Introduction
This lesson, we are going to get an aural, visual, and physical handle on octaves. If you don't already know, an octave is an interval(distance between 2 pitches) that is the same 2 notes that are 12 semi-tones from each other. Developing an awareness of pitches in their various registers on the guitar is vital to melodic and harmonic playing in varying registers. Licks, melodies, and chords can be transposed to different registers through a strong awareness of octaves!
The easiest way to play and hear an octave on the guitar is in Ex. 1. Pick any any given string and play the "open" string and then on the same string, use your 1st finger to push down the string at the 12th fret. If you start by plucking the open "A" string, and then push down on that string at the 12 fret and pluck the string, the note produced will also be an the note "A" only in a higher register. Play the material in the example below, listen, and commit to memory.
Alternate fingerings for octaves are found in Ex. 2 where both notes are fretted. Use your first finger to play the "low" note and your 3rd finger(ring) or pinky to play the "high' note on the fist two sets. On the last two sets, use your 1st finger on the "low" note and your 4th finger(pinky) on the "high" note. These shapes can be played up and down the neck so long as you maintain consistency of the string/fret spacing.
(Tip for Ex. 2: First to sets of fingerings can be memorized as skip a string/skip a fret(from first finger) and the last two sets as skip a string/skip 2 frets(from first finger)The octave fingerings in Ex. 3 are a little backwards feeling. On the first two sets, your first finger will play the high note and ring finger on the low note. The last one, use your pinky for the low note. These shapes can also be played up and down the neck as long as you maintain consistency with the fingering.
Having a good handle of these will be key to getting the upcoming lessons so the better that you know them, the more efficient you will be in integrating new material into your practice.
