Hello all acoustic guitarists. This is a sample workout from 15 weeks Pattern Toolbox Program taught by Tomi Paldanius. 

PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND GOAL

Pattern Toolbox Program will develop your ability to play, understand, sign and hear the most famous bass and chord patterns in western popular music.  Here are 5 important things you will learn in next 15 weeks:

- Develop your music theory skills and understanding how music is composed

- Know your fretboard better

- Start hearing or/and singing music instead of playing it mechanically

- End the period of playing individiual chords after each other. Play patterns instead which will help you to memorize songs much faster.

- Develop your playing technique by doing the workouts everyday. Only 5-10 minutes proper exercise every day will make big difference.

New pattern lessons will be available every Sunday. Weekdays are workout days where you will build up your abilities together with Tomi. You can also do the first workout by scrolling down all the way to the end of this lesson. That is the Monday workout which will be at the members area on Monday some time depending where you live. New workout will be at the website every weekday Monday to Friday. 

Tomi is available for personal help during the course. You can send him videos of your playing or questions and Tomi will reply you back usually in 1-2 days.Please check the first lesson and workout below and hope to see you at the next Pattern Toolbox  Program. You can join the program by clicking here! You will get access to all material even after the program has ended. 

 

 

To understand patterns it is very important to understand how major scale works. "Down The Line In Major" is a great way to start learning patterns with all 3 dimensions.

1. Play exercises and chord fingerings mechanically.

2. Understand the theory behind each pattern. For example what degree chords we are using and how we can use chord inversions.

3. Learn to listen and sing patterns.

Down the line in Major - Bassline

For example in the key of C you need to know what is C major scale down. 

C - B - A - G - F - E - D - C

Play that scale as a bassline starting from 5th string 3rd fret. You will get all the way to the 6th string open until you run out of possible notes. At this point you can take the D note from 5th string 5th fret (or 4th string open) and to make the bassline natural sounding, end it with the dominant note which is the fifth interval from C = G. You will have total of 8 notes for the down the line in C major and that will be your first circulating/repeating bass pattern you learn.

II: C - B - A - G - F - E - D - G :II

Take the above bassline as your foundation for complete down the line movement. Things can and will be little different when you get more familiar with this pattern and its possible variations. But at the end there is not too many great ones. Just build your foundation strong and experience will tell you what kind of major down the line movements there really is.

Rules for the Down The Line in Major?

Down the Line movement is atleast 3 note downwards bass movement which in this case use the major scale. Just the notes C - B is not considered as a down the line but it is rare to have C to B bassline which does not go to A. You need C - B - A and you can call the pattern = Down The Line in C Major. You can also have chromatic Down The Line in Major where you use b7 bass note but we look that more later.

Chords used with Down The Line in Major

Bassline is simple to understand but when it is time to colorize the pattern with chords, things get little more exciting. From the image below you can see what are the chords used in Down The Line in C Major and most common substituting chords.

1. First 3 chords in Down The Line in Major are always ROOT - 5th chords third inversion - RELATIVE MINOR

2. 4th chord can be either 5th chord again without inversion or ROOT chords fifth inversion.

3. 5th chord is always 4th degree chord.

4. 6th chord can be the 3rd degree chord or ROOT chords third inversion.

5. 7th chord is always (almost) 2nd degree chord.

Learn to understand these diagrams together with the video material for maximum benefit of this course but try to get rid of all written material as soon as possible.

For chord fingerings, try to avoid freezing your hand to certaing block chords. Keep the bassline clear and when playing chord notes try to make the highest note move in a logical and good sounding way.

Down The Line in C major - Chromatic Approach

Down The Line in D-Major

Down The Line in E-Major

Down The Line in B-Major

Down The Line in A-Major

Getting ready for the weekday workouts?

Please check out below video first and see you tomorrow for the first workout. Next Sunday you will learn a new  pattern and get access 5 new weekday patterns from Monday to Friday. If you have any questions, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Pattern Toolbox Program - Workout 01

For more info and syllabus of Pattern Toolbox Program, please click this link http://www.aftertabs.com/index.php/about-us/1751-pattern-toolbox-program