If you’re a beginning guitar player, you’ve probably heard the word “scales” before but may not be sure where to start. If you’ve tried a few, you may be wondering what are the best scales for guitar practice. There are a few reasons why adding scales to your guitar practice routine is super important: Scales build technique, strength and coordination in both hands on the guitar. Scales are the basis for all melody, solos and …
Develop a Better Ear – Guitarists and Musicians
One of the most important skills you can develop as a musician is a “good ear”. The ability to match pitch and audiate on the guitar is fundamentally important in all aspects of your playing. If you want to Develop A Better Ear, check out this article below. Developing your ear will make your improvisation more creative and melodic. As a result, it will improve your composition and make learning and accurately playing any piece …
What You Should Look for in a Guitar App
What Should You Look for in a Guitar App? Using apps is one of the ways beginners can learn to play acoustic, electric or bass guitar. It’s convenient and allows you to practice and review lessons even when you’re on the go and even when you don’t have your beginner electric guitar around. But with the number of guitar apps out there, how do you know which one will meet your needs? Here are the …
Picking Exercises, Shred Guitar Practice, and Gear
Guitarists have been emailing me… asking where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to. The short answer is, practicing. Practicing a lot. While my writing has a suffered a bit, my guitar chops are making a serious comeback thanks to my Picking Exercises, Shred Guitar Practice routines. Most of my friends, family and readers know I do a ton of acoustic guitar gigs. I’m still doing 4-5 per week. Thats just how I pay …
10 Ways To Get Your Kids Into Music
Getting your kids into music can start as early as in the womb. Many parents-to-be report excited kicks coming from their tummy when singing to their unborn babies or playing good music. Music can bring great joy and speak to the soul. As a result, it has many benefits that can seriously improve quality of life. Music increases brain power and memory and gives kids a form of artistic expression. It also improves creativity, can …
Guitarist Bobby Koelble Interview & Lesson
I want to start this article by saying, I’m just a big fan of Guitarist Bobby Koelble. He’s the type of Guitarist I want to be like “when I grow up”. I like to think of myself as a busy musician. I’m writing, teaching and performing 4-6 days a week, 52 weeks a year. But… theres busy… and there’s Bobby Koelble busy. I like to think I’m fairly versatile on the guitar. I’ve done my …
10 Essential Guitar Albums
I love lists! There are so many ‘greatest guitarist’ and ‘greatest guitar album’ lists out there, why should you care about mine? The biggest fault I see is in the lack of diversity found in most best guitar albums lists. When making a greatest guitar music album list, I think it’s essential to cross into different genres of music. It’s important to also cover as many techniques as possible. ….and why does the music all …
Guitarist Berto Boyd Flamenco Guitar Master Lesson
Flamenco Guitarist Berto Boyd updated 2024. (Recently moved to Philippines) I came across Flamenco and Classical Guitarist, Berto Boyd, on Facebook a while back through our mutual friend and guitarist, Ben Woods. I admire anyone who (like me) is able to make a living playing guitar at any level. I’m also just a huge fan and admirer of Flamenco guitar in general. It’s not something I’ve covered yet here on Life In 12 Keys. Guitarist …
The Girl From Ipanema Guitar Tutorial
The Girl From Ipanema Guitar Lesson and Guitar Jazz Chord Study An analysis, lesson and study of a really classic Jazz / Pop tune, The Girl From Ipanema.In this Guitar lesson: Girl From Ipanema Chord Chart Chord Analysis Section A Chord Analysis Section B Soloing and Improvisation Ideas – The Essential Scales Practice Backing Track\ Girl From Ipanema Guitar History Every once in a while I need to write a lesson for myself as well …
Minor Pentatonic Scale Shapes for Guitar
This week I’m going to revisit the Pentatonic Scale Shapes. Particularly the minor pentatonic scale and how it overlaps notes in it’s parent Major Key. In case you missed it, a while back I did a lesson on guitar modal scales and how they overlap. One of my readers, Tim, sent me an email right after that lesson went live and asked about the same concept using minor Pentatonic scales.. so like I always say… …