_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 8 String Lesson One - by **brainphreak** (Standard Tuning 8th/F# String) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ These lessons are designed to help the beginning guitarist or even the most advanced to get the most out of his/her instrument and songwriting. While this lesson was specially designed for 8-string guitar, it can easily be modified for 7-string or 6-string by removing the appropriate strings from the diagrams. In each lesson you will find tips for learning the notes on the guitar, scale patterns, chords, songwriting and technique, and even a little bit of my own personal experience and opinions thrown in the mix to set this lesson apart from the rest of them out there. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FRETBOARD KNOWLEDGE______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Note: In the fretboard knowledge section the number one goal is to memorize this ONE lesson completely before you proceed to the next. If you have trouble recalling the notes just by looking at the fret and string, DO NOT go on to the next FRETBOARD KNOWLEDGE lesson. This is vital if you want the ability to move fluidly around the neck. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Memorize all the whole notes on the top F# string. Use the markers on the neck if you have them to help. E |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| G |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| D |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| A |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| E |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| F#|-G-|---|-A-|---|-B-|-C-|---|-D-|---|-E-|-F-|---| . . . . . . Memorize all the C notes on the guitar up to the 12th fret. E |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|(C)|---|---|---|---| B |(C)|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| G |---|---|---|---|(C)|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| D |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|(C)|---|---| A |---|---|(C)|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| E |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|(C)|---|---|---|---| B |(C)|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| F#|---|---|---|---|---|(C)|---|---|---|---|---|---| . . . . . . _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SCALE PATTERNS___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Note: Fretboard knowledge will teach you the notes. To use those notes in a productive manner for soloing or building chordial shapes, you will need to memorize scale patterns. Once you learn this pattern you can then move it along the fretboard depending on the root. For this reason it is important to memorize not only the shape, but the root. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Minor Pentatonic Pattern #1 E |---|---|---|---|(x)|---|---|( )|---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---|( )|---|---|( )|---|---|---|---| G |---|---|---|---|( )|---|( )|---|---|---|---|---| D |---|---|---|---|( )|---|(x)|---|---|---|---|---| A |---|---|---|---|( )|---|( )|---|---|---|---|---| E |---|---|---|---|(x)|---|---|( )|---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---|( )|---|---|( )|---|---|---|---| F#|---|---|---|---|---|( )|---|( )|---|---|---|---| . . . . . . X = Root Note (I.E. This is the key of A) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CHORD THEORY_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Note: Be sure to relax while you hold each chord so that your hand does not cramp up. Focus on the ability to play the chord cleanly without your fingers dampening or muting the strings. A good test is to try and strum the entire chord open letting it ring out, then try picking each string to listen to them individually. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Power Chord (I-V): This is the most popular of all chords in modern Rock Music. You will find these chords used in nearly any genre from the heaviest of metal to alternative and even classic rock. This simple two note pattern can be moved up and down the neck to any fret. As you can see the power chord pattern remains the same on all 4 of the lowest strings. Be sure as you practice that you are hitting ONLY two strings at a time when you strum. Feel free to experiment with palm muting and sliding. P.S. I know you must already know this, but its not a free ride so PRACTICE! Move between strings and frets! DO IT!!! Good Examples Of Power Chords In Use: Slayer, Nirvana, ACDC, Megadeth, Black Sabbath. (Almost anything on the radio!) Power Chord (Root 5th) Power Chord (Root 6th) E |---|---|---|---| E |---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---| G |---|---|---|---| G |---|---|---|---| D |---|---|( )|---| D |---|---|---|---| A |(x)|---|---|---| A |---|---|( )|---| E |---|---|---|---| E |(x)|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---| F#|---|---|---|---| F#|---|---|---|---| Power Chord (Root 7th) Power Chord (Root 8th) E |---|---|---|---| E |---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---| B |---|---|---|---| G |---|---|---|---| G |---|---|---|---| D |---|---|---|---| D |---|---|---|---| A |---|---|---|---| A |---|---|---|---| E |---|---|( )|---| E |---|---|---|---| B |(x)|---|---|---| B |---|---|( )|---| F#|---|---|---|---| F#|(x)|---|---|---| X = Root Note (I.E. if x is on the "A" note this would be an "A Powerchord") _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ FINGER INDEPENDENCE AND PICKING__________________________________________________________________________________________ Note: Expect these routines to get boring and not sound very musical. The trick is to start slow and work towards speed. If you find yourself sounding sloppy or otherwise "losing it", slow down and go only as fast as possible while remaining clean and steady. Using a metronome start slow and increase the BPM only as you can play the current tempo perfectly. If you find yourself unable to keep up, slow the metronome down and try again at the slower speed until you are ready. This is the section that separates a clean, professional solo guitarist from a rough sounding "sloppy" guitarist. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Standard Warm-up pattern: I am calling this "standard" because I think you will have a hard time finding a guitar book that doesnt have this pattern. This is a great warmup and great for gaining finger independence and learning to "alternate pick" smoothly. As you can see the pattern is shifted up a half step and reversed upon completion, try this all the way up the neck. Be sure to use alternating picking (down,up) for each note and dedicate only one finger per fret in each position. |---------------------------------------------------------1-2-3-4-5-4-3-2-----------------------------------------| |-------------------------------------------------1-2-3-4-----------------5-4-3-2---------------------------------| |-----------------------------------------1-2-3-4---------------------------------5-4-3-2-------------------------| |---------------------------------1-2-3-4-------------------------------------------------5-4-3-2-----------------| |-------------------------1-2-3-4-----------------------------------------------------------------5-4-3-2---------| |-----------------1-2-3-4---------------------------------------------------------------------------------5-4-3-2-| |---------1-2-3-4-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |-1-2-3-4---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 |-------------------------------------------------------------------------3-4-5-6-7-6-5-4-------------------------| |-----------------------------------------------------------------3-4-5-6-----------------7-6-5-4-----------------| |---------------------------------------------------------3-4-5-6---------------------------------7-6-5-4---------| |-------------------------------------------------3-4-5-6---------------------------------------------------------| |-----------------------------------------3-4-5-6---------------------------------------------------------etc.----| |---------------------------------3-4-5-6-------------------------------------------------------------------------| |-5-4-3-2-----------------3-4-5-6---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |---------5-4-3-2-3-4-5-6-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u d u 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 Key: Below the tablature is the recommended picking technique and which fingers should be used to hold the fret. Picking: d = downstroke , u = upstroke Fingers: 1 = Index , 2 = Middle , 3 = Ring , 4 = Pinky _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SONGWRITING/TECHNIQUE____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Note: These techniques and ideas are not the conventional tips you will read in a magazine article or songbook. These are simply useful ideas to keep you creative, and maybe open your mind up to more experimental styles and ways of forcing you to step outside the box even if it feels uncomfortable for a moment. I hold no degrees in music but can share experience. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Back to your Roots: Do you remember when you were a kid and you heard nursery rhymes in school or even in the crib? They would sometimes play in cartoons, movies, or an old music box. Do you remember when the ice cream man would come by with his music blaring out the televisions and children running for sweets? How about those good old days of the original NES or even Atari 2600? All of these places are great sources for melodies and understanding how they work. A great place to start is "mary had a little lamb". Everyone knows this melody, and I bet if you really try, you can figure it out on the guitar. So pick it up, and learn the song (or another if you like) and you will see how simple it really is. Often these melodies are only 3-5 different notes but the timing and the 'attitude' is what gives the song life and makes it a unique work of art. You would have a hard time finding someone who did not recognize these 3 simple notes played to the tune of "Mary Had A Little Lamb", yet these same notes are played in thousands of songs you have heard. Whenever you are feeling like you are running out of ideas. Try grabbing and idea, a mood, a feeling, or even a set of notes from a song you already have in your head. Play with it, change it up, understand what the author was trying to get across, how they wrote the song, their technique, and then think about applying it to your own music. Even if its not your "style" the creative process of understanding it, listening, playing by ear, memorizing the notes, altering them, and having a little fun is not only rewarding, but extremely useful in guitar solo's and songwriting. Have fun, and learn a new song! _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ######################################################################################################################### ######################################################################################################################### ############################################# WRITTEN BY **BRAINPHREAK** ################################################ ######################################################################################################################### ########################### PERMISSION TO COPY OR DISTRIBUTE,BUT PLEASE LEAVE THIS FOOTER ############################### ########################### HERE FOR CREDIT. 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