DAY 3 OF 14Sprint 1: The New Galaxy

Fifth Everywhere

35 min·Total session time
Core Concept

Degree 5 (A) Is the Pull Back to Root

A (degree 5) is the note that creates harmonic tension in relation to D — it wants to resolve back to home. In DADGAD, A appears as open strings 5 and 2, making it immediately available just like D. The interval from D to A is a perfect fifth, one of the highest-harmonicity intervals in music. Knowing A on every string gives you the ability to create tension-and-release patterns anywhere on the neck without leaving first position.

Explore the Orbit System

Yesterday:Yesterday you mapped D (degree 1) on every string — today you add A (degree 5), the note that pulls back to it.

Warmup

5 min
  1. 1.Tune to DADGAD. Play each open string and name it before moving to the next.
  2. 2.Quickly review yesterday: find D on strings 5 and 3 without hesitation (fret 5 and fret 7).
  3. 3.Slow finger stretch across all four frets, then let go and shake out.
  4. 4.Strum the open chord once and listen for the A notes on strings 5 and 2.

Finding A on Every String

Main Practice

25 min
  1. 1.

    String 6 (D): A is at fret 5. Open string is D — count up 7 semitones to reach A. Alternatively, remember the 7-fret rule: the fifth of any open string is always 7 frets up on the same string. Play fret 5 on string 6, say 'A', 10 times.

  2. 2.

    String 5 (A): A is at fret 0 (open) and fret 12. Same logic as the D strings — the open note is A, so fret 0 and fret 12 are your two locations. Play both and say 'A' each time.

  3. 3.

    String 4 (D): A is at fret 7. Same as string 6: open is D, so 7 frets up = A. Play fret 7 on string 4, confirm with tuner, say 'A', 10 times.

  4. 4.

    String 3 (G): A is at fret 2. Open is G — count up 2 semitones (G→G#→A). Short reach! This fret 2 will show up everywhere. Play it 10 times, saying 'A'.

  5. 5.

    String 2 (A): A is at fret 0 (open) and fret 12, same as string 5. Play both positions, alternating, 10 times.

  6. 6.

    String 1 (D): A is at fret 5. Same as string 6: open is D, 7 frets up = A... but wait, fret 5 from D = A. Count: D→D#→E→F→F#→G = no. Recount: D(0)→E(2)→F(3)→G(5) — that is not A. Correct: D→D#(1)→E(2)→F(3)→F#(4)→G(5)→G#(6)→A(7). So A is at fret 7 on string 1. Verify with tuner. Play it 10 times.

  7. 7.

    Random challenge: a partner (or timer) calls a string number. Find A on that string within 5 seconds. Do 12 rounds. Say the fret number aloud before playing.

Integration

5 min
  1. 1.Alternate between D and A on a single string: on string 4, play open (D) then fret 7 (A), back and forth 8 times. Feel the tension-and-return.
  2. 2.Play D on string 6 fret 0, then A on string 5 fret 0 — two open strings, perfect fifth. Let them ring together for 4 beats.

Exit Check

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