Guitar Noise

This an intermediate level lesson for those of you who use only a guitar pick and would rather not work on finger-style playing, but would still like to play a complete song arrangement on your instrument. So here is the classic jazz standard, “Autumn Leaves,” from Peter to you.

Guitar Noise welcomes the long-awaited return of Peter Simms to our pages! Peter’s been very busy with performing and teaching this past year but wanted us to know he’s still thinking of the Guitar Noise readers. So much, in fact, that he wrote this song (and the accompanying lesson) just for us!

Time to tackle the notes on the third string of our guitars! Peter’s series on learning the notes of the guitar in standard notation continues along, complete with exercises and sound files.

Doug has come up with a lesson featuring two children’s favorites: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and London Bridge. Enjoy sharing these with people of all ages!

Learning to read music is easier than you might think. Peter Simms returns to Guitar Noise with a lesson on the notes found on the second (B) string, complete with some simple exercises to help you easily learn the notes.

If one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to start (or finally) learn music notation, then help is here in a big way! As Peter points out: the only obstacle is that reading music takes a while to learn. If you truly want to learn, patience and consistent practicing will get you there.

Here’s an original song from Peter Simms - Key West - a perfect song for lounging on a lazy summer afternoon. Peter wrote this specifically for those of you who want to play chord melodies with a pick, so enjoy!

Because he’s been getting several requests for some easy solo guitar arrangements, Peter’s gone and written a song just for his Guitar Noise readers! Enjoy this fun piece, which shouldn’t take long to learn or master and that sounds great as well.

It’s always a pleasure to get a new lesson from Peter Simms! His latest piece involves putting a walking bass line underneath a standard jazz blues progression. When you put it all together, you’ll definitely think it was worth the extra practice!

Part two of Peter Simms’ lesson on Latin Chord melodies is here! So get your guitars, warm up your fingers and get ready to dig in for a bit of work and a lot of fun!

Guitar Noise is pleased to welcome Peter Simms back to our pages. Peter’s got a new chord melody for you with a distinctive Latin feel to it. Get ready to provide both the bass and chordal rhythm/melody and to give your fingers (and thumb!) a workout.

Peter Simms adds his share to the finest gifts we bring with his wonderful chord melody arrangement of this Christmas carol. Using Drop D tuning to create a thrumming bass part, you’ll have everyone in your house going pa-rum-pa-pa-pum in no time!

Peter’s latest lesson is this wonderful standard that really swings! While simple in melody, this song is a lot of fun to play and also to use to develop your own style.

Did you know that every major scale is actually seven separate modal scales? In his latest lesson, Peter Simms helps you learn these scales easily.

Here’s a nice easy arrangement on a classic standard, brought to you by the inimitable Peter Simms. Lots of fun to play and if you’re really in a moony mood, check out the lesson on Blue Moon at Peter’s website as well!!

Peter Simms walks us through the basic steps of chord construction, which is a truly helpful thing to know when playing chord melodies, no? Learn all about major, minor and dominant chords in one easy lesson.

Here is part 2 of Peter’s arrangement of I Got Rhythm. Judging by the emails, you’ve all undoubtedly been working hard on his first lesson.

Peter Simms walks us through an introduction to the jazz style of chord melodies. And he makes it both easy and entertaining.