Segments P and S
P (Half + Whole) and S (Whole Step Alone)
The P segment starts with a half step and then a whole step, spanning 3 semitones (fret pattern: 0-1-3). In the D major scale, P appears at degrees 3-4-5 (F#-G-A), where the half step F# to G is followed by the whole step G to A. The S segment is simply a pair of two notes spanning a whole step (fret pattern: 0-2) — it is a connecting move, the smallest unit of melodic motion in the segment system. The S segment functions as a bridge between other segments, especially in pentatonic-style movement.
Explore Segment TypesYesterday:You have learned L (W+W) and M (W+H) — today you add P (H+W) and S (W alone) to complete the four segment types.
Warmup
5 min- 1.Tune to DADGAD. Quick segment review: play an L (frets 0-2-4 on string 4) and say 'L'. Play an M (frets 2-4-5 on string 4) and say 'M'.
- 2.Chromatic crawl on string 4: play frets 0 through 5 one at a time, one fret per beat at 60bpm. Descend. This prepares your fingers for the close spacing in P.
- 3.Shake out fretting hand and set metronome to 55bpm.
Discovering P and S in the D Major Scale
Main Practice
- 1.
Define P on string 4: play frets 4-5-7 (F#-G-A). Say 'P' after all three. The half step is between F# (fret 4) and G (fret 5) — one fret. The whole step is between G (fret 5) and A (fret 7) — two frets. Pattern: 0-1-3 relative to starting fret. Hold last note 2 beats. 8 reps.
- 2.
Note the pattern contrast: L = 0-2-4, M = 0-2-3, P = 0-1-3. L and M both start with a whole step. P starts with a half step. Hear the difference: play L then P. L feels 'open'; P feels 'tighter at the start'. 5 comparison pairs.
- 3.
Find all P segments in D major on string 4: degrees 3-4-5 = F#-G-A = frets 4-5-7. Any other P in the scale? degrees 7-1-2 = C#-D-E = frets 11-12-14... fret 14 is outside the 0-12 range in this exercise. So on string 4 in frets 0-12, there is one P: frets 4-5-7. Play it 10 times, saying 'P'.
- 4.
Define S on string 4: the S segment is a single whole step — just two notes. Play fret 0 and fret 2 (D-E). Say 'S'. S is not a 3-note group — it is the 2-note building block that can stand alone or connect other segments. Play 5 different S moves on string 4: 0-2, 2-4, 5-7, 7-9, 9-11. Say 'S' after each pair.
- 5.
Full scale segmentation on string 4 — label every group: ascending frets 0-2-4-5-7-9-11-12. Groups: (0-2-4)=L, (2-4-5)=M, (4-5-7)=P, (5-7-9)=L, (7-9-11)=L, (9-11-12)=M. Say each label as you play. 3 reps.
- 6.
P on string 3: find F# on string 3 (frets: G+6 semitones = G→G#→A→A#→B→C→C# = wait, that is not F#. G(0) A(2) B(4) so F# is... F# is 11 semitones up from G: F#=fret 11. So P on string 3: frets 11-12-14... fret 14 is off. In the 0-12 range, the only P starting point on string 3 within scale tones is fret 11 going to 12 and then 14 — which is out of range. Alternative: find P starting on other degrees where the pattern fits within 0-12. Degrees 3-4-5 is the primary P. Skip extended string 3 drilling and do extra repetition on string 4 instead.
- 7.
Chromatic identification drill: play any random 3-note group (or 2-note S) on string 4 at 60bpm, and before moving to the next note, call out its type: L, M, P, or S. Do 10 groups. Focus on the first interval: if it is a half step (1 fret) the group is P; if it is a whole step (2 frets) it is L or M (check the second interval to distinguish).
Integration
7 min- 1.Play through the D major scale on string 4 one time, slowly, labeling every segment group as you go. Say all four types: L, M, P, or S whenever you identify a unit.
- 2.In your practice log, write the complete segment map of the D major scale: L-M-P-L-L-M. Note what is missing from this list (S — the S segment functions as a connector and does not appear as a discrete 3-note group within a strict stepwise scale, but appears in pentatonic or skipping motion).
Exit Check
Mark each yes in your practice log — these are not tracked here.