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Call (925) 695-7060

Sheet Music is More than Notes on Paper

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Sheet Music Gives You the Secrets to the Universe!

I attended a recent Christian Worship Team Seminar for Advanced Guitarists and the instructor told the audience that sheet music is a chart you can get off the internet that has chord symbols written above Lyrics. NO, that is not sheet music.

Sheet music reveals three important aspects to musicians whether guitarists, bass players, sax players, keyboardists or any formally trained musician.  These are:

  1. Chord Symbols written above the staff on music staff paper
  2. Written melody in standard musical notation on the staff
  3. Lyrics written below the staff

Once you learn how to read notes on all 6 strings, one string at a time in 1st position, allows you to play any song without first listening to a recording and trying to play by ear, then you can sound just like the original recording artist of any song you choose because you learn basic rhythms such as, Whole Notes, Dotted Half Notes, Half Notes, Quarter Notes and then Eighth or Sixteenth Notes and how to combine all the rhythms known as syncopation.

As a  professional guitarist, touring musician, music director, music arranger, conductor, clinician, music composer, music copyist for the San Francisco Symphony, featured guitarist on International Christian recording artist Steve Kuban’s album and author of my own guitar method course for beginners to advanced students, whether learning to play just for fun or for college students seeking to play and/or teach guitar for a living, I can’t emphasize enough the importance to take the time to learn the art of reading real sheet music.  It’s not as hard as you may think if you have a professional instructor who has a well developed teaching system.

More to come.

Professional Guitar Lessons
East Bay Area
(925) 695-7060

Guitar Theory & Harmony

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Learn Substitution Theory & Harmony
Become a Better Guitarist

Today, I gave a guitar lesson to Don in Vallejo California who has been playing guitar for over 35 years. Don loves the blues, rock, jazz and many other styles of music. He wanted to learn how chord patterns and substitution theory works as well as how to solo over a group of chords known as a chord progression.

Don is very frugal and is a member of Barnes and Nobles’ Book Club that gives him a 10 percent discount off any book.  So today, I recommended a book to him, “Theory & Harmony for the Contemporary Musician” by Arnie Berle, that explains guitar theory and gives you written exercises to reinforce the lessons.

While it’s great to study from books and other online materials, it is also very important to have a professional instructor as your mentor to explain the many questions that will arise as you study theory on guitar – which is why I always say – If you want to play like a pro, learn from a pro! This is how basic guitarist becomes a true musician.

The book retails for $17.95 but with Don’s membership it was delivered free of charge for only $11.99. Once you understand the theory from this book, you then need to apply it to your guitar technique and practice sessions.  As follow up, I recommend any book by Frank Gambale for advanced guitarists and beginners.

Guitar Confidence’s professional instructors provide guitar and banjo instruction throughout the East Bay – Alameda, Alamo, Antioch, Benicia, Brentwood, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Concord, Clayton, Danville, Diablo, Discovery Bay, Elk Grove, Fairfield, Fremont, Hayward, Hercules, Lafayette, Livermore, Moraga, Napa, Newark, Oakland, Orinda, Pleasanton, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, Rossmoor, San Leandro, San Pablo, San Ramon, Stockton, Tracy, Vallejo, and Walnut Creek.

Professional Guitar Lessons
East Bay Area
(925) 695-7060

 

Making Time for Guitar Practice

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guitar practice

How to make time to practice guitar

I’ve been  playing guitar as a professional musician as well as teaching for many years. During my professional career, I have observed some areas where students tend to get discouraged.

A good discipline to develop is to  have a set time for and organized list of things you should work on.

As a student of guitar, you have work, school and family and friends as well as financial responsibilities – and – your guitar . I recommend picking 30 to 60 minutes daily 5 to 7 days a week.  I hear from many of my students that a good time for guitar practice is either before or after dinner.

Establish as private an area as possible for your guitar practice to help you  focus on your practice time. If this is still hard to implement on a daily basis and you are feeling guilty and discouraged because you are not making the time to practice, purchase  a  music stand and  leave the  music you need to practice open so that every time you walk by the music stand, it’s a reminder. As a professional guitar instructor teaching beginners to advance in Florida, New Jersey, New York, Boston,Los Angeles and now the San Francisco Bay Area, trust me when I say –  it works.

Be sure you have a worksheet printed out and on your music stand that addresses music reading, scales for soloing, strumming patterns and repertoire using both picking and songs using finger picking. Remember, when you are jamming with friends or performing a professional gig, have fun and don’t worry about technique. But, when you practice, you should focus on technique as well as using a metronome on everything you practice. This is what musicianship is all about.

Professional Guitar Lessons
San Francisco Bay Area
(925) 695-7060

Guitar Lessons – Practice vs. Rehearsal

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Vacaville CA Guitar Lesson

Last week I was teaching a guitar student in Vacaville California who asked me what the difference is between rehearsals and  practicing. What a great question from a guitar student! This is why enjoy teaching because students keep you on your toes.

Practicing should involve a weekly schedule of at least five days per week and a minimum of 60 minutes per day. If you can, you should try to set a certain time every day for you to be alone with your guitar and a metronome.

I break my practice sessions down to three basic phases.

  • Finger stretches and scales
  • Chord vocabulary
  • Rehearsing songs for performing including chord progressions, riffs and solos.

Work on songs using a pick and some with no pick just using finger picking. I highly recommend working with a professional guitar instructor who reads music and can show you the techniques to help you understand the notes on the fret board and how to read charts.  

Now, the difference in rehearsing versus practicing is that rehearsals are primarily focused on bringing all the various parts together (instruments & vocals) and refining the orchestration and quality of the performance.  This will include things like timing, dynamics, harmonies, intros, outros, solos, etc. 

Typically, when rehearsing for a performance like a concert or gig you should set up rehearsals from 3 to 12 months in advanced and set up specific rehearsal dates with at least one per week. If you are fortunate and good enough to work as a studio musician or selected to rehearse and perform with other professionals, typically the musical director will assign you a set list and music charts and/or recordings of songs to practice with.

You should be prepared by the first rehearsal and have all your parts down before you show up, and you should show up early. Don’t be unprepared because this makes the rest of the band have to wait while the musical director or band leader works with the musician who is unprepared, which in turn makes rehearsals drag on and it reflects on the reputation of the musician holding things up.  

Hopefully this will give you some insight to preparing to play as a professional. One of my first professional “big opportunities” was playing with The Jackson Five and it was because of being prepared and having the ability to sight read charts that got me the job and kicked my career into a whole new level.

Contact me for Guitar Lessons
Vacaville, Vallejo – East Bay
(925) 695-7060

Jam Sessions & Guitar Lessons

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Jam Sessions Open Mic

Jam Sessions = Fun, Experience & Free Guitar Lessons

A topic that frequently comes up with guitar students that aspire to play in a band, whether a cover band or a duet doing parties, weddings, a church group or any other venue, is how to prepare and how to gain experience & confidence. I  addressed some points in my previous article, “Vallejo Beginner Guitar Lessons“.  As for getting the experience, the best way, after guitar jam sessions with your buddies, is to participate in open mike nights and jam sessions in front of a live audience.  

A professional guitar instructor can help you develop the skills, knowledge and techniques you need.  This would include some basic 2 to 4-chord jam patterns which your guitar teacher should be able to “lay down” as jam tracks at a slow speed which I call “ Tempo De Learno”. You must crawl before you walk.

Then your guitar instructor can give you some basic scale pattern lessons including some basic blues leads to throw in your bag of tricks so when you are on stage and get lost or run out of chops, you can always resort to lead patterns that work under any chord pattern.

Remember these important guitar techniques:

  • Make sure your guitar is in tune and always have a clip on tuner that is always on.
  • Make sure you know what key you are going to play in and have someone show you the basic chord progression they are going to play.
  • When you are playing rhythm guitar, remember, less is more.  Leave some open space and play 3 and 4 string chords instead of strumming all six strings.
  • When it’s time to play lead, make sure you have your volume knob on your guitar up to only 50 percent while playing rhythm so you have lots of room to crank it up so you can be heard.  Too often students aren’t turned up enough and then feel like they have to pluck the strings hard to get the volume they want.  This will negatively affect your technique especially with hammer-on and pulls.
  • Don’t hold back because you might make a mistake. Just let yourself go and look like you’re having fun because if the audience is cheering you on, you can take that energy and channel it in a way where you will find that you play things you never knew were in you.  And, if you make a mistake, don’t make a face or mumble something, smile and keep playing – the audience is there to have fun – and you are too, right?

One of my favorite local music stores that offers free jam sessions for all levels and styles, both single artists and groups of all ages, is Consumer Music in Vallejo California (707) 642-7368.  They also stock method books for guitar and all band instruments and offer a wide variety of guitars, amps and most orchestra instruments. Tell them Rex sent you.

Vallejo Beginner Guitar Lessons

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guitar finger lessons

New Guitar Student in Vallejo Loves Lessons

Recently a new guitar student of mine in Vallejo California, who has been taking lessons for 3 months, expressed how much he loved his last private guitar lessons.   He pointed out that he likes how I organize his weekly lessons by giving him a printed worksheet with his assignments and how I also email him a copy for his weekly records.  I have found that keeping things simple but providing a structured approach is key to a student’s success.  Here are a few key things to practice especially for newer students:

  • First, do a finger stretch in 1st position on all 6 strings and hold for 60 seconds per string (1 to 3x’x per day). This builds flexibility as well as callouses on finger tips for playing both scales and chords.
  • Then, practice with a slow metronome minor pentatonic scales in 1st, 5th and 9th positions for acoustic and on electric  add the 13th and eventually 17th positions. Start out with alternate down and up picking technique keeping your eyes focused on right picking hand to make sure you are always alternating with first a down and then up picking stroke.
  • Then, practice chord fingerings starting with 15 basic open chords followed by 5 bar chord formations with roots on 6th and 5th or strings.  A major, A major 9, A minor and A minor 9, and last A minor 7th.  I have students start very slow with metronome at 60 b.p.m. and transpose to all keys of A, B, C, D, E, F and G.
  • Then we work on naming notes on all 6 strings from open string to one octave higher. Example: E open, F1, G3, A5, B7, C8,D10 AND E12. You must say out loud as you play each note which helps program your mind.
  • Finally practice reading music notes. I love using Hal Leonard Guitar Method Books 1,2 and 3 along with Easy Pop Melodies Books 1, 2 or 3 which come with CD’s that students should learn to play with.

These guitar finger exercises are also great for preparing you to read music which will enable you to learn music theory applied in playing all styles and tempos of music all over the world.  Music truly is a universal language and reading music will truly help you understand how to jam and perform with other musicians no matter where they are from.

Contact me for Guitar Lessons
(925) 695-7060

Playing Guitar to Express Oneself

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emotional guitar expression moods

Your Guitar Can Help You Express the Breadth & Depth of Human Experience

If you love the guitar, you have to be familiar with – While My Guitar Gently Weeps by George Harrison… NO? Surely you’ve heard of the Beatles? NO? Man, how did you get on this site???

One of my basic motivations for teaching guitar is because I want to share the joy of music as a form of expressing oneself – spiritually, emotionally, energetically, intellectually – the whole enchilada of being human. Picking up and playing the guitar is one way of not letting the little things in life get us down, it’s also a way of helping us to go deeper into any emotion, feeling or experience – positive or negative.

Playing the guitar, or any musical instrument, is a means to  explore and express how we see and experience life… it can be great therapy for whatever ails us! Playing guitar can bring joy no matter what level our level of skill.

It’s especially gratifying and rewarding for me when a student sends me an unsolicited testimonial about my methodology and the uplifting experience they are getting from it.  A very dedicated student who I have had the pleasure of working with for some time, recently sent me this text message

“Wow! So this guy, Kevin, came over to jam today. I am realizing exactly how much better I’ve gotten on the guitar since I started my lessons with you. My friend was impressed too and he has some music background. I gave him your Guitar Confidence business card and a flyer.  He seems very interested and may be contacting you. Just wanted to say again, Thank You. As a student of yours I may pay a litte bit of tuition over time, but the “learnings” received are non-perishable. The musical joy lasts a lifetime – it’s so pleasurable to play better than I ever have and my guitar confidence grows on and on. Peace and Love.”   – Tracey – American Canyon California.

When I get notes like this, it’s not only my guitar that weeps, but my heart as well – with joy and gratitude – Rock ON Tracey!

World’s Fastest Guitar Player

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Want to be the world’s fastest guitar player?

There was a time that Eric “Slowhand” Clapton ruled the rock and roll guitar world. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and influential guitarists of all time. Clapton ranked second in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and fourth in Gibson’s Top 50 Guitarists of All Time.

We are so fortunate these days to have instant access to the breadth and depth of music and performers from all over the world and from every genre. There are so many great musicians and titles to go along with the vast scope of talent. Being the fastest guitar player in the world is something you may want to aspire to.

Wired magazine just published an article stating that the fastest guitar player in the world today is 28-year-old John Taylor of Westminster, Colorado. This according to the Guinness book of world records for his 600 beets per minute playing “The Flight of the Bumble Bee,” which seems to be one of the preferred pieces for fast play.

Taylor began playing the guitar at age 13, so it only takes 15 years or less (or more) of practice to become the world’s fastest guitar player. Taylor continues to practice in hopes of hitting 800 bpm.

Contact me for Guitar Lessons to Help YOU Become
The World’s Fastest Guitar Player
(925) 695-7060

 

Guitars & Guitar Lessons for Christmas

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Guitar Lessons Danville San Ramon Dublin

Christmas Presents – Guitars & Guitar Lessons

 

Christmas Guitar Lesson Special – Double Your Guitar Lessons at NO Extra Cost!

The holiday season produces a big spike in guitar sales which then results in an increase in the demand for guitar lessons. Guitar students in Danville, Dublin, San Ramon, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Concord and Martinez CA that are seeking guitar lessons have come to the right place.

I offer guitar lessons for all ages, styles and level of skill. The first 1/2 hour of your first guitar lesson is FREE and you can save on my monthly rate ($150 for 2 1-hour lessons) by purchasing a month of guitar lessons by January 31 – AND – I  will double the amount of lessons (4). Contact me for more details on guitar lessons in Danville, Dublin, San Ramon, Alamo, Walnut Creek, Concord and Martinez CA – (925) 695-7060 RexMBell@gmail.com

If you have purchased a guitar as a Christmas gift, giving a month one-hour sessions would be a great gift for the Holidays as well. My unique style of guitar instruction will have a beginner amazing themselves and others with their guitar skill in just a few weeks.

I can help most experienced guitar players to improve their level of play and range of formats. Contact me for more information on guitar lessons & instruction: (925) 695-7060 RexMBell@gmail.com

Matching the Guitar to the Music

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Choosing the Right Guitar & Equipment to Match the Music

As a serious guitarist, you want to learn as many music styles as possible to become a well-rounded musician who can then easily jam or perform with other musicians.

Today I am rehearsing with a local group in the San Ramon area of the East Bay that consists of piano, drums and electric bass. Because it’s a small venue, I’m using a Godin Multiac Grand Concert Duet 6 nylon string acoustic electric, which I play through a “Fender Supersonic”  acoustic amp. I could use electric guitar but I’m going for a soft Latin/jazz style sound.

The guitar sounds like a harp – beautiful and blends well in a small room. I have a little delay and that’s it. I have my volume set at 50 percent so if I’m called on to solo, I have head room to bring up volume when I’m featured. I have a SNARK brand clip on guitar tuner so after every song, I turn my volume down and tune. 

Nylon strings go out of tune more easily than steel strings especially if you play lots of lead fills and chordal fills using the complete fret board. I also use a pick and various right hand finger picking techniques/patterns depending on whether I want soft sounds opposed to more brighter sounds with an edge.

Stay tuned this week for more on playing with a small ensemble known as a rhythm section which means keyboards, piano, guitar and bass guitar.

Contact me for guitar, banjo and mandolin lessons in Danville, Dublin & San Ramon, CA – (925) 695-7060 RexMBell@gmail.com

Learn to Play Guitar in the Privacy of Your Own Home

Our guitar instructors come to you to give you personal one-on-one lessons in the privacy of your own home. We cover Dublin, San Ramon, Pleasanton, Livermore and all cities in east and south bay

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Contact us for guitar lessons or more information at:

Guitar Confidence
4101 Dublin Blvd
Suite F, #537
Dublin, CA 94568

(925) 695-7060

guitarconfidence@gmail.com

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