Finally, we got to the good stuff. You know enough
basics now, that we can start covering topics beyond fundamentals.
Ok...Let me see if I understand. Your the typical guitarist. You
don't want to play rhythm in the background all the time. The verse
goes by just fine. You pick out certain notes in the root chord to
leave the audience amazed at what you learned through practice. But
then, just when you think everything's fine, the chorus rolls around.
You don't know what to do. You think you can play rhythm again, which
you could, but it sounds exactly like the verse. WHAT DO YOU DO???
You read this article. :) This section was designed to let you become
familiar enough with the guitar fret-board, so you won't stumble
around on that chorus.
First, let's take a look at what equals what on the fret board. As
you will notice, there are dots marking certaing frets. This makes it
easy to locate yourself on that great big fret board. The dots mark
the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 19th, and 21st frets.
Notice anything different about the 12th fret? It has two dots
because the 12th fret of any string equals one octave higher than the
same string, only open. In other words, the low E string is one
octave lower than the 12th fret played on the low E string. This is
one of the first equalities of the fretboard. Play the low E
string...Open...then 12th fret...then open again. See the pattern.
Try that on every string. IT WORKS!!! Now. the next congruency is the
low E string to the high E string. The high E string is exactly TWO
octaves above the low E string. This means that among the first five
strings, there are over two octaves to play with. The next equality
is VERY IMPORTANT. The best way to get one octave higher without
sliding up and down the neck, is to play two frets higher and two
strings higher. This is EXACTLY one octave higher. Now. The next
thing...Half of this value would be a fifth note, right? if you don't
understand, then let's take a look at the scale. G scale to be
precise. G (1 string, 3rd fret), A (2nd string, open), B (2nd string,
2nd fret), C (2nd string, 3rd fret), *THIS IS THE FIFTH OF G*, D (3rd
string, open), E (3rd string, 3nd fret), F# (3rd string, 4th fret),
and finally, we arrive one octave higher, at G (3rd string, 5th
fret). Did ya notice how we ended up? What relationship was used to
go from the low G to the high G? Now. This method doesn't work for
the 5th and 6th strings. As you noticed when tuning your guitar,
these two strings have a pattern of their own. But now that you know
the basics of lead, let's work on some exercises.
Here's some lead "background solos". The reason I said this was
because they can be used within a solo. This is just the basic
background lead during a chorus.
4/4 timing again. chord progression : G--C--G--C--G--C--D--repeat
E|3------|-----------------------------------------
B|3------|-----------------------------------------
G|2------|-----------------------------------------
D|0------|-------------------5~~------4h5p4--------
A|-------|---------------5-7----------------5-----5
E|-------|--3-------5/7------------------------5---
--4-and-----1----&----2----&----3----&----4----&---
E|-------------------------------------- Repeat, and
B|-------------------------------------- try to add
G|-------------------------------------- your own
D|-------------------------------------- notes
A|7~~---5h7p5--------------------------- wherever you
E|-------------7-5-7~~------------------ wish, but
--1----&----2----&----3----&----4----&-- make them fit
Always remember, that you are
the master of the guitar. You own it. IT WILL OBEY!!! Spend
quality time with your guitar. You could develop a natural bond.
Then take it on tour.