DADGADSprint 1 of 4

The New Galaxy

Physical orientation in DADGAD. By the end of this sprint you can find any note on any string, play a D major scale in two positions, and name degree 1 / 4 / 5 anywhere in the first 7 frets without thinking.

14 days
~35 min / day
Physical orientation only

What this sprint is NOT

Not music theory — your theory is already intact and fully applies here.
Not chord shapes — those come in later sprints.
Not a transfer from Standard tuning — treat DADGAD as a new Galaxy with its own geometry, not a dialect of Standard.

This sprint is purely the physical geography of a new Galaxy: where the notes live, how the open strings feel, and how to navigate degree landmarks without counting from a Standard mental map.

Before starting Day 1

Read the Galaxy and Zoom Hierarchy sections on the Learn page so you understand how the Musical Universe map is structured before you build your DADGAD layer of it.

Go to the Learn page →

String Families — The Pair System

DADGAD has three string pairs with different crossing intervals. Knowing which strings share the same open pitch class simplifies scale navigation: each family uses the same fret pattern.

D-family

Strings 6, 4, 1 · Open D

All three open on D. Same scale pattern on each string. Day 9 works these strings.

A-family

Strings 5, 2 · Open A

Both open on A. Same scale pattern on each string. Days 2–4 anchor work includes these.

G-singleton

String 3 · Open G

The lone G string. One-note bridge between Core and Treble pairs. Day 8 focuses here.

D Dorian ascending: 4-3-4-1-3-1 notes per string. D-family strings contribute 4 notes each; A-family strings 3 notes each; G-singleton 1 note.

14-Day Calendar

S2

Readiness Gate

Pass all four to advance to Sprint 2

  • Can name any note on any string in DADGAD within 3 seconds
  • Can find degree 1 (D), 4 (G), and 5 (A) on any string in the first 7 frets within 5 seconds
  • Can play D major scale on strings 1, 3, and 6 without stopping
  • Can identify segment type (L / M / P / S) when playing a 3-note pattern
If not all pass after 14 days: extend by up to 7 additional days and repeat the weak days. After the 7-day extension, advance to Sprint 2 regardless — the gap will close through repetition in Sprint 2 context.