As I travel all over East Bay teaching guitar lessons and performing gigs I find that a lot of musician’s guitarist or instrumentalists are not prepared and it affects the whole outcome of performance or even guitar lesson. “That’s not what I want, but I don’t how to explain what I mean”. How many times has that happened at band practice? [Read more…]
Nico has been a guitar student of mine for almost 3 years. He loves to play classic rock, blues, reggae, and just jamming with friends. Over the last few years I have seen him make amazing improvements in his musical reading, soloing and song writing. Nico is a great student and a wonderful young man. In fact, I think that other parents will like him so much, that I have decided to invite him to be a student teacher for “Guitar Confidence”. [Read more…]
He loves jazz guitar and is an incredible vocalist. He loves to work on improving his musicianship skills of soloing as well as reading music and practical application in live performances yearly with my other students and myself at local restaurants in Bay Area . This helps all students like Brian to build their “Guitar Confidence” and take their playing to next level. Brian is a great student and humble man. It’s an honor to help guide Brian in the art of guitar performance.
As I travel all over East Bay teaching guitar lessons and performing gigs I find that a lot of musicians, guitarist or instrumentalists are not well prepared for their performance or even guitar lesson. Often, I hear, “That’s not what I want, but I don’t how to explain what I mean.” How many times has that happened at band practice?
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Lack of communication can result from lack of agreement on terminology. People confuse tempo with rhythm. Tempo is the speed of travel, or beats per minute. Rhythm is the subdivision of each beat. There is a primary and secondary division of each beat. Here is a great link on Rhythm Tips.
The division of the beat defines the feel of the song. It will make it Rock or Swing. Rock is a straight eighth note feel. Swing is a triplet feel. When counting off a song, it should be counted at the speed at which the song is to be played. It’s not count down to blast off.
Often times you will see band members bobbing their heads in unison to make sure the tempo is in agreement. This is important to getting off to a good start. Even though it is a drummers job to keep track of tempos, and to keep even time, it is the responsibility of everybody to be aware of it. Rehearsal is when two or more people, or the whole band, get together to work on a song. Practice is when you work on things alone.
Come to a rehearsal prepared, and ready to work together. Defer to the band leader or musical director. Don’t take suggestions or criticisms personally. Being easy to get along with doesn’t mean you can’t have a point of view, but be respectful of everybody’s time.
Sometimes a song will have pick-up notes, or a lead in to the first beat of the first measure. When that is the case, count a full measure prior to the counts before the lead in. The lead in doesn’t always come in on one. Be aware of where the lead in is in relation to the count.
Remember, the count should be at the speed the song is to be played. That is the whole point of the count.
Mobile is one of the hot words these days – everything is going mobile.For businesses in the East bay of California, if you’re not mobile, you’re dying on the vine. I took my guitar/banjo lessons business in the East Bay mobile a couple of years ago. Of course, I don’t teach guitar over an Adroid or iPhone – by mobile I mean – I come to the student instead of the student having to come into a music shop or studio for guitar lessons.
I have been teaching aspiring musicians at all levels and ages guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric bass, and uke for over 40 years. One of the most common questions is how to come up with strumming patterns that will sound interesting?
I have created (3) interesting patterns that are to be learned at a very slow speed. I8 recommend using a metronome which is free on internet. I recommend starting as slow as 50 beats per minute and add 10 beats at a time until you get up to about 120. That could take days or months depending on what level you are at of course.
These 3 patterns can work on either electric or acoustic steel string guitar. All three patterns use rhythm slash notations in which you apply fingering pressure of your chord you are playing. If you see and {X)that means to mute the chord with allowing your fingering hand on fret board to release the pressure but still keep the chord fingering in place. This creates a real cool percussive clicking rhythmic sound. The chor5d of choice for these 3 patterns is known a C9th dominant chord which groups that play Rhythm and Blues and Funk use all the time.
Pattern 1 is using sixteenth notes which mean four strums per beat. You count sixteenth notes in a four beat per measure as following: 1ee & ah, 2 ee & ah, 3 ee & ah and 4 ee & ah. You alternate your strumming hand with down and up strumming. You are simply applying chording finger pressure only on first sixteenth note of each of the four beats. The other three sixteenth notes of each beat are muted with chording hand on guitar. Please practice very slowly.
Pattern 2 we accenting the first sixteenth note of each beat except notice on beat 3 I’m displacing the accent on the second sixteenth note which creates a new sound.
Pattern 3 incorporates sliding in to c9 from one fret below known as the half step approach from below. So only beat one is different than Pattern 2. Notice you strum B9 on first sixteenth note of beat o9ne and simply slide up with chording hand to c9 but do not strum c9 chord. Simply produce c9th chord by sliding up to it from B9th chord. Then on the 3rd and fourth sixteenth notes you mute them with chording hand and then beats two, three and four are as same as pattern 2.
In closing, you must listen to different recordings to check this style of rhythm guitar out. Go to You Tube and listen to:
Keep on Strumming
Download Guitar Lesson Rhythm Patterns
I’ve been studying and teaching music for over 40 years. Today, I teach guitar and banjo lessons throughout the East Bay in communities like Danville, San Ramon, Concord, Walnut Creek – the whole East Bay.
I teach guitar students much more than simply how to strum a few chords on a guitar. Reading music, variations on a theme, scales, composition, orchestration, road skills, playing with ensembles, soloing… it’s a long list! The more we learn about the brain, the more we discover about how music lessons and education help brains & people development in wonderful ways.
The Brain – Research has shown that both listening to music and playing a musical instrument stimulate your brain and can increase your memory. Research suggests that regularly playing an instrument changes the shape and power of the brain and may be used in therapy to improve cognitive skills. Hearing it and especially playing it. Music affects mood, creativity and a wide range of synaptic activity in the brain – many areas of your brain start firing and communicating with other parts of your entire nervous system.
Camaraderie & Sacrifice – Good friends are just one of life’s “must have” experiences. Sharing dreams, disappoints and accomplishments help to extend emotional range and maturity. Putting self aside for the greater good of the band is invaluable for personal development.
I have been teaching guitar lesson many years in East Bay – all ages – 5 and up. Today, a guitar instructor needs to focus on making oneself available for the guitar student.
I have a simple philosophy and teaching method for guitar students in our music rich East Bay area. Always try to keep guitar student’s enthusiasm high. I also teach all guitar students how to read music.
On this website you can find great guitars, bass guitars and banjos prices $29.95 up to $699 for clients that need instruments. Guitar Center has a 30 day money back guarantee. I have a 90 day money back guarantee. That’s crazy right? NO, it is actually that I show my new clients that if they give me 3 months to teach them guitar and my method is not working, I will buy back the equipment they purchased off my website. No I know of one offers this. I also offer first lesson free of charge which is an hour lesson and I drive to their place of residence. No one does this. Then I offer two months of guitar lessons private at half price. No one does this. And for any referral I offer student half price on next month’s lessons.
I received a call from a piano instructor who was having trouble getting students. She has no website. I told her she needs to do that and find an expert that can do it the right way. My website was done the correct way – fresh content, lots of videos, Yelp reviews, Facebook and Social Media tie-ins.
Having a unique teaching methodology is very key. When potential students are asking me what makes my method different than other guitar instructors, I tell them I build their guitar confidence by coming down to their level of expertise and send them PDF files of all lesson material along with WAV files and VIDEO. I also give out a weekly worksheet that tracks all they have learned with my guitar program.
I highly recommend Devon Harper(email Devon) at Infinet-Marketing for website design.
And a Happy Holidays to my awesome Danville – San Ramon Realtors – The Harper Team!
Christmas Time Is Here is an intermediate to advanced arrangement I perform every December at Church and Christmas gigs I perform in San Francisco as well as entire East Bay Area. Of course this song is well known also in Charlie Browns Christmas Animation Video.
So I have included my jazz chord diagrams and also a lead sheet format which includes chord changes on top, the melody is in standard notation and lyrics below lyrics. My arrangement uses jazz chords which means 7ths, 9ths, 11ths and 13ths which are known as color tones. Triads have four sounds of 1.) Major 2.) Minor 3.) Augmented 4.) Diminished which have basic three notes known as root, third and fifth degree of major scale. When you extend the triads by adding the 7th, 9th, 11th and 13ths wow, what beautiful colors.
Please go to following link which is the best basic music theory in common words you will ever find.
Since we are on the subject of Christmas time here is an advanced arrangement of mine of Christmas Classic “Greensleeves” which is also known as “What Child Is This.” My arrangement uses all jazz formations and you can play as a solo arrangement or as a duo with a bass guitarist or piano player or another guitarist.
I have included PDF files for all above and enjoy. Please tell friend about my great guitar lessons half off special for Christmas season and guitar packages for as cheap as $49.95.
CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE sheet music
Listen to the mp3 below and click on the “Greensleeves” link above to hear a more blues version.
As I teach many beginner to advanced guitarist at their homes in the East Bay, I cover all age levels and requests of students wanting to spice up their lead playing skills of blues, rock guitar, jazz guitar both electric and acoustic. But all lead guitarists first start by learning rhythm guitar. Assuming you already know basic open chord voicing’s as well as basic bar chord formations, you are ready to play a la Steve Ray, Larry Carlton, Robin Ford, Joe Pass, Joe Satriani, Pat Methenany, George Benson , the late Chet Athins or the late Les Paul.
You will notice I have 5 chord sounds with roots, 3rds and 5ths in the bass string which in these examples is based on string 6 starting with Major , G Major 7th, Gdominantn7th, G Major 6th and finally Gminor7th. You must master one pattern at a time able to play all 5 patterns smoothly. This could take days up to months depending on chord knowledge.
Please notice that you keep pick in your right picking hand and play a different bass note on every four beats. But the cool aspect of this is that on the upbeat of both beats one and three you pinch strings4,3 and 2 altogether giving the listening ear multiple parts going at same time. You sound like many players playing but just some excellent walking bass patterns . As always check out enclosed PDF file with chord diagrams and fingerings.
Today we explore CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) hit song “Breathe” by Michael W Smith. Contemporary Christian Music and occasionally “inspirational music” is a genre of modern music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith.
From Wikipedia – Today, the term is typically used to refer to the Nashville Tennessee – based pop, rock, and worship Christian music industry, currently represented by artists such as Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Jeremy Camp, Third Day, Matthew West, Toby Mac, Chris Tomlin and Michael W. Smith. The industry is represented in Billboard Magazines “ Top Christian Albums” and “Hot Christian Songs” charts, and by Radio and Records magazines Christian AC ( Adult Contemporary ) Christian CHR ( Contemporary Hit Radio), Christian Rock and Inspirational ( INSPO) airplay charts, as well as the iTunes Stores “ Christian & Gospel genre.
However, not all modern music which lyrically identifies with Christianity is part of the Nashville Contemporary Christian Music industry. Alternative genres such as punk, hardcore, heavy metal, and hip hop groups deal explicitly with issues of faith but are not normally not considered Contemporary Christian Music.
Also, several mainstream artists such as The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Elvis Presley, Kanye West, Creed, The Frey, Evanescence, Lifehouse, U2, the rapper DMX have dealt with Christian themes in their work but are not part of the Christian Contemporary Music industry.
The pdf sheet music for Breathe is in standard lead sheet format. This means 3 parts. On top of music stave paper is Chord Changes for guitar and piano. Then the melody. Then finally the lyrics written below. The mp3 of the melody for those whom want to sing or play melody on their instrument along with pdf file with standard music notation and also guitar tab and guitar chord diagrams with best fingerings is at the bottom of this post.
I currently have a few students whom perform in churches in Sacramento, Vallejo, Benicia, Walnut Creek and San Ramon that want to incorporate jazz chords with Christian music. In other words not just basic minor and major 7th chords but upper extensions such as 9ths, 11ths and 13ths and altered chords meaning sharp and flat fifths and ninth chords. These jazz formations turn heads and I fill bring in the essence of giving that sweet melody and lyrics of praise and worship to His glory.
Please stay tuned to upcoming lessons also for beginners on enhancing Christian music as well as all levels of guitar performance.
I highly recommend downloading this arrangement and take it to your Pastor or church worship team leader. I guarantee they will enjoy this arrangement. God Bless.