guitar columns

Singing In A New Year

In this lesson we take a look at singing and playing guitar at the same time. Surprisingly, this is something anyone can learn to do well.

Harmonic Convergence

What are harmonics and how are they produced? We’re going to delve into these questions and show you how use harmonics to spice up a few songs.

Sustained Tones: An Animated Discussion

This lesson takes a look at an unusual phenomenon known as sustained tones. You can hear it in songs by Oasis, Pink Floyd, Indigo Girls and others.

Thanks (Giving and Getting)

On the one year anniversary of his first article for Guitar Noise, David Hodge takes off on one of his tangents and considers all things in the guitar universe.

But Then Again… (or, Lost My Shape…)

Here is a great lesson on chord shapes. We’ve got great examples backing us up too, including songs by Counting Crows and The Who.

Just Because You’ve Got Six Strings… doesn’t mean you have to play all six all the time!

The title says it all. This lesson looks back on some of the recent techniques we’ve learned and reinforces them with some practical and recognizable examples.

Building Additions (and Suspensions)

This lesson looks at the workings of chords other than the basic major, minor, augmented and diminished.

The Power of Three

This beginner music theory lesson looks at how to put chords together. We’ll examine the four main chord types in some detail.

The Musical Genome Project

Let’s go back to the beginning steps of music theory once again. This will help us answer a lot of questions about scales, leads, chords and melodies.

Recharging Your Batteries

Sometimes we musicians need a shot in the arm when it comes to practicing. Here are some wise words on the subject from David Hodge.

Applied Science

Let’s take a quick journey into song arrangement. In this lesson we’re going to arrange Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here for two guitars.

Group Therapy – (Assembling a Piece for the Ensemble)

This lesson on songwriting investigates the motive behind writing a song. Why do you write a song? Do you have something to say?

Building Bridges

This lesson looks at song structure. More specifically we’re looking at the bridge, which has been around almost as long as the study of music.

Christmas in June

More than anything else, melody defines a song for us. Join us on a tour through the music theory basics of melody.

You Say You Want a Resolution…

This music theory lesson delves into musical phrases and introduces a couple common types of cadences. We’ll try several well-known songs as examples.

Five To One – (or Home, home again…)

The key signature of a song can be considered its home. We’re going to use a few familiar and easy examples to simplify key signatures and tonality.

A Question of Balance

There’s a huge difference between practicing and playing guitar. Let’s do a run down of good practice tips for guitar.

Picture in Dorian Gray

If a good guitar solo is the result of planning, how do you plan for the spontaneous, spur of the moment solo? Here are some ways to prepare for that moment.

Once More With Feeling…

The trick to being a better guitarist is you have to be able to work both inside and outside of the box. Imagination plays an important part.

Tricks of the Trade

In this beginner lesson we’ll learn a few basic techniques for both the rhythm and lead guitarist. They are hammer ons, pull offs, slides and bends.

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