The Guitarist Blog

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...

Here is another student song request.  This is the popular Bollywood song Chura Liya Hai Tumne.  The opening notes are played to the rhythm of two glasses clinking (this is how the song begins).  This is followed by an Asus2 chord.  I strum this chord with an upstroke, slightly breaking up the chord as I take my pick from the first string to fifth.  I am playing the song slower than the original.  I hope this helps as you play along with me!

Here is (I hope) as simple arrangement of Silent Night.  It is in the key of G and consist of melody and bass.  Below is a video to help with your practice.  Merry Christmas!!

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.

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.

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.