Things to commit to memory In modern western music, there are only 12 notes. There are 7 whole notes and 5 sharps/flats. A B C D E F G The distance of a Half Step is 1 fret The distance of a Whole Step is 2 frets Between -E F- and -B C- there is a half step. Between all other whole notes, there is a whole step. An octave means the same note but different tone (higher or lower). Ascending - going higher in tone Descending - down lower in tone The names of the guitar strings are E A D G B E Studying Scales and Chords A scale is a group of notes that sounds good played together. Pentatonic Scale - 5 notes per octave with 3 whole step increments and 2 step-and-a-half increments that are not adjacent. The major scale - whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. The major scale is also known as do, re, mi, fa, so, la, ti, do. Chords are built from notes in the Major scale. Major Minor Diminished 7th Major 7th Minor 7th sus 9th 2nd 1   3  5 1 b3  5 1 b3 b5 1  3  5  b7 1  3  5   7 1 b3  5  b7 1  4  5 1  5  9 2  3  5 Parts of the Guitar headstock, tuning pegs (machine heads), nut neck, fretboard, frets, markers/inlays, truss rod, neck-thru/bolt on/set body, strap locks, pick guard, cavity, binding, bridge, tailpiece pickups (neck/rhythm) (middle) (treble/bridge), toggle, volume/tone controls single coil, double coil, input jack, tremolo Music Lessons by Kevin Brandow www.KBCBmusic.com