Thursday Tips
How to Practice with a Metronome
Using a metronome* while playing can be helpful in many ways, like keeping your song tempo consistent and improving chord changes, notes and rhythm patterns. Try using this one (video) or download the free Pro Metronome app on your device. Start out by changing simple chords on the tick sound, at a slow tempo, then faster tempos. As you become more comfortable with the concept, then move on to songs, rhythms patterns, etc. Timing is everything!
Play on…
Marlene
*To hear more about using a metronome, and other cool guitar info and insights, listen to my newest podcast, Guitar Friends interview with Preston Huber ~ episode 33!
How to Play a Scale on Your Guitar
Playing scales on your guitar is fairly basic once you understand the interval patterns. The Major Scale pattern is W, W, H, W, W, W, H (W= Whole step, H= Half Step), so the notes for a C Major Scale* are C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. Give it a try and soon you’ll be scaling your guitar!
Play on…
Marlene
*To learn more about the C Major Scale and hear a detailed description of how to play the scale listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 32!
Learn Your Musical ABC’s!
Learning the note letters and musical sequence* of those letters, including sharps & flats, are the building blocks to chords and scales. The letters are the first 7 letters of the alphabet; A, B, C, D, E, F & G, and they go in order including sharps (up) or flats (down) except between B & C and E & F. It’s all elementary!
Play on…
Marlene
*To learn more about and hear the musical ABC’s listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 31!
How to Play Bar Chords
A bar chord* (sometimes spelled barre) is a guitar chord that is played using one finger to cover multiple strings in one fret. To play them, ‘bar’ a fret, then play a chord shape forward of that fret. For example, the F bar chord is played by barring fret 1 and an E chord shape. And, the entire shape can move to another fret to create a new bar chord like F#, G, G#, A ~ you can go far with a bar!
Play on…
Marlene
*To hear more about how to play bar chords listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 30!
6 Exercises to Improve Finger Strength & Dexterity
Strong, agile fingers (and hands) can make it easier to play guitar and easier to try more challenging skills. Here’s 6 simple exercises* to help you gain strength and dexterity.
1. White Knuckler & Sunburst, make a fist, then open your hands
2. Whoa & Oh Well, lock your arms, flex your hands up & down
3. Neck, Shoulder & Wrist Rolls
4. Grip & Release a Tennis Ball
5. Fingertip Push Ups, regular push ups, but on your fingertips
6. Finger Runs, play one finger per fret on each string
Play on…
Marlene
*To learn more about these 6 exercises listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 29!
What’s a Guitar Playing ‘Second Wind’?
You grab your guitar, start to play, make bloopers, and then after playing for say 20, 30 or 40 minutes you’re in your playing groove ~ your guitar playing ‘second wind’*, and that’s when you usually make the most progress. So keep on playing to reach your second wind!
Play on…
Marlene
*You can learn about Gene Smith’s guitar playing second wind and more in my Guitar Friends Interview listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 28!
How’s Your Practice Routine Going?
Setting a practice routine* (and sticking to it) can help you to establish a guitar playing habit, which will ultimately lead to better playing and more guitar fun. Here’s a review of the 6 steps to setting a practice routine that I suggested back in April ~ sometimes we just need a little reminder!
1. Set a day, time and frequency
2. Set the amount of time
3. Decide when to start
4. Map out a practice plan
5. Try it out for 30 days
6. After 30 days, assess and adjust
Play on…
Marlene
*To review more about setting a practice routine listen to my newest podcast ~ episode 27!
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