FACGCE: Everything You Need To Know For Writing Math Rock, Emo, And Post Rock

This is it! A deep dive / 2021 version of my lesson series on FACGCE. This video is a math rock guitar lesson for players of all skill levels. In the lesson I cover topics such as: basic things you need to know about the tuning, how I write riffs in the tuning, and fretboard mapping strategies for more advanced players.
Moreover, this lesson also gives you a general outline of how I would approach writing in ANY tuning, so this information is really great for those who like alternate tunings, but don't write in FACGCE.
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[@addystontuckerray2054]

It makes me feel good that even a person with vast music theory knowledge does the same thing I do which is just strum until I find chords I like

[@jowlorenz9555]

Genuine Feeling trumps all the abstract logic in the world .

[@wasiqurrahman1717]

idk why people hate music theory so much. Learn the major scales and you pretty much learn every chord there is without even knowing or memorizing (obviously there's more complex and unnecessary/useless nerdy stuff but this is basics). Music theory is a tool to help you arrange, compose, improvise at hauntingly fast rate.

[@se7enthsoul]

Is it just me or am I the only one that does that instead of actually practicing?

[@mr.monitor.]

​@@se7enthsoul that is practicing.

[@bawol-official]

It’s important to do both. Experimental noodling can only go so far until you have to organize those ideas and the variations of that idea into a coherent composition. However if you write music away from your instrument you risk of making it sound too rigid or boxed into some structure that’s hard to break out of without plucking around

[@murda4785]

its so hard to find in-depth facgce tutorials this really helped a lot thank you

[@pvthfindxr]

You made me pick up my guitar again after a few years of not playing. Thanks for this

[@ericplourde9809]

I just wanna say I appreciate what you do man. It's so hard to find resources like this for alternate tunings. Please keep it up you're the best!

[@4znPinoy]

This has to be one of the most educational videos I've watched. I've watched your videos for quite some time now and you've been constantly improving your content. This subject also felt like it was your "homebase". Thanks for all the work you've done and all the resources you provide, keep it up man!

[@nigelgrim]

What an amazing lesson! I love every single one of your notes.

[@mathews7401]

thank you Trevor for being a blessing to us all, you remind me to keep trying ❤️

[@lucasnunes2453]

Exactly what i needed mate. About to start recording guitar parts for an EP in this tuning. Great content as always, cheers.

[@bii_gii]

I just wanna say i really appreciate you explaining these in a more beginner-friendly manner! Can see the effort youre puttin in to make these more accessible for music maker at every level. Love your work dude, keep it up

[@adamdhanji9934]

Thanks so much for such a detailed video again. My playing and understanding is definitely improving thanks to tips I've learnt from you! Keep the great content coming :D

[@skwill8412]

I watched this video 3 times now. Very informative. Thank you for making these videos!

[@travis8106]

This was amazing I never really delved into theory, but you said simple things that made sense and clicked for me for the first time in years. This is one of the most informative and easy to follow guitar videos I've seen on guitar/theory in general.

[@coyoteHTK]

This video is perfect, really opened my eyes on how I can find and build chords with your chord sequencing method. Not only in FACGCE, but other tunings, even in standard. Thank you man!

[@PositiveOak504]

One of the best math rock content on yt, thanks Trevor!!

[@oldthug7624]

I really enjoy your teaching style. Just learning this tuning, you already taught me enough to begin playing within the first 5 minutes.

[@GodzillaEatsMeat]

Trevor with another banger! Man this was SO helpful. Telecasters been tuned and I’m about to rewatch and take notes. I normally get 50% into each of these steps and get lost, but this really makes it clearer. Keep it coming!

[@matt-marque]

Reaaaally wish I had watched this video 20 years ago. Such a nice, refreshing focus on the usability/practical implications of music theory. Also appreciate the insight into key selection.

[@acetonemp3]

Good christ, these videos actually revived my motivation. I actually feel like doing this kind of playing is attainable to me now. Thanks for the resources!!!

[@TheLowest]

Wow, i wasn't expecting to learn so much considering it's rare for me to use alt tunings but that point of identifying where the root notes are to keep yourself oriented is really a clever and simple way to get familiar with any tuning. Great video

[@cbcnetwork5901]

Trevor I’d like to tell you that you’re my gift from god, I’ve been wanting to learn more music theory that delves into math rock and jazz and you’re just the person to find, praise KZbin algorithm

[@ShortP1089]

videos like this show why younger guitarists seem to be so well versed to me. i am 30 now, but if i had something as educational and well made like that video, i would have possibly gone even harder in the direction of studying music. Thank you for that extremely well made video Trevor!

[@PraetorianCuber]

I love it! this helps me with dadf#ae as well, a tuning which i’ve really loved ever since discovering it from you

[@jof860]

thank you for your tutorial it really helps to see the process behind writng riffs / songs

[@andropolisstudiomusic]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge!

[@jowlorenz9555]

You are good at thinking out loud --- thanks for the inspiration !

[@valenszyk]

Your playing is amazing, I really admire you man! Love from Argentina 😄

[@WaldoWalker]

Feels like I'm eating a very delightful cake while I watch this video. Thank you for these educational, informing and insightful videos.

[@bigtooter606]

this video was extremely helpful, thank you so much!!

[@TrevorWongMusic]

Np!! Glad it helped!

[@ejhs92]

I happened to stumble across this tuning by chance on my own and focusing on the bass notes and key of c but these videos are a fantastic resource and I really appreciate your ideas and pointers. Figured out a rendition of when you were young by the killers starting on F from open! Try it out!

[@idontgrillonwed]

Subscribed and I prefer standard tunings!. Just learned a different approach to using music theory. Much more useful than many other takes on this subject!

[@yurigloff6699]

You’re the best, always so interesting

[@AlexLunaMx]

I'm writing a EP and i use this tuning in some songs, this video was very helpful, thanks so much! So awesome trevor! 🙌

[@eveejune3682]

Been patiently waiting for this lit content , thanks for helping open up the tuning abit more

[@wilydingus]

So good thank you I gotta try this out

[@cade_olson]

This is the only vid of yours ive actually understood and felt like it was tangible tbh. We got lucky you like this genre so much tho haha

[@messnet6706]

Man this is good shit. I love this tuning even though I'm not really big on old school Math Rock. I'm more of a post hardcore and emo type of player but this is still wicked.

[@jackashurst9372]

subscribed! this is awesome

[@ashleymakwana6262]

big man t wong back at it again

[@maddycr5823]

Nice! Super useful

[@maddycr5823]

Yeah this is super helpful!

[@Hyperlink1337]

yeah man this vid is sick, i play open c and your style is a bit too modern for me but there's a ton of great info here put in a way that's easy to understand and translate to other tunings

[@TommyZommy]

love it, thx

[@patricioalderete771]

sos un crack chino un abrazo grande, aguante el emo!

[@elliotlangford824]

This is great! I have played tons in standard but always find alternate tunings frustrating because I suddenly have no idea where the notes are - these are great ideas for getting past that!

[@EGPlaysGames]

i like your videos before i even watch them

[@coreysherman2143]

just commenting to give your page more interaction hey man!!

[@droplet4143]

Could you possibly do this with DAEAC#E please? I love the tuning, but I feel like there's a lot of things that I don't know that are holding me back

[@Numnutism]

For anyone maybe a little intimidated/new to this, it's entirely possible to write songs with 0 theory in this tuning. Give it a go, mess around on the fretboard, try to start out with fingerpicking, use loads of hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides. Use the top 3 strings as open bass notes. (systemically it would be Bass note - lick - bass note -lick/longer run, etc) You'll start sounding speedy and cool right away! Yvette Young from covet has a lot of close-up videos of the way she plays, copy her rhythmic style, try to mimic what she's doing and you'll start coming up with cool riffs in no time!! This is very layman ish, I know but worth a try

[@Thought0fEspress0]

I needed to see this haha I’ve been practicing my Math Rock skills, but for awhile I didn’t think I could get better or watch these vids cause I only understood so much haha but I’m gonna keep going because I love this music so much.

[@abhiskekrachit1411]

Thanks bro for motivation

[@SmokeVeils_66]

Aha I’ve been going at it with this exact approach more or less I apply the chords I know higher on the fret board and use a ton of jingly hammer-ons and taps but I want to start learning chords and scales in this genre of music the tones and spontaneous licks are exactly what I like in music

[@sheam861]

It's kind of weird how I do this pretty much all the time when I'm in that tuning

[@AlexNiedt]

Agreed. The entire appeal of open tunings for me was always poking around without familiarity, free from ingrained theory or chord shapes.

[@ernestocastro4544]

Came here after hearing Ichika Nito play in facgce, stayed to learn more and write more songs in this beautiful tuning

[@zarrir]

Please make a video using the darker F major scale against this tuning

[@VitoGaarin]

Great👍👍👍

[@jkilo1282]

Trevor can you do the same thing with DAEAC#E?

[@tinfoilinaframe4481]

Great video could you do a video like this for daeac#e

[@wilbermcelroy2929]

everybody knows you don't need music theory to write like this. you need to be in or out of love and then grab a guitar

[@Aomi01]

The only way to write in twinkly open tunings.

[@phant0mdummy]

It's funny that you aren't entirely wrong. I've had times where life's trash, and I pick up my guitar and come up with a song in an hour with no friction.

[@C0RRUPTCUP5]

Thank

[@RozicEldenRing]

bro just stopped me from putting a capo on a random fret and fiddling around with the notes to actually using my brain and sense to write in this tuning 😭

[@ollyc2001]

I can’t stop using shell voicings please help

[@coldloyalty]

Pretty Tele!!

[@-Batou-]

So what's best in your opinion : bridge or middle (pickup) position ?

[@thien-anpham3382]

When I hear you play a pleasant chord , I automatically think of sounds to follow up with that chord that sounds amazing in my mind but I don't have the knowledge to re-create those sounds on the guitar just yet. Is this a normal thing that people experience? I feel like I know what sounds good, but I haven't unlocked any theory to translate my musical imagination into the real world.

[@schizophreniagaming4058]

Yeah. It’s pretty normal. Experiment around, and test what sounds good to you.

[@tedwasanasan3805]

So when I change my tuning, my scale patterns are the same still? Is this true for any tuning?

[@arkbirdtelecaster1581]

What string gauges do you use!?

[@theDanDeleon]

Looking forward to the DAEAC#E version of this. 😬😬😬😬

[@coreysherman2143]

I second this

[@rajanovich1817]

Just use the same methodology?

[@wasiqurrahman1717]

it's the same thing man. Just apply the the same method in any custom tuning you want. The concept/idea is the same. Keep it simple, don't make it anymore complicated than it needs to be.

[@zakkybagis3068]

what string gauge size do you use ?

[@bpsychoz]

I bought the ebook but where is my download link? Grrr

[@JonvaTheREaLMusiqMentor]

💯

[@joshuamarcusbautista9240]

Hi! I'm curious, what gauge strings do you use to achieve this tuning? I've always wanted to try playing in alternate tunings, but I'm scared to do so, in fear of snapping a string 😅

[@greycastro1009]

I don’t know what Trevor uses, but the guitar I’ve had in FACGCE for a while now has a 10-52 set on it, and it works fine-the 52 on the F is probably a little tight, but not problematic. That guitar has a 24.75-inch scale, so if you’re on a 25.5-inch scale instrument like Trevor, maybe a set of 9s? But unless you’re currently playing quite heavy strings, I bet you’ll be okay just retuning whatever you’ve got, at least as a starting point, since only two strings will be tuned higher, and only by a half-step each. Then you can see how it feels, and decide whether to go lighter or heavier from there, based on what you prefer. Happy playing!

[@lilbruvva4364]

Make a course for absolute beginners !

[@shetakii]

I only wish for mathrock bassists

[@notnoaintno5134]

sheeeit can i please play in some kind of drop tuning

[@Bradleybrookwood]

My thing is I really don't care about the logistics of what accord sounds like as long as the end result is a song that sounds great and doesn't hurt my ears. I don't care about the theory of it, I just want the song to sound great and I want a singer who sings well and plays well.

[@MaTTheWish]

PRO...

[@quazimodo619]

Got real precise with that tuning huh 💀

[@jeffrumburg708]

i never hit the like button on videos. i dont know why. i like this one tho

[@georgevillanueva6926]

Just got a call from ur country telling me to subscribe lol

[@mnrrrr723]

1:01

[@lonercheki]

01:57 : KFC major xD

[@joelstephenson8017]

What is the advantage of using FACGCE? Why use it instead of EADGBE?

[@80Flex]

The advantage is using the open strings and creating a “vibe”. Obviously to take advantage of those open strings you have to play in either F or C, but you can always capo to change the key. With that some people may find it easier to play in that tuning but it’s all a matter of opinion.

[@80Flex]

I personally like to play in DACGCE than FACGCE mainly due to the fact I can use “drop d” chords a lot easier.

[@joelstephenson8017]

@@80Flex thnx! One thing. Can u get that "vibe" using standard tuning? The capo's purpose may be upgraded in my mind now🙂

[@alessandropaternieri751]

@@joelstephenson8017 no.the whole thing is about finding intersting chords with not so many fingers involved.In standard,for example,if you have an E major finger shape and slide up and down the fretboard you'll see that,at certain points (index on 6th fret,index on 8th fret) you find intersting chord leaving the B and E string open.You work on every open tunings a bit like this

[@alessandropaternieri751]

@@80Flex exactly,joel if you are workingin open tunings you want to form chords with one finger only and have strings at the same pitch to create a drone sound or make tapping with two fingers that press the same note.your aim is to make progressions with only one finger,leaving the other strings open to ring.It's impossible in standard tuning

[@trstn9308]

I just wanna know how tf to tune to this

[@TrevorWongMusic]

I'll make a video on that today!

[@trstn9308]

@@TrevorWongMusic omg thank you SO MUCH 😊 stayed up till 3 am last night obsessing over wanting to learn Midwest emo. My playlist is basically your yt channel 😂

[@kriwi1837]

[@lawendt]

me watching the video with no intent of actually playing guitar :D

[@samchoate1719]

what the hell did you just call me

[@blub9081]

asian will toledo

[@marltongaming1145]

jews a cool XD

[@drwoah7242]

im not gonna lie, your style is good and works for a lot of people, but for people like myself that learn by finding the scale, and playing around with that scale are completely left out of the picture in this, you spend 4 seconds talking about the 2 bass string and then start pulling random chord shapes out of your ass. Im not tryiing to be rude but like, not all of us just randomly try things and let our ear guide us, some of our ears arent, made for music or dont have the experience. If you gave us the tabs for the major scale across the 6 strings I guarentee you the other portion of players who learn like I do wouldlve left this video being content with the tools to learn the tuning but now I'm just stumped again.

[@justinpompeii9409]

It's like ya try to over complicate everything by volumes, far past of what is going on in your open tuning. Like wtf. Does that make ya feel special or some shit. I'm glad I didn't learn open tunings from your content. I'd be lost af and probably never play guitar again.

[@joeantolak4629]

One of my friends said I should try fagdad but I never did

[@mnrrrr723]

1:31