today. The ear training website I wanted you to check out is https://www.good-ear.com/. There are also some really great apps out there you can check out. First we'll focus on ascending intervals up to a perfect 5th. Here are your song prompts:
1/2 step: jaws whole step: sound of music minor third: lullaby major third: mary had a little lamb( ma -ry -had. the ma is the major third) 4th: here comes the bride tri-tone: Hendrix 5th: Star Wars You can substitute any other tunes you find that work well for you. So listen to the ascending intervals and identify!! The Arpeggio etude is explained well in the video. Take it one arpeggio at at time and try to work it up to where you can play the whole thing smoothly over the chord changes. Good luck and have fun! See you next week, z |
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