Getting a good sound when you strum a guitar is all about how you hit it. The more your arm swings when strumming, the more force you apply. Strumming with a straight wrist and forearm creates the most power, but without some finer control it can sound brash and stiff. Relax the wrist and forearm, […]
The Perpetual Beginner
Who is the perpetual beginner? The perpetual beginner plays with the guitar but doesn’t feel like they play it. The perpetual beginner knows some chords, and probably some – even many – whole songs too, but feels like they’re doing the same thing over and over. The perpetual beginner has had ongoing struggles with the […]
Weekend Warrior blogs for JamPlay.com
The Weekend Warrior blog at JamPlay.com are on a variety of topics, but each one has a lesson you can master in a weekend. 3 James Taylor fingerstyle intros Spanish Madness: an introduction to classical-style picking Mastering Moveable Chords 3 licks in the style of Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) Basic Blues Rhythm 3 licks in the style […]
Twang Blues: easy double-stop riffs
A “riff” is a repeated pattern that often helps define a song instrumentally. There are literally thousands of songs that you recognize from the opening riff, and some that you might remember the riff and nothing else. “Smoke On The Water” by the ’70s English rock band Deep Purple being a prime example…most people might […]
Intro to fingerstyle: thumb bass & finger strums
One of the reasons so many guitarists play with a pick is that it makes strumming simple: swing the arm, strike the strings. When we think of playing with the fingers, we generally think of plucking rather than strumming, and it’s true that there are a lot more variables involved in strumming with the bare […]
Fundamentals of fingerstyle: “Renaissance Faire”, a study in plucked chords
“Renaissance Faire” is a study in plucked chords, using the thumb and two fingers to sound three notes together. The goal is to get all three notes to sound evenly and clearly. Don’t overthink your hand position, just work slowly and concentrate on keeping the hand relaxed: don’t overextend the wrist, use small motions, and […]
