Pentatonic blues are scales which incorporate an “off-scale note”, or an extra pitch that doesn’t occur naturally in their scale, into them to add tension and give your playing an authentic blues sound. When used tastefully, these notes add tension as well as give your music an inherently bluesy flavor. These scales are derived from […]
The daug chord is an augmented triad consisting of D, F# and A# notes. It can be played in several positions on the mandolin. Here we will examine some of its most frequent application on mandolin. Augmented chords can be created by raising the fifth note of a major chord by half step, creating a
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Have you heard the terms “flat” and “sharp” used in music theory but wondered what they mean in terms of building chords? This lesson will give an introduction to these terms as applied to Ab chords. Flattening a chord often refers to altering one or more notes within it by one half tone (one semitone),
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b minor chord is one of the hardest chords for beginners to master, yet is an essential building block of guitar playing and well worth their efforts. If you are having difficulty playing this chord using its standard form, there may be alternative approaches that may make playing it simpler for beginners. This article will
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E minor seventh flat five chord, commonly known by its acronym Em7b5 or Em7(b5), is a four-note chord used to add tension and drama to songs. To create this chord simply lower a minor 7th by half-step before creating the new Em7b5. Follow these tips to quickly master this chord, and if you ever need
Scale diagrams are a type of fretboard notation that visualizes how notes and patterns appear on your guitar’s neck. Because intervals (i.e. tones and semitones) define them, scale shapes can be moved up or down the fretboard according to any key for easy transposition. Major Scale The major scale is often one of the first
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No one could predict that The Beach Boys would include a solemn G minor chord with lilting harmonies and upbeat percussion in their iconic song, “California Girls.” G minor also features prominently in Cherry Glazerr’s song, “Had Ten Dollaz”, which highlights her singer-songwriter’s anxiety. G Sharp Minor is a sharp key, meaning its key signature
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Major scales feature a unique pattern of half and whole steps repeated at every octave up, producing its signature sound while also determining which chords come into being from it. C major for example does not contain any sharps or flats (Example 1), meaning all chords are major chords. Major Triads Major Chords will likely
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Major Pentatonic can add a special something to your guitar solos and melodies. While more complex than simply changing scales over each chord, using Major Pentatonic will take your playing to new heights. These patterns all share similar visual shapes to a minor pentatonic scale but sit three frets lower on the fretboard, opening up
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C minor is an emotionally powerful chord, often used in melancholy music. It creates an emotive tone to songs that convey sadness or grief – yet can also convey resilience and perseverance. Knowledge of how to play this chord will add another element of musical expression to your playing. This article covers four ways of