How do you know if you should use finger picks or thumb picks?
Many fingerstyle guitar players use them, and many don't. As I was learning to play and started to play the acoustic guitar into a microphone, it became more of a necessity if I was going to control the volume and tone. Like other beginning guitarists, I started out using bare fingers which were fine for playing at home, but when I needed more volume and balance it just didn't work. Next came just the thumb pick, and that made bass notes that overpowered the treble strings. After several attempts I decided one pick on my thumb and one pick on my index and middle finger was the solution.
Can't I just grow my nails longer?
A lot of people do that, but I really hate having long fingernails. For some really cool videos and advice, I'd recommend you visit http://www.jamestaylor.com/guitarlessons/ to see what James goes through to play with bare fingers. One of my guitar students recommended the site which is not only interesting but very well made. Check it out! (I love the camera they have inside the sound hole so you can clearly see how he picks.)
What kind of picks should I use?
Everyone's different, so my best advice would be to experiment and see what works for you. I use Zookies thumbpicks which have a 10 degree angle, and Dunlop .0225 picks for the fingers. You can watch my short instructional video here: Fingerpicking Guitar Lesson.
Be patient when using the picks.
I tried several times before I could get comfortable with the picks since you have no feeling with them. Once you commit to using them, use them all the time. Switching back and forth from picks to fingers will make it even more awkward and more difficult to get used to them.
Showing posts with label guitar styles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guitar styles. Show all posts
Monday, November 26, 2012
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Finding a Guitar Teacher
How to find the right guitar teacher for you.
Are you tired of struggling with online lessons? Not having much luck teaching yourself? Is your friend or relative losing patience with you? Sounds like it's time to find a guitar teacher. Beginning guitar students have lots of choices these days, but that's not necessarily a good thing! There are resources all around, some of them great, some good and some pretty bad.
Don't believe the hype!
Regardless of what you read, you WILL NOT learn guitar in a week, a weekend, 21 days, or whatever they promise. Yes, you can improve, play a few simple songs, or learn a some technique, but the time frame is just not going to happen. I've played and taught guitar for over 40 years, and I can tell you with absolute certainty it ain't gonna happen. Guitar mastery is about muscle memory, repetition and good old "paying your dues."
Logical progression.
One of the things I've found with DVDs, CDs, tab books and online lessons is the lack of clarity. Yes, you need to learn a basic set of skills, but not necessarily in the order that a particular book, method or teacher is introducing them. I have students that want to know when they're going to learn chords, or when they'll be a able to play a favorite song, and the answer is usually something along the line of when you're ready. Music is made of melody, harmony and rhythm, and it's very difficult to try to learn all of those elements at once. So, what should you learn first? Decide what you like, whether or not you're going to sing, and take into consideration any prior experience you've had on guitar or other instruments. No experience? Probably at least a basic understanding of note reading, rhythm and eventually, chords. Want to play and sing? Chords first. Remember that everyone's different and there isn't a "one size fits all" way to learn guitar. This is where finding a teacher is helpful.
So, how do you find a good teacher?
Are you tired of struggling with online lessons? Not having much luck teaching yourself? Is your friend or relative losing patience with you? Sounds like it's time to find a guitar teacher. Beginning guitar students have lots of choices these days, but that's not necessarily a good thing! There are resources all around, some of them great, some good and some pretty bad.
Don't believe the hype!
Regardless of what you read, you WILL NOT learn guitar in a week, a weekend, 21 days, or whatever they promise. Yes, you can improve, play a few simple songs, or learn a some technique, but the time frame is just not going to happen. I've played and taught guitar for over 40 years, and I can tell you with absolute certainty it ain't gonna happen. Guitar mastery is about muscle memory, repetition and good old "paying your dues."
Logical progression.
One of the things I've found with DVDs, CDs, tab books and online lessons is the lack of clarity. Yes, you need to learn a basic set of skills, but not necessarily in the order that a particular book, method or teacher is introducing them. I have students that want to know when they're going to learn chords, or when they'll be a able to play a favorite song, and the answer is usually something along the line of when you're ready. Music is made of melody, harmony and rhythm, and it's very difficult to try to learn all of those elements at once. So, what should you learn first? Decide what you like, whether or not you're going to sing, and take into consideration any prior experience you've had on guitar or other instruments. No experience? Probably at least a basic understanding of note reading, rhythm and eventually, chords. Want to play and sing? Chords first. Remember that everyone's different and there isn't a "one size fits all" way to learn guitar. This is where finding a teacher is helpful.
So, how do you find a good teacher?
- Ask around. Have any friends, relatives or business associates that play guitar? Sometimes a referral is the best way.
- Call local music stores. Most music stores offer lessons and have a variety of teachers who teach many different styles. The guitar is a very versatile instrument, so if you can find someone that plays and likes the music that you like, that will be helpful.
- Bulletin boards, Craig's List, local newspapers. Our town has a local newspaper that has classifieds and there are usually ads for music instruction. The internet can also be a good place to find someone, especially if they have a website with lots of information.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Your Fretting Hand Has 4 Fingers and a Thumb, Use Them!
Actually, your pinky will work if you start using it.
I hear it and see it all the time, beginning guitar students doing everything they can to avoid using the pinky. They find lots of creative fingerings to get around it instead of exercising it, working with it and training it to function. Yes, it's hard at first, yes, it seems easier to use one of the other fingers, no, it's not the best way to play the guitar. With a little time and effort your pinky can work as well as the others.
Exercises to strengthen the pinky.
Most guitar students spend way too little time warming up. You need to stretch and strengthen your fingers and loosen up before you start to actually play songs and scales. Here are a couple of basic exercises to get you started. The important thing to remember is that YOU HOLD THE 1ST (INDEX/POINTER) FINGER DOWN THROUGHOUT THESE EXERCISES.
Exercise 1:
Exercise 2:
Exercise 3:
Start out each practice or playing session with these exercises and soon your pinky will work as well as your other fingers.
Thumbs up.
There's always a question as to whether or not you should use the thumb to fret notes. Most classical guitar players and teachers frown on that, but most players in other styles of music find it useful. Jimi Hendrix, Chet Atkins, and many others have used the thumb, so if it's convenient, use it. I use my thumb to fret the 1st fret of the 6th string when I play the F chord, and at other frets as well. Some people have hands that are too small for that to work, but you should feel free to experiment. I sound like one of those drug commercials on TV....."ask your teacher if using the thumb is right for you!"
I hear it and see it all the time, beginning guitar students doing everything they can to avoid using the pinky. They find lots of creative fingerings to get around it instead of exercising it, working with it and training it to function. Yes, it's hard at first, yes, it seems easier to use one of the other fingers, no, it's not the best way to play the guitar. With a little time and effort your pinky can work as well as the others.
Exercises to strengthen the pinky.
Most guitar students spend way too little time warming up. You need to stretch and strengthen your fingers and loosen up before you start to actually play songs and scales. Here are a couple of basic exercises to get you started. The important thing to remember is that YOU HOLD THE 1ST (INDEX/POINTER) FINGER DOWN THROUGHOUT THESE EXERCISES.
Exercise 1:
- Play the 1st string, (the skinny one), with your 1st finger at the 1st fret.
- Play the 2nd fret, 2nd finger, 1st string.
- Play the 3rd fret, 3rd finger, 1st string.
- Play the 4th fret, 4th finger, 1st string.
Exercise 2:
- Again, start at the 1st string, 1st fret, 1st finger.
- Now play the 1st string, 3rd fret with your 3rd finger. Don't forget to leave the 1st finger on the 1st fret.
- 4th fret, 4th finger, 1st string.
- 3rd fret, 3rd finger, 1st string.
Exercise 3:
- 1st string, 1st fret, 1st finger.
- 1st string, 2nd fret, 2nd finger.
- 1st string, 4th fret, 4th finger.
- 1st string, 2nd fret, 2nd finger.
Start out each practice or playing session with these exercises and soon your pinky will work as well as your other fingers.
Thumbs up.
There's always a question as to whether or not you should use the thumb to fret notes. Most classical guitar players and teachers frown on that, but most players in other styles of music find it useful. Jimi Hendrix, Chet Atkins, and many others have used the thumb, so if it's convenient, use it. I use my thumb to fret the 1st fret of the 6th string when I play the F chord, and at other frets as well. Some people have hands that are too small for that to work, but you should feel free to experiment. I sound like one of those drug commercials on TV....."ask your teacher if using the thumb is right for you!"
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Take Me Out To The Ballgame/Fingerstyle Guitar
Since it's opening day I thought I'd post my fingerstyle guitar arrangement of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. This was influenced by the picking of Doc Watson, Merle Travis and Chet Atkins.
To Play Fast, Learn to Play Slow
Learning to play fast.
At some point everyone sees or hears an amazing guitar player who seems to be able to effortlessly play at blazing speeds. How do they do that? The beginning guitar player sees no way to learn to go that fast, insists they sped up the recording, or used some other electronic trick. Then, they see that guitarist in person and realize he or she is capable of playing fast. So, how do you learn to increase your speed?
Believe it or not, the best way is to learn to play slowly. When learning guitar, you need to remember that if you can't play it slow there's no way you can play it fast. Yes, it's really that simple. Here are some tips for learning to increase your speed.
To learn a song note for note, I highly recommend Riffmaster Pro Software. (Affiliate Link). The software enables you to slow down songs without changing the pitch, set up loops so you can work on individual phrases, change the eq settings to emphasize certain instruments, and export the slowed down songs you so you can record and practice them.
Should you purchase the program and have any questions about how to use it, just email me or leave a comment on this blog and I'll be happy to help you figure it out.
At some point everyone sees or hears an amazing guitar player who seems to be able to effortlessly play at blazing speeds. How do they do that? The beginning guitar player sees no way to learn to go that fast, insists they sped up the recording, or used some other electronic trick. Then, they see that guitarist in person and realize he or she is capable of playing fast. So, how do you learn to increase your speed?
Believe it or not, the best way is to learn to play slowly. When learning guitar, you need to remember that if you can't play it slow there's no way you can play it fast. Yes, it's really that simple. Here are some tips for learning to increase your speed.
- Get a metronome and USE IT! I have students who buy metronomes and drum machines, use them for a short time and then give up on them. The most common mistake is setting a speed that you can't keep up with. Then the excuses start to come out. I can't play that slow, it's boring, the song or exercises don't sound good slow, and many more. Set the rhythm to a slow pace, concentrate on picking each note exactly on the beat, with each note being clean and clear. Don't try to play complicated songs or exercises at first. Don't speed up at all until you can play each note in time without missing a beat.
- Work on major, minor and pentatonic scales. Every song is based on a scale, so practicing scales is a valuable use of your time. You'll learn to recognize the sounds of the different scales which will help you develop the ability to pick out songs by ear.
- Listen to the masters. There are amazing guitarists in all kinds of genres. It doesn't matter if you like rock, metal, country, folk, classical or bluegrass music, with a little research you'll find someone you can relate to.
- Practice every day. You don't need to spend hours on exercises but you do need to work on them. One of the quotes I use is: if you think scales are boring, practice them until they're not boring. If you don't think scales are boring, practice them until they are boring, then repeat step one.
- Get help. A guitar teacher can help you progress by watching and listening to you play and giving you valuable tips and ways to improve.
- Find a practice buddy. Do you know someone who also plays guitar or perhaps another instrument that complements the guitar? Is there a particular style of music that you'd really like to play? Find someone to practice with and to hold you accountable. You can do the same for him or her.
To learn a song note for note, I highly recommend Riffmaster Pro Software. (Affiliate Link). The software enables you to slow down songs without changing the pitch, set up loops so you can work on individual phrases, change the eq settings to emphasize certain instruments, and export the slowed down songs you so you can record and practice them.
Should you purchase the program and have any questions about how to use it, just email me or leave a comment on this blog and I'll be happy to help you figure it out.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Making Excuses Instead of Making Time to Practice
Making excuses = Easy!
Making time to practice = Hard?
Making excuses for not practicing.
Most guitar teachers have heard them all. We were out of town, I had to study, I had tests all week, I had a hockey, soccer, basketball or baseball game. While we don't expect you to give up these activities, it is amazing how there's always time to do these instead of practicing. Try to think back upon what you did all day, then tell me honestly that there was absolutely no wasted time and that getting the guitar out was not possible. There are more and more time wasters now than ever. Sending texts, video games, cell phones, ipods and countless other forms of entertainment are available to distract you and make you feel like you have no time.
Making time to practice.
Impossible thought it seems, almost everyone can find time to spend practicing their chosen instrument. Like everything else, it's easy to let it slide, and the more you let it do that, the easier it becomes to not practice. Miss a couple days in a row and pretty soon the excuses and perceptions will make it seem like you really don't have the time. Setting priorities, having a relaxing, quiet space to practice and not watching the clock are all viable solutions. Like in all worthwhile endeavors, even a little practice each day is better than none at all.
Developing your passion.
It's funny, but there always seems to be time to do the things we really love and enjoy. Explore the versatility of the guitar. Listen to as many different kinds of music as you can and be open minded. I'll mention a type of music and without hesitation a student will tell me how much they dislike that style. A lot of times it's because they're not familiar enough with it, or, they just didn't give it a chance. Open your mind and your ears and you may be surprised at how moving a particular song, artist or genre of music can be. When you hear something you like, explore it further. There are so many ways to play guitar it's almost guaranteed that something will move you and make you want to learn more.
Making time to practice = Hard?
Making excuses for not practicing.
Most guitar teachers have heard them all. We were out of town, I had to study, I had tests all week, I had a hockey, soccer, basketball or baseball game. While we don't expect you to give up these activities, it is amazing how there's always time to do these instead of practicing. Try to think back upon what you did all day, then tell me honestly that there was absolutely no wasted time and that getting the guitar out was not possible. There are more and more time wasters now than ever. Sending texts, video games, cell phones, ipods and countless other forms of entertainment are available to distract you and make you feel like you have no time.
Making time to practice.
Impossible thought it seems, almost everyone can find time to spend practicing their chosen instrument. Like everything else, it's easy to let it slide, and the more you let it do that, the easier it becomes to not practice. Miss a couple days in a row and pretty soon the excuses and perceptions will make it seem like you really don't have the time. Setting priorities, having a relaxing, quiet space to practice and not watching the clock are all viable solutions. Like in all worthwhile endeavors, even a little practice each day is better than none at all.
Developing your passion.
It's funny, but there always seems to be time to do the things we really love and enjoy. Explore the versatility of the guitar. Listen to as many different kinds of music as you can and be open minded. I'll mention a type of music and without hesitation a student will tell me how much they dislike that style. A lot of times it's because they're not familiar enough with it, or, they just didn't give it a chance. Open your mind and your ears and you may be surprised at how moving a particular song, artist or genre of music can be. When you hear something you like, explore it further. There are so many ways to play guitar it's almost guaranteed that something will move you and make you want to learn more.
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