Intermediate Guitar 1
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Class 4: The C major scale

Technique

1. Play and sing the scale (sing note names E F G etc.) up and down, alternating right hand fingers (i and m) or alternating pick direction (up and down).
2. Once you know the names and the pattern, play it up and down to practice ease and accuracy
   1. ​Add and subtract fingers:
      
      1. on the way up the scale (from string 6-1), add the fingers on each string - don't move fingers after playing them until you change string
      2. on the way down (from string 1 to 6), place all the fingers on the next string and then subtract the fingers for each note
   2. Follow good technique:
      1. Left hand - play on tips, keep wrist straight 
      2. Right hand - alternate fingers or pick direction and use free stroke (for now)
         
3. ​As your ease and accuracy increase, so will the possibility of speed. Always practice slowly for ease and accuracy, AND try going a little faster than comfortable once in a while​
   

Improvisation

Ear training exercise for improvisation:
Find the following melodies inside the C major scale, using your ear only. Note that not all melodies start on C

1. Row row row your boat
2. Mary had a little lamb
3. Frere Jacques
4. Ode to Joy
5. Basically any simple melody you know by heart and can sing

Record yourself playing: Am - G - F - E and use the recording as a backing track to practice improvising.

1. Use short phrases, ideas or motives
2. repeat ideas
3. follow the short short long form
4. Sing while you play