Monday, September 29, 2008

Guitar Theory Book Song References and Tab Resources

What is your recommendation for the best way to procure the guitar tablatures
that are referenced throughout the music theory book? I know that there can be
several ways to do this, but my question is for your recommendation as
to the best way to do it ... thank you.



Fretboard Theory is not a tabbed songbook but rather a method for learning the theory behind music and popular songs, with lots of references present. Although I help you get started with the free tab I give away to all website visitors, the rest of the song recommendations will need to be looked up and learned on your own. You can find these songs transcribed in guitar magazines, tab books, other instructional books, and video websites.

I urge you to consult with the most accurate sources available. At this stage of your development you want to make sure you’re not missing the important details so don’t be afraid to pay for the good stuff. The tab you find on the Internet is rarely complete or accurate.

During my research for this book I relied heavily upon tab books published by the Hal Leonard Corporation. This company has an excellent selection of authentic guitar and bass transcriptions. For more information including a complete listing of the artist series tab books and sheet music available visit your local music store or log onto http://musicdispatch.com. Also, check out http://musicnotes.com and http://sheetmusicdirect.com. These two web sites offer you the option of purchasing and immediately printing authentic tab by individual song. You don’t have to wait for materials to arrive in the mail and you don’t have to pay for a whole book!

Don’t forget to also search the videos posted at http://youtube.com and http://video.google.com for live performance clips and song learning lessons.

Best Notes for Guitar Bends with the Pentatonic Scale

You mention focusing around the root of the pentatonic scale when soloing (in the minor vs major section), and it sounds great. My question is in regards to bends, which is the skill I am focusing on now (along with hammer ons and pull offs). Are there any rules of thumb as to which are the best notes in the scale pattern to bend, most typically? the root? the third from the root? It would be cool to have a few particular notes in each pattern to focus on as it pertains to learning bends and small riffs containing them on the guitar.


The most common bends are to the root and fifth. When you bend the second note on string two in pentatonic pattern one, you're bending to the minor root of the scale. When you bend the second note on string three in pentatonic pattern one, you're bending to the fifth of the minor scale.

These same bends are used by guitar players with the major pentatonic scale too. The first example becomes a bend to a sixth interval. The second example becomes a bend to the major third.

The best way to learn about what scale notes you can bend on the guitar is to learn lots of riffs and lead guitar solos from popular songs. That's why I reference so many in my book, Fretboard Theory (and my guitar theory DVD programs as well). Look them up and learn them! The free guitar tab I give away to all website visitors will help you get started.

Major and Minor Diatonic Scales Guitar

I am interested in learning more about the diatonic scale. how it is built and how to harmonized it. i would also like to know what the difference between major and minor diatonic scales is please write to me when you have a chance.


The term "Diatonic" refers to the major scale. Major scale patterns are taught in Fretboard Theory chapter 5. The rest of the book will fill in other guitar theory gaps and help you put everything to good use (including lots of song references). Minor scales are simply modes of the major scale. They do not require you to learn new patterns. Once you map out all the notes of the major scale on the guitar fretboard, you use the same patterns for minor tonalities. This is based on guitar modes. The modal concept is also taught in Fretboard Theory, plus my DVD Guitar Modes - The Modal Scales of Popular Music.

Comments About Guitar Theory Information

First off let me say that you have done a great job of compiling some great information on guitar theory. My aim is not to be critical, or trash you book in any way. I just wanted to give a little feedback.

The first comments will be general in nature, followed by my thoughts as this book pertains to my particular needs/expectations.

GENERAL FORMAT AND OUTLINE COMMENTS:
1. It might be useful to create a reference section in the back which has some selected patterns/scales, but mostly it would be helpful to have all of your song reference charts in one place so that one doesn't have to search the entire ebook to find a song that they are remembering was referenced somewhere.
2. The song charts would be more useful if the songs were alphabetized. I have looked for songs that I knew were there, but continued to overlook.

COMMENTS ON MY EXPERIENCE:
1. I have read Fretboard logic 1-2, Plane Talk, and many other books on CAGED systems, lead patterns, and Nashville numbering, so most of your material was not new to me. That is not a criticism, but just a fact.
2. I purchased your book for its claim to connect these systems of patterns, and shapes to actual songs. I was disappointed to find that your free tab email had more specific song information than your book.
3. I did not understand your reasoning in providing a single chord shape, or partial shape, for a song and leaving it at that. Jack and Dianne for example. You show that the song uses a partial C form for a D, and leave it at that. The problem is that because this song uses a shape that is not usual, all of the tabs out there are incorrect. So using your clue with a bad tab leaves me back where I started which is having to go buy the music book.
4. Songs like Stairway to Heaven are listed in multiple places separated by tons of pages. It is listed in partial C form on page 26, in partial A form on pg 30, partial G form on page 33, etc, etc
5. Some of your song reference charts seem incomplete. Pg 63 minor forms. It doesn't list the key, just that it happens to have a minor form. Which form in what key? The blues approach on pg 102 has the same missing info.
6. Your application of the pentatonic and major scales was excellent. Your lesson on combining the two scales was the best that I have seen. That type of application was what I was hoping for in terms of partial chord forms, and there specific use.

I know that most of my personal comments revolve around the same issue of specific song information, and that you intentionally stay away from some of that because you don't want to just be a tab book, but you make the assumption that tabs that can be found on the internet are correct, when in my experience most are incorrect.

I am an experienced guitar player who has the information and skill to play most songs, but lacks the knowledge of specific song CORRECT information, which will allow me to play songs like Jack and Dianne which uses simple progressions with interesting chord shapes to increase the dynamics of the song. This is the information that I have been looking for and the specific reason that I purchased your book. As you know even purchased sheet music is incorrect/incomplete a lot of the time.

I expected more information on the creation of progressions around these partial forms, and more examples of contemporary artists to aid in the illustration of those principles. That is one of your major sales pitch points, and again, the reason I purchased.

By at least providing key signatures where missing, and making it easier to search and combine the song information that you do provide would go a long way to increasing the effectiveness/usefulness of your book.

I hope that I haven't been overly critical, or discouraging, but I wanted to share my thoughts.


Thanks for sending in your comments. I really appreciate the feedback. My answers to your questions are numbered below.

GENERAL FORMAT AND OUTLINE COMMENTS:
1. Good idea. I've already anticipated that moving the song lists to a reference section at the back of Fretboard Theory will be necessary (especially as I continue to add more).
2. I debated on whether to alphabetize the songs by song title, or group them by other criteria (like keys, etc.). Maybe I should try to do both.

COMMENTS ON MY EXPERIENCE:
1. Fretboard logic 1-2, Plane Talk, and many other books on the guitar CAGED chord system fail to connect the information to real songs. This is what distinguishes Fretboard Theory from other guitar instruction. Many of my customers are students of other guitar theory methods and find that my materials finally help them complete the learning process. They credit this to the song references and examples.
2. I don't know how I can emphasize any more that my book doesn't include tab to teach you songs. It is a method for learning music theory behind songs.
3. The purpose of illustrating examples of chord shapes is to help you apply what you learn to popular music. Other guitar theory methods leave this critical information out completely. I can't notate the songs for you because that would violate copyright laws (and the main publishers are not interested in granting printing permission to publishers outside of their organizations).

The song recommendations will need to be looked up and learned on your own. You can find these songs transcribed in guitar magazines, tab books, other instructional books, and video websites.

During my research for this book I relied heavily upon tab books published by the Hal Leonard Corporation. This company has an excellent selection of authentic guitar and bass transcriptions. For more information including a complete listing of the artist series tab books and sheet music available visit your local music store or log onto http://musicdispatch.com. Also, check out http://musicnotes.com and http://sheetmusicdirect.com. These two web sites offer you the option of purchasing and immediately printing authentic tab by individual song. You don’t have to wait for materials to arrive in the mail and you don’t have to pay for a whole book!

Don’t forget to also search the videos posted at http://youtube.com and http://video.google.com for live performance clips and song learning lessons.

4. "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin contains many different guitar parts based on everything form CAGED chord forms, chord progressions, modes and more. It's a jackpot of musical information. That's why it's mentioned in different sections of the book.

5. Look up the songs and focus on the parts I list. Then you'll know what keys and forms!
6. I'm glad the sections on how to choose the right scale to play over chords worked for you. I think the CAGED chord application information you're seeking is implied, but perhaps I could be more specific. For example, at the end of my DVD The CAGED Template Chord System I take you through a simple three chord progression (GCGD as used in "Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison) and show you how to duplicate the chord changes in different positions using chord inversions based on the CAGED system.

I hope this helps. If you have any other guitar theory related comments or questions, please send them my way. You can create an account and sign in to continue this discussion.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

What Are Modes and How Do They Work?

I've had some confusion on how the modes work for awhile now. I've read several guitar lessons and have had several guitar players to try and explain the modes to me but still I'm lost, I'd greatly appreciate some help and a final explanation on them and how they work.


Guitar modes stem from major scale patterns and chord progressions. Without first mastering these fundamental music theory topics, you'll never understand the point of scale modes. It's critical when studying guitar theory to start from the beginning and take things one step at a time. In music, each concept prepares you for the next.

To learn more about scales, chords, progressions, modes and more, see my book Fretboard Theory. When you're ready, my DVD entitled Guitar Modes - The Modal Scales of Popular Music will explain how the modal concept functions in popular songs.

Play Until Yer Fingers Bleed!
Mr. Desi Serna (Google me!)
http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Pentatonic/CAGED/Progressions/Mode

How Often and How Long Should I Practice Guitar Each Day?

How often should I practice guitar each week and for how long do I play each session?


In order to develop new skills and get good at anything, you must do it a lot. If you want to progress as a guitar player, then you need to get your instrument in your hands every day. You don't need to practice for hours on end, but you ought to get in at least 30 minutes each day. It doesn't have to be all at once. Your practice time can be broken up into smaller sessions with 10-15 minutes here, 10-15 minutes there.

It's inevitable that you'll miss a day now and then. But if you plan on playing guitar every day, then you're sure to cover most of them.

If you should ever have extra time, then certainly you can practice for longer periods. Just be sure to get some playing in even on busy days. Grabbing your guitar before you go to bed and reviewing things for 5 minutes will at least help you to retain what you've learned and keep your finger calluses from getting soft.

Another key to successful guitar playing and productive practicing is getting involved with some type of guitar activity or commitment. For example, schedule jam sessions with other musicians, start a band, book a gig, study with an instructor, take a guitar theory class, play at church, or any other opportunity you can participate in. These ideas will not only increase the time you spend with your guitar in hand, but you'll also enjoy the social interaction and fellowship.

Play Until Yer Fingers Bleed!
Mr. Desi Serna (Google me!)
http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Pentatonic/CAGED/Progressions/Modes

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Pentatonic Scale Guitar Licks and Tricks

The area where im suffering the most is when it comes to licks and tricks using the pentatonic scales, they are in key, but kind of boring. Do you know of any good video's that just focus on licks, technique, and cool sounding guitar tricks?


In order to learn how to riff and jam with pentatonic scale patterns, you need to learn lots of pentatonic scale songs. Pentatonic melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos, and even bass lines from popular songs will demonstrate exactly how to apply the patterns in a musical context including technique and tricks. That's why I include so many song references in my guitar theory book and DVDs. After you have built up a solid repertoire of examples, then you can work the licks and phrases into your own playing.