Conventions
Content types
There are two different types of content in this course:
Documentation pages explain theory and practical lessons/tutorials to assist in learning.
Drills and Proficiency tests are practical exercises, usually with objective criteria to let you know when you’ve mastered the exercise.
Basically, read most of these pages like a book, but when you’re ready to start practicing, head over to tests and follow the instructions.
Proficiency tests are the result of what I’m calling Test Driven Guitar. Feel free to skip that chapter if you just want to get on with learning the instrument.
Notation
As much as possible I will try to be consistent with the following conventions.
Warning
Sadly, much of this content was already written before I documented the notation, so there are likely quite a few pages that still need updating!Notes
The seven natural notes will always be written in the default font with an uppercase letter. The five remaining notes will be notated with a sharp or flat symbol as appropriate.
The twelve possible notes will always be written as follows:
- A
- A♯ or B♭
- B
- C
- C♯ or D♭
- D
- D♯ or E♭
- E
- F
- F♯ or G♭
- G
- G♯ or A♭
Intervals
This course refers to intervals as ascending some number of intervals from the reference note (usually the scale key or the root note of a chord).
The course will usually use this notation for intervals.
| semitones | notation |
|---|---|
| 0 | P1 or unison |
| 1 | m2, A1 |
| 2 | M2 or d3 |
| 3 | m3, ♭3 or A2 |
| 4 | M3 or d4 |
| 5 | P4 or A3 |
| 6 | d5, ♭5, tritone or “blue note” |
| 7 | P5 or d6 |
| 8 | m6 or A5 |
| 9 | M6 or d7 |
| 10 | m7, ♭7 or A6 |
| 11 | M7 or d8 |
| 12 | P8, octave, or A7 |
Where “P” is for “perfect” intervals, “m” for minor intervals, M for major, “d” for diminished, and “A” for augmented. Refer to the wikipedia for further details (lots and lots of details).
The first notation listed is almost always preferred.
Chords
This course attempts to be consistent with chord naming, but it can be difficult.
Any chord symbol always starts with an uppercase letter for the root of the chord.
Whenever possible, the quality of the chord is included and abbreviated: “Maj”, “m”, “dim”, or “aug” rather than using symbols or single letters. The “M” in Major is capitalized.
Thus, “CMaj” rather than “C△” or just the plain letter “C” (to avoid confusion with notes or keys).
Common seventh chords are written like C7, CMaj7, Cm7.
Diminished chords are written like “Cdim” rather than “Cº".
Half diminished chords are always written like “Cm7♭5” rather than “Cø".
Suspended chords are written Csus2 or Csus4 (and the 2 or 4 will always be included).
If the m7 is present in the chord, extended chords will be written C9 or C13. If the m7 is not present they become Cadd2 or Cadd6.
Slash chords indicate either a specific inversion where necessary, or an added bass note not normally in the chord. For brevity, the three letter abbreviation is not used for chord quality in slash chords. C/E is the first inversion of CMaj., Cm/G is the second inversion of Cm, and CMaj7/F is CMaj with an additional F played in the bass.
Please refer to the wikipedia page on chords if any other notation is confusing.
Chord progressions: Roman numerals
The triads formed from a diatonic scale are written in Roman numerals. Uppercase refers to Major chords, lowercase to minor.
The diatonic chords are thus written as follows: I, ii, iii, IV, V, vi, viiº (note that the symbol is used for diminished triads with Roman notation). In the key of C, these would be the chords CMaj, Dm, Em, FMaj, GMaj, Am, and Bdim.
Keys
To prevent confusion with chords or notes, keys will usually be written in angled quotes:
The key of «C» is also called “C Major” but is different than the chord CMaj or the note C.
Scale degrees
Whenever it’s necessary to refer to scale degrees I will prefix with a small circumflex preceding the number: ˆ5 is the fifth scale degree.
(Scale degrees are traditionally written with a caret or hat on top of the number, but adding those glyphs to this site is more of a hassle than I’m willing to undertake.)