Chapter Three: Whole Steps and Half StepsObjectives: Learn the musical alphabet. Natural and accidental notes. Recognize whole steps and half-steps. Memorize natural half-steps between B and C, E and F.There are twelve notes in music. However, they are named by using only seven letters of the alphabet–A, B, C, D, E, F, G. Confused yet? Only seven letters are used because most music is based on seven-note scales. The seven notes are referred to as diatonic notes. Diatonic simply means “from the scale.” So, a diatonic note is part of the scale that a piece of music is based on. Written music is made easier to read by assigning the lines and spaces to diatonic notes only. This way a scale can be written by putting a note on every line and space. Each line and each space gets its own letter in the musical alphabet. The other five non-diatonic notes are called accidentals. Accidental symbols —sharp - #, flat - b , and natural are written before the notes to show that a non-diatonic note is to be played. About
the same time written
music was reaching its current state, keyboard instruments were being
perfected. The guitar is an older instrument but it follows the rules
that are
most easily understood by looking at a keyboard. The keyboard is laid
out so
that the white keys form a C major scale. Among the white keys are five
black
keys. The entire twelve-note pattern repeats so we can play music in
higher or
lower registers.
To see how the system applies to the guitar, let’s take a look at the natural notes in the most piano-like fashion we can: up and down on one string. Let’s use the fifth string. We need to remember that there is a half-step between B and C, and a half-step between E and F. These are the places where there are no black keys separating the white keys on the piano. On the guitar, these natural notes are just one fret apart. The other natural notes are all a whole step apart. To get you to learn this I need you to open the window and holler to the world outside: “There is a half-step between B and C, and a half-step between E and F!” Then say it like this: “Bernie Cohen and Ernie Frank are two close friends of mine!” The strings on the guitar are like six little pianos, each starting on a different note. Now we’ll draw the natural notes on them, just to reinforce the idea that there is a half-step from B to C, and a half-step from E to F. That’s all you need to think about while you do this. Don’t try to memorize every note on the neck yet. Exercise 5. Draw the
natural notes on each
string. Write the names below. The sixth string is done for you. The rest of the book covers everything you need for a solid foundation of fretboard knowledge, including modes and slash chords. You'll understand and play (anywhere on the neck!) any scale or chord you encounter: Contents Introduction 1. Diagrams, Frets, and Strings 2. The Five Patterns of Root Shapes 3. Whole Steps and Half Steps 4. Note Names 5. Finding Notes 6. The Major Scale 7. The Five Major Scale Patterns 8. The Natural Minor Scale 9. Pentatonic Scales 10. Major and Perfect Intervals 11. Minor, Diminished, and Augmented Intervals 12. Compound Intervals 13. Triad Arpeggios 14. Triads 15. Seventh Arpeggios 16. Seventh Chords 17. Extensions 18. Alterations 19. Modes 20. Other Common Scales 21. Other Common Chords 22. Conclusion Solutions to All ExercisesOrder from Amazon.com Thanks. |