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Where Time is not Sound Space.
Star Wars has Hyper Space. Star Trek has Warp Drive. Now you have Quantum Guitar! This is your way of playing faster – because on the guitar – Time is not Sound Space! Let’s explore this.
In music, an interval is the difference in pitch between two sounds. And this difference can be heard and measured as a distance of Sound Space.
On the fretboard, an interval of Sound Space may be played either horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Let’s begin by showing a two octave E major scale on string 6 as the horizontal letters E F# G# A B C# D#:
Now, let’s give the letters of the E major scale, tone numbers (scale degrees) and then give them the following names: E tone 1 = tonic, F# tone 2 = supertonic, G# 3 = mediant, A 4 = subdominant, B 5 = dominant, C# 6 = submediant and D# 7 = leading tone. Remember, although the letters of the second octave remain the same, the tones are different. Tone 1 becomes tone 8, 2 becomes 9, 3 = 10, 4 = 11, 5 = 12, 6 = 13, 7 = 14 and 8 = 15. The following fretboard illustrates a two octave E major scale as the horizontal tones 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15: 
The following Sound Space chart gives each Interval of the E major scale a name and symbol:
Letters: Tones: Name: Symbol:
E to E 1 to 1 or 8 to 8 Unison Unison
E to F# 1 to 2 or 8 to 9 Major Second M2
E to G# 1 to 3 or 8 to 10 Major Third M3
E to A 1 to 4 or 8 to 11 Perfect Fourth P4
E to B 1 to 5 or 8 to 12 Perfect Fifth P5
E to C# 1 to 6 or 8 to 13 Major Sixth M6
E to D# 1 to 7 or 8 to 14 Major Seventh M7
E to E 1 to 8 or 8 to 15 Octave Octave
Did you notice that unison is the distance of no distance? What would Yoda say about that?
One fret is the Sound Space of one half-step, and the following chart illustrates the intervals of the major scale as a distance of half steps and horizontal frets:
Unison = 0 Half Steps = 0 Frets
Major Second = 2 Half Steps = 2 Frets
Major Third = 4 Half Steps = 4 Frets
Perfect Fourth = 5 Half Steps = 5 Frets
Perfect Fifth = 7 Half Steps = 7 Frets
Major Sixth = 9 Half Steps = 9 Frets
Major Seventh = 11 Half Steps = 11 Frets
Octave = 12 Half Steps = 12 Frets
Now, here’s where the Quantum Guitar factor comes in.
You can travel the same distance of Sound Space faster if you play the major scale intervals vertical rather than horizontal. For example, when “E tone 1” and “E tone 8” are both played on string 6, the “physical” distance of 12 frets must be traveled and that takes a certain period of time. In other words, with horizontal intervals – Time, Sound Space and Physical Space are all the same.
However, when “E tone 1” is played on string 6 and “E tone 8” is played vertically on string 4 the Sound Space is still 12 frets – but because of diagonal light speed – the physical distance is only 2 frets! The following fretboards illustrate a two octave E major scale as diagonal letters and diagonal tones.
Congratulations! You’re now playing Quantum Guitar – where Time is not Sound Space!
Beam us up Scotty, we’re out of here…
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