Here is a new strumming pattern lesson for acoustic guitar.  It is taught by David Taub with Next Level Guitar. This is an 11 minute video excerpt from Next Level Guitar’s “Acoustic Guitar Technqiues” 4 DVD course that includes over 8 hours of instruction.  Highly recommended if you want to take your Guitar Playing to the next level.

One of the biggest challenges for many beginners is learning new strumming patterns. You can hear the pattern in your head and it sounds simple enough, but your hands will not cooperate at first. This is to be expected. One of the best things you can do to make things much easier is to Slow down at first. I believe beginners place far too much importance on speed when playing guitar.  Do not fall into this trap.  This is not a race.  If you play to fast in the beginning you are going to develop very bad playing habits that are difficult to break.

Another thing to keep in mind, as David points out in the video below, is that you do not need to play any chords at first while learning a new strumming pattern.  You can mute the strings and focus only on the pattern at first until you are able to play it correctly, then play it again with the chords.

Another important thing to keep in mind, that will really help, is your “Strumming Mechanics”, as David likes to put it.  It is important to get your arm into the strum so that it pivots at the elbow.  Many beginners will strum incorrectly by using only their wrists. Make certain that you are strumming all of the necessary strings.  Many students will miss the higher strings as they strum because they are letting their arm sort of fall away from the guitar as they strum.  David will describe and demonstrate all of this below.

For the examples that David will demonstrate in the video tutorial below, you will only need to know 2 basic chords that are very easy to play and those chords are: G Major and Cadd9.

Watch the free lesson below to learn more!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg2kT7ZTN7E

A big thanks to David Taub and the folks over at Next Level Guitar for sharing this lesson on strumming patterns.  If you haven’t had the chance to check out Next Level Guitar, then I Highly recommend you visit their website to check out all they have to offer.  They have over 785 online guitar lessons and for a small fee, you can become a member today! Check out my review of  Next Level Guitar Here !

By Michael Fletcher

There are many, many, different reasons why individuals decide to learn to play the guitar. What’s your purpose? Is it because you just want to play a few songs for your friends? If so, then I commend you for your honesty and wish you the very best in your song-playing adventure. Playing the guitar should always be fun.

If you’re a beginner, it’s important that you don’t become overwhelmed or intimidated by those who seem to be able to shred the guitar fingerboard at will. This should be the least of your worries. Especially in the beginning stages of learning to play the guitar. The fundamentals are essential for every beginner. For example, learning to hold the guitar pick correctly is essential in the beginning. Learning right-hand and left-hand finger control is very important. Further, merely feeling comfortable holding the guitar will actually take some work and practice. Once again, the fundamentals of guitar playing are very, very important.

It seems that we’re living in a society (musicians included) where instant gratification seems to be the way-of-life for many. We want what we want, and we want it now. When attempting to learn how to play the guitar, this type of approach will leave fatal flaws in one’s over all understanding of the guitar. Without an authentic understanding of the guitar, limitations are inevitable.

A solid foundation on the guitar (theory and application) will allow one to progress beyond their own expectations. One should strive to become a well-rounded guitarist. In other words, learn guitar chords, rhythm, and guitar solo techniques. So many guitarists today are mainly concerned with soloing. They seem to overlook all of the other aspects of guitar playing. Many beginning guitarists get hung up on issues such as speed playing.

In today’s musical environment, it’s much more important to become an accurate player rather than a flash player. The days of the twenty minute guitar solos, are over (for the most part). Oh yes, in a concert environment it’s good to let it all hang out and to blow out the carbon, as they say. However, nothing will top a well constructed melodic guitar solo. A well constructed guitar solo is a far cry from someone just mindlessly sweeping arpeggios.

Is speed important? Yes, in situations that call for speed. However, not all guitar solos consist of playing 128th notes at 160 BPM (beats per minute). Techniques, such as speed picking, sweeping, and tapping result from practicing good habits, not in lieu of them. Further, speed without soul equals nothingness. Why so much dissertation regarding speed? Let me explain.

For most beginners, there is generally an event which occurs, that inspires an individual to learn how to play the guitar. For example, desiring to learn the guitar could result from one hearing a song that has a special emotional impact on his/her life. However, it is more than likely that one of the great contemporary concert guitarist (a fire-breathing, neck-shredding Dragon) is the inspiration for most of today’s beginners. This is great however, was the inspiration the guitar itself or the fire-breathing, blazing speed, that the notes on the guitar were played at? More than likely, the answer would be speed. Inspiration is inspiration, right? Understand that a speed player is very skilled and has taken the time to build a solid foundation; fundamentals.

Speed picking and sweeping techniques have their place. We all know that. The question is (even for experienced guitar player), when and where (let alone, why) to employ these techniques. In other words, speed playing for the sake of speed playing doesn’t make much sense unless the music dictates a speed technique be employed. Of course, the obvious exception is practicing speed playing techniques in order to perfect them. Once again, if you’re a beginner, speed shouldn’t be your initial concern. Fundamentals will provide the foundation for future and difficult techniques. Take your time. Learn to play guitar the right way.

In the beginning stages of learning to play guitar, one should concentrate on learning simple guitar chords, learning simple songs, and learning to control the guitar itself. Become aware of sound and volume. Strive for accuracy and endurance. There are literally hundreds of elements that must be learned in order to truly master the guitar. Enjoy the beginning stages, you’ll arrive at the advanced learning scenario soon enough.

It is advisable to seek out a talented guitar instructor who will help you in the beginning. Remember, you’ll want to learn the fundamental elements first (picking, playing guitar chords, learning simple, but great songs). Plan your work and work your plan. Above all, have fun.

© 2008 Michael E. Fletcher. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

http://www.ultraguitarmethod.com/

Ultra Guitar Method is designed to place years of professional playing experience under your fingers in a very short amount of time thus, placing you light years ahead of the competition. All theoretical, technical, mechanical, and application principles contained in the method are designed exclusively for the guitar. Learning is made exciting and fun.

Make no mistake about it; if your goal is to understand the entire guitar fingerboard and experience an incredible new mechanical and theoretical freedom as a guitar player, then Ultra Guitar Method is an absolute must.

While others are losing valuable time on the standard old books of C, F and G, this is your opportunity to step directly into the future with a guitar method that is as flexible as your own personality and as vast as your imagination will allow.

Visit the Ultra Guitar Method website today. Your future is now.

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In this free acoustic guitar video lesson from the folks over at JamPlay, instructor Miche Fambro teaches how using dynamics can greatly enhance your guitar playing.

Before you watch the video, its probably a good idea to better understand what dynamics are exactly.  In short, dynamics are how loud or soft you play, but as Miche goes on to explain in the video tutorial below, there is more to it than that.  Dynamics can also refer to other variations in a particular piece like tempo for instance.

By nature,  humans need variety, and that is especially true with music.  Imagine you could only listen to one style of music at only one particular volume and tempo over and over again.  It would get kind of dull or perhaps even irritating right?  That is why some of the best songs that were ever written are also some of the most dynamic songs ever written.

Some great dynamic songs that come to mind are “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, “A Day in the Life” by The Beatles,   “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys..  The list goes on and on.  Go ahead and listen to those songs if you haven’t already. Just head over to YouTube and type those songs in the search and you will find them. Just listening to those songs alone will give you a better idea of what dynamics are all about.

Watch how Miche Fambro demonstrates the effectiveness of dynamics in the video below using one of his songs.  Then, take what you have learned and try to apply it to your playing.  Enjoy!

Enhancing Guitar Playing by Using Dynamics

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tj5NS0niPw

A big thanks to the folks over at Jamplay for sharing this awesome video guitar lesson.

JamPlay is a membership only service which broadcasts high-definition video guitar lessons. They teach by “lesson set” instead of just flopping out a ton of small video clips. They start with the very basics like tuning your guitar, finger placement, and basic chords, and move on to finger-picking, palm muting, hammer ons, pull offs, and many more advanced topics as you progress through the lessons. When you have time, I highly recommend you check them out!  Click here to visit JamPlay.

Here is a very interesting video demonstration from the folks over at Next Level Guitar.  This is a really cool technique that I honestly never heard of or saw before.  Basically, you take a dollar bill and kind of weave through the strings near the sound hole of your acoustic.  Then, strum your acoustic as you normally would.  The strings of the guitar vibrate against the paper and create a sort of snare drum effect. Its a great way to add a percussive element to your guitar playing.  I hope you enjoy this cool little trick!

Here is the video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Xi9ke2D2o

If you haven’t had the chance to check out Next Level Guitar, then I Highly recommend you visit their website after you are done watching the video above.  They have over 785 online guitar lessons and for a small fee, you can become a member today! Check out my review of  Next Level Guitar Here !

Here is a great lesson from the folks over at Guitar Tricks that teaches you how to take advantage of the full sound that the acoustic guitar is capable of producing.

Even an absolute beginner will be able to take advantage of this guitar playing technique because it uses simple open chord shapes that you may already be familiar with.  But instead of being restricted to the first few frets of your guitar, you will be playing these simple chord shapes on other areas of your fretboard.

It is amazing how a simple change in location can produce such a beautiful sound.

You will have to watch the video below to learn more.  I hope you enjoy this lesson as much as I did.

Open String Technique From Guitar Tricks

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE-4-J411Vo

Thanks to the folks over at Guitar Tricks for this free video lesson.  Guitar Tricks is one of the most popular sites for online video guitar lessons. What sets them apart from the rest is their curriculum of 1500 videos, that starts from the very beginning from “How Do I Hold a Pick?” to advanced courses that cover blues, rock and country. I have been a member of Guitar Tricks now for over 6 months and it really is one of the best online learning systems out there.  For a very small monthly fee, you can become a member too.   Read more about GuitarTricks.Com Here.