Category: Music Notes

April 23, 2008

Reading music - is it really difficult?

Filed under: Music Notes - 23 Apr 2008

Like all burning questions, the answer to this is both “yes” and “no”. Guitar playing is what people these days call a “journey”. What that means is that you will have times when the job ahead is too hard, too tiring, too boring and too much. Then if you persist, you will be rewarded by a sudden insight or upgrading of physical skills. Anybody who has learnt touch typing knows what I’m talking about. So the process of giving life and meaning to the little dots on the page will be off-putting at first followed by a feeling of having learnt something very valuable. What you need to begin this process of learning to read music is a good, concise tutorial. Something that says stuff like, “our notes are displayed upon what is called a “staff.” This is a set of five horizontal lines and four spaces between each line. Don’t laugh, the spaces are important. It is where these notes are positioned in the staff, on which line or space they occupy, which determines what note you play. And here’s the beauty of it - the position will always be the same. If you want the note sounded by the open B string, for example, it will always occupy the place on the staff. Once you know where it is you will always know where it is.” Good basic info. David Hodge is the author of this tutorial, and it is called, A Guide To Reading Musical Notation

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April 6, 2008

Free guitar tabs

Filed under: Music Notes - 06 Apr 2008

guitaretab.com has a buttload of free guitar tabs and a guitar player-friendly interface. Here’s what is on their current front page:

Knockin On Heavens Door – Guns N Roses
Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
Tears In Heaven – Clapton Eric
Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin
Under The Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Hotel California – Eagles
Smoke On The Water – Deep Purple
Hotel California – Eagles
My Immortal – Evanescence
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
Come As You Are – Nirvana
Enter Sandman – Metallica
Johnny B Good – Berry Chuck
Adams Song – Blink 182
Blackbird – Beatles
Complicated – Avril Lavigne
Chop Suey! – System of a Down
Grow Old With You – Adam Sandler
The Scientist – Coldplay
Clocks – Coldplay
Cant Stop – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Nothing Else Matters – Metallica
Paranoid – Black Sabbath
Back In Black – Ac Dc

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August 6, 2007

A lesson on Power Chords and 5th intervals for the electric guitar

Filed under: Music Notes - 06 Aug 2007

Rock guitarists use the power chord because it allows for much greater levels of distortion without causing the dissonance associated with other chords that include the interval of a third played at similarly high distortion levels. The power chord preserves the chord’s diatonic functionality and produces a distinct sonic effect.
According to an article in the Free Lance-Star, the power chord was pioneered by rock and roll guitarist Link Wray. Blues guitarist Elmore James used power chords with distortion in the late 1950s, in the song “I Need You”.
http://power_chords.totallyexplained.com/

Guitar World
Here’s a guitar mag with lots of great video lessons for free but sadly their tab links don’t work, possibly for the same reason that many sites featuring free tab have shut down. Anyway, just enjoy the free video lessons.
Guitar World

Vintage Guitar
Music, guitar and equipment reviews, classified ads and lots more. Here’s a piece of a guitar review:
“Sure, it’s great to pick up a vintage Strat or Les Paul and marvel at its aged patina. It’s also a wonderful feeling to pick up a customized, totally handcrafted guitar. And I can’t think of many custom guitars that are as hip and original as the Linc Luthier Impression – it’s a singular playing experience.
Who exactly is Linc Luthier? Linc is a guitar builder in Southern California who makes electric guitars, basses, and baritones, each with the distinctive Linc body shape and headstock (he also makes modern-looking upright basses and violins). Frankly, with a body this original, either you’re going to love it or you’re not – a ’52 Telecaster, this ain’t. The sweep of its enormous horns reminds me of an ancient Greek lyre or a similar harp-link instrument, while others may see an upside-down B.C. Rich Mockingbird. Personally, I find the shape very alluring. If I was playing a gig and wanted to be noticed by everyone in the joint, I’d bring the Impression. It’s a showstopper.”
Vintage Guitar

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