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Lesson 3 of 3

Octaves

An octave is the same note played twice, one higher than the other. Octave shapes make a single melody sound big and are a staple of rock, funk and jazz.

All exercises use the E minor scale. From the low E string: index on the root, ring or pinky two frets higher on the D string. From the A string: index on the root, ring or pinky two frets higher on the G string.

The string in the middle must stay silent. Let the underside of your index finger touch it lightly so it's muted. Then you can strum across all three strings and only the octave will sound. The other strings stay quiet too: on the A-string shape, the tip of your index finger touches the low E, and on both shapes your free fretting-hand fingers lie lightly across the higher strings.

It should sound like one strong, clear note. The most common mistake is the muted string ringing or buzzing because the index finger pressed it too hard or missed it entirely; fix the shape slowly before adding speed.

Play each exercise with downstrokes. When the shapes feel solid, use the last exercise to move between them as a melody.

Exercises

Octaves from the low E

60 → 100 bpm
  1. Bar 1
    1. low E string, fret 3 + D string, fret 5
    2. low E string, fret 3 + D string, fret 5
    3. low E string, fret 5 + D string, fret 7
    4. low E string, fret 5 + D string, fret 7
    5. low E string, fret 7 + D string, fret 9
    6. low E string, fret 7 + D string, fret 9
    7. low E string, fret 8 + D string, fret 10
    8. low E string, fret 8 + D string, fret 10
  2. Bar 2
    1. low E string, fret 7 + D string, fret 9
    2. low E string, fret 7 + D string, fret 9
    3. low E string, fret 5 + D string, fret 7
    4. low E string, fret 5 + D string, fret 7
    5. low E string, fret 3 + D string, fret 5
    6. low E string, fret 3 + D string, fret 5
    7. low E string, open + D string, fret 2
    8. low E string, open + D string, fret 2

Clean 3 times in a row? Raise the tempo by 5 bpm.

Octaves from the A string

60 → 100 bpm
  1. Bar 1
    1. A string, fret 2 + G string, fret 4
    2. A string, fret 2 + G string, fret 4
    3. A string, fret 3 + G string, fret 5
    4. A string, fret 3 + G string, fret 5
    5. A string, fret 5 + G string, fret 7
    6. A string, fret 5 + G string, fret 7
    7. A string, fret 7 + G string, fret 9
    8. A string, fret 7 + G string, fret 9
  2. Bar 2
    1. A string, fret 5 + G string, fret 7
    2. A string, fret 5 + G string, fret 7
    3. A string, fret 3 + G string, fret 5
    4. A string, fret 3 + G string, fret 5
    5. A string, fret 2 + G string, fret 4
    6. A string, fret 2 + G string, fret 4
    7. A string, open + G string, fret 2
    8. A string, open + G string, fret 2

Clean 3 times in a row? Raise the tempo by 5 bpm.

A melody in octaves

60 → 100 bpm
  1. Bar 1
    1. low E string, open + D string, fret 2
    2. low E string, fret 3 + D string, fret 5
    3. low E string, fret 5 + D string, fret 7
    4. low E string, fret 7 + D string, fret 9
  2. Bar 2
    1. A string, fret 3 + G string, fret 5
    2. A string, fret 2 + G string, fret 4
    3. low E string, fret 5 + D string, fret 7
    4. low E string, fret 3 + D string, fret 5

Clean 3 times in a row? Raise the tempo by 5 bpm.

Checkpoint

Move on when you can do all of these.

  • Only the two octave notes sound, no ringing middle string
  • The octave melody at 100 bpm for 4 loops
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