dlay
We had a discussion about three years ago here that helped some folks in your shoes.
Here is a copy of one of my post in that discussion that shows how to get some things going on the fingerboard with out getting too buried in theory.
It was a discussion on scales and chords.
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The C chord progression is something you already do if you've been playing chords for very long. The 3 primary chords used in modern music are easy to identity using the scale around which the Key is built.
Let's use the Key of C for the example but the rules apply to all major keys; A through G.
In the key of C weather speaking of the C scale or the C chord the "root " is the note C. The C Major scale contains the notes: C D E F G A B C. Remember your first grade music lesson: Doe- ray- me-fa-so-la-tee-doe. Same concept.
The 3 primary chords in any major key are named by the 1st, 4th and 5th note of the scale. In the case of C it's C, F and G. 1, 4, and 5.
These are major chords and they have a relatively "happy" sound. To add some "color" to our chord progression lets use what we call the "relative minor" a "sad" sounding chord. In the Key of C the relative minor is A minor.
So now we have our chord progression we are going to play in our practice session.
C Am F G. 4 counts of each or 8 or any number of measures you choose in 4/4 time. 4/4 time is good to learn in because we all listen to so much music that has the 4/4 time signature. It's something most of us are used to hearing.
C234 Am234 F234 G234 C234 repeat. in this example I have come back to the root chord "C" to end the progression as well as start it. Play it over and over and you have the "background" music for practicing the C Major scale. Leave off the last C chord if you choose.
Now lets add the C scale to the mix. There several places to find a C major scale on the neck of the guitar. We are going to focus on just one for now.
Most instructors start with the open position scales but because I have many very young students who have trouble reaching the nut of a dreadnought I start them in the Fifth fret. The scale we are going to learn is the C Major scale and then we modify it to the C Pentatonic scale.
Grab your guitar. All major scales are built exactly the same.
Whole step, Whole Step, half step, Whole step, Whole step, Whole step, half step, ascending from root to root (C to C) Each fret is a "half step" so it takes 2 frets to make a hole step.
We are going to apply the "finger per fret rule" in this exercise just to keep us straight about where each finger plays each note.
Your index finger will play in the 5th fret
Your middle finger will play in the 6th fret
Your ring finger will play in the 7th fret
Your pinky will play in the 8th fret.
If you lay your hand on the neck with your index between the 4th and 5th fret you will see how to apply the rule.
We are going to play on the G string, the B string, and E string, the bottom three strings on the neck just to get a simple scale going.
remember to use the finger per fret rule.
Fret the G string in the 5th fret, index finger, play C
Fret the G string in the 7th fret, ring finger, play D (whole step)
Fret the B string in the 5th fret, index finger, play E (whole step)
Fret the B string in the 6th fret, middle finger, play F (half step)
Fret the B string in the 8th fret, play G pinky, (whole step)
Fret the E string in the 5th fret, index finger, play A (whole step)
Fret the E string in the 7th fret, ring finger, play B (whole step)
Fret the E string in the 8th fret, pinky, play C (half step)
Do it a few times and then do it backwards.
this is one octave of C major.
Don't over complicate it.
If you like patterns here it is.
e string A-BC
b string EF-G
g string C-D-
Here it is in tab
-----C--D---E---F----G----A---B----C---B--A----G----F-----E---D----C
E---------------------------5---7----8---7---5----------------------------
B-----------5---6----8-----------------------------8----6----5-----------
G--5---7-----------------------------------------------------------7-----5-
D----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A--------------------------------------------------------------------------
E---------------------------------------------------------------------------
to Play a C pentatonic scale leave out the F and B. It makes it a 5 note scale thus the name "penta"
Here is another neat pattern for the C pentatonic that gets you around on the fret board. Shown in tab, note:slide from D to E
-----G--A---C--D--E---G--A---C--D--E-G--A--C----D----E
E--------------------------------------------------8---10---12--
B------------------------------------------8--10---------------
G--------------------------------5--7--9---------------------------
D-------------------------5--7------------------------------------------
A-------------3--5--7-------------------------------------------------------
E-----3--5---------------------------------------------------------------------
I posted this with a Mac using Safari so if it looks like a wreck let me know and I'll work on it.
