Guitar Lessons

Mixolydian scale

2011-11-11T06:07:00.001-08:00

By Carlos Martínez

-A very common mode used in rock, jazz, and blues is the Mixolydian scale. Mixolydian is basically a major scale with a 7th: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. E Mixolydian is spelled E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. It can be used over a major chord or a dominant seventh chord.

Let's find many interesting possibilities by experimenting with the Mixolydian modes and combining them with your pentatonic licks.

Click here to listen to the G mixolydian mode.

G Mixolydian

E Mixolydian

Next lesson "the Aeolian" Mode

White room

2011-11-09T07:30:00.000-08:00

By Carlos Martínez

- Here we're going to be looking at the psychedelic tune of White Room, from the Wheels of Fire recording.

Eric Clapton uses open-chords and chord voicings and of course the wah-wah pedal for lead lines. Overall he is playing more detailed guitar parts.

Go ahead and listen to the song by clicking the youtube box on top.

Intro

In the intro we can hear Eric Clapton Overdubbing guitar parts in harmony. The intro chords are Gmin, F, Dmin and C. You can play these parts by playing them on the top three strings. Be aware that the rhythm in the intro is in 5/4.

Composed by Jack Bruce with lyrics by Pete Brown (a friend of the band who contributed lyrics to several Cream songs) "White Room" was inspired by Jimi Hendrix, who "had a way taking traditional chord changes and modernizing them." says Bruce

Verse / Bridge
The Hendrix-inspired verse and bridge chords are played in open position. With the D major chord fretted at the 2nd fret, keep your third finger on the 3rd fret B string, while playing the Csus2 and G/B chords. This adds a droning quality to the verse progression.

During the bridge, Clapton kicks on the wah-wah pedal, gently rocking it back and forth to give the bridge an airy floating quality.

Wah Wah Solo

Next lesson "the Mixolydian" Mode

Blues Scale

2011-09-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

By Carlos Martínez

- We're going to be looking at the blues scale. The blues scale is a six-note scale. In the key of A it is spelled A,C,D,Eb,E,G. It has a diminished fifth (Eb).

I-------------------------5-8-I
I---------------------5-8-----I
I---------------5-7-8---------I
I-----------5-7---------------I
I-----5-6-7-------------------I
I-5-8-------------------------I

12 Bar Blues

Let's listen to some examples of the 12-bar blues form. Try playing along.

Real World Blues

Next lesson Cream's White Room

Minor Pentatonic Scale

2011-09-10T20:48:00.000-07:00

By Carlos Martínez

- Hi! We're going to look at the minor pentatonic scale is a five-note scale. In the key of A it is spelled A,C,D,E,G (or Root,b3,4,5,b7).

This is the most commonly played scale in all types of rock and blues music. An essential part of your technique is the ability to play this scale all around the fingerboard. Facility with this scale will help you to become a fluent improvising rock guitarist, and also help you understand solos by the classic rock masters.

Minor Pentatonic Scale

Here's a list of songs that use the minor pentatonic scales:

Crossroads - Cream
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Voodoo Child - Jimi Hendrix (Eb minor pentatonic)
Paranoid - Black Sabbath
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd (Bm minor pentatonic)

Minor pentatonic rhythmic groupings

Next lesson Blues Scales

Guitar Sound - part 1

2010-12-19T17:54:00.000-08:00

By Carlos Martinez

- Hi! welcome to greatest guitars of all time, here you'll find some tips and overall some knowledge on what are considered the best guitars and why.

What do we mean when we say a guitar has sonic speed capabilities? Did you know that sound travels faster in water than in air, but that it travels the fastest when it's through iron/steel? (Think strings, pickups, cables, amps).

What makes a guitar great?

The sound of a guitar is influenced by a number of things, here we have a basic list:

First we have the wood(body, neck and also the wood in the fingerboard)
String gauges
The height of the strings (also called the "action")
Pickups (alnico or ceramic)
Guitar pick

When talking about the different woods in a guitar is important to mention that apart from the electronics,

"All electric guitars are acoustic instruments."

When you use amps, effect pedals, racks, etc.. that final sound that you hear, was originated by the acoustics of the instrument that's being amplified.

I remember watching Steve Vai on Youtube talk about how the shape/craft of the guitar, the wood of the body and neck are tuned in either unison, fourth, fifths helping maintain a harmonic balance. This is a good tip when you're buying an electric guitar, try listening to the instrument unplugged and tap the body and neck to see if they're tuned in either unison or fifths.

That said, another important factor in the tone/sound of the instrument goes back when the guitar is being made the way that they cut the wood to shape the guitar has a profound effect.

"Two guitars of the same model and year do not sound the same"

In general the lighter the wood the more livelier and bright the sound will be. On the other hand, maple/mahogany and other heavy/dense woods produce a more natural sustain and warm sound.

2008-12-22T17:37:00.000-08:00

test

Ibanez JEM7V

2008-12-22T02:00:00.000-08:00

Frankenstrat

2008-12-22T01:52:00.000-08:00

'71 Gibson EDS-1275

2008-12-22T01:45:00.000-08:00

1955 Fender Stratocaster

2008-12-22T01:30:00.000-08:00

1953 Gibson Les Paul Gold Top

2008-12-22T01:19:00.000-08:00

JS10th

2008-12-22T00:51:00.000-08:00