DAY 2 OF 14Sprint 1: The New Galaxy

Root Everywhere

35 min·Total session time
Core Concept

Degree 1 (D) Is Your Home Base

In DADGAD, the note D (degree 1) appears on strings 6, 4, and 1 as open strings, giving you immediate access to the root at zero fret cost. Knowing where D lives on every string across the first 12 frets is the foundation of navigating this tuning fluently. The octave repeats at fret 12, so the pattern from frets 0–12 covers everything you need in standard playing position. Your task today is to internalize D on all 6 strings until it is reflexive.

Explore the Orbit System

Yesterday:Yesterday you learned the DADGAD string layout (D-A-D-G-A-D) and heard the open chord's suspended quality.

Warmup

5 min
  1. 1.Tune to DADGAD — say each string name aloud as you tune it.
  2. 2.Strum the open chord 4 times, letting each ring fully.
  3. 3.Finger-stretch: place all four fingers on adjacent frets of one string, press down gently, then move the shape up 2 frets, then down 2 frets.
  4. 4.Shake out your fretting hand before starting the main drills.

Finding D on Every String

Main Practice

25 min
  1. 1.

    String 6 (D): D is at fret 0 (open) and fret 12. Play fret 0, say 'D', play fret 12, say 'D'. Do this 5 times. These are the only D notes in the 0–12 range on this string.

  2. 2.

    String 5 (A): D is at fret 5. Play fret 5, say 'D'. Count from open A (0) up: A→A#→B→C→C#→D = 5 semitones. Play the open string (A), then fret 5 (D), and hear the relationship. 10 repetitions.

  3. 3.

    String 4 (D): D is at fret 0 (open) and fret 12, same pattern as string 6. Alternate between the two strings on fret 0, then fret 12, noticing the pitch difference (one octave apart).

  4. 4.

    String 3 (G): D is at fret 7. Play open G, count up 7 semitones to reach D. Play the open G and fret 7 together as a two-note interval. Say 'D' each time you land on fret 7. 10 repetitions.

  5. 5.

    String 2 (A): D is at fret 3. Open string is A — count up: A→A#→B→C = 3 semitones... wait, A→B♭→B→C→C#→D = that is 5 semitones. Correct fret: fret 5 on string 2 is D. Verify with your tuner. Play it 10 times saying 'D'.

  6. 6.

    String 1 (D): D is at fret 0 (open) and fret 12, same as strings 6 and 4. Play all three D strings (6, 4, 1) open simultaneously by arpegiating or picking individually. Hear three D's at three different octaves.

  7. 7.

    Random challenge: close your eyes, pick any string (or have a partner call one), and find a D on that string within 5 seconds. Do 12 rounds across all strings.

Integration

5 min
  1. 1.Play each D you found today in ascending order, lowest pitch to highest: string 6 fret 0, string 5 fret 5, string 4 fret 0 (one octave up), string 3 fret 7, string 2 fret 5, string 1 fret 0. This is a D major arpeggio spread across the neck.
  2. 2.Strum the open chord and then land on any D anywhere on the neck — feel how landing on D resolves back to home.

Exit Check

Mark each yes in your practice log — these are not tracked here.