This is a nice (if lengthy) blog / forum article on the rationale behind guitar tuning. Why is the default tuning for a guitar E,A,D,G,B,E ? Read this article from My Les Paul for more details.
It makes an awful lot of sense when you think about it. This article prompted me to spend a little more time working on the c major scale, as the notes E,A,D,G and B are all in the key of C. So playing a c major scale can be done nicely using the open strings and the first three frets. (You could do the same for G and D major, and therefore A minor, E minor, B minor and other modes such as E phrygian, or any of the modes derived from the major scaled of C, G or D etc……. See The Circle of Fifths to help shed some light on this). It also made me think about how the various chord shapes share the same notes.
The more time you spend on the major scale and thinking about where up and down the fret board you find the same notes, the more things seem to fall into place.
When you’re practicing scales, try not to allow yourself to get bored or fed up. Break out of the scales once in a while if you spot something that sounds familiar while you are practicing. And think about where you find the same notes. Where is the root note repeated? Where are the 4th and 5th’s repeated? etc…. How can you start creating arpeggios using the notes that you’re playing? How can you construct chords?
For answers to all these questions, check out the rest of this site. Check out the previous posts. Take a look at the circle of fifths. And refer back to Stages of Mastering the Guitar. If you’re questions aren’t answered anywhere on this site then ask a question. If I can’t answer it then I will try and find out. And it will add to the information available here and help others. Or…. Watch This Space!
The Guitar Master
Tags: technique, theory, tuning
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