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Great habits lead to great success. Guitarists that latch on to the concepts of habit build a routine of growth and progression on the instrument.
Even though habits can feel monotonous at times; they create a solid foundation for mastery. Every modern guitarist should develop guitar habits and an approach for consistency.
Music theory concepts are the mechanism for creating guitar habits. The fretboard then becomes our workstation. Our experimental lab for musical creation. We are but musical scientists finding the right combination of triads, modes and rhythm to mix together in our framework of songs.
Here lies 3 habits for the modern guitarist.
Habits that will drive you forward at all times whether you are a beginner or an advanced player. These habits will help with creativity and inspiration for any type of guitarist.
1. Master the Matrix: Understand the Fretboard Inside Out
Fretboard mastery is essential because understanding where all the notes are helps the guitarist navigate the fretboard. By finding all the notes you will then be able to craft chords, scale and arpeggios in any key across the fretboard.
Let’s say you are writing a song in the key of C; knowing how to find and construct vital elements of a triad will help you compose a chord progression for a song. The fretboard is your work station. Knowing where all your tools lie on the guitar will help you master this instrument no matter what stage you’re on in your guitar journey.
Tips:
One method I have used to master the fretboard is the “Octave Method”.
Memorizing guitar notes on the fretboard using the octave method is an effective way to quickly identify notes across the entire neck. Here’s a brief explanation:
The octave method leverages the fact that any given note on the guitar can be found in multiple locations across the fretboard, usually by skipping strings and counting up a specific number of frets. By learning these octave patterns, you can identify the same note in different positions, making it easier to memorize the fretboard.
How It Works:
- Starting Point: Choose a note on one string (e.g., the 5th fret on the 6th string, which is an “A”).
- Finding the Octave:
- Two-String Pattern: Move up two strings and over two frets to find the same note on the higher string (e.g., “A” on the 7th fret of the 4th string).
- Three-String Pattern: Move up three strings and over three frets for the next octave (e.g., “A” on the 10th fret of the 2nd string).
- Practice: Apply this pattern across different notes and strings, noting that the pattern slightly adjusts between the G and B strings (due to tuning differences, move up three strings but only two frets).
By practicing these octave shapes consistently, you’ll start to recognize note positions more intuitively, allowing you to navigate the fretboard with greater ease. Mastery of the guitar fretboard is a continuous process of learning and experimenting with chords and scales.
2. Scale Navigator: Integrate Scales into Your Daily Practice
One of the best places to start with guitar scales is the pentatonic scale. Memorize the location of all the minor pentatonic scales, then move to major pentatonic scales and finally know the pentatonic modes. These scales are in every type of music.
Guitar modes are important to learn as well. Guitar modes in the major scale are seven unique scales derived from the major scale by starting on each of its different notes. Each mode has its own distinct sound and character, offering a wide range of tonal possibilities.
For example, starting from the first note of the C major scale gives you the Ionian mode, which is essentially the major scale itself. Starting from the second note (D) gives you the Dorian mode, known for its minor quality with a bright, jazzy feel.
Understanding and mastering these modes allows guitarists to add variety and expression to their playing, from creating different moods in solos to composing with diverse harmonic textures.
1. Warm-Up (5 minutes):
Start with finger exercises to loosen up your hands. Play simple chromatic scales across all strings, starting from the 1st fret and moving up the neck, focusing on clean, even picking.
2. Major Scale Practice (10 minutes):
Choose a major scale, such as the C major scale, and play it across two octaves. Begin slowly, ensuring each note rings clearly. Gradually increase the speed as you feel more comfortable. Practice the scale in ascending and descending order, using alternate picking.
3. Mode Exploration (15 minutes):
Pick one mode to focus on each day. For example, if you’re working on the Dorian mode, start on the 2nd note of the major scale (e.g., D in the C major scale) and play through the Dorian scale across the fretboard. Practice the mode in different positions and octaves, and experiment with creating simple melodies or licks within that mode.
3. Chord Architect: Build and Understand Guitar Triads
Chords drive the song. The ability to build chords anywhere on the fretboard should be the goal of all guitarists. Guitar triads are a wonderful place to start. By understanding guitar triads, guitarists can craft unique and simple chords in any key. Use the guitar matrix to find these triads.
You can play triads on any string set and with any inversion. A c major triad (C,E,G) then becomes 12 different chord positions because you can play it on 4 different string sets and 3 inversions on each string set.
Step 1: Know What a Triad Is
A guitar triad is just a simple three-note chord made up of the root, third, and fifth notes. For example, a C major triad includes C (root), E (third), and G (fifth).
Step 2: Learn Three Basic Guitar Triad Shapes
Focus on three easy shapes for major and minor triads:
- Root Position: The root note is the lowest.
- First Inversion: The third is the lowest.
- Second Inversion: The fifth is the lowest.
These can be played on groups of three adjacent strings, like strings 1-3 or 2-4.
Step 3: Practice Moving Guitar Triads
Pick a key, like C major, and practice moving between C, F, and G triads up and down the fretboard. Use different shapes (root, first, and second inversion) to see how they connect.
Step 4: Use Triads in Songs
Play simple chord progressions, like G-C-D, using triads. This helps you make your rhythm playing more interesting and less bulky.
Step 5: Add Triads to Solos
When soloing, use triads as mini arpeggios (playing the notes one at a time) to add flavor to your lead playing. For example, in an A minor solo, use A minor, D minor, and E minor triads.
This method makes guitar triads easy to understand and apply, enhancing your rhythm and lead guitar playing with minimal effort. Triads can help you with developing creative guitar chord progressions. Some of the best guitarists use triads because of their minimal sound. Especially when playing with a piano player, triads can help blend the notes together.
Jimmy Page is known for playing intervals and triads in a lot of his work. Check out “Ten Years Gone” and “Achilles Last Stand”. Triads call for precision and strategically placed notes on the fretboard. Using them will enhance your skills significantly.
Conclusion
As you embark on your journey to master these three habits, remember that music theory is not just a set of rules—it’s a powerful tool that unlocks endless possibilities on the guitar. By integrating these habits into your daily practice, you’ll find yourself playing with more confidence, creativity, and understanding.
The path to becoming a modern guitarist is one of continuous learning and exploration, and every step you take brings you closer to your full potential as a musician.
So, stay curious, stay dedicated, and let these habits guide you toward a deeper connection with your instrument and the music you create. Keep pushing the boundaries of your knowledge, and watch as your guitar playing reaches new heights.
By applying fretboard theory, scales and triads to your practice routine; You give yourself the fundamentals for creating songs on the guitar. These techniques will help you become a better guitarist, no matter what genre of music you play.
Bio:
Justin Comstock, Host of the Guitar Freaks Podcast
Justin is a Blues guitarist from Utah. He created a guitar learning tool called the FretDeck on Kickstarter that has helped many guitar players master the fretboard. He is also the host of the Guitar Freaks Podcast.
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