Music Genres Lessons
This page celebrates and explores some of the world's various styles of music (because we couldn't obviously cover them all!). This should be a lot of fun because it involves history and theory and lessons.
A Celtic Air
By David Hodge
Traditional Celtic music is way older than the guitar. Contrary to what you might think, there is no such thing as a Celtic scale or Celtic notes, any more than there are scales or notes used exclusively by any genre. So when someone is talking about playing Celtic style on the guitar they are actually talking about playing the guitar in a way which makes your mind think of things Celtic.
Do You Genre Dance? - (or, “Playing An Old Stand-By”)
By David Hodge
Knowing the little nuances of differet musical genres can help you in a lot of ways. Perhaps the most important, though not always obvious, thing it can do is to make you flexible. The more styles you can play, the more music you can play.
A Brief History of Progressive Rock
By A-J Charron
Prog Rock is a musical genre that almost lives in its own universe. If you ask two people to define the style, you're likely to get two very different answers. But everybody agrees on who's Prog and who's not.
No Stairway
By Paul Hackett
How many of you remember the movie Wayne's World? You know the scene where Wayne Campbell goes into his local music store and tries the guitar of his dreams? He only plays one note before the guy working there makes him stop for breaking the store's rule: No Stairway. So many novice musicians make the social faux pas of trying to play the first few bars of this song in local music stores around the world.
Why the Classical Guitarist should embrace popular music - Or Get With The Times Man!
By Logan L. Gabriel
Popular music has taken so much from our genre. However, because of our holier than thou attitude we have failed to borrow from it and therefore have suffered the consequences.
The Importance of Knowing Different Genres
By Ryan Spencer
Today we will talk about something that not many new guitarists take the time to learn (no, it's not theory). It's genres. If you don't know what a genre is it simply means a classification of a certain type of music such as blues. Now, when I started playing the guitar I mostly liked to play metal, but after meeting friends and other musicians I learned how important it was to learn the different genres.
The Square Neck Dobro
By Warren Buttler
Square Neck Dobro is a generic term for a resonator guitar, which has a neck shaped like a two by four piece of wood. This is played by laying the guitar body across the knees in the seated position. A Square Neck is open tuned, usually in G (gbdgbd), has a very high action, and is fretted by using a variety of square or rounded steel bars.
Chord Melodies - Finding A Latin Groove
By Peter Simms
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.
Building A Latin Chord Melody - Part 2
By Peter Simms
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!
In The Bleak Midwinter
By Doug Sparling
Guitar Noise welcomes Doug Sparling to our pages, with the first of what will (hopefully) be a series on lessons on Celtic Music for Guitar. This lesson is on the beautiful hymn, In The Bleak Midwinter, arranged for the guitar in DADGAD tuning.
The King of Love My Shepherd Is
By Doug Sparling
Doug Sparling brings us another wonderful Celtic melody, arranged in DADGAD tuning for fingerstyle guitar. This is a beautiful little piece which, since it's not too technically demanding, can allow you to explore putting some feeling and emotion into your playing.
The Huron Carol
By Doug Sparling
This lovely fingerstyle Christmas carol comes to us from Canada, where it's still sung in churches at holiday time. Doug gives us a little history on The Huron Carol and then walks us through this terrific arrangement, done in open G minor tuning.
Infant Holy Infant Lowly
By Doug Sparling
Doug Sparling graces our pages once again with this beautifully arranged Polish carol, also known as W Zlobie Lezy (Lying in the Manger). It's in standard tuning and it's a delight for the holidays!
It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
By Doug Sparling
It may be after Christmas, but it's never too late to sing a wish for world peace. Enjoy this lovely arrangement (and a wonderful bit of history) of a favorite American carol, courtesy of Doug Sparling.
The Benefits of Slide Guitar
By Matt Desenberg
Longtime GN reader Matt Desenberg contacted me last month about giving back to the community. Little did I realize it would be in the form of this terrific lesson that not only covers aspects of playing slide guitar, but also demonstrates how various slide techniques can improve your regular guitar playing. Thanks, Matt!
Buachaill On Eirne
By Doug Sparling
Doug kicks off a series of traditional Celtic pieces with one of his favorite Irish songs, Buachaill On Eirne (Boy From Ireland). A common tune that most Irish musicians will know, this beautiful song has been recorded many times, perhaps the most well known version is from Clanadd's LP Macalla in 1985. Another popular recording is by The Corrs, who recorded Buachaill on Eirne on their CD Home, which was released in 2005.
The Eagle's Whistle
By Doug Sparling
Doug Sparling graces the pages of Guitar Noise with another Celtic fingerstyle arrangement. Included in this lesson are some tips on traditional Celtic ornamentation, or articulations, which will add some zest to your playing and arrangements.
Irish Flatpicking Guitar - "The Humours of Tulla"
By Doug Sparling
Doug takes a break from finger-style guitar to bring us a few lessons in flatpicking. In addition to a terrific arrangement of a Celtic reel, you'll learn a little more about timing and ornamentation, specifically the staccato triplet.
Irish Flatpicking Guitar - "Sean Bui"
By Doug Sparling
GN's favorite Celtic lesson writer returns with a jig in his step. Here's a sprightly air in 6/8 time to challenge you and delight your ears!
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