Adam Schlenker class outline

1. Adam Schlenker-5th Fret Productions
Nashville Camp March 2016
Friday Morning:
Seeing The Fretboard: Using landmark shapes and locations to visualize tunes and
solos.
1. Learning the shapes and locations for the triads in the"prime real
estate" locations.
2. Identifying the degrees of the chords-making since of the phrase/lick.
Friday Afternoon:
“Different Ways To Do The Same Thing”: starting with fiddle tunes you already play,
apply the process to come up with variations.
Saturday Morning:
Recap the Landmark Method-Applying this approach to develop solos on vocal songs
Saturday Afternoon: Developing Solos For Vocal Songs
Some common Tunes to reference: Bill Cheatham, Black Berry Blossom, Black Mt Rag,
Billy In the Lowground, Arkansas Traveler,
Unlocking the Fretboard Using Things You Can Already Play (Have Memorized):
“Different Ways To Do The Same Thing”
The Steps:
1. Choose a Phrase from a tune you play
2. Identify what chord the phrase matches up with.
3. What note does it start on? {a note in the chord? 1st, 3rd, 5th} (don’t let pick up notes trick you)
4. Locate that note on the other 5 strings.
5. Identify the chord shape that matches that location.
6. Identify the Fragment that goes with the chord shape, play around and get a feel for
where the notes are.
7. Work out the phrase in the new location (chord shape, fragment, grip). Try it in each
location then select the ones that seem like the best candidates to figure out more of
the tune.
Tip: Break down the melody to a “skeleton”…only play the notes that are part of the triad
aka. Target Tones. {simplest version of the tune you can imagine}
What You Need:
1. Major Chord & Minor Chord Triad Locations/Shapes {3 string shape: GBE strings &
6 string Shapes}
2. Scale Fragments to match up with the Triads
3. Know the location of each note in the chord shapes {1st, 3rd, 5th}
4. Learn the Locations for the common keys/positions {G, C, D}

2. Adam Schlenker-5th Fret Productions
Nashville Camp March 2016
Exercises & Workouts:
1. Practice playing the triads up and down the fretboard (3 string inversions for each
chord to start with).
2. Chord/Scale Exercises: Choose a chord, play a boom-chick rhythm, switch back and
forth (in time) between rhythm and scale/single note runs. Do this with each
“fragment” for that chord.
3. Repeat this process with actual phrases from tunes/melodies. Start off where you
already know it then convert to each fragment.
4. This can be done with single note melodic lines as well as cross picked parts.
Apply this approach to soloing on vocal songs.
1. Identify “target tones”, find the root of each chord first. Once we get this working
we will repeat the process with the 3rd, 5th & 7.
2. Practice following the chord progression of the song.
3. Focus on playing only or mostly chord notes (arpeggio focus)
4. Only use the non-chord notes as “bridges” between chord notes.
5. Develop Phrasing: common cadences from fiddle tunes and vocal songs.
6. Do Not Under Value playing the melody!