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Book 1
Section I – The Fundamentals for Playing the Guitar
Chapter 1 – Getting the Fingers in Shape
This Chapter explains how to hold the guitar and guitar pick. It
also shows where to place the fingers on the guitar fingerboard (in the
open position). Lessons 1 and 2 ask you to practice getting the
fingers toughened up and Finger Exercises for each string.
Chapter 2 – How Notes Are Written
This Chapter explains how musical notation is written and shows where
the notes are located on the guitar fingerboard (in the open position).
Lesson 3 asks you to memorize the note names on the musical staff (while
continuing to practice getting your fingers toughened up).
Chapter 3 – How Musical Rhythm is Written
This Chapter explains the Musical Elements of Rhythm; accent, meter,
tempo, bars and barlines, time signature, note and rest values and other
music symbols (while continuing to practice getting your fingers in
shape as outlined in Chapter 1).
Chapter 4 – Practice with the Pickin’ Pal MIDI Player
This Chapter introduces the Pickin' Pal MIDI Player software and
explains in detail how to use all the Menu (and Sub-Menu) functions.
The software is designed for you to play along with Songs and Exercises (in the
MIDI file format) at a
very slow tempo, gradually increasing the tempo faster and faster to enhance your
guitar playing technique.
Chapter 5 – How to Tune the Guitar
This Chapter shows how to tune the guitar using Pickin' Pal MIDI Player,
with a guitar tuner, another instrument, and By-Ear. Lesson 4
asks you to review the various ways to tune the guitar (especially to
the Pickin' Pal MIDI Player).
Chapter 6 – Putting It All Together
This Chapter combines Chapters 1 through 5, starting the first step of
learning how to play the guitar in the "Open Position". This
Chapter also introduces the E Blues Scale (open position) and shows how
to Ad-lib using the E Blues Scale. Lessons 5 through 10 ask you to
review all the material in the previous Chapters, practice all the
Exercises and to create your own E Blues Scale Ad-libs, playing along
with Pickin' Pal MIDI software.
Chapter 7 – Playing Open Chords on the Guitar
This Chapter is dedicated to learning and playing Open Chords on the
guitar. The Chapter explains the various chord symbols, and how to
play the musical notation and chords to songs. Lessons 11 through
15 ask you to memorize the various Open Chords and practice the
melody and chords to the Songs in this Chapter, playing along with the Pickin' Pal MIDI combo (solo guitar, accompaniment, bass and drums).
When you can play along with Pickin' Pal (using the solo guitar as a
guide), then mute the solo guitar, and play along with the Rhythm
Section. It's a lot more fun to play
guitar with your own band!
Chapter 8 – Key Signatures
This Chapter explains Key Signatures in music (using sharps and flats),
signifying the range the music is played or sung (to better suit a
particular instrument or voice). The Chapter discusses the Key
Signatures, the various Major Scales, some simple three-chord
progressions (and how they are created). Lessons 16 and 17 ask
you to memorize and analyze the Cycle of 4ths and 5ths, study the
examples of three-chord songs, and play the designated songs along with Pickin' Pal.
Book 2
Section II – Chord Positions and Structure
Chapter 9 – Barre Chords and Chord Structure
This Chapter shows the Inside and Outside Barre Chord Positions which
can be played anywhere on the guitar fingerboard. Then, the Chapter
defines the Chord Structure of all types of chords. Lessons 18
through 20 ask you to memorize the Barre Chord Positions and intervals
of all the Major Minor, 7th, Diminished and Augmented chord
families.
Chapter 10 – Jazz Chords
Jazz Chords have a chord structure of four or more tones, by adding or
modifying other notes to the major or minor chord triad. This
Chapter shows the more popular Jazz Chord Positions and how they are
played together (to get that smoother Jazzy sound). Lessons
21 through 29 ask you to memorize the Jazz Chord Positions and practice
playing the Exercises (along with Pickin' Pal) shown in the Chapter.
Section III – Basic Scale Positions and Chord Tones
Chapter 11 – Major and Minor Scales (Closed Positions)
In the previous Chapters, we discussed the limitations of Open Chords
and how the Barre and Jazz chord positions can be played anywhere on the
guitar fingerboard. The same is true of playing the notes in the
Open Position (using open strings). This Chapter explains how to
transfer the Open String notes on the fingerboard to a Closed Position
thereby enabling the player to transpose the notes to any Key Signature
with little or no effort. Lessons 30 through 37 ask you to
memorize the Inside and Outside Scale Positions, read and play songs (in
the Closed Position) shown in the Chapter.
Chapter 12 – Chord and Non-Chord Tones
This Chapter explains how to separate the notes (tones) of the Major and
Minor Scales into two categories – Chord and Non-Chord Tones.
Lessons 38 through 45 ask you to study the Major and Minor Scale
Intervals, the Major and Minor Triad Chord Tones and Intervals shown in
the Chapter.
Chapter 13 – The Dominant 7th Scale – Closed Positions
This Chapter explains in detail the Dominant Seventh Scale (also know as the Mixolydian mode or scale) by changing the Major Scales to
Dominant Seventh Scales (inside
and outside positions). The Chapter also discusses the Chord and
Non-Chord Tones of the Dominant Seventh Scale in both positions. Lesson 46
asks you to memorize the Seventh Scales and Chord Tones shown in the
Chapter.
Chapter 14 – The Major 7th and Minor 7th Chord Tones
This Chapter discusses the Major Seventh and Minor Seventh Chord Tones
(used mainly in Jazz music) using the Inside and Outside Major and Minor
Positions. The Chapter also outlines the Three Basic Chord Families.
Lessons 47 through 49 ask you to memorize the Major Seventh and Minor
Seventh Chord Tones and practice playing the chord tones listed in the Three
Basic Chord Families section.
Chapter 15 – Another Set of Outside and Inside Positions
This Chapter discusses an additional Set of Outside and Inside Scale
Positions, for playing different Major, Minor and Seventh Scales without
moving to a different fret, or moving a very short distance of one or two
frets. Lessons 50 through 55 ask you to memorize and practice the new
Scale Positions and Chord Tones.
Chapter 16 – Playing the Positions up the Neck
In the previous Chapters we discussed note reading, practicing with Pickin'
Pal MIDI Player, how to tune the guitar, open chords, key signatures, barre and jazz
chord positions, four different scale positions, and chord and non-chord
tones. This Chapter combines these various scale and chord positions
and explains how to play them at different locations on the guitar
fingerboard. Lessons 56 through 63 ask you to practice playing the scale and
chord positions (along with Pickin' Pal) in various key signatures.
Chapter 17 – Using the Scale Positions in Songs
This Chapter explains the Six Steps of how to use the Scale and Chord
Positions in Songs. The Chapter also discusses the Diminished and
Augmented scales, Passing Tones and the Four Basic Rules for Ad-lib
(improvising). Lessons 64 through 72 ask you to memorize and play the
Melody and Chords to a song (along with Pickin' Pal), analyze the song's
Chord Progressions, apply the Scale Positions to the chords of the song, and
memorize the Basics of How to Ad-lib using the ad-lib examples outlined in
the song.
Book 3
Section IV – Diatonic Harmony, Modes and Cadences
Chapter 18 – The Diatonic Scale and Modes
Chapter 17 explains how to play the melody, chords and improvise a song
using the various scale and chord positions. It also demonstrates
how to name the chord-order of some chord progressions by using the
Cycle of 4ths and 5ths. This Chapter discusses the Diatonic Scale
and Scale Modes as a prerequisite for Diatonic Harmony. Lessons 73
through 76 ask you to memorize the Musical Modes, apply the Modes to the
Scale Positions, and play the Modes with Pickin' Pal.
Chapter 19 – Diatonic Harmony
This Chapter discusses the basic Harmonic Analysis of the Diatonic
Scales (how diatonic chords are related to the major and three different
minor scales). The Chapter also analyzes the Non-Diatonic and
Compound Intervals. Lessons 77 through 81 ask you to study the
Harmonic Analysis Terms, Naming the Intervals, Diatonic Triads, the
Three Main Harmony Areas and Chords Diatonic to the Three Minor scales.
Chapter 20 – Cadence and Basic Ear Training
This Chapter uses the Three Harmony Areas to learn the various types of
Cadence, their Musical Punctuation, and how they are used in songs.
The Chapter also analyzes the Chord Sequence (progression) of some
Exercises and two familiar Songs by dividing them into Phrases and
naming the Cadence of each Phrase. Lessons 82 through 84 ask you
to study, listen to the Songs, naming the Cadences in each Song.
Chapter 21 – More Scales and Scale Positions
In order to become an accomplished guitarist, you must be capable of
playing anywhere on the Guitar Fingerboard, using a Symmetrical System
where you can Transpose from one key to any other key using the Same
Fingering System (scale and chord positions). Lessons 85
through 101 ask you to memorize and practice (along with Pickin' Pal)
the multitude of Scale Positions shown in this Chapter (Major and Minor
Diatonic, and Pentatonic positions), (Major, Minor and Dominant
Seventh Mode positions), (Symmetric Whole-Tone, Diminished and Augmented
scale positions), (the Blues and Bebop scale Mode positions).
This chapter also includes several Scale Position Exercises using
music and tablature notation to practice the five Major Pentatonic and
Blues scale positions (to play along with the Pickin' Pal MIDI Player
software).
Book 4
Section V – Chord Progression and Improvisation
Chapter 22 – Chord Progression
This Chapter takes the Diatonic Chords and Cadences a step further and
outlines some various Harmonic Progressions (chord progressions).
The chord-progression examples explain how to use various harmonic
progressions to Create Music, and teaches the fundamental chord
progressions to Play the Melody and Improvise Songs written by others,
and to Create your own Compositions. Lesson 102 asks you to review
the complete Chapter, play all the MIDI files, and analyze how the
different types of chord progressions seem to resolve (progress)
smoothly.
Chapter 23 – Altered Dominant 7th Chord Positions
This Chapter explains how to Alter the chord and scale positions of the
Dominant Seventh Chord Family (7th, 9th, 11th and 13th chords) and how
to substitute the Altered Chords to replace and/or add-to the standard
Dominant Seventh chords. Lessons 103 through 106 ask you to
analyze the Altered Chords shown in the Exercises and practice altering
various chord positions.
Chapter 24 – Scale Segments Using Scale Positions
This Chapter breaks down the scale positions into various types of
Segments that will help more fully understand how to use the positions
to create different Arpeggios and Licks for Impromptu Ad-libs
(improvising). Lessons 107 through 115 ask you to study, analyze
and practice the Scale Segment Exercises in the Chapter using various
scale positions.
Chapter 25 – Guitar Tablature Symbols
This Chapter discusses the Guitar Tablature Notation System; various
symbols representing hammering and pulling fingers (on or off) strings,
sliding fingers (up or down) frets, bending strings (up), vibrato, trill
and many more. Lessons 116 through 121 ask you to practice using
the various Tablature Notation Symbols along with Pickin' Pal.
Chapter 26 – Musical Rhythms
The three major characteristics in music are Melody, Harmony and Rhythm.
This Chapter defines Musical Rhythm and the various elements that make
up Rhythm (meter, accents, syncopation, simple and compound time
signatures, and swing notation). Lessons 122 through 125 asks you to
study and listen to the examples using Pickin' Pal, and memorize the
topics shown in the Chapter.
Chapter 27 – How to Improvise Using Scale Positions
This Chapter combines the topics explained in Chapters 24, 25 and 26 and
uses the Rhythms, Chord Structures, and Scale and Chord Positions discussed
in this book series to further demonstrate how to Invent Spontaneous
Ad-libs (improvise) around the melody of songs, using the various scale
positions that harmonize with the chord progression of a particular
song. Lessons 126 through 134 ask you to review and study the
Methods for Improvising, memorize and play the Melody and Improvisation
Examples of the songs in the book, and Create Motives using the various
Scale Positions.
Book 5
Section VI – Songs and Licks
Chapter 28 – Songs with Melody and Chords
This Chapter combines all the Note Reading, Tablature, Scale Positions
and Modes, Barre and Jazz chord positions shown in this book series, and
uses them to demonstrate how to play the Songs in this Chapter (melody
and chords) along with Pickin' Pal. Songs with Improvisation will
be discussed in the next two chapters.
Chapter 29 – Songs with Improvisation
This Chapter adds Improvisation to the topics discussed in Chapter 28 by
including the Motive Examples shown in this book series, and uses them
to play the Songs in this Chapter (including the Melody, Chords and
Improvisation).
Chapter 30 – Songs, You Improvise
This Chapter is devoted to the Pentatonic (major and minor) Scale
Positions, by playing some Songs, whereby the Melody (or chord melody)
is written using the Music Manuscript and Tablature Notation.
However, all Improvisation (using the Pentatonic and/or Blues Scale
Positions) is left for your creation. Suggested Scale and Chord
Positions are given in the Remarks Section after each song.
Note-Reading Songs
The Songs in this Chapter are designed for Note Reading Exercises as you
progress through the above Chapters. Play the Songs along with
Pickin' Pal.
Guitar Licks
This Chapter shows some Examples of Guitar Licks (motives) using the
Diatonic, Pentatonic and Symmetrical Scale Positions to play Country,
Rock, Blues and Jazz Licks. Also, some Guitar Licks are combined
together to play chord-progression examples along with Pickin' Pal.
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