Guitar Notes: Notes with a downward stem are to be 
played with the thumb. All other notes are to be played 
with the index, middle and ring fingers. Make sure to 
use all three fingers. 
Embryonic Journey is in dropped 'D' tuning. The low 'E' 
string is tuned to a 'D'. Dropped 'D' is one of the most 
common tunings found in this style of finger picking. 
Others, such as Open 'D' (D, A, D, F#, A, D) and Open 
'E' (E, B, E, G#, B, E) are also commonly used. 
The first four measure phrase is straightforward. The 
bass 'D' note falls on every beat. The thumb strikes the 
4th (D) string on every upbeat. This simple alternation 
of bass strings is the key to the song and gives rise to 
the name of this finger picking pattern: "alternating 
bass." In this four measure phrase, the treble voice is 
not independent of the bass voice; however, the 
hammer-ons do add a slight syncopated feel. If you 
have trouble with this phrase try a couple of measures 
of only alternating bass as an intro. This should help 
you find the groove. 
The next eight measure phrase, starting with measure 
9, closes the previous musical idea and creates a 
balanced 16 measure phrase. Like the previous 
phrase, this one is actually a four measure phrase 
which is repeated. Be careful with measures 11 and 
15. Each chord is held for three sixteenth notes, 
creating a feel of three against four. Also be careful 
with measures 10, 12, and 14 and 16 since the bass 
'D' falls on the upbeat at least once in each of those 
measures. 
Measures 17 through 24 provide no surprises. Give 
these measures some real dynamic contrast. Get 
louder as the pitch gets higher and softer as it gets 
lower. By the time you reach measure 25, there should 
be a distinct melodic voice which is slightly syncopated 
against the alternating bass. It is important that these 
treble lines stand out as distinct voices. A number of 
the musical lines here start on the last sixteenth of the 
fourth beat. If you start these lines on beat one you'll 
lose the flow of the music and find yourself rushing 
sections to fit all the notes in.