Appendix VI - Lesson 3

Chord Exercises

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Appendix VI - Lesson 3 TEF's

Notes to Appendix VI - Lesson 3

In this lesson's original notes, Mickey admits you probably have a sore pinkie from exercises in Lesson 2, but he tells us it's worth the pain as we have "closed the gap between Modern and Standard guitar playing."

Wow!  When I first read that, I couldn't help but think that if I'd known it was that easy, I would have done it years ago!

In the exercises from Appendix VI - Lesson 2, we played a 2-note descending scale against the Major and minor triads.  The exercises in this lesson continue this descending scale.  The Major is an unaltered Major scale, but the minor isn't quite a descending natural minor nor a descending melodic minor scale.  It's actually a descending "Dorian" scale.  The study of modes other that Major and the three minors are a bit outside the scope of both of Mickey's volumes.  So let's make this simple and put it into Mickey's context.  Think of the minor chords as ii chords.  For example, Bb min is the ii chord of the Ab Major scale, and F min is the ii chord of the Eb Major Scale.  This might clear up a little confusion as in the coming lessons, Mickey uses the minor forms as a ii - V progression.

Another point of confusion, at least for me, is the chord diagrams Mickey gives.  In the TEF's, I've given both the open position and the 1st positions chord diagrams for each beat.  Hopefully, it clears up a bit of the confusion.

Sadly to say, there are a number of errors in the exercises' notation:

Exercise 5:  The note on the 3rd beat of measure 1 should be an Ab.  The note on the 3rd beat of measure 2 should be A natural.  The G min Form measure needs a flat on the B whole note.

Exercise 6:  The note on the 3rd beat of measure 1 should be an Eb.  The note on the 3rd beat of measure 2 should be E natural.  The note on the third beat of the D min Form measure should be a C natural.

Exercise 7:  The note on the 4th beat of measure 2 should be a D#.

Exercise 8:  The measures are OK.  Mickey must have had his morning coffee by then!

Make sure you correct your book.

Once again, if the stretches are too difficult in 1st or 2nd position.  Practice them starting at the 5th position.

Through the stretching pain, remember to have fun!