Your Guitar should deliver more than just basic chords and rhythms - it should be Your CO-WRITER! - a Musical Feedback Machine that infuses New Melodies, Rhythms, and Grooves into Your Writing and Performing Experience.
I break down the Signature Styles of Classic Singer-Songwriters and Studio Musicians to help you create a “Technique Toolbox” of Hot Licks, Cool Tricks, and Great Grooves! Topics Include:
THE ZEN OF GUITAR
• Learning to Listen • Mixing “Inner and Outer” String Voices • Developing Your Internal Body Clock • Tension and Release • Write and Play THE HOLES!
MAKE YOUR GUITAR SOUND LIKE A WHOLE BAND
• “Strum Like A Drum” • Adding Bass Lines • Creating Record-Like Arrangements.
NASHVILE “DRONE” CHORDS
• Modifying Basic Open Chords into Voicings that Create more Sustain, Smoother Transitions between Chord Changes, and a “Sweet Spot” that keeps Your Melody Out Front.
FUNDAMENTALS OF SOLID RHYTHM GUITAR
• Arm and Wrist Relaxation • The“Stereo Strum” - Accenting the Bass and Treble notes, avoiding Midrange Clutter • Percussive Techniques - Muting, Dampening, Pump/Push • A Numeric Breakdown of Classic Record Grooves • Chuck Berry 101 Rock Rhythm • Rock Power Chords.
CLASSIC CHORD COMBOS
• Learn Basic Chord Theory by Song References • “The Rosetta Stone” of Major/minor Chords.
FINGER STYLE
• Basic Rotations • Chet Atkins Bass/Melody Arrangements • The “Hybrid” Rotation.
• Moving Open Chord Shapes Up and Down the Neck to Create Different Licks and Voicings.
“SEXY SCALES”
• Finding Melodies in the Basic 8-Tone Scale • Adding Chromatic Notes • “Minor Pentatonic” - The Foundation for Lead and Blues Licks.
CREATIVE CAPOS
• Raise/Lower Pitch of Vocals • Playing the Same Key in a Capoed Position gives you different Sonic and Arrangement Options - An Open “E” Chord is Full and Bass-y - A “D” Shape Chord capoed at the 2nd fret has more twinkle and Folk Rock options on the treble strings • When Doubling a Recorded Guitar part or Playing Live with someone else, you want that Sonic Separation.
OPEN TUNINGS - G and D
• “G” Tuning - Flowery Joni Mitchel / Keith Richards Rock Riffs / Delta Blues
• “D” Tuning - Modal Country Roots / Southern Rock