Blog Entries tagged 'Guitar Playing Techniques'

5 Ways to Improve Guitar Playing Without A Guitar

admin@planetofrock.com — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 19:00:00 +0100

1) Draw neck diagrams and label the note names on the strings. This will improve your knowledge of the instrument, and solidify your ability to quickly jump to any note (like when a fellow musician tells you it's an A chord). Start with just one string, such as the low E string, and label every note: E, F, F#, G, G#, etc. Do this a few times for each string and you'll soon know your way around the guitar sooo much better than you do now!

2) Draw more neck diagrams and fill in [...]

Guitar Transposition

admin@planetofrock.com — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:00:00 +0100

Every so often, we decide to dive into a new aspect of playing guitar that many are either afraid of, or just simply have no idea what it's all about. Today, we're going to tackle one of the more feared issues evolving around guitar... Transposition.

Join us as we teach you the most simplistic and easy ways to transpose your music.

With transposition in the spotlight this week, we're also going to show you some handy sites that will give you some very quick tra [...]

Thin Strings Equals Faster Playing Speed?

admin@planetofrock.com — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:00:00 +0100

Come join us as we journey into one of the biggest myths of the guitar community and learn how the key to speed is through accuracy and clarity.

There are a ton of theories floating around in the guitar player community about the secret to improving your guitar playing speed. Most of these theories are based on some sort of half truth, but a good part of the time these theories are nothing more than myths and really offer no help to truly improving a person’s playing ability or [...]

How To Practice Your Scales

admin@planetofrock.com — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 19:00:00 +0100

Scales are the key to advanced-level guitar playing. Here are the steps to mastering your scales and turning them into shreddin' lead guitar:

1) Learn and memorize each of the five pentatonic and seven diatonic scale patterns. Needless to say, this isn't going to happen overnight. Play each pattern straight from the lowest note of the pattern to the highest note of the pattern and back again. Don't do anything tricky with the pattern. Play each pattern starting as low on [...]

Playing by Ear for Guitarists

admin@planetofrock.com — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 19:00:00 +0100

There are a lot of different methods of learning how to play guitar, and all of them are important and crucial for the mastery of the instrument. Most people learn to play by using sheet music, or tablature, and this is definitely a necessary skill to learn for growth and development. There is something that a lot of guitarists may not take the time to learn, and that is how to play the guitar by ear.

It’s very important to develop a good ear, along with learning how to read mu [...]

Basic Guitar Improvisation Tips and Techniques

admin@planetofrock.com — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:00:00 +0100

Come with us as we examine several different methods you can use to improve your guitar improvisation techniques and learn how to incorporate some basic music theory knowledge into improvisation.

Guitar soloing and improvisation is one of the most artistic and expressive types of guitar playing that a guitarist can learn. It is a showcase of precision, skill, technique, and creativity that blows the mind and leaves awestruck faces in every crowd.

A lot goes into perfecting [...]

Create Better Sounding Chords

admin@planetofrock.com — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 19:00:00 +0100

Have the basics...

When you first learned how to play guitar, chords were your first priority. Then you most likely moved onto other interests such as strumming and chord progressions. However, you soon start to find the guitar boring. Why is that? Because it is!

You may be thinking to yourself, "Who is this guy and who does he think he is telling us that the guitar is boring?" No, guitar is not boring but it can be if everything starts to sound the same. I rememb [...]

Key Tips to Mastering the Guitar

admin@planetofrock.com — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 19:00:00 +0100

Everybody who picks up a guitar has the ultimate goal in mind of being able to just pick up their guitar and blaze a solo, leaving impressed friends and family in a state of speechless shock. The problem is that most people don’t put in the effort that is necessary in order to master their instrument because they desire instant results. Guitar is one of the most difficult instruments to master, yet anyone can do it if they put in the effort and time and have a true passion for creative mus [...]

How to Improve Your Guitar Playing Speed and be a Master of Shred

admin@planetofrock.com — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:00:00 +0100

Take a look with us now as we delve into tips and tricks for improving your guitar playing speed and for some practical knowledge on effectively using metronomes and other helps to improve your practice sessions.

Most aspiring guitar players today fill their heads with dreams about moving their fingers effortlessly across their fretboards with lightning quick speed and accuracy that leaves minds rocked and speakers blown. There have been a few guitarists throughout the ages of rock th [...]

Finding Your Tone

admin@planetofrock.com — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:00:00 +0100

You ask…”how do I find the perfect tone?

There is no perfect tone. The "ultimate" tone (The Tone) does not exist. "Tone" is a shifting object that varies depending upon song, emotional context, venue, audience, genre, physical environment, etc.

Some of the "best" guitar sounds are rather lop-sided when analyzed in isolation. I hear players all the time say they finally found the perfect tone or they're still searching for the [...]

Major Scale Patterns For Improvisation On The Guitar Fretboard

admin@planetofrock.com — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:00:00 +0100

Guitar improvisation is a necessary aspect of playing as it will help you to master the various scales of lead guitar and helps you to play solo.

Guitar improvisation can be divided into several categories that include using scales like the blues scale, minor and major pentatonic and many others as well as applying techniques like bends and tapping etc. Most of the guitarists end up spending their entire life trying to learn how to solo using only one or two different scales.

Rock Guitar Improvisations Using Hybrid Picking and Legato Technique

admin@planetofrock.com — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:00:00 +0100

Guitar and Rock music are inseparable and probably one of the main reasons for this is that most rock numbers or compositions have short or prolonger lead guitar solos. The lead guitar solos can be mastered by using different scales and guitar improvisation techniques like hybrid picking and legato technique.

There is such a huge variety of guitar improvisation techniques available that you can practice solos all your life and yet not find the end. It is infinite! One such gu [...]

Reduce Feedback On Stage

admin@planetofrock.com — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 19:00:00 +0100

If you've performed live on stage or even a casual jam with your friends at band practice -- one of the most annoying things guitarists have is a thing called FEEDBACK!

If you don't know what feedback is -- it's that terrible high pitched sound that comes from speakers.

It usually happens when you place your microphone too close to the speaker or play your guitar directly in front of the amplifier.

Not only does this damage your ears, but it puts [...]

Understanding Major and Minor Scales for Lead Guitar

admin@planetofrock.com — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 19:00:00 +0100
Why are you learning the guitar? The most obvious answer would probably be to master the various scales and to play the solo on stage. Well! Playing the guitar is one thing and playing a lead guitar on stage in a live gig is another thing.

The place where it all starts – as in the practice to play the lead guitar is with the minor and major scales. The major and minor scales are normally separated by just about four frets and they are known as the relative scales. They are known [...]

Learn Guitar Solos & Improvisation

admin@planetofrock.com — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:00:00 +0100

If you are thinking of playing solo then you need to focus on the various guitar improvisation techniques. Guitar improvisation may tough but actually what you really need is a good grasp of guitar basics, speed, and lots of practice.

There are guitar legends and then there are guitar solos. It is tough to define whether guitar solos define legends or whether legends define guitar solos. But the truth is that many a legend has been born but only a few were recognized due to their g [...]

Important Techniques for Mastering Lead Guitar 2 - Slides, String Bending & Tremolo Picking

admin@planetofrock.com — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:00:00 +0100
Learning how to play lead guitar is an art and it can only be mastered using some of the most important and advanced techniques like string bending and tremolo picking among many others.

The most important part of playing the lead guitar is playing it well and using the various techniques to your advantage without going out of tune. Guitar techniques come into picture only in the advanced stages.

The tremolo or the whammy bar as many call it is a useful tool when it comes [...]

Using Guitar Chord Inversions for Playing Rhythm Guitar

admin@planetofrock.com — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 19:00:00 +0100

Chord inversions use diatonic chords and are important for playing lead guitar. There are several aspects of playing the rhythm guitar well and the mastery of using chord inversions is one of them.

When you have moved from the basic to the advanced stage, you will be able to play around with most of the chords. So you probably know how best to play the A major chord, it is one of the simplest of all. If you are already a competent rhythm guitar then you probably know how to play [...]

What Are Guitar Power Chords and How to Play Them

admin@planetofrock.com — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:00:00 +0100

Power Chords are an important aspect of playing lead guitar and lies somewhere between basic and advanced guitar playing. Mostly used in classic rock music, power chords can be used in progressive, metal and other forms of rock music.

The power chords sound great on stage in a live gig but it is not something that you can learn overnight. You have to practice. The one good thing about power chords is that they can make your lead guitar scream..real loud! They are easy and great to [...]

Advanced Techniques for Mastering Lead Guitar - Natural & Pinch Harmonics and Vibrato Control

admin@planetofrock.com — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 19:00:00 +0100
There are several techniques of playing a lead guitar but some of the more advanced techniques include mastering the natural and pinch harmonics and assuming a good control over vibrato.

Many lead guitarists can play the natural harmonics but there are some people who find it difficult to play pinch harmonics on their lead guitar. Natural harmonics, vibrato control and pinch harmonics can make your guitar sound different and the sound or pitch can vary from soft screams to harsh metal [...]

Important Techniques for Mastering Lead Guitar - Hammer Ons, Pull Offs & Tapping

admin@planetofrock.com — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:00:00 +0100
Some of the greatest guitar compositions have made it to the hall of fame thanks to their lead guitarists. Lead guitar refers to a the use of a guitar to perform melody lines, instrumental fill passages, and guitar solos within a song structure. Guitarists like Van Halen, Steve Vai, David Gilmour, John Petrucci, Dave Mustaine, Tom Morello, Kirk Hammett, Jimmy Page, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Morse and many more have popularized the art of playing the Lead guitar.

Mastering the l [...]