Music Notation Question

by Jeff Stanley
(San Antonio, Texas)

Hi Mr. Maurice,
I just printed up your Chromatic Exercise and your study of Major and Minor Scales, to use as exercises. And I have a beginner's question about the notation on the Chromatic Exercise, specifically the diagonal lines.

In the 8th measure there's an upward-sloping diagonal line between the G# and the A; in the 10th and 11th there's downward one between the Db and the C; and in the 11th and 12th there's a downward one between the A and the Ab. My question is, how are these supposed to be played?

Thank you for all you do.

Sincerely,
Jeff


Hi Jeff,

Those lines simply mean to move to another position on the guitar. For example, "between the G# and the A" in the video you'll notice I move from the 4th fret to the 5th fret but change my left hand fingers from the 4th finger to the first finger. I am now in position to play the other notes. It's the same for the other "diagonal lines" whether going up or down the frets, it's where you move in position.

It's amazing what you (meaning me) can take for granted. It didn't occur to me to put in an explanation for those lines and I now see I must, so thanks for pointing it out Jeff.

Kind regards,
Trevor M.