Build the Chord
Spell a chord by ear: play each of its tones and watch them light up one by one.
Why This Exercise Matters
Knowing the notes inside a chord — not just its shape — unlocks arpeggios, target notes for soloing, and chord substitutions. Spelling chords by ear cements the link between theory and the fretboard.
How to Practice
- 1A chord name appears (e.g. 'Am') — play its tones one at a time, not as a strum.
- 2Enable Pitch Detect so each tone (Root / 3rd / 5th) lights up as you find it.
- 3Collect all of the chord's tones; a fresh chord appears every 25 seconds.
Tips & Techniques
- •Start from the root, then find the 3rd and 5th — you can play them anywhere on the neck.
- •Minor chords have a flat 3rd; major chords a natural 3rd. Listen to the colour.
- •Let each note ring clearly so the detector locks onto a single pitch.
- •Octave doesn't matter — any register of the tone counts.
Skills You'll Develop
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Arrange chord voicings to minimize finger movement between transitions.
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Visualize and map all natural notes across the entire fretboard.
Chromatic Note Hunt
Find every occurrence of a note across the neck — now with sharps and flats, on a faster clock.