Simple Music Theory That Makes Learning Guitar EASIER

Today I want to show you five simple bite-size pieces of music theory that will greatly enhance your understanding of the guitar!

The first concept is knowing the root notes on the thickest string. By remembering that you always skip a fret except between B and C, and E and F, you can easily find all the notes. This knowledge helps you place your chord shapes in the correct key.

The second theory piece is the L shape for finding I, IV, and V chords, essential for playing many rock and blues songs. This shape helps you locate the root notes for these chords, enabling you to play simple yet versatile three-chord progressions in any key.

The third tip is using the minor pentatonic box for both minor and major scales. By shifting your finger position, you can easily switch between the two scales without learning a new shape.

Fourth, the pentatonic scale is a simplified version of the minor scale, missing two notes. You can “upgrade” it by adding these missing notes, turning it into the full minor scale.

Lastly, modes can be derived from the major and minor scales by altering specific notes. For example, lowering the second note of the minor scale gives you the Phrygian mode, while raising the sixth gives you the Dorian mode. Similarly, modifying the major scale can yield Mixolydian and Lydian modes.