L E V E L III
Module I
In this module you’ll begin gathering theory and skills that will enable you to be creative with the music you play.
This is an exercise that I presented in Level I, but it’s so important to do at any level that I’ve included it here. It’s easy and only takes a few minutes to do, so revisit it now and often! T14 Minimum Pressure Ex.
Lesson
1
This lesson will help you home in to the melodic rhythm and will serve you in writing your own transcriptions. (Yes, you’re ready for that! Yay!)
Th11Melodic Rhythm
Lesson
2
It’s easier than you may have guessed to memorize the major keys and their key signatures—and it’s way more valuable. This lesson shows you how.
Th17 Key Signatures
Lesson
3
If you haven’t yet ventured into improvisation, this lesson will give you an easy and fun way to jump in. If you’re a veteran improviser, you’ll benefit from taking some time to set aside pitches and delve into the often neglected but all-important creation of compelling melodic rhythms. Enjoy!
LP18 One-Note Improvisation
Lesson
4
Knowing how to construct chords is essential knowledge for building pretty much anything you want to build on your guitar. Practice chord construction a lot—the faster you are at it, the more it will serve you in your playing. (To access worksheets to help you practice, check out A Guitar Player’s Guide to Music Theory.)
Use both of the following lessons: Th9Understanding Chords (text) and Th22Chord Construction (video)
Lesson
5
Now that you know how to construct chords, it’s easy to choose the chord tone you want in any situation. Start with these ideas for basic, first position chords and then bring your knowledge of the principles to any choices you make on the fretboard: Th16 Chord Tones
Lesson
6
