Clearing Up Confusion | Free Online Guitar Lesson

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Lesson 17 of 19 in our Basic Guitar Series: Clearing Up Confusion

In this lesson Steve attempts to clear up some confusion with previous lessons. He will talk about reading tablature, note names, chord names and more.
Chapter 1: (15:52) Clear Up Confusion: ABC's and 123's Many members have written in and expressed their confusion regarding topics such as tablature, string names, and note names. With all of the numbers, letters, and symbols that are used in guitar music, it can be difficult to keep everything straight. Steve has taken this lesson as an opportunity to clear up some of the confusion that many members are experiencing.

Finger Numbers

Note: Open the video capture entitled "Frets, Fingers, and Chords." This image is located under the "Supplemental Content" tab. On his marker board, Steve has drawn a left hand with the palm facing up. When a specific left hand fingering is designated within a tablature score, each finger is assigned a letter or number. The left hand thumb is always indicated by an uppercase letter "T." The index finger is labeled as "1." The middle finger is labeled "2." The ring finger is assigned the number "3." Finally, the pinkie is labeled as finger "4." The left hand fingering for a specific chord or note is usually indicated directly below the tablature staff. This prevents guitarists from confusing the left hand fingering with the fret numbers listed on the tablature lines.

Piano Confusion

If you have experience playing the piano, this number system is probably quite confusing. Pianists refer to the thumb as finger "1." Consequently, the index finger is labeled "2," and so on.

Left Hand Fingering and Standard Notation

In standard notation, the left hand fingering for a note is usually indicated directly to the right of the note head. The numbering system listed above remains the same for standard notation.

Fret Numbers

When reading tablature, the numbers written on the lines indicate fret locations. For example, a "0" indicates that a string should be played open. A "3" indicates that a string should be played at the third fret.

The number of frets available varies from guitar to guitar. Classical guitars and steel string acoustics have 19 or 20 frets. On classical guitars, the neck joins the body at the 12th fret. The neck joins the body on steel string acoustics at the 14th fret.

Electric guitars have 21, 22, or 24 frets. The Ibanez company recently began to produce a guitar that features 27 frets. Regardless of how many frets an electric guitar has, the neck typically joins the body around the 17th fret.

Octaves

The musical alphabet repeats itself every 12 frets on the guitar guitar. For example, the open first string (smallest string) produces the note E. An E note is also located at the 12th fret of the same string. These notes produce the same pitch. The note at the 12th fret is simply played in a higher range or octave.

Proper Fingering for First Position

Almost all of the melodies and single note exercises that Steve has presented in this lesson are played in "first position." Position refers to the location of the fretboard where the left hand plays. In first position, the appropriate left hand finger corresponds to each fret number. For example, finger 1 plays at the 1st fret. Finger 2 plays at the 2nd fret. All notes at the 3rd fret are played by finger 3. Finally, finger 4 frets all notes at the 4th fret.

Chords and Roman Numerals

A chord is usually identified by its letter name and quality. For example, G7 is a chord that has been discussed in this series. The root note or letter name of the chord is G. The "7" written after the letter name indicates the quality or type of G chord. A "7" written directly after the root note indicates a dominant seventh chord.

Frequently, Roman numerals are used instead of letter names when referencing a specific chord progression. Roman numerals indicate which scale degree a chord is built from. The C major scale contains seven distinct notes - C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. A triad (chord containing three notes) can be built from each note in the scale. The Roman numeral assigned to each chord is based upon its order in the scale. Study the list of chords built from the C major scale below.

I � C Major: C, E, G
ii � D Minor: D, F, A
iii � E Minor: E, G, B
IV � F Major: F, A, C
V � G Major: G, B, D
vi � A Minor: A, C, E
vii � B Diminished: B, D, F

Uppercase Roman numerals are used for chords built around a major or augmented triad. Lowercase Roman numerals indicate a chord that is built from a minor or diminished triad.

Note Names

There are seven note names in the musical alphabet - A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Once G is reached, the alphabet simply repeats again in the same order. These note names represent the white keys on the piano. Each of these notes can be written with a sharp or flat. Sharp or flat notes are played on the black keys of the piano.

Pattern of Whole and Half Steps

The distance between each pair of adjacent notes in the musical alphabet is measured in intervals called whole steps and half steps. Sometimes, these intervals are respectively referred to as tones and semitones. A half step occurs between the notes B and C as well as between E and F. These notes are located one fret apart on the fretboard. A whole step occurs between the remaining pairs of notes. A whole step is represented by two frets on the guitar.

Enharmonic Notes

Several notes in the musical alphabet can be written in a few different ways. Enharmonic notes are notes that are written differently but sound the same when played. For example a Cb produces the same pitch as the note B. A# and Bb are also examples of enharmonic notes.

Note Locations on the Fretboard

Using the pattern of half and whole steps, draw out a diagram of the guitar fretboard and write in all of the correct note names. Once you reach the 12th fret on any given string, the pattern of notes simply repeats over again. Say each note aloud as you write it. When multiple brain functions are combined in a single activity, the material is learned and stored in the most efficient manner. Also, draw where the inlays occur on your fretboard. This will help you visualize the fretboard in relation to all of the note names and their appropriate locations. Check your work with the diagram located in the "Supplemental Content" section of Mark Brennan's third Phase 1 lesson.

Say It and Play It

After correcting any mistakes you might have made, say each note aloud as you play it on the guitar. This exercise will greatly improve your knowledge of note locations.

Send Us Your Questions!

As always, feel free to email Steve with any questions or comments that you might have. You can also leave questions and comments with Steve in the "Comments" section of the lesson or on Steve's forum.

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