Getting Started

This lesson shows how to play off the GuitarGrid's patterns.  Learn this one trick, and you'll be well on your way to easily understanding all that follows.

See what happens to this 6-dotted GuitarGrid row (right of the arrow) when it is played on the Fretboard?  The 2 Thinnest strings' notes get shifted up one fret.

Notice how this one grid shape becomes 2 other familiar shapes after applying the shift.

When you know one GuitarGrid pattern, you can automatically play several fretboard patterns!

Consider the advantage this knowledge gives you.

Note: This "shifting" does not apply to Bass Guitars in standard tuning...in which case, no shifting is required.

Make sure you are comfortable with, and can do this exercise before going on to the next lessons.

"The Shift Zone"

Separates the 4 Thickest strings from the 2 thinnest strings.

To play off a GuitarGrid it's best, in the beginning, to choose a starting point on one of the 4 thickest strings.  Play on the 4 Thickest Strings just as it looks on the GuitarGrid.

When you decide to cross what I call "The Shift Zone", and play on the 2 Thinnest Strings, move up the Fretboard one fret from what you see on the GuitarGrid.  By "up one fret" I mean "up" as in "up to a higher note".  This "up" is away from the tuning pegs and toward the body of your guitar.

"The Shift Zone" is an imaginary line that lands between and separates the 4 Thickest Strings from the 2 Thinnest Strings.

Ok, get your guitar so you can prove to yourself, this GuitarGrid stuff works!

Let's use the "Do, Re, Mi, ..." again, since it's a sound everyone knows.

This is the pattern you played in the Introduction.

See Below:  This "Do, Re, Mi, ..." pattern is placed above 4 Fretboard views.

Start playing on the 3 Thickest strings.  Play "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do". Now, move the pattern over and play it on the next 3 strings.  So far, you've only played on the 4 Thickest strings, so the Grid and Fretboard patterns match.

Knowing one GuitarGrid pattern, and how and when to shift, gives you the freedom to play it anywhere you want--all over the Fretboard.

If you're familiar with some of the basic open chords, this should be of interest to you.

Playing on the next 3 strings causes the last column of dots to cross the Shift Zone, and to land on one of the 2 Thinnest strings.  It's time to Shift, and now the Grid and Fretboard patterns no longer match.  But, the "Do, Re, Mi, ..." sounds right, and you didn't have to memorize the resulting fretboard pattern ahead of time to play it.

Playing on the next 3 strings causes 2 columns of Guitargrid dots to cross the Shift Zone.  So, they both get shifted up one fret.  It sounds like "Do, Re, Mi, ...", but once again its pattern has changed from the pure GuitarGrid pattern.

And, be sure to read: "Some Important Thoughts for Exploring GuitarGrids" at the bottom of this page.

How to make the shift: When part of a GuitarGrid lands on the 2 Thinnest strings, play that part one fret up from what you see in the Grid.

Why make the shift? Why you need to shift up one fret on the 2 Thinnest strings is explained at the bottom of this page. Although, you don't have to understand Why it works to know How, When, and Where to make the shift.

[Note: The remainder of the Getting Started lesson is omitted from this sample.]