Guitar Wheel Learn, Play and Explore the Guitar Quick Reference Guide Getting Started: The thick black bar that runs directly above each note shows the nut of the Guitar. Each string is shown by the 6 circular lines that continue all the way around the Guitar Wheel. The top string on the Guitar Wheel is the number 1 string on your Guitar (the one at the bottom when holding your Guitar) followed by 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 which is closest to your chin. The Guitar Wheel displays each note with it's own colour that makes up the displayed chord. This makes it easy to see which finger is on which note when playing a chord. Frets are displayed by the vertical lines that run across the strings (the Guitar Wheel displays up to the 6th Fret). Starting from left to right [0] the nut, then 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th frets.
Beginner: 1. Set the Key by rotating the top cover and locking number 1 (Root) on C (Yellow). Now the Guitar Wheel is set to the Key of C and displays the Major and Minor Chords for this Key. 2. The Chords displayed in the Outer Window are the Major Chords (for the chosen Key or 1 Root). 3. The Chords displayed in the Inner Window are the Minor Chords (for the chosen Key or 1 Root). Ignore the white dots for now and only play the coloured dots (notes) to play any of the displayed Chords. 4. The Notes on the Nut of the Guitar Wheel show the open strings that are played in the Chord. You do not need to put any finger/s on the open strings, they are played as is. 5. To play the C Chord put your 1st (index) finger on the 2nd string, 1st fret, your 2nd (middle) finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret and your 3rd (ring) finger on 5th string, 3rd fret then strum all strings. 6. To play the F Chord barre with your 1st (index) finger the first fret, then put your 2nd (middle) finger the 3rd string 2nd fret, your 3rd (ring) finger on the 4th string 3rd fret and your 4th (little) finger on the on 5th string, 3rd fret. Strum all strings. 7. To play the G Chord put your 2nd (middle) finger on the 5th string, 2nd fret, your 3rd (ring) finger on the 6th string, 3rd fret and your 4th (little) finger on the 1st string, 3rd fret. Strum all strings. 8. Practice these 3 Chords as many songs are written for Guitar in the Key of C. 9. Once you are comfortable with the Major Chords Key of C, learn and practice the Minor Chords (Key of C), these are the ones in the Inner Window of the Guitar Wheel. 10. As a general rule and where possible use one figure for each fret position: 1st (index) finger fret 1, 2nd (middle) finger fret 2, 3rd (ring) finger fret 3 and the 4th (ring) finger fret 4. This will help develop good playing habits into the future and speed up the efficiency of movement between chords. 11. Again once comfortable with the Chords in the Key of C, rotate the top cover of the Guitar Wheel clockwise to the next Key (G) and learn 2 new Chords to learn a whole new Key. Then the next Key D and so on. 12. Now for those white dots. The white dots show the alternate playing positions for the Dominant and Minor7 Chords. For the Majors these are written like G7 or F7 and in the Minors Dm7 or Am7. You will see these often in your songbooks.
Intermediate: 1. 12 Bar Blues. This is a popular progression used often by people jamming and composing. Bring your eye to the numbers displayed next to the Major Chords in the Outer Window of the Guitar Wheel. In the Key of C they are [C] 1, [F] 4, [G] 5. This 1, 4 and 5 or (I, IV, V) can be played in any Key by simply rotating the top cover of the Guitar Wheel. In 12 Bar Blues these Intervals are played over 12 Bars [1] [1] [1] [1], [4] [4] [1] [1], [5] [4] [1] [1] or I, I, I, I, IV, IV, I, I, V, IV, I, I or in the Key of C: [C, C, C, C ] [F, F, C, C] [G, F, C, C]. The strum pattern, timing and rhythm is up to you! 2. Key Change (Transposition): To change the Key of a Song, also know as Key Transposition, start with the original piece of music, say Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, this song is in the Key of C, we can tell this by looking for the first Chord in the song, in this case C. The first Chord in most songs is the Key of the song, if in doubt check the last Chord of the song, if they are different, then it's likely to be the last Chord. Music generally conforms to a set of rules or functions though in the artistry of music many composers will bend, twist or break the rules to create different sounds. You can use the Guitar Wheel to see what the composer is doing even when bending these general rules. Example: The first movement of Hallelujah goes: So I [C] heard there was a [Am] secret Chord, that [C] David played and it [Am] pleased the lord, but [F] you don't really [G] care for music [C] do you [G]. Using the Guitar Wheel, notice the Intervals next to each Chord [C] 1, [Am] 6, [C] 1, [Am] 6, [F] 4, [G] 5. Now that you know these intervals (16164515) you can rotate the top cover of the Guitar Wheel to any of the 12 Keys available, play the Interval (16164515) in the new Key, say A"VOILA" Key Transposition. 3. Find ALL Chords with the Guitar Wheel. Say in your Music you see a Asus2. Consult your Guitar Wheel Booklet and find the Intervals for the Suspended 2nd (sus2) there you will see they are intervals 1, 2 and 5. Set the Chord you wish to find to the 1 Root Position, say A, put the A in the 1 Root position. Now look for the intervals 1, 2 and 5. Here you will see that to play an Asus2 you need 1[A], 2[B] and 5[E]. Anywhere you can find these notes on your fret board you can play an Asus2. Remember you can use the open strings too. This method applies to all Chords, allowing you find any Chord you want.
Advanced: 1. Chord Variations: In a beautiful piece written by Gavin Sutherland and famously sung by Rod Stewart "Sailing" There is a Chord Eadd4. The Guitar Wheel will show you how to find this Chord variation or any other Chord variation for that matter. In this example, start by locking the Guitar Wheel to E at the 1 Root. You will see that the E Major Chord is made of the intervals 1-3 - 5, also known as the Major Triad. 1[E], 3[G#] & 5[B]. As the Chord suggests Eadd4, all we need to do is add the 4th to the E Chord. Look now for the interval 4 on the Guitar Wheel, you will see it to the left of E, 4[A]. So to play an Eadd4 all we need to do is add the A note to the E Major Chord [E, G#, B, A]. There we have it an Eadd4. This method can be applied to any Chord or Chord variation. Consult the Guitar Users Guide to the Galaxy (page 2 & 3) for a full list of Chord Intervals. 2. Working with leads, riffs and licks in Key: Let's say we are in the Key of A. Set your Guitar Wheel to A in the 1 Root Position. And say we have just played the A Major Chord. You will see that the A Major Chord is made up of the intervals 1-3 - 5 (Major Triad) and we want to now do a lead from the 5[E] the open 2nd string. Consult the Guitar Users Guide to the Galaxy booklet (page 2) and look down the left column for the number 5. Here you will see you can play the 5 in the Mixo Lydian Mode in the Major Scales or the 5 in the Major Blues Mode in the Pentatonic Scales. In this example we will use the 5 in the Major Blues Mode of the Pentatonic Scale, but you could use either. The Major Blues Mode tells us we can play (From the Root) the Intervals 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6. Now move the 5[E] on the Guitar Wheel to the 1 Root Position 1[E] then look for the intervals 1,2,4,5 & 6. Here you will see them as 1[E], 2[F#], 4[A], 5[B] 6[C#]. Play the A Chord, then do the lead from the 2nd string starting with the open E, F#, A, B, C#. This can be played in any order on any strings and even leaving out or repeating parts to create your own leads and riffs. The method above to create or play a lead from the 5th applies to all interval shown on the Guitar Wheel. If you want to do a lead from the 6th (Key of A), simply find the 6th mode in the Chords, Key and Modes Chart, lock the 6th [F#] Chord in to the 1 Root position and play intervals (Pentatonic Natural Minor) 1[F#] i3[a], 4[B], 5[C#], i7 [E]. All the Modes for every interval are available, go exploring and creating...
Summary: The Guitar Wheel contains the whole functional harmony story. Starting with the basics of learning our Chords in Key, then Key Transposition, then ALL our Chords and variations, to end with the method to explore and create your own leads, licks and riffs. The Guitar Wheel will help you learn from other composers, getting inside their head so we can clearly see how they are constructing their music, all the way through to composing your own melodies and harmonies. There is something for everybody here, Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced musicians. The Guitar Wheel condenses years of music theory study, simplifies it and provides immediate access to these advanced techniques. It is value packed and truly liberating. The Guitar Wheel is not only a fantastic companion for the new and experienced musician but also an amazingly easy to use teaching and learning aid. Light and Harmony to ALL Music is not just a Universal Language, it is the language of the Universe. There is something amazing that happens when you can speak that language! This Quick Reference Guide is constantly being tweaked and updated based on your feedback and input. If you would like to add something, clarify or download the latest version visit http://guitarwheel.com.au
Figure References Key of C Getting Started Beginner (1 to 11) Key of A Intermediate (2 and 3) Advanced (2) Key of E Advanced (1 and 2)