What I teach

   Here's  a long list of some of the things I teach.   ( 2024-01 )

Contact Alan on 09 431 5389 or 02102377242 or alanprestonmusic@gmail.com

The Music Room @ 4 Insley Street

To test yourself on the following , go to the tests page on :  www.alanprestonmusic.co.nz

Naming the parts of the guitar: 

Body , sound hole

Neck : bridge, fretboard, frets, nut

Head, machine heads

Harmonics along the string  :

How to pluck the harmonics.

The life of each note.  Attack > Decay > Sustain > Release

Using a pick to pick single notes - up and down strokes.

Tuning.  Guitars are tuned to 4ths - except the B string which is tuned to the 3rd ( of G > A > B ) .

Using a tuning fork.

  Using electronic tuners.

Install Guitar Tuna on your Android smart phone.

Tuning to the 4th notes : from 5th fret .  

Tuning by ear to other instruments.

The intervals of the major scale  ( 221 2221 ) along the neck - from the open string - and from any position on the guitar.

Playing the scale along the neck using all four fingers ( to develop dexterity and strength )

Naming the notes along the strings

Chord construction from the 1,3, 5 arpeggio

Stacking of notes in the E, A and D shaped chords from the top down : 5,1(8)3 

Using a pick to play down on the 1st ( bass string above the chord ) and up on the 8th note - in the middle of the chord .( octave )

Using a pick to play down on the 1st ( bass string above the chord ) and up on the 5th note - in the middle of the chord .( power chord )

Using your thumb to play down on the 1st ( bass string above the chord ) and the middle finger to pluck up on the 8th note - in the middle of the chord .( octave )

Using your thumb to play down on the 1st ( bass string above the chord ) and the index finger to pluck up on the 5th note - in the middle of the chord .( power chord )

Stacking of notes in the C, G,and F shaped chords from the top down  1 ,3, 5 

The difference between : 

Major and Minor chords ( flattened 3rd ) 

Power chords and Octaves  ( 1+5 vs 1+8  )

Diminished ( Half and Full ) and Augmented chords.

Major 7th and (dominant 7th chords

Chord spelling / voicings : 

Sus(pended)4th 

add 2 /  add 9

add 6 /  add 13

major 7th/minor 7th

Playing through a key using 3 note chords :  Major > minor >minor >Major >Major> minor >( diminished) minor> Major

The key of E ( using E shaped chords )  :  along the neck    Emajor  F#minor   G#minor  Amajor  Bmajor(dom 7th ) C#minor D#min Diminished  Emajor 

The key of A ( using A shaped chords )  :  along the neck    Amajor  Bminor   C#minor  Dmajor  Emajor(dom 7th )  F#minor G#min Diminished  Amajor 

Playing the above with and without barre chords , as octaves , AND as 2 note 3rd ( 10th ) harmony chords.

The key of D ( using D shaped chords )  :  along the neck    Emajor  F#minor   G#minor  Amajor  Bmajor(dom 7th ) C#minor D#min Diminished  Emajor 

Playing through a key using 4 note chords :  Major 7th , Minor 7th, Minor 7th , Major 7th , Dominant 7th , Minor 7th , Full Diminished minor , Major 7th

Using the thumb and three fingers of the right hand to pluck the strings.

The Major 1,4,5 triad.   The Minor 6,2,3 triad. 

Identifying the 'two families' of notes key using your fingers.

The major scale shape.   Playing through 2 Octaves from the  E bass string.

The minor scale shape ( by going down ( or up ) to the 6th note of the scale

The pentatonic scale shape : ( removing the 4th and 7th notes from the minor scale )

The blues scale shape:  ( the pentatonic scale shape with the addition of 'the blue (3rd ) note' and other passing intervals.

Playing the pentatonic scale across and along the neck using the diagonal 'boxes'.

The difference between 'rock' and 'blues'  : Rock uses the pentatonic played from the 6th degree of the scale.

Blues uses the pentatonic ( + passing notes & the blue note ) played over the Tonic ( 1st ) note of the key.