Playing rhythm guitar means playing a pattern of strokes known as a strum pattern. This pattern repeats itself throughout the song and often remains unchanged. However, it is not uncommon for different sections of a song to have different strum patterns. Rhythm guitarist can determine the strum pattern of a song through a series of […]
Amazing Grace
The paramount Christian hymn, “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton and published in 1779. The story of the song’s origins is quite interesting. Most folks, even if they do not share the Christian faith, are familiar with this iconic melody. The song is written in three-four time, though most people try to force it […]
Changing Time with The Beatles
Across The Universe Two of Us Here Comes the Sun We Can Work it Out All You Need is Love
Time Signatures: The Big 3
Signatures are important. Think about the significance of signatures in history. We know about John Hancock because of his gargantuan signature on the Declaration of Independence. A baseball that was signed by Babe Ruth is extraordinarily valuable. Signatures are important in our daily lives, too. The bank won’t cash a check that hasn’t been signed. […]
Tips for Using a Capo
You want to use a capo to change keys, play familiar chord shapes or find cool voicings. There are a few things you need to know to make the capo work its best for you. Choose the right capo. All capos apply pressure to the strings in order to clamp them down. However, they use […]
What is a Capo and How Do I Use It?
The capo is one of the guitar player’s favorite accessories. It is a clamp that holds all or some of the strings of the guitar down across a fret. Some capos are spring-loaded, others apply pressure by using a lever or strap. The capo can be placed across any fret of the guitar. Why would […]
How to Practice
News flash: there are seven days in a week, twenty-four hours in a day and sixty minutes in an hour. Do the math and you come up with ten thousand and eighty minutes in a week. Most music students only use thirty of those thousands of minutes in a lesson with an instructor. That still […]
How to Close the Gap – Part 2
In “How to Close the Gap – Part 1”, I gave you four tips for getting from chord to chord without stopping. These are things that every guitarist should do when closing the gap. Let’s review: 1. Memorize your chord shapes. 2. Memorize the chord progression. 3. Slow down. 4. Practice ‘til your fingers bleed. […]
How to Close the Gap – Part 1
You’ve learned a few chords in first position… and your fingers didn’t fall off! Congratulations! Now you’re facing the same major obstacle that every newbie guitarist fears – the dreaded gap. Have you experienced the pause that happens when you’re changing your hand from one chord to the next? That, my friend, is the gap. […]
How to Choose a Strum Pattern
Rhythm can be a tricky thing for beginner guitar students. Some people have a natural internal sense of rhythm; others struggle to stay on beat. For those who are naturals at rhythm, determining strum patterns can be a simple task. However, those who fight with the down beat can also learn how to pair a […]