Many people want to play blues guitar because the blues is such a popular genre of music. It sounds great and it’s emotional, and especially on the guitar, it’s super fun to play. For anyone who’s looking to get into playing the blues, there are a few things you’ll need: A guitar: Obviously, you need …
Tablature is one of the best inventions for guitarists since the guitar went electric. It isn’t, however, limited to just the guitar, and it isn’t anything new. Tablature is a method of notating music for stringed instruments that’s been in use since the Renaissance and Baroque eras (see the example below). Today, however, tablature, frequently …
Jazz is an amazing style of music, and if you’re reading this, it means you’re probably looking to get into playing jazz guitar, which is great! But since there’s so much out there to learn, how do you know where to start? Today, we’ll be going through some of the basics when it comes to …
Most people who pick up the guitar want to play lead guitar. That’s the flashiest, most important spot in the band, right? Not necessarily true. The importance of the rhythm guitar player or the rhythm parts in a song can’t be overstated. Without good rhythm playing, the rest of it falls apart. There are a …
Learning to properly strum the guitar is something a lot of beginning guitar players neglect because they concentrate so hard on making their fingers work the way they want them to work. Ironically, a lot of beginning guitar players have the most trouble with strumming, which can hinder their playing later on, just as they’re …
Whether we’re talking about rock, metal, country, or jazz guitar, there’s always a lick or two that stands out among the many. A lick is a series of notes played in conjunction with other licks to create a solo. Some of the best guitar licks used by guitar players are the same licks used by …
After years of playing and teaching guitar, I have noticed some common problems that plague beginning guitar players. These problems can be addressed with some basic beginner guitar tips that should apply to every guitar player just getting started. Beginner Guitar Tips The first tip is simple. Get the best guitar you can afford. It …
Have you ever walked by someone playing bluesy music on an acoustic guitar in either a club or just on the street, and just felt them really pouring their heart into it? The blues is a powerful style of music, and one that you can definitely learn a lot from. But what is it about …
Printed music for the guitar can be notated in several ways. One way is standard notation, which looks like printed music for any other instrument. The guitar actually sounds an octave lower than it’s written, which avoids having to use two clefs to notate. See the example below for the range of the notes on …
Scales are the foundation of music. You create melodies and harmonies from them. When we first get start playing guitar, the last thing on our minds is which guitar scales to learn. We’re more likely thinking about which of our favorite songs we can play first. There’s no reason you can’t do both. In fact, …