Instrument Tunings
(from low to high)
Guitar - E A D G B E
Bass Guitar - E A D G
Baritone Ukelele - D G B E (just like the top four strings of the guitar)
Soprano Ukelele - G E C A
Musical Terms
Mixer- either analog or digital, a mixer provides us the capability to combine various audio signals and output them as a stereo mix
Line in- a port used for receiving an audio signal
Line out- a port used for transmitting an audio signal to another device (i.e. headphones, speakers, another effects processor)
Bleeding- when making a stereo recording that results with one track bleeding into the recording of another track, this can also happen with microphones
Clipping- clipping occurs when the gain of a particular track is too hot (i.e. setting all your levels to maximum and expecting a good recording, but getting a distorted piece of music
Panning- panning is the use of adjusting a track's position in a stereo mix either left or right, this can be heightened with the use of surround sound.
Relative Minor- If you are in the key of C the relative minor is A minor, you can figure this out by going 3 half steps below the tonic (C).
Relative Major- If you are in the key of A minor the relative major is C major, you can figure this out by going 3 half steps above the tonic (a).
Parallel Key- If you are in the key of C, the parallel key of C major is C minor. Just differs on major or minor.
Leading Tone- the leading tone a key is the seventh note in a key before the tonic, which if in a major key, say C, will always be a half step below the root, thus if in C it will be B, and so on.
Triads
There are a few rules about triads that should be addressed, and sorry for my poor enharmonic spellings of the triads in advance.
The relationship between major and augmented triads
A "major triad" is composed of:
(a root, major 3rd, which is four half steps from root, and a perfect 5th
,which is seven half steps from root)
example - C (root) E (major 3rd) G (perfect 5th)
An "augmented triad" is simply a major triad w/ a raised fifth
example - C (root) E (major 3rd) G# (augmented fifth)
The relationship between minor and diminished triads
A "minor triad" is composed of a (a root, minor 3rd, which is three half
steps from the root, and a perfect fifth, which is seven half steps from the
root)
example - C (root) Eb (minor 3rd) G (perfect fifth)
A "diminished triad" is a minor triad w/ a lowered fifth
example - C (root) Eb (minor 3rd) Gb (lowered fifth)
Triads are the combination of 3 notes either major, minor, diminished, or augmented. Here is a listing of them:
Major Triads
A C# E
Bb D F
B D# F#
C E G
C# E# G#
D F# A
Eb G Bb
E G# B
F A C
F# A# C#
G B D
Ab C Eb
Minor Triads
A C E
Bb Db F
B D F#
C Eb G
C# E G#
D F A
Eb Gb Bb
E G B
F Ab C
F# A C#
G Bb D
G# B D#
Diminished Triads
A C Eb
A# C# E
B D# F
C E Gb
C# E# G
D F Ab
D# F# A
E G Bb
F Ab Cb
F# A C
G Bb Db
G# B D
Augmented Triads
A C# E#
Bb D F#
B D# F##
C E G#
C# E# G##
D F# A#
Eb G B
E G# B#
F A C#
F# A# C##
G B D#
Ab C E
The Chromatic Scale
The Chromatic Scale is as follows:
A Bb C C# D Eb E F F# G Ab A
There is a specific way to notate the sharps and flats of the chromatic scale on the way up the scale and then back down again; however, we are just noting it for what it is and not the specifics.
A chromatic scale is simply all the notes of the diatonic scale in half-steps and that's it.
The Order of Sharps and Flats in Relationship to Keys
The Order of Sharps
For Christmas Go Down And Eat Breakfast
** the red letters represent the order of sharps **
Here is the order of major keys in relationship to the order of sharps
C - 0 sharps ( c d e f g a b c )
G - 1 sharp ( g a b c d e f# g )
D - 2 sharps ( d e f# g a b c# d )
A - 3 sharps ( a b c# d e f# g# a )
E - 4 sharps ( e f# g# a b c# d# e )
B - 5 sharps ( b c# d# e f# g# a# b )
F# - 6 sharps ( f# g# a# b c d# e# f# )
C# - 7 sharps ( c# d# e# f# g# a# b# c# )
These are equivalent to the minor keys as follows using a relative minor relationship to the major key (i.e. 3 half steps down from the tonic of the key)
C Major = A minor
G Major = E minor
D Major = B minor
A Major = F# minor
E Major = C# minor
B Major = G# minor
F# Major = D# minor
C# Major = A# minor
The Order of Flats
** note it is simply the order of sharps reversed **
B, E, A, D, G, C, F
whereas the order of sharps is:
F, C, G, D, A, E, B
Here is the order of major keys in relationship to the order of flats
C - O flats ( C D E F G A B C )
F - 1 flat ( F G A Bb C D E F )
Bb - 2 flats ( Bb C D Eb F G A Bb )
Eb - 3 flats ( Eb F G Ab Bb C D Eb )
Ab - 4 flats ( Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab )
Db - 5 flats ( Db Eb F Gb Ab Bb C Db )
Gb - 6 flats ( Gb Ab Bb CbDb Eb F Gb )
Cb - 7 flats ( Cb Db Eb Fb Gb Ab Bb Cb )
These are equivalent to the minor keys as follows using a relative minor relationship to the major key above (i.e. 3 half steps down from the tonic of the key)
C Major = A minor
F Major = D minor
Bb Major = G minor
Eb Major = C minor
Ab Major = F minor
Db Major = Bb minor
Gb Major = Eb minor
Cb Major = Ab minor
Analysis of my Personal Guitar Theory
There are several tricks to remember about the guitar that are are very usual and finding the relationships of notes throughout the neck.
It is much easier to graphically represent this; but I will manage thru text.
The Basics
Your guitar has 6 strings (from low to high: E A D G B E )
They are related as follows:
E -> A is a fourth
A -> D is a fourth
D -> G is a fourth
G -> B is a third
B -> E is a fourth
Now, it's relationship between the bottom three strings that causes the most headache on the guitar and if anything should be studied the most.
Moving on, the guitar is divided by an octave, thus open E is the same as the 12th Fret on the E string just an octave apart, and if you have a 24 fret guitar there are two divisions of this.
Drop-D tuning- Drop D is important to know if you are into rocking out, and can be accomplished very easily by lower your Low E string to the note of D. You may also tune your guitar to an open chord tuning which is beneficial if you are into slide guitar.
The Power Chord- The power chord is an effective chord used solely for kicking ass, and is nothing more than two notes :) Because of this the power chord cannot really be classified as a chord, just as the Gb major shouldn't be considered a key due to how many flats it has, but such is music theory.
@@ The power chord consists of the root, perfect 5th and sometimes the octave if you are feeling lucky. So, if you are playing a "G" on the E string you would then need to play a "D" on the A string, and if feeling lucky is your bag, you would then add the octave on the D string by playing G there as well. @@
The power chord is important to the beginner guitarist and also guys who make tons of money, it is also the start of what will eventually create barre chords everywhere on the guitar and make you completely awesome.
Barre Chords- Barre chords are created by barring down a significant # of strings on a particular fret and then adding a chord shape after the point of which you have barred.
Mathematics- here is some simple arithmetic related to the guitar.
If you are on the first fret of the E string, note F, and then you add
1st Fret + 7 = 8 fret you get an octave on the A string on the 8th fret.
This works in reverse as well where if you were on the 8th fret on the A string, F note, and then you subtract 8th Fret - 7 = 1st Fret you get an octave on the E string on the first fret.
**this differs if you are working between the G and B strings where you would add or subtract 8 instead, and if between the B and E strings you would use add or subtract 7**
Natural Harmonics- Natural harmonics can be the performed the easiest when using either the 12th, 7th, and 5th frets. These can be performed by lightly touching those frets with your finger and then picking the selected strings.
Artificial Harmonics- Artificial harmonics are like the natural harmonics you have to work for, and how I do them is as follows:
**Hold your pick so there is only a little bit that is usuable and then slightly touch the after you pick it with your thumb**
The Floyd Rose- The Floyd Rose is a bridge which has the ability to go both up and down and string tension, thus adjust the pitch of the strings either up or down when used
The Whammy- The Whammy as how I term it, is used for only going down.
Stop-Tailpiece- The stop-tailpiece is a fixed bridge which is mounted on pegs and then held up by the tension of the strings.
