GUITAR & INDIE MUSIC BLOG

Chord Progressions, Guitar, & The Circle of 5ths

2012-01-27T11:35:00.000-08:00

How would you like to have an easy method for practicing chord progressions on your guitar? The Circle of 5ths is a simple tool that many musicians overlook, but once you understand how to use it you will be able to play through all 12 keys of music very quickly. Diagram of the Circle of 5ths The letters around the outside of The Circle of 5ths represent the 12 Major keys of music. Flat keys

Acoustic Guitar Blues - Free Video Lesson...

2012-01-20T07:41:00.000-08:00

If you want to have a little fun, why not learn how to play some acoustic guitar blues? It may require a little more effort to bend the strings, play a barre chord, or produce a tremolo effect, than it does on an electric guitar... but the sound that resonates from an acoustic is pure joy. Many rock & roll bands have taken advantage of the unique sound produced by an acoustic guitar to create

Quality Guitar Tab & Sheet Music - 3 Top Sites Reviewed...

2012-01-14T16:16:00.000-08:00

Guitar tab and sheet music are important educational resources that musicians tend to use on a fairly frequent basis. These materials are generally presented in the form of individual song/notation sheets, complete music books, or digital downloads. Being a guitar player myself, I'm assuming most musicians are primarily interested in finding a music tab and notation supplier that is 1.

4 Simple Guitar Goals For You...

2012-01-06T15:23:00.000-08:00

The 4 simple guitar goals I've listed below are written for anyone who has a desire to learn how to play great music. You do not need to be especially gifted, nor extremely talented, in order to benefit from these suggestions. After putting them into practice you should expect to see the results confirmed by an overall improvement in your playing. Simple Guitar Goal #1: Right EQUIPMENT Right

GEORGE HARRISON - His Music Remembered

2011-12-30T11:32:00.000-08:00

One of the gifts I received for Christmas this year was a Life magazine titled: Remembering George Harrison 10 Years Later. It seems, no matter how much time passes, the Beatles continue to remain a part of my life in one way or another. Which is okay with me. I've come to terms with the fact that some things are just meant to be. Besides, I give credit to The Beatles for my love of music and

Two Easy Rhythm Patterns For Guitar...

2011-12-21T15:47:00.000-08:00

There are two easy rhythm patterns for guitar that I would like to show you how to play today. One will use a technique that is often referred to as a "boom chuck" strum, the other will introduce a simple finger-picking technique. Both of these patterns will be played in 3/4 time, which is also known as a waltz rhythm, using the Major chords A D and E. *Notice that the first finger plays the

Phil Keaggy - Best Fingerstyle Guitarist In The World...

2011-12-17T14:22:00.000-08:00

Last Tuesday evening I had the privilege of watching Phil Keaggy perform during a "live" online guitar session hosted by Steve Krenz. It was awesome! Phil is considered by many to be among the best fingerstyle guitarists in the world, and not without good reason. Even Jimi Hendrix reportedly said that Phil Keaggy was the best guitar player he knew of! Shades of Green by Phil Keaggy... If you

Various Types of Guitars

2011-12-10T11:41:00.000-08:00

When it comes to guitars there is no one size fits all. There are several types and varieties of guitars to choose from and each have their own genres and sound. This is why so many people who sell guitars do not ask what type you want. Rather, they ask what kind of music you play. The answer you give is what is going to help you decide whether you want to play acoustic guitar, classical

5 TOP RATED GUITAR ACCESSORIES - Any Guitarist Can Use...

2011-11-29T13:09:00.000-08:00

Guitar players always seem to be on the lookout for some new book, gadget, item, or other piece of equipment. I think that's because, as musicians, we have a desire to sound good, look cool, and be able to develop our skills to the best of our ability. Having the right equipment is important because it enables us to do just that. So, here is a list of my top 5 rated guitar accessories that

Play Guitar With Johnny Cash This Thanksgiving...

2011-11-20T15:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a sweet video clip of Johnny Cash playing "Thanksgiving Prayer" on an TV show several years ago. I tabbed out the chords and strum pattern below so that you can play along with him! You'll need to use a capo at the 2nd fret to be in tune with Johnny Cash. Chords & Strum Pattern: Intro Use the same strum pattern shown above to play the chord progression for each verse & chorus...

Live Guitar Lessons From Nashiville, Tennesee!

2011-11-11T13:47:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wished you could talk to a professional guitar player? Imagine being able to "pick their brain" and ask them all kinds of questions about improving your technique, what kind of guitar to buy, how to use effects,

Guitar Tab - Free online tab files for guitar players...

2011-11-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

If you're looking for guitar tab so you can learn how to play some of your favorite songs... Look no further! Now you can easily find oodles of tab for both guitar, bass, and even drums with just the click of a button. In fact, you could probably spend your entire lifetime all in one place just playing and learning songs. That's because there are 70 000+ tabs available online covering a

Barre Chords- Make Them Easier to Play!

2011-10-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

Learn To Play Chords On You IPhone Playing barre chords is just one of the many challenges that an emerging guitarist will have to face during the course of their education. Will you be able to conquer this giant when it comes along, or will you give up in defeat? Before you answer that question, let me just say that barre chords can be a real monster- especially if you have small hands. In

How Long Will It Take To Learn Guitar?

2011-10-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

Lots of people wonder how long it will take to learn guitar when they are first starting out, so this is a fair question. It reminds me of those familiar family vacations when kids ask their parents: are we almost there yet?" in anticipation of the great adventure that lies ahead. Of course, learning to play guitar is a little different than going on vacation, but the expectation and excitement

Amazing Guitar and Singing Super Bundle...

2011-10-07T16:38:00.000-07:00

You may have already heard about this, but I feel like I need to pass it on to as many people as I possibly can... Recently I heard about a group of guitar buffs who were trying to get all of the major guitar lesson sites together to make one epic collection of lessons... "for people to learn to play all their favorite songs and be the life of the party...." They’re calling it The Barbecue

The Electric Guitar Revolution

2011-09-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

Are you a fan of the electric guitar? I am... and I think it's fascinating how this one, sometimes vilified instrument, has literally changed the course of music in every genre around world! Did you know that the first electric guitar to become available on the commercial market was offered by the Gibson Company in the late 1930s? It was an amplified archtop design that was invented by none

Learn to Play Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls

2011-09-15T17:52:00.000-07:00

Iris is one of the most popular songs by the Goo Goo Dolls, and one of my personal favorites. I can still remember stopping dead in my tracks the first time I heard it because the song affected me in such a profound way. Although I couldn't understand the words initially, I felt like I understood the song intuitively somehow. I think my experience was more emotional, than conscious or

Guitar Tab vs. Music Notation...

2011-09-09T12:29:00.000-07:00

Tablature (commonly referred to as tab) is a very popular method for transcribing guitar music into written form. The reason for it's popularity is likely because most people find tab much easier to read and understand than standard music notation. In my experience as a teacher I've noticed that students who want to learn how to play guitar, tend to grasp the concept of how to read tab more

Guitar Player- Improve Your Tone!

2011-09-02T18:42:00.000-07:00

What is it that makes one guitar player sound so much better than another? Is it because one plays a $5000 guitar, while the other can only afford to play a $500 guitar? The guitar might have something to do with it. However, when I was at a guitar workshop I heard some awesome stuff being played on both expensive and inexpensive guitars. It wasn't that easy to tell the difference between a

Free Guitar Lessons - songs, chords, videos, theory & more...

2011-08-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

I bet, if you're anything like me, that you appreciate getting something for free. Especially when it's something you really want or need. Well, I'm no different, so today I'd like to tell you where you can get some quality, free, online guitar lessons. I'm not talking about just a few lessons, but a whole library of online guitar lessons that include over 30 videos! The lessons cover chords,

B Chord Cheats - Mastering the B Chord

2011-08-19T15:05:00.000-07:00

Do you find the B chord difficult to play? Most people seem to pick up B minor okay, but mastering the B major chord is a different story. There are some ways to get around this difficulty, call them chord cheats if you like, but they are legitmate chord fingers that will make things much easier, especially if you are a beginner. First of all, you need to realize that the B chord can be

GUITAR STRINGS - Understanding Their Differences

2011-08-11T13:21:00.000-07:00

Deciding which guitar strings to use for your particular guitar can be a bit confusing if you don't know what you're looking for. To begin with, there are many different brands to choose from... Martin, Ernie Ball, LaBella, Augustine, Fender, D'Addario, Elixir, GHS, Guild... and the list goes on. In addition to this, there are various designs, types, gauges and materials used in the

Playing Guitar and Summer Fun...

2011-07-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

Playing guitar and summer fun can seem to be at odds with one another sometimes, but they don't have to be. It's just a matter of having a strategic plan and making an effort, however small, to stick with it. I live in the northwestern part of the United States, so when summer finally does come, I like to be outside playing with my horses, riding my bike, hiking and just enjoying the great

Simon & Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence

2011-07-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

One of my all time favorite songs is The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel. Here is a very early clip of a performance they gave in Holland back in 1966...The Sound of Silence - Guitar TabGreat artists like Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel do not need a lot of gimmicks. Their sound was (and is) poetry in motion, pure and simple; yet deeply profound and thought provoking. This song was written

Django Reinhardt & Gypsy Jazz

2011-07-15T16:19:00.000-07:00

Have you ever heard Samson Schmitt and the Django Reinhardt All Star Band? If not, you're missing out on some fun stuff! Last weekend James and I went to the Montana Folk Festival with some friends and got a chance to hear lots of really good music, but the Django Reinhardt All Star Band was my favorite. Samson Schmitt plays a mean guitar and is helping to keep the music of the late, great "