Think Pendulum!

Do you like to hear lead guitar parts on an acoustic guitar that are kind ambiguous--that is, where the pick dances lightly over the strings, and it is not really clear exactly what is going on? Or, do like to hear a lead break that is snappy, where the notes are bold and crisp and make a clear statement? I definitely prefer the latter.

If you are a guitarist who would like to go the "bold and crisp" route, let's start with the basics I always teach. The first thing you need to do is to start with a pick that is thick enough. Use at least a medium pick--usually about .73-.81mm. This may seem difficult at first, but it is absolutely necessary, so that you'll get strong, snappy notes.

Grip the pick firmly so that your thumb and index finger cover most of the area of the pick. I use a standard Fender 351 medium pick (or something comparable). Instead of holding it lengthwise, I hold the pick so that the top (that is, the shortest side) of the pick is lined up over the top of my thumbnail, and so that the edge of the top of the pick is hitting the strings. This may or may not be best for you, but, in any case, choke up on that pick to keep those notes loud and crisp.

Do not rest the palm or wrist of your picking hand on the bridge or on the top of your guitar. Your hand needs to float freely so that you can keep the edge of the pick at pretty much a 90 degree angle from the guitar top. Keep your pinky or ring finger (or both) stiff so that one of these fingers glides loosley over the top as a reference. This will definitely seem awkward if you are not used to it, but it is a must if you're going to be a good acoustic guitar picker!

Now that you have the fundamentals in order, think pendulum. A pendulum, by dictionary definition, is "a body so suspended from a fixed point as to move to and fro by the action of gravity and acquired momentum." Envision your picking hand as a pendulum, swinging freely from your elbow, with the pick held at a fixed 90 degree angle, dipping down to strike a string from the left--and then the right--and then the left--and then the right. The motion is not from the wrist, but is from the pendulum swinging from the elbow.

Now, simply implement what you have envisioned. Make that picking arm work like a pendulum, with the pick swinging down to cut into the strings. Here are some exercises to get you started. Play the low E string with 8 strokes: down-up-down-up-down-up-down-up. Now do the same thing on the open A string. Now, without breaking the rhythm, play the 8 notes on the E string and then the A, then the E and then the A. Now try the same thing but with only 4 notes each string: down-up-down-up. Now again, with just two notes per string: down-up. As you do these exercises, apply the pendulum principle. You'll find that your notes are beginning to sound like the notes of a real flatpicker!

The Epiphone EL-00

The Epiphone EL-00 is a great guitar for a player with a modest budget. I've owned one myself, and it was a real treat to play as I've always been partial to smaller-bodied guitars. The solid spruce top and the mahogany back and sides produce a sweet, yet punchy sound that really rings out. I'm glad that Epiphone has returned to the 24.75" scale on this guitar to match the Gibson L-00. (For awhile they went to a 25.5" scale--I never could figure that one out!) This is a lot of guitar for just $299.00! Just click below to see this guitar and get all of the details:
Epiphone EL-00 Acoustic Guitar Vintage Sunburst Chrome Hardware

Variety is the Spice of... Music?

Certainly you've heard the expression, "Variety is the spice of life." It could equally be said, "Variety is the spice of music." There are many ways this could be applied; here are three:

Your Repertoire

If you are building a repertoire, you want to carefully consider each song that might be included. If you missed my article in last week's newsletter, "Building Your Repertoire," you can read it at:

http://EzineArticles.com/?id=1006907

Variety is important in your repertoire because you want to keep presenting fresh, unexpected offerings to your audience. Don't fall into a rut of doing all the same kinds of songs. If you play rock, work a slow song into your up-tempo numbers about every third song--and make about one in three of your slow songs slow BLUES. If
you play fiddle tunes on the guitar, break up those fast tunes with a slow waltz here and there. Surprise you audience once in awhile with a really off-beat and unique piece.

Picking Up a Second Instrument

If you receive this newsletter, you probably play (or want to play) the guitar. Have you ever considered picking up a second instrument and learning to play it, even if you only learn to play it well enough to offer a few "novelty" tunes? I've played the guitar since I was 12 years old, and the guitar will always be my main instrument. But back in the late 1970's I bought a mandolin and
learned some tunes on it just to add a little variety to the things I was playing on the guitar. Recently I've purchased a 5-string banjo and I've learned only one song on it--John Hartford's "Steam Powered Aeroplane"--but that one song adds an interesting and unique piece to my repertoire.

Each Individual Song

Did you know that there is an opportunity for variety within each individual song you perform? Let's say there is a part A and a part B to a song and the parts are repeated. Why not make the second time around just a little different from the first? Throw in something different. If you picked the melody on the low strings
the first time around, pick it on the high strings, an octave higher. And tweak the melody with some different notes in a couple of places so that it is just slightly different than than before. It will keep things more interesting and your audience will appreciate it.

Variety truly is the spice of life, and this principle is very evident in music. The greatest musicians are always finding new ways to make things a little different and keep things fresh.

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How to Figure Out a Song by Ear

Have you ever wondered why some guitarists seem to be able to
figure out a song "by ear" with ease? This is a skill that anyone
can develop, but the guitarist with more experience will develop it
faster. Foremost in learning a song by ear is the simple commitment
to see the task through to completion. Sit down with your guitar
and CD player and determine that you will slowly break the song
down and learn it.

Learning the basic guitar chords will put you in a position of
strength for figuring out songs by ear. As you develop an
understanding of chords, you will come to recognize that the same
chord patterns are repeated over and over again in all of the songs
you listen to. With experience you'll learn which chords are most
often played in combinations together. Also, it will be helpful to
learn some basic music theory. Learning scales will be a big plus,
too!

Here is another tip: Follow the bass notes in the song you are
trying to learn! If the bass note is E, it is most likely the root
of the chord. The chord will likely be E major, E 7 or E minor.
Learn to listen for the changes--and the timing of the changes.
Bite off a little piece at a time and analyze each little segment
of the song. If you are willing to commit to this, everything will
come together! As you gain more experience learning songs by ear,
the process will become much easier for you, and it will take you
less time to learn a new song. The more songs you learn, the larger
your frame of reference will be for learning the next one you wish
to tackle.