Guy Clark’s “LA Freeway” is a classic of the Americana genre, and a great example of what we might call the Texas folk picking style. Unlike what many people think of as a traditional “folk pick” with alternating bass strings, this part brings in a blues element by thumping roots notes in the bass against […]
Song of the week: Boom Boom
John Lee Hooker’s “Boom Boom” has everything that makes his music so compelling. To quote from another of his classics “Boogie Chillun”: One night I was layin’ down / I heard mama and papa talkin’ / I heard papa tell mama let that boy boogie-woogie / It’s in him and it got to come out […]
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 […]
The most important thing to learn from guitar lessons.
Whether you take guitar lessons or are learning on your own, there is one skill you absolutely must learn. And I think a lot of people, including many guitar teachers, are missing this point. Don’t take lessons just to learn songs. Take lessons to learn how to learn. Most people want to learn guitar so […]
