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Beating Frustration & Making Guitar Fun Again

2011-04-03T12:08:00.000+08:00

Frustration can be a major hurdle to overcome when trying to improve at the guitar. In small doses, frustration can motivate and drive us to achieve, but too much frustration causes us to stop thinking clearly, to lose patience, to attempt to short circuit the learning process and in the worst of all cases to just give up.

Frustration slowed my own guitar progress for decades. I even quit for a few years. The worst part was that guitar wasn?t fun anymore. I had to force myself to practice. I had no patience with myself while I was practicing. Performing was hell. Frustration led me into a vicious cycle. Bad practice sessions led to bad performances which only made me put more pressure on myself, which made subsequent practice sessions even worse.

Frustration also causes physical problems. Are you trying to build speed and/or eliminate tension in your picking and/or fretting hand? Are you annoyed because this isn?t happening quickly enough for you? Do you, as a result, get angry and grit your teeth while trying to force yourself to get better at a pace that you want rather than a pace that is reasonable given your current skill level? Do you think all that teeth gritting and forcing the issue is getting you closer to your goal or further away from it (hint: it?s not closer).

The good news is I?m here to tell you that when it comes to frustration, we have a choice. We can choose to not be frustrated. We tend to think of frustration as some external force that we can?t control, but that?s not true. Frustration is a direct result of the way that we approach the instrument. We can choose to not be frustrated by doing a few simple things:

1. Setting reasonable goals
2. Staying aware
3. Enjoying the process

Let?s examine each one of these individually.

Setting reasonable goals is mostly about understanding the difference between short term goals and long term goals. A long term goal might be that I want to play like John Petrucci, but that is a completely unreasonable short term goal which, if I hold myself to that standard and nothing else, I will surely fail every day, beat myself up emotionally in the process and likely end up thinking that playing the guitar is not fun. In this case I need to set some more reasonable short term goals, goals that are reachable in days, weeks or months instead of decades. For example, my short term goals might be to learn all the notes on the fretboard, to learn five usable solo phrases against a given chord progression, or to learn the rhythmic structure of a particularly difficult passage. My long term goal might still be to play like John Petrucci, but I evaluate myself from day to day against my short term goals (which are very attainable) instead of my one long term goal (which may take a lifetime to achieve). Reaching my short term goals encourages me to set more short term goals, which ultimately move me toward my long term goal faster than just having one huge goal that seems so far away.

Awareness is our own personal monitoring system. There is a big difference between being frustrated and being aware of one?s own frustration. If I?m frustrated but not aware I will go on being frustrated and not enjoying myself, but if I?m aware of my frustration then I can do something about it. The presence of frustration is often a sign that something I?m doing isn?t quite right. Maybe I?m trying to build speed when I should be focusing on coordination and elimination of unnecessary tension. Maybe I?m assuming that I have a problem with my picking hand when my problem is actually in my fretting hand. Maybe I just need to take a break and take my dog for a walk to clear my head.

Enjoying the process means focusing on the journey instead of the destination. As clich?d as it sounds, this may be the most important aspect of beating frustration. If all you?re focused on is some brass ring that you think is out there that one day you?ll reach, I?ve got a wake-up call for you... there is no brass ring. There is only a continuous improvement process, and wherever you are as a musician at any given point along that process is fine. Ask yourself if you honestly ever want to get to the point where you?re not improving anymore. If you always want to be improving then you?ve just liberated yourself, because you?re now free from reaching for that one (non-existent) frozen moment in time when you?ll be ?good enough.? You?re now free to just enjoy getting better bit by bit every time you pick up the guitar.

And really, if we?re not enjoying the learning process, then why do we keep playing? There are two kinds of guitarists: professionals and amateurs. Most professional musicians could earn far more being miserable doing something else, so if we?re miserable as professional musicians what?s the point? As for amateurs, hobbies are supposed to be fun, right? If we?re not having fun then why are we spending time being miserable?

So in conclusion, if you?re frustrated:

? Re-evaluate your goals ? Do you have too many long term goals and too few short term goals? If so set some short term goals for yourself and measure yourself against those instead.
? Stay aware of your frustration level ? Frustration can be an indicator that you might need to try something different, or just take a break for a little while.
? Enjoy the process ? Find something you enjoy about learning and focus on that. Stop reaching for the brass ring that doesn?t exist and I think you?ll find that you?re enjoying yourself in the moment far more often.

Thanks for taking the time to check out this lesson. For a video version of this lesson and other free lessons please visit www.whyisuckatguitar.com.

comments policy comments posted, 1 removed | this article is 80% spam-freeguitar/bass95 :
Fine lesson, except if you dont get frustrated, like me. Guitar playing is always fun, usually if you get frustrated, you overestimate yourself. Really helpful tips, but i think its in wrong section. This is just my opinion, but "for beginners" would suit better, I think.
POSTED: 03/11/2011 - 12:31 pm / quote |dvuksanovich :
If you don't get frustrated that's wonderful. People of all skill levels, however, experience frustration. Mine peaked while I was getting my Master of Music degree, so I can assure you that this is not just advice for beginners.
POSTED: 03/11/2011 - 01:03 pm / quote |no bs johnny :
This is solid advice.

I talk about the same thing on my blog.

Here's the kicker:

Frustration actually PREVENTS learning from happening. There's many reasons for this, but needless to say, I've experienced this firsthand.

As soon as I added a little "FUN" into my guitar life, I saw my skill improve dramatically. It's amazing how this works.
POSTED: 03/31/2011 - 08:52 pm / quote |

dvuksanovich :
So true. I had the exact same experience myself.
POSTED: 03/31/2011 - 11:53 pm / quote |

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Guitarists...Are You a Victim and a Loser?

2007-02-23T11:22:00.000+08:00

I was thinking today about THE most dangerous enemy of musical progress…the victim mentality. What do I mean by this?

Often we can let our personal circumstances dictate our progress. For example, someone may let their guitar practice slide because they were really busy at work. This person may start making excuses such as "I didn't have time". This is victim mentality. It is believing that your musical progress is only possible when external circumstances allow it.

What they are really saying to themselves is that their musical dreams and goals are not as important as paying a few lousy bills .They are letting their boss's goals get in the way of their own.

Now…I can't point fingers at anyone. I've been guilty of having a victim mentality plenty of times! Especially when it comes to things like going to the gym :)But I don't have a victim mentality when it comes to guitar practice. There is virtually nothing that I will allow to get in the way of my musical progress.

So…how can you stop yourself from becoming a victim and a loser…

1.Stop making excuses. I can guarantee that for every excuse you can make there is someone out there who has overcome that obstacle. Don't allow yourself to make excuses. They are the death of your musical dreams.

2. Watch your language. For example, rather than saying "I couldn't find the time" say "I am acting like a complete and absolute loser and if I continue acting like this I will NEVER achieve my musical goals". Because that statement is pretty painful to say, you'll soon stop making excuses!

3. Think of solutions. For excuses that you normally make, think of ways of overcoming those obstacles. For example, if you are constantly using your work as a reason why you can't practice, ask yourself questions like…

"How can I get paid more but work less hours?".
"How can I get paid while I sleep?".
"How can I stay home all day and practice?".
If you ask enough questions like this on a daily basis, you'll find a solution eventually.

4. Think of your "Why". These are the reasons why you want to achieve your musical goals. If your why is strong enough, You will NEVER want to stop practicing for any reason.

5. Think of your role models. Use your role models to motivate and inspire you to keep on practicing.Every time you start to make an excuse, ask yourself "Would__________make this excuse?" For example, one of my favourite guitarists is Steve Vai. I could NEVER imagine making him excuses for not practicing!

To finish off here's a quote that you may want to memorize...

"You can either become a great guitarist, or you can make excuses, but you can't do both".

Practising Guitar - The Sneaky Person's Way To Get Better

2007-02-21T20:59:00.000+08:00

People taking up the guitar generally fall into one of two categories: the first just want to learn to play a few chords so they can accompany themselves while singing their favourite songs. Or maybe they want the social life and perks that come with playing in a band. For them, practising can be a pain.

The second type is the person who from day one knows they want to be as good as the best in their chosen field, whether it's rock, funk, jazz, or classical. In other words, they want to emulate their heroes. And practice is the pain that leads to the gain.

If we're honest, most guitarists will admit to starting off with approach one and ending up on the road to approach two, simply because no matter how good you get, you have a nagging doubt that you could do better. You also feel that anyone listening to you knows this too, and they're wondering why exactly you don't sound like a profesional. (Although that's just paranoia--they aren't thinking that at all.)

Fortunately, the guitar is an instrument that will cater for both approaches. Someone once said it's the easiest instrument to play sloppily and the hardest to play well.

Personally, I'm not so sure: a church organ, (think of all those pedals) and the bagpipes have got to be at least contenders for the title.

No matter, there is some truth in the statement.

But who cares? If your intention is to make your delivery of your favourite songs sound fuller, does it really matter what standard you are? Of course it doesn't. (As long as you aren't really, really terrible and inflict it on other people, that is.)

And besides, every time you pick up the guitar (or anything else), you improve. You build up muscle memory, for one thing. Practice really does make perfect.

And that's the important thing: it is necessary to practice.

Only ever playing while you sing those faves of yours does count as practice, if that's all you want to accomplish. And the good news is you can get to play pretty decent pretty quickly, just by learning the necessary chords, persevering, then learning how to play rhythm with a little variety.

If you want to be more versatile, though, practice will probably mean learning moves before being able to apply them to something meaningful--a bit like the wax-on-wax-off sequence in the movie The Karate Kid. And just like Daniel-san, you're going to get to the point sometimes where you wonder what the point of it all is, and whether you can take it without losing your sanity.

Or maybe you'll start to feel it's taking up too much of your life, that you could be doing something more useful or enjoyable (because, let's face it, practice is always dry and unenjoyable, isn't it?)

But should you ever get into the position where you feel you just can't face those exercises, there's a sneaky trick you can play to fool yourself into doing it.

(It works for other things, too, like exercise, and research).

It's this: tell yourself that you're only going to practise for two minutes. One hundred and twenty seconds, maximum. After that, no matter whether you're enjoying it or not, you absolutely have to stop. No carrying on. No excuses. And make yourself put the guitar down.

Try it. See what happens. You'll be a better guitarist in no time.

Guitar - Beyond The Chord Chart

2007-01-03T09:44:00.000+08:00

We've all been there - soon after we get hold of our first guitar we know that to play anything people are actually going to listen to we need to "learn a few chords". These first few chords for most beginners end up being the open position chords, down at the first few frets.

Soon, we begin to associate these basic chords with shapes - E, A, D, C and G shapes. These 5 shapes are way more fundamental than we initially think, because once it comes to mastering the dreaded F chord, or more accurately, the "E-shape barre", we immediately feel liberated - we can now create major and minor chord variations up and down the neck.

Some stop there. Some may even go on to realize the "A shape barre" (based on the A string) can widen our scope of tone and voicing that little bit more. True, these two movable shapes are indeed enough for most of today's middle-of-the-road rock music. You can write great songs with a mix of the 5 open position shapes, and these two barre shapes, even epics!

But why stop there? Why limit yourself at all? There's so much more to discover on the fretboard. Different voicings - voicings that can make a chord on its own sound 10 times more intricately lush. The truth is, as guitarists get into their 2nd year of playing, these fixed form chords begin to sound, well...a little dull.
Too many guitarists are missing out on producing music that will astound themselves, let alone others, because of their love affair with the quick-reference chord chart, learning parrot fashion, shrugging off any understanding of "what that chord would sound like voiced...here" and knowing your several options.
You may be thinking "this sounds complicated, where do I go from here? What do I need to learn to be able to think outside the box when it comes to constructing interesting chords?"

Two words that will make some jump into their guitar case - chord theory
Chord theory is a subject area of guitar that doesn't necessarily have to be pretentious, elitist or just for jazz/classical guitarists. Explained and learned the right way, knowing some basic guitar chord theory can open up a songwriting factory in your head, producing its goods right on your guitar.

There are 5 steps you need to go through to reach your guitar chord nirvana (and I DON'T mean the band!), the first 3 you probably already have...
1) Learn the 5 barre chord shapes (E, A, C, D and G)
2) Learn the major scale in 8 (yes, eight) different positions based around these barre shapes
3) Use your knowledge of the major scale to create triads, 7ths and extended chords in several positions on the fretboard. This is the foundation for building unique and interesting chord voicings.
4) Use your knowledge of chord construction to create unique chord voicings with inversions all over the fretboard.
5) Don't forget to "float" chords occasionally with open strings.

Once you invest a little of your practice time learning chord theory basics (it doesn't take long to pick up), you'll start to investigate the fretboard as second nature. You'll come up with chord progressions and really use your ears to identify the "right" chord for the change. Your playing will open up to a diverse range of styles.

Most of all though, creating unique original music that is truly "you" won't be limited by the size of a chord chart - it will only be limited by the 6 strings on your guitar.

The Art of Playing Jazz Guitar

2006-12-29T09:12:00.000+08:00

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I'm not going to kid you; playing Jazz Guitar is extremely difficult at best and almost downright impossible at worst. However there are things you can do to improve your improvisation skills and feeling and we'll discuss them throughout this multi part series so look for additional parts in the near future.

Practice

What can I say about practice? Just do it and do it often! Do it everyday. When you think you have done enough do it again.

I am not just talking about picking up the guitar and playing a few songs I am talking about real practicing for the environment that you will eventually be playing in which is, of course, in an ensemble with other musicians who we hope will always be better than you.

Here are the basics...

When practicing always use a metronome!

If I didn't make that part clear perhaps this may help: ALWAYS USE A METRONOME!

If you feel that you don't need a metronome stop reading this article, stop practicing and go get some ice cream because you will get the same or even better results and you certainly will enjoy yourself a whole lot more in the process if you do. If you are committed read on.

Still with me?

When using your metronome try to feel your timing on different clicks. For instance for a swing feel have your metronome click on beats 2 and 4 rather than 1 and 3. This will give you an instant swing feel and also take away that nasty crutch so you are forced to know where beat 1 really is.

We never, ever, want to rely on our drummer, who may be in the middle of a complex experimental improvisation just when you need him/her the most, to tell us where beat 1 is. How many times have you been in that situation?

Sound simple? It is!

Sound easy? Try it for a month and you let me know how it goes.

Let's delve into this a little. When practicing using this technique of displacing metronome clicks for beats try these: practice a 3/4 tune using the metronome clicking once per measure and only on beat 2. Then switch to only on beats 3. See how the feeling changes. Practice it, learn it, feel it and then you can start to own it.

If you want to get fancy place the metronome to click every fifth beat while you play a tune in 3. This will shift the accents and feeling from bar to bar and will also allow your brain to break free from it's learned behavior which is designed to make you not want to think.

What did you say?

That's right! More times than not the human brain is your biggest enemy. It always seeks comfort and practicing in the fashion described above is not at all comfortable for your brain. In these cases I recommend telling your brain what my son often likes to say, "To bad..., so sad!"

We as musicians need to experience and comprehend the natural tendencies of the brain's normal behavior so we can learn to truly challenge ourselves to open up our minds to the gargantuan creative possibilities that await us when we do. This doesn't happen by accident nor does it happen by itself nor will it come easy. It takes an extreme effort on our parts.

Whether you have your instrument with you or not you can practice your timing. If you get a small battery operated metronome, which I recommend, you can bring it with you when you are driving back and forth to work. Practice the above examples in your car while singing. Don't worry if you can't sing you are trying to own these feelings and if you can't articulate these feelings with your voice you will never truly own them.

I have outlined several examples for displacement of beats. The idea is simple enough so that you can come up with more deviations on your own and you should keep changing them when you practice.

The point here is that true understanding and your eventual ownership of various beats and feelings associated with them do not reside strictly inside those beats and feelings. By looking only inside the beats you are shutting off all creative thinking that is necessary to truly exploit their full potential.

Real understanding resides outside and you must find out what that means. To truly find it you must force yourself and be willing to look everywhere else but the beats themselves. This simple metronome technique will get you started and point you on your journey to achieving that goal. Don't limit yourself to applying this technique only to timing but that statement is for another part of this series.

Have fun, practice and always play your heart out!

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Practising Guitar - The Sneaky Person's Way To Get Better

2006-12-16T12:36:00.000+08:00

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Fortunately, the guitar is an instrument that will cater for both approaches. Someone once said it's the easiest instrument to play sloppily and the hardest to play well.

Personally, I'm not so sure: a church organ, (think of all those pedals) and the bagpipes have got to be at least contenders for the title.

No matter, there is some truth in the statement.

And besides, every time you pick up the guitar (or anything else), you improve. You build up muscle memory, for one thing. Practice really does make perfect.

And that's the important thing: it is necessary to practice.

But should you ever get into the position where you feel you just can't face those exercises, there's a sneaky trick you can play to fool yourself into doing it.

(It works for other things, too, like exercise, and research).

Try it. See what happens. You'll be a better guitarist in no time.

Jamie Jones helps you go from complete beginner to intermediate guitarist. Get the building blocks for your guitar success: to receive your free online guitar lessons, visit: www.guitarism.co.uk.

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SELECTING THE BEST TYPE OF AMPLIFIER FOR YOU

2006-12-11T07:59:00.000+08:00

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So, you’ve got your eye on an electric guitar, or an acoustic with a pick-up. Then you’re going to need an amplifier! But there’s such a huge range, it can be daunting to even know where to start looking. Well, there’s some key questions that can help guide you…

How good does the sound of my amp need to be?

Well, are you aiming to form a band and play some gigs, or just be able to hear your electric guitar in your bedroom? If you’re a bedroom player, then any old amp will do to get you started. It’ll come down to your personal preference as to how much you invest. If you want to get out and play live, then you might need to think about a quality amp - like a Marshall, Fender or other top brand. In the Pro Guitar Tips course, we devote a whole chapter to ‘How to Get a Great Tone’, to help you decide between a solid state or valve amplifier. It could actually take over a whole blog, it's such a personal choice too. But as someone starting out, the next question you need to ask yourself is:

How loud do I need to play?

As loud as %&*^ing possible, I hear you say! Well, to simplify things a bit, amplifiers come in all different volume sizes. It’s fair to say the bigger the amp, the louder the sound. Amp power is rated by watts, with really loud amps ranging from 50-200 watts. If you’re just looking for a bedroom practice amp, then around 10 watts will do you nicely. If you want to be able play with a live drummer and still hear the sound of your guitar, then you’ll probably need 30+ watts of amp power.

How am I going to transport the amp?

I know a lot of guitarists who think they need the biggest amp. But I don’t know a lot of guitarists who do stadium sized shows! Bigger doesn’t necessarily make you play any better! Remember, the bigger your amp, the harder it’s going to be to transport to rehearsals and gigs – at least until you get your own road crew! You don’t want to put too much stress on your back just trying to lift the thing. Use common sense! Most gigs you'll play will use PA systems, where a microphone is placed in front of the amp, which is re-amplified to be mixed with rest of the band to heard by the audience.

How much money should I spend on an amp?

If you’ve got a limited budget, then I recommend spending the bulk of it on your guitar. A better guitar will be easier to play and will deliver rewards when it comes to sound quality. You can always upgrade your gear, but it’s great to start with something with longevity. Exactly how much to spend on an amp comes back to your intended use, and personal preference. As usual, the more you spend the better the amp will sound. (The next figures are a rough price range guide in US and Australian dollars.)

Beginner: US $100-200 AUD $150-300
Intermediate: US $250-500 AUD $300-700
Professional: US $500-3000+ AUD $700-4000+

The combination of equipment is really important to your overall sound. A great amp with an average sounding guitar (and/or guitar player!) is still going to sound average. Trust your ears to tell you what sounds good, and practice hard!

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Choosing An Electric Guitar: Main Points To Consider

2006-12-02T17:05:00.000+08:00

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Ask any guitarist, and they will you that nothing comes close to jamming with a guitar. In fact, no other instrument has influenced modern music so much as the guitar, and its ongoing popularity is reflect in its ubiquitous appearance in bands, radio stations and music videos throughout the world. Certainly one of the coolest instruments, the guitar is synonymous with contemporary pop and rock music. That said, no guitar is more symbolic of rock music than the electric guitar.

Whether you are an expert or a mere learner, getting a new electric guitar is a thrill. Perhaps you have only ever played an acoustic guitar, and want to branch out? Maybe you are simply learning guitar from scratch? Whatever your reasons, buying an electric guitar means you will be able to play searing riffs and haunting melodies like you have never experienced with any other instrument.

There are a number of things to decide upon when choosing an electric guitar.

The first decision you need to make is what body shape you want your guitar to be. To date, the most popular guitar shape is the solid-body Les Paul shape. You can also opt for the SG Style, which has a thinner double cut-away body. Other most common shapes are the Stratocaster and Telecaster.

Once you have chosen the shape of your guitar, you will need to decide what pick-up you want, either single or humbucker pick up. These refer to the copper wire that is wrapped around the bar magnets. As its name implies, the single pick-up it is composed of one copper wire wrapped in a single coil around a single bar magnet or several rod magnets. The humbucker pick-up, on the other hand, uses two coils which tends to increase the intensity of a guitar’s sounds.

Choosing the right bridge is another important step. You will need to decide between the stock tremolo, double-locking or Floyd Rose double locking system. Depending on the style, the strings may be positioned differently, looser or tighter, and more or less responsive to your touch.

These are just some of the things you will need to consider when you select your new electric guitar. The choice you ultimately make will vary depending on the sort of music you want to play, as well as your knowledge and level of experience. Your budget will also bear upon your decision, and for those with less money, secondhand guitars are always an option.

Seeking help from friends who play the electrical guitar, or staff at the music store is always invaluable. Once you have the right guitar, your playing will be more enjoyable... and the better for it.

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Greatest Underrated Guitar Players

2006-11-26T09:05:00.000+08:00

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Ask anybody who the greatest guitar players in the history of rock music are, and you’ll likely get the standard answers. The big three, Clapton, Beck and Page; certainly Eddie Van Halen; maybe Stevie Ray Vaughn. The metal-heads will cite Randy Rhodes and George Lynch. These are all valid answers, but if you would put forth names like Elliot Easton and Andy Summers, you might be likely to get a blank stare in return. Too often great guitarists are overlooked simply because they lack the flash of a star like Eddie Van Halen or because they are part of a group that simply has an overabundance of talent and they tend to be moved to the background. Take Andy Summers, guitarist for the Police. Everybody knows who Sting is, and there is no doubt that he is tremendously talented, as is drummer Stewart Copeland. As part of that unit, however, Summers was often overlooked. What is so amazing about Andy Summers is not only his command of the instrument, but his overwhelming versatility. From ska to punk to reggae to straight ahead rock and roll, nothing is outside of his ability. His style has been described as minimalist, but that minimalism is a plus, and he is to be credited for not falling prey to his critics and trying to overplay to compensate for a lack of complex layers of sound. Below, in no particular order, I’ve listed some of my favorite underappreciated players, and the reasons why I consider them to be great.

Elliot Easton (The Cars): Elliot Easton is probably the greatest reason for the success of The Cars. Without Easton’s accessible rock guitar cutting through the synth driven Cars sound, they never would have found the mainstream acceptance that they did. Imagine the spacey pair of Ric Ocasik and Greg Hawkes playing over an equally new-wave influenced guitarist and you have a style of music that would not appeal to people on a large scale. Easton’s Buddy Hollyesque sound, however, served to make The Cars commercially viable. “My Best Friend’s Girl” from their debut album is an excellent example of how Easton’s contribution was essential in creating hit records for The Cars.

Warren DiMartini (Ratt): What impresses me most about DiMartini is that fact that despite being known as a speed demon who is content to throw a startling flurry of notes at the listener, is that he knows the value of a rest. Too many metal artists try to play as fast as possible, and DiMartini can keep up with the best of them, but I’m more taken with the fact that on songs like “Lay it Down”, “Wanted Man” and “Round and Round”, it’s DiMartini’s artful use of pauses and mutings to lend depth and character to what would otherwise be just another ripping metal tune.

Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s/solo): The Go-Go’s will never be known for stunning musicianship, but Kathy Valentine’s reputation suffered from being thrown together with a group of girls who were far less proficient in their playing. Not to say that the Go-Go’s were not any good. Their style of music was based on catchy beats and fun lyrics, so being technically perfect was not a requirement. Unfortunately, the fact that this was an easily exploitable fault that the critics could grab a hold of, the band was unfairly criticized for being “a bunch of girls who could barely play their instruments.” If they had bothered to check, they would have found the Valentine was actually an experienced and talented guitarist, making the switch to bass to fill the spot with the Go-Go’s. Actually, a casual listen will show that Valentine’s bass playing stands out more that Charlotte Caffey’s or Jane Wiedlin’s guitar work. At times it’s almost melodic. Since the Go-Go’s Valentine has gone solo, along with a side project called the Delpines. I would strongly urge you to check out Valentine’s appealing mix of rock and punk on her “Light Years” album.

Slash (Guns ‘N’ Roses/Velvet Revolver): Guns ‘N’ Roses now Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan once claimed that Slash had “the fastest right hand I’ve ever seen.” While it may be argued that the left (fretting) hand is more important for a guitarist, after hearing Slash play, there can be no discounting the value of a fast right hand. “Sweet Child of Mine”, “Paradise City” and “Welcome to the Jungle” received more radio play, but to hear one of the best examples of Slash’s work, check out “Mr. Brownstone” on “Appetite for Destruction”.

Steve “Steamin” Clark (Def Leppard): It seems that all great artists have their demons and Steve Clark was no exception. Before alcohol claimed his life at too young an age, Steve Clark had built up a legacy of fine work that will live on. Steve’s gift was an ability to build spatial separation into his phrasing. It was almost as if he was playing in a huge empty amphitheater in which each note rang out perfectly and separately and yet, along with the complimentary work of bandmate Phil Colin, fit tightly together like pieces in a puzzle. The song “Love Bites” from the “Hysteria” album perfectly illustrates this point. Unlike previous member Pete Willis, Colin provided a perfect foil for Clark to play off of. Unfortunately, Def Leppard seemed to be associated more with the fact that drummer Rick Allen played with one arm, the result of a 1984 auto accident, taking some of the attention away from the fact that Clark’s playing made Def Leppard one of the finest pop metal bands of the 80’s.

Howard Leese (Heart): Fated to share the stage with two of the most beautiful and talented women of the rock era, Howard Leese continued to lend his creative talents to Heart long after its other founding members had departed. It was Nancy with her beautiful blond tresses that stole the spotlight, but it was Howard’s guitar that powered the group. Secure in the knowledge that he was a key component in Heart’s driving guitar based sound, he was never bitter about the fact that his name was only recognizable amongst true fans of the group. Listen to “Barracuda” or “Magic Man” or “Even it Up” and you are instantly struck by the inherent “coolness” of the opening riffs, and his mastery of harmonic overtones is second to none.

Mick Mars (Motley Crüe): Mostly thought of as a fair to middling heavy metal guitarist, Mick Mars phrasing is perfect for the Crüe’s sound. Chunky, dirty and staccato at times, it still manages to be melodic. Upstaged by Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee and their bad-boy images, Mick stays cool and aloof behind his powerful music. Despite the darkness inherent in some of their tunes, you cannot fail to be uplifted by Mick Mars’ musical skills.

Really there are so many worthy players that I could go on and on, but this is just a listing of those few that have bugging me for years. It’s true that people have their own tastes, and for some, these guys wouldn’t even make the top 10, but it makes me feel better to have my sentiments known. If I’m lucky there may be a few of you out there – just a few – who will say, “Man, I’ve been saying for years that he (or she) has never got enough credit.”

Best Guitar Lessons

When I Grow Up I Want To Play Guitar

2006-11-23T16:41:00.000+08:00

Best Guitar Lessons

The secret to becoming a really good guitar player is, start playing and never stop. It really IS that simple!

Many people say "Gee you know, I've always wanted to play guitar, or I'd like to play guitar but I don't think I'll be very good at it".

You know if you really want to play guitar, just start. Don't listen to all the advice of all the people around you.

Now, here's a little story I'm sure many of you will be able to relate to. It's a story about Paddy - a guy who knew what he wanted to do and followed his heart.

When Paddy was in grade five at school, the teacher asked the class "What do you want to be when you grow up?". She would ask each member of the class.

"What do you want to be when you grow up, Jimmy? "

Jimmy would say. "A doctor miss".

"Oh that's very good choice Jimmy, that's great".

"What do you want to be when you grow up, Mary?"

"I'm going to be an accountant miss"

"Excellent choice, very good choice"

Now when it came to Paddy, she asked.

" What do you want to be when you grow up, Paddy?"

Paddy replied, "a guitar player".

The whole class errupted in laughter. The whole class .... it was just amazing. Paddy wasn't expecting this reaction. He had no idea why this was happening . Paddy hadn't started to play guitar or anything yet, but that's really what he wanted to do.

So the teacher asked again.

"What do you really want to do when you grow up, Paddy?"

Paddy said, "play guitar".

And the same thing only louder, everybody laughed. Paddy just couldn't work out why they had this reaction. So he sat down red faced and quite puzzled trying to work this out.

Anyway, a year later, the teacher asked the class, "what do you want to be when you grow up". When it came to Paddy's turn, the teacher said.

"Now Paddy, what do you want to be when you grow up?"

So Paddy stood up, he wasn't as confident this time as he was the previous year, but he said.

"A guitar player".

And the same thing, the whole class erupted. Paddy looked around for support from the teacher but.... she was kind of buckled up in pain trying to hold back the laughter. And so anyway he got to thinking that maybe he wasn't giving them the answer they want.

So the next year, he was prepared for it. Paddy thought, right, I've got the hang of this now. So when it came around to his turn again, she asked.

"Now Paddy"...... and of course the class is just waiting for his answer.

"Now Paddy, what are you going to do when you grow up? What do you want be?"

this time, he said............"a swimmer".

And the whole class laughed AGAIN!. By this time he was REALLY angry ... he looked down to his, (now) ex -friend , who was sitting pretty close to him and Paddy asked....

"What's SO funny about that?"

The guy just looked up and said...

"But you CAN'T swim!"

Paddy exclaimed, " does that matter?"

He just couldn't really get the hang of this. Of course the thing was Paddy really wasn't giving them the stock standard answer that they wanted. Like a doctor or a dentist or something like that. But that's really what Paddy wanted to do and the reality is that all he's ever really done.

Now the reason why I'm telling you this is because the formula to become a really good guitar player is quite simple. There's only two steps.

Decide to do it. Do it.

Now, along the way you'll need a properly set up guitar. You'll need your equipment to be easy to play. And you'll need top quality information. But the most important thing is you need to be internally motivated. That's if you want to be really good. If you are internally motivated that means you REALLY want to play guitar, that's what you want to do. There's really nothing that can stop you.

So until next time have fun with your guitar playing and if that's what you want to do, just go for it!

Best Guitar Lessons

How To Be Successful At Practicing The Guitar

2006-11-14T22:55:00.000+08:00

Best Guitar Lessons Online

Practice: to work on something repeatedly for the purpose of improvement.

That says a lot. It tells you what to do (work), how (repeatedly), and why (to improve).

Once you understand what "practice" is, you can proceed to learn how to use this new tool to your best advantage.

1. TUNE UP: It's important to play music at correct concert pitch.

2. WARM UP: Play through an easy piece, slowly. The idea here is to loosen up your muscles. Don't play anything that is hard or fast.

3. DIRECTION: Before you go any further, settle your mind upon what it is you wish to achieve today. At this point it's important to remember two things.

a. You are practicing to improve. this means getting results.

b. You learn the guitar, or grow into music, in the same way you grow into an adult - over a period of time. You may experience fast progress, or experience a slow gradual growth. There may even be times when you don't seem to progress at all.

However, if your practice program is directed towards results (whether they come fast or slow), you'll see them soon enough - providing you keep on working systematically at your study program. Don't be overly concerned about mistakes - if you keep looking for mistakes, you'll succeed in finding mistakes - and very little else.

4. TODAY'S PROBLEMS - YOUR CURRENT LESON: Here you confront new material that must be learnt. As you progress, this part of your practice schedule will change. That is to say, as you complete one assignment you will move on to the next. (Keep working with the thought in mind that you are practicing to improve).

5. REPEAT: In learnng the guitar there are three things you're doing.

a. Acquiring and storing information in your memory.

b. Developing muscles.

c. Developing muscular and mental co-ordination.

Usually you will be working on all three at the same time, although from time to time you will encounter information that uses only the first process.

You will make the best progress by repeating any new idea's over and over until it is properly internalized.

6. MAKE NOTES: Get out a piece of paper and write down your questions, problems, discoveries, things that seem to keep going wrong, things that seem to need extra work etc. If you make notes about the problem areas, you'll find answers to your questions, solve your problems, remember your discoveries, and save a lot of time.

8. WORK SLOW TO FAST: When learning is new, go slowly. As you improve. you will naturally play the assignment faster. Don't think about playing anything fast until you have properly worked it out.

9. RELAX: Stay as relaxed as you can. Steps five, seven and eight are especially helpful in doing this. You should also understand that when the material is new, you will naturally be more intense - you may even find your muscles tightening up. As you come to know the material you should be able to relax more, but you must think about it. Feel the muscles - try to make them relax. Remember too, that you can tense up just from an excess of concentration - so that's a good reason for taking regular breaks.

10. WORK ON THE PARTS: If you're having a problem with something, take it apart. With every few exceptions, you play the guitar with two hands. They both work together to produce one result. This means that the combination of the two moving together could be causing the problem. Work on developing right and left hand synchronization.

11. Review: At the end of your practice session, go over your lesson and give some extra attention where it's needed. This could also include past assignments that still need additional attention. Use a review as a way to wrap up you day's practice.

Best Guitar Lessons Online

How To Play Three Chord Songs On Guitar

2006-11-12T10:36:00.000+08:00

Best Guitar Lessons Online

Sooner or later you are going to take your guitar along to a casual sing-a-long type jam and hope that someone will start singing in the only key you know.

Or perhaps you'll be playing along, converting the chords you know, quite well until someone pulls the plug out by saying, "Do it in A flat". This is followed by an embarrasing five minutes while you struggle to find chord changes in this unfamiliar tonality.

It happens to everyone, so read through to the chart at the end of this article and let a little light in.

There are twelve major keys. Each one has a minor key closely associated with it - this is called the relative minor.

Each key (major or minor) has the same basic relationships.

Any melody or chord progression can be played in all twelve keys. this was not always so. Earlier European music systems utilized modes that did not have this quality.

The introduction of the piano around 1720 helped consolidate this "one Key relationship transposable to twelve different levels" as the system best suited to the needs of Central European musicians.

The name given to it is:-

The diatonic system or tonal system

The name simply refers to the fact that all notes and chords constantly resolve back to one Key point - the tonal centre or footnote of the scale.

There is a key for every note, but 99% of folk or song accompaniment on guitar takes place in six of these -

C, D, E, F, G or A.

In each of these keys there are three chords which will almost invaribly be used. In the Key of C the most likely chords you will encounter are :-

C F G7

In order, these chords are called in musical terminology -

C - the tonic, F - the subdominant, G7- the dominant

In the diatonic scale

C D E F G A B C

the TONIC is the chord built on the 1st degree (C)

the SUBDOMINANT is the chord built on the 4th degree (F)

the DOMINANT is the chord built on the 5th degree (G7)

A simple way to find the three principle chords of any Key is to begin counting a specific number up from the tonic of the Key chord.

e.g., In the key of C the tonic is the C chord.

Then by counting up four full notes from the tonic chord, C D, E then F you arrive at the subdominant of the C Key.

To find the dominant simply move up to the next scale note (G), or count five full notes up from the tonic chord.

C, D, E, F then G

Dominant chords are usually sevenths - so now you know the whereabouts of the three main chords in the Key of C.

Of course these three chords are not necessarily the only chords used in songs but merely serve as guidelines in finding all the chords of a tune. However thousands of folk songs and pop tunes are playable with these three.

Here is a chart of the 3 main chords in each Key.

Tonic (key) - Subdominant - Dominant

Tonic - C, Subdominant - F, Dominant - G7

Tonic - F, Subdominant - Bb, Dominant - C7

Tonic - Bb, Subdominant - Eb, Dominant - F7

Tonic - Eb, Subdominant - Ab, Dominant - Bb7

Tonic - Ab, Subdominant - Db, Dominant - Eb7

Tonic - Db, Subdominant - Gb, Dominant - Ab7

Tonic - Gb, Subdominant - Cb (or B), Dominant - Db7

Tonic - B, Subdominant - E , Dominant - F#7

Tonic - E, Subdominant - A, Dominant - B7

Tonic - A , Subdominant - D, Dominant - E7

Tonic - D, Subdominant - G, Dominant - A7

Tonic - G, Subdominant - C, Dominant - D7

Best Guitar Lessons Online

Stringing Me Up (With Guitar Strings)

2006-11-08T00:00:00.000+08:00

Most musicians know that different guitar strings are better for playing different styles of music. For playing rock, lighter gauge strings are better because bending the strings can raise a note up 3 or 4 semi-tones and lighter gauge strings are easier to bend. However, jazz would be the other extreme. Jazz guitarists prefer strings that are of a heavier gauge because they rarely bend a string to raise a semi-tone but rather they pick the notes. Classical guitarists use nylon strings. Blue Grass guitarists most often use standard wound strings. Country guitarists usually use medium to light gauge strings.

The problem with buying sets of strings, no matter what genre music you play, is that prepackaged string sets don’t allow for personal preference and individual styles. As you become more accomplished, you will most likely find that you like certain gauge or type strings over others.

Several (more than a few) years ago I found that by using different gauge strings, I could bend the strings and play a different chord using the same chord position. For example, when making a simple F chord, I could also play a Bb by bending the strings.

Years ago I discovered that using a .009, .011, .016, .024, .032 and .038 were the gauges that gave me the added effects that best suited my style. I had to buy each string separately because prepackaged strings didn’t come in those gauges. Now Erie Ball has prepackaged sets of guitar strings that are pretty close and other string manufacturers do as well. There are Ernie Ball prepackaged sets of guitar strings that use the .009, .011, .016, .024, .032 and .042. Now I buy that set and a single .038. (I have a drawer full of .042’s if anybody needs them.) :-)

Personally, I prefer Ernie Ball because they seem to hold their brightness longer but you might prefer another brand. The best thing to do is just to experiment until you find the brand and the gauges that suit you best.

Learn and Master the Guitar at Home

2006-11-04T00:17:00.000+08:00

As a guitarist, I'm often asked this question - "What is the best way to improve my guitar playing given my limited time and budget?"

In this article, I'll explore how you can use a Guitar Learning Method on the the Internet to learn and master the guitar in the comfort of your own home. Compared to a personal tutor, learning the guitar online is a much more flexible and cost effective route.

You can take the lessons at your own pace and work it around your schedule, plus its far more affordable than a private guitar tutor.

So, what do you need to get started? Contrary to popular belief, you only need a few basic things to get started. Don't be caught up with all the hype around equipment, gadgets and learning aids.

First of all, you'll need a guitar. Bet you already knew that, but you don't have to wait for that perfect guitar to start, a basic acoustic guitar with fresh strings will do. Secondly, you'll need a PC with a decent set of speakers. Third, a private place to practice and learn is an added bonus. Finally, the most important thing you'll need is a whole lot of determination and tenacity. Guitar learning can be frustrating and you really need to keep at it to see results.

Now that you've got all that sorted out, get online and start learning! A good guitar training program should have step by step instructions with videos. You'll learn how to read notes and tab, form chords and recognize chord progressions by ear. Some programs will even provide you with custom software to help you develop a musical ear.

You'll be surprised at how much these excellent online music lessons will cost. Its a lot more affordable then you. Once you purchase it, it'll always be online for you to login and learn.

Be prepared to develop callous on your fingers and some pain on your wrists when you start. Some programs will also provide finger training exercises to help you strengthen your fingers (and you'll grow stronger skin on your fingers to compensate the callous).

The secret to learning the guitar successfully is persistence and practice. Don't rush the program and only move to the next lesson after you've mastered one. Many people give up when they don't seem to get anywhere in their playing, but remember that everyone needs to learn to crawl, then walk, then run! Get down your basics well and work on foundations like playing chords, developing a good sense of rhythm, the correct fingering techniques (bad habits will be hard to break later on), proper posture and handling of your guitar so you can enjoy playing long hours without hurting yourself.

I hope that this article will be useful to you on your musical journey. Remember to keep practicing and don't give up. If you read biographies of any great guitar players, you'll see a similar pattern: dedication to their craft and practice!

Choosing The Right Pick

2006-10-18T13:51:00.000+08:00

Guitar Lesson

Recently I got an email from a guitar beginner regarding guitar pick. I think for a beginner I would like to recommend then to use a medium gauged pick and they can use any type as they progress in their playing.

Thats all..chow :)

Guitar Lesson

At last! - 30 Essential Book Is Ready For Free

2006-10-12T13:28:00.000+08:00

Guitar Lesson

The link is :

30 Essential Websites All Guitarits Should Visit

Meanwhile, I will keep on writing a guitar lesson software review, just for you all.

Enjoy the book and let me know where to improve!!

Chow.....

Guitar Lesson

Check Your Guitar Tuning

2006-10-07T12:38:00.000+08:00

Guitar Lesson

First and foremost, if you really want to play good guitar rhythm and stunning solos, it would not be good if your tuning is not right and accurate.

Make sure that your guitar tuning is up to the standard (i'm using 440).

If you cannot afford a guitar tuner, get a pitch pipe. Its cheap and easy to use.

If you do not have both tools, get an experienced guitarist to teach you how to tune your guitar using string only or string harmonics or follw the tune of a piano.

See you folks... Chow....

Guitar Lesson

My 30 Essentials Website Ebook

2006-10-02T13:24:00.000+08:00

Guitar Lesson

I received a few emails from friends around the globe asking for the release date of the ebook. Frankly, I do not know. I got all the materials but still in the midst of preparing it.

Most probably the book will be out by end of this week.. I hope.

Guitar Lesson

30 Essential Websites Ebook

2006-10-01T01:19:00.000+08:00

Guitar Lessons

I am now writing an ebook about 30 Essential Websites All Guitarists Should Visit. This will be a guide to serious guitarist and will have essential guitar lessons from the websites.

I hope to release the ebook in this 2-3 days. Hope you guys will like it.

And guess what? I am giving it away for free!!!!

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Guitar Tips

2006-09-27T07:42:00.000+08:00

Guitar lessons from Guitar Tips

"Give Me 17 Minutes A Day For 90 Days… And I'll Show You Exactly (Step By Step) How To Play Virtually Any Song You've Ever Listened To On The Radio. It's Simple, It's Easy And I Guarantee It Will Work For You… Without Risking A Cent!"

Thats what it says from the website. I believe so and tried the software. Wow!!, its amazing. For a beginner or advanced player, the methods taught from guitar tips really will speed up your skills and you will be jamming all the guitar greats songs in no time. All you have to do is to follow the instructions.

In just 90 days you’ll be playing new guitar chords like they’re second nature , developed lightning fast hand speed, mastered the scales hammering out solos by Eric Clapton or Jimi Hendrix and many more...From the website also, there are lots of recommendation and testimonials from people that have taken the guitar lessons.

Why wait? Click here to view the website

Guitar lessons from Guitar Tips

The Guitar Lessons

2006-09-26T17:11:00.001+08:00

The Guitar Lessons

I took my first guitar lessons when I was 13 yrs old. I am a lefthanded and its very hard at that time to get guitar lessons for a lefthanded guitarist. The guitar lessons were taught by my friends which were more senior than me in school. After a while, my music teacher taught me more formal guitar lessons to improve my playing.

Guitar is not hard to play. Once you get some really good guitar lessons, you will be on your way to play like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and many more.

So, stick to my blog and I will do some reviews of good guitar lessons for your reference.
Enjoy!!!

The Guitar Lessons

Guitar Lessons

2006-09-26T09:36:00.000+08:00

Guitar Lessons

Welcome to guitar lessons. In this blog we will try to bring you the best guitar lessons on the net. The guitar lessons that we bring will compromise of guitar lessons, tips, tutorials, review and many more. So stick to this guitar lesson from now on and you will learn a lot more...

Guitar Lessons