Essential Listening
Peter Gabriel’s Secret World
March 5, 2010 · Leave a Comment
“Sometimes, when you look around, everything seems still and calm on the surface. And then you detect a little disturbance and you know for sure that underneath the surface lies some other secret world.” — Peter Gabriel Peter Gabriel is an extremely passionate musician and songwriter who has earned international acclaim, not only for his music but also for his human rights work and his promotion of world music. Born on February 13, 1950, Gabriel grew up on a farm in Woking, Surrey, England. His childhood was full of outdoor exploration, which greatly fueled his creative imagination … ... [Read the full story]
Guitar Lessons
Exploring 7/8
October 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment
This piece is not meant to be a theory lesson in meter and time signatures. Rather, it is meant to help you open up some new doors and hopefully get your creative juices flowing! Most of us have grown up listening to music characterized by the familiar time signatures of 4/4 or 3/4. 4/4 is the most common time signature in rock, blues, country, funk, and pop while 3/4 is often used for country & western ballads, not to mention waltzes, minuets & scherzi! Both of these time signatures are considered ‘simple time signatures’. But what about ‘complex time signatures’? When I was... [Read the full story]
Inspirational
Inspiration Through Traveling
September 26, 2009 · 1 Comment
In my experience as a guitarist, the spark of inspiration to play can come in many different forms. The inspirational factors behind consistent practice and creation can be quite personal, while also connected to the common root of a desire to improve. Think of inspiration as a spark that can ignite your motivational flame. Once lit, the energy from this flame will propel your desire into actions. But as we all know, while a flame can burn bright and strong, it can also flicker and even go out. As that internal desire may remain, it’s the actions of following through with the practice which... [Read the full story]
Improvisation
Exploring 7/8
October 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment
This piece is not meant to be a theory lesson in meter and time signatures. Rather, it is meant to help you open up some new doors and hopefully get your creative juices flowing! Most of us have grown up listening to music characterized by the familiar time signatures of 4/4 or 3/4. 4/4 is the most common time signature in rock, blues, country, funk, and pop while 3/4 is often used for country & western ballads, not to mention waltzes, minuets & scherzi! Both of these time signatures are considered ‘simple time signatures’. But what about ‘complex time signatures’? When I was... [Read the full story]
Theory
Advanced Music Theory Lesson 2: Scale Tendencies
May 7, 2009 · Leave a Comment
Now that we have introduced all of the modes, let’s look at what roles individual notes take in these scales. In a tonal context, they all have certain tendencies. Stable Tones: (1,3,5) Tonic: The tonic is the 1st degree of the scale. All other notes are based around the tonic and gravitate towards it. Dominant: The dominant is the 5th degree. This is a solid or stable note. Third degree: The 3rd degree is stable; however, it is not as stable as the tonic or the dominant. Unstable Tones: (2,4,6,7) Second degree: The 2nd degree moves most commonly to the tonic but... [Read the full story]
Creativity
Exploring 7/8
October 18, 2009 · Leave a Comment
This piece is not meant to be a theory lesson in meter and time signatures. Rather, it is meant to help you open up some new doors and hopefully get your creative juices flowing! Most of us have grown up listening to music characterized by the familiar time signatures of 4/4 or 3/4. 4/4 is the most common time signature in rock, blues, country, funk, and pop while 3/4 is often used for country & western ballads, not to mention waltzes, minuets & scherzi! Both of these time signatures are considered ‘simple time signatures’. But what about ‘complex time signatures’? When I was... [Read the full story]
Guitar Lessons
Exploring 7/8
This piece is not meant to be a theory lesson in meter and time signatures. Rather, it is meant to help you open up some new doors and hopefully get your creative juices flowing! Most of us have grown up listening to music characterized by the familiar time signatures of 4/4 or 3/4. 4/4 is the most common time signature...
[Continue reading: Exploring 7/8]Lesson 2: 12 Bar Variations – The Texas Shuffle
There are many variations of the 12 Bar Blues. These variations are found in the chords and rhythm. The previous lesson showed a standard 12 Bar Blues with a shuffle feel. A variation on that is the “Texas Shuffle”. This uses the same chord progression with a shuffle feel but a few more notes added. The major difference...
[Continue reading: Lesson 2: 12 Bar Variations – The Texas Shuffle]Lesson 1: The Blues In A
The guitar is a highly expressive and powerful instrument. It’s capability of endless tones is astounding. No matter what style of music you choose to play it’s all found within the 12 notes on the guitar. The fundamental elements such as scales, chords and especially rhythms are really what define a style. However,...
[Continue reading: Lesson 1: The Blues In A]
Finger Picking Pattern 2: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Our second finger picking lesson is another example of pattern picking. “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac uses a similar picking pattern to “Dust in the Wind”. However, the chord changes here require more movement. For your convenience, the chord shapes and fingerings are as follows: Click here if you’re not...
[Continue reading: Finger Picking Pattern 2: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac]Exercise and trust your ears!
Years ago, I jammed with an incredible pianist. Classically trained, he could play anything you put in front of him. Not only was he a great sight-reader, he would also put a lot of feeling into everything he played. His only problem was that without sheet music, he was lost. If we played a 12 bar blues, despite the...
[Continue reading: Exercise and trust your ears!]Exercises: Mirrors
This exercise is aimed at improving your technique, building strength in your hands and improving your double picking across strings. It may also help you to develop some interesting and original chops that you can work into your solos. Click here if you’re not sure how to read the scale...
[Continue reading: Exercises: Mirrors]Scales: Exercises 123 234 345
This exercise is aimed at improving your technique and offering you extended scale phrasings. The basic idea in this exercise is to play the first 3 notes in the scale, then, starting at the second note in the scale play 3 more, then, starting from the 3rd note in the scale play 3 more etc. If...
[Continue reading: Scales: Exercises 123 234 345]Read More Posts From Guitar Lessons »
Finger Picking
Finger Picking Pattern 2: Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
Our second finger picking lesson is another example of pattern picking. “Landslide”...
Finger Picking: Comping to a walking bass line
This lesson will show you how to play a walking bass line accompanied by little...
Finger Picking Pattern 1: part 2, Dust in the Wind
Please note, due to graphics issues, you are best to view this page here (Click Here) In...
Finger Picking Pattern 1: part 1, Dust in the Wind intro
Please note, due to graphics issues, you are best to view this page here (Click Here) Our...
Read More Posts From Finger Picking »
Essential Listening
“Sometimes, when you look around, everything seems still and calm on the surface....
Few guitarists have achieved the level of notoriety that Derek Trucks has at such...
Born in Auburn, Maine to a musical family, Lenny Breau began playing the guitar at...
Sonny Landreth: Next to Kindred Spirit
Born in Mississippi and raised in Louisiana, Sonny Landreth is revered among guitarists...
Read More Posts From Essential Listening »
-
Meet The Instructors
Gil Namur
Chris Finch
-
Please Also Visit
Original Compositions
Inspiration & Motivation
Astronomy Information
Guitar Pickups