Note Memorization

Lesson overview

Hey Rockstars! Ready to dive into the ABCs of music? No, we're not going back to kindergarten, but we are going to learn the musical alphabet. These are the building blocks of all those killer riffs and solos you're dying to play. So let's get started!

Learning Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Understand the musical alphabet and its application on the guitar.
2. Identify natural notes on all strings up to the 12th fret.
3. Understand the concept of half and whole steps between notes.

The Musical Alphabet:
The musical alphabet is pretty simple; it consists of the letters A through G. That's it! No H, I, J, K, and so on. After G, the alphabet loops back to A. So it goes like A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C... you get the drift.

Half and Whole Steps:
Remember this phrase: "Big Cats Eat Fast." The first letters of each word are B-C and E-F, which are the notes that are only a half step apart. All other notes are a whole step apart.

Natural Notes on the A String:
Check out the diagram below. We've mapped the musical alphabet onto the A string, starting from the open A and moving up the neck until we hit the next A, also known as the octave.

Rockin' the Riff: Satisfaction Guaranteed
Before we move on, let's put what we've learned into action with a riff that's inspired by the Rolling Stones' classic, "Satisfaction." This riff will not only help you apply the musical alphabet but also get you into the groove of rock 'n' roll.

Things to Note:
1. Notes Used: This riff uses the A, B, and C notes on the A string. Yep, straight from the musical alphabet we just learned!
2. Spacing: Pay attention to the spaces between the groups of notes. After you play the first two notes, let the second one ring out a bit before moving on to the next group of notes, which will be A, B, C.
- You’ll then play the two notes at the 3rd fret followed by the note at the 2nd fret, again paying close attention to the spacing
3. Backing Tracks: We've also got some backing tracks for you to jam along with. Make sure to listen to the recording to get the timing and feel of the riff.

Pro Tip:
Listen to the original "Satisfaction" track to get a sense of how the riff fits into a song. Try playing along to get the vibe!

Interactive Challenge:
Grab your guitar and try to play the musical alphabet on the A string, starting from the open A. Can you make it to the next A without peeking at the diagram?

Quiz Time:
1. What are the notes that are only a half step apart?
2. What does the musical alphabet consist of?
3. In the Satisfaction riff, what do the spaces between notes mean?

Practice Routine:
1. Spend some time playing the musical alphabet on the A string, moving both up and back down the string.
2. Try the same on the E string.
3. Quiz yourself to see if you remember the half and whole steps.

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