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So You Wanna Learn To Play Guitar?

September 10, 2018

Gretch-small So you wanna learn how to play guitar?

Alright, we’ve established that you’re ambitious enough to pick up
an instrument and that’s really exciting you actually want to learn how
to play it. But before you choose an instructor ask yourself,
what exactly inspired you to pick up the instrument and what are your
goals with your axe?

Now that you’ve decided to become a rock star let me help you out.
There are some key ingredients that will help you get started.

Learn to tune. There are about 5 different ways you can learn to tune,
and once you learn to match pitches you’re set. You can tune using a
chromatic tuner or a pitch pipe that will get you started.

Dexterity control. Off the bat your hand won’t want to make even the
most simple of chords, let alone changing between them. Learn the
chromatic scale to help widen the tendons in your left hand.

Right
hand rhythm.
You’ll have a pretty tough time trying to jam if you don’t
know how to groove. With your right hand picking or strumming, imagine
a 4 count in your head to get started. 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2
and 3 and 4 and is your basic 1/8 note count.

Efficient practice
habits.
Trying to rock under one format of learning (such as online
tab) will only crutch and frustrate your progress. Here are a couple
other options to keep you from getting bored:

  • Put on your favorite
album, if it’s Hedrix try and match guitar chops with him using only
your ear.
  • Read guitar magazines, these are great for inspiration
    and the music in them is formated professionally.
  • Read chord
    charts, these are simple black dots on a grid. Put your fingers where
    the black dots are.
  • Understand the dreaded notes on a 5 line staff.
    They are commonly attached to tab anyway so just make a glance and
    correlate the two.
  • Do it cause you wanna do it, you have the
    drive to take lessons now is the time to put your passion to the test.
  • These are the basics that will help take you wherever it is you
    wanna go. I’ll be ready as soon as you have a question, so don’t
    hesitate to ask. Have a great week, and rock!

    Jason
    “Jason is absolutely amazing! My son Joe has been taking lessons from
    Jason since January 28th and I am amazed at how much he has learned!
    Joe has ADD and learning disabilities and Jason is very patient and
    teaches Joe with awesome methods! Joe really likes Jason and looks
    forward to his lesson every week! He is practicing hard and is so
    enthusiastic about becoming a good guitarist! Thank you, Jason, for
    giving my son an amazing experience!”

    author
    Instructor since 2005, Jason M. is now available for online lessons worldwide featuring multiple-camera angles and a share screen experience leaving no stone un-turned! Jason has been playing guitar for over 15 years and teaching music since 1996. Although trained in standard teaching methods, he has developed his own method of teaching to positively enhance the student€™s strength, dexterity, ear-training, memorization and techniques. His goal as a teacher is specifically designed to help you achieve your goals as an artist and a musician. This year Jason was also the Music Director at the National Guitar Workshop Day Jams Rock Music Day Camp where students ages 7-15 came out to form bands, record original material and master their craft. He also taught beginning to advanced guitar/ vocals/ performance and songwriting as hosted a recording clinic at the end of each day. Jason has host student showcases/charity benefits where his students were able to get on stage and show off their new talent and perform with other musicians. It wasn't mandatory though, if you were just looking to come out and support there was no pressure other than to come out and have fun. Jason has been transcribing for guitar and bass since the age of 18 and since then has become a master of the craft including both 5 line staff and tablature, hand-crafted exercises and deconstructions to better enhance the students learning. Artists and genres that Jason has experience with range from Classic Rock, Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Guns N' Roses, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Robert Johnson, Pierce the Veil, Paramore, All Time Low, Demi Lava to, Iron Maiden, Motorhead, Pantera, Avenged Sevenfold, The White Stripes, Green Day, Old Crow Medicine Show, Taylor Swift, Mumford and Sons, Bruno Mars, Rob Zombie, John 5, Audioslave, Rage Against the Machine, Van Morrison, the Beatles, AC/DC, ZZ-Top, Bullet For My Valentine, All That Remains, Ozzy, Black Label Society, Sublime, Aerosmith, At the Drive In, Type O Negative, the Black Keys, the Pixies, the Toadies, Black Sabbath, Jason Mraz, Lady GaGa, John Mayer and Journey. Jason attended the University of Alaska, Anchorage where his degree is in Music and Business. He is constantly continuing his education with music theory courses as well as private guitar instruction. He attends guitar workshops and seminars by artists such as John5 and Kerry King who are known as some of the worlds finest guitar players. He reviews every day from a wide range of over 1000 sources working to become a better musician and instructor. Another nice feature that you might enjoy from one on one sessions with Jason is learning the ability to craft and record your own songs using state of the art technology that caters to your own unique personality. There are no limits! Jason teaches all experience levels from beginner to intermediate and advanced as well as artists that are signed to labels. Local news outlet Fox 5 did a segment with one of his students who overcame issues with ADD and depression as a result of taking guitar lessons. His students advance quickly, some have released albums, been in Guitar World Magazine as well as its online companion and won awards for their music websites.

    Jason M.