Near the end of the beginner series it mentions triads but then says to refer to the triads video (I now see there are quite a few triad videos). My question is should I try to find the triads video that explains this or just move forward until I get to the video that makes this make sense?
EDIT: I think I understand now. Correct me if I'm wrong
1st inversion: R 3 5
2nd inversion: 3 5 R
3rd inversion: 5 R 3
Right. There are three exercises. Orient yourself by thinking of the tuning keys as North and the bridge as South. Start in the key of C. (Triads below assume you're in the key of C.)
Exercise 1) Starting on the highest 3 strings, find the first interval (513) at the northernmost fret, then proceed south finding 135, then 351. Find the same pattern on the other sets of strings, always moving from North to South.
Exercise 2) Starting on the highest 3 strings, find the first interval (513) at the northernmost fret. Don't move south. Instead, find the connecting interval (351) on the next three strings. Proceed to the lower strings without moving south.
Exercise 3) Forget north/south.Find all the 135s on the fretboard. Then find all the 351s. Then find all the 513s.
While doing these exercises, you need to memorize three things. Repetition is the key:
1) shape.
2) interval number
3) fretboard note
Bonus: by singing the notes aloud, you can (somewhat) train your ear. That's a lot to ask though.
When this gets too easy in C, try the whole thing by flattening the 3rd note. Now you're practicing minors.
When the minors get too easy, try the whole thing by flattening the 3rd note AND the 5th note. Now you're practicing diminished.
When that gets too easy, try do diatonic progression in C major (C, dmin, emin, F, G, amin, bdim).
When that gets too easy, pick another key and start all over.
It seems to me that this routine should keep you busy for at least 6-8 months, but only if you do nothing else with your practice time.
I think its a good suggestion. Then maybe go through cycle forward and back
Another suggestion: 1) Run through the identical inversions by proceeding from the thinnest to the thickest strings (all root, all first inversions, all second, etc), then 2) Run through the inversions by proceeding up the neck, from the nut to the bridge (all root, all first inversions, all second, etc)
When you get bored of this, try visualizing it without touching the fretboard. Hard!