How to practice guitar

The Role Of Funk Guitar

2023-04-05T12:21:30+01:00

Less Is More When we’re talking about funk guitar or just funk in general, less is more is the mindset that we need to approach it with. Funk is all about the space between the notes, rather than the notes themselves. In fact, what usually makes up a funk song is rather simple. Unlike other musical styles, funk is often centred around one or two chords, usually one chord per section of a song, meaning it is much more rhythmically driven rather than harmonically. When we think of funk we often think of one artist in particular, that artist of course [...]

The Role Of Funk Guitar2023-04-05T12:21:30+01:00

The Importance of Rhythm Guitar

2023-03-16T08:47:15+00:00

Rhythm Guitar is The Glue! So we all love a good bit of lead guitar. Slash’s “Sweet Child ‘O Mine” guitar solos, Angus Young’s iconic solos during “Back In Black”, and Kirk Hammett’s shredding in “Enter Sandman”. But one thing that all these great songs and guitar solos have in common is that they all possess a great rhythm guitarist keeping the whole thing together. Guns ’N Roses have Izzy Stradlin playing a mix of arpeggiated open chords and thick distorted powerchords throughout Slash’s guitar solos, AC/DC have Malcom Young rocking away on those classic rock open chords, and Metallica [...]

The Importance of Rhythm Guitar2023-03-16T08:47:15+00:00

How To Get Started With Strumming On The Guitar

2022-12-06T15:22:57+00:00

How do I strum properly on the guitar? How do I hold the pick? Which way do I strum? All are valid questions when learning how to get started with strumming on the guitar, and are important to think about when learning the basics. Strum Some Simple Open Chords With A Plectrum Strumming can be a strange concept to a beginner guitarist who has perhaps played more simple riffs and single note melodies on the guitar. Many beginners will start off by learning a few simple open chords (such as C, G, Am, D, Em ect.) and may be strumming [...]

How To Get Started With Strumming On The Guitar2022-12-06T15:22:57+00:00

II V I Tricks and Tips for Jazz Guitar Playing

2022-09-06T21:05:31+01:00

Play In One Position One thing that will prevent you from playing smooth lines through ii V I’s is having to jump all around to different positions on the neck because you’re only comfortable in certain positions for different arpeggios. Before you start trying anything too crazy with your ii V I’s, spend the time to get super familiar with playing all arpeggios in one position on the neck both for if you have the root note on the low E string or the A string. Once you have learned the minor 7th, dominant 7th, and major 7th arpeggios in this [...]

II V I Tricks and Tips for Jazz Guitar Playing2022-09-06T21:05:31+01:00

What Are Power Chords And How To Use Them?

2022-08-16T11:18:47+01:00

How To Make A Power Chord A sound that many of us will know well even if we have never played one before, power chords are used excessively in all different genres of music. Although these are most commonly heard on the guitar, specifically the electric guitar, they can also be played on piano using the same combination of notes. To make a power chord you will need your root note of the chord and the 5th above the root note played together. For example; for an A power chord we will need the root note A, and the 5th above [...]

What Are Power Chords And How To Use Them?2022-08-16T11:18:47+01:00

7 Tips For Learning The Guitar As An Adult

2022-06-28T09:17:04+01:00

Take Lessons! Adults need a bit of encouragement the same way that kids do, or even more when trying to find the motivation around work and family commitments! Taking regular lessons with a great tutor will keep you motivated and give you weekly tasks to work on to constantly encourage you to pick up the guitar at home. I always say to my students that the key to seeing progress is short but frequent bursts of practice. This can be incredibly hard to do on your own accord, so the thought of turning up to your weekly lessons and making an [...]

7 Tips For Learning The Guitar As An Adult2022-06-28T09:17:04+01:00

How the blues is relevant in popular music

2021-06-07T07:29:59+01:00

What is Blues? Blues music is an incredibly important genre to discuss not only for its timeless and instantly recognisable sound, but for its influence on the styles that would follow after its birth in the mid to late 1800s. This occurred around the time of theAmerican civil war, created by African-American slaves who worked in plantations and fields in the South of the USA. This music was sung in the form of call and response style chants, which would be a way to boost morale in the tough living and working conditions as a slave. Musically these chants were simple [...]

How the blues is relevant in popular music2021-06-07T07:29:59+01:00

How to practice with a metronome

2021-04-14T09:25:12+01:00

Why Should I Use a Metronome? Metronomes have been a popular (or sometimes not so popular!) practice tool amongst musicians for 200 years and have proven useful for many, particularly when it comes to improving their timing. The metronome should be used to keep a steady tempo, and to make sure that the player does not speed up or slow down through the duration of the piece that they are playing. It can also be used to work up to a faster tempo that may be unmanageable at first on the players chosen instrument, since by starting at a more comfortable [...]

How to practice with a metronome2021-04-14T09:25:12+01:00

5 Ways to stay motivated when practising guitar

2021-03-02T11:39:18+00:00

Discover 5 ways to stay motivated when practising the guitar. Improve your practice routine and improve your guitar playing! All teachers have had conversations with students about practise routines and we’ve all dealt with students who are feeling less than motivated to practise. Here are 5 ways to stay motivated when practising. These tips can be used if you are a teacher with a student feeling the pinch of motivational depression or if you are a student looking to give yourself a boost. 1. Progress Chart For young students, I find progress charts are a great way to encourage them to [...]

5 Ways to stay motivated when practising guitar2021-03-02T11:39:18+00:00

The importance of being persistent when you practice guitar

2020-07-02T09:54:52+01:00

Discover the importance of being persistent when you practice the guitar Learning to play the guitar is wonderful. It is an exciting new journey full of adventure when you are just starting out. Once you have played the guitar for a little while, it can then at times become challenging. As human beings, we thrive upon a new product, a new idea, a new movie... The word 'new' has an amazing appeal and we love anything that is NEW! The problem is, that when we first start learning the guitar, the whole process is new and wonderful but in time new [...]

The importance of being persistent when you practice guitar2020-07-02T09:54:52+01:00
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