The 6th Interval (also known as the inverted third), is an amazing - must learn - guitar sound for all types of guitar soloing in all music styles. And, it's application is incredibly versatile since it can be used in Major keys, Minor keys, as well as, with Blues harmony and modes...
If you’ve ever tried to make sense of the 6th interval, but perhaps met with failure. I have great news, this lesson, we’ll clear up all your confusion with the 6th interval and you’ll be applying it easily - in no time flat… WATCH THE VIDEO:
Viewing the 6th Interval Reference Point (MAJOR): To establish a reference point for linking the 6th intervals, (the diatonic 6th intervals that you want to use tied to a key center), you'll need a starting point for the reference. We will establish that starting point by way of a common chord pattern. Major Key Reference Chord (5th String): The 5th string root, Major key reference chord will be a, "Pattern #1 - Major Triad," (i.e., Intermediate Guitar Program). Within this Major chord, we have a "Minor 6th" interval.
Major Key Reference Chord (4th String): The 4th string root, Major key reference chord will be a, "Pattern #4 (alt.) -
Major Triad," (i.e., Intermediate Guitar Program). Within this Major
chord, we have a "Minor 6th" interval.
Major Key - 6th Interval Harmonized Along the Neck: Once you've established your starting point reference from the chord shapes shown above, learn the harmony associated off of the upper string's scale layout. An example of a "Major" key built between the 4th to 2nd string is shown below. Complete Harmony for 6th Intervals on 4th to 2nd string (key of "C Major")...
Viewing the 6th Interval Reference Point (MINOR): The same approach that we used with Major key references, can also be applied to Minor key 6th interval references. However, within the Minor chord we now have a "Major 6th" interval. Minor Key Reference Chord (5th String): The 5th string root,
Minor key reference chord will be a, "Pattern #1 - Minor Triad," (i.e.,
Intermediate Guitar Program). Within this Minor chord, we have a "Major
6th" interval.
Minor Key Reference Chord (4th String): The 4th string root,
Minor key reference chord will be a, "Pattern #4 (alt.) - Minor Triad," (i.e.,
Intermediate Guitar Program). Within this Minor chord, we have a "Major
6th" interval.
Minor Key - 6th Interval Harmonized Along the Neck: Once you've
established a starting point reference from the minor chord shapes (shown
above), learn the harmony associated off of the upper string's scale
layout. An example of a "Minor" key (built between the 4th to 2nd string )
is shown below. Complete Harmony for 6th Intervals between 4th to 2nd string (key of "C Minor")...
6th Interval Application: These 6th interval shapes can operate in either Major or Minor tonality. So, in getting started with some application, let’s begin with an lick from a Major key. Here’s an example in the key of, “D Major.”
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Next, let’s work out a guitar lick for application within a minor tonality context. Here’s a 6th interval lick in the key of, “D Minor.”
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Expanding the Use of 6ths: Anything that you study on guitar, (especially scales, arpeggios and interval concepts), should be expanded into further directions for application into as many musical directions as possible. I’d like to suggest that you use your basic knowledge of music theory and try expanding the application of these 6th interval concepts further along to areas like Modes and Blues based guitar riffs. One of the best ideas to head into with these 6th intervals are Blues licks. In fact, Blues turnarounds will often use the 6th interval as a way to resolve a Blues melody statement. Check out this Blues-based turnaround that applies 6th intervals in a key of “A” Blues.
Blues Turnaround with the 6th:
CONCLUSION: As you can tell, these 6th intervals are fantastic when it comes to using them for licks found within any type of tonality, (or for use in almost any music style as well). Learn the layout of the 6th and learn how the integration principles for applying 6th intervals work musically. It will probably take a little time to fully understand the basic theory behind their use, (in both Major and Minor tonality). There will also be some time required to be able to nail down the physical technique of playing 6th intervals on the guitar. But, I think you’ll have fun practicing them, and you’ll definitely have fun when you start applying them in songs and especially in your guitar solo.
VISIT THE WEB-SITE: Well, I'd like to end the discussion by saying, thanks for joining me... If you want to learn more about what I do as an online guitar teacher, then head over to my website at creativeguitarstudio.com and sign up your FREE lifetime membership. When you want more, you can always upgrade to either a Basic, or a Premium lesson package and start studying the guitar courses I've organized for the members of my website. Also, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on all of this in the comment section below. If you enjoyed this video, give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more. Thanks again and we'll catch up next week, for another episode of the, "Guitar Blog Insider."
NEW The seventh lesson of "Rhythm Guitar" studies the grooves of Blues and Rock. Four examples practice feels like accented eighth's, 16th-note Shuffle (Rock), Slow solo Blues (in 6/8 time), and performing the 8th-note triplet Blues shuffle.
A bonus to BASIC and PREMIUM web-site members are the MP3 play-along tracks that will help with learning each rhythm example.
Paid Web-site members (BASIC and PREMIUM), can watch the associated video lessons and download the detailed PDF handout, along with the MP3 clap /strum play-along tracks...
Join the member's areato download the PDF handout and MP3's. Study all of the examples with full access to both video lessons. Be sure to spend some additional time on learning the "Rhythm Jam Challenge" piece that I performed at the start of the lesson in the "Part One" video...
PART ONE:In example one, modified straight eighth's rhythms highlight accented segments of the beat. These accents occur on different beats of the groove. Listen closely to the video demonstrations and the play along MP3 for how each beat is supposed to be felt in time. PART TWO:In example two, the exercise is based upon syncopated shuffle-rock accents of the sixteenth note groove, (a meter established through a dotted eighth and a sixteenth-note). This feel is very popular and can be found throughout songs performed in various styles.
PART THREE:
In example three, a triple meter (6/8 time) groove is applied within the key center of an "A Blues" harmony. The feel is unique the clap and count play-a-long MP3, "example_03_clap," to learn how to properly punctuate the timing and feel in this triple meter feel of 6/8 time.
PART FOUR:In example four, a traditional eighth-note triplet feel of the Blues Shuffle is the focus. The rhythmic meter consists of a two bar phrase that repeats in measures three and four.
The example four groove, is based upon groups of eighth-notes (and some quarter notes) performed under the triplet sub-division.
Music school may be a great place to learn a ton of theory based ideas and to help with learning the mechanics of how scales and arpeggios sit on the instrument, but there are things that we need to learn after that stuff which help build a career...
Music school can be a great environment for learning more about playing music with others, along with hearing the various ways that music can be arranged. For those areas of study, Music School pushed my own musical ability up far beyond where I was when I started my classes. And, the different subjects at music school helped me attain a much higher level of understanding for music way beyond that of when I started my classes at music school. What happened later on, was I realized that there were a few more areas that I needed to get good at when it came to being a musician. And, those areas weren’t ones that I had covered from studying in class during my days at music school… WATCH THE VIDEO:
#1). Determine What Your Specialty Is The serious study of the language of music is pretty intense and it takes a lot of years to develop the skills that you’d need to be able to play music up at a high level. This means that since you only have a certain number of years available in your career life span as a musician, you’ll need to figure out (as quickly as possible), what your specialty is. Very few players end up like Carl Verheyen who is one of those very unique guitarists who can (with near perfection) perform almost any guitar style (or music style) with almost flawless precision and skill, (making him one of the most sought after session musicians in Los Angeles). And so, since we can’t all be Carl Verheyen, we need to determine early on what our specialty will be and we need to work hard on that. Maybe it’s Rock, Country, Folk, or Blues, maybe it’s Jazz or Classical, but whatever your specialty is, there isn’t a music school out there that will push you to figure this out. You’ll have to make the effort to develop this – on your own – as fast as possible.
#2). Learn to Compose Music – Quickly Music schools might teach you how to go about performing music for tests and recitals, and other areas like; how keys and musical tonalities fit together – stuff like that. But, the idea of learning to compose and do it quickly and effectively is one of those paramount skills of a musician. And, it just wasn't stressed enough. It should probably be highlighted that composing is vital to solid musical development. In fact, I'd suggest that a player compose or transcribe something every single day. In fact, I think that musicians / guitar players should be both composing something and they should be notating it in some way. Notation is amazing, and isn't done enough by most musicians. Whether notation is done within a program like; Guitar Pro, or Finale, or even if it is through writing ideas on paper, notating what you musically invent is critical. This type of work is amazing for your sense of rhythm and offers many more incredible benefits over time. Learn to come up with riffs and fit a melody to them, do some recording with what you invent, and do some musical organizing with your parts so that you can layer harmony and come up with additional ideas. If you come up with a riff turn it into a verse and then add a chorus maybe even adding a bridge too. Think about how song sections can blend together as well. Invent intro parts and learn how a piece can finish, (the outro). Because composing isn’t exactly stressed at music schools, you'll need to focus on it a lot after you're done school. The benefits are amazing and the pay-off is well worth the effort.
#3). Think About the Money You Earn One of the things that I really wish they spent a lot more time on in, (not just music school but also in grade school), is the money you earn over the years of your career, how to best save it, and learning about options for investing it over the years. This is such an important area because you are generally an active musician for a time frame of maybe 35-40 or so years of your life. But, there will inevitably come a point in your life where you won’t be able to play gigs, or teach, or continue earning an income as a musician due to health concerns or due to just old age. You need savings for those future years and you need your savings plan working for you. Plus, the longer you can have this in the works, the better. So, as you grow older, you need to save money, and you’ll need to continuously invest that money in a way that produces a return. Whether you invest in; antiques, collectables, real estate, diamonds, dividend producing stocks, whatever it may be. You need something that will be valuable enough to see you into your retirement after you become too old to earn your living as a musician any longer. And, this isn’t something that is taught at music school.
CONCLUSION: Now, these concepts that I’ve discussed here are a few of the areas that I’ve felt were some of the main topics that have bothered me when it comes to Music School education. The ability to become a solid income earner as a musician in the first place is incredibly difficult. The career path of a musician isn’t for everyone and most people who enter into this field tend to only last about 10 to maybe 15 years. It’s very demanding being a musician, and it can be incredibly stressful as well. But, the points that I’ve made here in this discussion are really valuable to having serious long term success. Once you discover your specialty, and when you nail down the skills that you have to have for composing and creating music quickly and effectively in your own specific style, (the style that you’re most talented in), plus once you can earn decent money, save it and successfully invest it, you’ll be in a position where your long term career as a musician will be very solid and your success will help guide you to all kinds of new opportunities for long term success. As long as you stay serious, and you can focus on the right things (as time goes along and your career unfolds) you should be able to remain pretty solid.
VISIT THE WEB-SITE: Thanks for joining me, If you'd like to Find Out What You Should Learn on Guitar - take a look at the courses over on my website at CreativeGuitarStudio.com. My step-by-step; Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced courses will cover what you need to know, along with how to be able to move forward and become the best player that you can be. I've worked on these courses since 1992 and I feel that all together they're the best guitar program you'll ever find. The courses will help you learn to identify what's required to get you up to the next level of guitar playing, in a very organized way, that makes sense. So, I look forward to helping you further at CreativeGuitarStudio.com ...Until next time - take care and we'll catch up again on the next video. Bye for now!
NEW This unique Creative Guitar Studio course explores exercises for increasing dexterity and coordination between the hands. The goal of the course is to increase awareness, mobility and control.
Lesson six of Guitar Technique offers a group of studies to the student that can be memorized then pushed to faster and faster tempos using a metronome. If practiced diligently, the results to your overall playing skills will be fantastic.
Part one and part two of the lesson offer drills for picking through parallel string groups, (two, three and four string groupings). Then in parts three and four of the lesson, the drills begin working across all six guitar strings laterally using Major 7 and Minor 7 arpeggios.
Paying members of the Creative Guitar website can watch both video lessons and download the PDF handouts, and the MP3 play along tracks...
Join the member's area to download the PDF handout and start study of these exercises. Study all of the examples with full access to both video lessons...
PART ONE:Example 1a, applies an in position two string parallel picking drill using sixteenth-notes. Learn the drill as written in the TAB from your handout. Then, speed up the drill to faster tempos until the goal tempo is either reached or exceeded.
The drill in exercise 1b, applies another type of two string parallel drill that crosses over the string sets. This study is in 2/4 time and employs the feel of eighth-note triplets.
PART TWO:Example two expands the string group layout to include three and four string patterns.
The drill in exercise 2a, organizes a three string group of notes performed in 3/4 time using sixteenth-notes. The pattern is demonstrated from between the 6th to 4th string, but it should be re-located over to other three-string groups once the drill has become committed to memory.
The drill in example 2b, expands the string groups to include four strings from the 5th string to the 2nd. However, once this pattern is learned, it should be also transferred across the guitar strings to include other four-string groupings.
PART THREE:
Exercise three demonstrates how the arpeggio tones of a "Gmaj7" arpeggio can be covered along and across the guitar neck in a way that includes the use of all six guitar strings and no slurs, (no; slides, hammer-ons, or pull-offs). PART FOUR:Exercise four demonstrates how the arpeggio tones of an "Am7" arpeggio can be covered along and across the guitar neck in a way that includes the use of all six guitar strings as well as, slurs to connect the positions.
Gypsy Major Scale (also known by it’s more scholarly name the, “Double Harmonic Major Scale”), is a major scale that offers musicians a specialized major sound that produces a unique quality to the major color...
In this lesson, I’ll be demonstrating some of the very interesting way’s that this scale can be applied through; scale fingering shapes, chord progressions, and melody lines… WATCH THE VIDEO:
Gypsy Major Scale Shapes: The “Gypsy Major Scale,” is a modified version of the Basic Major scale (Ionian Mode). These modifications shift the 2nd and 6th scale steps lower by a half-step as compared to the basic major scale. This produces a group of tones that have degrees of; Tonic (1), flatted-second, (b2), Major third, (3) Perfect fourth (4) and Perfect fifth (5), Minor sixth, (b6), and Major seventh (7). If we were to perform this scale from the tonic note of “C” on the 6th string eighth fret, we’d generate a scale that looks like this…
“The ‘C’ Gypsy Major Scale”
If we took all of the scales degrees of “Gypsy Major Scale,” over to the 5th guitar string's root from the “C” tone at the third fret, we’d have this shape…
Scale Practice: When practicing any scale it is always important to move the scale around the neck, inventing new patterns by changing tonic notes. Through that work, you can learn to view the scale on the fingerboard for any key center. So, let’s change our tonal center from, “C,” over to an, “A.” The guitar makes this easy, because all we need to do is slide the patterns that we just covered, from “C” root notes, over to locations on the neck that support the use of the “A” as the new root Tone…
“The ‘A’ Gypsy Major Scale”
6th string root...
5th string root...
Chord Types for the Gypsy Major Scale… The chord qualities that are associated to this scale are just as unique as the scales sound. The scale has both a Major 7th and a Minor 2nd degree, (with a minor 6th), creating a chromatic three tone step around the root. This establishes a result to the color of the scales harmony with shifts to some fairly unorthodox chord types. With this in mind, let’s work through this root of “A” Gypsy Major Scale and develop some possible chords that can associate nicely into this harmony... Gypsy Scale Harmony (key center chords):
Chord Progression Application: Working out chord changes that will operate well within the abstract scale situation of "Gypsy Scale" makes for some really interesting opportunities when it comes to applying the sound of new and different scales like the Gypsy major. What I’ve done to help get you started, is organize a unique set of chords that sit within the harmonic structure of the “A” Gypsy Major Scale.” This chord progression can be something that you can use to help get you started with performing melodic phrases from the tones of the Gypsy Major.
Key of “A” Gypsy Major Chord Progression:
Melody Application: The melodic work that can end up getting done with this scales tones, can take on many different directions due to the unique intervals involved with the scales construction. So, in wrapping up, I wanted give you a chance to apply some melody using the Gypsy Major. And, I hope that you’ll go forward with this scale on your own too. I’ve taken the chord progression from above (using our harmony from the “A” Gypsy Major), and I’ve developed a melodic line that you can use as a way to help get yourself started with applying the interesting sounds of the Gypsy Major tones. Here’s what that melody sounds like…
"A" Gypsy Major Melody:
Well, I'd like to end the discussion by saying, thanks for joining me... If you want to learn more about what I do as an online guitar teacher, then head over to my website at creativeguitarstudio.com and sign up your FREE lifetime membership. When you want more, you can always upgrade to either a Basic, or a Premium lesson package and start studying the guitar courses that I've organized for the members of my website.
Also, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on all of this in the comment section below... if you enjoyed this video on YouTube, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more. Thanks again and we'll catch up next week, for another episode of the, "Guitar Blog Insider."
