Basic Guitar Theory – Guitar Scales, Chords and Arpeggios

By Ricky Sharples

If you want to play the guitar or write songs you will need to know something, at least, about guitar music theory. You could break down guitar theory down to the study of three elements: chords, scales and arpeggios.

Scales come easily to some people but others find them difficult to learn and difficult to understand. You can, in fact, relate scales to chord shapes. Understanding chords and scales is a matter of exploring the relationships between the notes on the guitar fretboard, but it is not necessary to learn to read music, just find the patterns on the guitar neck.

When you look at scales you will see a symbol like: # or b. The # is the sharp symbol which indicates when a note is played one fret above where it would normally be played. The b symbol is called a flat which is when the note is played a fret lower. One fret on the guitar is called a half step as opposed to a whole step or whole note. In the musical scale there is only a half step between the notes B and C and the notes E and F. The notes that don’t have a sharp or flat symbol are called “naturals”.

The complete set of notes in the octave are, in alphabetical order, A A# B C C# D D# E F F# G G#. So these notes as they are played in the C scale are C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B. The notes on the guitar begin with the open sixth string which sounds the note E, then going up the frets, F G A B C finishing the first octave on the open fourth string D. The octaves continue for twenty-one frets on most electric guitars and nineteen frets for acoustic guitars that don’t have a cutaway body.

Chords contain three or more notes. These notes form part of a scale that has the same name as the chord. The E major chord, for example, has three notes from the E major scale. Not all notes are created equal. The most important notes in a chord are the third and the seventh. They tell us whether the chord is major, minor or dominant.

When you play chords in a particulat order it is called a progression. Most chord progressions in popular music are based on the first, fourth and fifth notes of a scale. The twelve bar blues progression is one of the most popular chord progressions. Here is a how it works out in the key of C: you are using the first note – C, the fourth, F and the fifth, G. You play four bars using the C chord, two using F, the next two bars you play C again and the next two are G and F, finishing with two bars of the C chord. The most obvious example of this progression put into practice is the instrumental piece called Guitar Boogie.

Do you want to learn to play the guitar? Learn How To Play A Guitar For Free is a constantly updated blog which contains all the resources you need for: learning to play solo guitar, how to learn guitar chords, how to learn to read and play easy acoustic guitar tabs, finding a free online guitar tuner, looking for free guitar lessons online, and how to learn guitar scales.

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How to Practice Guitar Effectively

By Robert Renman

An Effective Guitar Practice Schedule
Feel free to practice these things in any order, but always do #1 first, the warm up. You also don’t have to do them all in one sitting either. You can do a few at one practice session, and next time you sit down to practice, you do the other items in the list you didn’t do the first time, etc. Also, feel free to change the number of minutes for each to suit your own needs. Maybe you want to practice for 2 hours; maybe just 30 minutes – it is completely up to you. You can view this schedule as a general blueprint, which you can modify as you like.

1. Warm-up – 5 minutes. First of all – tune your guitar! Then, play anything you like, but don’t do anything that is really hard on the muscles in your hands. Let them get warmed up first.
2. Scales – 10 minutes . Work on scales you don’t yet know well. You probably have scales tabbed out and printed. Take your time and play these slowly with the metronome. Play the notes of the scale in question in any order, random, sequential, etc. As you do this, try to visualize in your head the patterns this scale creates on the fretboard. Over time, you will be able to “see” the scale on the fretboard without thinking much about it.
3. Arpeggios – 10 minutes. Do the same as with the scales mentioned above. An arpeggio is a group of notes which are played one after the other, either going up or going down, where the notes belong to one chord. Again, visualize and try to remember the patterns you play.
4. Chords – 10 minutes. Learn new voicings of chords. Learn new chords. Practice chord progressions with some of the new chords you are learning.
5. Theory – 5 minutes. Get a good book about music theory. There are many out there.
   Alfred Essentials of Music Theory: Complete Self-Study Course (Book/2-CD)
6. Technique – 10 minutes. Work on things that need improvement or that may be new to you, for example – hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends, strumming, alternate picking, sweep technique, tapping, etc.
7. Fretboard training – 10 minutes. Set the metronome at a low BPM. Start with any note you want. Find and play that note for every click of the metronome on every string, but start with 2 strings at a time. Once you have that down, move to 2 more strings, then practice finding that note on those 4 strings. Continue with the last 2 strings and finally do all 6 strings. Play the notes in any order and direction. The purpose here is to find the note in question as quickly as you can. It will become “transparent” with enough training – you will be able to find any note anywhere on the fretboard without having to think
8. Work on a song – 10 minutes. Work on a song which has something challenging in it, something that gives you an opportunity to practice something new.
9. Reading music – 10 minutes. Work on reading TAB and music notation. Practice reading rhythms, notes and sight reading.
10. Transcribe something – ANY minutes. This is the best way to teach yourself, and it’s fantastic ear training. Listen to a few seconds of a song, over and over. Imitate best you can, try to figure out one note at a time. This means replaying the same sequence many times. After a while, you will be able to do this quicker, as well as picking out more than one note at a time.
11. Play anything – ANY minutes. Noodle around and play whatever you want – playing should first and foremost be FUN!

Important things to remember

• Always tap your foot with the metronome and the rhythm you are playing. That way, you will lock your body into the meter, and you will become good at playing tight. Good timing is soooo important! I cannot stress this enough.
• Use that metronome/drum machine! Any time you are working on something with a beat to it, get that metronome/drum machine going. You get two benefits at one time – you may be working on scales, chords, etc, but at the same time, you will also improve your timing when you practice this to the metronome.
• Visualize the notes you are about to play. Practicing enough will get you to the point where, for example, you can see the note “A” on the B string before you actually play it.
• Record yourself regularly, and then listen back to it with critical ears. What problems do you notice? Timing issues? Are notes played cleanly and accurately? Determine what the weaknesses are, and focus on correcting them.
• Sing the notes – as you are playing through, for example, a scale or an arpeggio, sing the notes as you are playing them. This will train your ear and will also help you learn where the notes are on the fretboard.
• Play with others – jam with friends, your teacher, anyone. Play something for your friends and family. Get a little gig somewhere – it will help you stay motivated. Playing with people with improve your ear and you will develop your musicianship further and quicker.

Hope you find these tips useful. Remember, a focused practice routine will lead to improvements faster.

Lastly, don’t forget the most important part – TO HAVE FUN!

——-

Robert Renman is a guitar player and guitar teacher in Canada. His website http://www.dolphinstreet.com has a large selection of free video lessons, as well as articles and videos about guitar equipment, and much more.

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Hire a Guitar Teacher or Learn on your Own

So you are looking to further your learning as an acoustic guitarist but not sure what to do next? There is a vast array of options available to you and things can get rather confusing. You basically have two options when learning how to play acoustic guitar: Hire a guitar teacher or Learn on your own. This topic is open for debate. Honestly, I feel it really depends on you and your particular needs as an individual. We will explore both options in this article, so that you will be able to make a better decision.

Learning on your Own

Learning on your own can be broken down into two simple categories: You can either learn for free or you can invest in a home study course.

Learn For Free

Learning for free is definitely a possibility. With the Internet at your fingertips, anything is possible these days. There are a handful of excellent free guitar websites that offer lessons and other great resources for those of us on a tight budget. However, some of these free sites and resources may be difficult to locate and not all of them are created by professionals. So you may find, after some time, that the free route may not be enough or may prove to be too frustrating.

One huge advantage to the free learning, besides being cost effective, is that it gives you the option to test the waters before you invest any money into private lessons or home study courses. Guitar playing is not for everyone. You may find after playing for a short while that your heart isn’t into it. In order to become a good guitar player you must be passionate about playing, have patience and dedication. Without those qualities, I am afraid you won’t get very far.

Our Picks For Free Learning Resources Online:

Learn-Acoustic-Gutiar.Com -  Of course we are going to recommend this site!  You will find a wide variety of free acoustic guitar lessons here on this website.  Use the navigation bar up top to look around or search for specific lessons using the search bar at the top of this page.

YouTube -  YouTube is loaded with free acoustic guitar lessons.  You will find an endless amount of free videos there.  Head over today and browse around.  There are two specific users to search for on YouTube that we find offer excellent instruction.  Search for the keywords: “next level guitar”  and “justinsandercoe”.

AcousticGuitar.Com – Great selection of lessons from beginner to advanced.

TheoryLessons.Com -  One of our favorite websites for learning guitar.  It is packed with lots of free lesson on guitar theory.  This is essential learning for beginner and advanced guitarists.

Home Study Courses

With the right home study course, learning how to play guitar is very possible, assuming you are dedicated to working hard and practicing. With the right home study course, you will not only save money (when compared to hiring a private instructor), but you will also be able to learn at your own pace. You also have the option to access the same information whenever you want and for as many times as you want. That is probably the biggest advantage to this option. We learn best by repetition. Sometimes we have to hear or watch something over and over again before it sinks in. With a home study course, you simply pop a cd or dvd in and watch or listen whenever you feel the need. With an instructor you don’t have that option.

There are several excellent home study courses available that can be just as effective or better than hiring a private instructor. Courses can cost anywhere from $30 to as much as a few hundred dollars, depending on the quality and content of the home study course.

Here are our picks for the best Home Study Courses For Guitar:

Learn & Master Guitar – Our #1 Pick!

Jamorama Acoustic Guitar

Next Level Guitar

Hiring a Private Instructor

First and foremost, this option is expensive. Private guitar lessons,on average, can cost about $15 – $30 for a half hour lesson, and $20 to as much as $75 for an hour lesson, depending on the teachers experience and reputation.

One big advantage to a private instructor is the direct feedback they can provide . One of the most common problems a beginner faces is developing bad habits. A good instructor will help you recognize your bad playing habits and help you correct them on the spot.

Finding a “good” teacher can be a difficult task and you should choose one carefully if you decide to go that route. Even the most talented guitarists, that have been playing for decades, can make terrible instructors, so your criteria for choosing a teacher should not be based on experience alone. You need to find a person that actually “enjoys” teaching and isn’t just doing it for a paycheck.

The first thing I would do is to come up with a list of possible instructors in your area.

You can do this by:

Asking Your Friends and Family

A great place to start when searching for a guitar teacher is to simply ask your friends, family or co-workers. You may have a close personal friend, relative or co-worker that has already taken lessons and will be able to recommend a good instructor.

The Internet

The Internet is a great resource for finding possible instructors. You can simply do a search on Google for guitar teachers in your local area. You could also visit guitar discussion groups online and ask around there.

Yellow Pages or other Publications

Grab a yellow pages, newspaper or other publication and search for local guitar instructors that way.

Once you compile your list, you need to make certain you are getting the best possible instruction for your money, so be prepared to ask your instructor a few questions. Ask him or her how long they have been teaching, the teaching qualifications he or she has, the number of students he or she currently teaches and ask for the phone number or contact information of a few of his or her students. From the answers you receive, you should be able to determine which instructor is right for you.

So the choice is now yours. Only you can determine which option is right for you. Some of us simply cannot afford to hire a teacher, so the choice is rather simple. Others are simply unable to learn on their own and need the guidance and encouragement that a teacher can provide.

I wish you luck!

Guitar Scales 22 Fret System

By Mike P Hayes

If you want to develop top-class guitar scales and improvisation skills, then the guitar scales 22 fret system is the tool that will make your dreams come true. By following these simple and precise guitar scales, you will be on your way to successful guitar music playing in no time.

A major reason why many guitarists never master guitar scales is that they try to learn too many at once. The key is to learn one scale at a time by practicing the guitar scales 22 fret system you will learn to unlock the fingerboard and be free to express yourself over the entire fingerboard.

Good knowledge of the fretboard will enable you to: improvise better, learn songs quicker, learn more chords and Scales, read music. I definitely recommend memorizing or becoming familiar with the fretboard.

Rather than aimlessly practicing guitar scales, you want to become laser focused. What guitar scales you need to learn, in order to play the style of music that you love.

If you are studying with a private teacher make certain that teacher can help you achieve your goals, there’s not much point asking a classical guitar tutor what scales you need to learn for jazz guitar.

To learn and master every possible guitar scale out there would take many lifetimes. It is more intelligent and far less frustrating to select an appropriate scale for your style of music and learn that scale as a 22 fret scale system.

Scales create patterns on the fretboard which players visualize and memorize. The important thing when learning scales is to take the time to learn the names of the notes your are playing under your fingers NOT just the fingering patterns.

The guitar scales 22 fret system can easily be adapted to any guitar no matter how many frets you have. Since most electric guitars have 22 frets the 22 fret scale system is the one I’ll concentrate on here.

The guitar scales 22 fret system an also be applied to acoustic guitar, most acoustic guitars have 12 to 15 frets available, the 22 fret scale system can be modified to suit your favorite acoustic guitar.

The guitar scale 22 fret, three note per string scale system part one:

We will be working entirely in the key of C major.

The key of C major C D E F G A B C

(a) Concept # 1 think of this C major scale as being on an endless loop (like a conveyer belt going round and round) ….. C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C etc

(b) Now imagine we where able to start at ANY point on this conveyer belt

(c) The concept of the three note per string scale system is very simple, you play three notes from your chosen scale on each string then move to the next string, play three notes and then move to the next string, play another three notes and then on to the next string etc.

Here is your project:

1. Play the following notes on the sixth string:

F note played with your first finger

G note played with either your second or third finger which ever is comfortable

A note played with your fourth finger

2. Play the following notes on the fifth string:

B note played with your first finger

C note played with your second finger

D note played with your fourth finger

3. Play the following notes on the fourth string:

E note played with your first finger

F note played with your second finger

G note played with your fourth finger

4. Play the following notes on the third string:

A note played with your first finger

B note played with your third finger

C note played with your fourth finger

5. Play the following notes on the second string:

D note played with your first finger

E note played with your third finger

F note played with your fourth finger

6. Play the following notes on the first string:

G note played with your first finger

A note played with either your second or third finger which

ever is comfortable

B note played with your fourth finger

Do you understand the concept? Play three notes from the C Major scale on the sixth string (starting from the note “F” within the C major scale)

Play the notes F. G. A on the sixth string, then move to the fifth string and play the next three notes from the C major scale B, C, D.

Don’t worry about the sound of this scale, it is intended to sound incomplete, it’s part of a giant linkage system I will explain to you.

Practicing guitar music scales is one of the key elements to learning the basics of guitar. When you learn the guitar scales 22 fret system you get the total picture. You get to see guitar scales played note for note right over the entire fretboard.

Mike Hayes is a teacher, author, speaker and consultant. Get his tips and tested strategies proven to boost your guitar playing
his membership site at http://www.guitarcoaching.com today.

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The Beginners Guide to Playing the Acoustic Guitar

Learning acoustic guitar is an extremely broad topic. One that would no doubt fill many books. The following guide focuses on some of the most important aspects of playing guitar providing you with an excellent starting point. This guide was written for the right handed, absolute beginner using a steel string guitar. My apologies to all of you left handed guitarists in advance.

ABOUT THE STEEL STRING GUITAR

The steel string guitar is a masterpiece of musical instrument engineering. Before the steel string, the acoustic guitar was very limited. The guitars of old were very quiet when played, so much so, that a guitarist was not able to play along with other musicians as the sound produced was simply too low. In order to overcome this shortcoming, the steel string guitar was born. The steel string produced a louder sound, but also caused too much stress on the instrument because of the added weight. The body construction therefore needed to be altered to accommodate the heavier strings. These changes not only made the guitar stronger, but they also increased the life of the guitar.

GUITAR STYLES – WHAT STYLE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Guitars are available in a variety of different styles and sizes and it really depends on what is most comfortable and enjoyable for you. Popular guitar styles include the Dreadnought, Nex, Artist, Classic and Jumbo. Each guitar has its own unique look, feel and sound. The larger styles like the Jumbo and Dreadnought produce more bass and are more difficult to hold and play. The smaller models like the Nex and Artist favor the midranges and treble and are much easier to hold and play. The Classic guitar is a whole different animal. It can only be played using nylon strings and produces a sound that is noticeably different than steel string guitars. So if you aren’t sure what guitar style is right for you, then head over to your nearest music center and give them all a test drive.

Need a reliable, high quality and  affordable acoustic guitar? Click here for our list of the top best selling acoustic guitars!

HOW TO HOLD THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR

Holding your acoustic guitar is not an exact science.  Everyone has different body types, finger lengths and there are a variety of different sizes and shapes of guitars.  There are many points to keep in mind and it really comes down to how comfortable you are when holding and playing your guitar.

I posted an excellent video on this topic not too long ago that demonstrates and explains how to hold your guitar in detail.

Follow this link to view this video on how to hold your acoustic guitar.

HAND, FINGER AND THUMB POSITIONING

How to position your hands, fingers and thumbs may seem obvious to some, but there is a right and wrong way to do this.  It would be very difficult for you to visualize how to position your hands when playing guitar if I were to explain it here.  A video would do a much better job, so I included a link below to an excellent video.

Guitar Lesson – Hands, Fingers & Thumb Positioning

LEARN HOW TO TUNE YOUR GUITAR

Make certain that you spend time learning how to tune a guitar. Purchase a guitar tuner at any local music store and practice tuning your guitar with the guitar tuner. Or if you do not own a guitar tuner, there are plenty of lessons and tools online that will guide you.  I have posted several videos on this topic that I recommend you watch:

How to keep your electric or acoustic guitar in tune

Get Your Guitar In Tune

LEARN HOW TO CHANGE YOUR STRINGS

Learn how to change your strings and change them often. I know the idea of changing your strings on your own is intimidating, but it really isn’t that difficult and eventually it will become second nature. I put together a post not too long ago that includes video instructions on how to change strings on both an acoustic and electric guitar.

Click here to reach that post on changing your guitar strings.

GUITAR MUSIC THEORY

Guitar music theory is where all of your scales, chords, progressions, notes and more come into play. It is such a huge topic and would fill many books all on its own. Music theory is extremely important to your growth as a musician and should not be overlooked. Many beginners frown upon guitar theory and completely ignore it. They would much rather take the short route and learn tablature and start playing their favorite songs. There is nothing wrong with learning tablature and playing your favorite songs, but don’t make that your only form of study.

There are a plethora of free sites online that teach guitar music theory, but not all are created equal. One of the best sites I have found on this topic is: TheoryLessons.Com. I highly recommend you start there. The owner of that site starts at the very beginning and covers all the major bases. Your guitar is like a challenging puzzle and guitar music theory is a key that will open up many new doors for you.

SHOULD YOU HIRE A GUITAR TEACHER OR LEARN ON YOUR OWN?

Learning on your own

With the right home study course, teaching yourself how to play is quite possible, assuming you are dedicated to working hard and practicing. Teaching yourself how to play will save you a ton of money in the long run and allow you to learn at your own pace. You also have the option to access the same information whenever you want and for as many times as you want. There are several excellent home study courses available that can be just as effective as hiring a a good teacher. Courses can cost anywhere from $30 to as much as a few hundred dollars, depending on the quality and content of the home study course.

Here are our picks for the best Home Study Courses For Guitar:

Learn & Master Guitar – Our #1 Pick!

Jamorama Acoustic Guitar

Next Level Guitar

Hiring an Instructor

First and foremost, this option is expensive. Private guitar lessons, on average, can cost about $15 – $30 for a half hour lesson, and $20 to as much as $75 for an hour lesson, depending on the teachers experience and reputation.

Finding a good teacher can be a difficult task and you should choose one carefully if you decide to go that route. Even the most talented guitarists, that have been playing for decades, can make terrible instructors, so your criteria for choosing a teacher should not be based on experience alone.

One of the most common problems a beginner faces is developing bad playing habits. A good instructor will help you recognize your bad playing habits and help you correct them.

The choice is yours. Only you can determine which options is best for you. Some of us simply cannot afford to hire a teacher, so the choice is rather simple. Others are simply unable to learn on their own and need the guidance and encouragement that a teacher can provide.

PRACTICE

Whoever coined the phrase: “Practice Makes Perfect”, knew what they were talking about. Practice as many days out of the week as you can for at least twenty to thirty minutes, more if possible. The more often you play the faster you will learn. Be careful not to overdo it though and take breaks of course. Your brain can only absorb so much information before it needs a break and your hands and the rest of your body need time to recuperate as well. When you practice guitar do not rush through any of your exercises. Twenty minutes of quality focused practice is much more effective than an hour of sloppy practice.

Be sure to visit our section on acoustic guitar practice for more great tips on how to practice your guitar.

EASY GUITAR SONGS

As I explained earlier in this guide, there is nothing wrong with learning how to play your favorite songs.  In fact, it is an excellent and fun way to familiarize yourself with the guitar as long as your are not making this your only form of practice.

That being said, I put together a post that includes 20 easy guitar songs that you can start playing right away. This post includes free video lesson as well as links to chords, lyrics and tablature.

Follow this link to view this post on easy guitar songs for the beginner.

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