Four Good Reasons to Write Your Own Songs

As one who teaches both guitar and songwriting, I am always encouraging my students to start writing their own songs.  Every great songwriter has to start somewhere, and you will find that the more you write, the better your songs will get--and the easier they will come to you!Here's four very good reasons to write your own material:

1 – You Already Have The Ability To Turn YOUR Thoughts Into Actual Songs!Each one of us experiences, people, places, thoughts, feelings, and situations--no matter our age.  As they say “A good writer can portray a beautiful story out of the most everyday experiences.” Well, for us guitar players, with the guitar in our hands helping us through our way – this is easier to achieve and stay motivated than it is for anyone else who is not currently in the world of playing music.  Write about what you know--even the ordinary and mundane--and you will find that songs come easily. A rhyming dictionary app and notebook or iPad is all that you will need. And your guitar, of course!

2 – Writing Songs Develops Your Overall Comprehension Of Music To New Levels:Every great songwriter started somewhere--they threw out words, melodies and harmonies that, in some cases, have come to inspire and uplift millions of human beings. But sitting with yourself and trying to come up with your own words and music will slowly give you the ARTIST'S point of view on music. From this point of view, you will see a lot more, and I can definitely say that all of my enjoyment and appreciation from music has moved forward by leaps and bounds since I started writing songs myself.  Write constantly--you may only use 10% of what you write down, but that's enough to make some great songs!

3 – Writing Music To Your Lyrics Dramatically Develops Your EAR and your grasp of music theory.Suddenly you will start getting the feeling of how a transition from a V (the “fifth” chord of a certain key) chord to a I (1st – Root) Sounds like. You will start noticing the unique feeling of a VI chord and the sense of a IV chord that is building the tension before the V and so on. You will start literally hearing and seeing things that you have never heard or knew existed in ALL the music you will listen to, and it will all come back ten-fold in a very practical way.  And remember: a LOT of really great songs have been written around three chords.

4 – Songwriting Develops Your Creativity This one is self-explanatory. I also believe that creativity is something that can be seen as a whole, and when you engage your right brain and work on it through songwriting, it takes all your ideas and thoughts in life to new heights. Not only in music, but in all other areas of life as well.I talk more about this in the video below; enjoy, and Happy Pickin'!

Video--Writing Your Own Songs

Ear Training--The Sound of Music

One of my favorite scenes in "The Sound Of Music" is when Maria (Julie Andrews) is teaching the von Trapp kids the song "Do-Re-Mi."  Not only is it a great Rodgers/Hammerstein song, but it is a great training exercise in what are referred to as MUSICAL INTERVALS (or the spaces between notes).

Learning to hear and being able to identify the different notes in a musical scale will not only help you be a better player, but it can help you be a better singer as well.  And it can also help you to figure out how to play songs by ear!

This sort of ear training becomes especially important when students are learning chords, because chords are made up of notes from musical scales.  So are melodies and solos!  Think to yourself, "Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do!"

Major chords, for example, are made up of the 1st note of the scale, plus the third note, plus the fifth note--on other words, the "Do" plus the "Mi' plus the "So." Being able to hear that will ultimately help you to understand how chords are built, and why you finger them the way you do on your guitar's fret board.

Now--it does get a little more complex when you start talking about minor chords and minor seventh chords and so on--but knowing and being able to hear the intervals in a major scale is a GREAT place to start!

In the video below, I talk a little more about this--but in the meantime, thank you Maria, and Happy Pickin'!

Video on Scales and Intervals

Strengthening Your Fretting Hand

One of the things I hear most often from students--young and older alike--is that their fretting hand tires easily, and aches after playing a song.  And that's to be expected at first--there aren't many times in life besides guitar-playing where you will find your hand and fingers in some truly unusual positions!

But like anything else--running, playing sports, yoga, dancing, etc--with proper strengthening exercises and the passage of time, you will find that your fretting hand will become stronger and stronger, and you won't even feel tired after hours of playing!  You will also develop calluses on your fretting fingers that will serve you well as you progress in your playing.  (p.s. Wear those calluses as a badge of honor!  You're a guitarist!)

One simple warm-up you can do before you practice is simply to spend a few minutes gently squeezing a tennis ball, or a small piece of citrus fruit such as a Clementine orange in your hands for a few minutes.  This will warm up your fingers and joints as well as the tendons and muscles in your hand that control finger movement.

Another thing you can do to strengthen your weaker fingers (your ring finger and pinky) is simply to start with the first string of the guitar, and put your first finger on the first fret.  Play that "F" note.  Keeping your first finger in place, add your second finger to the second fret play the note, then add your third and fourth fingers to their frets.

I demonstrate this exercise in the video below, and you will find that by doing this exercise both forward and backward, you will not only strengthen those weaker fingers, but you will acquire accuracy and dexterity that will help you make cleaner chords, play better solos, and so on.

Please watch the video, try these exercises, and above all--enjoy the music you are sending out into the Universe!  Happy Pickin'!

Video on Strengthening Your Hand

Finger Pickin' Good!

Ha! The post title is a terrible pun, I know--but finger picking really is a great way to become a better guitarist, and a better "chord maker" on the guitar. Strumming with a pick is a wonderful thing--don't get me wrong!--but being able to finger pick adds a whole new dynamic method to your arsenal of guitar tricks!

I've had a previous post or two on finger picking, but I really want to just show you a very simple pattern today that will help you make better, cleaner chords. Because when you finger pick, there really is no way to hide buzzing strings or other fretting mistakes.

This "triplet pattern" in 4/4 time is one that is used and can be used in many songs.

Essentially, you will be using the thumb, index finger,middle finger, and ring finger on your "picking" hand to pluck the notes in a forward--backward sequence. Sometimes, you will see online that these fingers are referred to as PIMA, which is an abbreviation of their Spanish names ( thumb-Pulgar; index-Indice; middle-Medio; ring-Anular).


One important thing to remember about finger picking is that, generally speaking, you will always want to try to play the root note of the chord on one of the bottom three strings strings with your thumb.

In the video below, I will show you this pattern and demonstrate why it will make you a better guitarist in the long run.

So give it a shot, and Happy (Finger) Pickin'!

Link to Video on Finger Picking Exercise

Tips for Chord Transitions

So many of my students have been working hard on playing their guitar chords cleanly and quickly--and I can sympathize with them.  It's a hard and painstaking process--but if you put the time and effort into it, you will get there.  I promise!

Just a few quick tips as you work on the transitions:

1. Keep your fingers as close to the fret board as possible.  Let your fingers "hover" over the fret board, just above your strings. When that pinkie and third finger start flying out in space, it takes longer for them to come back down to a new chord.

2. Build your chords from the bottom string up.  For some reason a lot of students get into the habit of building chords from the highest string down--for example, they will finger a C major chord starting with the 2nd string, then 4th, then 5th.  The problem with that method is your pick is going to hit the bottom strings first, so get those notes placed first!  Find the root of the chord on the bottom three strings, and aim there first!  That extra split second will give you a chance to get the last top bits of the chord in place.  I know it seems like a negligible amount of time, but you’ll be surprised how it can improve your guitar playing.

3. When moving from one chord to the next, move the finger that has the farthest to go first.  For instance, in moving from G major to C major in the open position, your first finger has to move all the way from the 5th string to the second.  Lead with that finger and you’ll find that your other fingers naturally pull along behind to end up close to their intended frets as well.

4.  Stay relaxed and let the natural movement of your hands help you get to the chord.  Believe it or not, the guitar is actually designed very well to accommodate the natural movement of the human hand.  When you use tip #3 and lead with the farthest finger, your other fingers will follow along behind it naturally and you can get them to settle in the right place.  If you tighten up they won’t move as naturally, so stay loose.

5. Keep your right hand moving.  The way your brain works has a lot to do with how your hands react.  As a beginner, your brain is giving you permission to stop in between chords and rationalizes it as “we’ll get it eventually.”  It’s normal and happens on a subconscious level.  You can easily change that by setting up a dissonance in your brain--in other words, presenting your brain with a problem it needs to fix.  Here’s the way it works:  You brain loves when your hands are moving together.  So if you force your right hand to keep strumming, no matter what happens in your left, your brain will want to solve that dissonance by making your left hand move faster to keep up with your right.  Exactly what we’re looking for.

Good luck--and Happy Pickin'!!  Enjoy the video below:

Video--Tips on Changing Guitar Chords

Basic Fingerpicking--3 Fingers

Greetings pickers!  Today, I simply want to introduce you to a basic finger picking pattern that is outlined in the video link below.

While this technique is a little difficult, it is well worth learning, as it will bring a whole other dimension to your playing, your repertoire, and your guitar skills!

You will be using your thumb, your index finger, and your middle finger for this pattern, and this is a pattern that fits nicely into almost any song that is in 4/4 time.  With so many genres (rock, country, pop, classical) using this pattern, you will have no trouble finding songs to practice on!

In essence, your thumb will be playing an eighth note pattern, utilizing the root of the chord along with the next adjacent string, while your 1st and 2nd fingers will be doing a dotted quarter-quarter-dotted quarter type of rhythm.

It's probably best just to watch the video below--so enjoy, and Happy Pickin'!

Video Link to Basic Fingerpicking

Tips For Cleaner Chords

One of the greatest challenges of playing the guitar is learning to play clean-sounding chords--chords where all the notes are sounding, with no fret buzz or accidentally-muted strings.  It's always a challenge, especially for newer players and those working on barre chords, but it is also a challenge that can be overcome with time and practice!

Here are a few tips that I can offer for helping produce these clean chords:

1) Remember that your thumb is a balance/fulcrum point for playing chords; at times, you will be using it as a "counter-force" to help your other fingers press the strings down, and at other times, you will be positioning it out of the way of your other fingers.

Everyone's hand is a little different in terms of size and finger length, so it's important to spend the time figuring out how to use YOUR thumb to help make clean chords.  If your strings are buzzing because you're not completely pressing the string against the fret, re-positioning your thumb is a good place to start the chord-cleanup process.

2) In the same way, the wrist on your chording hand is able to flex up and down as well; people with longer fingers sometimes find that they have to flex their wrist out a bit away from the guitar neck in order for their fingers to be more perpendicular to the fretboard.

3) I should also mention that when playing chords, you do not want to use the pad of your fingertips--rather, you should always be using the tip of the finger just below the nail.  You will eventually get calluses there--wear them as a badge of honor!

4) Finally, when fingering chords, you want to make sure that you are as close to the fret as possible without being on top of it.  It takes a little work, but the closer you can get to the fret you are trying to finger, the cleaner the note will be.

In the video below, I show a little bit of the thumb and wrist positioning.

Video on Playing Cleaner Guitar Chords

Enjoy, and Happy Pickin!

Relax!

One of the most important things you need to do as a guitarist, is simply to RELAX.  Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but learning to relax can have a surprisingly HUGE impact on how well you play guitar--and the nice thing is it doesn't take a lot of effort or time to see the benefits, which makes it something well worth trying.

Many guitarists--especially those just learning to play--play with a lot of tension in their bodies.  But tension is actually an enemy that makes it harder for you to play guitar. To see for yourself how powerful an enemy tension can be, try this simple experiment...

1. Pick up your guitar and get ready to play

2. Place your left hand (if you're right handed) fingers across any four frets of the sixth string

3. Clench the muscles in your left shoulder and arm as tight as you can, don't clench your hand or fingers as you do this, concentrate only on your arm and shoulder muscles

4. Now try to walk your fingers across the strings and frets one at a time

It's hard to move your fingers isn't it?

Now release the muscles and repeat the finger walking exercise, it will be much easier this time around.

This exercise demonstrates two things:

1. Tension in your body makes performing guitar playing movements harder.  Many guitarists find their hands and fingers cramping because they are gripping the neck too hard, or pressing the strings too hard. Gentle, smooth, and precise finger placement is what you really want!

2. Tension in places that don't seem directly related to the exercise have an effect on your playing.  Unneeded tension, even in your shoulders or legs has a DIRECT effect on your fretting and strumming hands.

Like any other guitar instructor, my job is to teach you, to help build your confidence in yourself and your playing, and to help you identify bad habits such as tensing up in order to make you the best player you can be!

So, watch the video below, calm down, relax, and I think you will be amazed at how good you really are!  Happy (and relaxed!) Pickin'!

VIDEO LINK: RELAX!!

Take Your Pick!

Aah, the lowly and seldom-noticed plectrum--better known as your pick!  In actuality, pick technique is not only a critically important part of your guitar/bass education, but it is also one of the best sonic treasures in your arsenal of music weaponry.

In the video below, I will explain some of this more fully, but a few important things you need to know about your picks:

1) It is important early on to learn proper pick technique, because not only will it save you from wear and tear on your fingers (including bleeding, if you are Pete Townsend!),  but the pick will also greatly help you in negotiating between the strings of your guitar.

















2)  Secondly, choosing a pick thickness is both a matter of personal preference, and the style of music you are playing.  For acoustic strumming, I prefer a much thinner, flexible pick that will produce smooth sounding chords, and also add the percussive effect that happens when a thin pick glides across the guitar strings.  For lead type guitar, and 1980's eighth-note style bass guitar, I prefer a thicker pick.  Several manufacturers now make picks that are multi-thickness, depending upon where you place your gripping fingers.

3)  Speaking of gripping the pick, it is super-important early on to work only on holding the pick only between your thumb and index finger.  Resist the temptation to use your second finger to grip the pick, because you'll want to keep that guy free for possible other duties!

4) Picks are manufactured from all sorts of materials, including plastic, nylon, and other synthetic material.  Some are even made of metal!  I generally prefer the nylon picks, as they are virtually indestructible, and will withstand not only aggressive playing, but they will also survive the laundry cycle (this happens to every guitarist....)  I also use picks that have a rough or rubberized edge to grip.  Smooth picks tend to fly out of my hands at a sweaty gig.

5) Work with your music teacher on the various up and down-stroke techniques for playing both quick notes and chord strumming techniques.  If you've always wanted to play those fast licks, you will need to work hard on these techniques.  And in case you were wondering, I will be covering finger picking in a future blog entry.

6) Picks are also a source of varying TONES for your playing.  The difference between the sound a thin pick makes and a thicker one is both dramatic and useful.  One little hint I do is that in a song where I am both strumming and playing a lead, I will turn my pick upside down for the lead part so that the thicker part of the pick can help my lead playing jump out a bit.

7) Finally, yes--you will occasionally drop a pick down the sound-hole of your acoustic guitar.  It happens to EVERYBODY! There is a way to fetch them out by turning your guitar upside down, and doing both an up and down and side to side motion.  Your teacher can demonstrate that as well!

So have fun, keep on practicing, watch the video below, and Happy Pickin'!

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ON GUITAR PICKS!

Barre Chord Tips!

I have several students working on barre chords at this time, so I thought it might be worthwhile to give some tips for helping both them and you (the reader!) along.

Let me first say that I know that barre chords are HARD to master--especially on an acoustic guitar.  And I can clearly remember how frustrated I used to get working on them myself when I was a wee lad!

So let me be honest and assure you that this frustration is normal--I want to encourage you to not give up, and to keep on working on these barred forms of chords.

Here's a couple of things to remember as you work:

1) In essence, you want to form your thumb and index finger into a capo shape--this is where your leverage comes from to get good, clean notes along your barre.  You may cramp up for a while, but that cramping will decrease as you build up strength in your hand and wrist muscles.

2) Instead of holding your index finger perfectly flat, rotate it backwards a little onto its side--I show this in the video link below.  Also see the picture above, and pay attention to the hand position that this fellow has.

3) Move the elbow of your left arm (or right arm if you're left-handed) close to your body, so that it's touching your waist.

4) If you keep hearing muffled strings, it means that your either not getting a good barre with your index finger, of that your other fretting fingers are muting other strings.  You will want to make sure that you are using the very tips of your fingers to form the barre chords.  Calluses and practice will get you there!

5) Don't expect your barred chords to sound great in the beginning--correcting buzzes and muted notes is all part of the learning process.  You just gotta hang in there, and keep working at it!

6)  Make it a habit to work some barre chords into songs that you already know.  Learning to make those transitions between chords will eventually shape you into the great guitarist that you are destined to be.

7) See my video below for some exercises that can help you with making clean sounding, strong barre chords.

8) Finally, have your music instructor check the overall "action" on your fret-board.  If the "action" is too high, a reputable guitar store can lower the strings so that they are closer to the fret-board (but not so close that they buzz against the frets!).

Keep up the good work--and Happy Pickin'!

VIDEO--Barre Chord Tips

Dynamics--The "Secret Weapon"

Have you ever been playing a song, or working a new one up and wondered, "why does this song sound so lifeless and monotone?  What's missing?"

Most often, I believe that what is missing is a good sense of dynamics in one's playing.  "Dynamics" refers to how loud or soft you are playing, and/or how aggressively or softly you are strumming.

An important thing to remember is that music is like a river or body of water--it ebbs and flows, has softer parts and louder parts, and has twists and turns--all of which can be accentuated and reinforced with good dynamic playing.

So how do you start playing your guitar more dynamically?  Well, the first step is just to remember and be aware that you have this "tool" in your arsenal, and to be aware that even within a song, there are some sections that might call for softer playing (i.e. the verses), and some that might require more aggressive dynamics (i.e. the chorus).

Secondly, before you play a song, really stop and think about how you want to approach it dynamically.  Maybe it's the type of song that starts out softly, and builds to a massive climax (think Led Zep's "Stairway to Heaven").  Or maybe the song calls for softer verses and a harder-edged chorus (think Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit").

Or maybe it's a soft ballad that you might want to finger-pick throughout the entire song.

One great exercise to hear and work on the dynamic range of your guitar is simply to pick your favorite chords, and start out by strumming as softly as you can.  Then gradually, increase the intensity of your strumming and strike the strings as hard as you can.  Finally, start backing off the intensity again until you are back at a quiet level.

This exercise will show you the stunning dynamic range of the guitar, and help you think about how you might use dynamics in the future as a tool to make your playing more vibrant and expressive.

I demonstrate this exercise in the video below--so check it out, and Happy Pickin'!

VIDEO--DYNAMICS ON THE GUITAR

Jam On!

Last evening, I had the pleasure and privilege of taking part in an outdoor, acoustic guitar jam session with about 8 other players.  Some were guitar teachers, some were fairly new players, and others intermediate students and professional musicians.

I tell you this because I think that these sorts of gatherings are great opportunities to make new friends, and make great music--and because a LOT of learning goes on in these gatherings.

Here are some reasons I encourage all of my students and fellow players to purposefully seek out other folks to rehearse and jam with:

1) You get to meet new people and make new friends with whom you instantly have something in common:  the love of music and performing!

2) Every guitar player can ALWAYS learn something new.  No matter if you've been playing 2 years or 40 years, there's always a new way to finger a chord or play a riff.  Going in with an open mind and a willingness to learn practically guarantees that you will go home with a new piece of guitar knowledge.

3) Along those lines, you get to hear some new songs and/or arrangements that might not have been on your radar before.  I know that I walked away last evening with some new bands and new songs that I want to hear more of.

4)  You can make mistakes in a non-performance setting.  Jam sessions are a great place to try out a new solo, or improvise over some chords.  From a vocal standpoint, you can also learn and try out some new harmonies in a "non-judgmental" setting.  Everyone is there to have fun and learn.

5) Your musical adaptability and listening skills will improve.  At a jam, there is a lot of interplay between the musicians, and sometimes the setting allows for multiple musicians to take solos.  These are opportunities that you don't get if you only play and practice by yourself at home.

6) Finally, you get to be more comfortable playing in front of other people.  As I mentioned before, it's great to be playing within a circle of supportive musicians who all simply want to have fun and hone their craft.

So how do you find other like-minded folks to jam with?  Well, a good place to start is with your music instructor.  He or she undoubtedly has other students whom you might be able to jam and rehearse with.  Also, many communities and music stores will post announcements of "jam nights" throughout the year.  You can also attend open mic nights at local venues/coffeehouses and meet other potential jammers that way.

In any event, music is meant to be fun, and an creative outlet.  So find those other guitar-people, and start your jammin'!  More in the video below:

Video Link--The Importance of Jamming!

Sus2, and the Elusive Mu

Greetings, Intermediate Pickers!

In a previous post from earlier May, I talked about suspended-fourth guitar chords--that is, a chord where you replace the 3rd of the chord triad/musical scale, with the 4th of the musical scale.  It's a technique used by most guitarists and mandolin players to make a standard major or minor chord a little more interesting, and add some forward movement to a chord progression. 

Today, I want to briefly talk about suspended-second chords, and the elusive "mu" chord popularized by the jazzy-rock group Steely Dan.

To understand what a suspended chord really is and how it operates, you have to know a little bit of music theory. A normal major chord consists of the root, 3rd and 5th notes of the major scale (1-3-5). If you take the A major scale for example: A,B,C#,D,E,F#,G#,A and you take the root (1st), 3rd and 5th note of that scale you get A,C#,E. 

The sus4 chord consists of the root, 4th and 5th notes of the major scale (1-4-5) = A,D,E. You can see that the sus4 chord (“sus” stands for “suspended”.) replaces the third with the fourth note.

The sus2 chord consists of the root, 2nd and 5th notes of the major scale (1-2-5) = A,B,E. The sus2 chord replaces the third with the second note.  By removing the 3rd in a chord, the chord becomes neither major nor minor, as the 3rd determines the happy major or "dark" minor sound. Therefore, suspended chords can be applied to both major and minor chords.

Here are some common fingerings for the guitar:

Finally, a quick word on the Steely Dan "Mu" chord, which is almost impossible to play on the guitar--but can be done!  Whereas a sus2 chord consists of the 1,2, and 5 of the musical scale, the "Mu Major" chord adds the 2nd note of the scale, but also keeps the 3rd in!  So, an "A Mu Major" would have A,B,C#,and E.  This is easily done on a piano--not so simple on a guitar without some serious pinky-stretching.  Here's one example of an A Mu Major:

So--have some fun trying these out, and don't be afraid to embellish the songs you already know with these alternate chords.  Happy Pickin!'

Here's a video, where I show some examples:
Video--Suspended Second Chords

To Scale, or Not To Scale?

As a music instructor of many years, I believe that learning to play musical scales is one of the most important building blocks that a guitar/bass student can have in their "wheelhouses."

Of course, learning to read music, play melodies, and play chords are all important, but scales really are the "alphabet" of everything you will ever learn to play on your instrument.

And they're not hard to learn either--just a few basic patterns up and down the neck of your guitar and bass.  One example is shown below (if you're a bass player, just ignore the two strings to the far right):

Here's why I think scales are important to learn:

1) Scales are the foundations to building both melodies and chords in a song; for example, when you see a guitar chord, and you know the scale from which it has been constructed, you can use that scale to improvise a solo, or compose a melody over that chord.

2) Playing scales helps you to concentrate on the physical motions of going from one note to the next, and to strengthen your fretting hand.  Actually, your picking hand benefits as well, as you further reinforce your knowledge of jumping between strings.

3) Along with #2, playing scales helps you to fine-tune your sound and tone on the guitar or bass.  Everyone has their own style and tone that is uniquely yours, and playing scales will help you to identify and strengthen yours.

4) For those students learning to play guitar solos, knowing some major scales, some pentatonic scales, and some modified-blues pentatonic scales will give you a HUGE palette from which to play your rockin' leads!

5) Finally, knowing how to play scales in many different positions up and down your instrument's fretboard will only serve to increase your overall musical knowledge and playing ability--and will make YOU the person that everybody wants in their band!

So, having said all that, have fun, and Happy Pickin'!  In the video below, I demonstrate a little scale technique, and talk about the reasons why it's so important.

The Importance of Scales

Timing is Everything!

I sense that most of my students hate to hear these dreaded words come from my mouth:  "OK, let's try that with the metronome."  And I get that--I never liked it either when MY teacher uttered those words!

But as a musician, having good timing when you play is one of the most important skills you can possess.  You might be able to play a fast, melodic run of notes, but if you can't stay in time with other musicians or a director, then all of your amazing talent is simply going to go to waste.

The metronome is a very simple device that just makes a clicking sound at given time intervals, usually measured in bpm's (beats per minute).  And they come in many different styles:  from battery-powered electronic metronomes, to iPhone/iPad apps, to the antique metronome pictured above.  There are even free metronome websites online!

Typically for beginning students, , metronome clicks are set to correspond with quarter notes--but there are some great exercises you can do with other note types to help improve you "internal clock," which I will demonstrate in the video below.

Another great exercise you can do sometimes is to simply lay your instrument aside, and just tap your foot along with the clicks of the metronome.  This is a great way to also work on your "internal clock" so that when you do play with other musicians, you can tap your foot with the rhythm section, and stay in sync with the other musicians.

One final thought:  when you're working on a musical piece, start the metronome off at a SLOW tempo, and gradually work your way up to playing the piece at a faster tempo.  As I often say to my students, proper technique and good timing are MUCH more important than SPEED when you are learning an instrument.

So....timing really is everything.  Please watch the video linked below for a demonstration of some ways to practice along with a metronome.  Happy Pickin'!

Video Link--Timing is EVERYTHING

p.s I may have exceeded my 2-minutes on the video--but this is a SUPER-important topic!

Some Thoughts on the Bass Guitar

Since I don't want my bass guitar students to feel left out on this blog, I thought I might dedicate this post to them--and in the process, share some of my "philosophy" regarding the bass guitar.

But if you are a guitar "picker," you should really read this too, so that you understand your role compared to the bass player's role!

At it's very core, the bass player's main duty is to be the "glue" that helps to hold the bottom end of a song together.  While the guitar players, keyboards, and vocals generally provide the melody and chord structures, the bass player is the one who provides the "anchor" and "bridge" between these melodic instruments, and the beat of the drums.

In many ways, I find it helpful sometimes to think of the bass guitar as a percussion instrument that you can play notes on.

A few more tips that I hope you will find helpful:

1) Take lessons, and dedicate part of each day to practicing your scales, lessons, and playing along with recordings.  Relax, take a deep breath, and enjoy what you are doing.

2) Listen, listen, listen to what the drummer is doing on his kick, snare, and hi-hat--the two of you will really work together to set the pace, feel, and 'groove' of the song!  In many songs, you will follow the same rhythm as the drummer's kick drum pattern.

3) Where possible, play with other musicians.  I cannot overestimate the importance of spending time with other musicians who are learning as well. In the end, you will learn much from each other, and they will also help you to find your musical "voice."

4) Don't overplay!  As mentioned above, the bass player and drummer provide the strong foundation upon which the rest of the musical house is built!  Keep it simple, keep it solid!

5) Work with your teacher to learn chord structures, and the notes which make up chords.  You can use this knowledge to play interesting passing notes between chords, and to form super-cool chord inversions that will really make your part stand out.

That is my "in a nutshell" philosophy of bass playing--but of course, there is much more to be covered in a future post.  So in the meantime, keep up the good work, and be proud to provide a strong foundation that supports the entire song!

Watch the video below!

Thoughts and Tips for Bass Guitarists

Suspended Chords--A Mystery No More!

From the Who's "Pinball Wizard" to Tom Petty's "Free Fallin" you have all heard suspended chords before, but may not have known how to form and play them on the guitar.

These chords are often notated as "sus" chords in guitar chord charts, but there really is no mystery--a suspended chord creates a harmonic "tension" by swapping out the 3rd of the key/chord for the 4th of a key/chord.

Knowing that all major and minor chords are built upon a 1-3-5 triad (major third for a major chord, and flatted third for a minor chord), you simply swap out a fourth for a third.

In the video link below, I demonstrate this with a D major chord, where I replace the F# on the first string with a G played on the first string with my pinky.  The G is the fourth tone of the D major scale, and is the "suspension."

Of course, any major or minor chord can be suspended, but you do have to know a little bit about scales and chord structure.  A good guitar teacher (such as myself--ha!) would be happy to show you how to do this easily in your head.

There is also an animal called the suspended 2nd, made most famous by Steely Dan, which I will cover in a future video.

But in the meantime, give these "sus 4's" a shot--the tension they create in the music is wonderful, and keeps a song really rolling forward!

Happy Pickin'!

Video On Suspended Chords

The Most Common Mistakes that Guitar Students Make

The Most Common Mistakes that Guitar Students Make

Over the years, I have found that there are some common mistakes that all guitar students make at some point or another.  But these problems are easily fixed, once you can name what they are, and point them out with a sense of encouragement!  And truth be told, this applies to all music students, regardless of what instrument they might be learning:

1) Failing to tune up before you play:  Tuning your guitar is incredibly important, especially for beginning students.  Not only do you want the songs you are learning to sound good--but as you learn, your brain is memorizing both where your fingers should be placed, as well as the notes you are playing.  Trying to memorize these notes and sounds becomes much more difficult with an out-of-tune instrument.

2) Failing to pay attention to tempo and timing:  Although most students do not enjoy playing along with a metronome, it is an extremely valuable tool to help build a sense of timing and rhythm.  You can also use rhythm tracks, or a rhythm machine included with software like Garage Band. Or, simply tap your foot in a quarter note rhythm to help guide you through a musical piece.  This sense of rhythm and timing is especially important if you ever plan to perform with other musicians!

3) Failing to have patience:  Most students want to learn to play notes and chords as quickly as possible, forgetting that playing an instrument takes time, patience, and practice!  You have to put the time in to get the results that you want.  Or as one of my younger students says, "Practice makes perfect,and practice makes permanent."  You will get where you want to be musically, but it does take time!

4) Failing to play for others:  Many students are "shy" about playing in front of other people, especially if they're just starting out with lessons--but your friends, family, and other students are a great audience to have as you grow and learn your instrument.  They're there to give you support and encouragement on your musical journey, so let them be there for you!

5) Falling prey to discouragement:  Most often, we are our own harshest critics.  When you get discouraged, remember what I said earlier--that in time, you will get where you want to be musically, if you are willing to put the time, energy, and discipline into learning and practicing.  Every well-known and talented performer that you like to listen to started out exactly as you did--and probably made the same mistakes as you!

Click on the video link below to hear me talk a little more about these issues.  Happy Pickin'!

Common Mistakes That Guitar Students Make

Simple Strums for Beginners

As a beginner guitar student, the most important things you are working on are probably learning your basic notes and how to read them, learning to finger common chords, and learning how to STRUM  those chords in time.

Below are some images of common strum patterns that can be used in 4/4 time at almost any tempo (We'll deal with 3/4 and 6/8 time in a future post!).

On thing to remember is that strumming does not have to be fancy to be effective.  This is especially true if you are accompanying yourself or someone else who is singing a tune.  As you watch popular artists on TV or videos you will note that if they are singing, they're probably either doing a simple strum, or letting their second guitarist do the fancy stuff!

In any event, here are some common strums--and you'll note that in a lot of songs, it's sounds just fine to hit one strum per quarter note, or do two strums per beat in an eight-note pattern.  While there are some "down" and "up" stroke indications for these strums, it's more a matter of what you are feeling and are capable of doing.

One last thing:  I generally use a thinner pick for acoustic strumming, and I really try to use my whole are, bending at the elbow and letting my hand go across the strings in a smooth arc.

Click on the video link below for a demonstration of these strum patterns.  Enjoy--and Happy Pickin'!

"Two-torial" # 9--Simple Strums in 4/4 Time