Geni Swing Guitars

Capo Classical

At my yearly health checkup a substitute doctor looking up my file noticed I taught music; "what instrument do you teach" he asked... "guitar", I replied, I'm used to this by now so I usually have to brace myself for a whole avalanche of sorrowful stories about how they would have loved to learn but never had the ____(insert here)_____ (opportunity / time / money etc.)

To my surprise the doctor went on to say that he had studied the guitar for three years and never learnt anything! He said they studied a 'bar code' system (I think he meant guitar TAB), he went on to say he felt the problem was that because he was never taught the language of music three years later he was still on

the outside looking in.

Boy, did this guy hit the nail on the head... because he never learnt or rather because he was never taught the language of music he was stuck! That's it, the language of music... there's no point in doing something if you don't know what you are doing, guitar players usually learn chord shapes and scale patterns without ever knowing what notes are under their fingers.

Time to put a stop to this nonsense and take a positive step in the right direction let's take a look at the notes in the Bb Major pentatonic scale.

The notes in the Bb major pentatonic scale are...

Bb - C - D - F - G - [Bb]

Keynotes indicated as [ ]

Bb Major pentatonic scale pattern

---------------------------

---------------------------

---------------------------

----------------------[8]--

--------------8---10-------

-[6]--8---10---------------

The same scale one octave higher could be played like this:

---------------------------------

---------------------------[11]--

------------------10---12--------

--[8]---10---12------------------

---------------------------------

---------------------------------

Major pentatonic scales sound good when played over major chords, major chords with sustained seconds or major chords with added seconds.

Style wise, the major pentatonic scale works well with country, country rock, folk and bluegrass music; of course it can be played in any style provided the chord progression is suitable.

Application:

Here is a typical major pentatonic type chord progression using straight major chords

Bb ///| Bb ///| Bb ///| Bb ///|

Eb ///| Eb ///| Bb ///| Bb ///|

F ///| Eb ///| Bb ///| Bb ///||

This same chord progression could be played by placing a capo behind the first fret and playing the following chord shapes.

(capo behind the first fret - concert pitch of Bb)

A ///| A ///| A ///| A ///|

D ///| D ///| A ///| A ///|

E ///| D ///| A ///| A ///||

Now for the same progression in Bb only this time I'm using suspended second chords to give the chord progression a modern, ambiguous feeling.

Bb2 ///| Bb2 ///| Bb2 ///| Bb2 ///|

Eb2 ///| Eb2 ///| Bb2 ///| Bb2 ///|

F2 ///| Eb2 ///| Bb2 ///| Bb2 ///||

This type of progression just floats along and is ideal for practicing the Bb major pentatonic scale.

One more progression for you to try, this time I'm playing the original major chord progression only adding an additional note to the major triads.

Bb(add2)///| Bb(add2)///| Bb(add2)///| Bb(add2)///|

Eb(add2)///| Eb(add2)///| Bb(add2)///| Bb(add2)///|

F(add2) ///| Eb(add2)///| Bb(add2)///| Bb(add2)///||

The distinction between the suspended second chord and the add second chord is that the suspended second chord is a three note chord whereby the third note of the major chord is replaced by the second. The 'add second' chords are four note chords where the original three note major chord structure is retained and an additional note (the second) is added.

Now it's over to you to try some of these ideas out, remember it's the things you work out yourself that will ultimately help you develop your own style on the guitar.

And now I'd like to invite you to get free access to my "How To Remember 1,000 Songs" eCourse. You can download the course for free at: http://www.guitarcoaching.com

You'll learn about hit song templates, easy chords, simple scales, red hot rhythms, and successful practice strategies in text, audio and video.

From Mike Hayes - The Guitar Coaching Guy & the Express Guitar System

Fender Classical Smart Capo $29.99 Fender Classical Smart Capo

G7th Performance Guitar Capo Classical $39.99 G7th Performance Guitar Capo Classical

Kyser Capo for Classical Guitar Black $15.95 Kyser Capo for Classical Guitar Black

Kyser Capo For Classical Guitar Black $21.99 Kyser Capo for Classical Guitar Black

Planet Waves NS Classical Guitar Capo $14.99 Planet Waves NS Classical Guitar Capo

Dunlop Trigger Classical Guitar Capo Black $14.99 Dunlop Trigger Classical Guitar Capo Black

Dunlop Trigger Classical Guitar Capo Nickel $14.99 Dunlop Trigger Classical Guitar Capo Nickel

Planet Waves Ns Classical Guitar Capo $14.99 Planet Waves NS Classical Guitar Capo

G7th Classical Performance Guitar Capo $39.99 The G7th Classical Performance Guitar Capo is designed for enhanced performance specifically for nylon string classical guitars, and it's simple to use. Not only that, it looks and feels great! Push the lever to release the arms. The G7th Capo fits snugly behind the fret. Squeeze to tighten it from above or below. Simply press the lever to release the capo. The wrap spring clutch consists of just 3 elements: a fixed hub, a moving hub, and a spring whose inside diameter is just slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the 2 hubs. When the spring is forced over the 2 hubs, attempting to rotate in the direction which opens the capo wraps it down tightly on the hubs, positively engaging them. Rotation in the other direction, to tighten the G7th Capo onto the strings, is not restricted. To release the capo, the control tang is moved in the direction to unwind the spring, thus releasing the clutch. The beauty of this type of clutch for use in a guitar capo is that it can be adjusted in tiny increments. The clutch mechanism is a modified tried-and-tested design used in printers and copiers to provide a simple decoupling and overrun device.

Capo $12.49 Capo

Shubb GC20CB C2B Classical Guitar Brass Capo $32.6 Classical Guitar Capo. Brass Capo. Over center design and springloaded thumbscrew mechanism apply perfect amount of pressure. Sleeve that contacts strings is thick resilient and easily replaceable. Shubb Capos are the fastest easies

Shubb GC20CL L2 Classical Guitar Lite Capo $33.9 Classical Guitar Capo. Lite Capo. Over center design and springloaded thumbscrew mechanism apply perfect amount of pressure. Sleeve that contacts strings is thick resilient and easily replaceable. Shubb Capos are the fastest easiest

Classical Guitar Capo $13.99 Specification

Guitar Capo for Classical and Folk Guitar $5.99 Features:It is fit for flat or curve fingerboard very wellEspecially steel strings and nylon stringsFast and easy to operate;No adjustments required;

Dunlop Classical Trigger Capo - Black $33.99 0

Bill Russell Flat Neck Guitar Capo $6.4 This Dunlop Bill Russell flat elastic capo is made to fit classical guitars. This capo is convenient, light and simple to use and adjust. The strong elastic slides without having to be unfastened. Type: Musical Instrument Accessories