Welcome to the Course!
Thanks for coming! This video below is the starting point, and there are a couple of suggestions I make in the video that are further explained down below. Start by practicing the suggestions from the video and then move on to the next page to begin learning the workout that comprises this course.
Take a look at the first pdf titled “fingerboard charts” and if you can, print it or pull it up next to the video on your screen while you watch. This will help you follow along and understand where the course is headed.
clicking the button will begin a download, clicking the text link will open a new browser tab to view the pdf
Practice Suggestion #1
Step 1) Look at the first fingerboard chart on the pdf above and spend some time playing in G minor pentatonic while looking at this chart, playing slowly and focusing on shifting horizontally around the neck into new positions. You can also derive chord ideas from the chart by trying out any combination of notes represented on the chart. Try 3 or 4 note chords made from random combinations of notes represented on the chart. You may come up with some cool new voicing that you hadn’t thought of before!
Step 2) Beginning at the 6th string (low E string) play the G minor pentatonic scale on each single string while looking at the chart. Move from the 6th string to the 1st string, playing up and down all the scale notes on that string before moving to the next. Practicing this will make shifting between different areas of the neck much easier. This is important so don’t skip it!
Practice Suggestion #2
The next practice suggestion is a way to familiarize, or re-familiarize yourself with the 5 basic pentatonic shapes. Traditionally pentatonic scales are taught initially with 2 notes being played on each string, or the 2 note per string shapes. These five patterns are important to know, and you can make sure you are comfortable with all of them using this next practice suggestion. Put on a metronome and give it a try! Find your fastest comfortable speed where you play it with very few mistakes, and then play it 5x at that tempo.
Instructions
1) Looking at the next 5 charts on the fingerboard pdf, begin by ascending shape 1.
2) When you reach the highest note in shape one, slide up to the next note in the scale on the first string. This is the highest note of shape 2. Now descend shape 2.
3) When you reach the bottom note of shape 2, reverse your direction and play the next two notes on that string (6th string) sliding your 3rd finger into the 10th fret. This will shift you into the third position so continue by ascending shape 3.
4) When you reach the top of shape 3, slide into the next note on the first string, which is the highest note of shape 4. Descend shape 4.
5) In the same way, after reaching the bottom of shape 4 slide into position for shape 5. Ascend shape 5.
6) Turn it around. When you reach the top of shape 5, go back down and reverse the entire pattern until you arrive back at G on the 6th string, 3rd fret. In the reverse you should descend shape 5, ascend shape 4, descend shape 3, ascend shape 2, and descend shape 1.
This completes one rep! Do this until you feel comfortable with all 5 shapes and would like to move onto the exercises. Next page is where you can learn the 4 exercises of the course at a slow speed, so when you are ready go ahead and move on! Come back to these preliminary exercises daily for a while to get the most out of them.