My Guitar Book Complete
My Guitar Book Complete
My Guitar Book Complete
caryandcate.com
1) My Guitar Tutor
2) My Guitar Progressions
3) My Guitar Scales
4) My Guitar Journal
Reference
213 Scales
247 Modes
(1) Start with memorizing the names of the six strings in order:
EADGBe
Play each string and let it ring out as you say the string name, then move on to the next. On e, reverse
down the strings saying each string's name.
(2) Beginning with the low-E (thickest string), move your fingers up the fretboard, from the open
string to the 12th fret (one octave) picking each note as you move up one fret to play it, saying each
note's name:
E F F# G Ab A Bb B C Db D Eb E
A Bb B C Db D Eb E F F# G Ab A
These two strings are especially important to learn. (Later, you can work on
the others.)
G Em C D
Learn to play each chord individually, picking each note and making sure it
isn't muted and that it rings out clearly. Then strum each chord for a while
to make sure you have it down. Finally, play the chord sequence of the
progression, four strums for each chord. At the end of the progression, go
back to the beginning and strum them all again. Do this until you are sure
you have it.
Continue through the book, mastering each chord, progression, and scale.
You can be assured that if you do, you will have moved from being a
beginner toward accomplishing your goal of becoming a Pro!
The strings on a guitar begin on the thickest string. That is the "low E" string. The thinnest
string is the "high e" string. Use a tuner to tune the strings as shown: E A D G B e
The frets on a guitar are where you place your fingers to alter the pitch of that string. The
lowest note possible with standard tuning is the low-E. You can play single notes "arpeggiated"
as in scales or strum some or all together while playing chords.
Notes of
E and A strings
Triad – Three-note chord with only the 1st, 3rd, and 5th scale notes.
Headstock – The top of the neck which contains the tuning knobs.
Tremolo Bar – A metal bar connected to the bridge of some electric guitars
used for quickly varying the pitch.
Bridge – The part on the front of the guitar body that keeps the strings in
place.
Standard Tuning – Tuning the guitar strings to EADGBE. There are also
non-standard tunings, such as "Drop D" tuning (DADGBE).
Half Step – Move up or down a fret.
However, the diatonic scale contains only 8 tones. The scale is also one octave, but it is composed of
half-steps (two of them) and whole-steps.
In both, there is a half-step (one guitar fret) between E and F, and between B and C. The rest are a
whole step (two frets) between notes.
So, the minor scale steps (W=Whole step, H=half step) are:
whwwhww
Chords
Playing a Chord on the Guitar
The solid black line at the top of the chord diagram below represents the nut of the guitar, where the
neck of the guitar becomes playable. The six vertical lines are the strings, labeled by their names "E
A D G B e" from thickest to thinnest. Each horizontal line below is a fret. Fingering one of the frets
changes the pitch of that fret. You play by picking or plucking either single notes or strumming a
chord, which is more than one note played together. The empty circles below show open notes that
are played without pressing any finger along that string. (An "X" above the nut indicates a string that
is not to be played in the chord.) The dark note (with a circle around the note) is called the root note.
This is sometimes referred to as the "bass note" of the chord. The first chord often sets the key of a
group of chords within a song that make up the chord progression of the song.
G MAJOR chord
E A D G B E
Power Chords
On the E, A & D strings, go up and down the fretboard, using your pointing finger and your
ring finger to press down on the strings. On the 3-string chords, use your ring finger to hold
down two strings at once.
The chord you are playing is the note of the fretboard where your pointing finger is placed.
A New Beginning...
Chords are the building blocks of guitar mastery. Learn chords to play the
chord progressions within a key to play songs. Arpeggiate single notes on
strings and strum chords to produce music.
Begin with a chord progression that you feel comfortable with. The
progression in the "Key of G" below is a good place to begin. Learn the
chords individually, then link them- in a pattern of four strums per chord.
G / / / Em / / / C / / / D / / /
Major chords
Minor chords
Alternate Fingerings
Many beginners have problems with some of the chord fingerings, especially during the early
learning process.
This seems to be true for most when learning to play the "F" chord. Here are a few ways you can play
this chord, AFTER you have progressed to this skill level:
Until you reach that skill level, use alternate fingerings, as below. Even for pros, it is sometimes
easier not to play a complete chord, but a partial instead.
A Chord
B Chord
C Chord
D Chord
E Chord
F Chord
G Chord
Am Chord
Bm Chord
Cm Chord
Dm Chord
Em Chord
Fm Chord
Gm Chord
G is a good key to begin with.
A barre (placing your finger across all frets across the fretboard) or a capo replaces the nut as
the beginning of the fretboard.
Examples: By placing either your finger as a barre or a capo entirely across the third fret changes an E7 chord to an G7 chord.
Placing a barre or capo on the fifth string changes an A chord to a D chord.
Barre Chords
A barre is formed by placing a finger (often the first finger) across the
fretboard, acting like the guitar nut as a beginning of the fretboard but on a
higher fret than the nut.
You can barre any chord, but most widely used are the E and the A chords
(this is why it is essential to learn the notes of the first 12 frets of the E and
A strings). It would be nearly impossible to play popular music (rock,
country, etc.) without knowing barre chords. (Other popular barred chords
include Em and Am.)
More on Barre Chords
To play an E Barre chord in its open chord position, place your middle finger on G#, your ring finger
on B, and your pinkie on E. This will leave your first finger free to barre the fretboard as you move it
to higher frets while keeping intact the E chord with your other fingers.
Slide your first finger up to the 5th fret and you are now playing an A chord. Bring your first finger
back to the third fret and you are playing G. Drop the first finger back behind the nut and you are
playing an E chord again.
You can do the same with the A chord, except you use a double-barre. The first finger is saved as a
barre while your ring finger bars E A C#. You keep the ring finger in place as you slide your first
finger up the fretboard. With a 5th fret barre, you are now playing a D chord.
You can now see why you need to know the notes of the E and A strings.
There are thousands of chord progressions. The following pages are a representative collection that
will provide the knowledge to play many if not most of the songs you will want to play. Use these
progressions to practice your craft & hone your skills to become a Pro.
The top diagrams are the "open chords" version of the progressions. The lower diagrams are
the "barre chords" version. Both are correct. You can use either, or any combination of the
two.
An "X" means "do not play this string." Double-circled notes are the "bass note" of the chord.
Dark circles indicate the root notes of the chord. Light circles are other notes within the chord.
The "barre" symbols over a group of notes means play these together, using one finger across
the fretboard.
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Key of C Major
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
Chord Progressions
More Progressions
Even More Progressions
Yet More Progressions
Major Seventh Chords
Dominant Seventh Chords
Minor Seventh Chords
Suspended 4th Chords
Resolve back to the unsuspended chord. So, for example, play "D - D sus4 -
D"
Open Major Sixth Chords
Open Minor Sixth Chords
Add9 Chords
Diminished Chords
Augmented Chords
Augmented 7th Chords
Scales & Modes
Playing Scales on the Guitarist
Note: If just beginning to play guitar, be sure to check out this book's section on CHORDS before attempting to play Scales.
Rock and country bands employ three or more players, typically at least four: a drummer, a bass player, a rhythm player, and a
lead player. Rhythm players most often play the chord progression of the song, while lead players play notes over those chords
using scales that lie within the key of the song. (A complete guitar player should learn to play both rhythm and lead.) The
remainder of this book takes the guitar player beyond the chords of the rhythm player into the wild and wooly scales of the lead
guitarist. Work on combining both for the best of both worlds, taking you Beyond the Basics!
You are advised to try out the Major and minor pentatonic scales first, and choose a couple of each to practice religiously to master
only those. THEN, begin to add other scale patterns.
Find someone else to play with, swapping rhythm and lead playing. Alternately, find backing tracks on the internet to play along
with. Fret numbers are beneath each diagram and indicate the fret on which to place each finger on the indicated string.
First try the "A Minor Pentatonic Position 1" scale along with a backing track in the key of A minor. Place your 1st finger on the
root note and the other fingers across the fretboard. Your 1st finger plays the A, your pinkie plays the C, your 1st finger plays D,
your ring finger plays E, your 1st finger plays G, then your ring finger plays A to complete the octave. Then continue in the same
manner up to the A on the "little e" string. Try to match the note to the chord change (play an A note on the Am chord, etc.).
The diagram below is called a "scale diagram". Where the chord diagrams showed the nut at the top, these scale diagrams "lie on
their sides" and represent the neck of the guitar with the nut on the left side of the diagram, with horizontal strings.
Info About Scales
The following scales are presented as one scale position per page. This allows the player to focus on
learning each scale position at a time. Each diagram has root notes (indicated by the dark circles),
which are most often the first note played in the use of that scale position. More than not, the higher
octave is the lead player's realm, leaving the lower octave to the bass player. This is not the only way
to play lead. Another favorite of many is to begin solos on a lower register, then progress to the
higher notes.
Master one scale position at a time. It is not necessary to learn them in order (although this would be
the "perfect" way to learn). Choose a pattern, such as the first position of the minor pentatonic scale
(a favorite starting point). After becoming proficient with it, then choose an adjoining pattern, such as
position 5 of the same scale, and begin to put them together, sliding one finger to drop or raise from
one position to the other. You should begin with major and minor pentatonic scales before venturing
into more difficult other scales. In any case, enjoy!
More Scales Info
As an example of how to play a scale pattern in this book, we will use the A Major Pentatonic
Shape#1 diagram (the first scale position in Scales & Modes).
The top diagram shows which notes fit into this shape, and the bottom indicates which fingers to use
to play the notes. 1=your pointing finger, 2=your middle finger, 3=your ring finger, and 4=your
pinkie. This is the preferred way to play the scale position, but individual choice can overrule that.
This page shows the pattern in the key of A. If possible, someone can play a chord progression in that
key (or perhaps a YouTube backing track) while you solo over it using this position.
Your middle finger will be on an A note as you pluck the E string, then move your pinkie to play the
next note (B). Then move to the A string to play C# then E, and finally to the D string to play F# then
A. That completes an octave. To play the next octave, start from that A to work your way up the
scale to complete the higher octave. Now do this repeatedly until you have it memorized.
To play this pattern in a different key than A, then simply slide your beginning root note to that key
note and bring the entire pattern with you.
So, to play this pattern with a C chord progression, just move your middle finger up three frets from
the A to the C on the lower-E string (you have memorized the E and A string notes, as shown on the
second page of this book, correct?). You are ready then for the C chord progression.
Yet More on Scales
The fingerings on the bottom diagrams are suggestions only. You should do what works for you. The
object is to practice to learn the skill, then finally to increase your speed in playing the lead to keep
up in the band setting.
The suggested fingerings are also more correct for ascending through the scale. Descending
fingerings are often a little different. You should do what works for you, sliding up or down a fret
with a particular finger to more easily play the pattern, as in playing riffs.
Ascend through the scale, then at the top descend back through the scale. This is the way to practice,
although when actually playing you will move from note to note, string to string, in a variety of ways
that fit with the song you are playing.
For example, when the rhythm player plays an A chord, try to be playing an A root note. When he
plays a D chord or and E chord, for example, you should try to hit a D note or an E note at the time as
the chord changes. You cannot hit a wrong note when playing within a scale, but there are more
precise notes to play, putting emphasis on the notes to match the chord being played.
There is also "chord chasing" in which you actually change the scale being played to match that of
the chord being played. That means in a G-Em-C-D chord progression that you would play in the
scales of G major, E minor, C major, and D major -- as the rhythm player changes chords. If the
chord changes come too quickly, this can become difficult, but when possible, it does make for a
fuller, more complex and appropriate accompaniment.
Major and Minor Scale Degrees
Each scale has 7 notes or scale degrees (steps). Most children learn the phrase do re mi fa sol la ti
do. This corresponds to the step intervals WWHWWWH of the major scale (remember that minor
scales have the steps WHWWHWW).
The "H" is refers to a half-step, which is up one fret on the guitar, while a "W"hole-step is up two
frets. There are two half-steps: (1) between E and F, and (2) between B and C. All other notes move
up two frets per note.
Actually, minor scales have 3 forms: the Natural Minor scale, the Harmonic minor scale, and the
Melodic Minor scale (which can be ascending or descending).
The Harmonic Minor scale's step pattern is W H W W H W+H H. The Melodic Minor ascending step
pattern is W H W W W W H. The descending pattern is W W H W W H W.
In the diagrams at the back of the book, if which minor scale is not indicated then it is a natural minor
scale. There are also scale patterns for the other two, but they are named there.
The Natural Minor scale is by far the most used in popular music, which is why it is the "minor" we
mean when we simply say the minor key.
Major Degrees
i - ii - III - iv - v – VI - VII
(example: Key of Am)
Am - Bm - C - Dm - Em - F – G
Forms of Tablature
Moveable Shapes – Scales
Unmodified scale shapes can change keys by sliding the root note up or down the fretboard and
playing the same scale pattern (e.g. moving the entire scale up 2 frets would change a G Major scale
into an A Major scale. The new root note would now be A).
Using this method would allow you to play lead guitar for entire songs using only one scale pattern.
In fact, it is possible to play lead guitar using only one major pentatonic scale for songs written in a
major key and one minor pentatonic scale for songs written in a minor key. (Remember that
Pentatonic scales have only 5 notes per octave.) Below are some scales to begin playing.
Play them on the frets indicated (A and Am), then slide the root note forward or backward to play
different keys.
Relative Minor
Each minor key is relative to a major key. The two scales are identical, except that the relative minor
root note begins three frets lower on the fretboard.
For example, A minor is the relative key of C major. This means, for one thing, that you can use the
popular pentatonic scale position 1 to play lead guitar for two keys using the same scale pattern, only
beginning at a different root note -- both Am and C use the pattern below. (Also, G and Em, D and
Bm, F and Dm, etc.)
In fact, you can also reverse this "trick" and say that a major key is relative to the minor key, so you
can use the major scale when playing in a minor key -- only the root note is 3 frets higher.
So you can play in the key of Am, using the scale of C major, simply by changing the emphasis of
using the A note as the root.
Finger Placement While Playing in One Scale
Alternately, rather than play all the chords within the key progression with a single scale, you can do
what is called "chord chasing" (... if there is time to do the chasing. If the progression changes too
quickly, this will be difficult).
Example: In a progression in the key of G that contains the chords G, Em, C, and D you can play in
the G major scale when the G chord is being played, play in the E minor scale while the Em chord is
being played, play in C major for the C chord, play in D for the D chord, then begin in the G scale
again. If the progression is slow enough to allow this, it can be very effective and will allow you to
color the music in a more complex manner.
Left-Hand Techniques
There are techniques you can learn to improve the professionalism of your guitar playing. First, you
should memorize some scales and be able to play them proficiently. The techniques below will
further your advancement -- when you are ready for them.
Vibrato is positioning your finger on a fret, preferably the thinner strings, and striking the note. As it
plays, bend the string with back and forth motions so the note goes rapidly out of tune then back
again.
Hammer-ons are playing the current note then "hammering-on" to the next higher-up note on the
same string.
Pull-offs are the opposite of hammer-ons. Firmly press a fretted note then quickly release it with a
flicking motion. It should ring out.
Slides are playing a note and immediately sliding that finger up the string to the next desired note.
This needs to be done quickly, so the notes between are not heard as individual notes. You can
reverse this by sliding down the fretboard instead to the next note.
Bends are accomplished by holding a fret with your ring finger (while keeping your index and
middle fingers behind it on the same string as strengtheners). Pick that note then push up (or
alternately, pull down) the string by pivoting your wrist. Listen to the pitch. You should stop at your
desired pitch, which is usually either a half-step or a whole-step above the note of the fret you are on.
Single-Pattern Scale Shapes
A Major Pentatonic
Shape #1
A Major Pentatonic
Shape #2
A Major Pentatonic
Shape #3
A Major Pentatonic
Shape #4
A Major Pentatonic
Shape #5
A Major
E Shape / Position 1
A Major
D Shape / Position 2
A Major
C Shape / Position 3
A Major
A Shape / Position 4
A Major
G Shape / Position 5
A Minor Pentatonic
Position 1
A Minor Pentatonic
Position 2
A Minor Pentatonic
Position 3
A Minor Pentatonic
Position 4
A Minor Pentatonic
Position 5
A Minor
Position 1
A Minor
Position 2
A Minor
Position 3
A Minor
Position 4
A Minor
Position 5
Dominant 7th
Position 1
Dominant 7th
Position 2
Dominant 7th
Position 3
Dominant 7th
Position 4
Dominant 7th
Position 5
Three-Octave Scales
Major
Minor
These are examples of scales you can form by choosing which notes to play within a full fretboard. Find the most efficient
fingering that works best for you. You don’t need to always just play up and down a scale. Skip notes or strings, up or down, to
create appealing riffs. Discovering what sounds best to your own ear is part of the fun of learning to play guitar.
Notes on Modes
1) Ionian
2) Dorian
3) Phrygian
4) Lydian
5) Mixolydian
6) Aeolian
7) Locrian
Dorian
Phrygian
Aeolian ( the Natural Minor Scale )
Locrian
The three
major modes are
Ionian mode, Lydian mode, and Mixolydian mode.
The four minor modes are Dorian, Phrygian, Aeolian, and Locrian modes.
C Ionian Mode
D Dorian Mode
E Phrygian Mode
F Lydian Mode
G Mixolydian Mode
A Aeolian Mode
B Locrian Mode
Diagram Your Own
Open Chords
Fill in the Notes
Color in the Notes
Tablature 12
Tablature 18
Tablature 24
Riffs & such
More Riffs
Words & Lyrics
Notes
Notes
Books by C. L. Nichols
About My Guitar Tutor
Learn the necessary skills to progress from beginner to intermediate player
to advanced guitarist. Quickly become a competent rhythm or lead
musician.
Master the basics, then move beyond! Learn open and barre chords,
progressions within a key, how to use a capo, how to transpose between
keys and the other required knowledge necessary to play guitar. Then, move
on to play lead guitar by mastering pentatonic/major/minor scales, modes,
arpeggios, triads, etc.
For both acoustic solo artists and electric guitar rhythm players, MY
GUITAR PROGRESSIONS will let you master the basics then move
beyond. Learn power chords, open and barre chords and which chords
belong in which song key. Also learn how to use a capo, all the common
chords, how to transpose between keys then on to the chord progressions
that allow you to play all the songs you yearn to play.
If you read and practice the info in this book, you are sure to quickly
advance to be the professional musician you have dreamed of becoming.
About My Guitar Scales
Learn to play Lead Guitar!
Rock and country bands employ three or more players, typically at least
four: a drummer, a bass player, a rhythm player, and a lead player. Rhythm
players most often play the chord progression of the song, while lead
players play notes over those chords using scales that lie within the key of
the song. (A complete guitar player should learn to play both rhythm and
lead.)
This book takes the guitar player beyond the chords of the rhythm player
into the wild and wooly scales of the lead guitarist. It helps you work on
combining both for the best of both worlds, taking you Far Beyond the
Basics!
About My Guitar Journal
My Guitar Journal is book four in the series titled My Guitar Books.
This book is geared toward the musician who finds new chords, scales,
arpeggios, etc. or creates new ones, and needs to save them where they
cannot be forgotten. It provides a convenient one-book location so they can
be easily found and used again.
Save your riffs. Compose new songs. Pack this book in your guitar case,
stick it in your gig bag, carry it with you wherever you go.
All the books in the My Guitar Books series help you create a more
complex sound and let you show off your skills as a complete guitarist.
About My Guitar Book Complete
My Guitar Book Complete : 4 Books in 1!
All 4 books of the My Guitar Books series are collected in this one book.