The minor scale (a/k/a the natural minor scale) is a seven-note scale and the second most important scale in Western music behind the major scale. There are two approaches to understanding the minor scale: This post will use the relative approach to construct a minor scale and provide instruction on how to play one on … The post The Minor Scale I: The Relative Approach appeared first on Blitzstar Guitar ..read more

The process of harmonizing a scale involves building chords on each degree (note) of the scale, using only notes from that scale. This post will: Harmonizing a Major Scale with Seventh Chords To harmonize a scale with seventh chords, we need to take each note in the scale and add three notes above it, each … The post Harmonizing the Major Scale II: Seventh Chords appeared first on Blitzstar Guitar ..read more

The process of harmonizing a scale involves building chords on each degree (note) of the scale, using only notes from that scale. This post will: Building Chords Most chords are built in intervals of thirds, meaning the distance between one note in a chord and the next highest note is three scale steps (a more … The post Harmonizing the Major Scale I: Triads appeared first on Blitzstar Guitar ..read more

We continue our chord study with an analysis of seventh chords. A seventh chord is a four-note chord consisting of a basic triad plus a fourth note, the seventh degree of the major scale with the same root note. This post will cover how to construct various types of seventh chords and provide examples for … The post Seventh Chords appeared first on Blitzstar Guitar ..read more

A power chord is a two-note “chord.” I put the word chord in quotes because technically a chord contains three or more notes, whereas a power chord only contains two notes, which makes it a diad. However, you will almost never hear it referred to that way. It is commonly referred to as a power … The post Power Chords appeared first on Blitzstar Guitar ..read more

A chord is defined as three or more notes played together. A triad — as the name implies — is a three-note chord. This post will cover how to construct the various triads and provide examples for each type of chord. It will also provide common fingerings for each type of chord, along with instruction … The post Triads and Chord Formulas appeared first on Blitzstar Guitar ..read more

We start our study of music theory as it relates to guitar playing with the major scale, which is the most important scale in Western music.  It is the basis of most music theory and can be thought of as music’s primary building block.  Understanding the major scale is a prerequisite to understanding how the … The post The Major Scale appeared first on Blitzstar Guitar ..read more

Blitzstar Guitar Instructional Series Hello and thank you for reading my blog. This first phase of the Blitzstar Guitar Instructional Series provides an overview of music theory as it relates to guitar playing. In my blog I present and explain important music concepts and provide many of the tools needed (chords, scales, arpeggios…) to apply … The post Introduction appeared first on Blitzstar Guitar ..read more

The process of harmonizing a scale involves building chords on each degree (note) of the scale, using only notes from that scale. This post will: Diatonic Chords: Triads A harmonized minor scale contains the same chords as its harmonized relative major scale, but with the chords in a different order and with different Roman numerals … The post Harmonizing the Minor Scale appeared first on Blitzstar Guitar ..read more