Basic Blues Guitar

Learning guitar grades?

Hi,
I've played the guitar since the age of six I'm a capable acoustic and electrical guitarist. Between the ages of 13 and 18 I became so engrossed in learning all my favourite songs I really developed my skills and even taught guitar to children and young adults for a few months in New York (rock, blues, jazz, fast metal). However, I'm only good practically. I'm now 21 and I've lately found that my guitar skills are not as refined as they once were and since I never truly sat and learned any theory (I only know the names of basic chords) 've begun to consider learning the guitar from grades 1 and upwards. I just don't know where to start. How many grades are there? How long does each grade take to complete? Can I do it from home as I work full-time? What exactly does the "grade-taking" involve and what are the benefits of completing the grades (i.e. Will they certify me as a professional guitarist?)? I really want to become much faster in soloing - blues/metal.

Thank you...

I have never heard of the grade system, although I learned to play long ago. I can give you one small piece of advice that might help since you mention you've only learned basic chords. In Nashville we used a basic theory called the Numbers System.

What it does is let you play any song in any key, as long as you have the numbers worked out for chord changes. This is really simple: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & then 8 (or the octave, which is the same note as the 1 an "octave higher) The numbers are the same as Do, Re, Me, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do, just like the song in the movie, "The Sound of Music". Remember, "Do (or doe) a deer, a female deer, Re, a drop of falling sun, me a name I call myself, fa, a long long way to run..." Goofy I know, but almost everyone who plays has heard this song

So if your root (or 1) is "C", the numbers translate to; C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Easy right? Now try the key of "G"; G,A,B, C, D, E, F#, G.

So a 1, 4, 5 pattern would be C, F & G in the key of "C". Or G, C & D in the key of "G". It works for any chord. If your song is C, Aminor, D minor, G, it would be, 1, 6-, 2-, 5. In the key of "G" the same pattern would be G, Eminor, A minor, D.

Notice how minor is written as a minus sign ( - ). Kind of makes it easy doesn't it? People write charts in hundreds of different styles using "#" for sharp of course or "b" for flat, "o" for a diminished chord, ">" for augmented etc.

Also basic chords are made up of this; the 1, 3 & 5 notes make a chord. Example, "C" chord's 1, 3, 5 is C,E & G. Try it. If you want a minor chord, flat the 3 note (down one fret). For a major 7th, play the 1,3,5 and add the 7 note. (For a 7th chord, flat the 7.)

Another thing you might be already familiar with is the "CAGED" theory. Every chord can be played in 5 different positions; C, A, G, E & D position. You've probably already used this & it's really nothing more than thinking of your index finger as a capo.

This may be stuff you already know but if not, GOOD! It's kept me busy for the last 40 years or so.

One last thing; the only thing that will make you a professional musician is that you do it as a profession. That is, you make your living at it. I'm guessing you're semi-pro now. That's where everyone starts and since nothing is a better teacher than experience, you're on your way!

Good luck with it & remember, when you get stuck in a place, keep going - it usually means you're about to advance to the next level. Hope this makes some sense. There are books on the Number System you may want to check out if not.

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