[StringCheeseSector9]

I have been playing stringed instruments for under a year and i am wondering how to take my playing to the next level. I dont want to just read tabs and play it i want to know why you play it. i am gonna specify this to guitar. i know some scales and chords but i just want to know how to step it up to the next level. i have read alot on playing in the same key as the scale. wondering if someone could explain that to me or direct me to where i could learn.

[BlobWeird]

I noticed you said SOME scales and chords. Thats where you need to begin. Learn ALL of your modes (major, minor, mixolydian, dorian, phrygian, lydian, locrian) and learn more chords. To say learn all of the chords right now would be good but there is wayyyyy too many. So Id learn all the basics. Learn all open position chords, all major and minor barre chords, all your sevenths and maybe all your sus4 sus2 chords. That will give you alotttttt to work on for a while. Oh and learn all the notes on the fretboard. Sounds hard really isnt once you consciously think about it. Heres a site I just googled. Dont know how expert it is but Im sure itll get you started. Good luck

http://guitarsecrets.com/guitar_modes.htm

[StringCheeseSector9]

I can tell you put some concious thought into this man. Thanks, but now i have to decide where to start i guess i could start with deciphering half of what you said lol...thanks buddy

[BlobWeird]

www.wholenote.com

They have all the scales and chords you could want and more haha. And well I was in your shoes a couple years back so I figure now that I know some stuff I should try my best to give back to the community. Oh and the most important step, Practice practice practice!

[Erictw83]

I know this has been cited in previous threads, but I'm gonna repeat it anyway... I highly recommend The Guitar Grimoire Series by Adam Kadmon. I have volumes on Scales and Modes, Chords and Voicings, and Progressions and Improvisation. They have helped my tremendously.

[StringCheeseSector9]

sounds good guys but also..are you guys able to look at a certain fret and string and just know the note? and if so should i be able to do that? I know the musical alphabet and how the fretboard works.

[shakedown_04092]

sounds good guys but also..are you guys able to look at a certain fret and string and just know the note? and if so should i be able to do that? I know the musical alphabet and how the fretboard works.

Eventually, yes. But you're going to work that one out yourself over time. The more you play, the more you'll learn where certain notes are. I'd stress doing it, but don't stress youreslf while doing it. It's got to be fun, otherwise you'll get to the point of making guitar not fun, and what's the point after that?

Here's a game someone else posted here a few days ago that may help in learning all the notes on the fretboard, but have fun with it, don't sress yourself in trying to learn all the notes & where they are: http://www.francoisbrisson.com/fretboar ... rrior.html


Keep in mind too that there are only 12 notes on that fretboard, they're just in different places depending on what string you're on. A "C" note always comes after a "B" note, and "A" is a full step up from "G", no matter where you are on the fretboard.

Also, you do know that all notes have sharps except B & E, right?

My final advice is to learn the CAGED system of playing chords. If you're not familiar with this system, go to the "search" section of this website and type in CAGED. A bunch of posts will come up with explnations on it. But, it will dramatically help you over time with your playing. An important lesson to learn from it is to be able to play chords in many different places on the neck, not just limiting yourself to one or 2 version of a chord. Know what notes the chords you are playing are made up of, and you'll slowly start to understand why they are the way they are.

A lot of guitar is basic when you think about it. I'm no expert, but it makes sense after a while. Just stick with it.

Here's another thread at another guitar site that I commented on that touches on the CAGED system:

http://www.guitarsite.com/hotlicks/about3540.html

[Erictw83]

sounds good guys but also..are you guys able to look at a certain fret and string and just know the note? and if so should i be able to do that? I know the musical alphabet and how the fretboard works.

I'll be honest (I've been playing for about 20 months now) I pretty much know the notes by letter across the fret board on the bass strings. For the higher strings it usually takes some mental calculation time and extrapolation from lower strings to figure out what letter note it is. It's not quite instant for me yet, but i'm working on it. However, I much perfer to think about notes numerically (ie 3rds, 5ths, 7ths, 9ths, etc). It makes much more sense to me this way and I feel is much more concise then worrying about letters/sharps/flats etc. I spent the majority of my time early on (and still now) learning the numerics of scales, modes, and chords without worrying about the letters. I'm just now putting conventional letter names to what I've already learned. I am just starting on my guitar musical journey, so this is just my 2 cents worth; just the way thats been working for me.

[CaptainTrips]

sounds good guys but also..are you guys able to look at a certain fret and string and just know the note? and if so should i be able to do that? I know the musical alphabet and how the fretboard works.

I'll be honest (I've been playing for about 20 months now) I pretty much know the notes by letter across the fret board on the bass strings. For the higher strings it usually takes some mental calculation time and extrapolation from lower strings to figure out what letter note it is. It's not quite instant for me yet, but i'm working on it. However, I much perfer to think about notes numerically (ie 3rds, 5ths, 7ths, 9ths, etc). It makes much more sense to me this way and I feel is much more concise then worrying about letters/sharps/flats etc. I spent the majority of my time early on (and still now) learning the numerics of scales, modes, and chords without worrying about the letters. I'm just now putting conventional letter names to what I've already learned. I am just starting on my guitar musical journey, so this is just my 2 cents worth; just the way thats been working for me.

I too am a fan of looking at the notes as degrees and scale tones. I can probably find any note on any string withing a 30 seconds, basically just finding a familiar note and working from there. But I dont think like that when Im playing. I think chord tones and scale degrees. So I guess you can make that four cents,

[StringCheeseSector9]

You guys are too cool man. Can tell you truly want to help and I am a grateful dawg for it. If you are ever looking for A good Cheese show or step to the dark side and want a Tribe show just send me a message ill get you the best.

[BlobWeird]

sounds good guys but also..are you guys able to look at a certain fret and string and just know the note? and if so should i be able to do that? I know the musical alphabet and how the fretboard works.

About a year ago? No only the top string for root notes with barre chords really. Now? I know them like the back of my hand. It only took about 2 weeks consciously thinkin about what notes im hittin and what scale degree it is and now its a piece of cake. So as shakedown said dont go crazy over this stuff. But at least try to consciously think about what your playin.