The VII Zone

Because the Zone patterns in Fretography are named for their Diatonic position, you always know where you are within any key. In the key of C major, the 7th scale degree is B. By a happy coincidence, B is found on the 7th fret of the 1st and 6th strings, so the VII Zone in the key of C is based on the 7th fret.

If you position your 1st finger at the 7th fret the next three fingers align with the next three frets and stay that way when you play this pattern. Playing the pattern from low to high gives you the following fingering;

string > finger

1st > 1 - 2 - 4

2nd > * - 2 - 4

3rd > 1 - 3 - 4

4th > 1 - 3 - 4

5th > 1 - 2 - 4

6th > 1 - 2 - 4

*There are only two notes on the 2nd string in this pattern.

The bold numbers indicate the positions of the tonic.

By grouping the strings in pairs; low, middle and high, we can see the symmetry of the pattern more clearly;

1st > 1 - 2 - 4

2nd > * - 2 - 4

---------------

3rd > 1 - 3 - 4

4th > 1 - 3 - 4

---------------

5th > 1 - 2 - 4

6th > 1 - 2 - 4

Learn the pattern string by string from bottom to top, starting with B on the 6th string - ending with D on the 1st string. Notice that the two bottom strings (5 and 6) have the same fingering. Likewise, the fingerings on the two middle strings (4 and 3) are identical. Of the two top strings, the 2nd string has only two notes which are played with the 2nd and 4th fingers, and the 1st string fingering is 1 - 2 - 4.

Study the diagram, giving special attention to the positions of the half-steps, B - C / E - F. Notice that they form clusters on the two bottom strings at the 7th and 8th frets, and on the two middle strings on the 9th and 10th frets. There is also a half-step on the 1st string at the 7th and 8th frets which duplicates the pattern on the 6th string.

The VII Zone is the simplest and fastest way to play diatonic scales across all six strings since it has such clear symmetry and does not involve a shift of hand position. Playing the complete pattern will take you from the 7th scale degree of the key of C, to the 2nd scale degree, two octaves higher. The total range of the VII Zone is two octaves plus a minor 3rd.

A two octave C major scale is played by beginning with C on the 6th string and ending on C 1st string. For single octave C major scales, play from C 6th string to C 4th string, or C 4th string to C 1st string. Whenever you play any part of this Zone pattern, be sure to use the same fingering, keeping your fingers aligned with the frets as described above. By doing so, you'll be able to find the note you need, when you need it.


All contents of this blog are © Mark Newstetter