The Essentials: Chord Charts, Scales, and Lead Patterns for Guitar
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
| Q | I noticed on the muse-eek website that you have written a new book called "The Essentials: Chord Charts, Scales, and Lead Patterns for Guitar". This book struck a chord with me because it seemed to narrow things down as far as contemporary music was concerned. I read the excerpt on the website and it said that this book covers the four most used scales. Let me say this before I go on. I am most interested in being able to transcribe music and figure out solos by listening to the CD, tape, or whatever. This is a skill that I have always strived for, and it just doesn't seem to want to happen for me. Will this new "Essentials" book be able to help me improve my transcribing skills? Will I be able to listen to a Beatles song and figure out the guitar solo? Of course, I understand this is quite a valuable skill and will take much time and effort on my part, but it seemed that this new book might help to, as I said earlier, narrow things down if I knew these commonly used scales and lead patterns. I will add that I am familiar with the Major and Minor Pentatonic scales, yet I can't apply them to the music I am listening to and trying to play. |
| A | The Essentials book will not improve your ear training skills. This book will give you the most common chords in every key, 4 common scales: major, major pentatonic, minor pentatonic and the blues scale. It will also give you lead patterns for these scales so you know how these scales are commonly laid out on the guitar fretboard. To develop transcribing abilities, I suggest using "One Note Complete" and "Fanatics Guide." |
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| Q | I just downloaded your "Essentials" ebook, and you mentioned a "Scale Matrix" book with even more scales and lead pattern possibilities contained within it. I don't see it on the website. I was just wondering how this book was developing. Also, I'm still working on the one note beginning cd. I still seem to be mostly guessing the notes blindly. I do recognize a few. I almost always guess "C" correctly because it is the tonic. Is there any hope for me? |
| A | There lot's of hope for you. You're working on stuff that is hard but over time it will make a major difference in your musical ability. It's great that you are already recognizing some of the notes. Many students don't get any right for quite some time. The great thing is everyone gets this ear training when they apply themselves, so keep listening and sooner or later you're guessing will turn to you knowing.
The Scale Matrix book is still in the making and it will unfortunately be at least 6 months before it is completed. The important thing for you now is to start learning the scales and lead patterns by learning the notes and/or degrees and applying these scales and lead patterns to real music. You should go to the website I recommended and start improvising over these progressions with your newly learned scales. |
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| Q | I figured out what was happening. I already have Adobe reader, but Adobe somehow thinks I need another copy. I just used my regular copy and it proceeded to open all 3 files. (It was seeming like all of the files were requiring an unlock code.) Sorry to trouble you. |
| A | Glad you could figure it out. We get multiple complaints from customers about e-books. We have complained to amazon and to Lightning Source the distributors. Doesn't seem to do any good. If you also complain it could help others in the future.
cust.service03@amazon.com PublicRelations@lightningsource.com If you need any help with the material in the books make sure to contact Mr. Arnold at FAQ@muse-eek.com We are currently adding adding videos for the essentials book so check back in the member's area over the next couple of weeks. The Chord Progressions in the Chord Velocity book are the same as the 1st Steps for a Beginning Guitarist. We have added a huge quantity of videos and mp3 for these progressions. Check in the member's area under "Help files for Chords" then either In 1st Steps Slow MP3 Files or 1st Steps Alternate Chord Progressions you will find tons of video and audio files for the Chord Velocity Book. Also for the Guitar Technique check out the Video Scale Files in the "Help files for Scales" to see example of how each scale should be played. |
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| Q | I only want to know with the help of Diagrams. How to play the below listed chords
A, B, Bb, C, D, E |
| A | Unfortunately I'm unable to give you diagrams via email to help you with your question. You need to also realize that there are many ways to play the chords you have mentioned. I infer from your question that you are not into buying a book to help you with your quest, therefore I won't bother to tell you which book I have written that would be of the most value for you. If you would like me to tell you which of my books would help you the most please give me a detailed description of your current abilities and musical history and I'll be glad to provide you that information. |
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| Q | I have a question regarding the Fender model that I would like to buy. Before that let me tell you I bought a Ibanez model that I am having trouble with learning. Maybe I got the wrong one... I would like to buy a good one this time and I saw your comments to be Fender stratocaster in FAQ. Is that just a vanilla Stratocaster or is it ok to buy Fender Squier Stratocaster? Not very sure what the difference is and am a bit lost on which one to buy. I am a beginner. |
| A | The Fender Squire Strat would be OK too. Just keep in mind that the further you reduce the price on these instruments the less quality that is build into the instrument. Usually the first thing to go is the quality of the tuning pegs and the pickups. This won't matter too much if you are just starting out and not performing but as you get better you will need a quality instrumentt. It is of course always best to play an instrument before you buy it. In the case of an American made strat I would feel comfortable buying one sight unseen because most are of a high quality. But overall Fender's quality is pretty good so you stand a good chance of getting a good guitar even if you haven't playing it. Also keep in mind that you can setup a guitar by changing the height of the strings and adjusting the neck angle which can really effect the way an instrument sounds. I wouldn't advise doing this unless you've read a book about adjusting these things. Most people take it to a guitar repair man. It isn't necessary to take every guitar to a repair man but many times a messed up guitar can be fixed by these folks. You might also check ebay for auctions many times there are good instruments for sale. |
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| Q | I cannot find a chord formation finger diagram (the kind showing the frets, the dots for the fingers) for a G#minor or F#minor. Can you help? |
| A | There would be a diagram for this in the Essentials book
http://www.muse-eek.com/books/essentials/lower.html You could also just move the chord formation/fingering diagram for F minor up one fret for F#minor and the G minor diagram up one fret for G# minor. |
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