5ths first string theory
5ths First String Theory — Book & Lessons with J. Carmichael
Most people who’ve struggled with guitar haven’t failed at music. They’ve just been handed the hardest version of the problem first.
Standard tuning on the guitar is not the most friendly on ramp to learning music. In recognition of this there has also been a trend the past several years of teaching young students on ukulele which is great at first glance. The problem is that the chords don’t transfer well to other instruments. Once the student moves to another instrument they have to essentially start over. Contrast this with fifths tuning, and the student is learning the same system used on mandolin, mandola, octave mandolin, tenor guitar, tenor banjo, mandocello and more. On top of all of that it can give the student a solid early foundation if they would like to move into classical string instruments, or the guitar in New Standard Tuning. Beyond that, if the student wants to learn standard tuning on the guitar down the line they will be able to recognize some of the shapes they learn in fifths as similar inverted shapes on the guitar.
I have been playing mandolin for over 20 years and guitar for about 30. I have toured, recorded and produced, worked in studios from Seattle to Austin to Nashville and more. A few years ago i set out to make an album without an 6 string guitar. Most people hear mandolin, or think of fifths tuned instruments and get a picture of bluegrass players, or fiddle festivals. What i made was more of a Rock/Americana record. 5ths is not just for bluegrass and classical. Ask Warren Ellis, Modest Mouse, Robert Fripp and more. A few years before that I began teaching my kids music on ukuleles in 5ths tuning. I became convinced that this can give students a stronger overall musical foundation to grow from. As a result I wrote and just released the first edition of my new book 5ths First String Theory. It will be available on Amazon soon in paperback. BUT, if you order from me directly you can get the spiral bound edition that will lay flat on a music stand.
The book is partly instructional, partly philosophical and historical. It may go through a few iterations as I continue to share this information with students and educators. That said the spiral bound Workshop Edition 1 is available now!
You can learn this on a $100 ukulele, a $300 tenor guitar, or a six-string in set up in Robert Fripp’s New Standard Tuning.
Once you know the language, it transfers across all of them a wide variety of instruments. Giving beginners the opportunity to become multi-instrumentalists faster than they might expect, and experienced players find a new way into music theory and have a new tool in their kit.
This isn’t just for beginners.
It’s for the guitarist who feels stuck. The worship leader who needs simpler tools for their team. The songwriter who wants to write melodies faster. The studio musician who wants another voice in the room. The classical string player who wants to pick up a fretted instrument without starting over.
If you are interested in lessons in person in the Boise, ID / Boise County area I am also taking students on for the next few months, and can work with you on zoom wherever you are. We’ll start simple, but we’ll get you sounding musical fast.
Order the book today and/or get in touch to book a lesson!
Available NOW!!!
J. Carmichael is a mandolin player, songwriter, homeschool dad and writer. He wrote this book to introduce his kids to music in order for them to be able to “get the song in their hearts out” as they grow and walk through life. The premise is that music is simpler than modern society makes it out to be and that learning plucked string instruments in fifths tuning is an underutilized and powerful educational tool.
This Workshop Edition 1 copy comes spiral bound so that it will lay flat on a music stand. When the book hits Amazon it will be in paperback. The only way to get the spiral bound copies is to order them directly from J.
Join J. Carmichael for a 45 minute in studio introductory 5ths First lesson. If you don’t have an instrument to learn on J has a variety of instruments you can try from tenor banjo and guitar, to ukulele, to guitar in New Standard Tuning, to a variety of mandolins. Giving the student options for finding their voice.
Join J. Carmichael for a 45 minute in studio introductory 5ths First lesson. If you don’t have an instrument to learn on J has a variety of instruments you can try from tenor banjo and guitar, to ukulele, to guitar in New Standard Tuning, to a variety of mandolins. Giving the student options for finding their voice.
4 5ths first lessons with J. Carmichael (these can be in one month or every other week and spread out over 2) - fill out the form, and we can coordinate with one another for scheduling. If you would like J to travel regionally (Treasure Valley, Valley County for in person lessons reach out for billing.
4 5ths first lessons with J. Carmichael (these can be in one month or every other week and spread out over 2) - fill out the form, and we can coordinate with one another for scheduling. If you would like J to travel regionally (Treasure Valley, Valley County for in person lessons reach out for billing.
If you are in the Treasure Valley or Valley County and would like J to come to your for an in person intro lesson, J can bring a variety of instruments for you to try, ukulele, mandolins, guitar in New Standard Tuning, Tenor Guitar, Mandocello and more so you ca hear and feel the difference before committing to anything. 60 minute lesson block.
If you are in Idaho or southeast Oregon and would like to set up a group lesson at your church or school, J. Carmichael can provide a number of instruments for a small group to get a feel for what playing this way is like. We will spend the workshop learning about the different instruments and give the attendees a chance to get their hands on them and learn a song. You will be amazed at how quickly even young students can go from knowing almost nothing about playing an instrument to being able to learn a song with one another. ***After making a deposit I will contact you to confirm dates times, and workshop size.
A $90 non refundable deposit confirms your spot and gets you in the system (we’ll schedule the specific date after a deposit has been made). Typical workshop rate is $250 for up to 10 students, with additional students and travel billed separately. Workshop is 60-75 minutes plus 20-30 minutes of J performing and demonstrating on his instruments before/after diving into the educational material.
If you would like J to travel further (Salt Lake, Portland, Northern Idaho, Washington, Montana or Wyoming) please reach out for full pricing and availability. J will be traveling with multiple instrument; mandolins, guitars, tenor guitars, amps etc. J can also provide a PA and will run his own sound unless your church/school has a solid PA system you would prefer to use and provide a qualified sound engineer to run.
If you are in Idaho or southeast Oregon and would like to set up a group lesson at your church or school, J. Carmichael can provide a number of instruments for a small group to get a feel for what playing this way is like. We will spend the workshop learning about the different instruments and give the attendees a chance to get their hands on them and learn a song. You will be amazed at how quickly even young students can go from knowing almost nothing about playing an instrument to being able to learn a song with one another. ***After making a deposit I will contact you to confirm dates times, and workshop size.
A $90 non refundable deposit confirms your spot and gets you in the system (we’ll schedule the specific date after a deposit has been made). Typical workshop rate is $250 for up to 10 students, with additional students and travel billed separately. Workshop is 60-75 minutes plus 20-30 minutes of J performing and demonstrating on his instruments before/after diving into the educational material.
If you would like J to travel further (Salt Lake, Portland, Northern Idaho, Washington, Montana or Wyoming) please reach out for full pricing and availability. J will be traveling with multiple instrument; mandolins, guitars, tenor guitars, amps etc. J can also provide a PA and will run his own sound unless your church/school has a solid PA system you would prefer to use and provide a qualified sound engineer to run.