Thursday Tip
Learn different styles of playing, like the blues. Eric Clapton is know for his bluesy style, so if you’ve ever wanted to capture some of that bluesy flavor try this Acoustic Guitar tutorial. Even a hint of Clapton’s style to your songs could add a lovely shade of blues!
Play on…
Marlene
Know the relative humidity (RH) in your vicinity. With the temps cooling off and heaters going on the air can get dry, so it’s in the best interest of your guitar’s long term health to maintain a constant 40-50% RH as explained here. Proper RH = Real Happy guitar!
Play on…
Marlene
One more Halloween song to try and it’s played using tab (tablature) instead of chords. Tabs are fun to play but can also be a bit challenging for most people. Don’t get spooked though, just start with an easy one like this cool and eerie Halloween Instrumental Tab. A music treat, that’s not too trick-y!
Play on…
Marlene
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