Guitar Theory: Beginners to Advanced

Filed under Guitar Theory

Is guitar theory different from normal music theory? No, because the field of music theory is universal and applies to any musical instrument. But it is possible to take a small fragment of music theory and use it for basic band playing and jamming. So what should you definitely know and memorise?



Well we should all know, that you must have in your color pallette all 5 positions of the major and minor pentatonic blues scales. So that means 5 positions of the minor pentatonic and 5 positions of the major pentatonic. Why are pentatonic scales so practical and necassary?

Ok, most styles of western music, say pop, rap, blues, rock, funk, country, folk, reggae, punk etc... have their song structures based on 3 types of chord colors. These are Major Red, Minor Blue and Dominant Green.

Most scales and modes that fit over these 3 types of chords have 8 notes in total, but only 7 different notes because the first note is repeated as the last 8th note 1 octave higher. Almost all of these chords contain a major or minor pentatonic blues scale inside of them. By definition a pentatonic scale has 5 different notes. Therefore 5 out of 7 notes will sound pretty cool if you jam over these 3 types of chord.



As a rule, you can use minor pentatonics over minor chords and major pentatonics over major and dominant chords and just feel your way around what sounds right!

Here are the notes of an A Minor Pentatonic Blues Scale:

A C D E G A

These notes work over any type of A Minor Chord

Here are the notes of an A Major Pentatonic Blues Scale:

A B C# E F# A

These notes work over any type of A Major or A Dominant Chord

When it comes to scales and modes you can get away with a few modes. Modes are scales, so do not let the greek names confuse you.

Useful Minor Modes or Scales
A Aeolian Mode or Scale

A B C D E F G A

Formula

1 2 3b 4 5 6b 7b 8

This is also known as the Natural Minor Scale and sounds like the guitar solo of Stairway to Heaven As you can see, notated in red, there is an A minor pentatonic blues scale inside of it!

A Dorian Mode/Scale

A B C D E F# G A

Formula

1 2 3b 4 5 6 7b 8

This sounds like the groove of the Michael Jackson song Billie Jean and as you can see, notated in red, there is an A minor pentatonic blues scale inside of it.

Useful Major Mode or Scale
C Ionian Mode/Scale

C D E F G A B C

Formula

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

This is also known as the Major Scale and sounds like Ba Ba Black Sheep As you can see, notated in red, there is a C major pentatonic blues scale inside of it.

Useful Dominant Mode or Scale

G Mixolydian Mode/Scale

G A B C D E F G

Formula

1 2 3 4 5 6 7b 8

This sounds like the intro of Day Tripper by The Beatles and again you can see in red, there is a G major pentatonic blues scale inside of it.

This is an oversimplication of guitar theory for total beginners, but it works. For the intermediate to advanced guitar theory in my course go to:

Guitar Music Theory Syllabus

For more details phone

John Mizarolli

Guitar Lessons

07958 427 236

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