Molly wrote:I'm a very visual learner so do picture shapes and step patterns when finding my way around the guitar. For nobody in particular, this is how I see it. For me it starts from two step patterns:
Major: T T st T T T st
Minor: T st T T st T T
I know that for every major key there is a relative natural minor. Looking at a piano keyboard and playing the white keys from C to C is the CMaj scale (the first step pattern above). Playing the same notes but starting and finishing on A is the above minor step pattern and the notes from a natural Amin scale. Little changes like sharpening the 7th step of that scale give the harmonic minor scale and sharpening the 6th step too gives the melodic minor. Just slightly different flavours.
Pentatonic are a simpler route through the octave. Not a 'scenic' a route around the fretboard maybe but they're worth knowing.
As for the modes. They're variations on the above step patterns whereby the first interval is moved to the end of the sequence. I don't use them often at all to be honest but, for example, can apply the Mixolydian by looking at it like this. I know it's a major mode (has a major third interval between the root and third notes - four frets if you like). If the song is in A Maj and I want to use the Mixolydian mode I know that by playing in Bm but from A to A rather than B to B I will have the correct step pattern for that mode. I just memorise a few of these 'rules' and it allows me to shift my usual playing in a given key to the correct position to apply the step pattern of the mode I want. I'm effectively just playing out of key.
Haven't the slightest idea if any of that is of any use to anybody or if it's just confused matters. I'm so locked in my way of doing things it's hard to know if it makes sense or not.
The following is a resource I use with students to help them open up the whole neck when learning to solo. I usually have them confine their playing to a few notes or solos quickly come to sound like scale recital. 'Working' a couple of notes from within any of the following helps them develop technique. Coloured dots are pentatonic. The additional dots make those scales diatonic (like the step patterns at the start of this drivel).
[url=
http://s1370.photobucket.com/user/balla ... p.jpg.html]
Unfortunately this is exactly the sort of thing that confuses me, it has no explanation as to why some of the terms even mean. I think one of the problems absolute beginners have is being taught by people that forget they already know so much. Its like someone is trying to explain something to you but they forget they are speaking in a different language.
Step patterns ? is this scales you are talking about ? looks like major and minor scale formula's to me. I find it easier to remember these by breaking them into 2 sets of 3...
Major = WWH W WWH whole tones and half tones joined by a whole tone.
Pentatonic is a 5 note scale, there lots of these. Diatonic ? not sure about that one.
Mixolydian mode ? I know a bit about modes, Rob Chapman has a great youtube video that explains them better than anywhere else if looked so far. I'm just not sure why you would pick one mode over another, feel of the song is my guess.
What are the different colour icons on the neck ? what are the smily faces ? what are the big dotted brackets for ? It says it shows positions for 2 keys but there three neck diagrams ?
You see when your a beginner it very easy to look at that and think WTF ?
Not a dig at you personally Molly I'm sure this was targeted at people with more musical knowledge than me but I just wanted to show the sort of thing I feel I'm up against
![wink :winky:](./images/smilies/016-wink.gif)