The Guitarist Blog

This is a nice and simple classical style piece by Bartolome' Calatayud.  It is in 3/4 time.  Notice how the rhythm in measure one is repeated throughout the song.  To play this rhythm, I am using a (ring finger) on string one, m and i  (middle and index) on strings two and three, and p (thumb) on the all the bass notes.

Here are my four steps to learning the intro to Neil Young's "Old Man."  Be sure to reference the video. Before getting to the first step, Neil Young plays most of the down stroke with a partial palm mute.  Lightly touch the strings with the palm of your hand near the saddle of your guitar. The intro has two chords - Dm7add2 and D. Dm7add2 = xx0560 D = xx0232 Here are the four steps. Step 1 - Do a simple bass strum on each chord.  Alternate between strumming strings three and four, and strings two and three. Step 2 (0:15) - In this step, add down and up strokes. (0:45) Oops, made a mistake Step 3 (0:47) On the Dm7add2 chord, add a hammer on from the open third string to the fifth fret of the third string.  Continue the down and up strumming from Step 2. Step 4 (1:13)  Here it is!  Add hammer ons and pull offs on the D chord along with the hammer ons from Step 3 and the down and up strumming from Step 2. OLD MAN - INTERLUDE This...

As requested, here is the strumming pattern we will use in class to play along to Passenger's "Let Her Go."  This is the same pattern I use to play along to "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd. I play the pattern first up to speed and then a little slower.

Here I am playing the intro to Passenger's Let Her Go.  It is played much faster on the recording.  Hopefully you will be able to follow along at this slower pace. I have a capo at fret seven.  The bass note for the F chord is held with my thumb (over the neck). This is a beautiful intro.  Enjoy!

This song is found on the sound track for the American Idiot Broadway Musical.  It's a simple pop song with a catch guitar solo.  The guitar solo is played on an electric guitar, but it just so happens it sounds great on an acoustic!  Here is my "acoustified" version of the solo. Notice the open E string ringing with the notes that are sliding on the second string.

It's time for another Bollywood Workshop! Here is the song Iru Vizhi Unadhu.  The song is in 7/8 time and has a cool power chord groove.  Check out the video below.

Around this time each year I like to look ahead and set a few goals for the coming year.  In this space I would like to share with you a few of my musical goals as well as suggest a few for my students and for those that haven't pulled the trigger on learning the guitar. 1.  Learn an instrument.  May I suggest the guitar?  This has got to be on the top ten list of all resolutions that are ever made, and it's a good one!  You may not feel like you have the time because you are busy with school, work, children, etc.  Learning an instrument, like any art form, is a life long process.  You take it with you through all your seasons of life.  And, I don't need to tell you, time flies.  Children grow up and move out, jobs change, retirement comes, and now you have a little more time.  Take your instrument along with you on your life journey. 2.  Memorize more music.  This one is for me and you.  I read so much music, that I a...