Note1: When making the lesson name, the numbering system used reflects each note of the system with respect to the major scale, where “1,” is the root note of the Ionian Major scale, and all Ionian notes are considered to be major, instead of flat or sharp.
Note2: These notes can be played on strings 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4, and 5 and 6, where 1 is the fattest string and 6 is the thinnest string. Notice that the 4th and 5th string are not included, and that is due to the effect of standard tuning, such that the nature of the intervals would change.
Note4: The pick can be gripped in several different ways. Personally, these days I usually grip it between my thumb and index finger. However, for more power, consider practicing by holding the pick also with the middle, and/or the ring finger. This is especially important with acoustic guitars where the power with which one strikes the guitar is usually very important.
Note5: These exercises are meant to do with great amounts of repetition. Each time you play them, count the 4 notes, and stress the first of the 4 every time. Repetition is the key to success. I have probably done each of these exercises millions of times.
The Lesson Itself
6:1 Except for the 4th and 5th strings this pattern of intervals is true at any place on the guitar.
6:2 The root is always played with the index finger in this exercise. The 2nd note, which is the flat 2nd in comparison to the root note, is always played with the middle finger in this exercise. The flat 2nd is a half step up from the root which means it should be played in the same string, at the next higher up adjacent fret, and that pattern is true at any place on the fret board. The 3rd note is a flat 5th in comparison to the root note, and it is reached by skipping to the next highest string, and is always played with the middle finger on the next highest string in most instances. The 4th note of the repeatable pattern is a 2nd played with the ring finger, but this time rather than a half step, a whole step is used, which means for instance that if the root note is on the 5th fret, a whole step up would be the same string, but at the 7th fret on the same string as the root note. In order to calculate a whole step up, just add 2 frets to the root not and you will be there. For instance, if the root note is at the 6th fret, 6+2=8, such that the 2nd interval is at the 8th fret.
6:2 Try alternating picking, where down strokes are followed by upstrokes, and also practice using all down strokes. which is described by up and down movements as opposed to a style that would use all down strokes. The aim is through repeating this exercise hundreds or thousands of times, speed, fluidity and outright finesse will be developed.
6:3 Whether you are positioned at the 12th fret, the 7th fret, the 5th fret, or the 1st fret, or any other fret for that matter; or if you use the 1st and 2nd string, the 2nd and 3rd string, or the 5th and 6th string etc., on the string used for doubles for this exercise, the pattern remains the same. The index finger will play the lowest note with respect to tonality, and that will be the root note.
6:4 So, for now, as the note says, forget the 4th and 5th strings for this lesson series because their tonality doesn’t follow the same interval pattern because in standard tuning these strings are tuned to different intervals than the other strings.
Note6: I learned how to play a guitar strung for a righty as a left hand person. Thus, some of these exercises are extremely difficult, while doing other things on my guitar come much more naturally. This is what landed me in a good jazz band while I was still in High School. However, to be a real player, I had to become completely ambidextrous. That is, as a lefty, I had to make my right hand to be the dominant hand. However, these exercises are every bit as relative to any player, ambidextrous, righty or lefty. I do believe one of the greatest aspects of guitar as a musical instrument is that it enables a player to challenge himself or herself, especially their weaker hand. Some of these exercises may come easy for you, but I can almost guarantee that they all won’t.
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