How To Play Blues Guitar!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Playing guitar can be an ordinary feat to most people. Any person, with the right ear for music, can learn any instrument in a matter of hours. Unbelievable, huh?
On the other hand, learning how to play blues guitar is almost a form of dexterity that not everyone can master. Blues music has been the foundation of many other genres of music such as Jazz, R&B and even Rock and Roll. The style of music is so captivating that it almost sounds complicated as well.
Here are a few facts in order for you to learn how to play blues guitar:The technique in order to play blues guitar comes from the skill in picking.Although essentially, the scales make the music when playing the instrument, it is imperative to construct the picking technique before scales can be played. The guitar can then be played as a Rhythm Blues Guitar or a Lead Blues Guitar. There has to be suppleness in the fingers of the player in order to get the rhythm right.
Knowing the Difference
For the Rhythm Blues Guitar, the chord progression is founded on the twelve bar blues structure. When you play blues guitar, more often than not, the interval cords that are in progression are the I, IV and V, but other cords may also be played so long as the tonality is present in the rhythm.
The Lead Blues Guitar, conversely, is more popular in terms of the measure of its expressiveness. It primarily focuses on the technical skills of vibrato and bending. The pick's basic motion is up and down, alternating in every turn.
In an example by James Ham, if there is a basic riff with the notes A,C,D,A,E one after another, the A would be played with a downward picking motion while the C would be played directly after the A with an upward motion. This is playing two notes in one motion.
You can also try playing a 12-bar chord progression in different keys, in the same way as when you play a rhythm blues guitar in pentatonic scale. Try practicing this rhythm pattern continuously until you get the hang of the beat.
Getting Props
There are also several audio samples of blues records available online. Most of which can be downloaded for free. These samples may be played in both slow and full speed, helping you learn to pace your rhythm during mastering your picking technique.
Although agility is integral when you play blues guitar, you must also concentrate on the accuracy of each note that you play and focus on your scales. Fluid rhythm and chord progression are fundamental in making blues music. You can also get a book that offers superb guitar licks that can help you practice.
Expression
As you play blues guitar, or any instrument at that, it is always important to practice. It is in practicing that we master our art and our passion. You can also sing along as you strum the guitar, after all, the blues music is all about expression. More...
Read more...
On the other hand, learning how to play blues guitar is almost a form of dexterity that not everyone can master. Blues music has been the foundation of many other genres of music such as Jazz, R&B and even Rock and Roll. The style of music is so captivating that it almost sounds complicated as well.
Here are a few facts in order for you to learn how to play blues guitar:The technique in order to play blues guitar comes from the skill in picking.Although essentially, the scales make the music when playing the instrument, it is imperative to construct the picking technique before scales can be played. The guitar can then be played as a Rhythm Blues Guitar or a Lead Blues Guitar. There has to be suppleness in the fingers of the player in order to get the rhythm right.
Knowing the Difference
For the Rhythm Blues Guitar, the chord progression is founded on the twelve bar blues structure. When you play blues guitar, more often than not, the interval cords that are in progression are the I, IV and V, but other cords may also be played so long as the tonality is present in the rhythm.
The Lead Blues Guitar, conversely, is more popular in terms of the measure of its expressiveness. It primarily focuses on the technical skills of vibrato and bending. The pick's basic motion is up and down, alternating in every turn.
In an example by James Ham, if there is a basic riff with the notes A,C,D,A,E one after another, the A would be played with a downward picking motion while the C would be played directly after the A with an upward motion. This is playing two notes in one motion.
You can also try playing a 12-bar chord progression in different keys, in the same way as when you play a rhythm blues guitar in pentatonic scale. Try practicing this rhythm pattern continuously until you get the hang of the beat.
Getting Props
There are also several audio samples of blues records available online. Most of which can be downloaded for free. These samples may be played in both slow and full speed, helping you learn to pace your rhythm during mastering your picking technique.
Although agility is integral when you play blues guitar, you must also concentrate on the accuracy of each note that you play and focus on your scales. Fluid rhythm and chord progression are fundamental in making blues music. You can also get a book that offers superb guitar licks that can help you practice.
Expression
As you play blues guitar, or any instrument at that, it is always important to practice. It is in practicing that we master our art and our passion. You can also sing along as you strum the guitar, after all, the blues music is all about expression. More...
Electric Guitar Lesson!
An electric guitar lesson can be one of the most eye opening things in the world. Even experienced guitar players can find the whole thing frustrating, so a timely guitar lesson for your trusty old electric can be the thing that makes all the difference. I’ve compiled a few tips here, so I hope you enjoy this mini lesson!
Electric Guitar Lesson 1-
Change it up. As an electric guitarist sometimes we can be guilty of letting our muscle memory do all the work-busting out the same old pentatonic blues stuff over and over again, with little chance of any originality happening. We need to change things around. Throw away your pick for a week. If you don’t use a pick, get a pick for a week. Use your whammy bar if you usually don’t, hell, even play acoustic for a couple of weeks. Stuff like this can really break us out of a rut, and for me personally is always when I come up with my best licks/songs.
Electric Guitar Lesson 2-
Record yourself. We see ourselves play guitar everyday, and for that very reason sometimes we can be immune to real problems in our playing. It’s great to record ourselves because we can then identify such things and put in the work to get rid of them. It’s not all bad though, quite often when listening back to tapes and things you can be pleasantly surprised by your own playing. Another plus point is that you will start to get used to the recording process-this is always a good thing-the ability to lay down quality guitar on demand is always useful.
Electric Guitar Lesson 3-
Get a real electric guitar lesson! Even one hour with a high quality guitar teacher can shake you up enough to give you practice material for months. I’ve had a few lessons that have completely altered my perception of the instrument-it’s very odd to suddenly be a better guitar player from one day to the next simply because you approach it with a different mindset. It’s odd but it’s also cool!
Electric Guitar Lesson 4-
Strengthen your fingers. Almost every guitar player I know will openly admit that their pinky or their first finger isn’t very strong or dextrous. If you know that to be true, why not fix it? It’s pretty simple to strengthen your fingers, trills are great for it and there are countless other legato techniques that will really build strength and stamina. You’ll notice the difference within a few days-your chord changes will be crisper and you will be FASTER-and lets face it, what electric guitar player doesn’t want to be able to play faster?
Electric Guitar Lesson 5-
Change your influences. If you listen to solely hard rock and blues, why not buy a couple of flamenco albums or some Latin jazz? Or if you are into jazz why not get some modern thrash metal? I don’t expect you to like the music, but a true guitar player will find something of interest in any new guitar style. A change like this can really open up your ears and give you ideas to put into your own playing.
So there you are-surely 5 lessons is better than 1 electric guitar lesson? Hopefully my ideas have helped you see that there is more to playing electric guitar than the same old rock and blues stuff. Happy playing!. More...
Read more...
Electric Guitar Lesson 1-
Change it up. As an electric guitarist sometimes we can be guilty of letting our muscle memory do all the work-busting out the same old pentatonic blues stuff over and over again, with little chance of any originality happening. We need to change things around. Throw away your pick for a week. If you don’t use a pick, get a pick for a week. Use your whammy bar if you usually don’t, hell, even play acoustic for a couple of weeks. Stuff like this can really break us out of a rut, and for me personally is always when I come up with my best licks/songs.
Electric Guitar Lesson 2-
Record yourself. We see ourselves play guitar everyday, and for that very reason sometimes we can be immune to real problems in our playing. It’s great to record ourselves because we can then identify such things and put in the work to get rid of them. It’s not all bad though, quite often when listening back to tapes and things you can be pleasantly surprised by your own playing. Another plus point is that you will start to get used to the recording process-this is always a good thing-the ability to lay down quality guitar on demand is always useful.
Electric Guitar Lesson 3-
Get a real electric guitar lesson! Even one hour with a high quality guitar teacher can shake you up enough to give you practice material for months. I’ve had a few lessons that have completely altered my perception of the instrument-it’s very odd to suddenly be a better guitar player from one day to the next simply because you approach it with a different mindset. It’s odd but it’s also cool!
Electric Guitar Lesson 4-
Strengthen your fingers. Almost every guitar player I know will openly admit that their pinky or their first finger isn’t very strong or dextrous. If you know that to be true, why not fix it? It’s pretty simple to strengthen your fingers, trills are great for it and there are countless other legato techniques that will really build strength and stamina. You’ll notice the difference within a few days-your chord changes will be crisper and you will be FASTER-and lets face it, what electric guitar player doesn’t want to be able to play faster?
Electric Guitar Lesson 5-
Change your influences. If you listen to solely hard rock and blues, why not buy a couple of flamenco albums or some Latin jazz? Or if you are into jazz why not get some modern thrash metal? I don’t expect you to like the music, but a true guitar player will find something of interest in any new guitar style. A change like this can really open up your ears and give you ideas to put into your own playing.
So there you are-surely 5 lessons is better than 1 electric guitar lesson? Hopefully my ideas have helped you see that there is more to playing electric guitar than the same old rock and blues stuff. Happy playing!. More...
Rhythm Guitar Lesson!
Have you ever wondered why guitars are grouped with the rhythm section in a school jazz band? Well strictly speaking, guitars have a lot in common with percussion instruments, particularly the xylophone, being that a guitar needs to be plucked at a steady rhythm. Particularly with the acoustic guitar, the idea of a rhythm guitar refers to the ability of a player to become part guitarist part percussionist using a deliberate pattern of strumming. Rhythm guitar lessons are useful for those who are interested in learning to play music genres that utilize the rhythm guitar method, like country, folk, and some rock styles.
Learning to strum a guitar in a precise rhythm is one of the more deceptively simple guitar techniques out there. While it may seem pretty simple to perform a repetitive motion like strumming, in practice it can quickly become quite difficult to do properly. Not only does the guitarist have to be like a percussionist-precise strumming matched to the beat of the song-but they also have to make sure they're strumming notes in the correct order. Rhythm guitar lessons will present a guitarist with various ways to achieve the desired percussive effect (i.e. picking a root note from a chord in the first strum before strumming the rest of the chord), yet this is very much an advanced technique that should only be attempted after extensive practice of the basics.
Many more advanced rhythm guitar lessons will cover unique chord progressions, especially the use of barre chords while strumming the guitar. These barre chords are unique in that they allow guitarists to shift their finger placements up and down the fretboard, making it an efficient way to reposition fretting fingers in expectation of the next chord progression. This is an advanced rhythm guitar technique that will give guitarists more creative options to choose from while improvising solos, strumming through a quick and difficult chord progression, and composing a difficult folk guitar song. Before even considering the benefits working with barre chords has for rhythm guitar techniques, a guitarist will certainly have a new found command over complicated chords as if it were an afterthought. But coupled with rhythm guitar lessons, a student player implementing barre chords will get that much closer towards becoming a master player.
After successful rhythm guitar lessons have made a guitar player confident in their strumming technique, a vast amount of advanced options for guitar playing is opened wide. Ever see a fully-acoustic or "unplugged" performance from your favorite rock group? They're mostly using rhythm guitar methods to replace all the electronic instruments that aren't being used for that acoustic version. Using certain rhythm guitar techniques, a guitarist can mimic and replace the drums. Playing a low initial note followed by a higher chord while strumming is an effective rhythm guitar technique for mimicking and replacing a string bass. Add in singing and a good rhythm guitarist essentially has all the tools they need to give their audience a great performance!. More...
Read more...
Learning to strum a guitar in a precise rhythm is one of the more deceptively simple guitar techniques out there. While it may seem pretty simple to perform a repetitive motion like strumming, in practice it can quickly become quite difficult to do properly. Not only does the guitarist have to be like a percussionist-precise strumming matched to the beat of the song-but they also have to make sure they're strumming notes in the correct order. Rhythm guitar lessons will present a guitarist with various ways to achieve the desired percussive effect (i.e. picking a root note from a chord in the first strum before strumming the rest of the chord), yet this is very much an advanced technique that should only be attempted after extensive practice of the basics.
Many more advanced rhythm guitar lessons will cover unique chord progressions, especially the use of barre chords while strumming the guitar. These barre chords are unique in that they allow guitarists to shift their finger placements up and down the fretboard, making it an efficient way to reposition fretting fingers in expectation of the next chord progression. This is an advanced rhythm guitar technique that will give guitarists more creative options to choose from while improvising solos, strumming through a quick and difficult chord progression, and composing a difficult folk guitar song. Before even considering the benefits working with barre chords has for rhythm guitar techniques, a guitarist will certainly have a new found command over complicated chords as if it were an afterthought. But coupled with rhythm guitar lessons, a student player implementing barre chords will get that much closer towards becoming a master player.
After successful rhythm guitar lessons have made a guitar player confident in their strumming technique, a vast amount of advanced options for guitar playing is opened wide. Ever see a fully-acoustic or "unplugged" performance from your favorite rock group? They're mostly using rhythm guitar methods to replace all the electronic instruments that aren't being used for that acoustic version. Using certain rhythm guitar techniques, a guitarist can mimic and replace the drums. Playing a low initial note followed by a higher chord while strumming is an effective rhythm guitar technique for mimicking and replacing a string bass. Add in singing and a good rhythm guitarist essentially has all the tools they need to give their audience a great performance!. More...
Jazz Guitar Lesson!
There are many websites offering online jazz guitar lessons, but before choosing it is important that you are ready to play jazz guitar. Many budding jazz guitarists specialize too early and find themselves lacking in technique when they come to the more complex aspects of playing jazz.
If you have not had proper formal training in guitar before, it is important that you register for a course that first takes you through the basics, even if you believe yourself to be a good guitarist. You must be well versed in the basic chords, keys, scales and perhaps even be able to play harmonics - both natural an artificial. What you need to know will be determined by the scope of the jazz guitar course.
It is probably better for you if your online jazz guitar lessons were part of a fundamentally more extensive course in playing guitar, that takes you from the basics of your instrument right through the progression of strumming, chords, scales, fingerstyle and so on in way that trains you in a holistic manner to be able to play any genre you choose, and so that jazz is simply an extension of your course.
By learning guitar that way each technique will be mastered before you progress, and no assumptions are made. The problem with a one-off jazz guitar course is that it will not be suitable for all skill levels. Some will lack basic techniques needed to follow the course, while others will already have inbuilt bad habits. Yet others might find a particular course too elementary, so it is important that you are able to adjust the course to suit your personal needs.
As a very minimum a jazz guitarist should understand chords, keys and their relationship with each other. A knowledge of tempo and time signatures is essential, as is knowing how to play harmonics that are widely used in playing jazz. Once you are accomplished in these techniques you will be ready to learn jazz, with its many voicing and jazz rhythms. You will learn about the circle of fifths which geometrically represents the relationship between the twelve pitch classes of the chromatic scale in pitch class space: if this is gobbledygook to you then you need a good jazz guitar course that takes you from the basics through the intermediate stages to real jazz guitar theory and practice.
There's no good learning how to play if you don't understand the theory, since only then will you be able to be innovative. Even players that learned by ear eventually had to learn some theory, and scales and pitch are extremely important components of practically all music, let along jazz guitar. So what is the best way to learn jazz guitar, and where do you find the best courses?
Online is best, and you have a choice between one-off courses supplied on DVD or a membership site where you pay monthly for ongoing lessons. What are the benefits of each? Without a doubt, the DVD is the cheaper option because you only have one payment to make. In the same way, a single football ticket is cheaper than a season ticket, but which is best value? A DVD gives you one course of lessons and that is it, whereas a good membership provides you with a series of lessons, not only in your chosen genre, but any style of play you want to try.
A good membership site will offer you a choice of guitar teachers, and will update their course from time to time. They can also offer pages of chord diagrams, scales, songs to play to and backing tracks to play along with. You don't usually get this with a DVD. Not only that, but if you feel like trying some of the classical techniques while learning jazz, you are not just restricted to online jazz guitar lessons, but can try out some of the other lessons as well.
You can try some of the classical guitar techniques, have a look at what heavy metal are teaching and might want to introduce some blues into your jazz. You can do all that with a good membership site, but not with a DVD. It's a no-brainier really, and you can start at the very beginning, get rid of your bad habits, and progress through the stages until you are an accomplished jazz guitarist. Many people choose to do that - to start all over again with the right techniques. More...
Read more...
If you have not had proper formal training in guitar before, it is important that you register for a course that first takes you through the basics, even if you believe yourself to be a good guitarist. You must be well versed in the basic chords, keys, scales and perhaps even be able to play harmonics - both natural an artificial. What you need to know will be determined by the scope of the jazz guitar course.
It is probably better for you if your online jazz guitar lessons were part of a fundamentally more extensive course in playing guitar, that takes you from the basics of your instrument right through the progression of strumming, chords, scales, fingerstyle and so on in way that trains you in a holistic manner to be able to play any genre you choose, and so that jazz is simply an extension of your course.
By learning guitar that way each technique will be mastered before you progress, and no assumptions are made. The problem with a one-off jazz guitar course is that it will not be suitable for all skill levels. Some will lack basic techniques needed to follow the course, while others will already have inbuilt bad habits. Yet others might find a particular course too elementary, so it is important that you are able to adjust the course to suit your personal needs.
As a very minimum a jazz guitarist should understand chords, keys and their relationship with each other. A knowledge of tempo and time signatures is essential, as is knowing how to play harmonics that are widely used in playing jazz. Once you are accomplished in these techniques you will be ready to learn jazz, with its many voicing and jazz rhythms. You will learn about the circle of fifths which geometrically represents the relationship between the twelve pitch classes of the chromatic scale in pitch class space: if this is gobbledygook to you then you need a good jazz guitar course that takes you from the basics through the intermediate stages to real jazz guitar theory and practice.
There's no good learning how to play if you don't understand the theory, since only then will you be able to be innovative. Even players that learned by ear eventually had to learn some theory, and scales and pitch are extremely important components of practically all music, let along jazz guitar. So what is the best way to learn jazz guitar, and where do you find the best courses?
Online is best, and you have a choice between one-off courses supplied on DVD or a membership site where you pay monthly for ongoing lessons. What are the benefits of each? Without a doubt, the DVD is the cheaper option because you only have one payment to make. In the same way, a single football ticket is cheaper than a season ticket, but which is best value? A DVD gives you one course of lessons and that is it, whereas a good membership provides you with a series of lessons, not only in your chosen genre, but any style of play you want to try.
A good membership site will offer you a choice of guitar teachers, and will update their course from time to time. They can also offer pages of chord diagrams, scales, songs to play to and backing tracks to play along with. You don't usually get this with a DVD. Not only that, but if you feel like trying some of the classical techniques while learning jazz, you are not just restricted to online jazz guitar lessons, but can try out some of the other lessons as well.
You can try some of the classical guitar techniques, have a look at what heavy metal are teaching and might want to introduce some blues into your jazz. You can do all that with a good membership site, but not with a DVD. It's a no-brainier really, and you can start at the very beginning, get rid of your bad habits, and progress through the stages until you are an accomplished jazz guitarist. Many people choose to do that - to start all over again with the right techniques. More...
Classical Guitar Lessons!
The classical guitar is the prototype acoustic guitar. It's the model all other acoustic guitars are based on. The difference is the classical guitar usually has a much wider fretboard and uses nylon instead of steel strings. Also strumming the strings does not feature heavily in classical guitar. It's usually plucked.
The first few lessons in your classical guitar course will probably center around your posture and how you hold the guitar. You will be shown how to move your fingers, thumb and forearms economically. You're probably familiar with the distinctive upright posture of the classical guitar player with his foot on the stool. You will learn to play the guitar with the instrument balanced on your left thigh and held against your chest.
After learning the rudiments of music you will probably begin to play simple pieces. These short, simple pieces of music are designed to get you accustomed to playing the instrument. As your technique progresses the pieces you learn will be more complex and you will begin to appreciate the harmonic possibilities of the classical guitar.
As well as playing music on the classical guitar you will be told how to string it and how to tune it. As your classical guitar technique progresses you will be faced with the question of whether to be a nail player or a flesh player. Some classical guitarists grow the nails on their right hand to pluck the strings. Others use the flesh of their right hand fingertips. There is no right way to do it, it's just your choice between two distinctive sounds. At first you might think it's easier to play using the nails but, as with all physical skills, once you have chosen one way to play, after practice it will be second nature.
Even though practically any piece that you could name is available in guitar tab format, if you take classical guitar lessons it will be understood that you will be learning to read conventional music notation. No classical guitar teacher is going to let you off that. You will learn about time signatures, half notes, whole notes, scales and accidental notes. If you don't know what I'm talking about your head is probably swimming already, but don't worry, it's easier to do than it is to think about.
With online classical guitar lessons the process is simple - you log in, if you view the lessons and if you have any questions you can get help on the site's forum or by e-mail. There are other ways of learning to play the classical guitar but if you join a membership site that features online lessons you have the advantage of the teaching material being constantly updated. More...
Read more...
The first few lessons in your classical guitar course will probably center around your posture and how you hold the guitar. You will be shown how to move your fingers, thumb and forearms economically. You're probably familiar with the distinctive upright posture of the classical guitar player with his foot on the stool. You will learn to play the guitar with the instrument balanced on your left thigh and held against your chest.
After learning the rudiments of music you will probably begin to play simple pieces. These short, simple pieces of music are designed to get you accustomed to playing the instrument. As your technique progresses the pieces you learn will be more complex and you will begin to appreciate the harmonic possibilities of the classical guitar.
As well as playing music on the classical guitar you will be told how to string it and how to tune it. As your classical guitar technique progresses you will be faced with the question of whether to be a nail player or a flesh player. Some classical guitarists grow the nails on their right hand to pluck the strings. Others use the flesh of their right hand fingertips. There is no right way to do it, it's just your choice between two distinctive sounds. At first you might think it's easier to play using the nails but, as with all physical skills, once you have chosen one way to play, after practice it will be second nature.
Even though practically any piece that you could name is available in guitar tab format, if you take classical guitar lessons it will be understood that you will be learning to read conventional music notation. No classical guitar teacher is going to let you off that. You will learn about time signatures, half notes, whole notes, scales and accidental notes. If you don't know what I'm talking about your head is probably swimming already, but don't worry, it's easier to do than it is to think about.
With online classical guitar lessons the process is simple - you log in, if you view the lessons and if you have any questions you can get help on the site's forum or by e-mail. There are other ways of learning to play the classical guitar but if you join a membership site that features online lessons you have the advantage of the teaching material being constantly updated. More...
Lead Guitar Lessons!
In my search to find some good material for an article on lead guitar, I ran a little search for free lead guitar lessons.Sitting up at position number one on google for that search phrase was a beauty of a site. A very confusing site with all the potential to teach you how to play lead guitar.Here's what will happen if you go there. You will end up clicking on an advert. Ironic isn't it? You go there looking for free lead guitar lessons and you end up going some place where they want you to pay.
Now I'm not saying you can't learn to play lead guitar there. I've always believed that perseverance will pay off in the end, but you have to realize that most of these sites are there to make money first, and teaching you some lead guitar lessons is their second priority.To illustrate my point, I've been playing lead guitar professionally for over 20 years, and even I was confused about where to go for a short lead lesson.
Professional lead guitar lessons on DVD, are they worth it?
Sure, there are some lemons out there, but for the most part these guitar instruction CD's and DVD's are put together in such a way as to make the learning experience as smooth as possible.
I'm not saying that all free guitar lesson websites are as bad as the first one I came across. Some of them aren't half bad, but nothing beats a truly professional product.Some web based guitar lesson companies have an opt in form where you can sign up for a few free lessons.
I would take them up on the offer for the simple reason that you know they're going to try their darnedest to impress you with the quality of their guitar lessons.After all, isn't that we're looking for? Quality lead guitar lessons.Sure, we know that when the lead guitar lessons are over they're going to try and sell you their product.At least you'll be making an informed decision. More...
Read more...
Now I'm not saying you can't learn to play lead guitar there. I've always believed that perseverance will pay off in the end, but you have to realize that most of these sites are there to make money first, and teaching you some lead guitar lessons is their second priority.To illustrate my point, I've been playing lead guitar professionally for over 20 years, and even I was confused about where to go for a short lead lesson.
Professional lead guitar lessons on DVD, are they worth it?
Sure, there are some lemons out there, but for the most part these guitar instruction CD's and DVD's are put together in such a way as to make the learning experience as smooth as possible.
I'm not saying that all free guitar lesson websites are as bad as the first one I came across. Some of them aren't half bad, but nothing beats a truly professional product.Some web based guitar lesson companies have an opt in form where you can sign up for a few free lessons.
I would take them up on the offer for the simple reason that you know they're going to try their darnedest to impress you with the quality of their guitar lessons.After all, isn't that we're looking for? Quality lead guitar lessons.Sure, we know that when the lead guitar lessons are over they're going to try and sell you their product.At least you'll be making an informed decision. More...
Free Bass Lessons Learn!
I have designed these three exercises to help you to improve your bass guitar picking speed. Before we start, you WILL need a METRONOME! If you don't have one, get one as soon as possible. A metronome is an absolute MUST for the serious bass guitar player. The beginning tempo for this exercise is 60 beats per minute.
You need to use alternate picking in all of these exercises. In case you don't know, "alternate picking" means that you pick one note DOWN and the next note UP. If you try to do the exercises using only "DOWN" picking, you will be wasting half of your picking motion and the result will be that you will play HALF AS FAST as if you use alternate picking.
Helpful hints:
**Before you begin to play the exercises, you might want to set your metronome at 60 and practice clapping each rhythm--2 notes per beat, 3 notes per beat, 4 notes per beat and 6 notes per beat.
**If 60 seems very slow for the eighth notes, leave it there until you try the other three rhythms. Three, Four, and six notes per beat might be faster than you think. Here are the exercises:
1. Eighth Notes: Play a scale ( "pentatonic minor" is a good one to start with, but you can choose any scale that you want to practice) using eighth notes--2 notes per metronome beat. Repeat this part of the exercise until it becomes easy.
2. Triplets: For this exercise, you will play 3 notes per metronome beat. The first note of each triplet must be accented (played a little louder). This exercise is challenging because the triplets will begin with alternating picking directions. That is, the first one will begin with a down stroke, the second with an up stroke and so on. Practice these triplets until you can play them smoothly and evenly.
3. 16th notes: This one requires that you play 4 notes per metronome beat. Because of the increased speed of the notes, your method of holding the pick becomes extremely important at this point. Hint: Hold the pick so that just a small portion of it extends beyond your fingers. Then, instead of holding it at a 90 degree angle to the string, try a 45 degree angle. If you hold the pick at a 90 degree angle, it will get "stuck" (as you have probably experienced). Holding it at a 45 degree angle and then sort of "sawing" just the tip of the pick across the string will greatly improve your speed.
4. 16th note triplets: This means that you are going to play 6 notes per metronome beat. It helps to count "1 2 3 1 2 3" instead of "1 2 3 4 5 6". If 60 bpm is too fast, SLOW IT DOWN. It is important to practice at a speed which you can play PERFECTLY. More...
Read more...
You need to use alternate picking in all of these exercises. In case you don't know, "alternate picking" means that you pick one note DOWN and the next note UP. If you try to do the exercises using only "DOWN" picking, you will be wasting half of your picking motion and the result will be that you will play HALF AS FAST as if you use alternate picking.
Helpful hints:
**Before you begin to play the exercises, you might want to set your metronome at 60 and practice clapping each rhythm--2 notes per beat, 3 notes per beat, 4 notes per beat and 6 notes per beat.
**If 60 seems very slow for the eighth notes, leave it there until you try the other three rhythms. Three, Four, and six notes per beat might be faster than you think. Here are the exercises:
1. Eighth Notes: Play a scale ( "pentatonic minor" is a good one to start with, but you can choose any scale that you want to practice) using eighth notes--2 notes per metronome beat. Repeat this part of the exercise until it becomes easy.
2. Triplets: For this exercise, you will play 3 notes per metronome beat. The first note of each triplet must be accented (played a little louder). This exercise is challenging because the triplets will begin with alternating picking directions. That is, the first one will begin with a down stroke, the second with an up stroke and so on. Practice these triplets until you can play them smoothly and evenly.
3. 16th notes: This one requires that you play 4 notes per metronome beat. Because of the increased speed of the notes, your method of holding the pick becomes extremely important at this point. Hint: Hold the pick so that just a small portion of it extends beyond your fingers. Then, instead of holding it at a 90 degree angle to the string, try a 45 degree angle. If you hold the pick at a 90 degree angle, it will get "stuck" (as you have probably experienced). Holding it at a 45 degree angle and then sort of "sawing" just the tip of the pick across the string will greatly improve your speed.
4. 16th note triplets: This means that you are going to play 6 notes per metronome beat. It helps to count "1 2 3 1 2 3" instead of "1 2 3 4 5 6". If 60 bpm is too fast, SLOW IT DOWN. It is important to practice at a speed which you can play PERFECTLY. More...
Learn To Play Guitar Online!
Just like taking your normal brick and mortar school classes you can learn to play guitar online and just like other classes it takes a passion or desire to succeed and self-discipline. Most people would like to learn all sorts of things but with work and family it is not always attainable to acquire the time for extracurricular learning.
Through the magic of today's computers and multimedia presentations you can learn to play guitar online without having to worry about a scheduled guitar lesson. Access to your classes to learn to play guitar online are usually open 24 hours a day.
Various companies today are offering great opportunities to take your course lessons through an online curriculum and being able to download songs in the lesson, record what you learn and send them back to the instructor, and you can receive honest feedback and criticism of your growing ability. It has been said that anyone can learn to play the guitar, but it may take some longer than others do. Remember though that in your attempts to learn guitar playing online it will also take hours of hard work and discipline. There are not shortcuts so be prepared to work hard.
Just like any other educational venture online, when you learn to play guitar online it will necessitate self-discipline to give the course lessons the time they need and deserve or you may be flushing your money down the toilet on what you spend on lessons. There will not be an instructor tapping you on the back to play it again and again until you get it just right. Your dedication to your guitar will be up to you. Your desire to learn to play guitar online to complete the course lessons and then practice them is yours alone. So do it right from the beginning and you will be happy you did!
Do Virtual Instructors Provide Virtual Desire to Students?
One of the biggest challenges for some if the difference between personalized instruction and when you learn to play guitar online is the observations paid to the student by the instructor. When learning a course in a classroom the instructor may play a rather complex piece of music and challenge you to learn it. An identical challenge may lose some of its urgency if presented online. If you feel like you have all the time in the world to complete your next lesson and go play a video game or watch a movie you are only fooling yourself.
In order to learn to play guitar online you must have a burning desire to play the guitar and the utmost willingness to dedicate the time required for not only the lessons, but also for the usually many hours of practice you will need. Especially if you are just starting out with sore muscles and bleeding finger tips.
Usually online classes are self-paced but many may also place a time limitation requirement to successfully complete the course. While there would be no penalty for failing to finish the course on time, you are paying hard earned money for tuition to learn to play guitar online and not finishing is only providing a financial penalty to you. Learning to learn to play guitar online at your own pace and without the embarrassment of failing in front of an instructor or other students is very rewarding and is something those without time or a varying weekly schedule can accomplish even with the challenges of our hectic world we live in. More...
Read more...
Through the magic of today's computers and multimedia presentations you can learn to play guitar online without having to worry about a scheduled guitar lesson. Access to your classes to learn to play guitar online are usually open 24 hours a day.
Various companies today are offering great opportunities to take your course lessons through an online curriculum and being able to download songs in the lesson, record what you learn and send them back to the instructor, and you can receive honest feedback and criticism of your growing ability. It has been said that anyone can learn to play the guitar, but it may take some longer than others do. Remember though that in your attempts to learn guitar playing online it will also take hours of hard work and discipline. There are not shortcuts so be prepared to work hard.
Just like any other educational venture online, when you learn to play guitar online it will necessitate self-discipline to give the course lessons the time they need and deserve or you may be flushing your money down the toilet on what you spend on lessons. There will not be an instructor tapping you on the back to play it again and again until you get it just right. Your dedication to your guitar will be up to you. Your desire to learn to play guitar online to complete the course lessons and then practice them is yours alone. So do it right from the beginning and you will be happy you did!
Do Virtual Instructors Provide Virtual Desire to Students?
One of the biggest challenges for some if the difference between personalized instruction and when you learn to play guitar online is the observations paid to the student by the instructor. When learning a course in a classroom the instructor may play a rather complex piece of music and challenge you to learn it. An identical challenge may lose some of its urgency if presented online. If you feel like you have all the time in the world to complete your next lesson and go play a video game or watch a movie you are only fooling yourself.
In order to learn to play guitar online you must have a burning desire to play the guitar and the utmost willingness to dedicate the time required for not only the lessons, but also for the usually many hours of practice you will need. Especially if you are just starting out with sore muscles and bleeding finger tips.
Usually online classes are self-paced but many may also place a time limitation requirement to successfully complete the course. While there would be no penalty for failing to finish the course on time, you are paying hard earned money for tuition to learn to play guitar online and not finishing is only providing a financial penalty to you. Learning to learn to play guitar online at your own pace and without the embarrassment of failing in front of an instructor or other students is very rewarding and is something those without time or a varying weekly schedule can accomplish even with the challenges of our hectic world we live in. More...
Learn To Play Bass Guitar!
Playing the guitar is one popular pastime nowadays. For some people, it is also a way of expressing themselves and elevates the hobby into an art form or sometimes, science.
Playing the guitar, however, is no joke. It requires a lot of patience and practice. For some people, they would rather study playing the bass guitar than the regular guitar. Here are some tips on learning to play the bass guitar.
1. Feel the beat
Playing the bass guitar differs primarily from playing a regular guitar because it entails an emphasis on the beat of the music. One can compare the bass guitar into a drum or percussion set that is made into a guitar. Beats are very important in playing bass guitar because this type of guitar gives depth and timing to any song.
If one grasps the notes of a regular guitar through his ears, a bass player grabs the notes of a bass guitar through his chest. The bass guitar pounds on the heart and gives it feelings through the depth of the music.
2. Learn the notes (single chords) on a regular guitar
The main thing about bass guitars is that they are tuned like ordinary guitars. The difference is that most regular bass guitars only have four strings which are far thicker than ordinary ones. This kind of strings allows the bass guitar to go very deep in terms of tone.
Take a regular guitar (which is tuned from the thickest to the lowest string- E - A - D - G - B - E) and exclude the two thinnest strings at the bottom and what is left is basically a bass guitar with thinner strings.
Bass playing is usually note-oriented and not chord-oriented. This means that single notes are hit more often in bass playing and this scheme is the essential element of bass playing. One should be familiar with the tunings and the notes in a regular guitar to be able to decently play the bass guitar.
3. Finger placing is important
Hitting the bass guitar fret board with the left-hand fingers is very important since it is a major factor that will determine the wholeness of each note. Try to place the fingers such that they are close to the fret on the right. The right hand should also be practiced so as to give bass guitar playing a holistic approach.
4. Strengthen your grip
Another important thing to develop in bass playing is the strength of both hand's fingers. The bass guitar is a sturdy and solid musical instrument, strength is needed to play it.
In playing the bass guitar, one should always take one lesson at a time. Bass playing requires repetition and there's no sense in hurrying the learning process. One should feel the notes through his soul and through his heart and become one with the bass guitar. More...
Read more...
Playing the guitar, however, is no joke. It requires a lot of patience and practice. For some people, they would rather study playing the bass guitar than the regular guitar. Here are some tips on learning to play the bass guitar.
1. Feel the beat
Playing the bass guitar differs primarily from playing a regular guitar because it entails an emphasis on the beat of the music. One can compare the bass guitar into a drum or percussion set that is made into a guitar. Beats are very important in playing bass guitar because this type of guitar gives depth and timing to any song.
If one grasps the notes of a regular guitar through his ears, a bass player grabs the notes of a bass guitar through his chest. The bass guitar pounds on the heart and gives it feelings through the depth of the music.
2. Learn the notes (single chords) on a regular guitar
The main thing about bass guitars is that they are tuned like ordinary guitars. The difference is that most regular bass guitars only have four strings which are far thicker than ordinary ones. This kind of strings allows the bass guitar to go very deep in terms of tone.
Take a regular guitar (which is tuned from the thickest to the lowest string- E - A - D - G - B - E) and exclude the two thinnest strings at the bottom and what is left is basically a bass guitar with thinner strings.
Bass playing is usually note-oriented and not chord-oriented. This means that single notes are hit more often in bass playing and this scheme is the essential element of bass playing. One should be familiar with the tunings and the notes in a regular guitar to be able to decently play the bass guitar.
3. Finger placing is important
Hitting the bass guitar fret board with the left-hand fingers is very important since it is a major factor that will determine the wholeness of each note. Try to place the fingers such that they are close to the fret on the right. The right hand should also be practiced so as to give bass guitar playing a holistic approach.
4. Strengthen your grip
Another important thing to develop in bass playing is the strength of both hand's fingers. The bass guitar is a sturdy and solid musical instrument, strength is needed to play it.
In playing the bass guitar, one should always take one lesson at a time. Bass playing requires repetition and there's no sense in hurrying the learning process. One should feel the notes through his soul and through his heart and become one with the bass guitar. More...
Blues Guitar Riffs!
If you are fascinated by the guitar and wish to take up some simple lessons, guitar rock will guide you with lessons that consist of some easy and popular blue guitar riffs. The guitar rock is an album of the 60's and 70's tunes. They boast a beginner's morale immensely because they are very easy to play. These types of lessons help the beginners build a repertoire of popular songs.
So learn them and amaze your acquaintances. Your riff will be appreciated if it is played well. Sometimes playing the riff could be an impractical job for beginners who are probably playing all by themselves. Fortunately the most familiar blue guitar riffs are the easiest to play.
Improvisation and experimenting will give you better and better ideas. Learn it a couple of times and practice it on a drum machine while you can play it effortlessly. Then return and learn a few more.
Begin with blue turnarounds. The Key E is used in the first two turnarounds. Key A is used in the next one. The key of A which comprises of five groups is the number 1 blue lick and should be used for every beat in the metronome. The key of E is the number 2 blue lick. Key of A is in lick number 3 and 4. Now enjoy your lesson.
The most memorable piece of all songs would be the opening riff, though not very easy it is very appealing. Some of the blue guitar riffs should ideally be played with an accompanist. Some of the lessons for beginners are done will simple illustrations. The lessons also guide you with tips regarding looking great while playing the guitar. So go ahead and enjoy.
Guitar lessons can be learnt through the videos format as well. This lesson will cover jazz, funk, rock, blues and popular songs by popular artists. It covers theories and techniques too.
Certain books guide you with invaluable intros, turnarounds and endings. They also teach you to play famous guitarist. Genuine rock licks can be attained and added to ones vocabulary through CD's the instructions of which can be easily followed.
These books will enable you to learn even the challenging part easily. The tablature makes it easy to understand how to position your fingers and neck perfectly. Also learn to get the classic sound of guitar like the vibrato, pull-offs, bends, hammer-ons, slur, slides and string muted rakings. Blue guitar riffs are user friendly and aides self-learning. More...
Read more...
So learn them and amaze your acquaintances. Your riff will be appreciated if it is played well. Sometimes playing the riff could be an impractical job for beginners who are probably playing all by themselves. Fortunately the most familiar blue guitar riffs are the easiest to play.
Improvisation and experimenting will give you better and better ideas. Learn it a couple of times and practice it on a drum machine while you can play it effortlessly. Then return and learn a few more.
Begin with blue turnarounds. The Key E is used in the first two turnarounds. Key A is used in the next one. The key of A which comprises of five groups is the number 1 blue lick and should be used for every beat in the metronome. The key of E is the number 2 blue lick. Key of A is in lick number 3 and 4. Now enjoy your lesson.
The most memorable piece of all songs would be the opening riff, though not very easy it is very appealing. Some of the blue guitar riffs should ideally be played with an accompanist. Some of the lessons for beginners are done will simple illustrations. The lessons also guide you with tips regarding looking great while playing the guitar. So go ahead and enjoy.
Guitar lessons can be learnt through the videos format as well. This lesson will cover jazz, funk, rock, blues and popular songs by popular artists. It covers theories and techniques too.
Certain books guide you with invaluable intros, turnarounds and endings. They also teach you to play famous guitarist. Genuine rock licks can be attained and added to ones vocabulary through CD's the instructions of which can be easily followed.
These books will enable you to learn even the challenging part easily. The tablature makes it easy to understand how to position your fingers and neck perfectly. Also learn to get the classic sound of guitar like the vibrato, pull-offs, bends, hammer-ons, slur, slides and string muted rakings. Blue guitar riffs are user friendly and aides self-learning. More...
Beginner Guitar Lesson!
Choosing which beginner guitar lessons are the right ones for you can appear to be like dancing out onto an uncharted minefield!If you are like most people wanting to take up a course of beginner guitar lessons then you probably will have little or no idea where to start.
The problem is, yes you know where you want to finish up. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Perhaps your vision is just to play electric guitar for your own enjoyment in your own home. It may be to strum some country & western at your local club or school, or just maybe, you can see yourself on the wider stage!
Every journey starts with that first step and it is a step you have to take if you are to succeed in your ambition. The best place to commence is for sure at the beginning and that is with some beginner guitar lessons. There may be some frustration along the way as you commence on the journey to play your guitar,however the pleasures you will harvest from staying in there, practicing and learning how to play guitar through to your success will be your dream come true.
In your course you should have a suitably structured journey that takes you to that place you want to go. You need to have a system that inspires you,engrosses you and really makes it a fun journey as you learn.Your journey to learn and master guitar should begin at your beginning, it must commence from where you are ready to start. From a position of complete beginner or from the position of an improver what really matters is that you feel comfortable with it.
But what really makes up a good course of beginner guitar lessons? There are many courses of beginner guitar lessons to be had today and they are at all prices and quality. To achieve the outcome of truly learning and mastering your new guitar, of staying engrossed in the course from the very start and onwards to your success requires a variety of components that you can change to and from as the whim takes you, but which together form part of a properly organised course.
At the heart of any top quality course of beginner guitar lessons will be a collection of professionally produced video tracks. It is important that the instructor hosting the video series within the course is not only an excellent guitar player himself but that he is able to communicate his skills and teachings in an agreeable and absorbing manner. These lessons will be central to your beginner guitar lessons. They have to be backed up with in depth printed matter, fully detailing the exercises shown on video and any songs and tabs featured, so that you can continue to practice at your leisure.
Actually playing the guitar will be the most rewarding way to learn to play it. Practice will be enriched no end if a good and varied set of jam-along CDs are included for you to get the feel of playing your guitar along with a professional group. You will be amazed how much fun this can make your practice sessions
It is a big advantage if included within the course is a student support system. To have an access route to your teacher and your fellow students for stimulation and support can be the dividing factor between success and frustration. To have access and interaction with fellow students through your support system where each can help each other can add enormously to the experience . It offers a place to go when you are alone with your beginner guitar lessons, where you can interact and in truth be not alone but be among your class of fellow students and you will draw massive strength from them.
So how much will you have to pay to get into a course like this? It wouldn't be realistic to think that you could get all this for nothing. For sure its value will be remembered long after the price is forgotten You can of course buy a rudimentary package of beginner guitar lessons very cheaply. However, the depth and quality of your course will in the end dictate the price you pay. In the final analysis it it depends on what value you want to put on your own guitar playing experience and how far you want to take it. If you are determined to make the most of whatever course you choose you will be spending a good deal of time in there with it. It is without doubt the quality and the depth of your course you invest in that will keep you involved within it and making the most of the experience such that you go on to attain the goals you have set yourself to play guitar.
We are talking about an investment in yourself which can and will, if you stay with it, provide you with a lifetime of pleasure. The value for money to be enjoyed in a course such as this goes way beyond the price that you pay and to be fair that price will probably be less than you might have thought. Added to that when purchased from a well known and respected company your beginner guitar lessons will be backed up by a no quibble return policy. This gives you the opportunity to buy your course with absolutely no risk.
There is one course of beginner guitar lessons that comes very highly thought of from a company whose motto is "we have finished when you have reached your dream" and which stands out above all others. That course caters for not only beginner guitar lessons but is equally aimed at the higher level guitar player. It is produced by Legacy Learning Systems. Marketed as their Learn & Master Guitar Course it is truly an all encompassing system. Contained within this comprehensive course of beginner guitar lessons is everything you could need to take you from wherever you are in your guitar journey to wherever you want to go. It has been constructed to make your learning experience your pleasure and to help you to reach your own success. Check it out for yourself, you have nothing to lose but you have everything to gain. More...
Read more...
The problem is, yes you know where you want to finish up. There is absolutely no doubt about that. Perhaps your vision is just to play electric guitar for your own enjoyment in your own home. It may be to strum some country & western at your local club or school, or just maybe, you can see yourself on the wider stage!
Every journey starts with that first step and it is a step you have to take if you are to succeed in your ambition. The best place to commence is for sure at the beginning and that is with some beginner guitar lessons. There may be some frustration along the way as you commence on the journey to play your guitar,however the pleasures you will harvest from staying in there, practicing and learning how to play guitar through to your success will be your dream come true.
In your course you should have a suitably structured journey that takes you to that place you want to go. You need to have a system that inspires you,engrosses you and really makes it a fun journey as you learn.Your journey to learn and master guitar should begin at your beginning, it must commence from where you are ready to start. From a position of complete beginner or from the position of an improver what really matters is that you feel comfortable with it.
But what really makes up a good course of beginner guitar lessons? There are many courses of beginner guitar lessons to be had today and they are at all prices and quality. To achieve the outcome of truly learning and mastering your new guitar, of staying engrossed in the course from the very start and onwards to your success requires a variety of components that you can change to and from as the whim takes you, but which together form part of a properly organised course.
At the heart of any top quality course of beginner guitar lessons will be a collection of professionally produced video tracks. It is important that the instructor hosting the video series within the course is not only an excellent guitar player himself but that he is able to communicate his skills and teachings in an agreeable and absorbing manner. These lessons will be central to your beginner guitar lessons. They have to be backed up with in depth printed matter, fully detailing the exercises shown on video and any songs and tabs featured, so that you can continue to practice at your leisure.
Actually playing the guitar will be the most rewarding way to learn to play it. Practice will be enriched no end if a good and varied set of jam-along CDs are included for you to get the feel of playing your guitar along with a professional group. You will be amazed how much fun this can make your practice sessions
It is a big advantage if included within the course is a student support system. To have an access route to your teacher and your fellow students for stimulation and support can be the dividing factor between success and frustration. To have access and interaction with fellow students through your support system where each can help each other can add enormously to the experience . It offers a place to go when you are alone with your beginner guitar lessons, where you can interact and in truth be not alone but be among your class of fellow students and you will draw massive strength from them.
So how much will you have to pay to get into a course like this? It wouldn't be realistic to think that you could get all this for nothing. For sure its value will be remembered long after the price is forgotten You can of course buy a rudimentary package of beginner guitar lessons very cheaply. However, the depth and quality of your course will in the end dictate the price you pay. In the final analysis it it depends on what value you want to put on your own guitar playing experience and how far you want to take it. If you are determined to make the most of whatever course you choose you will be spending a good deal of time in there with it. It is without doubt the quality and the depth of your course you invest in that will keep you involved within it and making the most of the experience such that you go on to attain the goals you have set yourself to play guitar.
We are talking about an investment in yourself which can and will, if you stay with it, provide you with a lifetime of pleasure. The value for money to be enjoyed in a course such as this goes way beyond the price that you pay and to be fair that price will probably be less than you might have thought. Added to that when purchased from a well known and respected company your beginner guitar lessons will be backed up by a no quibble return policy. This gives you the opportunity to buy your course with absolutely no risk.
There is one course of beginner guitar lessons that comes very highly thought of from a company whose motto is "we have finished when you have reached your dream" and which stands out above all others. That course caters for not only beginner guitar lessons but is equally aimed at the higher level guitar player. It is produced by Legacy Learning Systems. Marketed as their Learn & Master Guitar Course it is truly an all encompassing system. Contained within this comprehensive course of beginner guitar lessons is everything you could need to take you from wherever you are in your guitar journey to wherever you want to go. It has been constructed to make your learning experience your pleasure and to help you to reach your own success. Check it out for yourself, you have nothing to lose but you have everything to gain. More...
Guitar Lessons Scales!
In this article we'll focus on one of the most important guitar lessons - scales and modes. Having knowledge of scales and modes in invaluable as a guitarist, as that knowledge will push you out of the box of only being able to play other people's music and give you the skills you need to write your own. Knowledge of scales and modes will also assist you in improvising, and will make it easier for you to figure out passages by ear.
Natural Major Scales:
The easiest way to understand major scales is to construct them. Major scales are constructed based on the following pattern: R-T-T-S-T-T-T-S where R means root note, T means tone (which is a whole step, or two frets distance on a fret board) and S means semi-tone (which is a half step, or one frets distance on a fret board). So when you are constructing and playing major scales, simply follow this pattern. For instance, the G Major scale would be:
G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
R - T - T - S -T -T - T - S
The A Major scale would be:
A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A
Etc.
Natural Minor Scales:
Minor scales are constructed R - T - S - T - T - S - T - T, so the G Minor scale would be
G - A - A# - C - D - D# - F - G
R - T - S - T - T - S - T - T
The A Minor scale would be:
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A
There are countless variations on scales (and modes), far too many to list in any one article. So it's recommended that you further research scales in order to further your abilities. The knowledge of major and minor scales however will be enough to get you well on your way to developing a more complete knowledge of music theory. More...
Read more...
Natural Major Scales:
The easiest way to understand major scales is to construct them. Major scales are constructed based on the following pattern: R-T-T-S-T-T-T-S where R means root note, T means tone (which is a whole step, or two frets distance on a fret board) and S means semi-tone (which is a half step, or one frets distance on a fret board). So when you are constructing and playing major scales, simply follow this pattern. For instance, the G Major scale would be:
G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
R - T - T - S -T -T - T - S
The A Major scale would be:
A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A
Etc.
Natural Minor Scales:
Minor scales are constructed R - T - S - T - T - S - T - T, so the G Minor scale would be
G - A - A# - C - D - D# - F - G
R - T - S - T - T - S - T - T
The A Minor scale would be:
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - A
There are countless variations on scales (and modes), far too many to list in any one article. So it's recommended that you further research scales in order to further your abilities. The knowledge of major and minor scales however will be enough to get you well on your way to developing a more complete knowledge of music theory. More...
Bluegrass Guitar Lessons!
Perhaps you have made a decision that you want to be part of Bluegrass music. Perhaps that has prompted you to look for some Bluegrass guitar lessons. Congratulations, you are joining thousands of people who enjoy Bluegrass. Perhaps it would help to know a little more about the history and development of Bluegrass music.
It is probably no surprise to know that Bluegrass came from the American South and in the Appalachian mountains. Here due to the geography of the region the music developed unaffected by outside influences. The early settlers from Scotland and Ireland had brought with them their musical traditions and instruments. These mixed with the local folk music to start a style.
It wasn't until the 1920s and 1930s that outside factors start to have significant effect on this mountain music. Blues and Jazz music were a major influence on the development of the mountain music. The rhythms of ragtime and soul of Gospel music were added to the mix to produce something a little like what we know today as Bluegrass.
But the name Bluegrass was only applied to this sort of music during the 1950's. Then a man called Bill Munroe named his band "the Blue Grass Boys " due to the fact he came from Kentucky. Kentucky was well known as the Blue Grass State. With his musical popularity the term took hold.
In bluegrass style each instrument plays the melody and does some improvisation around it while the other instruments provide accompaniment. The traditional Bluegrass instruments are predominantly stringed - mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass and the acoustic guitar. Vocals are optional. When there are vocals is it common for them to be two to four part harmonies. The unique aspect is that usually the highest voice is in a dissonant manner. This gives rise to the descriptive term "High lonesome sound"
It wasn't until the 1960s that acoustic guitars were recognized as a valid solo instrument. Furthering the guitars cause was a Doc Watson, a multi-talented player. His ability spawned a craze for playing flat pick guitar.
As is the case with any style of music as it is played by various generations the style evolves slightly. Today a new form is gaining popularity call New grass. In New grass players bring in more modern influences such as hip-hop to create a newer sound.
The history of Bluegrass is modern but it is based on a lot of tradition. People have enjoyed it for nearly 100 years in its pure form and it doesn't look like that popularity will wane in the near future. Choosing to be part by taking Bluegrass Guitar Lessons is just one way to be part of the story that is Bluegrass. More...
Read more...
It is probably no surprise to know that Bluegrass came from the American South and in the Appalachian mountains. Here due to the geography of the region the music developed unaffected by outside influences. The early settlers from Scotland and Ireland had brought with them their musical traditions and instruments. These mixed with the local folk music to start a style.
It wasn't until the 1920s and 1930s that outside factors start to have significant effect on this mountain music. Blues and Jazz music were a major influence on the development of the mountain music. The rhythms of ragtime and soul of Gospel music were added to the mix to produce something a little like what we know today as Bluegrass.
But the name Bluegrass was only applied to this sort of music during the 1950's. Then a man called Bill Munroe named his band "the Blue Grass Boys " due to the fact he came from Kentucky. Kentucky was well known as the Blue Grass State. With his musical popularity the term took hold.
In bluegrass style each instrument plays the melody and does some improvisation around it while the other instruments provide accompaniment. The traditional Bluegrass instruments are predominantly stringed - mandolin, banjo, fiddle, bass and the acoustic guitar. Vocals are optional. When there are vocals is it common for them to be two to four part harmonies. The unique aspect is that usually the highest voice is in a dissonant manner. This gives rise to the descriptive term "High lonesome sound"
It wasn't until the 1960s that acoustic guitars were recognized as a valid solo instrument. Furthering the guitars cause was a Doc Watson, a multi-talented player. His ability spawned a craze for playing flat pick guitar.
As is the case with any style of music as it is played by various generations the style evolves slightly. Today a new form is gaining popularity call New grass. In New grass players bring in more modern influences such as hip-hop to create a newer sound.
The history of Bluegrass is modern but it is based on a lot of tradition. People have enjoyed it for nearly 100 years in its pure form and it doesn't look like that popularity will wane in the near future. Choosing to be part by taking Bluegrass Guitar Lessons is just one way to be part of the story that is Bluegrass. More...
Blues Guitar Lessons!
Blues music is still alive and well, there's no doubt about that. Blues music is a very old genre of music. It is estimated that this music originated somewhere between 1870 and 1900. Blues music inspired many people to learn to play instruments, especially the guitar. Considering the guitar is the heart and soul of most Blues songs. Without this type music, many genres of contemporary music wouldn't even exist today.
If you are truly passionate about learning how to play Blues music, it may be a little bit difficult. You may want to learn how to play the Blues by taking lessons. However, finding a tutor to teach you about this music could potentially be a little bit hard. Unfortunately, depending on your location, you may not have anyone who is completely knowledgeable in Blues music who teaches guitar lessons.
This is because most people who teach most likely have a Classical guitar, Rock and Roll, Alternative rock, etc...playing background. Most likely, you'd be very hard pressed to find someone in your area who has a great deal of experience in playing and teaching Blues guitar. This is only because the genre of Blues isn't as popular as other genres of music.
If you really want to play Blues guitar but can't find a tutor, what should you do? It doesn't mean you have to give up on your dream of learning how to play the Blues guitar, if no one in your area teaches Blues guitar. You can take advantage of online Blues guitar lessons.
The internet is a fantastic invention. It is now possible to access infinite information all at the click of a few buttons. Thanks to this wonderful invention, you can learn how to play Blues guitar pretty easily and quickly, without having to find someone local to teach you.
When it comes to online Blues guitar lessons, you'll have two choices. You can search for free lessons on the internet. You can also find a site that offers a complete package for learning to play the Blues.
Which method you choose to get your guitar lessons will be up to you. However, it will probably take you a lot of searching to find quality free lessons. You have no guarantees that the lessons you find will be from someone who really knows what they're talking about.
The paid option is probably your best bet, especially if you're brand new to playing the guitar. Paid online Blues guitar lessons will ensure that you get the proper training. They will make sure you start with the best beginner lessons available. You will then advance to intermediate, and finally, you will graduate to the expert level.
By taking online Blues guitar lessons, you'll be in good company of many people before you who learned to play the Blues. You'll find it very enjoyable and rewarding. Best of all, you'll be able to take your lessons in the comfort of your own home at your own pace. More...
Read more...
If you are truly passionate about learning how to play Blues music, it may be a little bit difficult. You may want to learn how to play the Blues by taking lessons. However, finding a tutor to teach you about this music could potentially be a little bit hard. Unfortunately, depending on your location, you may not have anyone who is completely knowledgeable in Blues music who teaches guitar lessons.
This is because most people who teach most likely have a Classical guitar, Rock and Roll, Alternative rock, etc...playing background. Most likely, you'd be very hard pressed to find someone in your area who has a great deal of experience in playing and teaching Blues guitar. This is only because the genre of Blues isn't as popular as other genres of music.
If you really want to play Blues guitar but can't find a tutor, what should you do? It doesn't mean you have to give up on your dream of learning how to play the Blues guitar, if no one in your area teaches Blues guitar. You can take advantage of online Blues guitar lessons.
The internet is a fantastic invention. It is now possible to access infinite information all at the click of a few buttons. Thanks to this wonderful invention, you can learn how to play Blues guitar pretty easily and quickly, without having to find someone local to teach you.
When it comes to online Blues guitar lessons, you'll have two choices. You can search for free lessons on the internet. You can also find a site that offers a complete package for learning to play the Blues.
Which method you choose to get your guitar lessons will be up to you. However, it will probably take you a lot of searching to find quality free lessons. You have no guarantees that the lessons you find will be from someone who really knows what they're talking about.
The paid option is probably your best bet, especially if you're brand new to playing the guitar. Paid online Blues guitar lessons will ensure that you get the proper training. They will make sure you start with the best beginner lessons available. You will then advance to intermediate, and finally, you will graduate to the expert level.
By taking online Blues guitar lessons, you'll be in good company of many people before you who learned to play the Blues. You'll find it very enjoyable and rewarding. Best of all, you'll be able to take your lessons in the comfort of your own home at your own pace. More...
Guitar Solo Lesson!
Are you one of those guys that is always dreaming with his eye wide open of a live guitar performance in front of a huge audience? I've been there, and I had not yet had my first guitar solo lesson at that time. Dreaming is nice, but to get things going you need to start acting on your passion, so here are some great tips to help you play your guitar better.
Tip 1 - Feel the rhythm
If you want to become a great player someday, or at least to get the hang of it and start being appreciated by friends, you need to understand your own guitar, to feel its unique beat.
Tip 2 - Buy a guitar your size
There is no need to get the biggest guitar on the market when you can barely hold a medium-sized one. Get something you can manage because in your guitar solo lesson you should only focus on the notes you play.
Tip 3 - Get a lesson guide
If you don`t have time to get private lessons, then you can teach yourself guitar at home. But learning chords and scales with no assistance is impossible, so find a guide that allows short lessons for busy yet passionate people.
Tip 4 - Want a solo? Learn your notes!
Before staring a solo act as the great artists, remember that you have to at least know the notes on your chords. You can`t just randomly play them.
Tip 5 - Learn some serious theory basics
To sing real songs you have to understand how they were written, otherwise your notes will be empty.
Your home guitar solo lesson can be very rewarding once you learn how to feel your music. With some of effort and practice, and with the right guidelines, you`ll soon be able to play for a real audience. More...
Read more...
Tip 1 - Feel the rhythm
If you want to become a great player someday, or at least to get the hang of it and start being appreciated by friends, you need to understand your own guitar, to feel its unique beat.
Tip 2 - Buy a guitar your size
There is no need to get the biggest guitar on the market when you can barely hold a medium-sized one. Get something you can manage because in your guitar solo lesson you should only focus on the notes you play.
Tip 3 - Get a lesson guide
If you don`t have time to get private lessons, then you can teach yourself guitar at home. But learning chords and scales with no assistance is impossible, so find a guide that allows short lessons for busy yet passionate people.
Tip 4 - Want a solo? Learn your notes!
Before staring a solo act as the great artists, remember that you have to at least know the notes on your chords. You can`t just randomly play them.
Tip 5 - Learn some serious theory basics
To sing real songs you have to understand how they were written, otherwise your notes will be empty.
Your home guitar solo lesson can be very rewarding once you learn how to feel your music. With some of effort and practice, and with the right guidelines, you`ll soon be able to play for a real audience. More...
Finger Style Guitar Lessons!
Finger-picking guitar lessons are available in five basic forms: by book, book + audio, personal, DVD and through a membership site. Each has its own benefits, although it is up to you to decide which you would prefer for yourself. Before discussing each of these, however, let's first discuss what is involved in finger-picking as a guitar playing technique.
The basic definition of finger-picking is using each finger of your playing hand, as opposed to your fretting hand, to play each note individually. You do not use a pick, or a plectrum which is its Sunday name, and you do not generally strum, although there is room for a form of strumming while finger-picking. The technique is primarily a means of playing distinct notes rather than chords. Bass guitarists, for example, basically finger pick when they play, although their style is known more as 'plucking'.
Fingerpicking is used predominantly by country players and classical guitarists, although many of the better rock and metal guitarists also use that style of playing. Some of the more famous exponents of fingerpicking are Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler in the rock genre, John Fahey and Merle Travis of folk and country fame and classical guitarists Andre Segovia and John Williams. Although their musical styles are worlds apart, their playing styles are very similar. It is an indication of how the type of music you use your guitar to play does not dictate the way you play your instrument.
Why, then, should the way you are taught how to play guitar be so important? Why should it matter whether you are taught by video or an online membership site? Let's have a look at the various possibilities - in fact each of the five basic forms mentioned above in which finger-picking guitar lessons are offered.
1. GUITAR LEARNING BOOK
If you have ever tried to learn guitar using a book and nothing else, you were likely born sometime between the Second World War and the Vietnam War. You would also likely have been fairly unsuccessful with your fingerpicking guitar lessons, because it is next to impossible to teach picking techniques using only a book.
You can learn chords using a book: in fact that is ideal for chords that need specific finger positions that can be shown using chord charts. However, even for finger-picking the individual notes in open chords, a book is not the best medium because you can't see how the strings are picked, in what order, how they are picked and how fast. You can't even hear what it should sound like.
2. GUITAR BOOK + AUDIO
If the book comes with audio then that is a step forward, since at least you can hear what the tune or exercise should sound like. However finger-picking guitar lessons are very difficult to get across without that very critical element of technique. Unless you can see what you should be learning you will find it very difficult, which takes us to:
3. PERSONAL TUITION
Personal tuition is the ideal way to get finger-picking guitar lessons because you have your guitar teacher right there with you who can help you out both with your fret fingering and your picking. It is also expensive, and once you have your guitar teacher that is it: you could change but that would likely be even more expensive to do. Personal tuition is the best of the options so far.
4. DVD (VIDEO) TUITION
A video is the next best thing to personal tuition, particularly if that DVD is produced by an expert guitar finger-picker. The benefit of a video is that you play it over time and again, and you can also play it in slow motion to spot the details of the fingering and finger-picking you are being shown. After personal finger-picking guitar lessons there is little to beat video tuition, other than:
5. MEMBERSHIP GUITAR TUITION SITES
A membership guitar teaching site can provide you with everything you need to learn, and online finger-picking guitar lessons are generally more productive than any of the four alternatives previously mentioned. Membership sites have a lot going for them, not the least of which is the fact that the best of them can offer you a choice of guitar teachers, and styles of guitar instruction. More...
Read more...
The basic definition of finger-picking is using each finger of your playing hand, as opposed to your fretting hand, to play each note individually. You do not use a pick, or a plectrum which is its Sunday name, and you do not generally strum, although there is room for a form of strumming while finger-picking. The technique is primarily a means of playing distinct notes rather than chords. Bass guitarists, for example, basically finger pick when they play, although their style is known more as 'plucking'.
Fingerpicking is used predominantly by country players and classical guitarists, although many of the better rock and metal guitarists also use that style of playing. Some of the more famous exponents of fingerpicking are Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler in the rock genre, John Fahey and Merle Travis of folk and country fame and classical guitarists Andre Segovia and John Williams. Although their musical styles are worlds apart, their playing styles are very similar. It is an indication of how the type of music you use your guitar to play does not dictate the way you play your instrument.
Why, then, should the way you are taught how to play guitar be so important? Why should it matter whether you are taught by video or an online membership site? Let's have a look at the various possibilities - in fact each of the five basic forms mentioned above in which finger-picking guitar lessons are offered.
1. GUITAR LEARNING BOOK
If you have ever tried to learn guitar using a book and nothing else, you were likely born sometime between the Second World War and the Vietnam War. You would also likely have been fairly unsuccessful with your fingerpicking guitar lessons, because it is next to impossible to teach picking techniques using only a book.
You can learn chords using a book: in fact that is ideal for chords that need specific finger positions that can be shown using chord charts. However, even for finger-picking the individual notes in open chords, a book is not the best medium because you can't see how the strings are picked, in what order, how they are picked and how fast. You can't even hear what it should sound like.
2. GUITAR BOOK + AUDIO
If the book comes with audio then that is a step forward, since at least you can hear what the tune or exercise should sound like. However finger-picking guitar lessons are very difficult to get across without that very critical element of technique. Unless you can see what you should be learning you will find it very difficult, which takes us to:
3. PERSONAL TUITION
Personal tuition is the ideal way to get finger-picking guitar lessons because you have your guitar teacher right there with you who can help you out both with your fret fingering and your picking. It is also expensive, and once you have your guitar teacher that is it: you could change but that would likely be even more expensive to do. Personal tuition is the best of the options so far.
4. DVD (VIDEO) TUITION
A video is the next best thing to personal tuition, particularly if that DVD is produced by an expert guitar finger-picker. The benefit of a video is that you play it over time and again, and you can also play it in slow motion to spot the details of the fingering and finger-picking you are being shown. After personal finger-picking guitar lessons there is little to beat video tuition, other than:
5. MEMBERSHIP GUITAR TUITION SITES
A membership guitar teaching site can provide you with everything you need to learn, and online finger-picking guitar lessons are generally more productive than any of the four alternatives previously mentioned. Membership sites have a lot going for them, not the least of which is the fact that the best of them can offer you a choice of guitar teachers, and styles of guitar instruction. More...
Acoustic Guitar Lesson!
In the present day, one can easily learn acoustic guitar lessons with the help of the internet. A few of these lessons even come free of charge. However, in order to find the best acoustics guitar lessons, you would have to browse through a number of sites on the internet. If you are looking for beginner's acoustic guitar lessons, then online lessons are definitely the ideal way to go. In comparison to the in-store lessons, these online lessons are a lot more efficient and also a lot cheaper to learn guitar. Many people who take in store lessons just take it as a summer job activity and even the teachers are more concerned about making money from these acoustics guitars lessons. The seriousness of these lessons somewhere gets concealed.
In other words, the money that you spend on taking lessons in a store does not turn out to be completely worthwhile. Many people have found online lessons far more valuable than these in-store lessons. You can have audios, videos, pictures as well as written lessons to download straight on your computer for learning. Here are some simple tips that would make your acoustic guitar lessons much easier to learn:
* Firstly, if you are looking for the beginner lessons, then you must take the lessons that comes you with chords, exercise and songs. One can simply learn these chords on acoustic guitar and would be able to have a jam session and play a few songs with friends.
* Secondly, you must do some finger exercises before getting on to play the actual songs. This would help you to play more tricky songs in future and will also make you more proficient.
* In the beginning, some tunes might go dry and unexciting, but still you must practice them every day in your beginner acoustic lessons.
* You can find a large variety of songs easily on the internet. If you can download and practice a few songs before hitting the floor, then it might work in your favor.
* If the tunes cited in the internet seems wrong, then you must try to rectify it by your own.
Online acoustic lessons are important and must be practice everyday, if you really aspire to play it well.Following these above mentioned tips would help a great deal with your acoustics guitar lessons. The reason that these lessons work so well is that most of these online courses are created by musicians that have huge experience in the industry. The people who teach lessons are genuine people that have a bachelor of arts in music. It is not merely a job to them. Online acoustics guitar lessons are more efficient and certainly worth your money. More...
Read more...
In other words, the money that you spend on taking lessons in a store does not turn out to be completely worthwhile. Many people have found online lessons far more valuable than these in-store lessons. You can have audios, videos, pictures as well as written lessons to download straight on your computer for learning. Here are some simple tips that would make your acoustic guitar lessons much easier to learn:
* Firstly, if you are looking for the beginner lessons, then you must take the lessons that comes you with chords, exercise and songs. One can simply learn these chords on acoustic guitar and would be able to have a jam session and play a few songs with friends.
* Secondly, you must do some finger exercises before getting on to play the actual songs. This would help you to play more tricky songs in future and will also make you more proficient.
* In the beginning, some tunes might go dry and unexciting, but still you must practice them every day in your beginner acoustic lessons.
* You can find a large variety of songs easily on the internet. If you can download and practice a few songs before hitting the floor, then it might work in your favor.
* If the tunes cited in the internet seems wrong, then you must try to rectify it by your own.
Online acoustic lessons are important and must be practice everyday, if you really aspire to play it well.Following these above mentioned tips would help a great deal with your acoustics guitar lessons. The reason that these lessons work so well is that most of these online courses are created by musicians that have huge experience in the industry. The people who teach lessons are genuine people that have a bachelor of arts in music. It is not merely a job to them. Online acoustics guitar lessons are more efficient and certainly worth your money. More...
Slide Guitar Lesson!
Playing the slide guitar isn't as intimating as it may sound at first. With a little bit of knowledge and a few slide guitar lessons you'll be playing well in no time. Making music with slides has been popular for over a hundred years and is a favorite tool among the blues musicians, jazz, country, and soul artists.
Slides are made from metal, glass, or plastic and it is possible to make a slide at home by using the top of a glass bottle but be sure not to cut yourself in the process. In the past, musicians even used bones to make home made slides.
Musicians often find playing with a slide to be a tad difficult because they can't mute as many strings and the object itself can feel weighted until the player gets used to making music with a slide.
Among many sights online there are free slide guitar lessons available through video and article clips. Before you begin to learn how to play with a slide you'll need a few essential items: an acoustic or electric guitar, a capo, a tuner, and the other necessary gadgets needed to play.
Guitarist need to be aware that playing with a slide requires the tuning to be adjusted. Tuning in the standard way involves the notes: (E,A,D,G,B,and E.) Using the key of D major for an open tuning utilized the notes: (D,G,D,G,B,D.) Open tuning is preferred among blues musicians even though some guitar players do not understand or have never heard of open tuning their guitar.
Open tuning allows bar chords to be played using a slide which can make things easier for folks that have trouble with hand strength; but, understand that playing with a slide creates a different kind of sound and it may not be one you want to use all the time. It's recommend to at least try using a slide to see if the method of sliding will work for you and, if you like it, you can keep going from there, adding different methods of playing as you get better.
Famous blues musicians who have used the slide are: Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton. Sound wise, the slide seems to work great for the sound production that these artist look for or have looked for in the past so if you're genre of choice is blues, then playing with a slide is defiantly the way to go. Keith Urban's earlier music features Kurt Lorange, an awesome slide guitarist who originally came from Canada and now resides in Australia.
Learning to play the slide guitar could reveal a blues talent and lead to fun times. It's a long journey learning to use the different variations that you can play and doing so can be best accomplished by being patient and practicing with your slide. More...
Read more...
Slides are made from metal, glass, or plastic and it is possible to make a slide at home by using the top of a glass bottle but be sure not to cut yourself in the process. In the past, musicians even used bones to make home made slides.
Musicians often find playing with a slide to be a tad difficult because they can't mute as many strings and the object itself can feel weighted until the player gets used to making music with a slide.
Among many sights online there are free slide guitar lessons available through video and article clips. Before you begin to learn how to play with a slide you'll need a few essential items: an acoustic or electric guitar, a capo, a tuner, and the other necessary gadgets needed to play.
Guitarist need to be aware that playing with a slide requires the tuning to be adjusted. Tuning in the standard way involves the notes: (E,A,D,G,B,and E.) Using the key of D major for an open tuning utilized the notes: (D,G,D,G,B,D.) Open tuning is preferred among blues musicians even though some guitar players do not understand or have never heard of open tuning their guitar.
Open tuning allows bar chords to be played using a slide which can make things easier for folks that have trouble with hand strength; but, understand that playing with a slide creates a different kind of sound and it may not be one you want to use all the time. It's recommend to at least try using a slide to see if the method of sliding will work for you and, if you like it, you can keep going from there, adding different methods of playing as you get better.
Famous blues musicians who have used the slide are: Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton. Sound wise, the slide seems to work great for the sound production that these artist look for or have looked for in the past so if you're genre of choice is blues, then playing with a slide is defiantly the way to go. Keith Urban's earlier music features Kurt Lorange, an awesome slide guitarist who originally came from Canada and now resides in Australia.
Learning to play the slide guitar could reveal a blues talent and lead to fun times. It's a long journey learning to use the different variations that you can play and doing so can be best accomplished by being patient and practicing with your slide. More...
Metal Guitar Lesson!
If you are looking for heavy metal guitar lessons online you will find several options to choose from. You have books, CDs, DVDs and online guitar membership sites: these are the usual ways for people to learn to play guitar online, although you occasionally find personal tuition advertised by one or other of the national franchises.
The question is, is it possible to learn heavy metal guitar online, or do you simply learn how to play guitar, and then adapt what you have learned into the heavy metal genre? The answer is a bit of both. A guitar beginner won't just start right off learning how to play heavy metal. It might be possible to do so, but you would suffer because of it, and here's why.
You have to get to know your guitar before trying to get any sound out of it. A good beginners course of guitar lessons will first show you each part of your guitar, such as the body, the soundboard, the neck, the strings and so on - even as far as the eyelets the strings are tied to, because these can also affect the sound. There are certain adjustments that can be made to your guitar that can change the sound, and the way you string it can be critical.
The positioning of the pick-ups, and even the type and make of pick-up, has a bearing on what sort of sound you get, and for a heavy metal player the pick-ups are very important, as is the choice of strings. These are all aspects of your guitar that you should be taught as you go along - and at the appropriate time, since much of it would be meaningless until you were in a position to understand the differences.
Before you start thinking you are Tony Iommi or Slash, you first have to learn how to hold your guitar, and then how to strum properly. Then you have to get your fret fingering right, pick up a few chords and get started on some fingerpicking. Before you can really start playing solos, you have to master some scales, particularly the pentatonics that are the basis behind most of the great licks you have heard. Most are simply pentatonic scales played up, and down the frets, perhaps with a few harmonics and chords thrown in.
Very few people learn heavy metal just by picking up a guitar and starting to play. Some do, but at some time in their career they have to learn the proper techniques or they will never get past ordinary. You need tuition for that. Or the time to stand and watch great guitarists doing their stuff and trying to copy how they do it. Far quicker to take an online guitar course!
So, your heavy metal guitar lessons online should start with a beginners guitar course, and then you should move on to intermediate. Once you can play your instrument reasonably well, and are familiar with several chords and some scales, you are ready to look at a specific genre: in your case heavy metal.
Online heavy metal lessons will teach you how to get the right sound, and also the various techniques required to enable you to increase your playing speed. You will learn hammer ons that allow you to play more that one note with a single pick of a string, and various other techniques such as vibrato and spider walking around the frets, that not only helps with the flexibility and strength of your fingers, but also enables you to play single notes pretty fast.
The most useful tool for you, however, is the pentatonic scale. Consisting of just five notes, pentatonic scales will enable you to play some good-sounding licks on your guitar, but they take some practice. When you are playing heavy metal, and are into a fast lick, you don't have time to think of the individual notes. You will be playing virtually on autopilot, and will simply be benefiting from and repeating all these hours you spent on your pentatonics.
That is all that most guitar licks are: scales played around the frets, and up and down the neck. Because they are scales, everything stays in tune, which is why they sound so good. Without proper guitar tuition you would find it very difficult to achieve, and would be nothing but one of the "might have beens" that thought they were too good for formal guitar lessons. There is nobody too good for lessons, and every single player out there can benefit from a few lessons, even if just to brush up on their skills and technique.
That is why an online guitar membership site is such a great choice for heavy metal guitar lessons. You can take the beginners courses and then move on to the heavy metal guitar course. Even when you are an adept, you can come back and practice your skills with a few advanced lessons, and perhaps take part in the forum and chat to some of your old friends. More...
Read more...
The question is, is it possible to learn heavy metal guitar online, or do you simply learn how to play guitar, and then adapt what you have learned into the heavy metal genre? The answer is a bit of both. A guitar beginner won't just start right off learning how to play heavy metal. It might be possible to do so, but you would suffer because of it, and here's why.
You have to get to know your guitar before trying to get any sound out of it. A good beginners course of guitar lessons will first show you each part of your guitar, such as the body, the soundboard, the neck, the strings and so on - even as far as the eyelets the strings are tied to, because these can also affect the sound. There are certain adjustments that can be made to your guitar that can change the sound, and the way you string it can be critical.
The positioning of the pick-ups, and even the type and make of pick-up, has a bearing on what sort of sound you get, and for a heavy metal player the pick-ups are very important, as is the choice of strings. These are all aspects of your guitar that you should be taught as you go along - and at the appropriate time, since much of it would be meaningless until you were in a position to understand the differences.
Before you start thinking you are Tony Iommi or Slash, you first have to learn how to hold your guitar, and then how to strum properly. Then you have to get your fret fingering right, pick up a few chords and get started on some fingerpicking. Before you can really start playing solos, you have to master some scales, particularly the pentatonics that are the basis behind most of the great licks you have heard. Most are simply pentatonic scales played up, and down the frets, perhaps with a few harmonics and chords thrown in.
Very few people learn heavy metal just by picking up a guitar and starting to play. Some do, but at some time in their career they have to learn the proper techniques or they will never get past ordinary. You need tuition for that. Or the time to stand and watch great guitarists doing their stuff and trying to copy how they do it. Far quicker to take an online guitar course!
So, your heavy metal guitar lessons online should start with a beginners guitar course, and then you should move on to intermediate. Once you can play your instrument reasonably well, and are familiar with several chords and some scales, you are ready to look at a specific genre: in your case heavy metal.
Online heavy metal lessons will teach you how to get the right sound, and also the various techniques required to enable you to increase your playing speed. You will learn hammer ons that allow you to play more that one note with a single pick of a string, and various other techniques such as vibrato and spider walking around the frets, that not only helps with the flexibility and strength of your fingers, but also enables you to play single notes pretty fast.
The most useful tool for you, however, is the pentatonic scale. Consisting of just five notes, pentatonic scales will enable you to play some good-sounding licks on your guitar, but they take some practice. When you are playing heavy metal, and are into a fast lick, you don't have time to think of the individual notes. You will be playing virtually on autopilot, and will simply be benefiting from and repeating all these hours you spent on your pentatonics.
That is all that most guitar licks are: scales played around the frets, and up and down the neck. Because they are scales, everything stays in tune, which is why they sound so good. Without proper guitar tuition you would find it very difficult to achieve, and would be nothing but one of the "might have beens" that thought they were too good for formal guitar lessons. There is nobody too good for lessons, and every single player out there can benefit from a few lessons, even if just to brush up on their skills and technique.
That is why an online guitar membership site is such a great choice for heavy metal guitar lessons. You can take the beginners courses and then move on to the heavy metal guitar course. Even when you are an adept, you can come back and practice your skills with a few advanced lessons, and perhaps take part in the forum and chat to some of your old friends. More...
Flamenco Guitar Lesson!
Are Flamenco guitar lessons worth taking for somebody not raised in Andalucia? Many years ago you had to be a black American to have any credibility as a blues singer or guitar player. And if you were not Spanish you never got anywhere as a Flamenco artist no matter how good you were. But these days, like many musical traditions, Flamenco is now embracing young people from non-Spanish origins. Twenty or thirty years ago Flamenco guitar playing, at least as perceived by people outside of Spain was dominated by a couple of third-rate guitar players who were good at promoting themselves. Now you can see many fantastic guitar players, professional and amateur, Spanish and non-Spanish giving wonderful Flamenco guitar performances on YouTube. Here is a rundown on the guitar techniques you will be introduced to if you decide to take Flamenco guitar lessons.
So onto some basic Flamenco guitar techniques. The most distinctive technique used in Flamenco is the tapping on the body of the guitar. This technique is called the golpe and is performed just below the sound hole. Flamenco guitars are made with a tapping plate to minimize damage to the guitar from constant hitting of the body. The golpe is often used in conjunction with downward strokes of the thumb and with continuous up and down strokes of the index finger used by guitarists playing the Flamenco musical form called Bulerias.
The rapid picking exhibited by Flamenco guitarists is called picado. This is also used in classical guitar but to nowhere near the same degree. It is a "rest" stroke which is played by striking a string with an upward stroke of the first or second finger which comes to rest on the string behind it. So if you play a rest stroke on the second string the finger comes into contact with the third string after it has struck the note. Flamenco scale passages are played as picado using rapid alternating strokes of the first and second fingers.
Another Flamenco guitar technique is the use of rapid arpeggios. Arpeggios are played by placing the first, second and third fingers in position on the first, second and third strings as if you are going to pluck a chord. Instead of plucking all three strings you lift your whole hand slightly so that the fingers play the strings in rapid succession. The thumb and fingers of a guitarist who has practiced this technique can play some very fast arpeggio passages. The effect is similar to sweep picking used in rock guitar.
The thumb is uses almost exclusively in down strokes. This is another rest stroke where the thumb plays, for example, the sixth string and comes to rest on the fifth string before starting the next stroke. It may seem strange to anybody who has not tried it to make the thumb and fingers "rest" between strokes, but this technique can produce some very fast thumb and picado playing.
Another technique used in Flamenco guitar is the tremolo. This is a technique for producing a long line of melody notes accompanied by the thumb playing bass notes. This technique was borrowed from classical guitar and differs in that Flamenco tremolo is played with four notes between each bass note whereas classical guitarists only play three melody notes between bass notes. In most guitar notation systems the thumb is shown as "p" (for the Spanish "pulgar"), the index finger is shown as "i" , the middle finger is designated "m" and the ring finger is "a" (for annular which is latin for ring).
To play a continuous E on the open first string of the guitar, use the fingers and thumb in this order:
Play a bass note on the open sixth string with your thumb using rest stroke.
On the open first string:
Play a free stroke with i
Play a free stroke with a
Play a free stroke with m
Play a free stroke with i
You have just played one bass note followed by four melody notes. To continue playing, make an E chord with your left hand and alternate the bass notes between the sixth, fifth and fourth strings.
As you can see these techniques are hard to explain in words. They are easier to understand if you use my written descriptions in conjunction with watching Flamenco guitarists on video. It will take some hard work to actually use these techniques, and I strongly suggest you take lessons from a guitar player who knows how to play Flamenco. More...
Read more...
So onto some basic Flamenco guitar techniques. The most distinctive technique used in Flamenco is the tapping on the body of the guitar. This technique is called the golpe and is performed just below the sound hole. Flamenco guitars are made with a tapping plate to minimize damage to the guitar from constant hitting of the body. The golpe is often used in conjunction with downward strokes of the thumb and with continuous up and down strokes of the index finger used by guitarists playing the Flamenco musical form called Bulerias.
The rapid picking exhibited by Flamenco guitarists is called picado. This is also used in classical guitar but to nowhere near the same degree. It is a "rest" stroke which is played by striking a string with an upward stroke of the first or second finger which comes to rest on the string behind it. So if you play a rest stroke on the second string the finger comes into contact with the third string after it has struck the note. Flamenco scale passages are played as picado using rapid alternating strokes of the first and second fingers.
Another Flamenco guitar technique is the use of rapid arpeggios. Arpeggios are played by placing the first, second and third fingers in position on the first, second and third strings as if you are going to pluck a chord. Instead of plucking all three strings you lift your whole hand slightly so that the fingers play the strings in rapid succession. The thumb and fingers of a guitarist who has practiced this technique can play some very fast arpeggio passages. The effect is similar to sweep picking used in rock guitar.
The thumb is uses almost exclusively in down strokes. This is another rest stroke where the thumb plays, for example, the sixth string and comes to rest on the fifth string before starting the next stroke. It may seem strange to anybody who has not tried it to make the thumb and fingers "rest" between strokes, but this technique can produce some very fast thumb and picado playing.
Another technique used in Flamenco guitar is the tremolo. This is a technique for producing a long line of melody notes accompanied by the thumb playing bass notes. This technique was borrowed from classical guitar and differs in that Flamenco tremolo is played with four notes between each bass note whereas classical guitarists only play three melody notes between bass notes. In most guitar notation systems the thumb is shown as "p" (for the Spanish "pulgar"), the index finger is shown as "i" , the middle finger is designated "m" and the ring finger is "a" (for annular which is latin for ring).
To play a continuous E on the open first string of the guitar, use the fingers and thumb in this order:
Play a bass note on the open sixth string with your thumb using rest stroke.
On the open first string:
Play a free stroke with i
Play a free stroke with a
Play a free stroke with m
Play a free stroke with i
You have just played one bass note followed by four melody notes. To continue playing, make an E chord with your left hand and alternate the bass notes between the sixth, fifth and fourth strings.
As you can see these techniques are hard to explain in words. They are easier to understand if you use my written descriptions in conjunction with watching Flamenco guitarists on video. It will take some hard work to actually use these techniques, and I strongly suggest you take lessons from a guitar player who knows how to play Flamenco. More...
Country Guitar Lesson!
Good country guitar lessons should teach you the basics of playing a guitar in country style music. Contrary to popular belief, country music is gaining momentum in commercial music zone and is fast becoming a fad.
While there is the bouncy pop music and loud rock and metal music in guitar, country music has its own share of fans and the number is growing thanks to the soothing and comforting tones of this southern style of music.
Undergoing country guitar lessons should help you better understand the nuances of this age-old style of music and appreciate this style in a much better way.
In country guitar lessons the music is mainly taught through acoustic guitar which does not need electricity to work. These guitars are not only easy on the ears but easy on the budget too. Further, to learn country music you don't need to enroll for full time classes.
There are many online lessons available along with videos and music notes or even a DVD course can also assist you. While the country guitar lessons will teach you how to strum the instrument, you should remember that country music is a very soulful music and the outcome depends a lot on your inner feeling and emotions.
Good country guitar lessons should help you understand the different straits of the Blues pentatonic scale and teach you the type of bends to make. Mastering the Blues guitar tones can help you appreciate these sounds better as they are quite similar.
While learning country guitar lessons you can also experiment by adding in jazz anticipations or other non-traditional tunes. This will help you learn different techniques and also how to play around with them without compromising on the soothing quality of country music.
While you are undergoing the country guitar lessons make it a point to listen to the all-time favorites like Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, BB King. Note how they have successfully merged folk and blue music with country to obtain a mesmerizing blend of music.
Though the style of music is different note how similar the music sounds in them. Focus on the sound of guitar and its flow in the songs. With a little help from your music teacher you should be able to reproduce the same music in your own style.
Attending country guitar lessons does not suffice. You will need to constantly practice the techniques and sound you learn to master them. Gradually as your lessons proceed, you can try to play with the guitar player and compare the likeness to each other. This way you can play the guitar better and also learn by ear better.
Another method to improvise is to play the guitar and record. Then play it back and listen t it like your audience would. You should be able to critically analyze your shortcoming, the notes that you missed out or the bends that you did not take properly. If you cannot analyze yourself, your teacher teaching the country guitar lessons can surely help you out. More...
Read more...
While there is the bouncy pop music and loud rock and metal music in guitar, country music has its own share of fans and the number is growing thanks to the soothing and comforting tones of this southern style of music.
Undergoing country guitar lessons should help you better understand the nuances of this age-old style of music and appreciate this style in a much better way.
In country guitar lessons the music is mainly taught through acoustic guitar which does not need electricity to work. These guitars are not only easy on the ears but easy on the budget too. Further, to learn country music you don't need to enroll for full time classes.
There are many online lessons available along with videos and music notes or even a DVD course can also assist you. While the country guitar lessons will teach you how to strum the instrument, you should remember that country music is a very soulful music and the outcome depends a lot on your inner feeling and emotions.
Good country guitar lessons should help you understand the different straits of the Blues pentatonic scale and teach you the type of bends to make. Mastering the Blues guitar tones can help you appreciate these sounds better as they are quite similar.
While learning country guitar lessons you can also experiment by adding in jazz anticipations or other non-traditional tunes. This will help you learn different techniques and also how to play around with them without compromising on the soothing quality of country music.
While you are undergoing the country guitar lessons make it a point to listen to the all-time favorites like Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, BB King. Note how they have successfully merged folk and blue music with country to obtain a mesmerizing blend of music.
Though the style of music is different note how similar the music sounds in them. Focus on the sound of guitar and its flow in the songs. With a little help from your music teacher you should be able to reproduce the same music in your own style.
Attending country guitar lessons does not suffice. You will need to constantly practice the techniques and sound you learn to master them. Gradually as your lessons proceed, you can try to play with the guitar player and compare the likeness to each other. This way you can play the guitar better and also learn by ear better.
Another method to improvise is to play the guitar and record. Then play it back and listen t it like your audience would. You should be able to critically analyze your shortcoming, the notes that you missed out or the bends that you did not take properly. If you cannot analyze yourself, your teacher teaching the country guitar lessons can surely help you out. More...
Online Guitar Lesson!
The advent of the Internet has revolutionized guitar instruction. Formal guitar instruction is becoming less and less prevalent. Online guitar lessons are becoming more and more popular. Why is this shift occurring? Why are people choosing online guitar lessons over instructor led courses? There are several factors that contribute to this change. Price and convenience are two of the main factors for this shift.
Traditional Instructor led courses are great for students who have true musical aspirations. This category includes professional musicians and music students among others. In fact, I do not believe that any online guitar lessons can meet the needs of this category. They need to learn sheet music. They need to learn the minutiae of playing that only a true music teacher can provide. The one-on-one instruction is paramount to their success.
For the category of people who are only interested in recreational play, traditional lessons have long been the only choice. Books and early VHS instructions were fraught with problems. These media were and still are very static and not well suited to then dynamic nature of guitar playing. This category of aspiring guitar players had to invest a lot of money and time to learn the guitar. Lessons can run anywhere from $30 per hour to over a $100, depending on the pedigree of your instructor. Students had to make time in their often-busy schedules for the lessons. Finally most students had to travel to the location where the class was being offered. The costs of instruction got quite high as many lessons had to be scheduled in order to make any noticeable progress. We can see that the above factors, while acceptable to most students with professional aspirations, were often too much for the casual student.
People that want to play re creationally make up the majority of people trying to learn to play the guitar. They need a method of instruction that is not expensive and is convenient. Enter online guitar lessons!
Online guitar lessons offer the flexibility that instructors cannot. The online lessons usually cost what one-hour of instructor led training would. This is very appealing because it is a one-time fee. No recurring expenses that drain your finances over a long period of time. The online guitar lessons that you buy can teach you for months instead of one hour. You get a lot of bang for your buck.
The next benefit of online guitar lessons is that they are convenient. You do not need to travel to any location to learn how to play the guitar. You can do it in your own home. No braving traffic or parking hassles. You are learning in the comfort of your own home. In addition to this, you do not have to have a set schedule to take the classes. Most of us already lead busy lives and have little time to spare. With online guitar lessons you can learn whenever you want. This fun activity can be learned at your leisure. If you can't do it one day there is no stress. This is supposed to be enjoyable after all, not a stressful time management challenge.
We can see from the points above that online guitar lessons are very appealing to the aspiring recreational guitar student. Since this category of people make up the large majority of potential students, it is understandable that they would shun the heavier commitments required for traditional guitar instruction.
If you are interested in online guitar lessons, consider Jamorama. It is a complete multimedia online guitar course with many more benefits than those listed above, and none of the downfalls of having an instructor. More...
Read more...
Traditional Instructor led courses are great for students who have true musical aspirations. This category includes professional musicians and music students among others. In fact, I do not believe that any online guitar lessons can meet the needs of this category. They need to learn sheet music. They need to learn the minutiae of playing that only a true music teacher can provide. The one-on-one instruction is paramount to their success.
For the category of people who are only interested in recreational play, traditional lessons have long been the only choice. Books and early VHS instructions were fraught with problems. These media were and still are very static and not well suited to then dynamic nature of guitar playing. This category of aspiring guitar players had to invest a lot of money and time to learn the guitar. Lessons can run anywhere from $30 per hour to over a $100, depending on the pedigree of your instructor. Students had to make time in their often-busy schedules for the lessons. Finally most students had to travel to the location where the class was being offered. The costs of instruction got quite high as many lessons had to be scheduled in order to make any noticeable progress. We can see that the above factors, while acceptable to most students with professional aspirations, were often too much for the casual student.
People that want to play re creationally make up the majority of people trying to learn to play the guitar. They need a method of instruction that is not expensive and is convenient. Enter online guitar lessons!
Online guitar lessons offer the flexibility that instructors cannot. The online lessons usually cost what one-hour of instructor led training would. This is very appealing because it is a one-time fee. No recurring expenses that drain your finances over a long period of time. The online guitar lessons that you buy can teach you for months instead of one hour. You get a lot of bang for your buck.
The next benefit of online guitar lessons is that they are convenient. You do not need to travel to any location to learn how to play the guitar. You can do it in your own home. No braving traffic or parking hassles. You are learning in the comfort of your own home. In addition to this, you do not have to have a set schedule to take the classes. Most of us already lead busy lives and have little time to spare. With online guitar lessons you can learn whenever you want. This fun activity can be learned at your leisure. If you can't do it one day there is no stress. This is supposed to be enjoyable after all, not a stressful time management challenge.
We can see from the points above that online guitar lessons are very appealing to the aspiring recreational guitar student. Since this category of people make up the large majority of potential students, it is understandable that they would shun the heavier commitments required for traditional guitar instruction.
If you are interested in online guitar lessons, consider Jamorama. It is a complete multimedia online guitar course with many more benefits than those listed above, and none of the downfalls of having an instructor. More...
Rock Guitar Lesson!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Before you begin with the rock guitar lessons, you need to understand that this will not make you a lead guitar star overnight. Rock guitar lessons will only teach you the basics and advanced techniques. You still need to understand and practice enough to be able to master the art of performing rock guitar. The first phase in rock guitar courses will start with theory which will help you to understand the basic parts of the rock/electric guitar, standard notations, guitar symbols, and basic chord theory. You will also learn to play different scales and chords. You will discover to utilize your views and sentiments to perform the guitar so that in the later stages when you are ready to play, you and your guitar will become one!
The next phase of rock guitar lessons will focus on soloing. You may have been overcome by those amazing guitar solos that you have watched at live concerts or on Channel V or VH1. So here’s your chance to learn soloing, which will include beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons. In the beginner lessons you will understand more about hammer-ons, bends, open position scales, and vibratos. The intermediate lesson is where you will discover to do your own solo and perform it as well. You will also get to learn how to use natural harmonics and play major scale modes. When you reach the advanced soloing lessons, you will be confident enough to produce your solos and this will persuade you to play them more often. The advanced rock guitar courses will help you to perform different techniques especially with speed.
Speed is an important part of performing the rock guitar as well as soloing and you will really have to rehearse a lot to be able to move your hand freely across the guitar chordsat high speed. Once you have mastered the scales, the chords and how to fly your hand over the guitar, you are ready to rock!Rock guitar is not easy to understand but then it is not impossible because we will handhold you through each and every step of our rock guitar lessons. We see a potential rock guitar player in each of our students and learn the need to bring that rock star to the front and our rock guitar lessons have been developed to bring out your true talent.
Rock Guitar Lessons – Playing Rock!Rock is one of the most well-liked genres of music that came into existence in the early 1960’s and the one tool that represents rock perfectly is the guitar. Rock music is a genre that has evolved from several genres like rock and roll of the 1940’s and 50’s to country, blues, jazz, and even classical guitar. The acoustic guitar has been there for long but the backbone of Rock is actually the electric guitar that has become the ideal device for playing out torment and disappointment that is associated with rock music. More..
Read more...
The next phase of rock guitar lessons will focus on soloing. You may have been overcome by those amazing guitar solos that you have watched at live concerts or on Channel V or VH1. So here’s your chance to learn soloing, which will include beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons. In the beginner lessons you will understand more about hammer-ons, bends, open position scales, and vibratos. The intermediate lesson is where you will discover to do your own solo and perform it as well. You will also get to learn how to use natural harmonics and play major scale modes. When you reach the advanced soloing lessons, you will be confident enough to produce your solos and this will persuade you to play them more often. The advanced rock guitar courses will help you to perform different techniques especially with speed.
Speed is an important part of performing the rock guitar as well as soloing and you will really have to rehearse a lot to be able to move your hand freely across the guitar chordsat high speed. Once you have mastered the scales, the chords and how to fly your hand over the guitar, you are ready to rock!Rock guitar is not easy to understand but then it is not impossible because we will handhold you through each and every step of our rock guitar lessons. We see a potential rock guitar player in each of our students and learn the need to bring that rock star to the front and our rock guitar lessons have been developed to bring out your true talent.
Rock Guitar Lessons – Playing Rock!Rock is one of the most well-liked genres of music that came into existence in the early 1960’s and the one tool that represents rock perfectly is the guitar. Rock music is a genre that has evolved from several genres like rock and roll of the 1940’s and 50’s to country, blues, jazz, and even classical guitar. The acoustic guitar has been there for long but the backbone of Rock is actually the electric guitar that has become the ideal device for playing out torment and disappointment that is associated with rock music. More..
Bass Guitar Lesson!
The bass guitar looks similar to the electric guitar but it has a larger body, a longer neck, and fewer but thicker strings. There are usually four, sometimes five or six strings, tuned one octave lower. The body is usually made from maple or rose wood.The bass is used in many styles of music including rock, metal, pop, country, blues, and jazz. It can solo in jazz, fusion, Latin, funk, and in some rock and heavy metal. It underlies the music's beat. And it is that beat that appeals to many guitarists, who decide to expand into playing bass and take bass guitar lessons.
The bass guitar, unlike other guitars, is not chord oriented and this actually makes learning to play the bass guitar more complex than learning how to play acoustic guitar. You might think that since there are fewer strings, it is easier to play, but that's not true!Learning to play the bass guitar is a foundation that will make learning how to play other guitars like acoustic or electric easier.If you want to play the bass guitar, here are some ideas to get you started.
First you need to get a guitar. Borrow one to start or buy a used one. Don't spend a lot of money until you get proficient and learn a little about what you want in your instrument. You can look on eBay or Craigslist to find a reasonable used one. You can always trade up later.Expect that you will need to have a certain degree of hand strength to play bass guitar. More than with other guitar types, the bass guitar requires strong hands and fingers.You should learn how to tune your bass guitar. Tuning it isn't really different than tuning a standard guitar. It may be easier since you likely have fewer strings to tune. If you are new, don't try to tune by ear, but get an electronic guitar tuner. You can get a battery operated one for around $20.
You need to be attuned to the beat of the music that you are playing. Some bass parts aren't necessarily complicated but the rhythm must be perfect. That means you really need to be able to focus intently when you practice. As old-school as this may sound, practice with a metronome. Don't worry - it doesn't have to be a wooden box! You should be able to find one online that you can download. Some online bass guitar lessons will provide you with a digital version.Now, take some bass guitar lessons or find a good bass guitar instructional DVD or online program. Some of the better ones actually let you "jam along" with their guitar instructors. Or find a friend or two you can play with. Playing with others will push you forward and reveal what areas you need to work on. More...
Read more...
The bass guitar, unlike other guitars, is not chord oriented and this actually makes learning to play the bass guitar more complex than learning how to play acoustic guitar. You might think that since there are fewer strings, it is easier to play, but that's not true!Learning to play the bass guitar is a foundation that will make learning how to play other guitars like acoustic or electric easier.If you want to play the bass guitar, here are some ideas to get you started.
First you need to get a guitar. Borrow one to start or buy a used one. Don't spend a lot of money until you get proficient and learn a little about what you want in your instrument. You can look on eBay or Craigslist to find a reasonable used one. You can always trade up later.Expect that you will need to have a certain degree of hand strength to play bass guitar. More than with other guitar types, the bass guitar requires strong hands and fingers.You should learn how to tune your bass guitar. Tuning it isn't really different than tuning a standard guitar. It may be easier since you likely have fewer strings to tune. If you are new, don't try to tune by ear, but get an electronic guitar tuner. You can get a battery operated one for around $20.
You need to be attuned to the beat of the music that you are playing. Some bass parts aren't necessarily complicated but the rhythm must be perfect. That means you really need to be able to focus intently when you practice. As old-school as this may sound, practice with a metronome. Don't worry - it doesn't have to be a wooden box! You should be able to find one online that you can download. Some online bass guitar lessons will provide you with a digital version.Now, take some bass guitar lessons or find a good bass guitar instructional DVD or online program. Some of the better ones actually let you "jam along" with their guitar instructors. Or find a friend or two you can play with. Playing with others will push you forward and reveal what areas you need to work on. More...
Advanced Guitar Lesson!
Are you ready for advanced guitar lessons? If you have gone through the guitar lessons for beginners and the immediate lessons, you are now ready to move on to the more advanced stage of your lessons. There are some people who are ready for the next level of guitar playing that are willing to spend a whole bunch of money on professional guitar teachers.
Seeing that you have already spent some of your hard-earned cash on your guitar there is not much room left for paying a teacher. If you want to stay in your comfort zone when it comes to spending your cash you may want to consider taking your advanced guitar lessons online. Knowing you can go online at any time if you have Internet connection, you can simply master the skills you want in the comfort of your own home.
If you are trying to advance your acoustic, jazz, blues, or electric guitar skills all you need is your Internet connection and you will be well on your way to improving your guitar skills with the video instructions right there on your computer screen.Since you already know the basics of guitar playing all you need to do now is learn the many different tricks that comes with the advanced lessons.
It is a well-known fact that some of the best guitarists today learn how to play their guitar online. There is no reason why you cannot do the same. If you have the time and you are willing to practice you can become a great guitarist also.There is an advantage to having guitar lesson videos right there in front of you.
You won't have to worry about being at a certain place at a certain time. You will not have to worry about traveling to someone else's place of business or their home. You can practice whenever you want, at whatever pace you want because you will not have to worry about anyone else.Since you have passed beginners guitar lessons you are now ready for more advanced lessons.
Once you have a good ear for the music you will find that it will come easier as you continue to practice. Advanced guitar lessons are for people were ready to take their guitar skills to the next level. More..
Read more...
Seeing that you have already spent some of your hard-earned cash on your guitar there is not much room left for paying a teacher. If you want to stay in your comfort zone when it comes to spending your cash you may want to consider taking your advanced guitar lessons online. Knowing you can go online at any time if you have Internet connection, you can simply master the skills you want in the comfort of your own home.
If you are trying to advance your acoustic, jazz, blues, or electric guitar skills all you need is your Internet connection and you will be well on your way to improving your guitar skills with the video instructions right there on your computer screen.Since you already know the basics of guitar playing all you need to do now is learn the many different tricks that comes with the advanced lessons.
It is a well-known fact that some of the best guitarists today learn how to play their guitar online. There is no reason why you cannot do the same. If you have the time and you are willing to practice you can become a great guitarist also.There is an advantage to having guitar lesson videos right there in front of you.
You won't have to worry about being at a certain place at a certain time. You will not have to worry about traveling to someone else's place of business or their home. You can practice whenever you want, at whatever pace you want because you will not have to worry about anyone else.Since you have passed beginners guitar lessons you are now ready for more advanced lessons.
Once you have a good ear for the music you will find that it will come easier as you continue to practice. Advanced guitar lessons are for people were ready to take their guitar skills to the next level. More..
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