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The Cipher System is a new method for studying and teaching the elements of Western music theory and the fretboards of all popular Western string instruments. The Cipher System caters to people who can’t read music. It does this by using counting numbers (representing half-steps or semitones) first to convey the elements of music theory and then to apply that knowledge to the fretboard of your choice. But just because the Cipher System uses counting numbers, don’t imagine that it’s a toy. The Cipher is a serious tool, and it really works. It’s 100% compatible with conventional methods of teaching music and is thoroughly integrated with music theory’s standard materials and nomenclature (it’s letters and numbers). It can be used by anyone from children to adults, and no prior knowledge of music theory is required.
The Cipher System was originally meant to serve guitarists, two groups of them: those who can’t read music but still want to learn music theory, and any aspiring guitarist (whether he or she is already familiar with music theory or not) who wants to understand how the guitar fretboard really works. No matter how long you’ve played, if you’ve never seen The Cipher before it’s not likely that you really understand the internal mechanics of fretboard patterns, that is, why and where any given pattern shows up on the fretboard exactly where it does. The Cipher System’s fretboard components are one of a kind and the best on earth. They reveal in clear language what the guitar itself has been trying to show us for hundreds of years — things never before seen nor shown with such clarity. This isn’t a boast, it’s true. After exploring the Cipher System’s fretboard components, the Five Degree Calculation Line in particular, and seeing the simple grids of counting numbers it reveals, you’ll understand exactly what I mean.
The Cipher is meant to be the centerpiece or hub, the primary reference for guitarists and other string players who can’t read music. It’s meant first to familiarize you with the elements and vocabulary of music theory and the mechanics of the guitar (or any other) fretboard, and then help you to gain access to and use the information available in other books (and web sites) on guitar and music theory.
My primarily role here is as a toolmaker and translator. But I’m also an artist, musician, and teacher. I believe in art for your sake (rather than for it’s own sake). So The Cipher is my most important work of art. I’ve done my best to provide a new set of tools and to translate the essentials for you. I’m self taught and have played guitar for 33 years, but I have no degrees in any subject, music related of otherwise.
[I am passionate about education generally, however. I believe that there’s no room for mediocrity in education anywhere or anytime — from politicians and administrators, to teachers and their methods, tools, and materials. So The Cipher is my bit, my contribution to that arena. And I hope it finds it’s mark.]
The Cipher is a “cut to the chase”, “hassle free” “get your foot in the door” teaching tool and reference. You won’t have to learn to read staff notation first nor study the piano keyboard before being allowed to learn the things you want to learn. Once you understand the basic standard nomenclature of music theory and how the fretboard works, you’ll be able to understand and glean much of the information and use many of the exercises already widely available to you — information that would have been over your head and forever inaccessible if you hadn’t found the Cipher first. Near the end of the full (upcoming) book you’ll find very little trace of the Cipher specific content — because you won’t need it anymore (or only on occasion). That’s the sign of success. Once the elementals are understood, that all important first step, the rest will be easy.
In addition to guitar (both right-handed and lefty guitar players) the Cipher System has immediate application to many other stringed instruments, fretted or not, including: all the 4ths tuned machines, the bass guitar, ukulele, lute, viola da gamba, Renaissance and Baroque guitar (four and five course instruments), and even to string instruments tuned in 5ths rather than 4ths, e.g. the violin family, mandolin, and tenor banjo. Two keyboard instruments are covered as well: Chromatic Button Accordion and janko/whole-tone keyboards. Furthermore, the Cipher can be used as a general music theory primer by anyone who can’t read music or anyone who wants to learn to read notation some day. With the Cipher, you’ll learn all of the vocabulary and patterns that were previously accessible only to note readers — all of the information locked up within music’s various forms of notation: it’s numbers, letters, and on the staff. When you’re done with the Cipher, you’ll be familiar with all of the nomenclature, materials, and patterns that will need notating and you’ll know the kinds of things that music notation is trying to represent and communicate.
This web site has many purposes. First, I wanted to make sure that the core system was made available to the public, and for free. I’m doing it now, before my book is published, so that if I die tomorrow you’ll still have them (and my work will largely have been done). I also needed to “stake my turf” in a public fashion even before publishing in book form. I’ve worked on The Cipher (and book manuscript) for many years and if nothing else I want (at least) to get credit for creating it. By that I mean, The Cipher is so ridiculously simple at root that someone someday would rediscover or reinvent it again. But the trick, of course, is what (if anything) you do with it once you have it. By publishing on the web I’ve now fulfilled at least part of my “duty”, my responsibility as I see it, to give The Cipher to you’all. Beyond that, the web site includes more that enough material to get any beginner well on the road to wherever they’re going. Hopefully there’s also enough information and examples so that any teacher with vision will be able to see what can be done with it, i.e. see it’s potential.
Getting up to speed is the heart of the matter. There *is* a lot for any beginner to learn and to understand about the dual topics discused on this web site; gaining an understanding of the fretboard and music theory, and then integrating your knowledge of the two and applying it. Much of what any beginner wants to learn must occur simultaneously and quickly. This is true no matter which methods or teachers you use. That’s why I put so much primer and tutorial material on the web site, under the general category Music Theory Elements, in addition to the material that’s specifically about The Cipher System. It’s to help beginners get a leg up, in one place and at one time, in a no-nonsense fashion – and without being expected to learn how to read music first.
Given that your pace will be so accelerated using the Cipher System, beyond covering and translating the elements of music theory and the guitar fretboard, the book contains copious reference charts and an exceptionally well designed encyclopedia of guitar chords for later every day use. Some people will say that we already have enough books and web sites about guitar chords. While I’d agree on one hand, the chord charts included are unique in every way and rendered of course using both chromatic and diatonic formula numbers. The Cipher Chord Encyclopedia contains the chord charts I wish I had had when I first started playing guitar.
An important note. The Cipher System uses commonsense String Numbering order. That is, on this web site (and in the upcoming book) the numbering order of the guitars six strings is the reverse of conventional string numbering order. Meaning, the lowest pitched string (low E) is String 1, and the highest pitched string (high E) is String 6. All references to string number on this web site are expressed accordingly. The reasons for this are explained here. Simply put, conventional string numbering order is actually the reverse of what it should be. I did this, switched it right, to eliminate yet another source of music speak (the cross-calculation and double-talk) from the everyday vocabulary of music education. You won’t have any problem knowing what string I’m talking about, but you will still have to cross-calculate the instructions you find in any other book or web site, like you always have done. That is, I’m not introducing any confusion. You always knew which string was number one, didn’t you. And so do I.
I hope you enjoy the Cipher.
Let me know what you think.
Special thanks to Dick Christianson. When I was 15, he let me keep his personal guitar for a year so I could learn.
Introduction Part Two
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