Exercises 1 to 3 will familiarize yourself with each major triad position and help you identify the differences between 3 major modes: Ionian, Lydian and Mixolydian. All the exercises use the same backing track
In this backing track, the chord progression is Imaj7-Imaj7-IVmaj7-V7, e.g: Amaj7-Amaj7-Dmaj7-E7.
Exercsie 1
In this exercise, we’ll use the root position for all 3 chords.
- Step 1: find the root notes: A, D, E. Play the root notes at the beginning of each bar. The movement between roots should be minimum. So find the roots that are close together. For example: A at the 5th fret, 4th string, D at the 5th fret, 3rd string, E at the 7th fret, 3rd string.
- Step 2: play the root position major triads. Play the root, 3rd or 5th of the chords at the beginning of each bar
- Step 3: Add other notes in the scale: A Ionian, D Lydian and E Mixolydian. Also play the root, 3rd or 5th of the chords at the beginning of each bar. This way, you’ll hear the chord changes clearly. Also notice how Ionia, Lydian, Mixolydian different in shapes and sounds.
Exercise 2
Repeat the same process as in the exercise 1, but this time use the 1st inversion triads
Exercise 3
Repeat the same process as in the exercise 1, but this time use the 2nd inversion triads
Exercise 4 through 5 involving playing different triad positions, but keep the notes on the same string set. There are 3 steps as in exercise 1. But there are some modification in step 2
Exercise 4
- Step 1 & 3 are the same as the exercise 1
- Step 2: Play the root triad position for the I chord, 2nd inversion triads position for the IV and IV so that all the chords are played in the same string set.
Exercise 5
- Step 1 & 3 are the same as the exercise 1
- Step 2: Play the 2nd inversion triad position for the I chord, 1st inversion triads position for the IV and IV so that all the chords are played in the same string set.
Exercise 6
- Step 1 & 3 are the same as the exercise 1
- Step 2: Play the 1st inversion triad position for the I chord, root position triads for the IV and IV so that all the chords are played in the same string set.
