Theory
Week 10 begins. For the past nine weeks, the blues color we've leaned on has been the minor 3rd (b3=C). That slightly hazy, sad-yet-beautiful note. But starting today, we meet a bright neighbor that was hiding right next to it. It's the major 3rd (3=C#). Same 3rd, yet a half step apart the color changes completely — one is hazy, one is clear. If the past nine weeks were the world of the minor, these next two weeks are the time to lay one more bright layer over it.
Where is this major 3rd C#? In box 1, b3 (C) sits at string 3, fret 5. Just one fret up from there — string 3, fret 6 — and you're pressing C#, the major 3rd. b3 and 3 sit side by side, exactly a half step, one fret apart. Sliding one finger over one fret takes you from the hazy color to the clear one. Once you know the position, your hand remembers the rest on its own. Fret 5 and fret 6 — just these two frets are all you need to take in today.
Why learn this? Masters like B.B. King mix these two colors freely. They cry plaintively on the minor b3, then slip up to the 3 and smile brightly. That blend is the mature 'BB' color we'll build this week. Today we don't mix yet. We do just two things — learn by eye where b3 and 3 are, and press the two notes side by side. This one small discovery is the seed of the whole week. There's no need to rush at all. This one step today leads straight into the mature sound at the end of this week.
▶ b3 (C) is string 3, fret 5; right next to it, the green fret 6 is the major 3rd C#. One fret apart, side by side.
See it
Now let's lay today's new note over the whole box 1 picture. Inside the familiar A blues box, two green-glowing major 3rds C# have joined — string 3 fret 6 and string 1 fret 9.
▶ Blue notes are the root, colorless notes are scale notes, and the two greens are today's new major 3rd. Just take in where they sit.
One fret up from b3, that spot is the major 3rd — today, just knowing this position for sure is enough.
Today's practice
0–10 min · Warm-up BPM 60. From b3 (string 3, fret 5) to 3 (string 3, fret 6), move just one finger sideways and alternate between the two notes.
▶ BPM 60. b3 for a half beat, the major 3rd for a half beat — feel with your fingertips that the two notes are one fret apart.
10–20 min · Brain training (today's target = learning where b3 and 3 sit) Before real practice, close your eyes and picture where b3 and the major 3rd sit next to each other in box 1. Once the image of the two notes side by side, one fret apart, is carved into your hand, the rest follows on its own.
20–40 min · Real practice: pressing b3 and 3 side by side (BPM 60) This is today's finish. Start from the root A, press b3 and the major 3rd side by side in turn, then return to the root. Don't mix fast yet — the goal is pressing the two notes' spots accurately.
▶ BPM 60. Root A → b3 (string 3, fret 5) → major 3rd C# (string 3, fret 6) → root A. Press the one-fret difference clearly, one at a time.
Next to the hazy b3 sits the clear 3 — learn this one fret into your hand today, and the door to Week 10 opens.
40–50 min · Recording Slowly record yourself pressing b3 and the major 3rd side by side. Capture in a single file whether you pressed the two notes' spots accurately.
Today's completion criteria: Inside box 1, you found the positions of b3 (string 3, fret 5) and the major 3rd C# (string 3, fret 6), pressed the two notes side by side clearly, and recorded it.
Common mistakes when learning the position. Most come from missing the one-fret difference.
▶ b3 and 3 are exactly one fret (a half step) apart. Fret 6 next to fret 5 — that's the major 3rd.
- Mistaking the major 3rd for a whole step up. It's only one fret (a half step) up from b3. Go two frets (a whole step) and it becomes the 4th.
- Pressing b3 and 3 with the same finger. Split them — finger 1 for b3, finger 2 for 3 — and the next move gets easy.
- Trying to mix fast already. Today, just learn the position. Mixing can wait until tomorrow, slowly.
- Pressing only the major 3rd. b3 is still the heart of the blues. Today is the day to learn both spots side by side.