Jazz Chord Progressions – Intro Lesson For All Guitarists
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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Barre Chord Shapes for Guitar – Turn Open-Major Chords Into Movable Shapes
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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Guitar Chords for Beginners – Learning To Strum and Play Guitar
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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Guitar Exercises: Beginner-friendly Practice Tips to Improve Your Skills
You know that playing the guitar is cool. But, after your first lesson and practice session, you feel everything but cool. You’ve probably watched endless YouTube videos of classic guitar heroes (Hendrix, Van Halen, Satriani, Vai, Clapton, SRV, are the first that come to mind) plus the internet sensations; or, as I like to call […]
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Learning the Fretboard – Quick Guide to The Guitar’s Fretboard Notes
Learning how to play a song on the guitar is quite an accomplishment considering the amount of obstacles that you’ve overcome in the process. But, understanding what you’re doing, where you’re going, and how to get there is another level altogether. I often equate learning the fretboard of the guitar to being dropped out of a […]
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What is a Tritone? How To Use the Devil’s Interval
The tritone has been the topic of so much discussion that has led to some misinformation and misunderstanding. First, the tritone received its famous nickname, the Devil’s interval, for being the diabolus in musica or the Devil in music. The two notes, when played together, form a dissonant sound that has been described as being […]
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5 Must-Know Pentatonic Shapes For All Guitarists
Every beginning guitarist, at one point or another, hears the term pentatonic or pentatonic scale. Usually it’s very early on in lessons or from fellow guitarists. Likewise, intermediate players look to develop new and interesting ways to improve their pentatonic playing. However, it’s been my experience, as a player and instructor, that most fail to […]
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