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Even though you’re not a guitar player, I’m pretty sure you know at least one musical scale, and I’m also betting it’s the C Major scale. The film The Sound of Music made famous the “do-re-mi” song that actually translates to a C Major scale (for complete beginners, the notes for a C Major scale are C-D-E-F-G-A-B).

But if your goal is to be a rocking lead guitarist, there’s a type of scale that you definitely must know, and that is the pentatonic scale. Pentatonic scales are the foundation for most rock and blues solos, and it’s important that you know how to make them.

Simply put, pentatonic scales have one major difference with normal scales: while normal scales have seven notes, pentatonic scales have only five (the term penta- means ‘five’). Other than that, there’s basically no difference. But how would I know which notes are in the pentatonic scales?

Let’s take that C Major scale. The notes for that would be C-D-E-F-G-A-B. If you take away the fourth note and the seventh note, you would be left with C-D-E-G-A. And that’s basically just how you make a pentatonic major scale: you take out the fourth and seventh notes of a major scale! So if ever you have a song that uses a C chord, you can play a solo on your guitar but NOT play F and B chords. The pentatonic major scale is a foundation of modern rock, and Jimi Hendrix is known to use the pentatonic major scale a lot.

The pentatonic minor scale is also created a bit differently. For a pentatonic minor scale, of course you would need a minor scale to begin with. Let’s take the A Minor scale for example. The notes for that would be A-B-C-D-E-F-G. For the pentatonic minor, however, you would need to take out the second and sixth notes, leaving you with A-C-D-E-G. The pentatonic minor scale is greatly used in various blues solo progressions.

A final observation: did you notice that the notes for the C pentatonic major scale are the same for the A minor pentatonic scale? That’s a strange connection of pentatonic major and minor scales. Basically the notes of a pentatonic major scale for a given key are the same for a pentatonic minor for a key three steps down, but your root notes are different of course.

It may take a bit of practice for you to master pentatonic major and minor scales, but once you do perfect them you’re basically on the way to a better understanding of guitar soloing for blues or rock. And a final word: pentatonic scales have less notes, so they’re easier to remember and play! So go ahead and play!

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Okay, I’m sure you’ve gotten an argument with your buddies at some point, comparing who you think are the top 10 guitar players of all time. We’ve all been there, but here’s the thing that few realize. Rock and Roll isn’t competition, it’s not about who’s better at this or that. Plus, there are so many musical genres, that to compare let’s say a metal master and a blues king doesn’t really work all that well. It’s like comparing apples and oranges.

When all is said and done, there’s still many guitarists that most people consider to be the best, and every time these types of lists come up, you will typically find their names are mentioned. These guitar players are arguably the most skilled at a specific technique, or are the most influential guitarists to other aspiring musicians, and that’s why they appear on my top 10 guitar players list.

In my opinion, this is the top 10 list of the most influential guitar players:

1. Jimi Hendrix
Enough said? Jimi Hendrix is almost always at the top of every “top guitarists” list! He turned the electric guitar into musicl science, playing around with sounds never before dreamed of on the electric guitar. Hendrix’s style of raw, fuzzy, feedback-y sound is instantly recognizable, and he has been the influence for very many younger guitarists. His stage presence is also electrifying and powerful. “Purple Haze” and “All Along the Watchtower” set the foundation for a towering monument of rock that stands to this day.

2. Jimmy Page
Another Jimmy! The Led Zeppelin guitar master has been very influential to a lot of rockers nowadays, and his guitar licks are legendary and instantly recognizable. His solo of “Heartbreaker” is immortal, and “Black Dog” and “Stairway to Heaven” are unshakable rock classics. And no one else I know has ever had a guitar solo using a violin bow? That’s from “Dazed and Confused”,

3. BB King
When you say blues, everything all boils down to its master and ambassador: BB King. He paved the way for the newer generation of blues players, from Eric Clapton to John Mayer. BB King’s powerful bending and vibrato are classic blues techniques, still used today. Also, his guitar is also legendary – who else names their guitar Lucille?

4. Chuck Berry
You know that four-note riff that always reminds you of 50’s rock n’ roll? That came from Chuck Berry. Modern rock n’ roll wouldn’t be possible without the awesomeness that is “Johnny B. Goode”!

5. Keith Richards
Keith Richards is a member of one of the longest-lasting, most influential active rock bands The Rolling Stones. Don’t tell me you aren’t aware of that memorable distortion-filled three-note riff from “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”! For all the hits the Stones put out that became foundations of other hit songs, Keith Richards also deserves a spot on the top 10 guitarists list.

6. Kirk Hammett
Metal was changed forever once Metallca arrived on the scene. Kirk Hammett rewrote hard rock history with the pounding solos of “Master of Puppets” and, arguably their most popular song, “Enter Sandman”.

7. Carlos Santana
If you want to talk about instantly recognizable tone, there’s the undisputed King master of Latin-infused rock, Carlos Santana. Before he started collaborating with other musicians, he was a Latin-rhythm purist, improvising with solos that are full of passion and spiritual meaning. Before hits like “Smooth”, there were the soaring, sustained instrumental solos of “Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Child)” and the like.

8. Kurt Cobain
The misunderstood genius, Kurt Cobain pretty much ended the era of 80’s “glam” metal in a totally unique way. He favored simple, heavy tunes instead of hair metal’s theatric style, and it reflected better the angst of the time. His most memorable contribution to rock and roll was the original anthem of misunderstood generations, the four-chord monster “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.

9. The Edge
While a lot of guitar players think of skill as playing millions of notes at blazing speed, The Edge is known for actually playing short, spare, repetitive solos. But he and his rolling delay effects created the most passionate, most anthemic rock songs in history, from “Bad” to “Where The Streets Have No Name”. With the Edge at the lead, it’s hard not to scream in triumph.

10. Eric Clapton
A true son of the blues, Eric Clapton had influences in rock, creating classics like “Layla” with his early band Derek and the Dominoes, and progressing to one of the most recognizable blues guitarists, from “Bell Bottom Blues” to his heartbreaking “Tears In Heaven”.

I know for a fact that most people will have a much different list of top ten guitar players than mine, but that’s the effect of growing up with varying musical backgrounds. There are countless talented guitarists from many different genres to choose from. Whoever you decide to pick as your top 10 guitarists says a lot about your favorite styles, as well as your personality as a guitarist. Until then, just keep roking and rolling!

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What gets your groove on? What is the reason you want to get better?

Whatever your intentions are if your just beginning to play acoustic guitar, want to learn a few licks of your favorite songs, want to learn blues, rock and roll or funk or you are on your way to record your own music, there are resources available to help you.

Some solutions you can consider to help you better understand your guitar playing are listed here.

Guitar videos
Getting electric guitar lessons on DVD for at home or computer that take you through finger exercises, rhythm and timing lessons, strumming techniques and hand position while illustrating various types of songs it best. Essentially these become a mirror for you in learning to play as you mimic what you’re watching on screen and then reproduce this on your own. If you like too learn on your own and you are a visual learner, then with commitment and dedication, this is the best way to go.

Guitar lessons
Community colleges in your area have acoustic guitar tutors or you can find a private instructor to work with you. When you consider working with an instructor you will want to also consider the types of students they work with the best, their success stories, the flexibility of your schedule, their expertise and of course their fees. You can take lessons either in a group or one on one- both have good and bad points but either will work to help you.

Playing partners
You can find someone in your community that plays. You can also post a request online like at Craigslist for a find a private instructor at a guitar shop. The idea is to develop a friendship with someone who is a bit better than you who wants the accountability of practicing weekly. What you can provide is the commitment to meet up with them weekly and practice. To find what method works you can learn from their techniques in return. Of course, you always need to be aware of learning bad habits in situations like these, which is why it’s important to have a foundation in guitar technique before starting.

Guitar theory
Related to guitar technique is developing a basis in guitar theory. Chord patterns, minor and major chord progressions, note scales, and overlap with piano and percussion instruments can all give you a basic structure upon which to layer in the knowledge and technique you gain in your guitar playing.

A wonderful expression of your creative talent and musical ability is playing guitar. Playing guitar can provide you with a lifetime of enjoyment for yourself and your friends and family with a commitment to constant improvement.

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Yes you can be the king of the party or someone who is adored by music lovers or, the list goes on. You can play exceptional music through the strumming of your guitar. And people would scream out “Encore!” That would be really nice isn’t it? Do you like the idea? Well, read on as this article shows you some of the most exciting and fulfilling advantages when you have learned to master the techniques and chords in the world of guitar music.

Advantage #1

Playing a guitar enhances your brain to work and to initiate such signals that commands your hands on mentally memorizing where to put your finger on a particular fret, pressing on the right chord and engaging in the proper manner of strumming.

Advantage #2

The pleasure of gratification is satisfied. Thus, your self-confidence is making its way through your personality. A psychological book once said, that man has to satisfy basic needs to be able to advance to the highest level which is the self-realization. Something like that.

Advantage #3

The fact is that a guitar is one of the most convenient instruments there is. You can’t bring your drums wherever you go. It would be exhausting on your part to carry a drum set around your campus and constantly beat it. It can cause so much distraction. Whereas if you have been a full pledged guitarist your whole life, you could play music where you can.

Advantage #4

Being able to take your guitar everywhere, might as well earn something from it. A talent like that would eventually be discovered. Playing along the streets of downtown is not really the idea but if you consider it, then yes, you could try. You could ask some of your friends to back you up.

Advantage #5

You, yourself, is a unique individual. Out of ten people only one becomes a pure musician. And by some luck, that person is a guitarist. Or can be someone with ultra musical talent who can play not only the guitar but many different instruments and even some percussion ones. Some say it is taught but real talent comes from within. It is that spirit within you that makes you distinct.

Advantage #6

Nobody can call you a guitarist with no specific talent. Yes, you could fail all of your tests and miss every graded recitation during school hours but when those various parties come, you are the star. Even an A+ won’t come close to the recognition you can achieve from being an accomplished artist.

Advantage #7

You are the “it” guy. Everyone can hate you or mess you up. But the moment you have learned to become a master in your own craft, everyone will recognize how good you are. Even those who never or didn’t know you will find an effort to. People will love you for the talent that you are.

More advantages are viewed just by playing the guitar. Playing is one thing but mastering is another. So if you are still struggling to play such tunes, don’t give up that dream. Even though it’s just a hobby or past time, who knows, with such skill, it could take you to new heights. Something brighter. Something more intense. Something close to Hollywood.

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In the simplest terms, a guitar tab is a word that is used to describe a musical notation, which may contain either numbers or letters and explains to the musician where to place his/her fingers on the acoustic guitar. Guitar tabs consist of multiple lines and is often called a ‘staff notation.The lines that make up guitar tabs stand for each separate string on a guitar.

The strings seems to be written backwards in guitar tabs so many new guitar player find tabs a bit baffling. The highest string is found at the top of the guitar tabs, which is often difficult to learn since most people would expect that guitar tabs would be written from top to bottom instead of the other way around. In actuality, guitar tabs are written from the highest to lowest and the numbers on each line represent the guitar fret. In order to understand guitar tabs, all new guitarists need to learn string placement and how to correctly read frets.

Guitar tabs may vary slightly depending on the music publisher but are generally written in a standard format. Beside, reading guitar tabs is way easier than learning staff notation. More than any other kind of music, new musicians are more comfortable reading guitar tabs because of their visual representation.

Learning the acoustic electric guitar also means you need to learn how your guitar works and be very familiar with it. Though private instruction, reference books or videos are just a few ways you can accomplish this. In some cases, classroom lessons may even be used to help better equip the musician to learn electric guitar and how to read guitar tabs. As a musician, you need to familiarize yourself with certain terms used to describe the guitar such as strings, fret, neck and chord., he/she will also begin to easily read guitar tabs.

Guitar tabs may be a bit intimidating at the start. Tabs may seem a bit confusing because of all the lines, symbols, numbers and letters. With practice and time, a guitar tab will be as easy to understand as the links found your favorite website. Few musicians can play by ear without first learning a song via sheet music, which is why reading guitar tabs is the first step that a guitarist must take before learning how to play.

If you need further information on finding a guitar instructor, check the local yellow page listing or stop by your local high school or college and ask the music director for a recommendation.

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Learning to play the violin requires professional instruction and many hours of practice. Conventional violin lessons provide an opportunity to work directly with a qualified teacher. This type of instruction is personal and supportive and can be tailored to meet the student’s needs and skills.

Students who are studying the violin must learn many subtle and difficult techniques, and be able to perform them correctly. When playing any stringed instrument the smallest misstep can tarnish a performance. There are also bow positions, bowing techniques, and finger positions and placement that must be mastered.

If an individual is unable to demonstrate a particular note, it is easy for the teacher to identify and correct the problem. Learning to use the bow is another obstacle for many beginning violinists. Once again, a personal instructor can make the corrections and show the student how the technique should be performed.

Pros and Cons of Conventional Violin Instruction:

This one on one, personal instruction is extremely valuable, as is the immediate feedback that teachers provide. The drawbacks to conventional violin lessons include the high cost for lessons and the commuting that is involved. Scheduling conflicts for either student or teacher can also can interrupt regular lessons.

Online Violin Instruction as an Alternative:

The alternative method to live teaching is to use online violin lessons. This is an instructional method that is becoming more popular every day. People who want to learn how to play the violin can sign up for any one of dozens of courses now available.

Some of the top violin teachers are producing online courses for eager students. With this type of instant instruction available, it is easy to see why so many people are opting to try it. You are no longer limited to lessons from one or two people, you can choose your instructor from anywhere in the world.

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Are you in search for a keyboard? Did Yamaha keyboard ever came into your mind, it is a great brand for you to consider? Maybe you will get to know more about it in this article.

It is easy to search for a Yamaha keyboard , you can find them on most music stores as well as online store. In the meantime, you may save some money as these keyboards are quite affordable in terms of pricing. You can visit some review sites before making a decision on a selected model of keyboard, maybe you can get some clear picture on it.

Either you are are a beginner or one of those professional in the music industry that play the keyboard continually. For both of you the ideal choice of keyboard will be the Yamaha keyboard.
Some online music forums will let you discuss on which types of keyboards you should buy. You can get some good recommendation about which keyboard is suitable for you to buy with the help of some experts there.

The features of the Yamaha keyboard are unique, and you’ll get everything you need to play good music. Yamaha keyboards are suitable for all ages because it is being designed this way. You will get what is needed for you as the basic features of keyboards are virtually the same.

Yamaha keyboards cost about half the price in comparison to other keyboard of the same quality in the market, If you are concern about the price, quality and functionality of the keyboard, Yamaha keyboard is of course one of the best out there in the market.

Start playing your favorite piano songs with your new Yamaha keyboard now. Don’t forget to protect it with a piano cover, it’s worth while spending a little money buying one.

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Many people around the world have a special interests on piano. You need best coordination of your brain and fingers to learn to play piano.

Music can express your emotion, be it happy, sad, angry or others. And to back this, we think we know a massive number of celebrated pianists who galvanize us on all kinds of life. So how to learn to play piano? When think of learning piano lessons, most people will think of finding a piano tutor. It is the most comon way of knowlede being impart from one generation to another. Nowadays, people are searching for more options to learn to play piano. One of it is through the use of information technology.

Online piano lessons have entered into the market lately and have been really successful as well. In online piano lesson, you can access to websites which have all the tutorials and lessons whereby you can learn the fundamentals of piano playing as well as help you dig deep into the topic. Let’s discuss further on this issue here.e. What are the kinds of online piano lessons? Well, in this situation, the options are straightforward. Let us start by taking a look at the online piano lessons.

Well, the online piano lessons, in crux, are piano tutorial lesssons that you can learn online. You will get to see some online videos to get a better idea of piano playing. Selecting the right online piano guide is in our hands. Whilst selecting a paid piano lesson, keep a couple of things in mind. Firstly, the online piano course must emphasize on the fundamentals of piano.

you will not be ready to master the instrument without knowing its basics, so knowing and learning the foundation is important. The best is to select sites with online support so that you can request for assistance when there is a need.

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Some great guitar players have used Gibson guitars to tear up the fretboard and entertain the masses. Here’s afew of the players that have used Gibson guitars to bring rock & heavy metal to the people.

• Angus Young. Perhaps the most famous Gibson player on the planet, Angus Young has been donning the school uniform and strapping on the Gibson SG  ever since before most of us were born -and hes still doing it. Angus has rarley ever been seen without his Gibson SG, although he also owns a Gibson Firebird & a 335.
  Classic tracks: Highway to hell, back in black, let there be rock
• Slash. ‘Saul Hudson’, as his mother knows him, has been playing with a Les Paul since during the recording our Guns and Roses classic debut album ‘appetite for destruction’. Suprise piece of trvia: Hes not playing a Gibson, but a Les Paul copy on the album. It didnt matter, as Slash’s use of the instrument made the guitar even more iconic in the 80s and helped to increase sales in the instrument. Slash now has his own signature model Gibson, but uses a 1987 Les Paul standard, which has had its neck repaired numerous times.
  Classic tracks: Welcome to the jungle, Sweet child of mine, Slither
• Tony Iommi. The father of the heavy metal riff, Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath shook the world with their arrival in the seventies. Iommi lost his middle & index fingertips in an industral accident and had to relearn to play guitar all over again -inspired by Django Rienhardt, who had limited use of his 3rd and 4th fingers. Iommi has brandished his Gibson SG since the early days during the recording of the first Sabbath album, when his Fender Stratocaater’s neck pickup broke -and hasnt looked back.
  Classic tracks: Paranoid, Black Sabbath, War pigs
• Zakk Wylde. He was hired by Ozzy after sending in a demo tape of his playing and has been Ozzys main axe man for the most part ever since. Wylde also plays guitar in his ’side project’ band, the black label society, which has its own following. Wylde is best know for his Les Paul customs, with ‘bullseye’ paint job, with has its own signature range, and has been expanded to include a guitar which is a cross between a flying v and a SG into the range.
  Classic tracks:Suicide messiah, Still born, In this river

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Guitars – custom guitars are still made today. This video shows a man who makes custom guitars, and it tells some interesting history of the guitars he’s made. Most guitar players won’t need to buy a custom or handmade guitar (and most can’t afford to). Us “regular” folks can still find good guitars at affordable prices from those manufactured by the top guitar makers.

Whether you are a beginner guitar player or an experienced guitarist…

Maybe this is going to be your first guitar, or you are buying a better guitar (upgrading). You may be buying an additional guitar (because you need another style of guitar or are staring a collection).

It’s a good idea to do some homework by researching all that you can about guitars before buying one. This research can be done by searching for information you can find on the internet, in guitar magazines, or by visiting guitar stores. Through these three sources, you can compare prices and styles of guitars. You can also read many online blogs with great information about guitars and guitar lessons.

Ask guitarist friends for recommendations, look up all the information you can about guitar manufacturers, or read reviews in magazines or on the internet. Go test out guitars in more than one shop (if you have guitar stores in your area). When you try out different guitars, don’t worry about your playing (you don’t have to be a great guitar player); just focus on how the guitars sound. Hold the guitar out straight and look down the fretboard to make sure it is not warped or bowed.

Play it first before you buy a guitar! 

There should not be any buzzing sound when you test play a guitar you are interested in buying. Make sure the strings are not too high up from the fretboard – this makes the guitar much harder to play.

For electric guitars, check the volume by having the guitar plugged into an amplifier when you test it. Check the pickups and the tone and volume controls. Have the salesperson or someone in the store play the instrument too. Better yet, bring along a friend who is a guitar player for them to give you a second opinion.

Once you have an idea of the range of prices for new guitars, figure out what your budget will be and stick to it when you actually go out to make the purchase. Before negotiating on prices with a store sales clerk, you need to know the current information and prices about several guitar brands. It’s their job to persuade you to spend money – and they are usually very skilled at making you spend more than you planned to. 

If this is your first guitar, you probably should not consider buying your instrument in an online auction.The reason I can’t recommend buying through an auction is because you really should play a guitar before you buy it. The preference of the feel of the guitar as you play it and hold it is going to vary from one individual to another. Your goal is to find a guitar (within your budget) that feels and sounds right to you.

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