Hi, new member, Need someone to clarify a few things with me..

[Sublime]

I have alot of questions, though these 5 questions will answer most of the other questions I have. I would greatly appreciate if someone could explain to me in detail.

Q #1- How does one know which chords to play together to create harmony? I know its taken from the scale, but what scale and shouldn't there be some formula to figure out which chords to play after the tonic chord?

Q #2- So I hear people telling me I have to arch my fingers over the fret board so the very top of my fingers are what make contact with the fret(s) im playing, I seem to press it down with more of the "finger print" area of my fingers, my fingers are still arched but not directly over each string.. it seems to work alright though playing some barre chords and other harder to play chords can sometime be a problem. Are they correct in saying I should use the very tips of my fingers to fret?.

Q # 3- Are there any techniques used to better strum a chord? Or any "preffered" method of holding the pick when strumming?

Q # 4- Any "drills" or excercises I can do to increase my finger mobility and playing speed?

Q #5- Can someone explain the major scale and minor scale formulas?

Thanks a bunch,
Chris

[Danny Poole]

Hi, I'll answer your questions one at a time in different postings over the next few days (time permitting).

Q #1- How does one know which chords to play together to create harmony? I know its taken from the scale, but what scale and shouldn't there be some formula to figure out which chords to play after the tonic chord?

There is a formula for chords the same as there is for scales, you can find more information on it in this post... Which chords will sound good together?

The basic rule is...

1st Major, 2nd Minor, 3rd Minor, 4th Major, 5th Major, 6th Minor, 7th Diminished.

[Sublime]

Ok thanks a bunch...

At this very moment im having trouble playing this chord. Its (xx4422), E&A are fretted at the second fret and DG are fretted at the 4th fret. My fingers can't stretch that far, arthritis doesn't help any.

[Sublime]

Any Updates for me Danny?

[Danny Poole]

Thanks for the reminder!... I did forget

Q #2- So I hear people telling me I have to arch my fingers over the fret board so the very top of my fingers are what make contact with the fret(s) im playing, I seem to press it down with more of the "finger print" area of my fingers, my fingers are still arched but not directly over each string.. it seems to work alright though playing some barre chords and other harder to play chords can sometime be a problem. Are they correct in saying I should use the very tips of my fingers to fret?.

For the most part yes, playing on the tip of your fingers is best. I have a term when it comes to playing, it's called "musical slang" (Define Slang: Slang is the non-standard use of words in a language of a particular social group), I apply this term to playing. There is a ridged correct playing style (usually found in classical guitar) and there is a loose playing style usually made up of sloppy technique (a good example of this might be Blues). I've had students with correct playing styles trying to play blues solos and I always have to get them to incorporate some bad technique (flat fingered) to help them get a feel for the style.

For example scales with big stretches like this minor scale...

Em Shaped Minor Scale [2]

|-----------------------------------[5]-7-
|-----------------------------5-6-8-------
|-----------------------4-5-7-------------
|---------------3-5-[7]-------------------
|---------3-5-7---------------------------
|-3-[5]-7---------------------------------

-8-7-[5]---------------------------------------|
---------8-6-5---------------------------------|
---------------7-5-4---------------------------|
---------------------[7]-5-3-------------------|
-----------------------------7-5-3-------------|
-----------------------------------7-[5]-3-[5]-|

You will have to play on the tips of your fingers but blues scales like this...

Minor Pentatonic 1-5

|------------------------------[5]-8-[5]-------------------------------|
|-------------------------5--8-----------8--5--------------------------|
|-------------------5--7-----------------------7--5--------------------|
|-------------5-[7]---------------------------------[7]-5--------------|
|-------5--7-----------------------------------------------7--5--------|
|[5]-8-----------------------------------------------------------7-[5]-|

would be best played flat fingered.

[Danny Poole]

Q # 3- Are there any techniques used to better strum a chord? Or any "preffered" method of holding the pick when strumming?

Two things books don't usually tell you. The first is when you strum a chord and they say strum 5 only strings, people usually do this by not strumming the 6th or lowest string (eg. A and C chords). This of course makes it hard if you are applying a rhythm pattern to the chord because you are trying to miss the 6th thick string. The best way to not sound out that string is to mute it with your thumb or another finger on your fretting hand and still include it in you strum. This way you don't have to be that accurate with your strumming hand.

The second is pick technique when playing rhythm. It's only natural for your pick to move around when you strum. You shouldn't tighten your grip to stop it from moving. The best thing to do is learn to move your pick back into place while it is in your grip. A good exercise for this is to try and rotate the pick a full circle by only using your 1st finger and thumb.

[Danny Poole]

Q # 4- Any "drills" or excercises I can do to increase my finger mobility and playing speed?

Have a look in the "Major Scale Exercises" section on this site. Songs are scales so if you learn these then you have already done most of the leg work in playing a new song/solo.

Q #5- Can someone explain the major scale and minor scale formulas?

It is important to understand how a major scale is made up. Remember a tone is a two fret move and a semitone is a one fret move. A major scale is made up of 8 notes, the 8th note being the octave. Usually books will write the 8 steps of the scale in roman numerals like this ( I - I - III - IV - V - VI - VII - VIII ). To modernise this we will just use the numbers 1 to 8 ( 1st - 2nd - 3rd - 4th - 5th - 6th - 7th - 8th notes of the Major Scale) or just ( 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 ). Then we place the correct spacing between each of those eight notes.

Remember: <T> = Tone (2 fret move), and <S> = Semitone (1 fret move).

1 <T> 2 <T> 3 <S> 4 <T> 5 <T> 6 <T> 7 <S> 8
We can also call a tone a whole step and a semitone a half step.

Learn More Here On This Site: Theory Behind Major Scales

[Sublime]

Ahh yes!, this makes much more sense now. Thanks a bunch Danny, you're the first teacher I've ever learned anything from :P.

Now others with similiar questions now have answers as well.

Regards