Guitar Music Theory

Slow Down Music with Song Surgeon

Desi Serna — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:25:43 +0000

Has anyone used Song Surgeon? It’s a software program that can be used to slow down music or change the pitch of a song. Guitar players use it to slow down songs, transcribe, practice and perform with. I’m wondering if it might be a useful tool for my customers. Check it out and leave me some feedback. Thanks.

Visit the Song Surgeon website.

Play Until Yer Fingers Bleed!
Mr. Desi Serna
Website: http://Guitar-Music-Theory.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/guitarmusictheory
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MrGuitarTheory
YouTube: http://youtube.com/GuitarMusicTheoryTab
Podcast: http://bit.ly/ac4cDk

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The Weight Tab

Desi Serna — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:36:25 +0000

“The Weight” by The Band is a good example of using the major pentatonic scale on guitar. The intro features some guitar licks in the style of “The Wind Cries Mary” by Jimi Hendrix. It’s right in the A major pentatonic pattern 2, over an “E form” barre chord. There’s a switch to D major pentatonic pattern 1 and then it finishes off in A major pentatonic pattern 3. Listen to the song then view the guitar tab below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmRDM7GyJXE

A Major Pentatonic Pattern 2 & D Pattern 1
E-------------5------------------------------| B--5---5--5h7----5h7-5--5---5----------------| G--4h6----6------6---6--4h6-4--7---7----7----| D------------------------------7h9-7h9--7----| A--------------------------------------------| E--------------------------------------------|

E--------------------------------------------| B--------------------------------------------| G--------------------------------------------| D--7-7----7----------------------------------| A--7-7h9--7----------------------------------| E------------9--5----------------------------|

The Weight Chords
This song is also a good example of using the minor three chord in a key. The progression during the verses is I iii IV I (1 3 4 1) in the key of A. That would be A, C#m and D.

To learn more about scales, chords, progressions and more sign up for a free preview of my guitar theory book and DVDs.

Do you know of other songs that make good examples of using the major pentatonic scale or the iii chord? Let me know by leaving comments below.

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Runnin’ With The Devil Chord

Desi Serna — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:57:27 +0000

In Fretboard Theory Chapter 3, The CAGED Template Chord System, I mentioned the “Keith Richards” trick that uses a partial A form barre chord and a partial C form barre chord. The attached tab from Van Halen’s “Runnin’ With The Devil” is a really cool example of this, because it actually goes from the partial A to the partial C through the use of hammer-ons. Thought it was worth sharing.

Click tab image to view full size.

CAGED Guitar Chords
To learn more about guitar chord shapes, inversions and voicings, sign up for a free preview of my guitar theory book and DVDs.

Know of other songs that make good examples of using the CAGED system? Please leave comments below. Thanks!

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How to Guitar Solo and Play Lead Guitar

Desi Serna — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:11:25 +0000

To learn the fine art of lead guitar soloing follow these steps.

1. Learn the scale patterns taught in my guitar theory course.
http://guitar-music-theory.com

2. Build your arsenal of licks and phrases by learning songs.
Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarMusicTheoryTab
Tab: http://guitar-music-theory.com/tab-mp3.html

3. Learn how to rework parts from one song and play them over another.
Video: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=947010768346257548
Backing Track: http://guitar-music-theory.com/jam-tracks.html

That should do it. Take your time. It’s a slow, gradual process.

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Church Hymns On Guitar

Desi Serna — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:34:46 +0000

Recently I received a question from a frustrated guitar player who was having a hard time playing hymns on guitar. He explained that the old hymnals didn’t have chord symbols for guitar, just standard musical notation. He was unable to figure out the chords and changes from the sheet music. And he was also having a hard time trying to play along with the piano player by ear. He wondered how a guitar player should approach this type of music. My response is below.

Church hymns are usually played by piano or organ players and can be very difficult for guitar players to accompany. Usually hymns have changes on every beat, sometimes every half beat! This just doesn’t give any room for other instruments or other parts. And doubling the piano doesn’t sound good either (you end up interfering too much with the piano). Bottom line, hymns are composed in a manner where the piano/organ plays alone and takes up all the space. In fact, when we play a traditional hymn at my church, the other instrumentalists usually sit it out. I only play on hymns if there is enough space for me to fill. In this case I don’t play the chord changes, I just fill by ear. And I don’t play much.

Piano and guitar are similar in that they’re both chordal instruments capable of playing both chords and melody. In ensemble situations, both instruments need to simplify and leave room for one another. But traditional church hymns weren’t written this way.

The only time a guitar player can really play a hymn arrangement in its full form is when he’s playing solo. Below is an example of me playing the Christian hymn Holy, Holy, Holy in a chord melody, fingerstyle manner arranged specifically for solo guitar. Notice that I didn’t leave room for a piano player.

http://youtu.be/yi4wfZVexnY

Church Hymns Guitar Tab
I arranged this version myself by ear with a little help from a chord chart. You can view the guitar tab for this at: http://guitarmusictheory.blogspot.com/2009/11/holy-holy-holy-guitar-tabs.html

This is a fingerstyle chord melody version for intermediate and advanced guitar players with finger picking experience. It’s a great lesson on how to use shapes and inversions based on the CAGED Guitar Chord system.

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Why Learn Pentatonic and Major Scales Separately?

Desi Serna — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 20:02:13 +0000

Some guitar players wonder why it’s necessary to learn the pentatonic and major scale patterns separately, since the notes of the pentatonic are found within the major scale. Why not just learn the major scale and which notes within it make the pentatonic? There are several good reasons why this won’t work. They include:

The two scale patterns are often used separately.
The pentatonic scale makes different, unique patterns on the fretboard.
Pentatonic and major scale patterns can be combined in multiple ways.
The two scale patterns often use different technique.

A good analogy could be made using chords. Why learn power chords, major chords, seventh chords and major ninth chords when you can just learn major 9 chords? Major 9s have all the other chords within them. Well, that may be true in theory, but it doesn’t work that way in practice. Each type of chord makes a different shape on the fretboard, requires a different fingering and is used differently.

For more information about why pentatonic and major scales are learned and used separately, see an earlier blog post of mine entitled Pentatonic Scale Patterns Apply Differently Than Major Scales.

To learn more about the pentatonic scale see Fretboard Theory Chapter 2 or Getting Started with the Pentatonic Scale DVD.

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José Feliciano Guitar Style

Desi Serna — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:52:15 +0000

“How can I learn the José Feliciano guitar style?” A website visitor who was interested in my guitar theory course asked me this question. He was wondering if I could teach him the scales, chords and progressions used in the video below. My answer follows.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCbNV9PI3Wk

My guitar theory course covers the fundamentals of music theory that are necessary for all styles, but I don’t specifically teach one style or technique. If you want to learn José Feliciano music, then you’ll have to study his guitar style specifically. The only materials I could find are:

José Feliciano Guitar Tab

You might be able to find specific instruction in Spanish guitar or Flamenco guitar styles too.

Keep in mind that you’ll have a much better job learning this stuff if you know the guitar theory that I teach. The scale patterns, chord shapes, chord progressions and modes I teach are used in all styles of music. Sign up for a free preview of my guitar theory book and DVDs.

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Should you learn from tab or by ear?

Desi Serna — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:28:15 +0000

Many guitar players wonder whether or not using guitar tab is a form of cheating. They think that if they can’t play by ear that they’re doing it wrong. The truth is that there’s no right or wrong way to learn songs. If you know how to play a song and can play it well, then what difference does it make how you learned it?

Tab Vs Ear
I have learned over the years by both reading guitar tab and playing by ear. Most musicians rely on some form of notation now and then, some more than others. It all depends on what works for you. If you can’t figure out something by ear, then there’s certainly no reason to give up. Get the tab! If you can pick up on something by ear quicker than you can read the tab or sheet music, then do it.

Music Notation
Forms of notation have existed for as long as there has been people playing music. There’s nothing cheating about reading guitar tab, reading standard musical notation, watching a video demonstration or having another guitar player show you how to play something.

Playing By Ear
If you want to try using your ear, then go for it. It definitely can help your development. And you might enjoy the challenge. If you get stuck on something, consult the tab. The more you learn the more you’ll be able to figure out on your own.

Getting Good at Playing Guitar
When it comes to getting good at playing guitar, the important part is to get good, somehow. It doesn’t matter how you get there, as long as you get there.

Guitar Theory
I would add that the more you learn about music theory for guitar the better able you’ll be able to figure out songs. Knowing what chords and scales are used and understanding how things in music go together will take a lot of the guesswork out. To learn more about guitar theory, sign up for a free preview of my book Fretboard Theory.

Do you have a good ear or do you always require the tab? Feel free to leave comments and share what works best for you.

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Oh Well Tab Fleetwood Mac

Desi Serna — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:50:03 +0000

“Oh Well” by Fleetwood Mac is a great guitar riff that is based almost entirely on the E minor pentatonic scale. Play the video below to see and hear what this famous guitar riff looks and sounds like.

http://youtu.be/KE4HGlmtOcg

Oh Well Tab Fleetwood Mac
Click hear to preview and get the complete, accurate, fully legal and licensed Oh Well Tab Fleetwood Mac for guitar.

Pentatonic Scales
Pentatonic scales are one of the most widely used scales in music to play guitar riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines. The five pentatonic scale patterns are taught in Fretboard Theory Chapter 2 and also the DVD Getting Started with the Pentatonic Scale. Click the links to download a free preview.

Do you know of other songs that have great pentatonic scale guitar riffs? Feel free to leave comments and tell me about them.

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How to Spice Up Your Chord Progressions

Desi Serna — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:20:45 +0000

One way to spice up your chord progressions is to play something other than stock, standard, block chords. Instead, use different chord inversions and chord voicings. A great example of this is “Jack and Diane” by John Mellancamp. The whole song is based on A, D and E, but each section sounds unique because it uses different versions of the same three chords.

CAGED Chord System
The CAGED system for guitar is a method for mapping out chord shapes and arpeggio patterns on the fretboard. When you understand how chords are built and where the notes of a given chord are located across the fretboard, then you can grab the notes however you see fit and create new chord shapes and interesting chord voicings.

The guitar CAGED chord system is taught in Fretboard Theory Chapter 3 and also the DVD CAGED Template Chord System. Click the link to sign up for a free guitar theory book and DVD preview.

How do you spice up your chords and progressions? Feel free to leave comments and tell me.

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