guitar columns

We’re going to learn how to transpose songs into different keys. This is fairly easy to do, and an important skill if you want to play with other musicians.

Every songwriter is going to have their own unique spin. It’s what makes people want to listen to what you have to say.

This article examines the myth of the self-taught guitarist.

This is the second part of our theory and songwriting workshop. In this article we’ll come up with a simple way of figuring out a singer’s vocal range.

This is the first in a series that looks at how melodies and chords work together. It includes specific examples from some well known songs.

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.

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.

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.

On the 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Sometimes we musicians need a shot in the arm when it comes to practicing. If your playing feels like it’s going nowhere it might help to take a more detached look at yourself and the way you play.

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.

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

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.

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

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.