Guitar Raking Technique

RAKING - Sweeping is when your pick moves back and forth across the strings, Raking is a one-direction move that includes muting, un-muting and a destination note. There are so many ways and areas on the guitar that you can apply "raking" to but this example includes a basic "A" blues scale and "rakes" chords. Of coarse you can always rake any notes,it doesn't have to be a chord but when starting out, it is nice to explore your solo options through chord shapes you may already know. Enjoy. Learn. Share. @nathanfleet

12 EZ chords in 30 sec using F

Using this standard F chord, move it along the fret board to instantly find 11 other chords. It is so important to learn the notes on your guitar so that you can find all these other gems that many beginning guitarist never find. Starting with "F" on the first fret,moving up one fret at a time you get the following Major chords F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb, B, C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E @nathanfleet

Sweep Picking - Basics

Sweep Picking

This is a basic explanation of the motion, position and technique behind sweep picking with an example using 2 major chords, A and E. When you are writing your sweeping riff is it really important to know the chord progression and the notes within each chord you are playing. My sweeping exercise only uses two chords but ultimately, when you start a heavy sweeping solo you may have 6 chords to sweep over before it repeats so start with a few chords, then add more as you get comfortable moving up and down the fretboard. Less pick showing + less hand movement = more efficiency. @nathanfleet

12 EZ chords in 1 minute (using C)

This lesson takes the concept of using the basic C chord shape and moving it up the fretboard to get a new major chord. The trick here is, compensating for the open strings that you have on your basic C Chord. The lesson shows you how to "bar" what was an open string.

Even if you don't want to learn music theory, at least learn the notes on your fretboard. It will help you tremendously.

In this exercise moving up the neck we go C, C#/Bb, D, D#/Bb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb, B, C. This symbol '#' is called a 'sharp' and this symbol 'b', is called a 'flat' @nathanfleet if you have specific questions or lessons you want me to do. Enjoy, Learn. Share.

Easy Arpeggios

An arpeggio is a chord played one note at a time rather than strummed all together (I'm talking guitar here) Using the notes of a C chord (C-E-G) I demonstrate a few easy ways to play a major, minor (C-Eb-G), augmented(C-E-G#) and diminished (C-Eb-Gb) arpeggio. Remember to hide most of the pick under your thumb and use the tip. I find that it minimizes the amount of movement your picking hand needs when you want to play fast.

this blogpost originated from nathanfleet.blogspot.com

Tweet Lessons and Tips

I am now tweeting short tips / lessons on Twitter. Follow me @nathanfleet twitter.com/nathanfleet

Speed Picking: Quick Tips

I've been teaching speed picking a lot lately and have a few quick tips on things you can do to perfect your technique. Back in the day I used to study the speed tricks from guys like Yngwie Malmsteen and Randy Rhoads. Fast forward to the now, I am glad I studied it but must admit I only use it selectively. While speed is impressive, it can often overstay it's welcome when you get too showy too often. The last run in the video example is from the song "Just Swing" which will be on Talk to the Machine.

Suggestion 1) Use speed if you hear it rather than trying to insert it to impress. If you were to talk to someone non-stop, no breath you'd become annoying quite quickly. With your guitar solos you can treat it like a conversation, use the speed to enhance a part(s) but don't neglect silence, slower rhythms and less scale runs.

See video below for tips 1-3.

Tip 1) Picking should alternate and be from your wrist, not your arm. If you look like you are sawing wood then you are using up too much energy and you will tire quickly. Relax.

Tip 2) You're pick should not be parallel to the string as it will create resistance. Instead you should angle the pick slightly so that your pick slices smoothly across the string.

Tip 2a) Make sure you only use the very tip of the pick on the strings. The rest should be tucked under your thumb. You will have much more control.

Tip 3) Don't swing your hand up and down. The farther away your pick is from the string, the less speed you will have. It should look like your hand is barely moving. Once you down-pick the edge of your pick should be on the underside of the same string. Minimize any space between pick and string.

Tip 4) Get a metronome and use it. Start your exercise or scale at a tempo that you can play without flaw. Gradually increase the speed and make note of the tempo where you start to get sloppy. That tempo will now be your goal. Go for accuracy over speed and be patient, the results will come.

I am by no means a speed master and I don't have the hours I used to but I know how to get it when I need it. Back in the day, I had the time and the discipline to practice my metronome speed exercises for a few hours a day. That is what it takes.

If you can't see the video go to the original post at this link.

This post originates from

nathanfleet.blogspot.com

HINDU SCALE: Take a break from D to G and use Gm

Lesson #1

The Hindu Scale.

I have no idea what level you are at so the lessons I post will be in no particular order. I just hope to add some tools to your belt so that you have some options.

Video example at the bottom of this post using the Hindu Scale in the solo for "Song Worth Singing" that will be a track on my Talk to the Machine album.

You'll here this scale in so many genres of music. I hear it often in John William's scores which is probably why I enjoy using it.

For this exercise I am using the key of D. Those with some theory knowledge will be able to move this into any key. If you don't know theory I've created a beginner lesson near the bottom.

One of the most widely used chord progressions is D going to G. At some point you may want a change. I am suggesting that you try a G minor chord instead of G and I want to show you a great scale, Hindu, you can use with a D to Gm chord progression. I will use the guitar scale/solo as the example but you can use this for vocal lines, horn harmonies, string orchestrations etc...

The Theory

When you use a D chord going to a G chord (D being your key/tonic) the chords are in the same key (the I and the IV chord) built using the notes of the D major scale D E F# G A B C# D.

Triads: a chord with three notes

If you use a Root, 3rd, 5th starting on D you get D F# A, the notes of the D chord. If you use a R, 3rd, 5th starting on G you get G B D, the notes of a G chord. On the guitar many of these notes are doubled or tripled in a chord but they still only contain 3 note names.

Sub G for Gm

If you substitute G with G minor, certain notes will have to change.

The G minor chord contains the three notes, G Bb D. The G minor scale (the relative minor of Bb major) contains the notes G A Bb C D Eb F G

Alter the D major scale

Now if you alter your D major scale to contain a Bb and a C (from the G minor scale) your scale will look something like this D E F# G A Bb C D. This is the Hindu scale in D.

In relation to the major scale use this formula to move it into any key you want, R 2 3 4 5 b6 b7 8 or TTSTSTT (Tone, Tone, Semi-tone, Tone, Semi-tone, Tone, Tone)

Now try this scale under a D to Gm chord progression. I personally love this scale / chord combo. I may have over used it on my album but I guess that will just be considered the "style" I used.

FOR THE BEGINNER

Play this scale:

---------------------------------------------8--10-

------------------------------7--8--10--11-------

---------------------5--7--9-----------------------

--------4--5--7--8--------------------------------

--5--7---------------------------------------------

---------------------------------------------------

Over these chords:

D / / / Gm / / / D / / / Gm / / / repeat

/ = additional chord strum

What will you do with your Hindu?

Comment & post a link so we can all hear what ya did.

This post originates from

nathanfleet.blogspot.com