Beginner Guitar Lesson #5 - Minor Chords

Hey! Today, we're gonna learn some minor chords. Minor chords lend a sad or melancholy feeling to music, and major chords are more "happy". That is the major difference between them. So if you're trying to play some ballads, expect more minor than major chords. Major and minor chords are constructed in the same way, except that in minor chords third or middle note of the chord is flattened.

I will now give tab for the A minor chord.

E||------0-------|
B||------1-------|
G||------2-------|
D||------2-------|
A||------0-------|
E||------x-------|

The A minor chord is constructed of the notes A, C and E.
Now try first to play A major, than A minor chord. Feel the difference between the two chords.

Exercise for the A minor chord.

E||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
B||--1---1---1---1--|--1---1---1---1--|
G||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
D||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
A||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
E||--x---x---x---x--|--x---x---x---x--|

I will now give you tab for the E minor chord. This is the easiest one to play it and it sounds beautiful.

E||------0-------|
B||------0-------|
G||------0-------|
D||------2-------|
A||------2-------|
E||------0-------|

The E minor chord contains notes E, G and B. Now try first to play E major, than E minor chord. Feel the difference between these the two chords.

Exercise for the E minor chord.

E||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
B||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
G||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
D||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
A||--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
E||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|

Now, it is time for you to get on the next step. You will now try the following turnaround progression. A turnaround progression is a sequence of chords that can be continually repeated due to "strong" sounding chord movement between the ending and starting chords. Try it!

     D                 G
E||--2---2---2---2--|--3---3---3---3--|
B||--3---3---3---3--|--0---0---0---0--|
G||--2---2---2---2--|--0---0---0---0--|
D||--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
A||--x---x---x---x--|--2---2---2---2--|
E||--x---x---x---x--|--3---3---3---3--|

     Em                A
 |--0---0---0---0--|--0---0---0---0--|
 |--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
 |--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
 |--2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2---2--|
 |--2---2---2---2--|--0---0---0---0--|
 |--0---0---0---0--|--x---x---x---x--|

Another strong sounding chord change (D to G) resolves the progression back to its starting point.

     G                 Am
E||--3---3---3---3--|--0---0---0---0--|
B||--0---0---0---0--|--1---1---1---1--|
G||--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
D||--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
A||--2---2---2---2--|--0---0---0---0--|
E||--3---3---3---3--|--x---x---x---x--|

     C                 D
 |--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
 |--1---1---1---1--|--3---3---3---3--|
 |--0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2---2--|
 |--2---2---2---2--|--0---0---0---0--|
 |--3---3---3---3--|--x---x---x---x--|
 |--x---x---x---x--|--x---x---x---x--|

Now, play these fifth string notes with a down / up picking motion.

Down / up picking:  ▼    ▲     ▼    ▲
Down  Up   Down  Up

    E||--------------|--------------|
    B||--------------|--------------|
    G||--------------|--------------|
    D||--------------|--------------|
    A||--0--0--2--2--|--3--3--2--2--|
    E||--------------|--------------|

Count     1  3  2  4     1  3  2  4
Fingering none  2  2     3  3  2  2

Make sure to visit Jamorama, they have great jam tracks for this exercises.

Keep rockin',
Mike

Talent - Motivational Post

Hi! By far, you were reading about theories and other useful stuff about how to play the guitar. Now it is time for one motivational post. Enjoy! :)
So, what is talent? I think there is no real definition about it. I will just say that talent is a term that we attach to skills that people have, and that they are good at it. People mostly think that if you're talented that you're born with that talent. That is not true! If you want to be good in something, then you will need more than talent. So if you want to learn to play the guitar, then you much more need exercise than talent. Talent is only 10% of your journey becoming a great guitarist. If someone says to you that you're not talented and that is useless for you to do anything about it, punch him in the face! I really mean it. Never give up!
Also if you're 20 or 30 years old,and you think that you're late for learning to play guitar, then I have something to tell you. It's never too late!
For example Joe Satriani is one of the best guitar players in the world, and he started playing when he was 20 years old. Take a look at this video from his live gig, in case that you've never heard about him.

I'm sure that you will definitely remember what I've said after watching this video. :)

Keep rockin',
Mike

Beginner Guitar Lesson #3 - Musical Theory

Hi! I'm very pleased that you're still reading my blog, and that you're ready to become a better guitar player. You've made to the third beginner guitar lesson, and now you are the step closer to your goal. That is great!
In last 2 lessons, you've learned something about chords and tablatures. Now, it's time to talk a little bit about music theory and to apply it to the guitar. I will try to make it as simple as I can, so I need you to have your full attention. Ok? Good.
I will give you a list of types of music notes which are we going to use sometimes. At this time you don't need to know the theory behind these notes, just remember how they look, and what 'beat' or 'count' value they represent.

1) whole note (semibreve) - 4 counts

2) half note (minim) - 2 count

3) quarter note (crotchet) - 1 count

4) eighth note (quaver) - 1/2 count

Remember, adding a dot (.) to a note adds half value of that note.

Ok, we need to put those notes somewhere. We put notes on the treble clef. A clef tells you which notes are represented by each line and space on the musical stave. We will look at the G clef or table clef.

- a this is clef

The clef is placed on the stave at the very beginning of a piece of music. When it's the treble clef, then the stave is called the treble stave.

- this is a treble stave

We have 7 notes in the musical alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, F, G.

One more important thing for you to know are time signatures. Time signatures tell you what time you are to play a peace of music in. You will recognize it as a 2 numbers, and they are one above the other.

- a four four time signature

If you want to learn more on how to apply this music theory to guitar fret board, then you must check out Jamorama. It is the best guitar guide ever with lots of exercises and video lessons. Even I learned something new from their guides.

Keep rockin',
Mike

Beginner Guitar Lesson #1 - Guitar Chords

Yo, Mike here. We talked last time about basic guitar stuff, so now we can go further in learning how to play chords. First of all, you have to know what the chord is. Chord is any set of harmonically related notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. The most common, and basic chords are the major and minor triads. They are called triads, because they consist of three distinct notes.

Ok so you know what is the chord, but you don't have any idea how to play it, neither how to place your fingers. You will use all of your fingers, except your thumb finger. You can use your thumb finger to mute string which shouldn't be played. It all depends which chord you will play. If you want to learn more about it, make sure to visit Jamorama the best guitar guide on internet.
Remember, it will not sound perfect when you play it for the first time. That is why you need to practice every day for a little bit. A thousand miles journey starts with a single step! Step by step, and you will become much greater guitarist. You will be a rock fucking star! Trust me. :)
I will now give you diagrams for 3 chords, so that you can practice them.

A major
E 0 / B 2 / G 2 / D 2 / A 0 / E x

D major
E 2 / B 3 / G 2 / D 0 / A x / E x

E major
E 0 / B 0 / G 1 / D 2 / A 2 / E 0

You can see there is a number next to the letter of guitar string. Lets take a look at the A major chord. For example, 0 means that you don't need to put any of your fingers on the first string E. For string B, you need to put your finger on the second fingerboard. Letter x means that you don't play the last E string.

Now, go practice these chords, and come back soon for some new beginner guitar lessons. Till then, feel free to add comment, suggestion or anything like that.

Keep rockin',
Mike