Ringing the Open High E String

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Letting the open High E string ring while playing a lead melody might spice up your playing a bit. This technique works *best* in an E key/mode. The droning quality might even be reminiscent of various non-guitar stringed instruments:

   Em                 E                      Em
e|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0-
B|-12-10--8--7--5--4--5--7--9-10-12-14-16-17--0--1--3--5-
G|-------------------------------------------------------
D|-------------------------------------------------------
A|-------------------------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------------

Open Low E String and Octaves

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This time, we're pedaling the open Low E string with various octaves up the neck. If you're strumming with a pick, part of your fretting hand will mute the D string, so that you are only playing the notes on the Low E, A, and G strings. You can avoid the D string altogether if you're finger picking. Approximate chord names for these intervals are labeled above the tab:

   E5   E6   E7  Emaj7  E  Esus2  Em    E   Esus4   E5
e|------------------------------------------------------
B|------------------------------------------------------
G|--4----6----7----8----9---11----12----13----14----16--
D|--X----X----X----X----X----X-----X-----X-----X-----X--
A|--2----4----5----6----7----9----10----11----12----14--
E|--0----0----0----0----0----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--

Six Part "Harmonies" with the Open Low E String

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Today, we're adding a note on the High E string to create exciting voicings up the fretboard. Some of these chords aren't so harmonious, as this lesson's title might suggest.

   Em7  E6 D6add9/E D#mmaj7/E Em F#7madd4/E Em7   E6  Amadd9/E  E
e|--3----0----0-------0--------0----0-------10-----9-----0-----12--
B|--3----0----0-------4--------0----0--------0-----9-----0-----12--
G|--0----1----2-------3--------0----6--------0-----9-----9-----13--
D|--2----2----4-------4--------5----7--------9-----9----10-----14--
A|--2----4----5-------6--------7----9-------10----11----12-----14--
E|--0----0----0-------0--------0----0--------0-----0-----0------0--

Five Part Harmonies with the Open Low E String

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Today, we're adding a note on the B string to create exciting voicings up the fretboard.

   Em7  E6   D6/E D#m/E Em F#madd4/E  Em     E   Amadd9/E    E
e|--------------------------------------------------------------
B|--3----0----0----4----0----0---------0-----9-----0--------12--
G|--0----1----2----3----0----6---------0-----9-----9--------13--
D|--2----2----4----4----5----7---------9-----9----10--------14--
A|--2----4----5----6----7----9--------10----11----12--------14--
E|--0----0----0----0----0----0---------0-----0-----0---------0--

Four Part Harmonies with the Open Low E String

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Today, we're adding a note on the G string to create exciting voicings up the fretboard.

   Em   E6   D/E D#m/E Em  F#m/E  Em     E   Am/E    E
e|------------------------------------------------------
B|------------------------------------------------------
G|--0----1----2----3----0----6-----0-----9-----9----13--
D|--2----2----4----4----5----7-----9-----9----10----14--
A|--2----4----5----6----7----9----10----11----12----14--
E|--0----0----0----0----0----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--

Three Part Harmonies with the Open Low E String

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Yesterday, we listed a handful of two-note voicings with the open Low E string as the bass note. Now let's try three notes. The overall key might determine the specific name of the voicing, but we've just named these chords without much context (alternate names are possible):

   E5   E6   D/E D#m/E Em  F#m/E  Em     E   Am/E   E5
e|------------------------------------------------------
B|------------------------------------------------------
G|------------------------------------------------------
D|--2----2----4----4----5----7-----9-----9----10----14--
A|--2----4----5----6----7----9----10----11----12----14--
E|--0----0----0----0----0----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--

Droning the Low E String

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We are creating two-note harmonies with the open Low E string, by droning the Low E string, otherwise known as a pedal tone. The approximate chord names (technically not complete triads) are listed above the tab:

   E5   E6   E7  Emaj7  E  Esus2  Em    E   Esus4   E5
e|------------------------------------------------------
B|------------------------------------------------------
G|------------------------------------------------------
D|------------------------------------------------------
A|--2----4----5----6----7----9----10----11----12----14--
E|--0----0----0----0----0----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--

Five Part Harmonies with the Open A String

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

Today, we're adding a note on the High E string to create exciting voicings up the fretboard.

   A7   D/A  G/A  E/A Aadd9 G/A   Am     A   Dm/A   A7
e|--3----2----3----0----0----7-----0----12----10----12--
B|--2----3----3----5----0----8----10----10----10----14--
G|--2----2----4----4----6----7-----9-----9----10----12--
D|--2----4----5----6----7----9----10----11----12----14--
A|--0----0----0----0----0----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--
E|------------------------------------------------------

Four Part Harmonies with the Open A String

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

Today, we're adding a note on the B string to create exciting voicings up the fretboard.

    A   D/A  G/A  E/A Aadd9 G/A   Am     A   Dm/A   A7
e|------------------------------------------------------
B|--2----3----3----5----0----8----10----10----10----14--
G|--2----2----4----4----6----7-----9-----9----10----12--
D|--2----4----5----6----7----9----10----11----12----14--
A|--0----0----0----0----0----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--
E|------------------------------------------------------

Three Part Harmonies with the Open A String

If you don't know how to read guitar tab (as computer text), this section of a Wikipedia article may help.

Yesterday, we listed a handful of two-note voicings with the open A string as the bass note. Now let's try three notes. The overall key might determine the specific name of the voicing, but we've just named these chords without much context (alternate names are possible):

   A5  F#m/A G/A G#m/A  A  Bm/A   Am     A   Dm/A   A7
e|------------------------------------------------------
B|------------------------------------------------------
G|--2----2----4----4----6----7-----9-----9----10----12--
D|--2----4----5----6----7----9----10----11----12----14--
A|--0----0----0----0----0----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--
E|------------------------------------------------------

Droning the A String

Please read this article on Guitar Tablature before we continue.

We are creating two-note harmonies with the open A string, by droning the A string, otherwise known as a pedal tone. The approximate chord names (technically not complete triads) are listed above the tab:

   A5   A6   A7  Amaj7  A  Asus2  Am    A   Asus4   A5
e|------------------------------------------------------
B|------------------------------------------------------
G|------------------------------------------------------
D|--2----4----5----6----7----9----10----11----12----14--
A|--0----0----0----0----0----0-----0-----0-----0-----0--
E|------------------------------------------------------