UNDERSTANDING MAJOR SCALES

Do you find major scales and guitar theory confusing? Well, it may comfort you to know that you are not alone! Just take a moment to read this question that I received from a visitor not too long ago...

"On the c major scales that I have found on the internet everywhere else, the C Major Scale has had more than 8 notes (c to c). Why is this and how is it still the correct way to play the c major scale? This is the same with other major scales. please help because am very confused."

Perhaps, you have wondered about this too, but didn't know where go, or who to ask for help. Let me see if I can help explain it for you.

Every Diatonic Major Scale includes seven tones PLUS the Octave. The Octave is the same as the first tone. The C Major Scale, for example, is:

C D E F G A B C

Once you reach the 8th degree of the scale, these SAME notes will repeat, but they will be an octave higher. That means they will be played in a different position on the fretboard using different strings & different frets.

You can get more free tips about scales and theory on my website if you'd like. Just click the link below...

How Major Scales Are Made

Till next time...

Keep practicing!

Free Guitar Tips

GUITAR PRACTICE - 10 Motivational Tips!

Do you find guitar practice to be a difficult or boring chore that you have to do, rather than want to do?

Perhaps the original joy and excitement you had at first has diminished and now you find practicing to be more work than fun. Don't worry, you are not alone. The question is, what are you going do do about it? Will you give up because it's just too hard, or you're too busy?

Every musician will experience periods of frustration from time to time. This is normal and part of the learning process. It's important for you to recognize this. Then, when you experience it, you will be able to push on through instead of giving up.

Here are 10 Motivational Tips that may help bring the fun back into your guitar practice...

1. Find a friend who plays guitar, or another instrument, or sings. Get together and share your music with each other. Keep it informal. Offer each other encouragement and positive feedback.

2. Think about your goals. What would you like to achieve on the guitar? The ablity to play your own hot lead solos? Learn nimble fingerstyle techniques? Strum and sing songs? Be famous? Write everything down and then put your goals where you can see them when you are practicing.

3. Think about your favorite guitar player. If you don't have one, find one. Learn all you can about them. Read their biography and get familiar with any playing difficulties they encountered with their guitar practice along the way. Find out how they overcame problems and got to where they are today.

4. Listen to your favorite guitar music often.

5. Find a song that you want to learn, even if it is too hard for you to play right now. Watch it on Youtube, or better yet, see if you can find someone who knows how to play it and have them show it to you.

6. Go to a live guitar performance. It doesn't have to be a big concert, or even your favorite kind of music. Allow yourself to experience other genres because this can provide new and fresh ideas for your own music.

7. Record yourelf or make a music video. Make it funny. Dress up. Jump around. Play air guitar if you want. The idea is to loosen-up and just enjoy the possiblities.

8. Find a different guitar practice environment. Play in the living room, kitchen or outside in the fresh air.

9. Create your own sounds on the guitar. You can make up anything you want because no one is listening. Experiment and have some fun.

10. Put an ad in your local newspaper and see if there are any people interested in forming a guitar group for the purpose of learning. You could meet on a weekly, bi- weekly, or even monthly basis to share ideas, experiences, and music. Meeting with other guitar players is a great way to pick-up some free tips, get motivated and find some new inspiration to fuel your passion!

I hope you found these guitar practice ideas to be helpful. If you would like to take your guitar playing to the next level, click the link below ...

FREE DOWNLOAD:

IMPROVE YOUR GUITAR PLAYING TODAY!

Till Next time...

Keep practicing!

Free Guitar Tips

HOW TO PLAY SONGS ON THE GUITAR

Most of my students want to learn how to play songs on the guitar. This may be the case for you as well. As a teacher, my aim is to encourage my students in the direction they want to go, so I try to accommodate their interests by providing appropriate practice material. But that often means extra work for me!

To make things easier, I like to teach songs that use interesting strumming, flatpicking and fingerpicking patterns. This allows the student to learn specific techniques while they are, at the same time, learning how to play songs on the guitar. I find that students generally practice more when they are learning how to play songs than they would with just a series of exercises.

Two songs that serve this purpose nicely are Good Riddance, by Green Day and Closer To Fine, by the Indigo Girls.

Good Riddance - Time of Your Life Guitar Tab

Closer To Fine Guitar Tab





Both of these songs use the same basic chord structure and they also have a similar rhythm. Good Riddance helps a student learn how to isolate specific strings on the guitar with their strumming hand while using a pick. Closer To Fine has a nice strumming pattern and is useful for developing speed control, even tempo and smooth chord changes.

Learning how to play songs on the guitar is definitely fun and it's very practical too! It's not that hard either. You can use songs to develop your timing, coordination skills and learn the tricks of the trade all at the same time!

Get started right now for free...

Learn How To Play Songs On The Guitar

Till next time...

Keep practicing!
Kathy Unruh 
abclearnguitar