It is always best to really loosen those fingers up before really getting into a new (or old) song. It will stretch and strengthen your fingers and allow you to play progressively harder and harder pieces…..
You can check out Mike’s lessons by clicking here
It’s day number 3 in our Greatest Songs Series. Today’s song is “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley. The video that I have chosen comes from my buddy Desi Serna. He is an incredible guitar player and teacher, and has even been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine for his online guitar instruction books. This video will show you not only how to play the song, but will explain how to solo over the song using the major/pentatonic scales. There is a link to his site below the video if you want to check it out (there’s a free 25 page ebook offer that is very cool). Enjoy!
Scales, Chords, Progressions & More
Fretboard Theory 2008
The new generation of guitar instruction, Fretboard Theory,
is a shape and pattern-oriented method for jamming, creating and
understanding guitar-driven music. With an emphasis on the guitar
player’s unique perspective, this is the only book of its kind to
include references to hundreds of popular songs! See how chords,
scales, modes, intervals, extensions and progressions apply to your
favorite music. Learn the secrets to songs by Led Zeppelin, Jimi
Hendrix, Blink 182, Pearl Jam, Sublime, Santana, Nirvana, Metallica,
Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, The Grateful Dead, The Rolling Stones, Stevie
Ray Vaughan, Dave Matthews Band and more! Compose and improvise your
own melodies, riffs, solos, bass lines and chord progressions.
Guitar/Bass edition. Acoustic/Electric. Download a free 25 page
preview at www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com.
If you have looked online for guitar lessons at all then you have probably run across the “Jamorama” guitar learning package. The first thing you see on the sites sales page is:
WHO ELSE Wants To Learn To Play Guitar Step-By-Step Like The Eagles, Green Day, Pink Floyd, Guns ‘n Roses, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Eric Clapton, The Beatles and more?
Pretty convincing stuff right? Well I bought it and am not exactly playing like Jimi or Eric (and yes I practiced). Jamorama isn’t a bad course. It just isn’t a great course, in my opinion. I’ve heard from others that they really liked it and it helped them out alot. I suspect that for many people this is the case. Here’s what a newbie said about it:
“This is a basic Get you up and playing course - the idea is to get you used to playing chords - thats it - nothing really on scales or theory or lead breaks, just chords. Overall the written material and is good, easy to use and an ideal way to give you confidence. You can’t teach yourself with this course but you can get started. In the end you will need to get a teacher, no getting away from it. Having said that, I started out with this course and it gave me the confidence to continue playing.”
If you want to check it out for yourself you can check out the link here:
Next Level Guitar (David’s lessons)
Here’s probably the best 100% FREE resource I have found for newbie guitarists…
Guitar For Beginners.com Site and Forum
Make sure to join the forum, it is great! Also check out the lessons Kirk put up.
I’ve had a lot of people ask me, “Which guitar should I buy?” or “How do I know what to look for?” Well, I’ve found a great little video by my buddy David that explains what to look for, variations in different woods, sound differences, etc. Check it out below.
I own a Blueridge BR-160 (You can see it in my videos :)) and I really enjoy playing it. The wood has “warmed up” since I bought it and it sounds better everyday! Keep playing friends.
I highly recommend David’s videos and website. Many of them are free and they are excellent for beginners. He explains everything very clearly and it really helped my when I first started out (well it still helps me today to be honest).