Two String Warm Up Exercises

These exercises are designed to work on picking technique and left hand position shifts.

I use these exercises with both classical and pick style students.  

If you are using a pick I would recommend alternate picking starting with a down stroke. If playing classical guitar technique I always suggest to alternate between i and m fingers and also to play all of the exercises with first the rest stroke (Apoyando) then free stroke (Tirando).

Once you have memorised your left hand position shifts always play with a metronome. This will quickly identify shifts or sections you are not sure of. 

I recommend you take one exercise per week for the next five weeks. This gives you time to master the stretches and position shifts that are involved in each shape. 

Strings E and B

Strings B and G

Strings G and D

Strings D and A 

Strings A and E 

Seven String Jazz Guitar Part Three - Phrygian

Last week we looked at the second chord of C major and its corresponding scale. This week we will study the third chord of C major which is E minor 7 and its corresponding scale E Phrygian (E minor flat two).

Before we pick up the guitar lets look at the scale in plain English. 

E - F - G - A - B - C - D - E

To help understand what this means lets analyse the scale and see how it relates to the first scale of the series, C Major. 

In the following analysis I have chosen to not place the octave of the tonic for ease of identifying the sequence. 

C Major  C - D - E - F - G - A - B - 

E Phrygian         E - F - G - A - B - C - D

By changing the order of the notes of the scale we create a new sound. It works In much the same way as an anagram does. For example if I write the word, 

GUITAR 

and then write the same word with the letter I (the third letter) at the beginning I make the word, 

ITARGU

A new sounding word without adding or subtracting any letters. 

I will cover this concept in more detail in another blog for now however lets talk about the Phrygian sound we have created. 

One octave Phrygian Scale.

When hearing this scale for the first time many students tell me it sounds Spanish. I agree with them, it does have a Spanish sound and I always encourage students to label what they hear for ease of identification. 

As your fingers get used to the shape and ears get used to the sound lets add another octave. 

E Phrygian Two Octaves 

As we add octaves it is important we take our time and memorise the left hand fingering. 

Now lets add a third octave and once again the seven string range really becomes apparent. 

E Phrygian Three Octaves

This the  E minor 7 arpeggio shape spread across seven strings.

The last step is to learn the accompanying E minor 7 chord form. 

Notice the chord shape is identical to last weeks D minor 7 chord only this time it is played a whole step higher.

Next week we will examine the iv chord of C major and its corresponding Lydian scale.

Links to previous posts in this series:

Seven String Jazz Guitar Part One - Major         

Seven String Jazz Guitar Part Two - Dorian