MUSIC THEORY

Before one should even attempt to learn to play the guitar, or any instrument for that matter, a firm understanding of the musical alphabet is essential. Trying to learn the guitar without knowing the musical alphabet would be a bit like trying to learn English without knowing you're ABC's. Every time you pluck a string on the guitar, you cause the string to vibrate. This vibration forms sound waves that are perceived by the organs inside of the human ear. When you pluck a single string once, you form a note. When you play more than one note at once, you form a chord. There are 12 notes recognized in western music. These 12 notes form the western musical alphabet. The western musical alphabet is as follows;

C - C# - D - D# - E - F -F# -G - G# - A - A# - B - C

The # sign means "'sharp". A sharp note can also go by another name, a flat. Flat notes are annotated with a b. A C# is the same note as a Db and an Ab makes the same sound as a G#. All of these notes can be found on the guitar. Sometimes the same note can be found more on several places on the guitar. After the 12th note, the alphabet starts again but at a different octave. Below is a diagram of the guitar (remember, it is as if you are looking down at the guitar (bass E at the bottom)). This chart shows the various strings and frets and what note is being played when each string is held down at it's corresponding fret. Therefore, if you play the D string on the 4th fret, you make the note F#, or Gb.

This chart will come in handy throughout the lessons. Let's try playing the C chord (right). as you can tell you are holding the A string on the 3rd fret, the D on the 2nd, the G is open and the B string is held on the 1st fret. Therefore, you are playing the notes C, E, G and then C again - an octave higher.

Important Concept ***

The notes in the western music alphabet are chromatically divided by half steps. Therefore, the distance between notes C & C# (aka; Db) on the guitar, or any western musical instrument for that matter, is a half step. The distance between the notes C & D is considered two half steps, or more appropriately - a whole step. These are vital terms to know as they will be used throughout the lessons on this page.

There's plenty of music theory left to learn.... but that will all come later.