Jimmy Page’s hauntingly beautiful guitar solo on “Stairway To Heaven” has probably made hundreds – or thousands – of people want to pick up the guitar. The 1971 Led Zeppelin track has made it into several “Top” lists of the best guitar solos ever, often at the No. 1 spot. Well, it really is a […]
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For those of you that have read some of my previous posts you may recognize that I frequently refer back to my formative years hanging out at the music store. I’d reference the older players and teachers and their conversations. As I look back at those times I wonder what my guitar and music life […]
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When I was about 13 or 14, my music teacher made me write out everything. I hated him at the time for that; but, today I’m so grateful. I wanted to learn rock tunes and he taught me music. Ah, the sweet ignorance of youth! He made me buy a music notebook… And, use it! I […]
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Add Media Are you having a hard time getting a decent guitar sound? And, even if you aren’t this lesson is for you. Actually, this lesson is for every guitarist no matter what level. Most of my gigs (lately) have a backline (music lingo for amps, PA and drums) that is provided by the club […]
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My early lessons were scheduled on a weekly basis at the local music store. However, I would go there every chance that I could, hang out, thumb through the guitar magazines and eavesdrop on the conversations of the older and more experienced players. They would mention guitarists and music styles that I’d never heard of. […]
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Imagine a world where you only feel happy emotions. That would be the same as playing only in major keys. It would be the same sound and, after a while, it would get quite boring. I know that many people feel that being happy all of the time seems like a good idea. But, imagine […]
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Turning the E & A Open-Major Chords Into Movable ShapesAs a rock guitar teacher, one of the first things that I teach an aspiring, young fretblazer is the E power chord (E5). Here’s the basic premise: A kid walks in for his first lesson and after teaching him the parts of the guitar, how to […]
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Let me tell you a story. I few years back, I took a hiatus and went to the Andes mountains to relax. I brought with me a dozen books and my guitar. This was a relatively remote part of town, complete with water and electricity rationing. It turns out that my neighbor’s son was a […]
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This article is a great place for beginners to begin their journey into the world of chords—the main ingredient needed for playing songs. We’ll begin with a couple of chords that are not only used in “Sweet Home Alabama,” but also used in tens of thousands of songs. Then we’ll talk about strumming and counting. […]
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I’m a big fan of songs and songwriting; but, there are so many elements that make up a song: verses, choruses, bridges, ramps, intros, outros, hooks, titles, lyrics, etc. Making it difficult for aspiring songwriters to know where and how to begin. In this series of articles (4 to be exact), we’re gonna talk about songwriting […]
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