To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
This was a deceptive lesson because the video is pretty short, but there’s a lot to discover in the quiz and challenge – even though the Challenge intro said “pour a beverage” this was really a “pack a lunch and a toothbrush” lesson. Like others, I had the quiz time out because I couldn’t do the whole thing in one sitting and I had to redo it several times, but it was worth it. It would be nice if you can save and return in order to focus on a particular segment for while. I wised up after a couple of attempts and created a “transposition matrix” by listing out the keys similar to the chord matrix tool. That helped me move through the quiz faster, but more importantly, helped in drilling the concepts into my head.
I really feel like I’m starting to “get it” by seeing the structural relationships between positions and chord shapes and options. I’m really looking forward to the improvisation lesson to see how this comes together in real time. Really good stuff – thanks!
‘Been trying for almost two hours to get this quiz done. I can never get past playing the *%$$# song.
It starts playing and then it’s stuck. I can’t stop it. I can’t click on one of the answer “fields”. I can’t [x] out of the browser. STUCK.
I’ve tried MS Edge, MS Internet Explorer.
Does anyone have any suggestions? I’d really like to try the songs and see how I do. ?’s seem easy and I’m getting them correct.
Help?
David,
It seems that Google Chrome gets the best results, give that one a try and if you are still having issues email Noah at info@tonypolecastro.com he should be able to get things rolling for you 🙂
Cheers,
Tony
Finally able to get back to it. What great info. Thanks Tony
HI Tony,
I’m making great progress in understanding the underpinnings of theory and really enjoying the course. I finally got to go back and finish the transposing quiz after getting interrupted several times. Even though I had the matrixes for each key printed, I was able to answer most questions (albeit slowly) by figuring out the degrees in my head. Afterwards I sat down listening and playing along to an Eagles mix with the matrix nearby and figured out the key to each song and it was so cool to understand the structures of the songs and how the minor chords get mixed in. I had one question that popped up. A Don Henley song called “New York Minute” came on but I couldn’t quite figure it out. I was coming up with a C minor for the key but I noticed on the matrix that a regular C never shows up in the 6 position of a corresponding major scale (Only the C# as the 6th degree of the E scale). Should this be a clue to me that the recording is using a capo or some odd tuning??
Thanks for any light you can shine on this for me as I really appreciated the light bulb moment I got when you explained how major and minor scales interact off of each other
-Scott
Scott,
This is an awesome comment!!! I love that you are digging the course and that you are putting it to use as you listen to tunes 🙂 It could very well be that that song features a capo or some odd tuning, or it could be one of those situations that the music theory rules are thrown out the window. Often times when things just don’t seem to follow the rules… they don’t, I say this having been reminded of it every time I think I have a solid understanding of the foundations lol. The fact that you recognize that it doesn’t follow a rule is a huge step in the right direction, it means that you are approaching songs with a framework which is absolutely huge 🙂 Keep up the awesome work and may the lightbulbs continue to illuminate 🙂
Cheers,
Tony
Tony, Great stuff!
Learning tons. Wish I had more time to just listen, try, absorb. (and better callouses)
I did find that in the quiz some of the songs are difficult if not impossible to get to reload. Did not want to reload the page as I am worried about losing previous work in the quiz.
Really need a better repeat or scrubbing asset to songs.
I find virtually every quiz that I want more time with the song.
Mostly just a nit, but would make further iterations of this course all the better.
Thank You!
Thank you so much for your feedback 🙂 We are definitely looking into media player options 🙂
Cheers,
Tony
I got on this morning to listen to a replay of the Thursday call in, and somehow started learning Leonard cohen song ‘hallelujah ‘, now here it is 3 hours later. I am having so much fun and seeing and hearing things so differently since starting keyboard wizard. Falling behind on my house and yard work though, lol
Laurel,
Thank you for catching the replay, and I am glad it led to a 3 hour practice session, holy smokes!!!
Cheers,
Tony
Tony,
You know when you get hooked on a song ya can’t quit oil ya got it!
David
Hi to all website-geography-freaks
on May 11, I posted in the FBW General Discussion Forum the following question, but did not get (or find) an answer so far. So, I try it here again, a bit ill placed, sorry. Anybody helping a slow burner like me…? :
I still do not find the pdf promised by Tony with the scale patterns (maj, min, pentatonic etc.) as played as patterns on the fretboard. Can anybody give me the necessary hint? Thank you!
Now found it myself:
Link:
http://tonypolecastro.com/topic/week-1-qa-replay/
File:
https://tonypolecastro-ckbdavmhncmrvyyjwuzy6gzyrunnb3nn.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Finding-the-Key-by-Ear-Bonus.pdf
Adolf
I drew the patterns out on a fretboard so I could see the pattern.
That way anytime I change to a different root (key) note on the 6th string I just move the pattern to that location and I’m in that key.
David
Super idea, David!
Hi Adolf –
You can find the tab you’re looking for under the Week #1 (Finding the Key by Ear) Lesson. Once there, click on the Week #1 Q&A Replay link. Go there and look under the video for “Click here to download tab”. It has the Major, Minor, and Pentatonic scales Tony mentions. Good luck! Enjoy!!
Adam
Thank you, Adam!
Hi Tony, I’m really enjoying the course. It’s fantastic!! I’m putting together the theory knowledge I had into an ‘easy-to-retrieve-from-brain’ system. Using the alphabet and matrix pays off every time. I had a little frustration in doing this quiz however, due to technical difficulties. On the questions where I had to play a song, on two occasions it would stop and not allow me to replay the song. I’m using Chrome on an iPad. If I went in and out of the app, it would refresh, but still not let me replay. Consequently, I had to guess the answers to ‘move along’, as I was a good way through the quiz already. Anyway, not complaining as I got 18/20 anyway, so feel I’m progressing through the course. Just thought I’d point out my frustration for future reference. Apart from that it’s fanatastic!! Many thanks from Bangladesh (where I am currently based (I’m a Kiwi by the way)).
So glad you are enjoying the course Chris!!! We do have our tech team trying to figure out the playback issues so I will make sure to relay the platform issues to them 🙂 Keep up the awesome work!!!
Cheers,
Tony
I use a mini iPad most of the time and have no trouble replaying a song. I do have to wait for the song to reach its timed finish. The start automatically goes back to ‘0’ and I’m able listen to the song again……over and over…lol. Hope this will work for you.
Great lesson. I’ve been counting each chord up or down the number of W or H steps of the key change, this system is way easier! You can do the same for minor keys too I’m presuming?
Naomi,
You sure can 🙂
Cheers,
Tony
Tony, my brain Hurts, my fingers are Calloused my Arthritis is on Fire and even my ears are Tired…but, I’m pretty sure I just learned something! I’ve been wanting to know this stuff since I was 11 years old, and I’m finally on the cusp of understanding! When I go to gigs, which I’ve never ever done, if I can bring my tablet and pencil and tell the audience to wait 20 minutes for me to figure it out, I just might be able to play with another player! There’s hope for me yet!
My most sincere Thank You!
Fronz,
I say go for it… bring the pencil, ipad, and a notebook to a gig 🙂 I am glad you are getting some great stuff out of this course!!! Keep up the awesome work!!!
Cheers,
Tony
Knock out lesson 3 Tony, great course from the start. Thank you
Tony,
What is the name of the song that you use as an example? I love the bluegrass feel of the song.
Mike
Mike,
Thank you for asking 🙂 The song I use in the demo video throughout the lesson series is one that two wonderful musical friends of mine wrote (Shelly Besler and Tom Catmull) I had the privilege of playing piano and banjo on the track 🙂 I am glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Cheers,
Tony
This module really begins to show the powe and usefulness of a Fretboard Wizard. BAM!
I agree Peter, I play a lot and my fingers are sore now. This was very challenging. I would play the progression without the music to “tune” my ear to the sound of the chords and notes and then play the song. That helped a lot especially the song that had F#m. Good luck everyone.
This was a fantastic lesson, but boy is are my fretting fingers sore! It took my time too and found it not only challenging but also a great way to tune in the ears. Thanks so much Tony – and what a selection of music too!
I loved this. I really appreciate things that are achievable, but seem like they are on the cusp of my capability.
I took my time and really played with each one (amongst a myriad of distractions).
Thanks! I was really worried about this, but absolutely love it!
Greg,
Great work!!! I am glad you are digging the course and it is challenging you in a good way 🙂 Keep up the awesome work!!!
Cheers,
Tony
I found it easier to listen to the song a couple times and then pause it and just play the chord progressions myself to see which it was. On “Stand By Me”, I could have sworn I had it right- but after I missed it, I played the chords without the track and it just kind of clicked and made sense. This is great practice!!
Tessa,
Thank you for sharing your process!!! This is a great approach and certainly can confirm any guess you may have 🙂
Cheers,
Tony
Aloha Tessa,
I was on the same path on “Stand By Me”. I was playing chords that sounded right when played by themselves. Then I played them with the song and found out how wrong they were. For some reason the correct series just seemed natural after that. LOL
Sooooooooooo,…this was interestingly hard. I can’t seem to pick out the chord changes. Even when I know what the changes are I have a hard time picking them of the from the different instruments and the vocals. On some of the recordings the guitar sounds out of tune and non of the chords harmonize. Is anyone having a similar issue?
On a technical note: The music clips don’t play well on the iPad, sometimes not at all, and other times they start in the middle on the second time around.
Great lesson, now i’m off to try on some songs
Anybody else have trouble getting the songs to play in Lesson 2 quiz?
Well…I thought that I would do much better on this than the results I ended up with. The first round I scored a 10/15, only to up that to 12/15 in the replay. Not that I am using this as an excuse, but the recordings were hard to pick up the chords and the fact that you couldn’t replay the song just made it that much more difficult.
I always thought that I had a pretty good ear for tone and tune, but I guess I was wrong? Nonetheless, this was still a good learning experience.
That was a great lesson thanks Tony. I was so pleased with myself when I worked out wagon wheel, I’m off to try it out on some of the songs on my phone now !
Great lesson!! Seeing this stuff in action is great. My brain hurts, but my mouth is smiling!
I’m clicking on the lesson” transposing the easy way” and I’m directed to course discussion instead of the lesson?
Ron,
That lesson is due up on May 15th 🙂
Cheers,
Tony
its never as easy as I think its going to be. On the bright side, the music is growing on me.
That was a lot of fun! I do have to say my wife said, “what the heck are you listening to?” I guess she is not a fan of Irene Goodnight. Go figure!
Since I’m a relative beginner guitarist and don’t know all my minor, sharp, and flat cords, I found that I could easily do this exercise by focusing on the base note of each chord to figure out the progression
Tony,
It’s Monday 5-8-17
I recieved the module e-mail that it was available now but all I get is a
404 error……..
I’m bumming………..
what’s up with this?
Jim F.
Jim,
Seems to have been a temporary glitch, all looks good 🙂 If the problem persist please just shoot Noah an email at info@tonypolecastro.com
Cheers,
Tony
Sooo nice staff!!
So far so good.