Guitar Lesson 4

Lesson 4

In this lesson we will look at intervals and a C scale that can be moved anywhere to play any major scale. You will be able to say you can play all 12 major scales after this lesson. Plus we will have fun with power chords and the Greenday tune Brainstew

Review Lesson 3

Reading Lesson 4

Theory - Intervals

We learned about whole steps and half steps in lesson 1. The whole step can also be called a Major 2nd. A half step can be called a Minor 2nd.

In this lesson we will learn about major and minor 3rds and their importance to knowing whether a chord is major or minor.

Interval - distance between two notes.

In other words:

1 half step = minor 2nd
2 half steps = major 2nd
3 half steps = minor 3rd
4 half steps = major 3rd

Ear Training

As we learn about the 12 tones used in western music and how they relate to the guitar as scales and chords, it is important our ears are trained to listen.

Sure we are listening all the time but we should set a bit of practice time aside each day to work specifically on ear training.

Start by playing and singing the intervals above each day for a minute. Even if you do not consider yourself a singer, you should try and match the pitches the best you can. As you play them you should say both the note names and the interval name.

You could also at this point, sing your major scale saying the note names.

Major vs Minor (Part 1)

A chord is major or minor depending on the distance between the first (root) and the third degree. In lesson 3 we built the diatonic triads in the key of C major:

In all of the chords above, the root is the bottom note and the third is the middle note. The top note is the fifth but has nothing to do with a chord being major or minor.

The first chord built in the key of C is a C major chord and contains the notes C, E and G. The distance between the C and E would be two whole steps. The distance between these two notes is called a major third, making the chord major.

C Major

The chord built from the second degree is D minor and contains the notes D, F and A. This chord is minor because of the distance between the root (D) and the third (F). In this case the distance is one and a half steps or 3 half steps. This interval is called a minor third and therefore makes the chord minor.

D Minor

Another way to think of major vs minor: The 1st, 3rd and 5th degree taken from a major scale equals a major chord (1 3 5) . Lower the 3rd degree one half step and you have a minor chord (1 b3 5) .

Stack space space from the fourth degree (F) of the C major scale and we have the IV chord (F).

The distance between the root (F) and the third (A) is a major third (2 whole steps or 4 half steps).

This major 3rd makes the chord major.

M3 = 4 half steps

F Major

To make it minor we must lower the third one half step.

By lowering the A to Ab we now have 3 half steps between the root (F) and 3rd (Ab)

This minor 3rd makes the chord minor.

-3 = 3 half steps

F Minor

Note that the F minor triad could not belong to the key of C because the C scale didn't contain any sharps (#) or flats (b).

Listen

Listen carefully to the difference in sound between the major and minor triads.

Listen to the organ change from a Bb minor triad to a Bb major triad. This is the intro to a 311 tune named Jupiter.

2nd Position C Major Scale

Let's find another place to play the C scale we built in lesson 2 . This time in 2nd position. Notice that the D on the 5th fret sounds the same as our open D. Just another place to play it.

C major scale in 2nd position on guitar fretboard.

Note the half steps between E and F, B and C. Remember- Bert and Ernie

The great thing about this scale form is that we can move it up and down the fretboard to play other major scales.

Major scale forms will move just like the individual notes do. In other words, if you move the whole form up one whole step and use the same fingering, you would have a D major scale.

Get a piece of paper and build a D major scale and then try moving this scale form one whole step higher so that your 2nd finger is starting on D.

Pentatonic

Make the scale pentatonic by removing the 4th and 7th degree. In the case of C major you will remove the F and B.

Chords - The Power Chord

In the last lesson we learned how to build triads and the definition of a chord. The power chord doesn't even meet the qualifications for being a chord because it can consist of just 2 notes.

A power chord is simply the interval of a Perfect 5th (7 half steps). In other words, it is the 1st and 5th note of a major or minor scale played together.

5th Position

Add another root to make the chord sound bigger.

You can't listen to rock, pop, alternative, metal or country without hearing the Power chord and it is the main ingrediant in metal. Next up, let's have some fun with the power chord!

Greenday - Brianstew

We learned about the quarter rest last lesson and we learned that in 4/4 it was worth one beat. In other words, we didn't play for a beat. In between most of these power chords we have a quater note rest and an eighth note rest. Like an eighth note an eighth notes rest is worth half a beat.

So in the Greenday tune we will have to rest a beat and a half between the first 4 chords and then there is just an eighth note rest between the F and E power chord.

The complete breakdown will have you making sense of this in no time.

Get started here

Chord Progression

We learned an Em chord in lesson 1 and than C and Am chords in lesson 3. So now let us use these 3 chords in a simple progression. Your middle finger can stay down through the 3 chord changes.

Improvising

We will continue our improvising using the Greenday riff from below to solo over. For this exercise use your new C major scale from above.

Start with just one note at a time like we did in the last lesson. Once you are somewhat comfortable with the scale begin concentrating on creating an interesting solo.

A solo should have a beginning, middle and end much like a song. When we improvise we are essentially composing.

Some ideas to help create interesting solos:

Theme - main melody or subject of a piece of music or a solo.

Try creating a theme and playing different variations of it.

Use silence as part of your solo. Breath like in speech.

Use repetition. If you play something you like repeat it. As many times as you like.

Listen to the music you are soloing over.

Never forget rhythm!

Most importantly! HAVE FUN! This is music.

You may want to try using the pentatonic scale too. Remember take out the 4th and 7th (F and B).

Daily Practice Routine

C major scale - quarter notes and eighths notes in open position and 2nd position. Up and back down.
Strumming C chord to Am and Em to A and the new Em to C to Am
Finger Gymnastics
Ear Training (playing and singing the intervals you have learned so far - half step, whole step, minor 3rd and major 3rd)
Greenday Brainstew
My Girl

Review lesson 3

Move on to Lesson 5