Continuing with our International Guitar Month theme, today’s tip is focused on guitar history. Learn the origins of our wonderful instrument by watching this fantastic 5 minute guitar history video. Our modern day guitars have evolved beautifully ~ and the rest is history!
Play on…
Marlene
Continuing with the International Guitar Month theme, today’s tip is focused on guitar strings, specifically how they’re made. In this fascinating 5 minute video D’Addario Strings shows the process used to manufacture steel and nylon strings. Take a look, no strings attached!
Play on…
Marlene
In honor of International Guitar Month I’ll focus my April tips on details about our instrument, starting with the guitar neck. In this video Bob Taylor of Taylor Guitars discusses and demonstrates the intricacies of guitar neck construction ~ it’s a cool insiders look!
Play on…
Marlene
You may have seen guitarists using a capo (pronounced kay-poh) and thought what is it? This marvelous article by Acoustic Guitar magazine’s Harvey Reid, Choosing and Using Capos, gives a thorough and informative description of capo choices and uses ~ I couldn’t have said it better myself!
Play on…
Marlene
Want to know how to hold a flatpick? It’s really pretty simple, just place the pick between finger one and your thumb, grip it and then place your hand so the pcik point is facing the strings as demonstrated here by yours truly. You’ll ‘pick it up’ in no time at all!
Play on…
Marlene
Keeping with the Irish theme…here’s another Irish song to try, Galway Girl by Steve Earle using the D, G & A chords. Luck of the Irish, just in time for St. Patty’s Day!
Play on…
Marlene
There are some cool ones including this traditional song called The Irish Rover. If you don’t know it, don’t fret (ha, ha), just play this video and then play along using these lyrics and chords. It’s a fun jig for your St. Patty’s Day gig!
Play on…
Marlene
Note: The words in the lyrics & chords link start out a little different than in the video. The lyrics link starts out “In the year of our Lord…” and in the video they sing “On the fourth of July…” . You decide which you want to sing!
Now that you know 3 minor chords (last week), try them in some songs like these 3 ~ Jolene* (Dolly Parton), Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door (Bob Dylan), Marry You* (Bruno Mars). Put those new chords to good use!
Play on…
Marlene
*Note: Use a capo for Jolene and Marry You. Look at the top of the song, below the title, for the fret.
Though you can play lots of songs with these 5 chords, it’s fun to add a few more to your list. The next chords I typically recommend are F (12/13/18 Thursday Tip, 4 Ways to Play The F Chord) and a few minor chords like Am, Dm & Em (chord chart, left). Expanding your chord abilities is a minor detail!
Play on…
Marlene
Though all you might need in life is love, you’ll need the chords (and lyrics) to play the classic Beatles song All You Need Is Love. BTW…sharing the ‘guitar love’ with you really warms my heart ~ Happy Valentine’s Day!
Play on…
Marlene
P.S. Note: there might be a chord in this song that you don’t know ~ yet ~ but don’t fret, just hover over the chord to see the chord chart.