Thursday Tip
Get into the spirit of the season with the song Thriller by Michael Jackson. It’s a little more challenging than an easy beginner song, but it’s good to stretch your playing skills a little bit. You just might find this song is ‘thrilling’ to play!
Play on…
Marlene
When playing, be sure to notice where your thumb is located. Though tempting to come up and over the guitar neck for a better grip, it’s actually better to place your thumb on the back of the neck as described here. Think of it as making a thumbprint!
Play on…
Marlene
Though it’s early October, prepare now for Halloween. A fun song to try is Monster Mash, originally performed by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, and covered by artists such as The Beach Boys and Vincent Price, it’s fun to play ~ and try adding some eerie-ness to your voice for more Halloween flavor!
Play on…
Marlene
What are bar/barre chords? How do I play them? Basically they are chords where your first finger acts as a ‘capo’ and then your remaining fingers position a chord shape ahead of the bar as described in this video. Barre chord fun, bar none!
Play on…
Marlene
Ever wonder how to tie nylon strings to a Spanish bridge? If you answered yes, but are a little intimidated about trying it ~ you’re normal. Here’s the good news, it’s really quite easy, as you can see in this video , with an aesthetically pleasing result. Go ahead and tie one on ~ or six!
Play on…
Marlene
Find song and skill inspiration from the pros. For example, this Peter Frampton video of his song Baby, I Love Your Way, reminded me how much I liked the song, so I immediately looked up the song/chords and had a blast playing it. It’s simply ‘master’ful motivation!
Play on…
Marlene
As a practice motivator and/or to improve your skills, record yourself playing guitar. Simply use your computer or mobile device to record your playing, then watch/listen so you can see/hear how you’re playing your songs.
Alice G. , a Learn to Play Guitar in a Day! workshop graduate, records her playing and says, “…recording keeps me motivated to practice…”. Check out her latest recordings (thanks Alice for letting me share them) ~ you go girl!
Play on…
Marlene
Q. Do you ever find yourself being a serious/intense guitar player and not making progress?
A. Laugh!
Scientific studies have show that there are many health benefits to laughing, including relieving tension. Imagine feeling less tension in your fingers and body and then trying that song or skill again. So, the next time you’re not making progress ~ laugh it off!
Play on…
Marlene
Enjoy these last lazy, hazy days of summer by learning some fun new songs. This list of 3 songs (along with the chords and lyrics) are fairly simple to learn and really fun to play!
Play on…
Marlene
Another option to increase the sound output is a built-in amp system. This newer idea, which I got to try out at Guitar Town in Colorado, and seen here in this Yamaha TransAcoustic guitar demo, means no cables or external devices are required. It’s sound advice!
Play on…
Marlene