Music

Warm up exercises - set 1

Start with 2-5 minutes of finger, hand, wrist, and forearm stretches. This will help prevent strains and improve flexibility and dexterity.

The first section is for practicing fingering accuracy and right-hand/left-hand synchronization (timing). Run down the neck before moving to the next string. If you want, you can come back up the neck before moving to the next string. You only need to do this on the first 3-4 strings. You can do it on all 6, if you want.

The second exercise is for working on stretching between the first and second fingers of the left hand. Note the 1, 2 fingering pattern next to the notes. Same thing here: do it on the first 3-4 strings. Coming back up the neck doesn’t do you any good as the stretch is reduced coming up the neck.

C major scale - first position

There are twelve major keys and 12 minor keys. Each major key has a relative minor key based on the sixth of its scale (A minor for C major) and a parallel minor based on the root of its scale (C minor for C major). Relative minor keys have the same notes and key signature as their relative minor. Parallel minor keys have little in common except for the root.

They key of C major has no sharps or flats. Similarly, the key of A minor has no sharps or flats.

Notes in the key of C major: C D E F G A B (C)

An octave is defined as the doubling of frequency or a halving of the wavelength. For example, an A4 is 440Hz and an A3 (one octave up) is 880hz. An A2 (one octave lower) would then be 220Hz.

Each interval has a note in between it except for E/F and B/C, which are only a half-step (one fret) apart. All other notes have a half-step (fret) in between them. Each of those in-between notes can be spelled enharmonically (different note name, but same sound) two different ways. The chromatic scale, which includes all of the notes has 12 tones in the octave.

1. C
2. C♯/D♭
3. D
4. D♯/E♭
5. E
6. F
7. F♯/G♭
8. G
9. G♯/A♭
10. A
11. A♯/B♭
12. B
13. C (octave)

The first section (up to the double bar) is the standard C major scale in first position from C to C and back down. The second section (after the double bar) starts on the lowest note on the guitar and goes to the highest note in C major in the first position and then back down.

Chords - first position, set 1

Practice these chords by working on getting the fingering down accurately so the notes ring clearly. Be careful to avoid playing unnecessary notes (see the X on open strings). Practice strumming these to a metronome and work on changing between them. Be aware of the fingerings noted at the bottom of the chord symbol.