Posts

Showing posts from October, 2013

Scarborough Fair Ensemble - Audio

Image
Here is the audio for Scarborough Fair.  It is written for three guitars - melody, bass, and accompaniment  in the middle line.  The song is in 3/4 time (three beats in every measure).  Be sure to practice your part with the recording.

Bollywood - Yegna Pona Raasa

Image
I really like the finger style playing in this song.  Wasn't expecting it to be in 7/8 time (count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 when you play this song).  This song is played with a Capo at the 5th fret.

Bollywood - Hairat Hai Hairat Hai

Image
Great rock riff at the beginning of this song.  Great recommendation for the Bollywood Workshop.  I think everyone can learn to play this.  It's a little fast, but we can slow it down a bit.

Bollywood - Ambarisariya

Image
Here is a song that was request for one of my Bollywood workshops.  It's not a beginner level song.  The bar chords and strumming pattern (lots of fret hand muting) is what will make it challenging for beginners.  However, it is possible to play the chords as open position chords and make it more of a "campfire style" song.

Scarborough Fair - Finger Style Solo

Image
Here is a merging of Simon and Garfunkel's "Scarborough Fair" and the melody.  Hope you like it!

The Basics - The Fret Hand - Holding and Playing Notes

Image
The hand that you use to hold down strings is called your fret hand.  For most players, this is the left hand.  Here are a few tips on using this hand properly. Play on the very tip of your fingers.  The top joint of your finger should be about level with the string and the tops of your finger nails will be facing up (see first photo). The thumb should be low on the guitar neck, opposite your middle finger (see second photo). Play as close to the fret as you can, but not on it. Be sure to press the string all the way down until it touches the wood on the guitar neck. Use just enough pressure to make the note work.  There is no benefit to squeezing the note hard. Try playing a note on each string on the guitar.  Pick any fret that you would like to play.

The Basics - Holding a Pick

Image
You would think that holding a pick between your thumb and index finger would be simple.  However, teaching a student how to hold and use a pick is similar to teaching a child how to hold and use a pencil for the first time.  The photo below shows the ideal way to hold the pick. Notice that the point of the pick is coming out of the side of the thumb. The pick is held between the thumb and the side of the index finger (towards the finger tip). Don't squeeze the pick too hard.  Hold it just enough that you won't drop it and you feel that you still have some mobility in all your fingers. Learning how to use a pick is critical (for those that use a pick) for producing good tone on the guitar.  If you hold the pick too tight, you may hear lots of buzzing and a tone that is not pleasing to your ears.  Hole the pick too loose, and the sound of your instrument will not project well (and you may drop the pick right into the sound hole).  I guess what I'm trying to say