Indice dei contenuti per March 2017 in Guitar Techniques

RICHARD BARRETT One of the best players around, Richard is adept at most styles but truly excels in the bluesier side of rock. He currently plays with Spandau’s Tony Hadley. SHAUN BAXTER One of the UK’s most respected music educators, Shaun has taught many who are now top tutors themselves. His Jazz Metal album is considered a milestone. JON BISHOP Jon is one of those great all-rounders who can turn his hand to almost any style. No ‘Jack of all trades and master of none’, he nails every one with ease! LES DAVIDSON Les has worked with Mick Taylor, Rumer, Jon Anderson, Pete Townshend, Tina Turner & more. He also runs a recording studio and teaches at BIMM London. CHARLIE GRIFFITHS Guitar Institute tutor Charlie first came to fame in…

“ONE LESSON WITH ANY GT TUTOR WOULD COST MANY TIMES THE PRICE OF A MAG THAT’S PACKED WITH OTHER STUFF TOO” LACK OF SONG TABS? I’ve been a collector of GT for many years, and it has always been an exhaustible resource for players such as myself (beginner to intermediate) and seasoned players alike. Recently, my cousin gave me his back catalogue of GTs, stretching back to issue 1. One thing that stood out during those early days was the number of transcriptions that were included, songs that guitar players could really get their teeth into. In recent issues, it appears that this has been lost to ‘technique’. Obviously, I understand that the clue is in the title, but the whole reason I got into guitar was because I wanted…

➊ Blues Ballad (Am) Slow Blues in A minor with an F7/ E7 turnaround at the end of each cycle. Use A Minor Pentatonic (A-C-D-E-G) as a starting point, adding the b 5 (E b ) to the mix as well. The basic triads will come in handy: Am (A-C-E), Dm (D-F-A), F (F-A-C) and E (E -G#-B). Also, search for ‘A Minor blues copycat jam’ on YouTube to learn some cool licks made especially for this jam. ➋ Jazzy Funk Jam (Dm) The basic chord progression here is Dm-G, but when practising your rhythm playing I recommend trying out chords like Dm7-Dm9-Dm11 and G7-G9-G13. Start with D Minor Pentatonic scale (D-F-G-A-C) for your funky riffing and soloing and then move on to D Dorian mode (D-E-F-G-A-B-C) for a bit…

GETTY IMAGES & ZUMA PRESS / ALAMY ON THE CD TRACKS 24-43 ABILITY RATING Info Key Various Tempo Various CDTRACKS 24-43 Will improve your… Syncopated rhythms Fingerstyle technique Stylistic knowledge Latin is such a vibrant and sexy musical genre that everyone should have a few of its styles and techniques under their belt. So the aim of this lesson is to provide you with some core concepts to help you build a vocabulary in various Latin music forms. We have chosen 10 contrasting styles and recorded a 16-bar performance piece for each - complete with individual backing tracks. The guitar plays a vital role in many of these styles and can also be used to play parts that a piano would otherwise handle. A nylon-string flamenco or standard classical guitar…

LIVEPIX “THIS MONTH’S TRACK IS A TYPICAL BRIT-ROCKER WITH SIMPLE CHORDS AND A SINGABLE SOLO” ON THE CD TRACKS 55-56 ABILITY RATING Info Key: E Minor/G Tempo: 96 bpm CD: TRACKS 55-56 Will improve your… Pentatonic soloing Grungy rhythm playing Creation of set ‘parts’ For rock fans, Oasis need very little in the way of introduction. They were, of course, built upon the explosive energy and sibling relationship of the Gallagher brothers: Noel who was the lead guitarist and principal songwriter, and vocalist Liam. They were joined by a somewhat changeable line-up, but early mainstays included Paul ‘Bonehead’ Arthurs on rhythm guitar, bassist Paul ‘Guigsy’ McGuigan and drummer Tony Carroll, later replaced by Alan White. Other members included guitarist Gem Archer, bassist Andy Bell and drummer Zak Starkey. The Gallagher…

WENN LTD / ALAMY “MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE THAT CROW WAS FEATURED BACKING VOCALIST ON MICHAEL JACKSON’S ‘BAD’ TOUR” ON THE CD TRACK 85 ABILITY RATING Info Key: G Tempo: 96 bpm CD: TRACK 85 Will improve your… Chord embellishments General timekeeping Open and barre chords This month’s artist is a veritable icon of the American rock scene. Although Sheryl Crow may not be renowned as a guitarist she is another fine example of the guitarist-songwriter for whom the acoustic guitar is at the heart of what they do. Crow has had a long and astonishing career within the music industry starting way before the explosion of her own stardom in the ’90s. Crow was born into a musical family in Kennett, Missouri on February 11th, 1962. She started…

“A CLICK CAN FOCUS THE MIND AND HELP YOU GET INTO ‘PRACTICE MODE’ MORE EASILY THAN DOING IT UNACCOMPANIED” ON THE CD TRACKS 91-95 ABILITY RATING Info Key: Various Tempo: Various CD: TRACKS 91-95 Will improve your… Picking accuracy Fretting-hand flexibility Muting of idle strings String skipping using alternate picking is a skill that will strengthen both your lead and rhythm playing. Moving the pick cleanly from one string to the next is a rudimentary skill that guitarists perform every day, but players like Steve Morse, John Petrucci, Al Di Meola, Kiko Loureiro and Paul Gilbert have all made picking into an art form. In this month’s trip to the woodshed we will take inspiration from those masters and putting the pick under the microscope and pushing our picking to…

I READ EVERY word in GT every month, but somehow rarely get round to going through it musically. So, one of the people that should get the most out of it doesn’t, because we move straight onto the next issue. Plus I gig, and I also want to get away from ‘work’ when I get home (excuses!). But a couple of features this issue caught my eye that I do intend to try - one because I’ve wanted to for years, and the other since my playing could seriously do with it. I don’t currently own a nylon-string guitar, but used to use one as my main ‘sofa’ instrument - I learnt all my Stevie Wonder songs on it! Jason acquired a lovely one recently though, so I’m thinking how…

NICOLE WEINGART THIS LICK illustrates a couple of tasty ideas. The first bar features the notes of an Em9 arpeggio (E-G-B-F-F#) played as straight 16th notes but grouped as three cells, each containing five notes - ending on a final B. Odd groupings like these ‘5s’sound less predictable than licks grouped in 3s or 4s. The second bar is a descending and ascending phrase involving sweep picking and legato that ends up on the 9th (F#). Licks like this can be heard a lot in jazz and fusion styles. Another way of looking at m9 arpeggios is that is they are the same note-wise as a regular Minor Pentatonic, only with a 2nd/9th added and the 4th removed. As always, after playing through this phrase, do come up with similar…

G & L DECIDES TO PULL THE PLUG on its Invader guitars. This offset double-cutaway model is loaded with a humbucking pickup in the bridge position and two single-coils. Each pickup has its own micro switch and there are master volume and tone controls. But sales are below par and sadly it has to go. PRIME MINISTER MARGARET THATCHER announces a £3 billion regeneration scheme to improve inner-city areas. She becomes the longest serving British prime minister of the 20th century, having served for well over eight years! Unemployment is also at its lowest level for almost eight years. David Steel decides not to stand for the leadership of the new Social and Liberal Democratic Party but Arthur Scargill’s narrow majority means he is re-elected as leader of the National…

“NOTE HOW AYNSLEY SHAPES HIS GUITAR SOLO FROM START TO FINISH, RATHER THAN SPITTING OUT A SLEW OF LICKS” ON THE CD TRACK CD-ROM ABILITY RATING Info Key: A minor Tempo: 145 bpm shuffle CD: CD-ROM track Will improve your String bending and vibrato Melodic blues soloing ‘Shaping’ of a solo This second track from blues ace Aynsley Lister is again centred on the guitar-friendly key of A. This time however we are moving to the Minor tonality, and instead of the classic 12-bar we are using a 32-bar form with an interesting turnaround (Am-C7-B7-B b 7), which is most effective. We have written out the chord chart for your reference. It’s fairly straightforward to solo over and basically stays on Am most of the time. As Aynsley explains in…

ON THE CD TRACKS 45-50 EASY LICKS EXAMPLE 1 THE DARKNESS CD TRACK 45 For this example inspired by Lowestoft’s finest, play the basic power chord pattern with strong downstrokes and an overdriven amp using a classic humbucker sound. Take note of the rests and mute the strings with the picking hand. EASY LICKS EXAMPLE 2 ROBIN TROWER CD TRACK 46 This is a nice swung lick on an A Minor Pentatonic scale with the emphasis on Robin’s slow and‘feeling’vibrato and some nicely placed stops to create a careful groove. Use a single-coil guitar on the in-between setting, along with a phaser effect. INTERMEDIATE LICKS EXAMPLE 3 ERIC JOHNSON CD TRACK 47 This is an example of how Eric uses lovely inversions to enhance a simple chord. Using the placement…

LIVEPIX “SUSTAIN AND VIBRATO ARE THE MAIN FEATURES IN THIS SOLO, SO AIM TO MAKE THOSE NOTES SING OUT AND EMOTE” ON THE CD TRACKS 57-68 ABILITY RATING Info Key: Various Tempo: Various CD: TRACKS 57-68 Will improve your… Expression and vibrato Alternate picking Fretting-hand legato Early in his career Neal Schon was part of Carlos Santana’s band, and the Latin and fusion influence he absorbed here is evident on Journey’s self-titled, prog rock tinged debut in 1975. Later in the ‘70s and early ‘80s the classic Journey sound emerged, blending radio-friendly hits with unforgettable rock solos. Schon is the only member of the band to have appeared on all 14 releases, from the debut in 1975 right up to Eclipse, released in 2011. We have five riffs and a…

DAVID LYTTELTON “AS WITH ANY OTHER TECHNIQUE IT’S YOUR TASTE AND DISCRETION THAT DICTATE WHICH IDEAS WORK FOR YOU” ON THE CD TRACK 86 ABILITY RATING Info Key: A Tempo: 128 bpm CD: TRACK 86 Will improve your… Seeing sus4 triads in a scale Use of sus4 triad-based lines Fretboard navigation The current series has been devoted to extracting various suspended 4th triads from within A Mixolydian as an antidote to just playing straight up and down the scale (ie using every note rather than extracting distinct flavours by being selective). In other words, working within the restrictions of a single concept like suspended 4th triads will help to force you out of your ‘usual’ step-based approach to scale playing and into less familiar, but fresher-sounding areas. Suspended 4th triads…

WHAT OUR RATINGS MEAN Album of the Month BRIAN SETZER’S ROCKABILLY RIOT! Surfdog/Cargo Records The King of modern Rockabilly is back with a corker of a live album and DVD recorded in Japan this year. Backed by drums, bass, keys and guitar this is the stripped-back Setzer, sans his big orchestra resulting in a more strutting rock and roll sound. Armed with his trademark Gretsch guitars, brown-faced Fender Bassman amp and a dash of slap-back echo, Setzer’s guitar tone is woody and wirey, recorded wonderfully here. As it’s a live gig, one expects some of his classics so it’s great to hear Stray Cat Strut, Rock This Town, Sleepwalk and Rumble In Brighton in all their glory. As for solos, standouts include the pull-off and bending rawness in Stiletto…

ALL THE BLUES CHORDS......You’ll Ever Need! There’s more than three! And this feature shows the cool shapes and sounds you may have heard but perhaps haven’t got to grips with. Enhance your rhythm chops, improve your writing, create better recordings! FEATURE #2 KILLER JAZZ-ROCK TIPS 10 exciting fusion ideas to play Mixing jazzy elements with a heavy rock tone is such an exciting sound. Get into fusion with this great article! TRANSCRIPTION EDWARD ELGAR Land Of Hope And Glory Bridget Mermikides arranges and transcribes one of our most rousing pieces - the legendary Proms closer! VIDEO MASTERCLASS AYNSLEY LISTER Soloing Secrets One of the UK’s finest blues-rockers plays his third and final improvised solo and explains his ideas and approach TECHNIQUE & THEORY THINGS TO LEARN & PLAY Hybrid picking…

Tap the links Finding your way around the magazine is easy. Tapping the feature titles on the cover or the contents page, takes you straight to the relevant articles. Any web and email links in the text are tappable too! Animated tab & audio Songs and lessons have the audio built in with a moving cursor showing you exactly where you are in the music. Simply tap the ‘play’ button then you can fast-forward or scroll back at will. Play the videos Certain articles have accompanying videos full of useful insight and additional information. Once again, tap the play buttons to enjoy video masterclasses on your iPad or smartphone. PLUS! Get a FREE iPad/iPhone sample of GT. For full details and how to receive our digital edition regularly, go to…

AUSTIN HARGRAVE  GT: Do you have a type of pick that you can’t live without? “WHAT ALWAYS INTERESTED ME WAS PLAYERS WHO HAD THEIR OWN SOUND AS SOON AS THEY PLAYED A NOTE” AK: I use anything! Mainly around 0.85mm, but I’m not too worried. I go between fingers and picks on songs for different sounds as well. GT: If you had to give up all your pedals but three, what would they be? AK: I don’t use any pedals at all! I like the fact that I have one guitar to work with and I use it in so many different ways to get different sounds! I use tone knobs and volume knobs a lot. GT: Do you play another instrument well enough to be in a band? AK:…

“IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO CROSS-FERTILISE THE LEAST LIKELY TECHNIQUES AND GENRES AND SEE WHAT YOU CREATE” ON THE CD TRACKS 4-23 ABILITY RATING Info Key Various Tempo Various CD TRACKS 4-23 Will improve your… Fretting-hand accuracy and stamina Hand-to-hand coordination Articulation and timing It’s hardwired into the nature of most musicians to constantly strive toward an ever increasing level of technical mastery. That might sound a bit grandiose at first, but it doesn’t actually have to mean virtuosic, rippling arpeggios or machine-gun-like alternate picking. It might just translate as smoother chord changes, more fluid improvisation, or simply better timing. Whichever way you look at it, it’s a very appealing thought to have the ability and freedom to accurately transpose our musical ideas from our brains, through our…

PHOTO RESEARCHERS / ALAMY “JS BACH CLAIMED THAT HANDEL ‘UNDERSTOOD AFFECT BETTER THAN ANY OF US’, AND BEETHOVEN DUBBED HANDEL ‘THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME’” ON THE CD TRACK 44 ABILITY RATING Info Key DMajor Tempo Various CDTRACK 44 Will improve your… Balancing melody and accompaniment Fretting hand stamina Melodic phrasing Among all composers of Western Art Music, George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) is among the most productive and well-respected. His output over his working life is almost unbelievable, and it’s hard to fathom how one human could produce 42 operas, 29 oratorios, over 120 cantatas, 84 hymns, 56 concertos, 23 concerti grossi and hundreds of other orchestral works, songs and instrumental pieces. Handel (a German who lived most of his life in London) was successful during his lifetime, and celebrated…

JORGEN ANGEL / IDOLS / PHOTOSHOT “LIFE IS LIKE A GREAT BIG WHEEL, YOU GOTTA GRAB AT THE SPOKES AS THE WHEEL GOES ROUND” Freddie King ON THE CD TRACKS51-54 ABILITY RATING Info Key: Am and E Tempo: Various CD: TRACKS 51-54 Will improve your Chicago style blues soloing Use of 6ths and other motifs String bending and vibrato Fred (aka Freddie) King is frequently referred to as one of blues guitar’s Royal Trio alongside BB and Albert. The Texas King! During the ’60s he rose to fame with his catchy, instant-hit style blues tracks, such as I’m Tore Down and The Stumble. Despite his early death at 42 his influence was hugely significant, particularly in providing the bridge that crossed the blues and rock genres, with Eric Clapton…

EPA / ALAMY “IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE. IT’S ABOUT GETTING YOUR POINT ACROSS AND MAKING A MEMORABLE IMPRESSION” George Benson ON THE CD TRACKS 69-84 ABILITY RATING Info Key: Various Tempo: Various CD: TRACKS 69-84 Will improve your… Sophisticated vocabulary Expression and delivery Rhythmicic variation Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1943 Gerge Benson started early, performing live on guitar and ukulele before he was even 10. He served his apprenticeship as a teenager with organist Jack McDuff and recorded his first solo album, The New Boss Guitar, just as he reached his 21st birthday. George was a member of Miles Davis’ band in the mid ‘60s, featuring on the albums Paraphernalia and Miles In The Sky. Benson continued his solo career with releases for both Creed Taylor’s CTI…

ON THE CD TRACKS 87-90 A natural harmonic occurs most commonly when an open vibrating string is touched at the 12th, 7th or 5th fret. But harmonics can also be used when a note is fretted on the neck - we just have to locate them by moving up to the corresponding position of 12 or 7 frets above the fretted note. This is then called an ‘artificial harmonic’. Producing harmonics from five frets higher is also possible on open strings but on fretted notes it’s much more tricky, so most players use the 12 or 7-fret interval to create artificial harmonics. Today therefore we will look at artificial harmonics played from 12 and seven frets above, and show how they can be combined with fretted notes to provide interesting…

RELATING TAB TO YOUR FRETBOARD HAND LABELLING Here are the abbreviations used for each finger: Fretting hand: 1, 2, 3, 4, (T) Picking hand: p (thumb), i (first finger), m (second), a (third), c (fourth). CHORD EXAMPLE The diagram represents the G chord in the photo. The ‘O’ symbol is an open string, and a circled number is a fretting finger. Intervals are shown below. SCALE EXAMPLE The diagram shows the fret-hand fingering for the A major scale (root notes in black). The photo shows part of the scale being played on the fourth string with first, third and fourth fingers. NUT & FRETBOARD The fretbox diagram above represents the fretboard exactly, as seen in the accompanying photo. This is for ease of visualising a fretboard scale or chord shape…