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Guitar Lesson Review Proves the Value of Learning Online

by Daniel R. Lehrman on May 14, 2012

Guitar lesson reviews

Passionate guitar lesson reviews 100% unbiased

I have always enjoyed taking guitar lessons. From the beginning, in 1967, playing the guitar was fun, and I loved my guitar teacher. I enjoyed practicing too, because my teacher and dad never made it a chore. The biggest question nowadays is whether to choose from learn at home guitar lessons, online video guitar lessons, online Guitar DVD lessons that come in a nice sturdy package, or some form of down-loadable digital guitar lesson. Read on, this guitar lesson review may answer your questions.

I have used learn at home video lessons extensively for a while and had great success. I decided that each of the sites I was interested in had some viable lessons for me. I ended up trying to learn some guitar tricks from leaders in online video guitar lessons for beginners. I used guitar educational schools at different times, so I did not have to pay for two memberships at once, in part, and because the learn to play the guitar school I was using at said time had exactly what I wanted to learn on it, and that is where 100% of my focus was.

Basically I used both sites over a period of two years to become a high level intermediate player. I’ll say this. I practice a lot. Or, you can say I play a lot. I start every session out practicing basic essentials or a new lick. I never have anything set in stone. After about 15 to 30 minutes of practice time, I’m playing the guitar. I practice way more than the person who considers it a chore, plus, I’m more advanced than most players who have been playing as long as myself.

I’m not bragging, I am a super diligent practice/player, and I work harder than anyone. I also have used good tools, like the best online video guitar lessons. And accurate backing tracks, or a metronome or both. A must do.

What is the difference? Practicing the guitar takes thought, which means one is not being spontaneous. playing the guitar did not take conscious thinking, one is in the zone so to speak when they are playing the guitar.

Do whatever it takes to prepare yourself mentally every time you sit down to practice your guitar. I enjoy my practice sessions like crazy. I have no desire to perform for anyone, so just the act of playing brings great joy. I don’t care if 10 people listen, 100 people listen, or I play alone, I like to make music. I have my own voodooo vibe now, one I have developed over many years. Now go develop your own vibe. GPC

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3rd Term Paper Music Theory and Fundamentals.

by Daniel R. Lehrman on May 3, 2012

Guitar lesson review

Beginner guitar lessons

This is my 3/4 college term paper. It is about comparing two different composers and musicians and their music and styles from different eras. Take some time to read it. It is truly interesting. If the below subject is over your head musically, no worries. This is a special post, you can choose from all sorts of lessons that will get you playing right now. We have plenty of guitar lesson reviews from beginning guitar lessons, children’s-kids, intermediate and advanced.

My comparison will be between composers and musicians George Frederic Handel [classical/baroque] and Jimi Hendrix [rock/blues]. Specifically, I will compare their musical approaches and styles.

Interestingly, both men shared adjacent flats in England some 200 years apart; but the similarities go deeper than that. Both were considered radical at the time, and both were prone to doing what interested them rather than the public. Both composers, one from Germany and one from the U.S., eventually lived in Britain, and both men changed the face of music. One man did so with a harpsichord and exceptional compositional skills, the other with an electric guitar, pencil, any medium to write on, skills and imagination beyond anything anyone had heard before. Both men had physical equipment, dexterity and minds for music beyond other now famous musicians and composers. These men wrote the rules for their musical discipline of their times.

George Frederic Handel was born on February 23rd 1685 in Germany. Another great composer was also born in the same year: Johann Sebastian Bach. Handel was an interesting fellow. Handel did not have his parent’s support for music. So he made his own way by moving to Hamburg at the age of 18 taking a job as a violinist in the Hamburg opera.

Handel was stubborn and loyal to baroque music as supporters and friends tried in vain to persuade him to convert to English opera. It was to no avail, and he suffered several serious failures. But Handel did change his compositional writing from opera to oratorio. An oratorio is primarily different from an opera in the subject matter of the text. An oratorio tends to deal with sacred subjects the church approved of. In an oratorio little interaction is taken between the characters, with no elaborate costumes or props.

Handel became a favorite of Royalty after making the acquaintance of Prince Ferdinando de’ Medici. Because Italy was one of the centers of all types of musical activity in the early 1700s, this turned out to be a very significant visit; baroque music (1600 to 1750), like music of any period, has its musical clichés, and much of what is typical of baroque music can be traced back to Italy and particularly to Corelli, an Italian violinist and composer of Baroque music. But Handel’s musical would become the most popular of all. When he was in England, he was so popular he has been called the first rock star. When the Messiah was first performed, the King was so thrilled by it, that he is said to have risen to his feet, almost mesmerized, when the “Halleluiah Chorus” was sung.

Another rock star, James Marshall Hendrix was born Johnny Allen Hendrix on November 27, 1942 in Seattle Washington. He is recognized by most as the greatest electric guitar player and composer ever.

Jimi was a good child and human being. He had a difficult upbringing, as his mom was an alcoholic and died of cirrhosis of the liver in her early 20s. He was a good student, his dad bought him his first [used] guitar at age 6 on the advice of one of his teachers.

Hendrix was an anomaly as an electric guitar player who was not well accepted in America in 1966. This lack of acceptance prompted Hendrix to travel to London where his style of music was beginning to thrive and be popular. As indicated, Jimi rented Handle’s flat in London. Jimi had a reason for moving to that flat. He knew of Handel from the “Messiah,” respected him, and wanted to live in what he thought was Handel’s old residence. That was not a coincidence. Contrary to popular belief, Jimi also was a gentle and giving person and never refused tours of his apartment to musicians, music students or anyone who knocked on the door looking for traces of the Handel.

Because they shared adjoining eighteenth century London flats, in 2010, about 40 years after Hendrix’s death, an exhibition and display of his London flat was open for a year. The show was put on by the Jimi Hendrix Experience Organization. Mr. Handel lived at 25 Brook Street, for 36 years in a flat until he died in 1759. The Jimi Hendrix Experience organization put on a museum tour of the Hendrix/Handel Flat from 2010 to 2011. The museum resurrected as much of, and as close as possible, a copy of Mr. Hendrix’s flat.

As England was a hot bed for Handel in the early 1800s, it was equally as hot in the mid twentieth century, especially to musicians who played the guitar. New genres of music were becoming popular. The blues and rock were becoming popular, and the guitar was the perfect tool to express those styles.

When Hendrix combined those styles, he shook the music world like no one else had in hundreds of years; he hit London like a tornado and never gave it back. Jimi Hendrix became the greatest modern guitar mind ever. His innate abilities to extract new sounds and rhythms were unexplainable and addictive. He authored an unbelievable amount of songs in his brief 4 year career. He also rewrote several songs, which became associated with him. Bob Dylan wrote “All Along The Watchtower”, yet he literally gave the song to Hendrix for his rendition. The song “Hey Joe” is often thought to be one of Mr. Hendrix’s song, though it was written by Billy Roberts as a country song.

Jimi Hendrix changed my musical world the first time I heard his music in 1966 [on a bootleg radio station]. Never again was I to play a classical guitar. His music infected the parts of the brain that deciphers music and the emotions it produces. To be exact, music affects those parts of the brain in every normal human. Thus everyone may enjoy different types of music. Even the tiniest differences can be interpreted by every brain in a unique manner. Jimi makes my brain feel good.

Music was more open minded in London in the 1960s, just as it was in the early 1800s. In America he was too unusual, unorthodox. Jimi had no formal training. In fact he was completely self-taught. He also changed the way the electric guitar was viewed. Like Segovia, every guitar player owes a thank you to Jimi Hendrix.

In England the electric blues were making a heavy impact. Many great rock and blues musicians were born in, or came to England in the twentieth century. A few of the great guitar players of said era that contributed to this new music scene were/are: Eric Clapton, Jimmy page of Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones and Yngwie Malmsteen, who played classical music on an electric guitar.

Comparing Classical baroque music to the blues or rock is like comparing apples to oranges. To begin with, everybody interprets music differently. Second, each type of music uses different scales and rhythmical patterns. The only fair comparison is in how the music is written and structured and played. The blues makes use of a relatively modern scale system called the pentatonic scale. Specifically, the blues uses pentatonic minor scales and the pentatonic blues [chromatic] scale. These scales suggest stress, tension and less happiness. Pentatonic scales use only 5 notes. In contrast, Baroque music makes use of major and minor scales. Still, both Hendrix and Handel’s music elevates peoples’ mind; both were composers and musicians whose audiences did not only hear their music but felt it.

Remember that this is far from a beginning guitar lesson and should be taken as such. For those who find this interesting, start with the guitar class assignment 1 lesson review of this college course. For absolute beginners, or folks simply not interested in this, go right to our guitar lesson review page and read our detailed, accurate and unbiased reviews. GPC. Guitar Players Center.

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Guitar Lesson Review Minor Scales

by Daniel R. Lehrman on April 30, 2012

The minor scale is somewhat more complicated than the major scale. Here is a brief guitar lesson review of chapter 9. Chapter 8 was on the major scales.

The minor scale is another 8 note scale system using the same notes as the basic scales with different sets of accidentals applied to each successive note to form a minor scale. Another mathematical manipulation of intervals producing unique scale patterns. The numbered tones [notes] of the basic scale are written in sequential order. The successively numbered positions are called degrees. Because each pitch in the scale functions in a particular way with respect to the others, scale degrees are numbered with Roman numerals in most cases.

The minor scales are a bit more complicated than major scales. Tetrachord/s becomes a more important term now. Four pitches is a brief definition of the term. Scales are the backbone of the music system. Using scales such as the minor scales, practicing them on the instrument of your choice is the best way to become familiar with them and put them to their best use. By using the scales, the mind will remember them faster and understand them better. It also allows said person to use the scales creatively and create unique sounds. The best way to learn scales is to use them. Physically using your knowledge will embed this in ones muscle memory faster.

The lower tetrachord interval uses the same accidentals in each minor scale. W H W is the lower tetrachord interval. It is the top tetrachord interval that has different accidentals applied to the Harmonic and Melodic minor scales. Excluding the descending Melodic minor scales, which uses the natural minor accidentals pattern.

Note: W = one whole interval. H= one half interval. Augmented = one and one half intervals. ^ indicates where a half interval goes. ^ indicates an augmented interval. w is the whole note interval between tetrachords.
1. Starting with the Natural minor scale the interval pattern is as such:
C D ^ bE F G ^ bA bB C
W H W w H W W
[upper tetrachord] H W W
Note: The small w is a whole note which separates the two tetrachords in all minor scales.
[lower tetrachord] W H W

Note: The lower tetrachord is of one W H W interval pattern. This is a constant in all of the minor scales.

2. Next is the Harmonic minor scale with it’s unique set of intervals. The bottom tetrachord is as such W H W, which is the same for all minor scales. The top tetrachord is where the difference in intervals lies.
The interval pattern is as such: between 2nd and 3rd [degrees] = W interval, 5th and 6th [degrees] = W interval, 7th and 8th [degrees] = augmented interval [one and one half intervals].

Reminder: [ ^ indicates augmented 1.5 interval]

A B ^ C D E ^ F G ^ #A
W H W w H W WH

3. Melodic Minor Scales: Ascending form and Descending form. Two separate scales. The descending form of the Melodic minor scale uses the same interval pattern as the natural minor scales. The ascending form of the melodic minor scale uses half intervals between the 2nd and 3rd degrees and the 7th and 8th degrees.

By learning the finger patterns visually on said instrument facilitates the process of both reading and recognizing notes, and patterns becomes easier. Incorporating two parts of the brain. This in effect is making music. Using the knowledge learned in earlier chapters it is possible for the student to write the desirable sounds in musical notation now, for future reference. Which is exactly why musical notation was invented.

It’s not super important to understand this material  for beginning guitar lessons because we teach the easy and fun stuff here. Take advantage of our top rated 100 percent unbiased guitar lesson reviews. You can count on the accuracy of each review from our accredited reviewer. Guitar Players Center GPC.

 

Chapter 8 Review. The Major Scales.

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Chapter 8 Review. The Major Scales.

by Daniel R. Lehrman on April 26, 2012

The major scale system is an amazing invention. It consists of an 8 note scale using the same notes as the basic scales. The major scales use accidentals (or half note shifts), whereas basic scales use no accidentals (or whole notes shifts). When you add accidentals to a scale, it changes the basic 8 note scales into 8 note major scales. In other words, a major scale can be made out of any basic scale note by applying the correct accidentals. For me it is purely mathematical and requires tremendous learning and concentration skills over many years to remember each pattern in my muscle memory.

Major scales use the same interval pattern. Regardless of the keynote, the major scale starts on the note of your choice. In the major scale, the intervals are always counted in the same pattern. In particular, the whole notes and half notes appear in a consistent pattern between the 3rd and 4th degrees, and the 7th and 8th degrees.

For future purposes a whole note will be represented as a W. A half note will be indicated by an H.

Ex. #1: Below is the major scale interval pattern applied to the G basic scale:  G A B C D E F G  [basic scale].

 

W   W   H  ^ W   W     W    H ^  W    major scale interval pattern

1     2    3      4    5      6      7      8

G    A    B     C    D     E    #F     G    G Major scale.

 

^ Represents: the area where the half interval goes.

 When the basic scale of G has the proper accidentals applied to it as in ex.1 above, it becomes the G major scale. This fact applies to every note in the basic scales.

The starting note for a scale is called the keynote. The above scale is G major. As example #1 shows, the intervals always come between the third and fourth notes/degrees, and the 7th and 8th notes/degrees. So, depending on the note you choose as a keynote, the intervals will naturally rotate, but the finger pattern won’t.

For example, if one is considering a G major scale.

The neck of the guitar has at least 12 frets. Starting with the thickest string, called the low E string: when the string is strummed with no frets pushed down than open e note is sounded. Then as each of the 12 successive fret gets pushed down, the next sequential note is sounded, thus forming the chromatic scale. With that thought in mind, it is easy to establish a consistent pattern to play the major scale on the guitar neck. When this pattern is used in the exact same manner, it produces a major scale on every fret of the guitar neck on the low E string; that is, it produces the entire chromatic set of notes in the major, using all of the tones.

You can play 13 scales total if you start with the proper keynote on the low E string; using all 6 strings on the guitar and  the exact same finger pattern, you move up [and down] the neck of the guitar from fret to fret [position to position]. The thirteenth scale or keynote is the octave.

E F #F G #G A #A B C #C D #D E [E being the octave] Chromatic scale.

In finality, the term Tetrachord/s: A method of breaking a major scale into 2 groups of 4 pitches. The upper tetrachord and lower. Both the upper and lower tetrachords of any major scale contain the exact same intervals. Meaning the top and bottom tetrachord both use the interval pattern of two whole steps and one half step. Each tetrachord is seeped by a whole note. Or may be indicated by the W W H w W W H interval pattern.

 

Guitar lesson review by Daniel Lehrman of Guitar Players Center. GPC

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The 1st Master Guitar Classes

by Daniel R. Lehrman on April 9, 2012

Fundamentals Project #3 – Spring 2012..due 3/30/2012 is to write about a composer or musician who is famous and was involved with and or wrote orchestarl music. I choose to write on a lesser accepted orchestral instrument because, first off, I am a guitar player, and secondly, the guitar is every bit as qualified to play with an orchestra as any other instrument. Just because it may be considered a newer instrument, there is no reason for orchestral folks to be so stuffy and stubborn. I think you may find this an interesting guitar lesson review.

The instrument I chose to write about is the guitar. In particular, I want to write about the player, transcriber, composer and teacher, Andre Segovia( February 21, 1893 – June 2, 1987). Known as the man who reintroduced the guitar to the world in the early to mid 20th century, Segovia made it possible for audiences to see and hear the instrument in a new and different manner. Although the guitar is and was not generally included in orchestra music, Segovia almost single-handedly helped new music to be written for the guitar for orchestra, in ensembles and as a solo instrument.

Segovia believed that education and teaching the guitar were the keys to its revival. He influenced so many guitar players that it is impossible to put a number to it. By played publicly, and on tour all over the world, he exposed more people to the instrument and thus more people accepted the guitar as a classical instrument. He was known to teach master-classes all over the world to which only the finest guitar players were invited. Using his techniques, a whole new generation of guitar player was being created.

It’s hard to document exactly what original music Segovia composed, but some original contemporary pieces of music for the guitar are known. Not surprisingly, they usually have a Spanish influence, since that was his birth country. Segovia also transcribed many works for other instruments, so that they could be played on the guitar. He may be best known for his transcriptions. A limited quantity of written music was a major problem for classical guitar players in general, especially during the early years of Segovia’s career. He was forced to learn to transcribe other works for the guitar. His unequaled abilities of transcribing works for other instruments required much time, detail and care. It also required devising symbols to represent the different positions on the guitar neck.

Segovia spent much of his time focusing on Renaissance and Baroque pieces which were composed for the lute or Spanish vihuela [which was guitar like instrument] that were the predecessors of the guitar of today. While he resided in Germany, his search for music adaptable to the guitar provided a discovery: the lute works of Sylvius Leopold Weiss.

Lute works were the easiest to adapt, and were beautiful beyond the belief of most people when played on the guitar. One of Segovia’s most important finds was a group of Bach’s works that were perfectly suited to be transcribed for the guitar. Segovia believed that many of Bach’s solo pieces were originally written for lute and later transcribed by him for other instruments. Although there are no issues with the exacting, perfecting details of Segovia’s transcriptions of the masters, there is still some doubt among the experts over the validity of his theory on compositions for the lute. The structural suitability of Bach’s music, after being transcribed for the classical guitar, as demonstrated by Segovia’s transcriptions, has had unquantifiable positive influence on the acceptance of this instrument.

In addition to his composing, Segovia’s performances were legendary and how he first became known. Being both a great musician and transcriber helped Segovia compose and play original music with a unique personal style. When Segovia played, sweet music flowed from his fingertips, mesmerizing the people who listened to him. The richness of his tone and his unusual manual dexterity combined with his fierce determination. Segovia was a man who valued thinking independently from conventional wisdom. On a personal note, I had the privilege of seeing Segovia perform live at least 4 to 6 times before I was 14 years old with my dad.

Because of Segovia, many influential classical composers began to write for the guitar. For example, Manuel de Falla (November 23 1876 to November 14 1946). was one of Spain’s most important composers and musicians. Because of Segovia, de Falla’s composition, Pour le Tombeau de Claude Debussy, was arranged specifically for guitar.

Hector Villa-Lobos (March 5, 1887 – November 17, 1959) was the most prolific Brazilian composer and musically creative figure of the 20th century. He also wrote guitar music because of Segovia. Another Segovia inspired composer was Manuel Ponce (December 8th 1882 to April 24th 1948). He was a Mexican composer and a scholar and expert on Mexican popular music and folklore. Finally (among many others), Joaquín Rodrigo increased the public’s opinion about the guitar by writing compositions which included the instrument in orchestral music. This was a totally new idea, since t eighteenth and nineteenth century composers Hayden, Mozart, and Beethoven never wrote for the guitar.

In the end, Segovia was more than an ordinary musician. He was one of the first classical guitar players to receive international attention His skills were beyond anyone else’s at the time. His desire to learn was so strong that he took it upon himself to become an authority on playing guitar. With few lessons he developed many of the techniques currently used in playing guitar by the best players.

In essence, Segovia created the groundwork for every classical guitarist of today. He compelled guitarists and composers of the day to create works specifically for the guitar and himself. It was Segovia’s unequalled ability to effortlessly create sounds that no one had heard before.

Andres Segovia can be credited with bringing respectability to the guitar. He also allowed the guitar to become a serious concert instrument. He turned the guitar into a legitimate instrument for the discerning music public. It was no longer considered an instrument played in dim joints in shady places anymore.

I know most of you had no idea who this guy is before reading this review. And , it is not important to remember it. Though you will run across it in your music and guitar studies. This is not the right place to come for beginning guitar lessons. For lessons such as those, for any age, let me recommend the guitar lesson reviews worth reading. They will help you decide what lessons are best for you. And of course, please feel free to ask me anything in the comment area. Guitar Players Center. com

 

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You Must Check This Online Guitar Lesson Review Out

by Daniel R. Lehrman on March 29, 2012

My writings have been limited to the music class I am taking at the college. It is the first class in a series of music theory classes. The one I am taking right now is an online guitar lesson. For real. This 4 year State College is very modern and offers a good variety of online classes. This is actually a guitar lesson review and comparison between a college level course and a how to play guitar for beginners class, which is also an online guitar lesson.

It ‘s not a fair comparison either. The course I am taking has nothing to do with musical skills. It is theory, pure and simple. Anyone who works hard enough can learn theory of music and not play an instrument. Fundamentals of Music Theory is a non emotional course. Purely technical.

The online guitar lessons and beginning guitar lessons I review and recommend are purely for your education and enjoyment. That’s the best way to start. We want to conjure up some emotion, exercise the part of your brain that feels the spirit of a piece of music. Everyone is different, and thus different music for everyone. The idea is to capture your imagination, and use it too teach you guitar in the most pleasant and solid manner. Why not learn something you enjoy as you learn guitar? There is no rule that it has to be all work and little fun. Make all of it fun, in the end, it’s all playing the guitar. Fun.

In order to keep the mind clear and focused, learning an instrument can be purely musical. If you wanted to learn an easy guitar song fast, most intelligent people can be taught one fast. For instance if you like a particular song, one you know well, which has 4 chords in it. Four chords that repeat the same pattern. Then learning 4 easy guitar chords is not that big of a task. I am not suggesting you bypass the essential lessons on basic guitar technique using a solid background structure. I am saying that gratification can be had fast.

Now, let me tell you something. The class I am taking is boring.. the teacher is disinterested, I have yet to receive any feedback. It is very un-motivating to think your teacher does not read your assignments. That maybe the teacher just does not care or is overloaded. Which is not conducive to learning. Students want credit for their efforts. Even the Dean of the department, The Dean of fine Arts seems un-motivated to contact the teacher and find out why I have no grade on any assignment I have turned in. And I’m pissed about it. I don’t even know if the teacher reads my hard work.

Why do I do it. I need to learn the finer details of the theory of music to be the most qualified reviewer online. It is my responsibility to you to provide the best information available. But I’ll tell  this, I won’t go back to that institution. I am of the mind that the student should be encouraged to have fun. The teacher needs to have some interaction to do so. I will continue my education with another quality institution. There are plenty colleges in Florida that want my money.

Finally, you certainly will not find any online guitar lessons which I have reviewed where you won’t get the quality attention and education you are trying to find beginning guitar lessons for any age. Take the time to read my online guitar lesson reviews. The first thing you will notice is that these teachers are glad to help and see you grow. So don’t believe for one second you need private lessons at a high cost. Now go read the reviews. Guitar Players Center.

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Beginning Guitar Lessons with Basic Scales Chapter 7

by Daniel R. Lehrman on March 25, 2012

Guitar Players Center

Looking for the best guitar lesson reviews?

The fun starts here, as far as I’m concerned. Scales, wonderful, beautiful, useful scales. Where the music travels farther than the outskirts of infinity from your guitar. All of the reviewed and recommended online guitar lessons, including most of the beginning guitar lessons teach basic scales. The source of Music Sweet Music, flowing from your fingertips. So this is a Review of Chapter 7 of the Online Guitar Theory class I am taking at the college.

Sometimes I get a scale stuck in my head and it rattles around inside all day long. It is quite helpful to me as a guitar student. The more I think about the scales and rhythms, the better guiar player I become. The better player one becomes, the more fun it is, the desire just gets stronger to grab your guitar and play it, anything, it’s just that hard to resist, so go do it, NOW. But read this first, please.

A basic scale is a congregation of tones/pitches all in alphabetical order, using different intervals, all within the same octave. Basic scales are scales which use no accidentals. Called Stepwise scales, because the 7 notes are unaltered and occur simultaneously in order.

To clarify this, we call an 8 tone scale, Diatonic. Meaning that all seven notes in said scale are present, plus, the primary harmonic [root note], or lowest note is repeated, thus an octave in range is created. All are unaltered notes. Diatonic is a latin word, it means “to stretch”. Musical notation involving only notes proper to the key in use, without chromatic alteration.

Concerning basic scales, it is important to note that only 1/2 steps exist between the B and C notes, and E and F notes. All other steps are whole steps [two 1/2 steps]. So it is imperative to know exactly what mode or note each scale starts on in order to determine the proper intervals. Thus making every scale a unique scale. In fact certain scales may be considered modern. Not of the basic scale family, the “blues” scale is of the twentyith century.

A chromatic scale is not Diatonic in nature, because it lists every note and half note, including the octave, thus having 13 tones in full. Chromatic scales are some of the most appealing scales to the human ear.

Scales are the backbone of arranging tones into a certain intervalic orders. The first note is called a keynote, and the last note, or the octave is also called a keynote. There are 7 basic scales which use 7 tones and no accidentals. Listed In alphabetical order below:

Note: ^ stands for where the half notes are indicated.

1. Aeolian Scale.           A B^C D E^F G A [A is the octave].
2. Locrian scale.            B^C D E^F G A B [The eighth note is always the octave]
3. Ionian.                    C D E^F G A B^C [The eighth note is the octave]
4. Dorian.                    D E^F G A B^C D [The eighth note is the octave]
5. Phrygian.                 E^F G A B^C D E [The eighth note is the octave]
6. Lydian.                    F G A B^C D E^F [The eighth note is the octave]
7. Mixolydian.               G A B^C D E^F G [The eighth note is the octave]

Each scale uses different fingering positions. Different intervals require different fingering positions . Thus we have 8 different sets of intervals. In essence, if one learns [and stores the info in their muscle memory] the fingering positions one of the 7 basic scales, those fingering positions can be used on every note in the chromatic scale as a starting point, to produce 12 full scales of alphabetical order and name. Using the low E string only [guitar]. With 6 strings, there are nearly endless patterns of scale arrangements available. If you know your finger positioning and intervals. This applies to the guitar.

Every time I play my guitar, I choose the scale or scales which suits the music or my mood. I play lots of freestyle music. One of the most interesting and beautiful things about scales is the relationship each one has to each other. Each scale has a pivot note which allows a smooth transition into the next appropriate scale. Practicing scales ad nauseum is the only way I know of to become instrumentally proficient at them.

I have been having some confusion with understanding where to place my fingers on the neck of a guitar when reading the musical notation presented in this book. Meaning, the guitar neck is not logical compared to a piano or keyboard. Musical notation was designed for the piano. I did some research. I got out my first guitar books from the early ’60′s. Classical Guitar Technique 1 and 2. By Aaron Shearer.

I suspect that because the guitar is a relatively new instrument, and not generally considered an orchestra instrument, musical notation does not generally account for the guitar. The guitar is broken down into positions on the neck. A position consists of 4 consecutive frets. A fret for each finger on the left hand. If you are right handed guitar player. The first position consists of open strings and notes located on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th frets. The second position consists of notes on the second, third, fourth and fifth frets. , Etc.

A specific position is indicated by a Roman numeral written directly above the note or notes to be played in said position.

On a personal note. Knowing and using scales properly is the most useful musical vibe I have learned. It allows me to express my emotions depending on my mood. I am a freestyle player. Scales are very cool tools. Much of this books information is familiar to me. Not in such an organized manner. I was drilled in scales as a kid. Classical guitar teachers 50 years ago were real teachers, not just good guitar players. I had one 50 minute disciplined lesson every week. My teacher taught me that practice was fun. That was essential for me to know. And I still practice and then play every day. Knowing how to mix and blend scales, where the pivot notes are is a wonderful thing.

Read my online guitar lesson reviews by clicking the 3 words you just read. Read the other 6 chapter reviews and midterm assignment below. All are related to education of the guitar.

Guitar Players Center.com

Music Theory Internet Guitar Class Assignment 1

Online Guitar Lessons Chapter Two Exposes Big Secret

Chapter Three Online Guitar Class

Online Guitar Lesson: Music History & The Evolution of Musical Notation

Guitar Lesson Review Chapter 4 Review

Guitar Lesson Review Chapter 5 Review – Time Signatures

Guitar Lesson Reviews Basic Intervals

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Guitar Lesson Reviews Basic Intervals

by Daniel R. Lehrman on March 16, 2012

Guitar Lesson Review Music Intervals

Personally, Basic Intervals are way to advanced for almost all guitar players. If fact, it is easy to understand if you are: A. excellent at mathematics. B. a    focused dedicated studier, and C. plan on playing music in a band or orchestra. For 90 percent or more beginners, of any age, this subject is not necessary or importnat to the early phases of beginning guitar lessons. It may never be important to you. If you are here for said reasons, to learn basic intervals, read my guitar lesson reviews after you read this.

An interval is the musical distance between two tones. Expressing the relationship of two notes only. Which is commonly called polytonality, or may be referred to as bitonality. A melodic musical interval is being made when you play two notes, one after the other successively. And a harmonic interval is made when the notes are being played at the same time, like a chord.

Intervals allow the timing of written music to be even more precise. Which is the main reason to learn and understand intervals. Essentially this lesson covers the size differences in intervals. A large interval is called ‘far apart’ in distance between notes, and a small interval is called ‘close together’. The more complicated the music, the more important intervals become.

Intervals come in various sizes: Unison, second, third, fourths, fifths, sixths, sevenths, octave. Intervals that take up eight positions on the 5 line staff between them are called an octave. If the interval is between the 8 positions on the staff, it is in the same octave. Intervals that use more than 5 lines are called compound intervals.

Compound intervals are greater than one octave. Which includes ninths, tenths, elevenths and thirteenths as examples of compound intervals. Imagine that a compound interval has a meaning of: adding one octave to a simple, non-compound interval.  If you need to figure out a compound perfect 5th, which is a different name for a Perfect 12th,  just figure out a simple perfect 5th.

When accidentals are applied to a basic interval it either becomes larger or smaller. But the numerical classification remains the same. The use of accidentals allows for this action. There are 2 groups of intervals. Group 1 and group 2.

Group 1 includes: unison, 4th, 5th, octave.

Group 2 includes: 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th.

Group one intervals are named:

Perfect       =      P  two tones that sound the same [harmonic].

Augmented  =  A  is a term for an interval that is one half step larger than the perfect interval.

Diminished =  d is a perfect interval made to be one half step smaller.

Another essential term to understand is interval inversion. An easy way to think of writing an interval inversion is this: the top note is written on octave lower on the staff and is now on the bottom, and the bottom note is also an octave lower on the staff lines, but now it is the top note. Which we call inverted.

It’s easy to figure the way to convert an original interval to an inverted interval. Perfect intervals remain perfect either way when converted. Augmented intervals change into diminished intervals. Although an augmented octave cannot be inverted. Diminished intervals invert to Augmented intervals.

Group two uses a different set of terms to show intervals. [Below]

Augmented = A, Major = M, Minor = m, Diminished = d.

To be clear, in group 2, the terms major and minor are used instead of the term perfect. It’s easy in concept to make a major interval smaller. Decrease it by one half step to accomplish this. Group two intervals can be inverted also. Major converts to minor. Minor converts to major, Diminished to Augmented. Augmented to diminished.

Whatever yuor deepest interest is how to play guitar for beginners, a course is available specifically for your personal needs. you can find an appropriate guitar lesson review to teach you anything that interests you, even basic intervals. Guitar Players Center.com

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Guitar Lesson Review Chapter 5 Review – Time Signatures

by Daniel R. Lehrman on March 9, 2012

You won’t find very much in-depth information on time signatures unless you choose the finest online guitar lessons. I don’t think it is necessary to be an expert on this subject, especially if you are a searching for beginning guitar lessons. Although, if you read the guitar lesson reviews, plenty of information is available if you get to a level that requires knowing this information. Here is a very brief assignment I did from my online music class from the college about time signatures in regards to musical notation. I hope you find it interesting.

Time signatures are complex systems of organizing music into its proper mathematical hierarchy. It is an understandable system, nearly universal in form, detailing proper timing and structure. It seems quite difficult, but it can be broken down into logical, although complicated, pure mathematical equations. We have two types of time signatures. One system is called simple timing and the 2nd system is termed compound timing.
Music is read in meters, steady patterns of rhythmical beats organized in succession. One complete pattern is a measure or bar and is surrounded by two bar lines. The top number of a timing equation is made of meters.
The denominator, or bottom number is the basic note pattern, or the “unit” in simple time. In compound time the lower number is the “division” of the unit. The unit divides three times in compound time. Remember, in compound time, the unit always uses the equivalent of a dotted note to indicate its value.
Note: The denominator [bottom number] of a simple timing signature tells you how many parts a whole [note] is broken down into. So, if the denominator or bottom number of a simple timing pattern is 4, then that indicates that one whole note is broken up into 4 smaller pieces of equal size, or 4 quarter notes.

The unit in simple time divides by 2 and is signified by a particular undotted note. For instance: in 3/4 timing, the 4 or denominator is equal to 4 beats. Four quarter notes in a row. But, the top number [numerator] indicates only 3 actual notes will be played in said measure.
The top number, or numerator of the equation indicates the number of said notes played in the pattern. Therefore we can figure out the exact meter/s or notes that will be performed in the measure. Which is very often more or less than the lower number indicates.
The top number or first part of the time classification is expressed using terms such as duple, triple, quadruple and quintuple with meter on the end, as in, duple meter, triple meter. Or combinations of said meters. We can then combine this and define simple or compound timing, thus indicating a variety of timing classifications.
In cases where the top number is 6, 9, 12, 15 or 18, this is always referred to as compound timing. Where the top number can only be divided by the number 3.  All other numbers including the number 3 are considered to be in simple timing. The top number is set by using a combination of meters, or even a single meter. An example of simple timing is 4/4: The meters I am speaking of in this case are duple meters. The occurrence of 4 beats is actually 2 duple meters added together, Or one quadruple meter.
For instance, in the compound time classification of 12/16: The top number is divided by 3, which equals 4. Four beats indicates that the measure is in quadruple meter:  because the top number is 12, which was mentioned earlier to be of compound timing classification, this is quadruple-compound measure. The bottom number is indicated by a doted note.

I must tell you that typical musical notation does not account for the guitar. Guitars are not considered orchestra instruments and have only been in existence as we know them for only several hundred years. Because of this, several additional notations have been created to show the guitar player what position to play in. The best source of understandable information comes from Classical Guitar Technique Volume 1 and Volume 2. Both written by Aaron Shearer.

If you are interested, Classic Guitar Technique – Volume II is available to look at, and buy for less than 20 bucks, right now. Our Guitar lessons reviews are 100 percent unbiased by an accredited guitar lesson reviewer. Guitar Players Center.com

If you missed Guitar Lesson Review Chapter 4 Review, you can read it here. Enjoy. Give me some feedback. Thanks.

There are no

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Guitar Lesson Review Chapter 4 Review

by Daniel R. Lehrman on February 27, 2012

Another chapter devoured. It is getting harder. More thinking involved. Deep thinking. Thinking requiring a well exercised memory. While I am still not sure it will make me a better guitar player. It will make me a better guitar teacher. One thing for sure, lots of folks read these posts. Musical notation has yet to show me emotion. Emotion is why I play guitar. Mr Hendrix played off of pure emotion. He never had a guitar lesson ever. How do you explain that one? The greatest ever, never had a lesson. He is a guitar lesson. Here is guitar lesson review of chapter four:

The system of note and rest values is the method used in modern musical notation showing the timing values assigned to each note and or rest. The system is well conceived, with good accuracy to convey the duration of the notes and the corresponding rest stops in writing. Rest stops equal a predetermined period of silence. This system is the least exacting area of written music in my opinion. The human element of timing cannot be duplicated exactly in symbols.
With lots of symbols and some creativity it becomes a lesson in memorization of the small symbols that represent each note and the feature which differentiates it from the others in exactness. For instance, a whole note has no stem.
Notes come in whole, half, quarter, eight, sixteenth and thirty-second note durations. There are more complex durations we are not discussing today. Starting with putting notes correctly on the staff, it becomes necessary to understand a few things or it won’t make sense. Notes use a stem, or straight line. The length of which is one octave. Except for the whole note, every note has a stem of said length.
We have already learned where the notes are placed on the staff from the lesson on clefs. Exactly where to place the stem and subsequent flag if used, is entirely different and has to be well understood. Any note above the 3rd staff line had a stem that goes on the left side and points down. Any note below the 3rd staff line has a stem on the right side and points up. Any note on the third line can have the staff pointing either way. Generally we point it in the direction of the preponderance of other notes.
We also use symbols called rests. Rests show areas that are of silence. Rests have to be of certain exacting duration values also. Because notes have durational values, a rest must have a value which is useable with the corresponding notes value.
Rests come in: whole rests, half rests, quarter rests, eight rests, sixteenth rests and thirty-second rests. Although several more rests exits, these are the ones we are dealing with.
Rests and notes can easily be adjusted in duration value. The dot (.) means to increase the length of the duration of the note or rest by one half of its original value. Therefore a quarter note with a dot on the right means the timing calls for a quarter note tied to an eight note.
Rests work similarly. In effect they have to work together since this is mathematical. Rests also come with symbols to easily identify an increase or change in the timing of a rest. As with a note, a dot on the right side of a rest indicates an increase in the rest of one half of its original value. So, a dotted quarter rest equals a quarter rest and an eight rest.
A second dot may be added to a note or rest. If a second dot is added to any note or rest, the value is again increased by one half of the original notes or rests value. Thus making this a three part equation. Therefore a un-dotted note can be divided naturally into 2 parts. And a dotted note is naturally divided into three parts.

The lesson above may be of great interest to you. Though, it is not generally taught by most guitar teachers. The point is this. Reading music won’t necessarily make you a better guitar player. It is handy to know on an elementary basis, the sight reading of music, not the theory part. That said, take plenty of time to read my 100 Percent Unbiased Guitar Lesson Reviews.  You will find the right online guitar lessons to suit your interests. It’s my job to provide solid education to my readers. Educated readers make better decisions. I guarantee it.

GuitarPlayersCenter.com

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Online Guitar Lesson: Music History & The Evolution of Musical Notation.

by Daniel R. Lehrman on February 19, 2012

A brief review of how musical notation was developed. This is an interesting subject in itself, though not mandatory or necessary to plat the guitar. If you want to read which online guitar lesson reviews will help you learn guitar faster, and with more fun. Please examine them after you read this.

Western musical notation, or modern musical notation as we know it, is a continuously evolving system dating back at least to Greece and Rome. The early 6th century Roman philosopher, writer, and statesman, Boethius, is credited with developing the first musical staff around 500 AD. Still, he is not the founder of Western Music.

He assigned 15 graphic letters or symbols to explain 2 octaves of tones in writing. The system started as simple sets of patterns and symbols. Essentially they are written directions for musicians or singers who need to read what to play or sing in same exact manner every time.

Therefore, one advantage of Western notation is that it represents sounds in writing; this notation can be used as an aid to memory, or can be passed down on a piece of paper so memorizing is not necessary. Another advantage of musical notation is it is a written universal language.

Musical notation is important for several reasons to the musician.  Instead of passing down music from person to person orally, which is inaccurate and inconsistent, notation allowed music to be communicated in a consistent manner from musician to musician and generation to generation seamlessly.

Musical notation can also be used to convey essential and detailed information in a musicians mind about how to perform a piece of music before striking the first note. Items such as rhythm, timbre, timing signature are noted as the emotional values of music.

The first forms of musical notation were simple compared to today’s notation. Naturally, as music became more popular and complicated, notation has been modified and added to meet the demands of music in new time period.

In the 11th century, several changes occurred in the development of musical notation that were turning points for what is now called modern musical notation. The shifts were specifically for use in the Roman Catholic churches. A standardized system was developed by Guido d’Arezzo [Guido of Arezzo], a Monk and medieval music theorist whose ideas served as a foundation for modern Western musical notation.

Western is a reference to and designates the western areas of the world, as opposed to areas in the East or the Orient. Guido’s contribution to Western music was the proper clef letter/symbol. The clef is essentially a collection of Gothic letters/symbols that establishes the correct starting spot for the primary harmonic note of said Clef.

Guido was devising new methods for teaching singers to learn and remember the religious chants of the times. Specifically Gregorian chants, adopting a four-line staff and clefs, is a series of six notes which served as staff notation and was the first use of “ut–re–mi–fa–so–la”.

This system of notation is the direct ancestor of all subsequent musical notation.

In Guido’s standardized system, the staff was made of 4 horizontal lines. Interestingly the 4-line staff is still used in the  present day for plainchant. Other types of music and instruments may have staffs with differing symbols and numbers of lines, and or have been used at different times and places in history, mostly for various and or unusual instruments.

Plainchant, also known as plainsong, was the main form of medieval period church music, which involved chanting. Historical evidence suggests it was first used around 100 AD. Plainchant is totally void of any instruments accompanying it; instead, it only uses words that are sung as a melody. Plain is the key here. No instruments. Being the only style of music allowed to be played in Christian churches at that period in time.

The current system, or modern notation system based on the universal standard 5-line staff, was first used in France. For example, the stave [staff] first appeared in the tenth century with the help of the Monk Guido and his work with the choirs and churches.

Guido’s was the first system to use symbols to describe the details of the music for the musician or singer in greater depth. This system allowed for greater consistency in the performance and more emotional expression, especially when more than one singer or musician was involved.

By the early sixteenth century, notation had been established in its modern form. The system adjusts well to new musical findings and the needs to represent them in writing.

There are graphically detailed symbols used to define each clef, which may be determined by the instrument or type of music. For instance the Alto Clef is used for trombone music.

The clefs are: Treble Clef, which indicates and starts on the note G, on the second ledger line from the bottom of a 5 line staff.

The Bass Clef which indicates the note F, and starts on the 4th ledger line from the bottom. And four C Clefs. The C Clefs include:
1. Soprano Clef.  First, bottom ledger line of 5 line staff.
2. Mezzo Soprano Clef. Second ledger line.
3. Alto Clef. Third ledger line.
4. Tenor Clef. Fourth ledger line.

Time signatures have constantly been updated, as music evolved in complexity of rhythms. Durational values were established in greater detail with new symbols being used indicating finer increments in the music.

Regular measures or bars, became standardized components by the end of the seventeenth century, establishing a means to establish exact timing, or timing changes to a piece of music. Measures also provide a means for new symbols for future of music.

The versatility of the system is incredible. The only drawbacks I can find are differences in terminology based on geographic areas, or exact definitions. It is a system that has been self- sustaining since the first staff and clefs; it is easy to add to it rather than redesigning the whole system.

Still interested in locating the best online guitar lessons? Read my unbiased reviews of guitar lessons for beginners. Written in terms you will understand. Why each course may be ib your best interests. GuitarPlayersCenter.com.

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Chapter Three Online Guitar Class

by Daniel R. Lehrman on February 13, 2012

Another assignment done. Chapter 3 of the guitar class for the theory of music I’m taking at the College. It is an online class. Not to be confused with any guitar lesson courses reviewed for the folks who don’t care about theory and just want to learn guitar.

Timing has been the hardest thing for me to understand. Most of the music I play is complicated and is played freely. I listen and I play, or I improvise. I rarely have any idea of the timing I am playing in. I don’t understand 12/8 timing, or 12 bar blues as it is also referred to, though a great deal of the music I play is in said pattern.

Timing is actually a mathematical problem, or equation. The learning of which is not easy, but sensible and mandatory. Beats have to be defined as either weak or strong in order to gain value and seperate themselves. Otherwise there is no difference in beat, tension and release involved.

Every beat pattern has to have stressed areas to show emotion and differences in how the notes are presented. Different people have different reactions to the same patterns.

Music is broken down into patterns of beats we call stress patterns. These stress patterns are called meters. A meter is a group of stressed beats. There are 4 separate stress patterns, or meters.

1. Duple Meter.  Which is one pattern containing two beats. The first of which is a strong beat >, the second is a weak beat U. Example:   > U    [> = strong beat, U =  weak beat]

2. Triple Meter. 3 total beats. 1 strong beat and 2 weak beats. Example: > U U

3. Quadruple Meter. 4 total beats. 2 strong beats and two weak beats, or 2 duple meters. Example:  > U > U

4. Quintuple Meter. 5 total beats. 2 strong and 3 weak beats. One triple meter and 1 duple meter combined in any order. Example:  > U > U U or> U U > U.The first beat of any meter is the strongest stressed beat. Regardless of which type or arrangement of the meter. If there are two strong beats per meter, the first strong beat is the strongest.Meters can be combined in any manner. We call the stress patterns, either in combination or alone, a Measure of music. Measures of music often have different numbers of beats in them. Which means there is either an even number, or odd number of beats in every meter and measure of music.

Time classifications are a division of the amount of beats per measure.  If you can divide the number of beats in a measure by 2, an even number, we call that a Duple-Simple  time classification. If a measure can only be divided by 3, an odd number,, it is referred to as a Duple Compound time classification.

To be referred to as simple time and compound time.

Even though it will take lots of practice with a metronome to master. A time classification such as 3/4 means this. The top number is the actual amount of beats/notes played in a measure. The bottom number is the total amount of beats in a measure.

A time classification such as 3/4 looks like this: 4 total beats occur during the measure, but only three notes are played, so one of the notes counts as 2 beats. In effect, only three beats are played out of 4 total beats. One beat is not played.

Where beats are normally divided into 2 or 3 parts for relatively simple music, more complex classifications subdivide the beat into 4 or 6 parts.

For a full list of online guitar lesson reviews see GuitarPlayersCenter.com. Enjoy.

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Online Guitar Lessons Chapter Two Exposes Big Secret

by Daniel R. Lehrman on February 1, 2012

Here is my second assignment, it is a real eye opener. It cleared a lot of issues concerning the means and madness of how to read the notes. In fact, I found a mistake in the tab on one of the Hendrix songs I was looking at. Don’t get the idea I’m very good at reading music, I just noticed it by mistake. Sight reading is a lot more accurate than tabs. It’s not the sort of stuff you will find in the online guitar lessons reviewed and recommended on this site. It is not necessary for most people interested in learn at home guitar lessons.

Chapter two reveals some information which is key to my understanding of  clefs and the note arrangements concerning the staff. Called the Treble staff. It is what I remember as a classical guitar student in the ’60′s. Only remembering the limited amount of notes I was reading. Aaron Shearer was not being paid to teach me theory. I realize now that I remembered what notes determined what frets to push on, but I had no idea why.

I lost interest in reading music and changed my style of play in 1967. I took some lessons again 6 years ago and have learned mostly by ear and crummy tabs from then. I’m familiar with the looks of a treble staff,  understanding the clef/s and relation to the staff is one of the keys for me. Without an understanding of these symbols, no sense can be made out of the notation. Another staff called the Grand Staff exists, using both the G clef and Bass clef combined.

The G clef always starts on the note G, which always starts on the second ledger line of the staff [from the bottom].  Once I discovered this, I realized what a G clef indicated and how to read said music. There are other clefs, each one looks different and represents a different pitch and starting point.

The bass clef identifies the F note, to be on the 4th ledger line [from the bottom] as the starting point. Whereas the G clef indicates the second line from the bottom as the starting point for G. There are 4 different C clefs. Each one is identified by a different name and ledger line to start on. Although the note is always C and the symbol is the same.

The Soprano Clef is the note C. It always starts on the 1st ledger line of the staff. The ledger line runs through the center of the C clef symbol.

The Mezzo Soprano C clef always starts on the 2nd line of the staff. Indicating that is where the C note is placed.

The Alto C clef starts on the 3rd line of the staff, and the Tenor C clef starts on the 4th line of the staff.

We call the starting points the primary harmonic. The lowest note.

It’s absolutely necessary to know and recall each clef and how it is used to play music with other people, especially different instruments. In an orchestra, every musician must understand every clef and read it instinctually even if they are not playing said section, in order to stay in time with the group. Even if the music you play is in a different clef, one has to know them all for a group or symphony to be successful.

Learning how to read added ledger lines, which indicate higher or lower notes than can be put on the standard 5 line treble staff is a logical method of putting extended  notes into writing. By adding the Octava sign, it makes the excessive use of ledger lines not necessary.

Accidentals are another method of showing a change in the tone of a note. By adding the correct incidental, the note is read accordingly. We differentiate in writing the differences between the diatonic half steps and chromatic half steps with: flats, lowering the basic note one half pitch: double flats lowering the same note 2 half pitches: sharps, raising the basic note one half pitch, double sharps, raising the same note 2 half pitches, and the natural symbol.

The natural symbol indicates that an accidental is canceled in that bar only. A critical aspect to the understanding of how to read and use accidentals is that notes come in patterns that are called bars. If an accidental is put next to a note in the beginning of a bar, then that note in that particular bar uses said accidental unless a natural symbol is put next to the note to cancel it later in that bar.

I hope this is of interest. Don’t worry though, learning to play guitar at home is is the perfect environment for those who can make a schedule and keep it. People who don’t need to be monitored. Responsible folks who will practice their lesson everyday. Or parents who know how to motivate their kids. Guitar lessons for beginners is all about fun and enjoying learning how to play the guitar.

Reference: Internet Online Class Assignment 1: Click Here

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Theoretically Speaking Internet Guitar Class Assignment 1

by Daniel R. Lehrman on January 28, 2012

My first assignment was about the terms used to describe sound, how sound is made and how it travels. I have not found much of this type of information on the guitar lessons sites reviewed here because it is considered theory, and has little or nothing to do with learning to play guitar. In fact, for most guitar students, this is a deterrence to how fast you learn. Most people who want this information are experienced musicians, or are earning a degree in music. I’m learning it because I want to deliver, with 100% confidence, the best online guitar lessons reviewed, on the internet.

The terms and definitions in the first chapter are descriptions of technical symbols for communicating written musical notation through musical interments into sound. By transmitting the sound waves through the air to the ear, the source of the sound is a vibrating object.

It’s hard to separate out only two components because all of them work as a team to make sound. Many components combine to make a particular sound or sounds. Stringed instruments make sound using strings of various lengths and diameters that vibrate causing the air to move making harmonic vibrations.

One example of a stringed instrument is the guitar. Which uses 6 strings of various thickness, material and length to make the relevant tone. I use the word tone because tones can be heard by the ear and notes are what the tone looks like when you read musical notation. A language by itself, universal to all.

Other stringed instruments use the same theory to make sound. Anytime a string is plucked, tapped, hammered on, bowed or fretted [changing the length], a set of sound waves are sent out through the chamber opening, if it uses a chamber, to increase the amplitude or the intensity of the sound, into the air, to the ear.

The vibrations the strings make have always been pleasing to me. Each of the 6 strings on an acoustic classical guitar has a pitch all it’s own. The pitch is determined by the thickness of the string and how fast it vibrates. Along with the length of the string. As in, using the frets on the neck [of a guitar] to change the length of the string, and the tone being heard.

The frequency of vibration is  how we determine if it is called a high pitch or low pitch. The standard tuning pitch is 440 Hz [formerly called cycles] for the note A. Which means it is vibrating at  440 cycles per second. Therefore the fundamental harmonic is the lowest note, or the low E on a guitar.

For example, the top string on a normal guitar is called the low E string. It is also the thickest string on the guitar. Every time you pluck it, the string vibrates at a certain amount of Hz, which determines the pitch of the string. The pitch meaning the frequency at which the string vibrates, sending the sound waves to your ear.

It stands to reason than that the thickest string is the slowest moving string therefore making the “lowest” pitch on the instrument. On the bottom side of the neck of a guitar you have the thinnest string. Called the high E string, it vibrates at a much higher speed than the thick string. Therefore we have a faster vibrating string or high E pitch, which is called a “higher” pitch than the low E.

Rhythm is another critical component of the recipe. Rhythm can be put into notation form, but it’s the human side and emotion that sets it apart from a computer generated sound.

Rhythm is the term we use for all aspects of timing in music. It can also be called duration. Duration is the length of time the note is played. The sounds we enjoy the most are arranged in proper time, or they won’t make any sense.

Duration and rhythm use two of the ideas discussed above. Pitch and intensity are two elements that create rhythm. Sounds which are short in duration are combined with sounds which are longer in duration, which are applied for specific amounts of time to combine for rhythm.

The intensity of sound or amplitude of a solid body electric guitar is created through electric amplification. Most electric guitars use metal strings, the strings vibrate at different speeds over electric pickups, which transmit the sound to an amplifier speaker combination which makes the amplitude or volume much greater than, and more variable than an acoustic guitar.

The amplitude of a purely acoustic, classical guitar is generated from the strings vibrating over the sound chamber hole of the hollow body, which is characteristic of a pure acoustic guitar. Which compresses the air inside the hollow body which naturally boosts the loudness through pure acoustics. The size of the sound chamber, or the hollow body has an effect on amplitude and tone.

Chapter two review will come next week. I’ll try to keep informing you of certain information from each class and post them weekly, depending on how much work it turns out to be. I won’t stop my regular posts either. This will become a series called Theoretically Speaking. For those interested in theory, you now have an opportunity to find out more, in terms you understand, in the same Musical Theory textbook I’m using.
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Worried about learning guitar? Don’t be, it’s a lot of fun and very gratifying. Information with this much detail is not needed to learn any instrument. In fact I don’t read sight music very well, at all.  I wrote a post a few years ago about why I wanted to sight read music. It’s going to come true, which will make me a more versatile guitar player. Review our online guitar lessons now.

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Going to Music School is Fun, But Not a Piece of Cake.

by Daniel R. Lehrman on January 6, 2012

Musical Notation- Guitar Lessons Online

Online Guitar Lessons Musical Notation

I signed up for a Fundamentals of Music Theory Course at the local 4 year State College. I did it for several reasons. I can’t say for sure if it will make me a better guitar player, but it will make me more informed about what I’m playing. And a better teacher and reviewer.  I was examining the book and wow, what a lot of symbols and notations.

The truth is I know much of this info, just not in such a structured manner. This is not a course that will become part of my online guitar lesson reviews. But I will keep you informed so you can learn more about the process of choosing the right curriculum.

What I’m learning is not generally taught to the person simply studying guitar in order to learn a few easy songs and easy chords for fun and as a good hobby. This is what is called the Theory of Music. It’s how music is made. My favorite guitar player, and the most influential musician of all time, Jimi Hendrix, never had a guitar lesson or any idea what he was doing, theoretically.

What I will be able to do is read musical notation in full. I’ll have the opportunity to learn from reading standard musical notation new pieces of music I am not familiar with. It’s more advanced than the guitar programs I recommend. And totally unnecessary when using any of the video guitar lessons or learn at home DVD guitar lessons courses.

Interestingly enough, this is an online course too. Not my first online lessons, because these are not specifically for any instrument. And not guitar instruction. My intention is to become a better teacher and be able to inform you better, as the most qualified guitar lesson reviewer, of the top online guitar lesson sites reviewed, anywhere.

If you are worried about who you can trust, who has the qualifications. Both the reviewer and the lesson provider, than we provide you with an interesting educational view of guitar lessons online for kids and children and adult guitar education. And how to choose the right guitar lessons for you. Don’t underestimate the value of taking time to make a great decision.

It has been proven many times that the person who takes the time up front to study said subject and become informed, makes better decisions for themselves. That is our only job here. To provide highly qualified and detailed reviews of the best online learn guitar products in all forms, where you can learn guitar in the comfort of your home. Save money and time. GuitarPlayersCenter.com

 

 

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Smart Truthful and Realistic Guitar Lesson Reviews

by Daniel R. Lehrman on December 16, 2011

Smart Truthful and Realistic Guitar Lesson Reviews

Smart Truthful and Realistic Guitar Lesson Reviews

It is time to go to school. Yup, as your guitar lesson reviewer it’s time to go back to school. Not the online schools I recommend. What  I decided was that in order to continue to provide the most accurate and unbiased reviews, I have to increase my knowledge. As the best lesson sites become more technologically advanced and offer more advanced lessons and methods of delivering the information, it became obvious I need to go back to college and learn more. If you can’t trust your guitar lesson reviews, and who to buy online guitar lessons from, then they are worthless.

I want to be 100% qualified for the job. To be able to break down each lesson and review it fairly, takes more than being a good guitar player, it takes an understanding of the subject to be thorough and honest. It means you have to know how to teach too. Teach being the key here.Taking a class called Fundamentals of Music Theory, which is the first in a series of classes on the theory of music will increase my level of understanding  and thus allow me to review each online guitar lesson site with a better eye.

The truth is I know a bunch of music theory, or guitar theory, same thing. I was not formally taught, but one of my private tutors taught me lots of theory in his own way, and I learned even more using online guitar courses and articles. It helps a lot when you become an advanced intermediate guitar player. But, I want to be taught in the formal classroom manner. In an accredited course. You can see the sacrifice I make for you folks. Just joking, I love learning more.

I am 100 percent convinced it is in your best interest to look for, and make sure that the person recommending a particular learn guitar course has the ability to do so. Look for their credentials. You may be surprised to find some of the people don’t even play guitar. Or have no credentials, or right to recommend what you may need. You can even call me for a free consultation. 772-979-2887

Let me ask you this. Would you go to a doctor that did not finish medical school, but was pretty good at what he did, because his rates are cheap and he has nice medical equipment?  Well, why trust an evaluator who has no credentials? It’s not at all necessary or important that you, the person receiving video guitar lessons or DVD guitar lessons have such a deep knowledge of music to become a good guitar player. Not every guitar teacher has an intricate knowledge of theory. It’s not important to know that to play guitar. Do you think every qualified auto mechanic has an intricate knowledge of how every part functions in theory? Of course not.

My point is that a recommendation is only good if it’s accurate and truthful. Another item you may think about is this. Smart Truthful and Realistic Guitar Lesson Reviews can only be achieved if the website of the reviewer, is an aged, experienced and respected authority site with lots of quality content on all aspects of guitars and learning guitar. Or was it just thrown up in order to make money? Take enough time to examine GuitarPlayersCenter.com and become an educated guitar lesson consumer. It’s a proven fact that people who educate themselves about the subject of interest, make the best decisions.

Use your time wisely. We only recommend the best sites for guitar lessons for beginners, adult guitar lessons, video guitar lessons, DVD guitar lessons, all of which are learn at home guitar lessons. Time spent investigating is time well spent. It saves money and the frustration of making a poor decision. Choosing the right online guitar lessons is the difference between success and fun for years and years, or loss of interest. It’s time to take action, learn guitar now.

 

 

 

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Accumulated Guitar Practice Time Adds Up

by Daniel R. Lehrman on December 8, 2011

Accumulated Guitar Practice Time Adds Up, Online guitar Lessons

Accumulated Guitar Practice Time Adds Up

Relative to my last post, this article discusses how practice time accumulates every time you practice your lesson or a specific exercise. Every time you pick up your guitar and go over your lesson plan, or play a certain lick or measure of music, that is practice time. We spoke of using your best investigative skills to find the best online guitar lessons. I want to make this clear right off the bat. An educated or well informed consumer makes better decisions. That is why I write these posts, to educate you on the best ways to learn guitar. GuitarPlayersCenter.com is full of educational guitar articles.

My last post I discussed the secret to learn and master guitar. Some of the numbers may seem unreal or unreachable. That is not true. Practice time accumulates fast. You are not in a race, so it’s important to learn and master the secret mentioned in my last post. What you need to fully understand  is that anything you practice, accumulates practice time. So it stands to reason that a lick you may have been learning for 6 months and may have 500 hours of practice time involved in,  means you learned and remembered said piece of music during that time, and it is lodged in your muscle memory now.

NOTE: The terms lick, measure, phrase, piece of music, maneuver and scale/s all have the same meaning. Don’t get confused. I use all of the words in my post.

So, if the next piece of music, scale or exercise you choose, or is given to you by your guitar teacher includes the measure you have 500 hours into already. Then learning the new piece is easier because you already have accumulated practice time for the part of the new lick you already know. I hope this makes sense. As you learn new licks, practice time grows fast and accumulates in manner where you grow faster as a guitar player.

Each successive piece of music may be more difficult, yet with the total time amassed playing more and more licks, measures, maneuvers, the gratification grows, even as the difficulty grows. Because you have been a diligent practicer using proven practice methods, having perfect technique with a means to your madness, and have learned to sit and enjoy playing a certain maneuver over and over until you grasp it, the feeling of confidence will fill you up with goodness. That in itself is a large part of becoming a good guitar player.

Confidence is a large part of success in any endeavor. The best guitar teachers know that and make sure beginner guitar players enjoy some early gratification. Positive reinforcement is my favorite way to build  a secure feeling and encourage growth. It’s gotta be fun. As far as I’m concerned, practice is playing guitar too. Enjoy the sounds. The cool sounds are why Jimi Hendrix had to have a guitar.

I have to speak about the 80,000 hour rule. Well before you reach 80,000 hours of practice time on any one piece of music, most people understand and have memorized the lick and can play it very well. So don’t let my earlier post scare you. It was only to make a point as to how much time it takes to play like the true greats. Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, SRV, and many more. Eddie Van Halen is known for staying in his room practicing his guitar, as his friends played.

So take action, don’t be indecisive, examine the online guitar lesson reviews. Examine the site you find the most attractive to you. Free passes are granted to most of the sites recommend, and JamPlay has a great promo going on  now. Become an educated guitar lesson consumer. Guitar lessons for beginners or adult guitar lessons for beginners. We cover the best Video and DVD online guitar lessons. All reviews are 100 percent unbiased, and you should find out why our reviewer is so better qualified than any other one. By your guitar lesson right now.

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Lets Discuss the Unspoken Secret to Learn and Master Guitar.

by Daniel R. Lehrman on December 6, 2011

I was listening to the radio the other day. It was a sports station, but the subject caught my ear, because it was interesting, plus I heard the words guitar player. They were discussing how many times it takes for a professional athlete to learn a particular movement, or have to change or modify a specific technique or movement at a later point in said career.

The discussion had to do with muscle memory to be exact. If you follow my blog, you know that developing muscle memory is the real secret to learn and master guitar. When the guest was asked how many times an athlete needs to repeat a particular motion to learn it or change it, the guest brought up 3 different subjects that required literally unimaginable amounts of practice to learn, or in this case re-learn.

What shocked me and really opened my ears was he included learning guitar and playing guitar as one example of something that needs lots of practice at to perform at a professional level. He was discussing how important it is to not develop bad habits from the beginning. That changing a long term bad habit can be more work than developing the correct techniques in the first place. It’s important to note some athletes and guitar players have to learn new techniques as they mature for various reasons.

You may have heard of the guest person answering the question, Trent Dilfer. He is a sports analyst now, he won a Super Bowl with the Ravens in 2000. The subject was more interesting than he is! But he knows his stuff. Read on.

The interviewer asked Trent if it’s possible to, and how much time and effort is involved in, someone like Tiger Woods having to change his golf swing, or Tim Tebow [QB for Broncos] changing his throwing motion. In regards to Tiger, the question concerned the reasons Tiger needs to change his swing, and if he can do it, and what it takes. In regards to Tim, the question was: can Tim change his throwing motion and become an elite NFL quarterback, for both, the question is: what it takes and how long.

He said you can throw professional guitarists into this vibe too, to learn guitar at a high level is harder than changing your golf swing or throwing motion, in his opinion. In my opinion, it was very cool that he included learning guitar with the two sports examples.

The number 80,000 was mentioned. He said that changing a particular movement or response which was learned during childhood can be achieved, but the relearning process involves having a [relevant to the subject] qualified teacher or coach, and repeating the correct motion enough times to change the muscle memory already created and etched in your brain.

Re-learning actually takes more time and practice than learning for the first time. When we learn for the first time, as a kid, our minds are flexible and ready to accept and remember input. As we age our minds become less capable of changing. It does not mean we can’t learn or modify certain things, it only means it may be more work to relearn or learn for the first time as a more mature person.

I know the number 80,000 sounds like a lot, and it is. To repeat a song, guitar chords, scales or an exercise 80,000 times is a lot to be sure. Though, if you are working on something like a certain guitar lick, and you practice it 50 times a day. It will add up fast. Hey, I read an article about a basketball player who not pnly practiced with the team everyday, but stayed late to practice his 3 point shot. He shot 1000 3 pointers every day after practice. At that rate, 80,000 will come fast. BTW, Chris Mullen was one of the greatest 3 point shooters, ever.

But, with the right training or coaching, right from the start, and diligent practice sessions, you will notice your skills improve before eighty thousand repetitions occur, thus providing a degree of self fulfillment. You will start to sound good well before the number 80,000 is reached, thus making practice fun, and more desirable. All of which adds up to your fulfillment and a rich feeling of accomplishing something positive through your sheer effort.

Regardless of what you do in life, it takes practice to improve. For instance, if you want to learn guitar, starting with the right online guitar lessons is a must. Most people who take up a hobby or sport very early in life, have some thoughts of becoming a professional someday. The truth is no matter what you decide to do with your skills, everyone starts at the beginning and has to learn and practice to improve.

Believe me, to learn and master your first guitar song won’t take anywhere near the amount of repetitions talked about. In fact in less than an hour, you can learn an easy guitar song with the right instruction. It does not make you an expert, but it’s positive reinforcement, and that’s a good start to anything that is important enough to put valuable time into.

If you want more information regarding this secret, then make sure to look into our top rated online guitar lessons reviewed, the courses, that is. One of them is sure to fit your learning needs. Regardless of your level or previous training, it won’t take long to get you started playing the guitar, or correct some bad habits. GuitarPlayersCenter.com .

 

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Our Online Guitar Lessons Reviewer is 100% Qualified For The Job.

by Daniel R. Lehrman on November 30, 2011

 

Our Online Guitar Lessons Reviewer is 100% Qualified For The Job.

Our Online Guitar Lessons Reviewer is 100% Qualified For The Job.

Almost half of the websites that claim to offer the best guitar lessons online, are actually review sites. In a way, finding an honest, and unbiased online guitar lessons review site is about as hard to do as finding an honest, effective and affordable online guitar lesson program. It’s ironic that there are so many reviewers, in fact it seems there are more people evaluating all sorts of guitar lessons than possibly the amount of courses available.

Having made that statement, it seems just as important to know what the reviewers qualifications are, as are the qualifications of the site being reviewed. If the reviewer is not a guitarist, does not understand how to play guitar, has no understanding of the theory of music, and does not have some teaching skills with experience as a guideline, than you may not get the best review and thus lessons. Other than My Unique Qualifications as a reviewer, WE PAY for ALL of the reviewed guitar lessons and courses out of our pocket, to make sure it’s 100% UN-biased. As an example, not all successful head coaches played the sport they coach, but they understand the game and can teach it.

What makes My Qualifications A superior reviewer of online guitar lessons?

1. My first guitar lessons were from Aaron Shearer. The father of modern day music programs at almost all of the major universities, and qualified private guitar teachers. I also took classical guitar lessons from George Yeatman for many years. My training was perhaps the most difficult and strenuous way to learn. The time spent teaching, the explicit detail to technique and learning to practice is a method long gone. I admit that for many beginner guitarists this may not be the fastest or most gratifying way to go. Especially if you only want to learn a few guitar songs and have fun. However, I have experienced the best guitar teachers of all time, and have a good idea of what works.

2. The above two teachers were masters at teaching the disciple of classical guitar. In the old days, you did not leave the guitar lesson until you understood it. One hour lessons were the norm in earlier times. I did exactly as my teachers said, I practiced my lesson everyday. I never really got the “left thumb [fretting hand] behind the neck” vibe down. But I learned to love to practice the guitar.

3a. Versatility. I stopped playing classical acoustic guitar the first time I heard Jimi Hendrix on a bootleg BBC radio channel. BBC is an acronym for British Broadcasting Corp. Jimi made it in England before he made it in America. I have extensive experience in both types of guitars. Acoustic guitars, classical guitars and electric guitars. 3b. I am familiar with many common genres of music. Blues, country, rock, classical and more. Guitar lessons for beginners is one of my specialties, any age level.

4. It is easy for me to sift through online guitar lessons and locate the best ones. I have lots of practice and know what to look for. Each recommended course has been thoroughly examined and completed. I am 100 percent convinced it’s in your best interest to check out each course. It’s free to examine them, and you get an easy money back guarantee. The importance of examining each lesson is because everyone learns in a different manner. Some people enjoy and respond better to video guitar lessons, and others like DVD guitar lesson curriculum’s.

5.  I can also teach you how to use guitar effects pedals, and your amp too. I am a full service guitar teacher. Amps, effects and certain specialties are part of teaching guitar. Teaching the guitar is a full service job.

Allowing an expert guitar lesson reviewer you can trust do the dirty work, makes it faster and safer to choose your guitar lessons online. You can even call me if you want a personal consultation for free. My number is 772-979-2887, EST. A few minutes of consulting can save lots of frustration, money and time.

Continuing, I did not play guitar for a long time after I stopped playing classical guitar when I was about 14 or 15 years old. For a variety of reasons, getting my first job,  then having to work full time and support my family, I was not able to put any quality time into learning and playing guitar until I was 52 years old. That is approximately a gap of 40 years of  not playing guitar. When I started thinking of guitar lessons again, it never occured to me that something like online guitar lessons were available. So I found a highly recommended local guitar teacher.

My experience with this private tutor was mixed.  Although the person I chose as a teacher was a “great” guitar player. I truly mean that. He also was educated at Berklee College of Music as well. That being so, a great technician, a guitar player in his case, does not always make the best guitar teacher. His methodology was similar to Berklee Music with his approach.

Ninety percent of people who want to learn to play the guitar are not interested in any heavy musical theory, being drilled in scales, modes and scale exercises to “the point of nausea”, or how to read musical notation. Learn a few easy guitar chords, pick out an easy guitar song, print the free tab off the internet, and you are off. Anyway, that is more like the way it is now with DVD guitar lessons, and Video guitar lessons, so easy and convenient to access anytime and anyplace. Not to mention very affordable.

All learn at home guitar lessons are prepared by professional guitar teachers. Surprisingly, you may recognize some teachers as great guitar players, but you can bet they know how to teach, because teach is the keyword in learning guitar. You have to choose the medium, and or guitar teachers and curriculum’s that serve you best.

Do yourself a favor, read my reviews on the various forms of guitar lessons offered online that meet and exceed your expectations, and are quite affordable.  Online Guitar Lessons Reviewed, Guitar Lessons for Beginners, Adult Guitar Lessons, Guitar Lessons for Children, Jamplay Review and GuitarTricks Review are all top level award winning programs. GuitarPlayersCenter.com

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Get your Emotions Flowing with Online Guitar Lessons

by Daniel R. Lehrman on November 23, 2011

One of the secrets used by the best guitar teachers is to teach the student a familiar, well liked, easy guitar song as a goal to meet. I say this because if the guitar student has a particular song in mind, it’s much easier to teach them to play guitar. In fact, some students take guitar instruction to learn a specific song. One of the reasons to pick a known song is because there are usually some emotions attached to it. I always choose guitar songs that have deep emotional ties.

Emotion is when the song is played with feelings. When the words have an impact on you our emotions and mix with the tension and release of the music, thus making it unique to you. Even at a beginner guitar players level, emotions and feeling will propel you sooner into a good guitar player. So, choose a teacher that wants to teach you an easy song, one that you like, as a your first goal.

In truth, most easy guitar songs are made up of two [2] to four [4] chords, which are repeated to a beat or rhythm. One of the first songs I learned was called “Hey Joe”. It was written by Billy Roberts. “Hey Joe” was registered for copyright in the U.S. in 1962 as a country song, but it was made famous by Jimi Hendrix, as a high energy, string bending rock song. It’s a great tune, no matter how you play it, plus, it’s easy to learn the chord pattern. I know the song very well. It was a natural to learn it first.

It’s easy to pick this song out just by strumming the chords. In defense of the new student, it may be too early in the learn guitar process to summons up very much emotion. Based on all of the new information, emotions may be hard to summons up. So make sure to pick an easy song as your goal. It does not take very long to learn the easy chords to Hey Joe, and then strum them. It’s very simple to sing the words that correspond to the chords being played in no time. Really.

The chords go as this:

C, G, D, A, E.

 Chord Chart, click to enlarge

Chord Chart, click to enlarge

It won’t exempt you from learning the basics everyone guitarist should know. It means you  have to learn your scales [eventually], like the G Major scale, or the pentatonic-blues scale, also known as a 5 note scale. Of course your chord vocabulary will increase naturally as you progress. But learning that first song is a must in order to feel the satisfaction and good feelings of grasping this assignment so fast. I taught a 10 year old girl the song Firework in one hour.

Obviously an adult does not want to be treated or taught like a kid or child. A kid or child needs guitar lessons for beginners, kids and children. An adult needs adult guitar lessons for the beginner adult. Finding your creative juices and emotions is the best way to learn guitar fast. Take the boredom and monotonous practice time  and turn it into fun and productive time. Located below are several guitar courses, curriculum’s, programs and schools to choose from.

Online Guitar Lessons are a dime a dozen, here are the top rated courses. All reviews are 100% unbiased, purchased and tested independently by our reviewer for your convenience. Try them for free. Choose the right guitar program for your needs.

Video Guitar Lessons JamPlay:  Top Rated Course, modern, easy to use website.

Video Guitar Lessons GuitarTricks: Top Video guitar lessons.

Home School DVD Guitar Lessons: Most Complete, award winning DVD Guitar Curriculum on the market.

DVD and Video Guitar Lessons and Coaching Club: An extremely complete Guitar Lesson site. Buy guitar CD’s now.

Take Guitar Playing to The Next Level with over 900 Guitar lesson videos, and written lessons.

Courtesy of GuitarPlayersCenter.com

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