View Post

Guitar Modes – A Practical Guide To Modal Shapes

In Guitar Blog, Practice and Technique, Scales by Craig SmithLeave a Comment

Guitar Modes Whenever I see guitar modes explained in lessons and other guitar blogs, there always seems to be one key point missing. How they overlap each other. When discussing how to use guitar modes, it’s really important to understand how they fall across the fretboard in any given key. To further illustrate this point, I received an email from Randal, an email subscriber who had just purchased my book The 7 Day Practice Routine …

View Post

Lagrima Complete Guitar Score PDF

In Classical Guitar, Guitar Blog, Practice and Technique by Craig SmithLeave a Comment

My first online Classical Guitar Lesson! I gotta say, I’m kinda stoked about it too. Lagrima is one of my favorite semi-easy pieces for Classical Guitar. Also, it’s just an easy one to get your hands around. I’ve also included a free Lagrima Guitar Music PDF below. (Updated 2024 – I also did a Classical Guitar Lesson on Sor’s study in B minor). In this Lagrima Guitar Lesson: January for us working musicians in Florida …

View Post

Beginner Guitar Lesson – Strumming and Accompaniment

In Chords, Guitar Blog, Interviews and Insights, Music, Practice and Technique by Jami TaylorLeave a Comment

Hey everyone! Today I’m doing a guest guitar lesson with Utah Guitarist, Jami Taylor.  I met Jami recently on Pinterest and we became fast email guitar buddies. Jami has a wonderful gift for beautifully designed, easy to follow, visually appealing guitar lessons. I just love her website and her beautifully styled lessons are so different than mine, I just had to have her do a guest post here at Lifein12Keys.com. Hopefully it won’t be her …

View Post

Harmonic Minor Scale and Modes for Guitar

In Guitar Blog, Practice and Technique, Scales by Craig SmithLeave a Comment

The Harmonic Minor Scale for Guitar is something you instantly recognize when you hear it. It’s exotic, moody, exciting, and just fun to play in all styles of guitar music. I’ve been having a blast lately talking with so many guitarists about all of the things they practice and struggle with on a daily basis. When I built this website, I really wasn’t sure what it was I wanted to to do with it. I …

View Post

How To Create Your Own Guitar Chords

In Chords, Guitar Blog, Practice and Technique by Craig SmithLeave a Comment

Creating Guitar Chords Think it’s hard to create your own guitar chords? Let me tell a quick story. A few years back I had an adult student, far from a beginner mind you, but he was struggling with chords and some basic chord theory. He had this book called “10,000 chord shapes” (I swear that’s a real book!) and he was convinced that he had to learn all of those shapes to become the guitarist …

View Post

Melodic Minor Scale and Modes for Guitar

In Arpeggios, Guitar Blog, Practice and Technique, Scales by Craig SmithLeave a Comment

Melodic Minor Scales for Guitar Oh scary isn’t it! The red-headed step-child of minor scales.. unless you’re a Jazz or Classical player that is. The Melodic Minor scale, also referred to as the Jazz Melodic minor scale. Let’s get our hands wrapped around some Melodic Minor Scale and modes for Guitar in this lesson. Updated for 2024, I’ve also included a 3 notes per string Melodic minor scale and modes PDF for guitar at the …

View Post

Guitarist Bill Hall In-Depth Interview

In Guitar Blog, Interviews and Insights, Music, Practice and Technique by Craig SmithLeave a Comment

The internet is a funny thing… there are times when I absolutely despise what social media has become and other times where I’m genuinely moved by reconnecting with an old friend or family member I haven’t seen in years. Guitarist Bill Hall is one of those people. The latter happened recently when I was promoting my new book (The 7 Day Guitar Practice Routine) in some random guitar related Facebook groups. I came across a …

View Post

Guitar Scale Practice On 2 Strings

In Arpeggios, Guitar Blog, Practice and Technique, Scales by Craig SmithLeave a Comment

Every few months or so, I find myself in some type of a guitar playing slump, or rut or whatever you want to call it. If you’ve been playing guitar for longer than a few years, you probably know what I’m talking about right? Things I normally can play with ease become a little sloppy or my hands feel out of sync.  After 30 years and thousands of gigs, it wears on you a bit. …

View Post

Guitar Technique Practice

In Guitar Blog, Interviews and Insights, Practice and Technique by Craig SmithLeave a Comment

Technical Work for the Long Term Technical Guitar Work. Yeah I know, who has the time right? Whether you’re a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, every musician can benefit from regular technical workouts. I have seen the results first hand both in my students and my own playing. Working on the technical aspects of your playing will make everything else you play feel easier in comparison. If you’re in a cover band and have …