Tajamman

Archive for April, 2011

When searching for gift ideas for guitar players look for items that will help propel their knowledge and skills. Tools that make learning to play more fun, easier to understand and provide experiences that would not otherwise be possible should be a top priority. Here are three categories of educational guitar gifts that are worth consideration.

Guitar Music Slow Down Devices: ($50 – $150 USD) When a guitarist reaches the advanced-beginner stage it is very common to want to learn to play popular songs. It can be difficult to listen to a song at full speed then figure out which notes and chords to play. This is especially difficult when the song contains a fast or complicated solo. 

Slow down devices play back dvds at much slower speeds without distorting the pitch of the song. Often a difficult part of the song can be set to continuously loop until it can be conquered. Two basic varieties are available. One is software that you load on your computer and the other is a modified dvd player.

Jam tracks or Backing Tracks: ($25 – $100) There is nothing more fun then playing lead guitar with a recording of a full band in the security and comfort of your own bedroom. Jam tracks are available in two versions; with and without the lead guitar part built in. They are also available in just about any genre of music from blues, rock, country and jazz, just to name a few. 

Video Guitar Lesson DVDs: ($50 -$200) There has never been a time in history where so many options have been available for learning to play guitar. No longer do you need to settle for the inconvenience and expense of being taught by a randomly selected local guitar instructor. Now it is possible to inexpensively learn in the comfort and convenience of your own home with Guitar Lesson DVDs.

One of the most exciting parts of these courses is that the instructors are often experienced professional guitarists that also have a passion for teaching. These instructors would normally not be available to the average student if it weren‘t for the invention of guitar courses on dvd.

Video Guitar Lessons come in many forms but there are two that are most prevalent. The first is an all around, thorough beginner through intermediate course that teaches both acoustic and electric guitar playing with a taste of many different popular styles.

Secondly there are many courses available that specialize on specific styles of music and techniques. Examples of these are blues, rock/metal, lead, improvisation, acoustic, electric, bass, classical and many more.

Since the quality and thoroughness of these courses vary greatly, it is a great idea to visit guitar lesson review websites to learn which are the good ones and why. Also, make sure that the these instructional dvds have a money back guarantee if your favorite guitar player is not satisfied for any reason.

All beginner guitarists who want to play rock songs are itching to get started playing chords right away. So let us get some insight into the process of learning beginner guitar chords for rock songs. Naturally you can apply the basic ideas you find in this article to any genre, but the techniques for playing chords are mostly for rock guitarists. The best way to introduce you to guitar chords is to list some easy rock songs and the chords that you need to learn in order to play them. As guitar chords and tabs are easy to find on the internet, I will leave it to you to do a search for the songs you decide to play.

Sunshine Of Your Love by Cream – A C G D F

Blitzkrieg Bop by The Ramones – A D E B

Pink Houses by John Cougar – G C F D

Wild Thing – A D E

La Bamba – C F G

As Tears Go By – G A C D

Okay, that should be enough to get any beginner guitar player started. If you do not like the idea of playing the songs that I have listed, then just do a web search for easy rock songs. The songs listed above have these chords in common: C D E F G A B. So you have the seven major chords as your basic chords for rock songs. All of these chords can be played at the first position but in the F chord you have no alternative to playing a bar chord. Or do you?

This is the F chord as a bar chord:

e–1—————————-

B–1—————————-

G–2—————————-

D–3—————————-

A–3—————————-

E–1—————————-

You can play the F chord without the bar this way:

e–X—————————-

B–1—————————-

G–2—————————-

D–3—————————-

A–3—————————-

E–X—————————-

Simply place your left hand fingers to make the bar chord, then lift the first finger and place it at the first fret on the second string. The first and sixth strings are not played. If you move this chord up to the third fret you will have a G chord and at the fifth fret, the A chord. Any barre chord can be fingered this way, and some guitarists use these “internal” chords all the time. You use four fingers to play four string chords.

Of course, most guitarists will tell you that you should learn to play the bar chord fingering, and I agree with them. It takes a few weeks to begin to play the bar chords effectively and a few months before you are playing them with no problems, but once that is done, you are set up for a lifetime of guitar playing. The four string chords are just a way of enabling you to play more songs without too much delay.

Another way of moving chords up and down the guitar neck is by the use of power chords. Power chord is the name rock guitarists have given to a two note chord containing the root note of the chord and the note a fifth above the root. Common practice has become to play the root note an octave above, for example to play a power chord instead of E major you would play the notes E and B.

e–0—————————-

B–0—————————-

G–x—————————-

D–2—————————-

A–2—————————-

E–0—————————-

In the above example if you play with a pick you just damp the G string with a left hand finger and strum all the strings. Or you might prefer the effect when you do not play the top E string so that the E B E B ring out on the lower strings.

Two of the world’s greatest musicians, songwriters and entertainers are back on tour! Elton John & Billy Joel’s Face 2 Face tour, named the most successful and longest-running concert pairing in pop history, is reuniting this March for a series of shows through 2009 and 2010.

The two piano men first toured together in 1994, and then again in 2003, where they saw a string of 24-dates sell out immediately. With a mutual admiration for each other, it’s clear to see why these two legends are able to share the stage.

John is quoted as saying, “I love touring with Billy. I have the greatest respect for him and we’re such good friends,” while Joel has declared, “The great thing about performing with Elton is that he is such a good piano player and that makes me have to dig deep to keep up with him, not to mention I’ve got the best seat in the house-only one piano away from Elton John!”

John and Joel are set to open the concerts with a series of duets, playing twin pianos and sharing vocal duties before each artist takes to the stage with their own band to perform their individual sets. Then, in true showmanship fashion, the two legends return to the stage together for a grand finale encore. With a set list made up of both of the artists’ greatest hits and rock n’ roll classics, this is a concert sure to delight any music lover!

The Face 2 Face tour will crisscross North America off-and-on as John finishes his hit show, The Red Piano, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in April. More 2009 dates are still to be announced, along with international dates for 2010.

March 2, 2009 – Jacksonville, FL USA – Jacksonville Arena

March 5, 2009 – Tampa, FL USA – St. Pete Times Forum

March 7, 2009 – Charlotte, NC USA – Time Warner Cable Arena

March 10, 2009 – Cincinnati, OH USA – US Bank Arena

March 14, 2009 – Atlanta, GA USA – Philips Arena

March 17, 2009 – Tulsa, OK USA – The BOK Center

March 19, 2009 – Houston, TX USA – Toyota Center

March 21, 2009 – San Antonio, TX USA – AT&T Center

March 26, 2009 – Phoenix, AZ USA US – Airways Center

March 28, 2009 – Anaheim, CA USA – Honda Center

March 30, 2009 – Anaheim, CA USA – Honda Center

May 2, 2009 – Fargo, ND USA – Fargodome

May 5, 2009 – St. Paul, MN USA – Xcel Center

May 7, 2009 – Madison, WI USA – Kohl Center

May 12, 2009 – Omaha, NE USA – Qwest Center

May 14, 2009 – St. Louis, MO USA – Scottrade Center

May 16, 2009 – Nashville, TN USA – Sommet Center

May 19, 2009 – Indianapolis, IN USA – Conseco Fieldhouse

May 21, 2009 – Auburn Hills, MI USA – The Palace

May 23, 2009 – Cleveland, OH USA – Quicken Loans Arena

May 26, 2009 – Toronto, ON Canada – Air Canada Centre

May 30, 2009 – Toronto, ON Canada – Air Canada Centre

June 1, 2009 – Ottawa, ON Canada – Scotiabank Place