If you're here only for the exercise, then you can go straight to 8:00 ... but if you watch from that and the exercise seems silly or strange or weird, then I STRONGLY recommend you watch the rest of the video :-)
Btw, I just saw your comment has 0 likes and I definitely liked it and every other comment here. Did you know they've had video dislike bots since at least 2014 and now they even have comment dislike bots? Personally, I think this infringes on freedom of speech since the comments can be buried with enough dislikes.
Have you considered hooking up with an app developer for this little exercise? doing random generation and timed answers? would be cool. I'd spend a buck or two on it! Thanks for the video!
Best advice! I have been using your method to memorize notes, can reach 70 bpm now. I can say that my confidences on guitar has grown tremendously, and it also helps me to memorize notes in scales and chords.
I didn't realize that this was exactly what I needed to hear. Just started learning. I began with trying to learn finger picking exercises. Now I'm thinking that learning notes first may be more beneficial. Thank you.
Your Gtr fret board = my Clarinet tube. Your explanation of chord theory is helping me play through melodic lines. Guitar has never felt comfortable. Accordion helps me hear the changes. "Different strokes for different folks " ? Don't forget that your lessons help Musicians no matter what 'VOICE' we choose to express ourselves. Thank you.
You are an absolute legend! I can tell already that your lessons are going to help me out so much. Thank you for explaining things like you do and then giving us ways to actually learn the things you are teaching.
I made a music interval matrix to help with this as well. 12x12 with all the natural notes and sharps/flats. On the x and y axis I marked out the interval distance in both intervals and also in semitones. Eg, a Tritone could be a sharp 4 or a flat 5 but will always be 6 semitones from your root note of reference. The more I use this chart the more I feel like I'm getting better at recognizing intervals within any given key, slowly but surely!
Great stuff! This is exactly what teachers should teach their students right from the beginning. I’m struggling with this since 20 years now and you have enlightened me within only a few minutes on UA-cam. Thanks man!
Tommaso, I am about half way through both your courses. I think this info and your note name exercises should feature at the beginning! It would make the rest of the course easier to have this skill upfront! Enjoying the courses too! Keep up the good work.
This is unbelievable. I’ve been playing for 30 years and I’m just starting to learn theory. During practice I asked myself that question for the first time today. I came to the same conclusion he did and decided I’d learn both simultaneously as they’d inform each other. It’s a near impossible coincidence that I’d find this video a few hours later. Gentlemen, I know when I’m beaten. Google’s AI outsmarted me. All hail the machines who directed me here. Also this video is awesome!
Another useful lesson. I learned the notes and intervals on the piano when I was very young. When I first started playing guitar, I relied heavily on intervals along with a visualization of the piano. It wasn’t until I finally learned the notes on the fretboard that I was able to break free and eliminate “the keyboard of my minds eye” while playing guitar. It had been another one of those extra steps that can slow you down in the long run. My understanding and application of theory and playing on the guitar solidified exponentially. On another note, I think a lesson on using 6ths and how they relate to chord progressions would make a very interesting lesson.
I’d also like to see a version of the note names exercises for recognising intervals on the fretboard. Both above and below the root by 1 or 2 octaves.
I can say without a doubt that the premise of "knowing note names faster"="big gains in music productivity" does not hold for me personally. I have never thought about what the name of a certain note is when I compose. I think only in terms of "sounds" (and perhaps feelings too) when I compose, improvise or play. So in my case what helps me when improvising and composing is knowing how scales, modes, chords and intervals sound/feel (by heart, in my mind, before playing them) is what helps me. In fact, since I do not have perfect pitch, I rely fully on relative pitch. So I couldn't care less what the name of any note is. On the other hand, it is of key importance for me to know how that note relates to everything surrounding it, so whether it is a #4 "painting a lydian colour", etc. Thanks a lot for the wealth of really informative and clear information you create. I enjoy it a lot, so the comment should not be read negatively. This is just how I think/feel music
Always wonderful stuff. I've been doing these for a while and it helps. Everyone says "I don't want to learn all that minutiae and sit around practicing these things". Then you teach them some simple theory and BAM...they're sitting around happily practicing it and they're glad that they did. I wasted 3 decades whining instead of learning, now I can't get enough.
Guitar players are very visual. For us, the fretboard easily becomes a grid on which countless patterns and shapes are learned, imagined, then taught to others, with varying degrees of concern (typically little, especially in Rock) for note- or interval-knowledge.
Not knowing the notes on the fretboard is a major drawback, specially when we talk about improvisation. You previous video on a technique to learn the fretboard is great.
Tomasso, the Folk-Tale is "washington didn't lie about cutting down the apple tree" (washington : sharpen the axe would follow).. it's a folk tale, never been substantiated, the point was washington never lied..
Well, I just got the complete chord mastery course. Looking forward to starting a new journey of understanding music, twenty years late. Thanks, Tommaso for the great videos as always.
Absolutely learning note names in scales and chords is an overlooked exercise for guitar players. I've been doing a TF exercise lately of writing the scale and chords out on staff paper and playing while looking at them to know the notes on the fretboard instead of just shifting patterns. I was reluctant because it's hard but it's a necessary skill. ...but why are you so harsh on intervals in so many videos? Yes you said learn patterns and notes but you are critical of intervals in multiple videos. I find knowing the harmony qualities of intervals, and knowing how to play those up and down a scale helped me advance more than any other lesson in decades. Double stops to me are the most pure guitar sound. Knowing 3rds, 5, 6, 7ths up the scale changed everything for me. "Knowing" meaning internalizing the sound qualities of those intervals. Obviously you know more than me so I understand there is something I'm not getting or have to get this phase out of my system. I'm such an extremist in my views that I will argue that intervals can replace any chord successfully using shell voicing ideas and also that people don't hear beyond that and are content with the sound especially if other more complex sounds if the chord are distributed through the measure. I know that's a crazy thing to say but I also know I like the results! I know I'm wrong in some way but just commenting to get it out of my system since you keep hating on intervals and it bothers me. And yes I know you are more educated than me and are probably correct. And I feel bad for writing this insane comment on your incredibly helpful video series
Smashed it again!!!!! I started on this subject last night and although I found some great videos, there was I simple thing missing - you've provided that today. Stay blessed 🙏, stay strong 💪 - 👏
Tommaso, to play triads, I use notes to find a starting point i.e. progression 1-4-5 in C major. I find a C note, wrap a triad around that note then look for a 4th interval (relative the original C note) wrap a triad around it and remembering where my "1" C is, look for the 5th interval etc. If I move up or down the neck I find a new C note and start again. As a guitar player, is this the best strategy for navigating harmony, using both invervals and notes in this way?
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Seems you are in good company. Many other online teachers that I respect speak the same say. It is a ton of work, but I believe it will pay off. I'm now codifying your 3 part mental exercise for integration and will add that to my already crowded practice routine. Thanks for cementing my belief that it's worth it.
i think that thinking of notes is easier, because once you start experimenting with inversions, extensions and open strings, things gets messy, suddenly its not just root + 3rd + 5th anymore, lots of intervallic structure changes. and notes makes it a lot easier to voice lead
Thomasso, I love your videos. The theory you present is so interesting to me and I am not a guitarist. I like the piano. Please keep up the fun and information. You're a great resource.
"Note-Interval Integration"... 🤔 *_"Intervallic Note Integration"_* 🧐 As a keyboardist*, I thank you for giving me language for this. To me Dm, and G#m on the keyboard are the same, despite the shapes, and all this is why anyone learning keyboard today needs to become familiar with all 12 major scales as quickly as possible; to get the notes and intervals, and integrate them with ear training and mental excercises like these. #Psalm33v3 * (who's currently doing a Calculus course for an IT degree 😏)
I can read musical notation (for singing) and "know" the names of notes on the fretboard and the staff, though my recall is not yet as quick as I would like. But I have trouble dealing with interval questions like a tritone from D without envisioning it on the fretboard. I knew instantly that the answer was A flat, so was unable to do it by note names.
Another great lesson! I'm still working on learning the notes on the fretboard using your video tutorial. Also, I'm sure Washington sharpened his axe as well...he's just not known for it.
Thanks so much for these exercises, I came up with similar exercises like the scale and chord ones but following the circle of fifths for the same reason of using time wasted in transportation
hmm... m'yeah... I'd say notes are handled by the left hemisphere, intervals by the right hemisphere. "Learning both by integrating them" means in practice using both hemispheres at the same time (through the Corpus Callosum's existing interconnections, and building more of them as you go along), which in terms of speed, is always the fastest way... ;)
Thank you, great video! :) I've read all the comments, still don't have answer for my question. By intervals, you mean interval from the root or the interval from the note I'm currently playing? EXAMPLE Improvising in Am So A > C is minor 3, C > E is perfect 5, E > G would be minor 7. Is it right?
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Oh..., thank you very much. Then I have four questions. Answer as many questions as You are willing to :))) 1) Be aware of 2 different types of intervals at the same time, that sounds hard. Are you sure it is possible? 2) What scares me the most is, how to in fast playing know if I'm playing for example major 6 or diminished 7 (same note). Do I need to know all the scales? 3) Is ''your'' system useful on piano as well? I know, the patterns on piano are not so identical because of black keys and half-steps but still, it is very usable view of thinking on piano. Because then you can easily transpose to another key. Am I right? 4) In improvisation, I can improvise by intervals from the key scale, but I can also improvise by intervals from chords that are often changing (subdominant, dominant, etc.) Switch this thinking for a while. EXAMPLE You are playing a melody and chord progression comes to the dominant chord. When you play the 7th from the dominant chord in melody, it sounds more "tensely". Even if that note is in key thinking still just the 4th. In that situation, a 4th is not what I'm thinking about. I just think about 7th from a dominant chord.
Fantastic video! Maaan, whenever I have a question about random topic or some detail is bugging me, there's a strong chance you have a video targeting that very thing! 😊 😊 😊 Thank you for making an effort!
For me it was important to learn the chromatic scale first, then you can read notes on the guitar and learn the fretboard by intervals. edit: after seeing the video, i would like to add, to be able to build a scale, you need to know the chromatic scale & Major/minor intervals, or else you won't find the right notes. (There also can only be one Note name in a scale, in "Fm" the M2 to a m3 is a half step. ex: G > G# = G > Ab)
I really cherish your explanations of theory. Your perspective seems somewhat different than a lot of the other channels I watch. That isn't a bad thing, in may respects you elucidate far better. Oh and you've just made my meetings so much easier to deal with, LOL!
QUESTION? When we are memorizing the notes, scales, and chords should we memorize both names for each note. For example, I have been memorizing the triads from the perspective of the circle of fifths so when you said G#m I could not immediately do it because I memorized Abm and that slightly through me off. So should we memorize how to do both? Also which scales are the most important ones to start with, major minor?
When it comes to speaking or singing, is it necessary to know the precise pitch of every tone we produce? Similar to how a child begins learning to speak by becoming acquainted with the various sounds it makes, over time it develops the ability to utilize its own built-in instrument. This instrument allows the child to produce any interval it can conceive. Shouldn't we approach learning any musical instrument in a similar manner? Or should it learn speaking theory first? I pose this question rhetorically, as I believe that if learning to speak necessitated such exact pitch understanding, many people would likely abandon speaking, or singing, altogether, just as many have given up on learning to speak with the guitar or piano as their instruments.
If you pose the question rhetorically, let me answer rhetorically. Why, OH WHY people have to concentrate on only one side of the issue when a reasonable and WORKING middle ground is so readily available? Why OH WHY do people have to always be the contrarians - and such obvious contrarians too, since they are being contrarian to options that were not proposed, suggested, or even implied? Why OH WHY can people not simply watch the video from beginning to end, use a grain of salt, and see that in the end, we agree? (Please read with dramatic poise) ;-)
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar There are surely multiple methods for learning to play a musical instrument, but your particular approach is likely to be beneficial for many. It's intriguing to consider how we naturally learn to use our vocal cords, which are a God-given musical instrument. Personally, I wish I had learned to play the guitar in the same way that I learned to speak as a baby, without concerning myself with the intervals between my sounds. Regrettably, when I turned 14, my uncle gifted me a guitar, and my friend who lived next door immediately started teaching me Beatles' licks. I felt compelled to emulate their style of playing, so I delved into learning sheet music, chords, scales, and more. I never allowed myself the opportunity to freely express myself on the fretboard, even with nonsensical words. I did make progress, though. Some of my friends are impressed by my ability to listen to someone playing, swiftly determine the key, and join in. However, the guitar remains an unfamiliar instrument to me. It has never become as ingrained in me as my vocal cords have. Consequently, improvisation continues to present a significant challenge for me. I want to clarify that I'm not criticizing your method of mastering the guitar. I simply wish that I had begun learning it in the same manner I learned to speak. In fact, I have already embarked on the journey of rediscovering how to express myself through the guitar.
@@nghin4vacsf I have published several videos on the topic. A good starting point would be this: ua-cam.com/video/NX61J18YcHk/v-deo.html All the best in your journey of musical discovery!
Mates, help me please. My first musical instrument was piano, that's why I always visualise piano keyboard in my mind do solve questions like "spell G#m". But what am I expected to visualise to get good at integrated fretboard patterns + notes? Maybe notes on a fretboard themselves? Then in which position? Or does there exist any way to solve those things abstractly, not visualising anything at all?
Yep! That's the way to do it, and the chicks... Also let's not forget the sound element. I mean singing these intervals or being able to hear them in your head, when looking at a score, or the guitar fretboard.
Sure wish I had perfect pitch. But that's no reason to not work on it, you're right. I don't have the link handy, but I did find a great app you can use for free that tests you on hearing all 7 intervals.
As always very helpful thank you !!! , the way I remember all of the notes in every major triad is by going around the circle of 5ths example F MAJ F-A- C C MAJ C-E-G G MAJ G-B-D D MAJOR D -F# - A A MAJOR A-C#-E E MAJOR E -G#-B and so on DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS REALLY REALLY STRANGE ???? I TRIED TO PUT ALL 12 MAJ TRIADS IN THE COMMENTS AND IT WOULDN'T LET ME ??? VERY WEIRD !!!
Should I also remember other scales notes like pentatonic , blues and modes of each major and minor and all the keys or is that to much and I should stick to just the major and minor scale notes only ?
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Ah, ok, thanks. When i imagine the notes in the staff the #4 is three (whole) steps away from the 1 (D E F# G#) and the b5 takes (kind of) 4 steps (2Ws and 2Hs) to get to (D E F G Ab), that's why i asked. But true - in both cases the sound is the sound of a tritone. The word "tri-tone" though suggests three tones, i.e. three whole tones which would make G# the preferred answer, for me at least. Cheers :-)
Promise I'm going to practice them just before going to bed :) thanks! It's got to follow a channel with actual quality content instead of just click bait
Before finishing watching, I will guess the notes. That's because without them you have no idea where the root notes are. Also, you can figure out the intervals by using the notes, whereas knowing the intervals will not do the reverse, unless you use your ear (witch wasn't part of the question tmk). That said, learning the intervals is needed to be able to do this fast enough to be able to improvise.
Well i realized over 2 things: on one Hand, it seems im going the right way to learning my fretboard as it confirms my thoughs about how to aproach to it on the other hand, i find it's really difficult to me as non native english speaker, to pay atention at what he says and what he writes at the same time...im gonna need to find a way to integrate it hahaha greetings
I won't know your language anywhere near as well as you know English, but I'm very happy to explain what he said in the comments if anyone asks and I see their comment. Or you can turn on the youtube subtitles by clicking the "gear" icon on the bottom right of the video. It's a little complicated to find the different languages, but you'll figure it out I'm sure. ^-^
@@aylbdrmadison1051 i was just joking actually. i understand what he says and what he writes, but i always find difficult to read some text while i hear other different words on the same language. For that reason i cannot study with background music wich lyrics are in my same language or something like that. its like i can only concentrate on one at a time and when i try to do both, my brain totally freeze hahaha :)
I've been playing for 25 years and have not memorized all the notes and usually have to take my time with intervals. I play what I play by ear and it's usually something weird. That works for me.
Still cannot understand how intervals can help in real life, say, improvising blues solo. While playing we do not need to convert "random note + interval" into another note, do we? Even if there is a need for such an operation, then it would be more natural to use just frets, not intervals with fancy names. So the mentioned move from G to E is just 9 frets up the same string or 1 fret down on the next-next string
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Actually, chromatic button accordions are amazing. First you have the treble side, where everything is laid out chromatically in 5 rows, allowing to use exactly the same finger shape for any chord anywhere. And it's literally true everywhere, since the first two rows are actually repeated in the last two rows, offset correctly for this to work. But the COOLEST part is the bass side, which is set up in a circle of fifths, and the buttons, going from inside the accordion to the outside, is (often, it can differ): 1) The major third of the chord 2) The root of the chord 3) The major chord 4) The minor chord 5) Dominant 7:th 6) Diminished 7:th (or minor 7:th on some) This means you can literally insta-transpose an entire song to ANY key by picking the right starting position for each hand!! And accompanying is ultra easy. You find your root in the 2nd row of the bass side, and can go "oompa oompa" easily by it and it's 5:th (adjacent) and then alternate with the appropriate chord button.
It's not an eBook, you can buy it here: www.musictheoryforguitar.com/chords-and-harmony-guitar-lessons.html and if you have questions, write me at tommaso@musictheoryforguitar.com
I don't agree. At 4:45 you say you still need the notes, but you don't. You just need the scale (degrees) which doubles as the intervals. I just know the moveable grid of intervals. I would play the shape for major at 1 and minor at 2, 3 etc covers all the inversions etc. It is also a powerful way to really know the scale and see how all the chords are part of it. Just need to know the note names to establish the key, that's it. I really don't need the 12x complexity. I was worried this video, I knew was coming, would convert me, happily not :-) I am sure living and breathing it as you do they overhead has been worth it. But for me I don't see any gains to be made especially being new to music at 50yo
My professional opinion is that you are shooting yourself in the foot, and setting yourself up for endless frustration. Then, you are of course free to do whatever you want.
By all means, feel free to do your own experiences ;-) Some students need to hit the wall before they trust a teacher, other simply trust the teacher. Both get better eventually.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar But I still have issue with the statement that you need to know the notes to know where to play the pattern. Because you don't you just need to know the relative intervals that are also the scale degrees. ie on 1 string 1, b2, 2, b3, 3, 4 etc now major is 1, 2, 3 4 etc and those are the scale degrees, so i can start my pattern on those degrees, knowing 1 is maj, 2 min etc. It is handy to know the notes for being told to play in E maj for instance, but that is it. I have no need to know the notes of E7 or whatever. I think you need to address this, cos it is glaring.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar You have great content, and are my go to resource for entertaining and thought provoking subject matter. Just taking issue on this 1 point.
Not sure how you can do the exercises in your mind if you don't have a considerable amount of fundamentals work done. After 4 years of music theory and 20 years of playing I still have to have the fretboard and considerable time to even begin to do any of those exercises. Still doing daily work to try to speed it up but... if only it was that easy
Mmh, all these exercises do not require a guitar at all. The only prerequisite for doing them is to watch my "Fundamentals" playlist: ua-cam.com/video/V7wGIxpW5rM/v-deo.html
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar I think it's a mental thing -- I still have to sing the alphabet in my head every time to figure out how many steps there are between say A and F, and then another couple minutes figuring out the half steps. With the fretboard, I can count frets. It's probably a me / ADHD / quasi dyslexic thing.
@@ErixSamson Part of my mission as music theory teacher is to say all these things. I do have a playlist on the fundamentals that say many things that are usually unsaid: ua-cam.com/video/V7wGIxpW5rM/v-deo.html
Math Professor: “ I saw you daydreaming throughout my lecture so I am not surprised that you did so poorly on the quiz. You got an F. You know what THAT means.” Student: “Yes, F means F-A-C.”
I remember when my twins were 9 years old - then one day - they were all grown up - and somewhere when they were 10 - 17 years old - it was all over, they were never the same as when they were 9. Weird. Anyway, you already Know this, it goes by fast - so stay in the moment as long as you can, I wish I did. One day it is all over, and they are no longer 9. Weird.
@MusicTheoryForGuitar Hi, sorry to quibble, but the German translations of your video titles that I'm getting oftentimes don't make much sense (In this case it's translating notes as the kind of notes you take down). The video's still great, though.
!["Guitar Teachers HATE This Weird Trick" [Of Course We Do...]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HRwuhkUOKu4/mqdefault.jpg)
!["Guitar Teachers HATE This Weird Trick" [Of Course We Do...]](/img/tr.png)
![This Is Why MODES Are So Confusing To Guitar Players [Music Theory]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8z_MwotLh1M/mqdefault.jpg)
!["Take It Around The FRETBOARD" [Guitar Skills Nobody Explains]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Kj-YpUbx_BM/mqdefault.jpg)
If you're here only for the exercise, then you can go straight to 8:00 ... but if you watch from that and the exercise seems silly or strange or weird, then I STRONGLY recommend you watch the rest of the video :-)
Lols, love the recommendation at the end.
And thank you for the time stamp, that's a great idea for things like this. Very helpful indeed.
Btw, I just saw your comment has 0 likes and I definitely liked it and every other comment here. Did you know they've had video dislike bots since at least 2014 and now they even have comment dislike bots? Personally, I think this infringes on freedom of speech since the comments can be buried with enough dislikes.
Have you considered hooking up with an app developer for this little exercise? doing random generation and timed answers? would be cool. I'd spend a buck or two on it! Thanks for the video!
Best advice! I have been using your method to memorize notes, can reach 70 bpm now. I can say that my confidences on guitar has grown tremendously, and it also helps me to memorize notes in scales and chords.
I didn't realize that this was exactly what I needed to hear. Just started learning. I began with trying to learn finger picking exercises. Now I'm thinking that learning notes first may be more beneficial. Thank you.
Your Gtr fret board = my Clarinet tube. Your explanation of chord theory is helping me play through melodic lines. Guitar has never felt comfortable. Accordion helps me hear the changes. "Different strokes for different folks " ? Don't forget that your lessons help Musicians no matter what 'VOICE' we choose to express ourselves.
Thank you.
You are an absolute legend! I can tell already that your lessons are going to help me out so much. Thank you for explaining things like you do and then giving us ways to actually learn the things you are teaching.
I made a music interval matrix to help with this as well. 12x12 with all the natural notes and sharps/flats. On the x and y axis I marked out the interval distance in both intervals and also in semitones. Eg, a Tritone could be a sharp 4 or a flat 5 but will always be 6 semitones from your root note of reference. The more I use this chart the more I feel like I'm getting better at recognizing intervals within any given key, slowly but surely!
Good idea 👍 I will do the same!
Great stuff! This is exactly what teachers should teach their students right from the beginning. I’m struggling with this since 20 years now and you have enlightened me within only a few minutes on UA-cam. Thanks man!
This is the stage I am in my guitar journey. I like the way you were able to explain this.
Sounds like this is one of the best ways of knowing what to learn and how to learn to efeciently Master the guitar, thank You very much teacher.
Super informative, as always! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Tommaso, I am about half way through both your courses. I think this info and your note name exercises should feature at the beginning! It would make the rest of the course easier to have this skill upfront!
Enjoying the courses too! Keep up the good work.
This is unbelievable. I’ve been playing for 30 years and I’m just starting to learn theory. During practice I asked myself that question for the first time today. I came to the same conclusion he did and decided I’d learn both simultaneously as they’d inform each other. It’s a near impossible coincidence that I’d find this video a few hours later. Gentlemen, I know when I’m beaten. Google’s AI outsmarted me. All hail the machines who directed me here. Also this video is awesome!
Another useful lesson. I learned the notes and intervals on the piano when I was very young. When I first started playing guitar, I relied heavily on intervals along with a visualization of the piano. It wasn’t until I finally learned the notes on the fretboard that I was able to break free and eliminate “the keyboard of my minds eye” while playing guitar. It had been another one of those extra steps that can slow you down in the long run. My understanding and application of theory and playing on the guitar solidified exponentially. On another note, I think a lesson on using 6ths and how they relate to chord progressions would make a very interesting lesson.
I’d also like to see a version of the note names exercises for recognising intervals on the fretboard. Both above and below the root by 1 or 2 octaves.
I can say without a doubt that the premise of "knowing note names faster"="big gains in music productivity" does not hold for me personally. I have never thought about what the name of a certain note is when I compose. I think only in terms of "sounds" (and perhaps feelings too) when I compose, improvise or play. So in my case what helps me when improvising and composing is knowing how scales, modes, chords and intervals sound/feel (by heart, in my mind, before playing them) is what helps me. In fact, since I do not have perfect pitch, I rely fully on relative pitch. So I couldn't care less what the name of any note is. On the other hand, it is of key importance for me to know how that note relates to everything surrounding it, so whether it is a #4 "painting a lydian colour", etc.
Thanks a lot for the wealth of really informative and clear information you create. I enjoy it a lot, so the comment should not be read negatively. This is just how I think/feel music
I'm similar except I have no idea what composing in Lydian is. And I don't care.
I just figure stuff out.
yes, that's why envy everyone, who has good relative pitch :(
Those exercises are brilliant.
and hard
I will immediately be doing these. Thanks for sharing.!
Always wonderful stuff. I've been doing these for a while and it helps.
Everyone says "I don't want to learn all that minutiae and sit around practicing these things". Then you teach them some simple theory and BAM...they're sitting around happily practicing it and they're glad that they did. I wasted 3 decades whining instead of learning, now I can't get enough.
It didn't work for me. At all. It made me a worse player, was a massive time suck, and just made me depressed - so I went back to my previous methods.
Matt: maybe they did not teach you theory the right way. Trying to self-teach theory through the internet usually does that.
Thanks for the magical tricks at the second half
This is my favorite guitar theory and its real time fretboard application channel ☺️ Hello Tommaso, so nice to see you too!!
Guitar players are very visual. For us, the fretboard easily becomes a grid on which countless patterns and shapes are learned, imagined, then taught to others, with varying degrees of concern (typically little, especially in Rock) for note- or interval-knowledge.
Another great video with crucially important advice. Thanks Tomasso.
I love it when someone differentiates then integrates.. ;-)
Not knowing the notes on the fretboard is a major drawback, specially when we talk about improvisation.
You previous video on a technique to learn the fretboard is great.
Exactly, you can't find the root (unless solely by ear) without knowing the notes.
@@aylbdrmadison1051 Most people will find the key by ear. Very few people can say ah ha I want an E - is that called perfect pitch?
Knowing the intervals is a good shortcut to build or analyse a chord.
Yes. They're essential for being able to improvise well.
Tomasso, the Folk-Tale is "washington didn't lie about cutting down the apple tree" (washington : sharpen the axe would follow).. it's a folk tale, never been substantiated, the point was washington never lied..
Yes. This is all true. But I go with Lincoln. This statement seems more like Lincoln’s style.
You have the touch!
You have the power!
Master!
Well, I just got the complete chord mastery course. Looking forward to starting a new journey of understanding music, twenty years late.
Thanks, Tommaso for the great videos as always.
Absolutely learning note names in scales and chords is an overlooked exercise for guitar players. I've been doing a TF exercise lately of writing the scale and chords out on staff paper and playing while looking at them to know the notes on the fretboard instead of just shifting patterns. I was reluctant because it's hard but it's a necessary skill.
...but why are you so harsh on intervals in so many videos? Yes you said learn patterns and notes but you are critical of intervals in multiple videos. I find knowing the harmony qualities of intervals, and knowing how to play those up and down a scale helped me advance more than any other lesson in decades. Double stops to me are the most pure guitar sound. Knowing 3rds, 5, 6, 7ths up the scale changed everything for me. "Knowing" meaning internalizing the sound qualities of those intervals.
Obviously you know more than me so I understand there is something I'm not getting or have to get this phase out of my system. I'm such an extremist in my views that I will argue that intervals can replace any chord successfully using shell voicing ideas and also that people don't hear beyond that and are content with the sound especially if other more complex sounds if the chord are distributed through the measure. I know that's a crazy thing to say but I also know I like the results!
I know I'm wrong in some way but just commenting to get it out of my system since you keep hating on intervals and it bothers me. And yes I know you are more educated than me and are probably correct. And I feel bad for writing this insane comment on your incredibly helpful video series
Awesome... understood it; and thanks a lot. You made me remember my college days, when I was doing my major in Physics and Mathematics... 🙏🙏🙏
The mental exercises are really useful. Thanks.
Thanks! Great video and useful exercises.
Smashed it again!!!!! I started on this subject last night and although I found some great videos, there was I simple thing missing - you've provided that today. Stay blessed 🙏, stay strong 💪 - 👏
Tommaso, to play triads, I use notes to find a starting point i.e. progression 1-4-5 in C major. I find a C note, wrap a triad around that note then look for a 4th interval (relative the original C note) wrap a triad around it and remembering where my "1" C is, look for the 5th interval etc. If I move up or down the neck I find a new C note and start again. As a guitar player, is this the best strategy for navigating harmony, using both invervals and notes in this way?
Yes :-) Or at least, that's how I think too.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Seems you are in good company. Many other online teachers that I respect speak the same say. It is a ton of work, but I believe it will pay off. I'm now codifying your 3 part mental exercise for integration and will add that to my already crowded practice routine. Thanks for cementing my belief that it's worth it.
Honestly, it's not as much work as you think ;-) It depends on the kind of exercises you are doing.
i think that thinking of notes is easier, because once you start experimenting with inversions, extensions and open strings, things gets messy, suddenly its not just root + 3rd + 5th anymore, lots of intervallic structure changes. and notes makes it a lot easier to voice lead
Thomasso, I love your videos. The theory you present is so interesting to me and I am not a guitarist. I like the piano. Please keep up the fun and information. You're a great resource.
This makes perfect sense! Great exercises to work on while learning the fretboard using your method...
"Note-Interval Integration"... 🤔
*_"Intervallic Note Integration"_* 🧐
As a keyboardist*, I thank you for giving me language for this. To me Dm, and G#m on the keyboard are the same, despite the shapes, and all this is why anyone learning keyboard today needs to become familiar with all 12 major scales as quickly as possible; to get the notes and intervals, and integrate them with ear training and mental excercises like these. #Psalm33v3
* (who's currently doing a Calculus course for an IT degree 😏)
I can read musical notation (for singing) and "know" the names of notes on the fretboard and the staff, though my recall is not yet as quick as I would like. But I have trouble dealing with interval questions like a tritone from D without envisioning it on the fretboard. I knew instantly that the answer was A flat, so was unable to do it by note names.
Another great lesson! I'm still working on learning the notes on the fretboard using your video tutorial. Also, I'm sure Washington sharpened his axe as well...he's just not known for it.
Thank you!
I'm starting to get bored of playing guitar I'll watch your videos they seem very helpful
Thanks so much for these exercises, I came up with similar exercises like the scale and chord ones but following the circle of fifths for the same reason of using time wasted in transportation
Interesting method, thank you.
hmm... m'yeah... I'd say notes are handled by the left hemisphere, intervals by the right hemisphere. "Learning both by integrating them" means in practice using both hemispheres at the same time (through the Corpus Callosum's existing interconnections, and building more of them as you go along), which in terms of speed, is always the fastest way... ;)
Thank you, great video! :) I've read all the comments, still don't have answer for my question. By intervals, you mean interval from the root or the interval from the note I'm currently playing?
EXAMPLE
Improvising in Am
So A > C is minor 3, C > E is perfect 5, E > G would be minor 7. Is it right?
Both of them :-)
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar
Oh..., thank you very much. Then I have four questions. Answer as many questions as You are willing to :)))
1) Be aware of 2 different types of intervals at the same time, that sounds hard. Are you sure it is possible?
2) What scares me the most is, how to in fast playing know if I'm playing for example major 6 or diminished 7 (same note). Do I need to know all the scales?
3) Is ''your'' system useful on piano as well? I know, the patterns on piano are not so identical because of black keys and half-steps but still, it is very usable view of thinking on piano. Because then you can easily transpose to another key. Am I right?
4) In improvisation, I can improvise by intervals from the key scale, but I can also improvise by intervals from chords that are often changing (subdominant, dominant, etc.) Switch this thinking for a while.
EXAMPLE
You are playing a melody and chord progression comes to the dominant chord. When you play the 7th from the dominant chord in melody, it sounds more "tensely". Even if that note is in key thinking still just the 4th. In that situation, a 4th is not what I'm thinking about. I just think about 7th from a dominant chord.
great videos, super logical thinker makes a lot of sense to me anyway!
memorised all the notes after a day using your techniques, metronome next.
Love all your videos btw. Such insightful video topics and they're always explained so well. Thank you for everything
Great advice and video as always :-). Thank you, Tommaso!.
Fantastic video! Maaan, whenever I have a question about random topic or some detail is bugging me, there's a strong chance you have a video targeting that very thing! 😊 😊 😊 Thank you for making an effort!
Wonderful
For me it was important to learn the chromatic scale first, then you can read notes on the guitar and learn the fretboard by intervals.
edit: after seeing the video, i would like to add, to be able to build a scale, you need to know the chromatic scale & Major/minor intervals, or else you won't find the right notes.
(There also can only be one Note name in a scale, in "Fm" the M2 to a m3 is a half step. ex: G > G# = G > Ab)
I really cherish your explanations of theory. Your perspective seems somewhat different than a lot of the other channels I watch. That isn't a bad thing, in may respects you elucidate far better.
Oh and you've just made my meetings so much easier to deal with, LOL!
QUESTION? When we are memorizing the notes, scales, and chords should we memorize both names for each note. For example, I have been memorizing the triads from the perspective of the circle of fifths so when you said G#m I could not immediately do it because I memorized Abm and that slightly through me off. So should we memorize how to do both? Also which scales are the most important ones to start with, major minor?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the pie at: 1:20 it isn't a lemon pie, but rather a cherry pie
When it comes to speaking or singing, is it necessary to know the precise pitch of every tone we produce? Similar to how a child begins learning to speak by becoming acquainted with the various sounds it makes, over time it develops the ability to utilize its own built-in instrument. This instrument allows the child to produce any interval it can conceive. Shouldn't we approach learning any musical instrument in a similar manner? Or should it learn speaking theory first? I pose this question rhetorically, as I believe that if learning to speak necessitated such exact pitch understanding, many people would likely abandon speaking, or singing, altogether, just as many have given up on learning to speak with the guitar or piano as their instruments.
If you pose the question rhetorically, let me answer rhetorically. Why, OH WHY people have to concentrate on only one side of the issue when a reasonable and WORKING middle ground is so readily available? Why OH WHY do people have to always be the contrarians - and such obvious contrarians too, since they are being contrarian to options that were not proposed, suggested, or even implied? Why OH WHY can people not simply watch the video from beginning to end, use a grain of salt, and see that in the end, we agree? (Please read with dramatic poise) ;-)
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar There are surely multiple methods for learning to play a musical instrument, but your particular approach is likely to be beneficial for many. It's intriguing to consider how we naturally learn to use our vocal cords, which are a God-given musical instrument. Personally, I wish I had learned to play the guitar in the same way that I learned to speak as a baby, without concerning myself with the intervals between my sounds.
Regrettably, when I turned 14, my uncle gifted me a guitar, and my friend who lived next door immediately started teaching me Beatles' licks. I felt compelled to emulate their style of playing, so I delved into learning sheet music, chords, scales, and more. I never allowed myself the opportunity to freely express myself on the fretboard, even with nonsensical words. I did make progress, though. Some of my friends are impressed by my ability to listen to someone playing, swiftly determine the key, and join in. However, the guitar remains an unfamiliar instrument to me. It has never become as ingrained in me as my vocal cords have. Consequently, improvisation continues to present a significant challenge for me.
I want to clarify that I'm not criticizing your method of mastering the guitar. I simply wish that I had begun learning it in the same manner I learned to speak. In fact, I have already embarked on the journey of rediscovering how to express myself through the guitar.
@@nghin4vacsf I have published several videos on the topic. A good starting point would be this: ua-cam.com/video/NX61J18YcHk/v-deo.html All the best in your journey of musical discovery!
Informative and entertaining as ever... thank you :D
Mates, help me please. My first musical instrument was piano, that's why I always visualise piano keyboard in my mind do solve questions like "spell G#m". But what am I expected to visualise to get good at integrated fretboard patterns + notes? Maybe notes on a fretboard themselves? Then in which position? Or does there exist any way to solve those things abstractly, not visualising anything at all?
Grazie
Thank you, Italian Borat 👍
Yep! That's the way to do it, and the chicks...
Also let's not forget the sound element. I mean singing these intervals or being able to hear them in your head, when looking at a score, or the guitar fretboard.
Sure wish I had perfect pitch. But that's no reason to not work on it, you're right. I don't have the link handy, but I did find a great app you can use for free that tests you on hearing all 7 intervals.
@@aylbdrmadison1051 could you please tell me, which app do you mean? :)
As always very helpful thank you !!! , the way I remember all of the notes in every major triad is by going around the circle of 5ths example F MAJ F-A- C C MAJ C-E-G G MAJ G-B-D D MAJOR D -F# - A A MAJOR A-C#-E E MAJOR E -G#-B and so on DO YOU KNOW WHAT IS REALLY REALLY STRANGE ???? I TRIED TO PUT ALL 12 MAJ TRIADS IN THE COMMENTS AND IT WOULDN'T LET ME ??? VERY WEIRD !!!
I'm so dumb. When u said spell out F major I literally went F M A J O R
But I bet you had the answer real fast!
Haha.... Learn the spelling of all the chords and the scales. It's just memorization. If u want more information, just ask.
Should I also remember other scales notes like pentatonic , blues and modes of each major and minor and all the keys or is that to much and I should stick to just the major and minor scale notes only ?
For exercise 3 should I learn the scale in the right scale notation only ?
10:07 Isn't the tritone above D G#? (And Ab the flattened 5?)
In most texts, "tritone" refers equally to the b5 and the #4.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Ah, ok, thanks.
When i imagine the notes in the staff the #4 is three (whole) steps away from the 1 (D E F# G#) and the b5 takes (kind of) 4 steps (2Ws and 2Hs) to get to (D E F G Ab), that's why i asked. But true - in both cases the sound is the sound of a tritone. The word "tri-tone" though suggests three tones, i.e. three whole tones which would make G# the preferred answer, for me at least.
Cheers :-)
is a tritone the same as an augmented 4th and diminished 5th?
Yes
Promise I'm going to practice them just before going to bed :) thanks! It's got to follow a channel with actual quality content instead of just click bait
Thank you , How can I know that the distance between G and E is major6 is there any formula ?
Tiene buena pinta. Alguien lo podría subtitular en español. Gracias!!
Before finishing watching, I will guess the notes. That's because without them you have no idea where the root notes are. Also, you can figure out the intervals by using the notes, whereas knowing the intervals will not do the reverse, unless you use your ear (witch wasn't part of the question tmk). That said, learning the intervals is needed to be able to do this fast enough to be able to improvise.
How many different combinations of intervals are there ?
Mental Exercise (4): Choose a scale at random and recite the chords built on it.
Washington admitted to chopping down the cherry tree, so your analogy still worked.
Im confused. for exercises 2 and 3, am I supposed to visualise patterns on the guitar in order to calculate the answer?
Well i realized over 2 things:
on one Hand, it seems im going the right way to learning my fretboard as it confirms my thoughs about how to aproach to it
on the other hand, i find it's really difficult to me as non native english speaker, to pay atention at what he says and what he writes at the same time...im gonna need to find a way to integrate it hahaha
greetings
I won't know your language anywhere near as well as you know English, but I'm very happy to explain what he said in the comments if anyone asks and I see their comment. Or you can turn on the youtube subtitles by clicking the "gear" icon on the bottom right of the video. It's a little complicated to find the different languages, but you'll figure it out I'm sure. ^-^
@@aylbdrmadison1051 i was just joking actually. i understand what he says and what he writes, but i always find difficult to read some text while i hear other different words on the same language. For that reason i cannot study with background music wich lyrics are in my same language or something like that. its like i can only concentrate on one at a time and when i try to do both, my brain totally freeze hahaha :)
@@TheShorty0ne : I see now.
I was about to ask you what translate program you're using because it's fantastic. LOLS
I've been playing for 25 years and have not memorized all the notes and usually have to take my time with intervals.
I play what I play by ear and it's usually something weird. That works for me.
Where do you from? Maybe from Italy?
Yup
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar grande! Studio chitarra e ti seguo con piacere.
LOL, Washington is correct, not Lincoln. Regardless, awesome video. VERY useful.
they’re both correct if you’re thinking about Lincoln’s log cabin.
American lore is confusing.
Like using the right leg and left leg to run rather than jumping forward with one leg...
Still cannot understand how intervals can help in real life, say, improvising blues solo. While playing we do not need to convert "random note + interval" into another note, do we?
Even if there is a need for such an operation, then it would be more natural to use just frets, not intervals with fancy names. So the mentioned move from G to E is just 9 frets up the same string or 1 fret down on the next-next string
Omg, you forgot the "interval" in the integral!
HEHEHE I'm happy somebody noticed :)
You could see it as a "suspended" integral :)
Now that's gold! 👍
Fun fact: saying or writing "speeeeeed" is much slower than "speed" xD
Actually button accordions have the same feature... You can just move shapes..
Right! I forgot about those.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar Actually, chromatic button accordions are amazing. First you have the treble side, where everything is laid out chromatically in 5 rows, allowing to use exactly the same finger shape for any chord anywhere. And it's literally true everywhere, since the first two rows are actually repeated in the last two rows, offset correctly for this to work.
But the COOLEST part is the bass side, which is set up in a circle of fifths, and the buttons, going from inside the accordion to the outside, is (often, it can differ):
1) The major third of the chord
2) The root of the chord
3) The major chord
4) The minor chord
5) Dominant 7:th
6) Diminished 7:th (or minor 7:th on some)
This means you can literally insta-transpose an entire song to ANY key by picking the right starting position for each hand!!
And accompanying is ultra easy. You find your root in the 2nd row of the bass side, and can go "oompa oompa" easily by it and it's 5:th (adjacent) and then alternate with the appropriate chord button.
Tommy, sei Veneto?
To me the answer is both. You need to know where the notes are on your guitar. Also, you need to know intervals related to a note.
Exactly 8:00
It's confusing to me that going from G to E is a major 6th. In the key of G, the vi is Em... so why isn't G to E a *minor* sixth?
Watch this playlist: ua-cam.com/video/V7wGIxpW5rM/v-deo.html
How can i buy your ebook?, Tommaso?
It's not an eBook, you can buy it here: www.musictheoryforguitar.com/chords-and-harmony-guitar-lessons.html and if you have questions, write me at tommaso@musictheoryforguitar.com
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar thank you. But i'm bad at English, i think a can't join in a session. So is there any other choice for me?
@@ChuAnhLong Please write me at tommaso@musictheoryforguitar.com I am sure we can resolve this.
Scusa la domanda, come mai metti il titolo e la descrizione in Italiano e poi il video è in inglese?
Peccato perché sono davvero interessantissimi
I learnt how to drive this way... without a car, in my head, on foot.
"INTERVALS Or NOTES?" Intervals. No question. If you know your intervals, then *_everything_* else will follow.
I don't agree. At 4:45 you say you still need the notes, but you don't. You just need the scale (degrees) which doubles as the intervals. I just know the moveable grid of intervals. I would play the shape for major at 1 and minor at 2, 3 etc covers all the inversions etc. It is also a powerful way to really know the scale and see how all the chords are part of it. Just need to know the note names to establish the key, that's it. I really don't need the 12x complexity. I was worried this video, I knew was coming, would convert me, happily not :-) I am sure living and breathing it as you do they overhead has been worth it. But for me I don't see any gains to be made especially being new to music at 50yo
My professional opinion is that you are shooting yourself in the foot, and setting yourself up for endless frustration. Then, you are of course free to do whatever you want.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar always happy to be convinced otherwise. Just not found anything convincing enough yet 🙂
By all means, feel free to do your own experiences ;-) Some students need to hit the wall before they trust a teacher, other simply trust the teacher. Both get better eventually.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar But I still have issue with the statement that you need to know the notes to know where to play the pattern. Because you don't you just need to know the relative intervals that are also the scale degrees. ie on 1 string 1, b2, 2, b3, 3, 4 etc now major is 1, 2, 3 4 etc and those are the scale degrees, so i can start my pattern on those degrees, knowing 1 is maj, 2 min etc. It is handy to know the notes for being told to play in E maj for instance, but that is it. I have no need to know the notes of E7 or whatever. I think you need to address this, cos it is glaring.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar You have great content, and are my go to resource for entertaining and thought provoking subject matter. Just taking issue on this 1 point.
Not sure how you can do the exercises in your mind if you don't have a considerable amount of fundamentals work done. After 4 years of music theory and 20 years of playing I still have to have the fretboard and considerable time to even begin to do any of those exercises. Still doing daily work to try to speed it up but... if only it was that easy
Mmh, all these exercises do not require a guitar at all. The only prerequisite for doing them is to watch my "Fundamentals" playlist: ua-cam.com/video/V7wGIxpW5rM/v-deo.html
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar I think it's a mental thing -- I still have to sing the alphabet in my head every time to figure out how many steps there are between say A and F, and then another couple minutes figuring out the half steps. With the fretboard, I can count frets. It's probably a me / ADHD / quasi dyslexic thing.
The videos are great though. I'm just frustrated I've been banging my head against the same walls for decades.
No idol mind anymore. There's only Seven notes. Thanks for the challenge.
When I'm asked what are the notes of a Fm scale I never know... Which minor are we talking about? Natural, harmonic, melodic, dorian..?
If somebody says "Fm scale" without specification, it's usually the natural.
@@MusicTheoryForGuitar all these unsaid / unclear things are what makes music learning so difficult.
@@ErixSamson : It gets easier as the terms/names for things are understood. But I'm guessing you know that already. ^-^
@@ErixSamson Part of my mission as music theory teacher is to say all these things. I do have a playlist on the fundamentals that say many things that are usually unsaid: ua-cam.com/video/V7wGIxpW5rM/v-deo.html
Math Professor: “ I saw you daydreaming throughout my lecture so I am not surprised that you did so poorly on the quiz. You got an F. You know what THAT means.”
Student: “Yes, F means F-A-C.”
Ha! My High School civics teacher advised to answer the question: would you like cake or ice cream?
With the answer: BOTH!
The world needs more such teachers. lols
I always answer these: Yes.
I remember when my twins were 9 years old - then one day - they were all grown up - and somewhere when they were 10 - 17 years old - it was all over, they were never the same as when they were 9. Weird. Anyway, you already Know this, it goes by fast - so stay in the moment as long as you can, I wish I did. One day it is all over, and they are no longer 9. Weird.
@MusicTheoryForGuitar Hi, sorry to quibble, but the German translations of your video titles that I'm getting oftentimes don't make much sense (In this case it's translating notes as the kind of notes you take down). The video's still great, though.
Im 58 years old. Is it too late for me to learn guitar?
No. I had people starting well in their 80's (and becoming proficient).