Guitar Lessons

Guitar Lesson: An Acoustic Blues in E

Guitar Lesson: An Acoustic Blues in E

Posted April 9, 2013 at 10:59 am | No comments

When we think of blues guitar, it’s often a blues from the delta in the key of E that comes to mind, the bending and whining high notes punctuated by the constant driving bass rhythm of the picking thumb.

Posted in: Beginning Lessons, Guitar Lessons, Uncategorized

Melodic Patterns or Sequences Exercise

Melodic Patterns or Sequences Exercise

Posted March 28, 2013 at 7:18 am | 2 comments

This exercise is based on a jazz standard written in 1939 by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern called “All The Things You Are.” I’ve singled out the chord changes, without melody, and stocked them with various melodic arpeggio patterns using all the CAGED chord shapes.

Posted in: Guitar Lessons, jazz guitar lessons

A Short Guitar Study of Dropped D Tuning

A Short Guitar Study of Dropped D Tuning

Posted March 13, 2013 at 5:42 am | No comments

To start off this short study of the use of dropped D tuning in acoustic blues guitar picking, I play a short interpretation of Blind Willie McTell’s.

Posted in: Beginning Lessons, Guitar Lessons, Uncategorized

Acoustic Blues Guitar In A – Just One Perspective

Acoustic Blues Guitar In A – Just One Perspective

Posted March 4, 2013 at 5:00 am | One comment

I start this session with a short excerpt of a blues played in A in the style of Robert Johnson. This song is played using a monotonic bass technique and the sound is muted heavily with the palm of the picking hand after each strike.

Posted in: Beginning Lessons, Guitar Lessons, Uncategorized

Jim Bruce Acoustic Guitar Lessons: Acoustic Blues Finger Picking Basics – Bare Finger or Picks?

Jim Bruce Acoustic Guitar Lessons: Acoustic Blues Finger Picking Basics – Bare Finger or Picks?

Posted February 23, 2013 at 10:10 am | No comments

The newbie acoustic blues guitarist is faced with several choices when deciding to learn how to pick the blues in the old style.

Posted in: Beginning Lessons, Fingerstyle, Guitar Lessons, Uncategorized

Jim Bruce Acoustic Guitar Lessons – Basic Finger Picking – The Thumb Is King!

Jim Bruce Acoustic Guitar Lessons – Basic Finger Picking – The Thumb Is King!

Posted February 15, 2013 at 3:53 pm | 2 comments

As the first in a series of guitar instructional videos I’ll be presenting at Guitar International, I thought I’d start out with a video with about the classic Big Bill Broonzy song ‘Hey Hey’, in which I attempt to copy that swinging Chicago acoustic blues sound that he developed.

Posted in: Beginning Lessons, Guitar Lessons, Uncategorized

Jazz Improvisation: Licks as a Learning Tool

Jazz Improvisation: Licks as a Learning Tool

Posted December 29, 2012 at 6:54 am | One comment

The use of pre-composed licks as an essential step in learning to play jazz, and especially jazz guitar, seems to be a foregone conclusion.

Posted in: Guitar Lessons, jazz guitar lessons

Considering the Altered Scale

Considering the Altered Scale

Posted October 15, 2012 at 9:38 am | No comments

As guitarists, we have all benefited from moveable chord shapes and scale patterns. The fact that a single scale pattern, for instance, will retain its structure over a completely new collection of notes by simply sliding up or down the fretboard can be extremely useful, as well as practical in numerous playing situations. In fact, many guitarists make use of a wide variety of such patterns while improvising melodies without even thinking about what notes they’re playing.

Posted in: Guitar Lessons, jazz guitar lessons

An Introduction to Improvising for Rock and Metal Guitarists

An Introduction to Improvising for Rock and Metal Guitarists

Posted October 8, 2012 at 3:44 am | No comments

Improvisation is an interesting subject for many guitar players. From my experiences as a teacher and from playing with other guitarists I’ve noticed that the majority of Rock/Metal players prefer to avoid improvising when recording/performing.

Posted in: Guitar Lessons, Rock Guitar Lessons

Guitar Anatomy Part 4 – The Body Simple in Form Yet Complex in Craftsmanship

Guitar Anatomy Part 4 – The Body Simple in Form Yet Complex in Craftsmanship

Posted August 18, 2012 at 7:36 am | No comments

The acoustic guitar body, or “sound box,” is where the sound is perfected, enriched and enhanced. It is also the piece of guitar construction that helps suit a player’s size, sound desires, and playability.

Posted in: Building and Repair, Guitar Lessons