What you will learn

There are many ways that notes can be found on a stringed instrument, due to the tuning and number of strings making it possible to play the exact same note at different frets (or locations on unfretted instruments) on different strings. Three common ways of organising patterns (shapes) of notes on fretted instruments are CAGED, 5-regions (a generalisation of CAGED) and three notes-per-string (3 nps). These are explained in this lesson.

Pre-requisites: a knowledge of intervals, and especially the octave. Knowing where to find notes on the instrument is not needed.

 

Patterns

A pattern of notes of itself provides a sound palette to work with, a selection on notes to choose from. Nothing more, nothing less. The magic happens depending which of these notes get emphasised, made to stand out to the listener. There are various ways you can do this, including

• playing it louder than what’s preceded
• playing it longer than what’s preceded
• playing it on a strong beat
• start playing it on a weak beat, but let is last over the next strong beat(s). This is known as syncopation
• jumping to that note by an interval of 3 or more semitones from the preceding note
• playing in a note that clashes with whatever else is being played at that time by other instruments
• the note is the deepest pitch compared to what’s preceded
• the note is the highest pitch compared to what’s preceded