The Intermediate Guitar Rut

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Mastering an art takes dedication. What kind of magic can help?

We’ve all experienced having a rush of excitement, then giving up. When you find this happening repeatedly, maybe you should try attacking the sport from a different angle! The world is filled with intermediates in a rut.

My title, “The Intermediate Guitar Rut,” is inspired by Lito Tejada-Flores, author of a book on snow skiing “Breakthrough on Skis,” Continue reading “The Intermediate Guitar Rut”

Guitar Lesson Three – Barre Chords

Guitar Lesson Three

Lesson three will begin as this document.
I may make it into a video later.

It’s inspired by a Quora question. Read on!

If a guitarist never makes an effort to learn barre chords, what are the playing experiences they’ll never be able to enjoy?

That’s a great question!

I can assure you, when you start playing barre chords, you’ll also start to learn how to play the guitar! You’ll begin to understand the simplicity of how the guitar is laid out and how to find all the notes you need!

Everything on a guitar is done is sections, even when it appears a guitarist is flying all over with his hands. There are simple reference points, which can be found by counting up to what fret you’re on, using the dot markings as reference points, or, most likely, using your current position as a reference point (where you’re moving from).

Hagstrom Viking and Hagstrom HL550 guitars. Choose your weapon!

Let me show you how versatile and simple the guitar can be, by starting in one place. There are many things you can “assign” to a location on the neck of the guitar. Then, I’ll show you how you can move at once, to another location, and, relatively-speaking, everything stays the same.

In other words, I’ll show you freedom and simplicity you can never see if you don’t come up the neck for both single notes and chords, as well as logic Continue reading “Guitar Lesson Three – Barre Chords”

How To Be a Guitar Beginner

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I’ve produced a couple of guitar lesson videos and plan to make more as well. I enjoy discussing my own journey learning guitar and helping others. I find music is an important part of my daily life! I enjoy giving beginners tips in a sometimes-confusing art, where lingo can turn into a different language when a teacher has education chops.

Did you get a new guitar for Christmas?

Today’s article comes from a Quora answer from me.

How do I start learning guitar? I have an electric guitar, and I tend to give up easily. Does anyone have any tips or recommendations?

Q: How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb?

A: Only one. But the lightbulb has to really want to change!

First of all, you have to really want to do it! I can tell you what I do!

I practice every day, and I have no idea why, generally! But I do remember picking up the guitar about ten years-ago when I was older, and I put a completely different, stronger, effort into it than I had as a young person.

There seems to be two ingredients to getting into a regular relationship with my guitar, and they’re not easy: time and patience. Oh, I love the way the guitars sound, and touching and playing them, creating music … Continue reading “How To Be a Guitar Beginner”

Intermediate Guitar with Mark Urso – Lesson 2 – EZ Chord Notation and Performing | Epiphone Emperor Joe Pass

Intermediate Guitar with Mark Urso – Lesson 2
EZ Chord Notation and Performing
Epiphone Emperor Joe Pass

A great new lesson video to help make music refreshingly simple!

Starts with lesson and explanation of EZ Chords for Performers

Continues with three songs performed by me

The EZ chords are posted below!

Songs:

Continue reading “Intermediate Guitar with Mark Urso – Lesson 2 – EZ Chord Notation and Performing | Epiphone Emperor Joe Pass”