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Melodic Minor Scale
The melodic minor scale is a major scale with a flatted 3rd, or a Dorian scale with a raised 7th. It’s used more often in jazz and classical music then in rock. The formula for the melodic minor scale is 1-2-b3-4-5-6-7. In classical theory, the melodic minor scale has an ascending and descending form. This has been traditionally taught by raising the 6th and 7th [...]
Double Stops For Guitar Pt. 1
One of the most versatile techniques available on the guitar is the double stop. A double stop is two notes that are played simultaneously. Because the guitar provides the ability to sound more than one note at a time, we in effect can create harmony. Double stops are used in all forms of music and in countless guitar riffs. The double stop is created with an interval [...]
Double Stops For Guitar Pt. 2
This is the second installment of my lesson on double stops. For those who missed the first half of the lesson feel free to go here for a review. This time around we will check out some blues based double stops and delve into the Curtis Mayfield /Jimi Hendrix style of rhythm guitar playing. Ex. 1. is a double stop in the key of [...]
Harmonic Minor Scale
The harmonic minor scale is an exotic sounding scale. It has a character that is interpreted by many as a classical or neoclassical sound. The harmonic minor consists of a natural minor scale with a raised seventh degree. Doing this creates a leading tone to the scale, which gives a very strong pull from the last note of the scale back to the tonic. [...]
Harmony Guitar Lesson
In this month’s lesson we will take a look at constructing single note harmony lines on the guitar. I have always loved two guitar bands that featured two or three part harmonies in their riffs and solos. Bands like The Allman Bros, Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden, to name but a few, always crafted catchy hooks with their harmony lines. Players like Jimmy Page [...]
Shredding With Triad Arpeggios For Guitar
Let’s look at some fingerings for playing triad arpeggios. Learning arpeggios all over the guitar neck is essential and will help you build a strong foundation for improvisation. A triad arpeggio is a three-note chord where the notes are played separately. There are four main triads: Major 1 3 5 Minor 1 b3 5 Augmented 1 3 #5 Diminished 1 b3 [...]
Guitar Chords: Extensions And Suspensions
Chords are constructed from roots, thirds and fifths. These intervals come from the major scale where the scale degrees produce different triads, some major and some minor (and one diminished). Guitar players add chord tones and extensions to triads by incorporating other degrees from the major scale. These added scale degrees include 2nds, 4ths, 6ths, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths and 13ths. Today’s lesson will take [...]
B.B Box
You know you have arrived as a guitarist when you have your own scale pattern named after you. Much like the “Hendrix Chord” a.k.a. E7#9 or the “Bo Diddley Beat”, blues guitar ambassador B.B. King has a scale fingering that many players associate with him. It’s a testament to B.B.’s wonderful approach,touch, sound, and unique conception that makes him one of the most imitated [...]
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
This holiday lesson is a solo arrangement of the classic “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” Just a few items to note to help you play through this smoothly. The most important aspect is to get the bottom of the chords to ring through the melody notes. For the ease of reading the tab and notation I didn’t tie the bottom of the chords to each individual [...]
6th Chords
Many times guitarists are required to play the same chord for several measures of music or we just want to add some spice to the more commonly played chords. A nice variation or embellishment to a basic triad is a 6th chord. A 7th chord is a very strong sound and it sometimes can be too much of a departure for a three note [...]
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