Learning Songs

One of my students recently asked for advice on learning songs. Her question was if learning one song at a time would be best or should she work on several all at once.
I thought this was a very good question so I wanted to share my response;
We all search for our own best way to practice. We want to find the best way to use what we know to learn what we want. However it is also a good idea to create avenues to further learning which can lead to the opening of more opportunities for new music. I suggested to start with a couple of songs with possibly the same or similar chord patterns but with different strum patterns. For example if you go to www.gtrteacher.com 
and click on the
Free Lessons tab
then scroll down and pick out the songs "Under the Board Walk" and "When the Sun Goes Down",
download the song information and listen to the videos you will be learning 2 different styles of songs but with similar chord patterns.
As you learn more songs you will become comfortable with the chord and strum patterns you have learned so when you choose a new song with similar patterns the learning will come much easier. At this point it's time to choose some thing new to begin to work on,  possibly a new chord pattern.
You will also find "Let It Be" at http://www.gtrteacher.com/ under the Free Lessons and here there is a new strum pattern along with the new chord pattern. Again, download the song information and start to work with the videos. Some times the new songs takes a little more work but this is how we learn and expand our playing and our song list.
Don't be afraid to try some thing new and if you have questions or just want to comment please let me know.

                 Six String Music is Good for the Soul
                                  Bob Swinton

Two Minute Song-Brown Eyed Girl

I had fun with the last 2 minute song and had many people comment that they enjoyed it. So I thought why not try another one. This time I chose Brown Eyed Girl and old Van Morrison favorite. I included the strum pattern, the intro musical phrase and a short practice session to work on the information I gave you. Not only is this a good way to learn the basics of the song but I believe this is a great way to share a new song with a friend or you can work on it together. Music is always more fun when you can share it with friends.
I will give you a link for the video and for the complete chords and lyrics;

http://www.screencast.com/users/guitarzan6/folders/Jing/media/bfc4b2b7-7662-48fe-adb7-87be966b150f
                                                                        Chord & Lyric Sheet
I hope you have a good time with this 2 minute song lesson and if you have a chance let me know what you think.

Bob

Two Minute Song

I have heard from some of my students, other guitar players and read on the Internet that some of you would like to learn to play guitar a little faster. I guess we would all like some things to go a little faster but learning guitar is not an over night project. However this gave me an idea to try and make some learning a little faster. I wanted to try and give you some songs that I could show in 2 minutes. I decided to use "When the Sun Goes Down" by Kenny Chesney as the first selection. Let me know what you think of this idea.

download complete chord and lyric sheet

http://www.music-ala-carte.com/images/stories/songs/sungoesdownchordlyric0001.pdf

If you have some ideas for 2 minute songs please let me know and I will give them a try.

Hope you enjoy my 2 minute songs.

Bob

Get Started Learing the Guitar for Free

Some times the best intentions create their own stumbling blocks. Many of you have said to yourselves, "I really want to learn to play the guitar" or "this summer I will start to learn to play the guitar". May be not exactly these words but some thing along those lines. And I believe you meant every word but things can get in the way; not enough time, I don't have a guitar, where do I find a guitar, where do I go for lessons or it's a little to expensive. All of these points are quite valid and I understand any or all of them can get in the way of what you would like to do. So, at http://www.gtrteacher.com/ I have tried to help out with some of these obstacles.
At Music Ala Carte I have online video guitar lessons, 24 hour access, you can learn and practice your guitar at any time. All videos are easy to follow and all exercises can be printed out any time. I also have a bargain box on the home page of  http://www.gtrteacher.com/ where you can find good deals on solid beginner guitars along with sites for other guitar accessories. The expense of musical instrument lessons has always been intimidating, the the guitar is no exception but at http://www.gtrteacher.com/ if you look under the FREE Lesson tab you will find beginning lessons and songs you can learn if you already know some chords or just want to try them on for size. I stronglyy recommend a visit to http://www.gtrteacher.com/ to take a look at learning the guitar online.
Please stop by and register so I can keep you updated on the news at Music Ala Carte.

Bob Swinton

First Performance

I woke up this morning remembering my first performance some 50 years ago. It was a state wide contest for strings; piano, violin and guitar. I was 10 with one year of classical guitar lesson under my belt and the ages of the contestants ranged up to 18 years old. My teacher told me that just learning a piece was just the start of the preparations for this performance, practice and repetition were the keys to a good showing at the contest. Well I learned the piece, Tempest, and I still play it today, I practiced over and over but I still remember feeling it was just not good enough for the contest. One day while practicing in my living room I began to imagine I was performing in front of a large group of people in a concert hall and a feeling came over me that I never felt before. All of a sudden I felt it very important the the song was played just right; the notes were correct, the phrasing was as I wanted, the intonations were all there and my technique was as it should be. I knew my concentration and effort needed to be at their peak and I had to be in control of the performance of the song. I have never forgotten that feeling and constantly strive for it in my performances today. My performance went well at the contest and I took 2nd place, I remember that performance as one of the best experiences of my childhood.
I hope you will get a chance to have a First Performance for yourself someday.

Six String Music is Good for the Soul

learn to read music

I got a call the other day from a guitar player that had decided that he wanted to attend a Music School for college. When he went for his first interview they informed him that he would be sight reading music for part of his audition for entry into the school. Well this particular guitar player had taken lessons for 5 years and had never learned how to read music. Oh he could figure it out given enough time but that is not what the college was looking for. He said he had 6 months before his audition and could I help him to learn to read music.
The process of learning to read music usually comes about through the years as you lean to play the guitar. All though many instructors on the internet try to tell you learning to play the guitar can happen in a short time I can tell you that learning music is not a quick process. It takes time and practice.
I designed a plan for him and set him up on http://www.gtrteacher.com/ to learn from the very beginning. A plan I recomend to all beginning guitar students. I advised him to move through the lessons quickly so as not to memorize the exercises and to be sure he was reading the notes and not going by just the patterns. I will then give him new sheet music at each lesson to check his progress as we go along. Along with lots of practice and reading of new music I believe we can accomplish our task in time.
For the beginning guitarist learning the notes string by string not only teaches the student how to read music but also helps to understand music and rhythm. It also gives the new student a chance to strenghten their hands and create agility with their fingers at a steady pace. This is not a process that happens all at once either.
Remember practice and repetition are the keys to learing to play the guitar.

Six String Music is Good for the Soul

Learn Guitar

I'd like to talk about learning and playing the guitar. Learnig music , and in this case, the guitar is an experience you can take with you through out your life. It brings comfort, confidence and a consistant companion where ever you go. I have used my acoustic guitar as entertainment for myself and my friends, ( they said they were entertained) as a way of making a very enjoyable living and as a peacefull get away for my self.
I have spent countless hours with my guitar just playing and listening to the beautiful sounds we can make. It can bring me back to reality and let me float off to a place where it is peaceful and scerene.
Online guitar lessons are a great way to get yourself started learning how to play the guitar. You can go to www.gtrteacher.com and you will find all the tools you need to begin your online guitar lessons.
You will find free lessons to help you begin your musical journey, useful videos for tuning and tablature along with easy to follow lesson videos and printable resources. There is even a bargin box to help you with purchasing your first guitar or locate a good source to buy strings
If you have been thinking about learning guitar, give it a try I know you will enjoy it.