Today's article contains questions and answers from the readers.
QUESTION...
I will understand if you don't answer technical questions but I thought I would try just in case. I was wondering about scales: I learned and memorized the Cmaj scale up and down the neck and I am pretty proficient at it but I don't understand the idea of using it on other keys i.e.. the Gmaj key or Amaj. Do you have any suggestions? Do I just move any of the scales to those root notes, on the 3rd and 5th fret respectively? Thanks
ANSWER...
Please feel free to ask me any questions you want.Yes, you are correct in your approach...
Consider the C Major Scale scale played in the 8th fret area of the fretboard. The C root note is on the 8th fret of the low E string. To play that scale formation in A you would simply move that entire formation down to the 5th fret (to the A note on the low E string). For G, move it down to the 3rd fret (G note on the low E string). So it is important to know the root note position in the scale and then move the scale formation around on the fretboard so that the root note of the scale formation is on the root note of the key that you want to play in.
I typically envision the scale formation with the root note specifically in mind. For example, when I play C Major Scale formation in the 3rd fret area I immediately think of the C root note on the 3d fret of the A string and envision the notes aroundthat note. Likewise, when I play the C Major Scale formation in the 8th fret area I think of the C root note on the 8th fret of the low E string...etc. In general I think about the root note somewhere in the scale formation and think about the notes surrounding that note. Also when practicing keep in mind the rules concerning the half-step / whole step relationship between the notes in the major scale. This will also help.
It sounds like you have the C scale going pretty well. Practice the G scale and get it going. Then inter-mix the 2. First play the C scale in the 3rd fret area ascending and then descend with the G scale in that same area of the fretboard. Then do the same in another area of the fretboard. Then learn the F scale and then practice by inter-mixing all 3. Keep going with all of the keys all along the fretboard. This is how you will be able to improvise solos against songs that change keys.
QUESTION...
What does it mean on a tab when it says (for example) 0h2 ? what are u supposed to play?
ANSWER...
That means that you would play a "hammer on" from the open string to the second fret of whatever string is indicated in the tab
So you would play the open string and then while the string is still vibrating and without plucking the stringagain and you would firmly "hammer" a finger (I would use my middle finger) down on the second fret of the string
Hope that helps
QUESTION...
Would you be able to send the notes to how to play Nirvana's songs please. i would like "Smells Like Teenspirit", "You Know Your Right", and "Come As You Are". i would be very grateful if you would be able to send me the notes.
ANSWER...
Check out Guitar Tab Universe at
http://www.guitartabs.cc/home.php
I looked for Nirvana tunes there and found this page
http://www.guitartabs.cc/tabbrowse.php?path=/n/nirvana/
Let me know if this helps
QUESTION...
I've got a question when it comes to notes and chord making ??? You have previously said that to make a major chord for example "A" major ( notbarred ) you take the root note "A" then you take the third note and the fifth notes as well to make the chord, but going by the C major scale and changing it to an "A" it doesn't give you the notes that are next to the A note when you make an A major ???? could you try and answer that one for me please ???? thanks for your help
ANSWER...
From my previous discussion...here is an explanation of how to construct a major scale for any key, ie.
From the 1st note (root) - move up 2 fret positions (also referred to as a whole step) to the 2nd note
From the 2nd note - move up 2 fret positions (whole step) to the 3rd note
From the 3rd note - move up 1 fret position (half step) to the 4th note
From the 4th note - move up 2 fret positions (whole step) to the 5th note
From the 5th note - move up 2 fret positions (whole step) to the 6th note
From the 6th note - move up 2 fret positions (whole step) to the 7th note
From the 7th note - move up 1 fret position (half step) to the 8th note
Combine this with the knowledge of the notes on the fretboard.
So using A major as an example, start with the open A string. That is your root note. Then following the formula, the 2nd note is B(2 frets up from the root). The 3rd note is C# (2 frets up from the 2nd note). The 4th note is D (1 fret up from the 3rd note). The 5th note is E (2 frets up from the 4th note).So the notes of the A major chord are A (root), C# (3rd) and E (5th). If you look at any variation of the A major chord you will see that all of thenotes in that chord are A, C# and E, no more and no less. For example lookat the A major open and bar chords and compare the notes shown with those in the fretboard diagram above.
You will see that each and every note in those 2 chords are either an A, C# or an E.
I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any other questions
QUESTION...
hey, at the moment, all my ideas seem to be rooted in G Minor. However, I try and add color by improvising in Bb Major and Eb Lydian. Whadya think?
ANSWER...
Sounds like a good idea. The notes you are playing comprise the G Aeolian mode which is also called the natural minorscale (for G). It's a very nice sounding scale to play against a minor chord
Well, that's it for now. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to send them to me. I am always ready to help.
Domenick Ginex is a guitarist living in Tampa, Florida. He has played in several groups in the Tampa Bay area for over 25 years. His website, located at http://GuitarLessonsPro.com, offers guitar instructional information for beginner to intermediate level guitarists.
