Rule of the octave

The "Rule of The Octave" is a series of mostly 3-note chords that comes from Partimento (a very deep study of bass-lines and the recipes of intervals above). It can be used as an improvisation tool, a composition tool, an educational tool, and probably in many other ways. For example, I've been applying it as a therapeutic music tool in an ICU department and Hospice unit at a local hospital.

For more of an overview, see the videos below entitled "Gravity" and "The Coolest Thing!"

How the "Rule of the Octave" (RO) is built from a single-note scale (to create a kind of "chord scale"), and then some examples of movement up and down RO.

In adapting RO for the guitar, breaking up the chord scale into smaller units feels more practical; an adapation from learning RO on the piano.

Moving from C→B→C, or 1→7→1, is like a seesaw motion to get used to these first two scale degrees, and how they complement each other.

Seesaw-ing from C→B, B→C, or 1→7, 7→1. 

This stuff makes more sense when you physically do it (the cerebral analysis thing is not all that helpful at this point.)

Moving from C→D→C, or 1→2→1, is similar to the previous seesaw motion 1→7→1.

Moving from C→D, D→C, or 1→2, 2→1 (similar to 1→7, 7→1.)

Feeling the pull from 2→1 and 7→1, a sense of gravity towards the center of the key.

I found a simple way to organize 3 shapes around the 1 chords for more options. Each group of shapes needs 4 strings, so we have 3 sets of these.

3 shapes around the 1 chords, to a metronome.

3 shapes around the 2 chords for more options. 

3 shapes around the 2 chords, to a metronome.

3 shapes around the 7 chords for more options. 

3 shapes around the 7 chords, to a metronome.

3 shapes around the 1min chords.

3 shapes around the 1min chords, to a metronome.

Using 2 and 7 to tonicize anything you want :)