Chapter 3: Advanced
Warm-Ups for Advanced

Objective: To learn a method of transitioning up and down the fingerboard in different keys using arpeggios

We'll approach this lesson assuming that you've already completed the Warm-Ups for Intermediates section successfully. Often our ego gets in the way and we want to get some gratification by doing something quickly. But I can tell you now that unless you have completed the previous section you will not be able to complete this lesson successfully. So please make sure that you are comfortable playing the Warm-Ups for Intermediates before playing this section.

What we will be doing is using the technique from the Intermediate Warm-Ups which had us playing from the lowest possible note to the highest note in each key. For every note that you play in each scale there is an arpeggio (major, minor or diminished triad) that accompanies that note. Look at Warm-Up for Advanced #1 and you'll see that for every arpeggio that you play in the key of "C" creates a certain shape (in the left hand fingering) across the fingerboard. Each of these shapes should be memorized because what we will see is that these shapes remain the same no matter which keys we are playing. After a while you should be able to focus more on the sound and musicality of what you are playing rather than the specific individual notes because now you are hearing implied chord progressions. I've found this helpful whenever I'm sitting in with a group that has charts that I've never played before. I can follow the chord progressions by using the shapes rather than trying to remember every note in the chord.

Now that we've learned the shapes from the arpeggios in the key of "C" lets start using them up and down the neck in different keys. You'll see in Warm-Up for Advanced #2 that we are ascending and descending on the fingerboard in the same key but transitioning to the next key without stopping. As you are playing each triad it might help to actually call out it's name just before you play it. This is important because it gives us the ability to start recognizing chord progressions over the entire fingerboard. A good warm-up will take you through the cycle of fourths without stopping. After taking a short break you should complete the cycle of fifths.

Next we are going to play the arpeggios by alternating ascending/descending on each arpeggio. As in Warm-Up for Advanced #3 you should start ascending on the first arpeggio and descending on the next and continuing on until you've reached the last possible arpeggio. Then without stopping continue back down the fingerboard in the same key until you've reached the lowest possible arpeggio again and start ascending up the fingerboard in the next key. Don't forget to call out the names of the triads as you travel through the progressions in each key. Once you're comfortable with these going through the Cycle of Fourths and Cycle of Fifths you should try adding the 7th degree to each arpeggio as in Warm-Up for Advanced #4. Make sure you pay close attention to the dynamic markings !!

Finally, as you can see in Warm-Up for Advanced #5 we'll use the same process of ascending/descending except this time we are going to go up the fingerboard in one key and travel down the fingerboard in the next key. We'll be playing the arpeggios using the 7th's. You should have already learned the shapes by now and if you played through the last lesson you should have already learned to hear the sound of the new keys before you actually play them.

I find these useful to help me quickly focus on the instrument when I need to warm-up in a situation where there is very little time. Often when I'm doing a clinic or a concert there will be many distractions before you go and play. So I always try to give myself an hour before that is my private time to go and relax and gather my thoughts alone before I have to perform. After going through just one cycle it's refreshing to see how to all comes back together and creates a feeling of unity between you and your instrument.....................Good Luck and Have Fun!!

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