There’s a long tradition in classical music of composers writing Etudes, literally “studies”: music written to help develop the player’s skill that is also satisfying to play and listen to. All the most significant composers for the guitar wrote sets of studies, and most of the music I’ve been practicing on the classical guitar the […]
Chopin Plays The Changes
This is a guest post by David Hamburger, a great fingerstylist, blues authority, and a teacher I respect greatly. Check out his lesson on “Statesboro Blues“. School is back, sort of, but getting there on time was never our strong suit, and now we’re rusty. We live close enough to walk, but some mornings when […]
SOTW: Carolina In My Mind, part 2
As promised, this followup lesson looks at the verses, bridge, and outro of James Taylor’s “Carolina In My Mind”. You can download tab here. But I’d also suggest you download the chord chart. Remember, TAB gives you a sequence of events, a series of locations on the neck. And it’s possible to grasp the musical […]
Do you practice music like you mow the lawn?
The way you mow the lawn might teach you something important about how to practice. Everyone has a method. Do you start at one side and make repeating alternate passes, or circle the perimeter until you get to the center? Either way, it’s a straight line: a job with a beginning and end and a […]
Guest post: jamming and playing by ear
Jamming on the guitar and playing by ear furthers your knowledge of the guitar, prepares you for many situations, and makes you a better rounded musician.
The Perpetual Beginner’s Guide To Practicing
The Perpetual Beginner’s Guide To Practicing is a free e-book about the process of practicing: how to structure your time, choose what to work on, and maximize both your enjoyment and your progress. If you joined the NGG email list recently, you’ve already received this as a thank you. But if you haven’t, you can […]
