Single String Approach To Understanding Music Theory On Guitar

Music theory can be difficult to understand when you approach it from a "whole guitar" approach. I like to look at new scales, arpeggios etc. on a single string first.

This helps me to wrap my brain around the intervals involved and get my ears to better hear the new sounds before I try and apply them to multi-string patterns.

I want to share with you how I approach this, and to look at some of the most fundamental harmonies through this lens.

We'll cover the 4 main types of triads, and the 5 main types of 7th chords in this video, showing you a way that I like to practice them by making musical and rhythmic patterns that aren't as dry as just running the arpeggios up and down.

Another idea referenced in this video is a description of what I call the Big 3 Triad shapes and you can view my original discussion of that here.

I will revisit the idea of single string approaches in the future, because I think it is really important and very helpful. I hope you find it helpful as well.