The Circle of Fifths

[michelew]

tacticaltal wrote:

nesh16041972 wrote:

Yes Terry, I was sound asleep by then! And Shel has actually provided a great answer! It's true, Neil could even put together a lesson for this. would indeed be great if Dermot, or you, 'ask' him. (I'm careful with putting up vids with instructions, I mean.....I'm not the teacher here, Neil is. I do sómetimes when I find that typing isn't going to cut it.)...In any way, like i said earlier it's a handy tool for lots of things.

Vanessa I figured that about your reluctance to putting up instructional videos, and it's a good choice on your part. I don't really know where to ask Neil questions, I mean I asked him one once, and he hasn't replied, so I'm not sure how often he reads every forum or topic. Maybe I'm still too new, and I haven't found all the resources yet

Terry,

There is a part of the forum under Target for asking Neil question. - http://www.totallyguitars.com/forum/43-ask-neil.html.

Post something in there and there is a good chance that Neil will answer it in the news, the weekly wrap up. He may not if he feels its been answered properly by the community. However, if members are making mistakes, then Neil will generally jump in on the forum at that point.

So he may get the the question you've already posted on Friday.

Shel

[thereshopeyet]

Hello Michelle
I've seen it as those letter patterns before too, Sharps - Fifth's Clockwise - F C G D A E B and Fourth's Counter-Clockwise B E A D G C F too .
That's the red letters in the Father Charles .... acronym.

I also use the Bead word to remember the notes of Fret 7 ..... 6 5 4 3 and 1st strings.

Dermot

[michelew]

Hey Dermot,

7th fret - BEAD - yep i use that too. the hippie 7th.

If you look at the fretboard and read across the strings, bits of the FCGDAEB pattern (which is reversed if you're naming notes starting from the bass strings) appear all across it for the top four strings , because of the tuning of the strings of course.

I love seeing patterns.

Shel

Edit - by top four I meant starting with the bass string - 6th to 3rd. :huh: :blink: :S

[thereshopeyet]

Michelle Wrote:

Bits of the FCGDAEB pattern appear all across it for the top four strings

Yeah, that's annoying Michelle eh?
I reckon the guy that inverted the guitar couldn't spell, eh?

I mean have you tried pronouncing "FCGDAEB"

:laugh: :laugh:

[michelew]

OOps!!

Make that for the bottom four strings, the lowest four (in pitch). %#¥€*^_>?,#>#%€¥! naming conversions, why isn't the top the top. Yes, yes the top is the highest in pitch, unless you're a lefty using a right-handed guitar and then the top IS at the top.

[thereshopeyet]

Michelle Wrote:
Why isn't the top the top.

Ah but I though an Auzzie understood upside down stuff!

Then again.... maybe he invented this wrong bike!

:laugh: :laugh:

[michelew]

Dermot,

Haha! Yes being upside down myself I should get the whole upside down thing. I guess my guitar is also upside down. It's all relative.

[tacticaltal]

Thanks for the reply, michele. I'm still trying to envelop myself around this circle Maybe I'm not ready for it yet

[tacticaltal]

Oh, BTW, I always forget about time changes. I guess I want everyone to be in my world LOL

[michelew]

tacticaltal wrote:

Thanks for the reply, michele. I'm still trying to envelop myself around this circle Maybe I'm not ready for it yet

I really don't think you need to worry too much Terry. It is really useful for remembering key signatures if you read music, but if you use tab then you don't need to worry as much. It is also handy for remembering the fourth and fifth of a key, but if you know these already from years of playing then no worries. For example, take any letter in the sequence (say an E), the note on the right side (clockwise in the circle) is the fifth (B ) the one in the other side (anti clockwise) is the fourth (A).

As a guitarist you have an advantage over other musicians, it's called a capo. We can change keys without even thinking about sharps and flats just by moving the capo. Other musicians are not so lucky. So tab, capos. Woo hoo! there are two reasons why you don't need to fully grasp the circle of fifths if you just want to play. which, by the way, you obviously have no trouble with. Some of us could definitely do with more playing.