Day 3 check in: it’s been a great challenge so far! Using the key of D for this challenge has been really fun. I have been practicing triads for awhile now, next month will be a year with Guitar Wisdom. I have been trying to apply what I have learned to the challenge to get the most out of it for where I am currently at on my guitar journey.
I start slowly picking out and singing Do, Mi, and So on the B string. Then I practice moving between the D major triads on the top 3 strings, 1st inversion, root position, and 2nd inversion, then back to the 1st inversion an octave higher. I did this for about 7 minutes before I let my mind wander. The key of D is so great to work in from a mechanical perspective with how the guitar is tuned; when working on the top 3 strings you can always add the open D string to keep the root in the bass, it has a very cool sound over any chord in the key. The open A string being the V also gives a great sound when it rings out. I got into a groove playing up and down using the different inversions and letting the open D ring out.
I started to think about the chords in the key of D. The Mi is an F#-, the So is A. I practiced moving through those triads and resolving back to the different inversions of D on the top 3 strings. I thought about a 12 bar blues in D, so I played through the I, IV (G), V for a bit. Then I really started grooving through the key using a triplet rhythm. There are lots of familiar tones in the key, Across the Universe uses triads on the top 3 strings in the intro (it’s technically in Db, but not when you’re in standard tuning), Linger by the Cranberries is also in D, but uses some extra tones. I’ve been working on those recently, so they stuck out to me. This type of practice, focusing in on the key, listening, and applying the tones has been really helpful for my improvisation and filling out songs in an interesting way. Everything sounds so much better when you don’t have to hesitate finding the chord for the sound you’re looking for, and have options all over the neck. I feel that focusing on one key at a time is really beneficial, and I haven’t focused too much on D, so It will be fun to keep working on it through the challenge.
Thanks to anyone reading, it’s great to see everyone working on this challenge together!