On August 22 2010 04:00 blahman3344 wrote: hey ella, i'm a fellow guitar player, and each summer, i try to learn new, but somewhat challenging, songs (I mainly learn songs that require finger picking, I'm not very good with using a pick =\). I was wondering if you knew any guitar songs that would be cool to learn. Thanks ^^
Oh hey! You found me in another thread too. You seem neat.
Unfortunately, I'm a logistical nightmare and have stuff EVERYWHERE. I'll grab a few different things for fun though since I'm sure everyone wants to know if I can actually play.
Here's a jazz jam with some guys I had just met there. Yes, that's a fish costume. I can't explain it, but it really brings a group together if one is a fish. This a bit sketchy for a bit then cleans up a bit . Don't ask my about the cool guy at the end other than he is cool.
more fish, same deal. Superstition by stevie wonder, slow and gets jammin
Here's some higher production value , some instrumental stuff. Was a challenge to myself a few years ago to see if I could make a 4 measure progression at all interesting.
Here's an instrumental thing I wrote for Nada and played at a recital, solo guitar
I think you've inspired me to get my shit together all on one spot though. I'll need to get a website up since I have videos, recordings, sheet music etc. All media. Any ideas?
Thanks for your interest too.
>_< also that's not my real name in the youtube videos unfortunately. The guy taking them must have fucked up, as he just emailed the youtube link after he met us on the street.
On August 22 2010 04:16 squaremanhole wrote: Rec some good songs to learn!
Ohhhhh come on, I go through all this trouble and you one line me?! How can I possibly help you?
On August 22 2010 04:23 Dance. wrote: Sometimes, when I try to play with my teeth, it gets hooked on to a jagged part and it doesn't play the note how I want it to be played. Is there a good technique that can be used to play with your teeth and avoid the problem I am having?
I've dropped the teeth thing in recent times, it's just too unpredictable. It's a lot easier to just go behind the head, and people can get down with that more. If you are sure about the teeth thing, I have slightly protruded .... what are the fangy ones? Canines? You know the ones, I didnt use my front . Also, use the neck, not the jaw. Slower, but more reliable.
Any tips on playing with other people? I don't play guitar much anymore now because I've become much more interested in theology and philosophy than music, and also because I don't have much time to spare in university now. I've always loved playing by myself and I've always wanted to play with others but I just couldn't make things work out.
Instead of just strumming chords, how do I become good at individual string picking like you see the electric guitarists play? I'm like Prozen too..I played guitar for my church but they are all just basic chords like G,C,D,Am,Em,A,F and I never got to learn scales and all that. Like to play "One" by metallica the entire song is almost "picking each string really fast"(I don't know correct guitar terminology for this)and I want to be good at that. HOw would I start? Learning scales? What do I do after that to eventually become good at it? Thanks.
I've been casually playing guitar for about 4years now or so, I've become decent at most of the barre shapes and left hand work ingeneral while my string picking and righthand skills are lacking I guess, but my question to you is for someone like me, who has little to no knowledge of music theory and has mostly taught himself chord shapes and what not, what should I do to get into music theory.
I'll always found music theory fascinating even on a scientific level but I just don't know how to approach it, is there a specific book I should read or a chapter I should start with, I guess I'm asking for advice on how to get into theory and then maybe it will go by itself from there.
On August 22 2010 05:46 MaRiNe23 wrote: Instead of just strumming chords, how do I become good at individual string picking like you see the electric guitarists play? I'm like Prozen too..I played guitar for my church but they are all just basic chords like G,C,D,Am,Em,A,F and I never got to learn scales and all that. Like to play "One" by metallica the entire song is almost "picking each string really fast"(I don't know correct guitar terminology for this)and I want to be good at that. HOw would I start? Learning scales? What do I do after that to eventually become good at it? Thanks.
You really just have to practice and practice and practice. Especially string skipping. At the beginning it's frustrating and you just have to do it repetitively so that your hand experiences and memorizes movements so that later your picking hand will move intuitively without you having to consciously think about it.
Hello. Great blog. I have a degree in music and the guitar is my instrument of choice. How did you go about making money from playing initially? I'm quite capable but the idea of learning long sets of classical pieces is very daunting. What style of music do you think would be best to play to earn money? Suggesting composers would be great. How long a set did you have when you starting performing for money?
Any advice regarding this is most welcome!! Thanks for your help!
On August 22 2010 03:19 Comeh wrote: You know, i've always wondered but been too lazy to find out - does having higher string action make fast alternate picking easier? I'm just in mid process of revamping my picking technique (after 4 1/2 years of not the best) so i'm running into issues of maintaining good picking technique and making myself as clean as i can. Also - you're pictures are 100% true. Maybe i should have stopped playing guitar after learning about power chords or stairway to heaven.
I have to admit I'm a bit confused. Why would higher string action change anything about the right hand? Maybe if you reword it I could shine on it, otherwise right now I'm in wonderland about the whole thing.
On August 22 2010 05:04 blabber wrote: so I'm at the point where I want to get better at lead guitar (I'm pretty comfortable already with rhythm guitar). What are some good exercises to build up speed? What are the steps I should take to be able to play lead guitar well? My long term goal is to be able to shred but that is very far away from what I'm able to do now :D
Ok, from now on we will have a sacred pact between us -
Whenever you go to play guitar, you will relax. Drop your shoulders, let them sink, relax, your arms and fingers are elegant noodle like philanges.
Ok now that that is done first start with a scale, for you, do A natural minor. Now, with your relaxtion, play through the scale REALLY slow. You are programming the instructions into your hands. Alternate pick. Up. Down. Up. Down. Forever. Your left hand should look as though it's crushing a can, nice curved fingers, using the tips, not the pads to fret the string.
To play fast is to be able to play slowly, perfectly, with perfect technique, because playing fast is just like pressing the speed up button on your VCR (90s!!) , the exact same thing should be happening, only quicker. If you can't play slow perfectly and relaxed, you go no where.
So for now, you play a scale 20 times a day, very slowly, dropped shoulders, curved fingers, relaxed everything. In one week come back and tell me how it's going. Let me know if you have questions.
Speed = Accuracy = Slow and Perfect Practice
On August 22 2010 05:30 koreasilver wrote: Any tips on playing with other people? I don't play guitar much anymore now because I've become much more interested in theology and philosophy than music, and also because I don't have much time to spare in university now. I've always loved playing by myself and I've always wanted to play with others but I just couldn't make things work out.
Not sure if you are just plugging your stuff, if so that's fine, but if you have a question I'm not really sure what it is. To play with people, get in the same room and probably play in the same tempo, often in the same key. I can help the more detailed a question is
On August 22 2010 05:46 MaRiNe23 wrote: Instead of just strumming chords, how do I become good at individual string picking like you see the electric guitarists play? I'm like Prozen too..I played guitar for my church but they are all just basic chords like G,C,D,Am,Em,A,F and I never got to learn scales and all that. Like to play "One" by metallica the entire song is almost "picking each string really fast"(I don't know correct guitar terminology for this)and I want to be good at that. HOw would I start? Learning scales? What do I do after that to eventually become good at it? Thanks.
Your answer is pretty much two above. But even before that you alternate pick 8 times on a string, then switch to the next one, in tempo. Then 4 times each. D U D U switch D U D U all through the strings and back. I'll explain my metronome method in a later post which is ABSOLUTELY essential to this style of playing.
On August 22 2010 05:49 bN` wrote: I've been casually playing guitar for about 4years now or so, I've become decent at most of the barre shapes and left hand work ingeneral while my string picking and righthand skills are lacking I guess, but my question to you is for someone like me, who has little to no knowledge of music theory and has mostly taught himself chord shapes and what not, what should I do to get into music theory.
I'll always found music theory fascinating even on a scientific level but I just don't know how to approach it, is there a specific book I should read or a chapter I should start with, I guess I'm asking for advice on how to get into theory and then maybe it will go by itself from there.
Oh I like this topic!! Ask any questions you have.
There is so many tendrils on this ROCKTOPUS . It doesn't REALLY matter where you start as they all lead back to the brains and back out, but here is where I would start.
Learn the C major scale. Learn the notes across all strings up to the 5th fret. This should take no more than 2 weeks with any consistent effort. Seriously, go through them, quizz yourself on the notes of the fretboard, maybe the first 2 string for aboue 2 and half minutes. Done. then once before bed. Tomorrow is those two strings and then 2 more, etc etc. You will have it down pat in under 2 weeks.
From there, now think of the notes in the C major scale.
C D E F G A B C
Ok , so what?
From here, you ought to learn chord construction. Major and Minor triads. Then Major 7 , Minor 7, Dom7 , dim7 . Learn ways to play them BY YOURSELF, using your knowledge
Then you could get into modes, or more chord ideas, or voice leading, or rhythms, modulations etc. But really I think you should get the basics of notes and chord construction then from their you can really get moving into the juice. You're right, it will fuel itself.
On August 22 2010 06:08 Atom Cannister wrote: Hello. Great blog. I have a degree in music and the guitar is my instrument of choice. How did you go about making money from playing initially? I'm quite capable but the idea of learning long sets of classical pieces is very daunting. What style of music do you think would be best to play to earn money? Suggesting composers would be great. How long a set did you have when you starting performing for money?
Any advice regarding this is most welcome!! Thanks for your help!
Hey my brother in arms! Thanks for reading and you're welcome.
This is a great subject because it's precisely what we are told is going to end our lives if we pursue a musical education. For most, they quite simply dont have the balls to go represent themselves and trust their skills, so it's true, a ' career ' (it's not a career it's a lifestyle choice) in music isn't for many.
Ok for you , get a jazz fakebook, I think it's Hal Leonard that publishes the standard one, and learn many popular tunes. Autumn leaves, girl from ipanema, etc, whatever you like. Jazz is great because you can just KEEP PLAYING it. I've played 45 minute sets on not 5 songs, not 4, but 3 songs. Restaurant gigs are the ultimate playground because no one is _really_ listening, so you can really test your shit out. For classical, pick stuff WAY below your skill level and bust your chops on sight reading. If it's pretty , it sells. If it's spanish sounding it sells, if it has impressive guitar playing for much longer than a couple measures, it's bad.
Be ballsy man. Go to a restaurant say you'd like to play a little demo for them , a preview for their lunchtimes on an off day or whatever. TRUST YOUR SKILLS. You are the musician, not them. Seriously, aim to do this about 10 times over a couple days or something, just hit any restaurant that could even be remotely interested. If you have any singing skills , sold. Print some chords and profit off the Lennons and Dylans and all that.
Weddings is a different beast. Fernando Sor, Giuliani, familar Bach pieces, obvious canon in D, the wedding march etc. They make you a lot more money and are typically a bit more stressful but can be loads of fun depending. With the classical stuff, don't be afraid to improvise or repeat sections many times etc. People want the idea of music, not so much the music itself.
Play ANY GIG YOU CAN GET to start. For me, 2 hours of work with a break in the middle at a restaurant is typically 50 bucks a main course meal and a beer or two.
Please feel free to get more into this, it's a really important subject and I'd like to help out any I can.
all the best!
On August 22 2010 07:10 News wrote: wowww those are some amazing videos, is your trio actually a band? you guys have a name?
cant believe all the bastards were just walking by without even stopping for a minute
Thank you , for real. Words fall short of my thanks. That was a pick up group, I had just met them in the market that day. The sax player was quite the motherfuck on his instrument, since then we've done quite well together and made decent dough.
The thing I learned about the bastards though....
It's like panning for gold, lots of dirt, but it's so worth it when the nugget comes. I don't mean the money, lots of people give money, some in generous amounts, but I mean the kind spirit who stops by and you know that they have something going on, that they a real person. I am so thankful to meet these people, as most people have jobs that don't allow this sort of genuine interaction.
I know you aren't asking but I'm in pedagogue mode and I can't be stopped.
Fingers 3 and 2 in the D chord stay in the same _relative position_ in the C chord. That is your guide. They sit in a little L shape. So, SLOWLY practice moving them together, they land first. Then, finger 1 just lands onto the first fret. Over and over, slowly, focussed. You will get it.
Well, the issue is that whenever I try to play with other people we have a hard time trying to find something cohesive to go with. I guess the issue is that I have no idea how to really work with other people when it comes to music. Like, how do you decide what exactly to do? I've always failed this so all that happened is me just playing, writing, and recording by myself because by myself I can figure out what I want to do without having to trying to round up the whole group to work cohesively. I guess the question is how do you exactly go around making multiple individuals work together as a single entity.
Ahh I love talking about this stuff, my fingers are taking a shit kicking through this post though haha. ok.....
To truly uncover the sound of a mode, you don't just rip solos in the mode. You need to see the farther reaching consequences...
Take lydian for example, it is a major scale with a #4
Ok, so what?
Go through every chord in the scale and add that note and take note of what happens.
In standard C major, I can't have an F# in my tonic chord, but in C lydian , it's a defining trait. A very beautiful chord too, if you add in a B as well..
-0 -0 -0 -4 -3 -
What about the second chord, D minor ? Well, now it's a D major! Ok, so in C major we would have CM then Dm, but in C lydian we have C M then DM , That's unique.
Keep going. Ahh, E minor can become an Emin9! very pretty chord...
Now our IV chord has become wonked! I love it. instead of F major as our IV, we have F# half dim. INTERESTING.
Also G7 becomes GM7. A minor6 now has a major 6, which I think is a great great chord.
finally, Bdim becomes B- !! That's a fairly big deal , even if it doesn't sound like much.
So, we've uncovered the harmony so far. Go explore this yourself and find ways to play these chords. Do you see how much one note has changed our tonality so far? Go play these chords and get them in your ear, hear the lydianess of different progressions as opposed to just C major. Do this, come back when you need me.
Wow thanks so much. My mind has been blown; I got so excited messing around with this stuff that I broke my high E string lol. Off to guitar center! Thanks again
I think you left out an important principle of modal theory and application. Unless the person understands the importance of resolution and dissonance and applies it correctly to highlight the modal significance in your following example they are just going to be playing tonally in GMajor and mistaking this as playing modal.
Ahh I love talking about this stuff, my fingers are taking a shit kicking through this post though haha. ok.....
To truly uncover the sound of a mode, you don't just rip solos in the mode. You need to see the farther reaching consequences...
Take lydian for example, it is a major scale with a #4
Ok, so what?
Go through every chord in the scale and add that note and take note of what happens.
In standard C major, I can't have an F# in my tonic chord, but in C lydian , it's a defining trait. A very beautiful chord too, if you add in a B as well..
-0 -0 -0 -4 -3 -
What about the second chord, D minor ? Well, now it's a D major! Ok, so in C major we would have CM then Dm, but in C lydian we have C M then DM , That's unique.
Keep going. Ahh, E minor can become an Emin9! very pretty chord...
Now our IV chord has become wonked! I love it. instead of F major as our IV, we have F# half dim. INTERESTING.
Also G7 becomes GM7. A minor6 now has a major 6, which I think is a great great chord.
finally, Bdim becomes B- !! That's a fairly big deal , even if it doesn't sound like much.
So, we've uncovered the harmony so far. Go explore this yourself and find ways to play these chords. Do you see how much one note has changed our tonality so far? Go play these chords and get them in your ear, hear the lydianess of different progressions as opposed to just C major. Do this, come back when you need me.
Wow thanks so much. My mind has been blown; I got so excited messing around with this stuff that I broke my high E string lol. Off to guitar center! Thanks again
I think you left out an important principle of modal theory and application. Unless the person understands the importance of resolution and dissonance and applies it correctly to highlight the modal significance in your following example they are just going to be playing tonally in GMajor and mistaking this as playing modal.
One step at a time. His reaction is one that leads me to believe he will continue to experiment. To experiment is to question, and he will seek more "answers" (questions). We don't read a book for the ending.
On August 22 2010 09:06 koreasilver wrote: Well, the issue is that whenever I try to play with other people we have a hard time trying to find something cohesive to go with. I guess the issue is that I have no idea how to really work with other people when it comes to music. Like, how do you decide what exactly to do? I've always failed this so all that happened is me just playing, writing, and recording by myself because by myself I can figure out what I want to do without having to trying to round up the whole group to work cohesively. I guess the question is how do you exactly go around making multiple individuals work together as a single entity.
Alright, so I've been playing for like what, 2 years now? I don't really remember. The thing with me is, when I pick up my guitar, I just end up noodling for hours, but it tends to really repetitive these days. It seems like I've hit a wall. I don't learn anything new and my improvisation sounds dull and boring after a while. I'm really bad at phrasing, I just tend to keep playing and playing. Is this cause I'm playing according to scales / modes, not by phrasing different licks or is it just cause I'm not followng the beat? I started playing using down picks only, so now my alternate picking is really bad aswell.. Anyway, as I said, I've hit a wall. I haven't learned anything new in ages. I can play the open chords and barre chords and transition between them, but my rhytm is bad. I've focused on lead guitar mostly. I don't actually know any songs in their entirety.. I always learn just a bit, like the intro or something, and then move on to something else. :| Besides some solos I've learned from tabs, I know the guitar fretboard pretty well from all the noodling I've done, I know the notes on the E and A strings, and I'm trying to learn the other notes aswell. I also know all the positions of minor pentatonic / blues scale, dorian mode and some of the positions of aeolian mode. I've somehow totally gone past the major scale, so I guess I should learn that. But I don't understand the theory behind the modes / scales, is there maybe an easier way of going about them than just playing them over and over again? I've got a thousand other problems and questions, but this text is already pretty messy so for now, what do I do next?
edit: also I really wanna play jazz, the chords are so beautiful.. preferably something where i could supplement my playing on my own, as in playing chords and then playing some soloy stuff between them and such.. like Larry Carlton. no idea what to start with though, jazz seems so complicated edit2: watching your videos right now, the first video gets pretty sick half way through, pretty inspiring. edit3: oh yeah i really fucking love the sound of bass and the whole idea of playing bass, but my current guitar and amp are pretty shitty and i really want to upgrade, but i'm pretty poor and electronics / guitar stuff is really expensive here, like twice the prices of america or more, at the same time our average pay is smaller aswell. let's just say the minimum wage here is 300$ a month and a boss gt-10 costs 900$. fucking hate this shit. now i'm just ranting though. :/ so basically i've got to choose: upgrade to decent guitar + decent amp or buy a cheap bass + bass amp along with my current cheap guitar gear
It helps markedly. There comes a level in skill where girls can pick up on the fact that you've dedicated time to this instead of beers. Too much time for their liking. Not only does their perception of your attractiveness diminish, it becomes inverse. I labeled the graph wrong because the pain was all too real.
Yeah....I know. I thought first year of University with a guitar in hand was going to be epic.
It was epic, but the guitar in hand wasn't a huge aid.
(Also to the guy who was looking for a hard finger picking piece, definitely try Classical Gas...amazing piece) Or Babe I'm Going to Leave You by Led Zeppelin if you want something easier that sounds amazing. I taught a lot of my kids that one shortly after they learned how to finger pick.
On August 22 2010 09:06 koreasilver wrote: Well, the issue is that whenever I try to play with other people we have a hard time trying to find something cohesive to go with. I guess the issue is that I have no idea how to really work with other people when it comes to music. Like, how do you decide what exactly to do? I've always failed this so all that happened is me just playing, writing, and recording by myself because by myself I can figure out what I want to do without having to trying to round up the whole group to work cohesively. I guess the question is how do you exactly go around making multiple individuals work together as a single entity.
edit: Outside of jazz.
What sort of style ? Rock, indie , folk, etc?
For band stuff I've always wanted to play math rock.
hey man great stuff. you look like you have a hell of a time while busking.
i got really into bass this summer. i try to play 4 hours a day. mostly started just earing out songs because my ear was so weak. I had never played an instrument before i got my bass that is why i think.
anyways my ear is much stronger now and i have been learning major scales. and arpeggios of major chords. what else should i practice? i want to be good . when you are playing with bass players what do you find makes them stand out? why would you prefer one bassist to another? thanks
Ahh I love talking about this stuff, my fingers are taking a shit kicking through this post though haha. ok.....
To truly uncover the sound of a mode, you don't just rip solos in the mode. You need to see the farther reaching consequences...
Take lydian for example, it is a major scale with a #4
Ok, so what?
Go through every chord in the scale and add that note and take note of what happens.
In standard C major, I can't have an F# in my tonic chord, but in C lydian , it's a defining trait. A very beautiful chord too, if you add in a B as well..
-0 -0 -0 -4 -3 -
What about the second chord, D minor ? Well, now it's a D major! Ok, so in C major we would have CM then Dm, but in C lydian we have C M then DM , That's unique.
Keep going. Ahh, E minor can become an Emin9! very pretty chord...
Now our IV chord has become wonked! I love it. instead of F major as our IV, we have F# half dim. INTERESTING.
Also G7 becomes GM7. A minor6 now has a major 6, which I think is a great great chord.
finally, Bdim becomes B- !! That's a fairly big deal , even if it doesn't sound like much.
So, we've uncovered the harmony so far. Go explore this yourself and find ways to play these chords. Do you see how much one note has changed our tonality so far? Go play these chords and get them in your ear, hear the lydianess of different progressions as opposed to just C major. Do this, come back when you need me.
Wow thanks so much. My mind has been blown; I got so excited messing around with this stuff that I broke my high E string lol. Off to guitar center! Thanks again
I think you left out an important principle of modal theory and application. Unless the person understands the importance of resolution and dissonance and applies it correctly to highlight the modal significance in your following example they are just going to be playing tonally in GMajor and mistaking this as playing modal.
One step at a time. His reaction is one that leads me to believe he will continue to experiment. To experiment is to question, and he will seek more "answers" (questions). We don't read a book for the ending.
i understand i just think its important he understands that he is at step 1 and there are many more factors that constitute proper modal composition beyond this.
Btw i like this blog post alot and i am happy to see you have a solid understanding of musical theory to go along with your advice.
On August 22 2010 10:55 fredd wrote: Alright, so I've been playing for like what, 2 years now? I don't really remember. The thing with me is, when I pick up my guitar, I just end up noodling for hours, but it tends to really repetitive these days. It seems like I've hit a wall. I don't learn anything new and my improvisation sounds dull and boring after a while. I'm really bad at phrasing, I just tend to keep playing and playing. Is this cause I'm playing according to scales / modes, not by phrasing different licks or is it just cause I'm not followng the beat? I started playing using down picks only, so now my alternate picking is really bad aswell.. Anyway, as I said, I've hit a wall. I haven't learned anything new in ages. I can play the open chords and barre chords and transition between them, but my rhytm is bad. I've focused on lead guitar mostly. I don't actually know any songs in their entirety.. I always learn just a bit, like the intro or something, and then move on to something else. :| Besides some solos I've learned from tabs, I know the guitar fretboard pretty well from all the noodling I've done, I know the notes on the E and A strings, and I'm trying to learn the other notes aswell. I also know all the positions of minor pentatonic / blues scale, dorian mode and some of the positions of aeolian mode. I've somehow totally gone past the major scale, so I guess I should learn that. But I don't understand the theory behind the modes / scales, is there maybe an easier way of going about them than just playing them over and over again? I've got a thousand other problems and questions, but this text is already pretty messy so for now, what do I do next?
edit: also I really wanna play jazz, the chords are so beautiful.. preferably something where i could supplement my playing on my own, as in playing chords and then playing some soloy stuff between them and such.. like Larry Carlton. no idea what to start with though, jazz seems so complicated edit2: watching your videos right now, the first video gets pretty sick half way through, pretty inspiring. edit3: oh yeah i really fucking love the sound of bass and the whole idea of playing bass, but my current guitar and amp are pretty shitty and i really want to upgrade, but i'm pretty poor and electronics / guitar stuff is really expensive here, like twice the prices of america or more, at the same time our average pay is smaller aswell. let's just say the minimum wage here is 300$ a month and a boss gt-10 costs 900$. fucking hate this shit. now i'm just ranting though. :/ so basically i've got to choose: upgrade to decent guitar + decent amp or buy a cheap bass + bass amp along with my current cheap guitar gear
you need to learn the Major scale. More importantly you need to learn the intervals of the major scale and there tonal significance. The major scale is the first thing you should ever learn. Every other scale / chord / mode is built off of the intervals of the major scale. it is the single most important scale in music.
Disregard anything that you might think you know about modes until you have a solid understanding of the major scale.
EPT
![[image loading]](http://i429.photobucket.com/albums/qq14/cdove19891010/musicans.jpg)
