Simple arpeggio studies for C6 (a thread)

[Mike Neer]

This is a simple study taking you through Bb major and minor. Play by number—the shapes represent the chord tone (root, 3rd or 5th). This is for 6 string C6. You can take this as far as you like but keeping it simple and understanding how to see more sophisticated harmony in simpler terms is the key to making things work on steel guitar. This is the way I see things on the neck.

[Mike Neer]

Some of you might be thinking “what’s the point of this?” I wish I could put it into words how revelatory and door-opening this kind of process is. This is very much about melodic playing and making more choices available to help you craft phrases that speak or articulate the melody the way you intend. I think that is the most important part about playing steel guitar: having control of the way the phrases sound.

Why Bb? It’s just another key. I treat them all equally, although I can appreciate the importance of finding the perfect key to play or compose a tune in.

The next examples use a combination of major triads to create a dominant sound. These are just two examples, there are dozens more. Now you are starting to see how things can connect, at least I hope.

[Stuart Berlinicke]

This looks really interesting, I’m looking forward to checking this out more thoroughly.
I sometimes find myself using the hunt and peck method when it comes to note selection. I am going to work on internalizing these shapes.
Thanks for posting this Mike

[Robert Murphy]

I found the Steelin’ Scales and modes very helpful. Is this that different?

[Mike Neer]

Robert, the Steelin’ Scales tetrachord method is for playing scales, whereas what I am describing here is arpeggiated chords. They of course work hand-in-hand wonderfully. There is no one way of doing things and this is some of the methodology that works for me. Triads are a major factor in all of my playing, regardless of tuning. The more you know about triads and how they fit together to form extended chords the greater your flexibilty to deal with harmony. And this carries over to any tuning but just lays out differently in each.

[Mike Neer]

This kind of an experiment in form regarding notating the exercise. Not quite tab, not notation, more of a play-by-numbers. If you find it confusing, I don’t blame you but just follow the numbers sequentially, all 1/8th notes, so it is even rhythm. Numbers are written above the string that is played. As Joe Pass said, in playing etudes and exercises it’s helpful to play 1/8 notes and not worry about the phrasing yet.

This is the first 4 measures of a Bb blues. Chords are: Bb /Eb / Bb F7 / Bb7
I’m kinda having fun with this. Let me know if it doesn’t make any sense.




Or

[Mike Neer]

Bars 5-8
Probably a waste of time, but I’m having fun.

[HowardR]

This reminds me of Triadic Mechanics......

[Ron Funk]

Mike

"Good chit, Man"

I'm gonna print off and not only apply to my C6th Lap Steel, but also apply to my 10 string C6th steels

Kind Regards

Ron

[Jean-Sebastien Gauthier]

Thats very cool Mike! That’s the way I see the neck too! I like the fact that you take the time to write numbers for the orders of the different arpeggios along with with symbols for degrees, very ingenious!

I will make the same exercise for the A and C#m tunings that I currently use on my side. What a great way to learn a tuning!

[Jim Kaznosky]

The style of these reminds me of Linear Expressions. Thanks as always, Mike.

[Russell Taylor]

I want to dig into this because I know it will open my eyes more to the mechanics of the fretboard. I cannot decipher how to play the tab/fretboard map diagrams..
I assume it goes left to right, top to bottom? do you start with the numbers on the first fret..then second fret, etc?

Sorry..thick as a brick
-Jethro

[Mike Neer]

Remember those drawings where you connect the numbers and ended up with a line drawing of a puppy? Similar to that, play by number. All notes are in sequence by number.


I never finished this up because I became so busy and honestly thought there was no interest, but I can wrap up the blues when I get a chance.

[Russell Taylor]

Aha!! Thanks....I love puppies..

[Michael French]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and providing insite on your approach to visualizing the fret board .

I Iook forward to the continuation of Da blues when your up to it.