Rock Guitar Lessons
Understanding the concept of modes is confusing to many musicians. Let’s try to simplify this seemingly complex subject for those of you just delving into this area. A mode is formed by taking a scale (such as the C major scale) and instead of beginning on the note C, you start from any [...]
Years ago back in the days of cowboy slinging guitarists, I, like most other players of the time went out to become a fast efficient guitarist. Players with amazing technical abilities were abundant, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Paul Gilbert to name a few lead the pack for the rest of us to aspire [...]
The key to picking quickly is the ability to successfully synchronize both hands. Most guitar players are more comfortable playing fast legato phrases versus picking every note. The goal is to have a nice balance of both techniques in your playing. Exercises which promote better synchronization should be short, simple and repetitive. Let’s [...]
The Mixolydian mode is a popular choice for soloing in many forms of music. It is derived from the fifth degree or note of the major scale. In the key of C major for example – G Mixolydian would be G,A,B,C,D,E,F,G. It is common to use this sound over dominant 7th chords and [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
