Mastering the Guitar Fretboard - Part 1

This first concept presents triads and their inversions, 9th arpeggios and modal scales. Once the triads are represented, the 9th arpeggios are added using the triad shapes as a starting point. After adding the 9th arpeggios, the modal scales are added in a same way as the 9th arpeggios.

• They are easy to remember and quite easy to play
• Voice leading concepts might be easier to adapt using triads
• Using triads and their inversions is a good start when creating a mental map of the guitar fretboard

• The 9th arpeggios consist of five (5) notes. Only two notes have to be added to have a complete scale. It may be easier to see the function of the notes and to choose which modal expression to use
• Grouping of the notes per string could be easier

The 9th arpeggios are "broken chords" that have five (5) notes in them. The notes are not played simultaneously, but one at a time (arpeggiated). Since we have five (5) different notes in 9th arpeggios, they can be started from any five (5) different pitches or notes. One way to nail the task of remembering these down is by using the triad shapes or fingerings as a basis for the 9th arpeggio fingerings. Starting from the lowest note of the triad and ending on the highest note of that particular triad is one way to go. When using for example, the string patterns 346, 235 and 124 for a triad, try to build your 9th arpeggio fingerings in ways that smoothly go together. There can be one to three notes per string. Try different combinations. When using alternate picking with 9th arpeggios, a two notes per string grouping could be efficient to the picking hand. Different sequences can spice up the playing. There are at least eighteen (9+9) fingerings of the 9th arpeggios for the triads described in the scenario above. Check the Example 2 at the end of this article.

The modal scales could be the modes of the major scales, the modes of the harmonic minor scales or the modes of the melodic minor scales. By adding two notes into the 9th arpeggio shapes or fingerings we can build up complete scales. Adding an augmented fourth (#4) and a major sixth (M6) for example, into a major 9th arpeggio gives us a Lydian scale. The Lydian scale is a major scale with an augmented fourth in it. We could have as an example, thirty six (12+12+12) different fingerings for the scales played over major triad. Try adding the missing two notes into your 9th arpeggios and complete your scales. Check the Example 3 at the end of this article.

You should do the hard work and write out and practice these triads, the 9th arpeggios, and scales by yourself! That's the only way to really start to learn them.

What you can do along with applying the concepts I present to you?

• Hone your technique
• Try different picking styles like directional, alternate picking or combinations of them when playing chords, arpeggios and scales
• Move your right hand wrist and experiment moving your right hand thumb
• Try different muting techniques like palm muting or thumb muting
• Maintain a good and relaxed posture when practicing
• Organize your practice time and practice schedule

The examples mentioned earlier in this article can be found below.