The Diatonic Fingerboard - Part 1

The guitar fingerboard - it's strings and frets - are laid out to accommodate the same system of tones as the piano keyboard - minus an octave or two. I'm referring of course to the Diatonic System, which is the basis of western music theory.

Just how is this symbiosis accomplished? What logic underlies the specific tuning of the strings to E A D G B and E? And what importance should the guitar student (and teacher) place on the theory behind the diatonic system?

The guitar is part of a family of instruments which predate the diatonic system and are far ranging in shape, size, numbers of strings and tuning configurations. Each instrument is intended to function within a certain musical context, and the modern guitar is - like the piano and the harp - intended to play chords and melodies which are drawn from the diatonic scale.

The real question is, why isn't a basic understanding of the Diatonic System at the core of every guitar student's experience? It really shouldn't be under-emphasized.

If one accepts the challenge of actually learning music - not just a few chords and scale patterns - but the language of music, there are plenty of interesting twists and turns along the path. Much more satisfying to have a clear sense of direction, than being put in a little box at the start of the Journey. I believe some guitar teachers treat their students like pet cats that have to moved from one concept to another in secure boxes with only small windows to peek through and see the bigger picture.

I've worked with more than a few intermediate students who've had several teachers and still don't know how to play octaves, can't tell me the difference between a minor and major chord, or know what a mode is. I believe the reason for most guitar methods imposing a kind of myopia on students is well intentioned. Get them started playing open position chords, maybe a pentatonic scale, and they'll be happier sooner. Why complicate matters by having them play scales up and down the neck before they fully master the first five frets?

My experience has been that there's nothing essentially more difficult about playing notes on the 9th fret than the 5th. The only real difference is that you may have to learn a couple of basic theory concepts and increase your vocabulary by about a dozen words. If someone is serious about learning the instrument, these are easily achievable goals.

In fact, once you are away from the open strings things are actually simpler....


(more soon)