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Lesson 2

Scales​

Moveable Scales​

Scales can be played anywhere using the one-finger-per-fret rule.

For example, if you are playing with your 1st finger on the 3rd fret, your 2nd finger will take any notes on the next (4th) fret, your 3rd finger will take the notes on the 5th fret, and your 4th finger will take the notes on the 6th fret.

This is called playing in the 3rd position, because that is the lowest fret and it is taken by your 1st finger.

Chords​

Moveable Chords​

In the same way that there are moveable scales, there also are moveable chords.

I7, IV7, V7 barre chords:

A7 (I7) chord notesOpen123456789101112131415161718192021EBGDAE1111111111133333333333555555555555b7b7b7b7b7b7b7b7b7b7b7
A7 (I7) barre chord5678EBGDAE11213111355b7
D7 (IV7) barre chord5678EBGDAE141311355b7
E7 (V7) barre chord5678910EBGDAE141311355b7

These chords can be played up and down the neck, but they stay the same in relationship to each other.

Chords and Progressions​

12-bar Blues​

The most basic blues progression.

/ = beat.

Measure or bar = group of multiple beats.

4/4 at the beginning of the progression is the time signature.

  • The top number means that there are four beats per measure.
  • The bottom number tells which type of note gets one beat (quarter note).

The last two bars of the progression make up the turnaround.

    I         I         I         I
| 4         |         |         |         |
| 4 / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

    IV        IV        I         I
|           |         |         |         |
|   / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

    V         IV        I         V
|           |         |         |         |
|   / / / / | / / / / | / / / / | / / / / |

Practice​

  • 12-bar blues.
  • Changing barre chords.
I7  => IV7
I7  => V7
IV7 => I7
IV7 => V7
V7  => I7
V7  => IV7