etude fingering

[Randy]

When it comes to playing and learning the etudes is there a rule for appropriate fingering? Is more than one possible fingering acceptable or desirable?

[Richie]

Absolutely! When you understand and master the Heptatonic Fingering models, you come to the realization that there are 7 positions which you can employ to finger or execute almost any piece of music (although some of them might not fit the desired octave range). This can be done staying entirely in the position designated by the chosen fingering model, or you can shift freely between the 7 models as you see fit. The latter is the goal and the possibilities are endless!

When freely shifting between the 7 models, rarely are 2 players going to finger any extended musical passage the same way. There are many ways of getting from point A on the fretboard to point B. It brings to mind the old adage, “All roads lead to Rome”. Of course, for this to hold true, you first have to map out the entire fretboard. That is the reason why we must have a solid understanding of how the 7 fingering models relate to each other both vertically and horizontally.

In the Bebop Guitar Improv Series, I purposely devote a good portion of Volume 1 staying entirely in the Pattern 1 fingering model, in order to illustrate how to play vertically through the changes. Once the concept is understood, the goal is to move horizontally; in other words shifting through the 7 fingering models. Pattern shifting will be the technical focus of Volume 2, which is first introduced in Module 8 of Volume 1. This is how almost any good jazz guitarist improvises, wether or not he is aware of it. I find that when it is organized systematically and labeled as in the Heptatonic System, it both provides a method for teaching and saves time in the learning process.

Hope this answers the question…

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