Free Shred Guitar Lessons | Shredaholic

Jenna Jameson Jackson Guitars

One of the most overlooked aspects of chord theory

shred guitarOCTAVES!

I cannot stress the potential use of octaves enough!!

It is a common Petrucci technique to play full 6 or 7 string chords rather than power chords (IE Honor Thy Father) and to use pedal notes and open strings when arppeggiating them (Check Hell’s Kitchen). But something he hasn’t done for some reason is to use different octaves WITHIN the chords.

Example, for an Em9 chord, the standards form is (from e to E)

0
0
0
4
2
0

But I find that I get a much more… harpish? effect when I arppeggiate it with certain notes raised an octave to the new Em9 (the b and g can be raised interchangeably or both can, I prefer to have one of them left open for tension)

0
0 (12)
12 (0)
16
14
0

Beyond that you can use the same technique using pitch-axis theory and play it in a different mode/key (I like open strings a LOT : P )

0
15 (0)
0 (15)
19
17
0

and for those of you who are like we, the wlkwos tribunal, you can also use tritones in octaves for no reason other than to create serious drama (or if your bass player also has a nonsexual man crush on les claypool)

0
14 – -This is a tritone
0 – – an octave apart
14
12
0

Another example from our music is for a strummed pattern of an Am/E chord

The original:
0
1
2
2
0
0

My way:

0
13
14
14
0
0

Now this works great as the actual chord pattern is Am/E, Esus4, E7sus4(alternately known as Asus4/E) :
0 0 0
1 0 3
2 2 2
2 2 2
0 0 0
0 0 0

My way:
0 0 0
13 0 15
14 2 14
14 2 14
0 0 0
0 0 0

Notice that here, I Didn’t play 12 fret on b, I went from 13 to open. Large jumps add tension and emphasis to your music (both shredding and rhythm) and I felt that here it made a better impact in that particular track.

That’s the basic summary of this lesson. Consider octaves in your ballads or acoustic intros, they add tremendous stress and emotion when used properly. Hope this at least makes you guys think a bit!

Time to go watch the shaft haha. Worst movie ever! Stay tuned for the next lesson which involves expanding your chromatic abilities. They aren’t just half steps people!

Keep it metal!
,,/ *-( * * )-* ,,/
-Cob

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