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Cover of Positional Reading Method for Guitar

By Mike James

Positional Reading Method for Guitar

A concise reading method: twelve melodic etudes that cover all keys and fretboard positions.

5 lessons12 etudes3 parts

Start at the beginning Get the printed book

Before you begin Getting started

What the method is, the reading positions you'll work through, sweep picking, and the two fixed-position scales.

  1. About This Book Who it's for, and why reading on the guitar needs a method. p. i
  2. Reading Positions for Etudes Every etude in every position it can be played. p. 1
  3. Sweep Picking and the First Scales Three picking rules, and how to practice a scale. p. 2
  4. C and G Major Scales The fixed-position scales and the natural notes in 1st position. p. 3

Part 1 Positional Major Scales

How positions work, and six scale patterns that cover the whole neck in any key.

  1. Positional Major Scales and the Fretboard Positions, roots, and chaining patterns up the neck. p. 4
  2. Positional Major Scale Patterns The six patterns, the root note locations and the circle of scales. p. 5

Part 2 Reading Positions

Three passes through the etudes, each one higher up the neck.

  1. First Reading Positions All 12 etudes in 1st, 2nd and 3rd position. p. 6
  2. Second Reading Positions The etudes again in 4th to 7th position. p. 7
  3. Third Reading Positions The etudes a third time in 7th to 9th position, an octave up. p. 8

Part 3 The Etudes

Twelve melodic etudes, one in each key, with the scale patterns for every position they can be played in.

  1. Etude in A♭ Positions 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th (8va). p. 9–10
  2. Etude in A Positions 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th (8va) and 9th (8va). p. 11–12
  3. Etude in B♭ Positions 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 7th (8va). p. 13–14
  4. Etude in B Positions 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th (8va) and 8th (8va). p. 15–16
  5. Etude in C Positions 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th (8va) and 9th (8va). p. 17–18
  6. Etude in D♭ Positions 1st, 3rd, 5th, 5th (8va) and 8th (8va). p. 19–20
  7. Etude in D Positions 2nd, 4th, 6th (8va), 7th (8va) and 9th (8va). p. 21–22
  8. Etude in E♭ Positions 3rd, 5th, 7th (8va) and 8th (8va). p. 23–24
  9. Etude in E Positions 1st, 4th, 6th and 8th (8va). p. 25–26
  10. Etude in F Positions 2nd, 5th, 7th and 9th (8va). p. 27–28
  11. Etude in G♭ Positions 1st, 3rd, 6th and 8th (8va). p. 29–30
  12. Etude in G Positions 1st, 2nd, 4th and 9th (8va). p. 31–32