Table of Contents
Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Started with Guitar Theory 5
Chapter 1: Guitar Theory in a Nutshell 7
Chapter 2: Navigating the Fretboard Like a Pro 15
Part II: Working with Chords from the Ground Up 33
Chapter 3: Harmonizing the Major Scale to Form Triads and Chords 35
Chapter 4: Forming Chord Shapes with the CAGED System 41
Chapter 5: Adding Chord Tones and Extensions to Chords 71
Part III: Getting to Know Keys, Modes, and Chord Progressions 91
Chapter 6: Playing Chord Progressions by Numbers 93
Chapter 7: Knowing Music Inside Out: Identifying Tonics, Keys, and Modes 103
Chapter 8: Following Key Changes 129
Chapter 9: Dominant Function and Voice Leading 143
Chapter 10: Filling the Gaps with Passing Chords 153
Part IV: Playing Guitar Scales 165
Chapter 11: Preparing for Riffs and Solos with the Pentatonic Scale 167
Chapter 12: Playing Music’s Primary Melody Maker: The Major Scale 187
Chapter 13: Playing in Modes and Using Modal Scale Patterns 205
Chapter 14: Exploring New Patterns with the Harmonic Minor Scale 225
Chapter 15: Playing the Blues 239
Part V: Part of Tens 251
Chapter 16: Ten Guitar Songs Worth Learning 253
Chapter 17: Ten Sample Scale Applications 265
Chapter 18: Tens Ways to Put Theory into Practice 269
Appendix: Audio Tracks and Video Clips 273
Index 277
