Guitar Voyeur

Minor Blue Chord Progression

2006-08-20T02:05:00.000-07:00

In the style of BB King

Albert King Crosscut Saw

2006-08-20T01:25:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice breakdown of the song. Learn to play Albert King's "Crosscut Saw".

Cool Albert Collins Video - Mastercharge

2006-08-20T00:57:00.000-07:00

Was rummaging through Albert Collins videos on YouTube tonight and just had to post this one here - it opens up with a dude playing two saxophones.

Guitar Instruction DVD's Giveaway

2006-08-19T14:34:00.000-07:00

Check out the latest Guitar Forum Contest to win your choice of any guitar instruction DVD from TotalVid.

All you have to do is join the guitar forum and post. See details on site.

Contest winner gets to choose any title from a complete line of instructional DVD's which includes Rock, Blues, Fingerstyle, and Jazz guitar lessons, plus style instruction by top guitar players including George Benson, Eric Johnson, Duke Robillard and other stars.

Learn To Play Guitar Chords and Turnarounds

2006-05-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

Learn To Play Guitar Chords: Learn To Play Turnarounds On Your Guitar by Peter Edvinsson

Turnarounds are chord progressions with the last chord taking you back to the first chord thus making it possible to play these progressions over and over again as an intro to a song, an ending or between verses. Here are some nice sounding but easy turnarounds for you!

In order not to mess up the layout with the guitar tab staff I will not include left hand fingerings but I suggest that you choose left hand fingers carefully so you don't get into trouble!

However, in order to learn to play these guitar chord progressions as intended I will say something about your right hand fingerings.

When you play these progressions on your guitar I suggest that you play the bass notes with your thumb and the first three guitar strings with you first finger, middle finger and ring finger.

Of course you can use a pick if you hate picking with you right hand fingers. If you strum the chords you will have to mute unused strings with your left hand fingers or otherwise you can pluck the strings with your pick using different patterns.

The first chord progression includes the guitar chords A F#m7 Bm11 and E7. You can use any right hand pattern you like as you play the chords.

1. ---0---0---0---0---
2. ---2---2---3---3---
3. ---2---2---2---1---
4. -------------------
5. ---0-------2-------
6. -------2-------0---

Our second turnaround consists of the guitar chords Amaj7, F#7, Bm11 and E7. When you learn to play these turnarounds I strongly suggest that you follow my advice above about left hand fingerings.

When you have found the most effective fingerings for the guitar chords it is important that you stick to the fingerings so that you can learn the progressions by heart and be able to move between chords fluently.

1. ---0---0---0---0---
2. ---2---2---3---3---
3. ---1---3---2---1---
4. -------------------
5. ---0-------2-------
6. -------2-------0---

Turnaround number three is a bit harder to play, at least the last chord which requires a bit of stretching. The chords are A, F#7+, Bm11 and Bb7add+11.

Try to move your fingers as little as possible when changing chords. To keep the fingers close to the fretboard will help you change chords smoothly. Here is the guitar tab:

1. ---0---0---0---0--- 2. ---2---3---3---3--- 3. ---2---3---2---1--- 4. ------------------- 5. ---0-------2---1--- 6. -------2-----------

The last guitar tab turnaround consists of the chords Aadd9, C9, Fmaj and Bb9+11.

The most difficult and most important thing when playing chord progressions on your guitar isn't to hold a chord but to change between chords.

To practice really effectively you can choose two consecutive chords and practice changing between them in a slow tempo.

1. ---0---0---0---0---
2. ---2---3---1---1---
3. ---4---3---2---1---
4. -----------3-------
5. ---0---3-------1---
6. -------------------

Now you can play four guitar progressions that of course can be mixed. You can replace the second chord in a progression with a second chord from another progression and so on.

I will end this learn to play guitar article by showing you a right hand pattern you can use with the chords. Use the pattern once for every chord in the progression. The thumb will of course be on different bass strings depending on the chord.

1. ---a---a---
2. ---m---m---
3. ---i---i---
4. -----------
5. ---p-------
6. -----------

There are many common turnarounds that are used frequently in pop songs like the old pop song Diana, Last Christmas and many more. To practice the common progression C, Am, Dm, G7 in different keys is a good way to learn how chords are related and also a good way to practice the art of changing between chords in a smooth way.

Peter Edvinsson is a musician, composer and music teacher. Visit his site Capotasto Music and download your free sheet music guitar tab and learn to play guitar resources at capotastomusic.com

Article Source: http://www.artsymmetry.com

Practice Changing Chords

2006-05-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

Practice Changing Chords by ian Williamson

How quickly can your fretting hand switch from one chord to another? The speed and confidence you have in making chord changes will be key to further mastering the guitar and successfully playing and creating music for the instrument.

The key to learning any instrument, like most intricate human activity, is to develop brain and muscle coordination, more commonly called, muscle memory needed to play the instrument. If you picture a basketball player, for instance, the key to a good shooting performance is the proper hand-to-eye coordination in order to bring the ball up, prepare, aim, and throw it towards the hoop. The different muscles of the arms, wrist and hands will learn the right movements and strength needed to score. Constant practice will condition the brain, eyes, and entire body to know the routine of shooting the ball.

This is similar to guitar playing. The muscles involved would be the arms, wrists and the fingers, with the eyes, ears and brain working in unison to relate the movements to the music being read and the notes produced by the guitar. This is the mechanism that works when a guitar player starts to change chords.

Luckily, there are simple techniques that can help the beginning guitar player to develop these muscle memories and ear training for proper chord changes. Read below and you will see that chord changes are not that difficult to do.

When changing chords, first memorize all the chords involved in the song, and then visualize exactly which fingers of the fretting hand are involved in playing the chords. When playing simple barre chords, the most important finger is the index finger, which will squeeze all 6 strings across the fretboard. So as you move towards playing the chord, you have to position the index finger across the proper fret, or place, along the fretboard before positioning the other fingers of the chord. When playing a broken or simple chord, it is usually the index finger that is the most important finger. Primarily, the index finger and the thumb will form a stable anchor on the guitar neck in order for the other fingers to press the other strings of the chord. The index finger is usually played on the lowest fret and the highest string (by pitch, or string 1), where it could more easily find the proper note, and the other fingers can follow to complete the chord.

When playing a particular song, keep time with the music, but anticipate in which bar and on which beat the next chord will continue. For beginners, it would be preferable to practice the entire song slowly from beginning to end, taking care to change to each chord on time and on tempo. When the student can play the entire song like this without chord errors, he can start increasing the speed to the song’s proper tempo. It would also be helpful to identify particularly tricky chord changes. For instance, 2 consecutive bar graphs would be a relatively simple change, because the guitar player needs only to slide his index finger (which is already in the barre position) to its proper position on the fretboard and quickly press in the other strings of the chord. Changes from simple chords to barre chords – and vice versa – and chords that are positioned at a far distance from each other along the length of the neck are more difficult to perform. Isolate these difficult changes and practice those chord changes. If it is still to difficult with the slow tempo, don’t play the last beat of the last chord and use the time to move your fret hand into position for the next fret. Keep practicing these changes until the short passage can be played without error. Afterwards, go back to playing the entire song as discussed above. When you can play an entire song properly, try different strumming styles to accentuate parts of the song, or a particular beat; or alternate strumming and light plucking to give volume and variety to the music of the song. First, it is best to complete the song by actually copying how the original artist played it on the guitar; then you can add your own twists and extra technique according to your ear and taste. This will help you develop your hands for more difficult chords and finger playing techniques.

Do this for every song, and before you know it, you’ll be playing a new song like a seasoned guitarist in a short period of time.

For More Information on Guitar Chords by Ian Williamson please visit http://guitar.you-can-learn.info

Article Source: http://www.artsymmetry.com

Learning Chord Structure Easily

2006-05-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

Learning Chord Structure Easily by ian Williamson

A technical knowledge of harmony is not an absolute prerequisite to the enjoyment of music, but the amateur musician and listener alike should be aware of harmony as an element of guitar chord structure. He should be cognizant of certain basic principles, properties and uses of this element.

Harmony as an element is more sophisticated than rhythm and melody. It was virtually non-existent in primitive cultures. It is an element which appeared comparatively late in the history of music and was developed primarily in western civilization.

Harmony is a musical element based on the simultaneous combination of musical tones (as distinguished from the consecutive tones of a melody), or the accompaniment of a melody using chords.

A combination of three or more tones, played simultaneously and perceived as sounding as a whole is called a chord.

A few rudimentary principles will help you understand the nature of conventional chord construction. The simplest chord is the major triad, which consists of three tones. We can build a triad by selecting the tones of a certain major scale and by adding two or more tones above it in alternate degrees of the original scale. For example, if we start with the tone C as “do”, the tonic of the C-major scale, we get the triad do-mi-sol, 1-3-5, or using the letter names C-E-G.

The tones of any chord maybe arranged in different order, and they maybe duplicated an octave above or below without changing the essential nature of the chord. This is the reason why we often see chords such as C/E, (the first inversion of the C major triad using the chord tone E as the bass) or C/G (the second inversion of the same triad using the chord tone G as the bass)

Building chords in thirds (on alternate scale degrees as described) was the basis of all conventional harmony from 1700-1900.

In the twentieth century serious music composers expanded the chord vocabulary by additional means of construction for the sake of more colorful and complex effects. Although additional means of construction have been introduced, modern pop, rock and jazz music still follow the conventional way of chord construction – by thirds.

Going back to the major chord, you may be wondering why there are several fingerings for a certain major chord. This is possible because in the 12 frets of the guitar, the notes simply repeat themselves in increasing octaves, at their corresponding string. C, for example, is on the first fret at the B string, third fret at the A string, fifth fret at the G string, and on the eighth fret at the E string. For reference, here are the other notes and their possible fingerings:

D: 3rd fret at B, 5th fret at A, 7th at G and 10th at E;

E: 2nd at D, 5th at B, 7th at A, 9th at G and 12th at E;

F: 1st at E, 3rd at D, 6th at B, 8th at S and 10th at G;

G: 3rd at E, 5th at D, 8th at B, 10th at A and 12th at G;

A: 2nd at G, 5th at E, 7th at D, 10th at B and 12th at A;

B: 2nd at A, 4th at G, 7th at E, 9th at D and 12th at B.

Depending on how the melody of the song is arranged, the chord formation can assume any fingering position as long as the triad is formed and however it is conveniently played.

Now that you have an understanding of the major chord, let us investigate its parallel counterpart the minor chord. If the third of the major triad is altered by lowering it by one semitone (one fret on the guitar and two frets for each whole tone), the resulting triad will be C-E /flat-G, which is the minor triad.

Check the fret board and investigate all of the possible fingerings, for the minor chord. You may see that if comparing it with the major chord fingerings, only one string is lowered when forming the minor chord, unless there is a doubling of the minor third (E /flat).

If you are wondering why all the examples mentioned here are on the C chord, it is because it now your turn to apply the lesson. Chart down the major and minor chord triads for the rest of the notes and … start strummin’!

For More Information on Guitar Chords by Ian Williamson please visit http://guitar.you-can-learn.info

Article Source: http://www.artsymmetry.com

Guitar Tips for Beginners

2006-05-03T13:04:00.000-07:00

Guitar Tips for Beginners by ian Williamson

Learning to play the guitar can easily be achieved by almost anyone who wants to try it.

Most newbies tend to quit excessively early. This is because most of them are not trying hard enough to learn the instrument and give up the instant they encounter difficulties.

Many of these newbies insist that they no longer have time to practice the guitar or that their fingers hurt. What they do not realize is that practice makes perfect, and the reason they find it difficult to learn to play the guitar is that they do not practice as much as necessary. They simply do not know what it takes to endure the lessons that have to be learned.

For those who do want to learn to play the guitar, here is a list of tips that you need to bear in mind:

1. Invest a little

Learning to play a guitar is almost equal to using the best instrument possible. Naturally, people learn faster and easier if they have the right equipment for the activity.

For this reason, it is important to invest and buy a good, not necessarily the best, guitar. This is because good guitars have better strings that will trigger quality play and better sound. Good guitars provide comfort to those who have not yet experienced playing the guitar.

2. Practice makes perfect

It is important to practice every single day. It is the ONLY way for you to learn how to play the guitar and learn to play it well.

3. Self-learning

For beginners, it may be better to learn to play the guitar by yourself. In this way you will not be pressured and acquaint yourself with yourself with your guitar in as little time possible.

This does not necessarily mean that you do not need an instructor. What is being pointed out here is that it would be better to teach yourself the basics of playing the guitar before you seek the help of an instructor.

The bottom line is to get started and once you are familiar with the guitar, then, it would be easier for you to listen to and understand the instructor. Indeed, learning how to play the guitar is as easy as 1-2-3. It just takes a combination of interest, determination, and grit to advance to the next level. Like anything in life – the more you put into it the more you will get out in the end.

For More Information on Guitar tips by Ian Williamson please visit http://www.real-articles.com/Category/Guitar/96

Article Source: http://www.artsymmetry.com

Link Wray Video

2006-04-03T10:20:00.000-07:00

Here's a cool video of Link Wray from a 1977 show. No guitar pyrotechnics here; just "cool".

Link Wray is cool.

Eric Gales Crystal Vision

2006-02-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

Eric Gales Crystal Vision CD was released on 01/31/2006 and is available at BUY.COM (direct link to Crystal Vision CD) for just $12.98.

As expected, this is a good one. Most of us expected a good follow-up to the "That's What I Am" cd. Unlike "That's What I Am", though, this one leans more heavily towards blues. Also includes a cool cover of Deep Purple's "Hush".

Eric Gales Official Website:

Unfortunately, weasel domain squatters hogged up the "ericgales.com" domain name and are apparently holding it for a handsome ransom. But you can get more information about Eric Gales visit his official MySpace website at Eric Gales MySpace.

Download Eric Gales Music:

You can download Eric Gales music at Yahoo Music Unlimited.

Direct links to Led Zeppelin Covers by Eric Gales:

Custard Pie

Trampled Under Foot

I Can't Quit You Baby (with Otis Rush)

Custard Pie Revisited (with Derek Trucks and Matt Turor)

An Eric Clapton cover too: Layla - Eric Gales/Derek Trucks.

Metal Lightning Bolt

2005-12-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a "lightning bolt" metal guitar that somebody flipped up on eBay a while back.

The maker obviously went through a lot of time and trouble to make this thing, using proper hardware and electronics including a one-piece stoptail bridge, humbucking pickup, and decent-looking tuners.

But wait a minute......take a closer look at the head stock. Check out the position of the low E tuning peg. HAHAHAHAHA that pretty much renders it completely non-functional.

So, a great waste of time and materials, but certainly one of the more interesting guitars I've come across. It would have made a nice decoration for my living room, but no thanks.

- The Guitar Voyeur

Lightning Metal Guitar Body View.

Headstock view

Back of guitar.

Introduction to Guitar Voyeur Blog

2005-12-15T21:28:00.000-08:00

My name is David Humphries and I live in the Boston, Massachusetts area. I play guitar strictly on a casual/hobby basis but my love for guitars is a little bit more than just casual. As I currently have more than I need, and am always on the prowl for the next big score, I suppose I could call myself a "collector".

If you are at all familiar with the collector mentality, then you know that a collector can never have "enough". To the collector, the desired items are more than just tools or material objects; they are art. A collector will always seek out new "pieces" to add to his collection.

One problem with collecting guitars though, is that the desirable, or "collectible" ones are a little bit expensive. I have come to the realization that in the interest of paying the household bills and putting food on the table for the kids, many opportunities to purchase great finds must sadly be passed up. This is why I started this blog.

I figure if I can't own them, I should at least collect pics to enjoy and share. So here I will post some interesting guitars and related commentary.

Enjoy the site!

- The Guitar Voyeur

Classical Guitar with Butterfly Abalone Inlay by Antonio Tsai