Review

Skills improve with practice

Don’t try to perfect each lesson before moving on. Playing technique improves with practice. Reviewing previously studied material will seem easier each time. Slow, steady practice and constant review will eventually lead to speed and accuracy. Leavitt (2020)

Theory

Harmonic rhythm is the rate at which chords change in a piece of music. It’s not the same as the tempo or the melody rhythm — it’s specifically about how quickly the harmonies (chords) move.

• Fast harmonic rhythm → chords change rapidly (e.g., one chord per beat).

• Slow harmonic rhythm → chords change slowly (e.g., one chord per measure).

Think of it as the “heartbeat” of the harmony.

Scales

• C major pentatonic = C D E G A
• A minor pentatonic = A C D E G (same notes, different tonal centre → relative scales).

Scale degrees: 1 – 2 – 3 – 5 – 6

B string fret distances from previous note: +2, +2, +3, +2, +3

B string:  1(C-1)  3(D-2)  5(E-3)  8(G-5)  10(A-6)  13(C-1)
D string: |--0(2)---2(3)---5(5)---7(6)---10(1)---12(2)--
A string: |--0(6)---3(1)---5(2)---7(3)---10(5)---12(6)--

e|---------------------------5--8--|
B|----------------------5--8-------|
G|-----------------5--7------------|
D|------------5--7-----------------|
A|-------5--7----------------------|
E|--5--8---------------------------|

• Cycle of Fourths on E String

Circle of Fourths — Low E string (starting from C, quarter notes)

E|--8--1--6--11--4--9--2--7--0--5--10--3--8--
    C  F  Bb Eb  Ab Db F# B  E  A   D  G  C

Circle of Fourths — A string (starting from C, quarter notes)

A|--3--8--1--6--11---4--9---2--7--0--5--10--3--
    C  F  Bb Eb  Ab  Db F#  B  E  A  D   G  C

• Cmaj Scale: Play full scale up & down in the open position

C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

• Chromatic Scale

C C#Db D D#Eb E F F#Gb G G#Ab A A#Bb B

Skill

• Improvisation

Repertuar

• Like a Rolling Stone (Diatonic notes and chords in the key of C)

• Blues shuffle in A

• Good Riddance

• Happy birthday

• Amazing Grace

• Cowboy Rides Away

• Hava Nagila

Frisell-Style Phrasing

At the start of each week, focus on Space and Silence + Broken Chords. By the end, experiment with Drone + Melody or Less is More during the simulated performance day.

1. Space and Silence

   1. Play 2–3 notes, then pause for 2 full beats.
   2. Let the silence feel like part of the phrase.

2. Broken Chords

   1. Instead of running the scale, outline small fragments (C–E–G or A–C–E).
   2. Let notes ring into each other.

3. Double-Stops

   1. Add simple dyads (two notes together) from within the scale:
   2. 5th fret G + 5th fret B
   3. 7th fret D + 7th fret G

4. Wide Intervals

   1. Skip strings while ascending (e.g., A string → G string → E string).
   2. Creates a spacious, open sound.

5. Dynamic Swells

   1. Play a single note quietly → gradually swell in volume.
   2. Works beautifully with sustained scale tones.

6. Slides and Ghost Notes

   1. Slide between scale tones instead of picking each one.
   2. Add muted “ghost plucks” for texture.

7. Drone + Melody

   1. Hold a low C or A as a drone.
   2. Play short scale ideas on top, almost like a conversation.

8. Less is More

   1. Restrict yourself to 3 notes from the scale.
   2. Find variation through rhythm, space, and tone.

Dyad

A dyad is simply two notes played together. Unlike a full chord (which usually has 3 or more distinct notes), a dyad can be seen as the “essence” of a chord. On guitar, dyads are often used to outline harmony without playing full chords.

1. They simplify harmony → you capture the sound of a chord with just 2 notes.

2. They’re easier to move around → great for rhythm, riffs, or fills.

3. They highlight essential intervals:

   1. 3rds & 6ths → define major/minor quality.
   2. 5ths (power chords) → strong, open sound.
   3. 4ths & 7ths → more modern, suspended sounds.

Dyads on Guitar

1. Power Dyads (root + 5th) \

   1. Example: E5 = E (open 6th string) + B (2nd fret 5th string).
   2. Used in rock/metal for their strength and neutrality (neither major nor minor).

2. 3rd Dyads (root + 3rd)

   1. Define major/minor tonality.
   2. Ex: C + E (major 3rd), C + Eb (minor 3rd).

3. 6th Dyads (root + 6th)

   1. Inversions of 3rds, very sweet and melodic (common in country, jazz, soul).
   2. Ex: C + A. 4.

4. 4th Dyads (root + 4th)

   1. Neutral, open sound (used in modal and jazz contexts).
   2. Ex: C + F.

Power dyad (5th)

e|---
B|---
G|---
D|-2-
A|-2-
E|-0-
   E5

Major 3rd dyad (C + E)

e|---
B|---
G|-0-
D|-2-
A|-3-
E|---
   C major flavor

6th dyad (C + A)

e|---
B|-5-
G|-5-
D|---
A|---
E|---
   Sweet "soul/jazz" sound

References

Leavitt, William. 2020. A Modern Method for Guitar - Complete Method Book/Online Media. Berklee Press.