germfisk wrote:There was a discussion on this site a few weeks ago, and I can't remember the exact topic,
I dont think there was a video posted, but I was provided with a really decent explanation in a thread I started a little while ago. You can access it:
http://community.rukind.org/viewtopic.php?t=2683
Another invaluable skill is to learn all of the arpeggio patterns up and down the neck, if you are familiar with CAGED, the system for naming chords up and down the neck, this will be somewhat familiar, if not it shouldnt be too hard to get. Although I learned it best in the form of EDCAG which is just starting off the E shape chord.
The abbreviations stand for chord shapes, as they appear in open position. The E shape, the D shape and so on and so forth. This is a E shaped arpeggio pattern. Starting in the Key of F, this would be played like this
Code:
e-----------1-5-------------|
b---------1-----1-----------|
g-------2---------2---------|
d-----3-------------3-------|
a---3-----------------3-----|
E-1---------------------1---|
Next, still in the key of F, moved up a little further is the next form, a D form.
Code:
e---------------5----------------|
b-------------6---6--------------|
g---------2-5-------5-2----------|
d-------3---------------3--------|
a-----3-------------------3------|
E-1-5-----------------------1-5--|
Next pattern to hit would be the C form, moving further up the fretboard.
Code:
e----------5-8-5-----------|
b--------6-------6---------|
g------5-----------5-------|
d----7---------------7-----|
a--8-------------------8---|
E--------------------------|
Then you will have the A form pattern
Code:
e----------------8-13-8--------------|
b-------------10--------10-----------|
g----------10--------------10--------|
d-------10-------------------10------|
a--8-12-------------------------8-12-|
E------------------------------------|
and last is the G form pattern, completing the sequence
Code:
e--------------------13------------------|
b--------------10-13----13-10------------|
g-----------10----------------10---------|
d--------10----------------------10------|
a-----12---------------------------12----|
E--13--------------------------------13--|
Now what you can do is run these everyday, connecting them all together, starting off as they are in first position in the key of F and then move it all up one fret at a time to keep going up chromatically. Knowing these arpeggio patterns inside and out will be a huge tool for you.
Also, if you want you can break these exercises down into a smaller arpeggio pattern using just the three main notes for a major chord, 1, 3 and 5.
Code:
e-----------------------8-----------8----------------------|
b--------------------6-----10---10-----6-------------------|
g--------------5-----------------------------5-------------|
d-----------3-----7-----------------------7-----3----------|
a-----3----------------------------------------------3-----|
E--1-----5-----------------------------------------5----1--|
Now its also a good idea to practice other chord forms, such as Fm arpeggio
Code:
e-----------------------8----------8-----------------------|
b--------------------6-----9----9-----6--------------------|
g--------------5-----------------------------5-------------|
d-----------3-----6-----------------------6-----3----------|
a-----3----------------------------------------------3-----|
E--1-----4-----------------------------------------4----1--|
The real key here is that, if you write out the actual notes next to the tab (a good idea), you'll find that everything you're playing in each arpeggio (in this case, for F) is F, C, and A. Which are the 1, 3, 5 that make up your F Chord. Convenience all around.
Once you've got them down (i mostly do) start experimenting with consistently flatting the third, or changing a single note. Then change it back. Do that on time and you've got some basic key changes down, if I understand correctly.