How To Play A Guitar Blog

Paint By Numbers Guitar Scale?

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:29:35 GMT

Having trouble understanding guitar scales? If you can already strum chords to songs and are attempting to expand into playing some lead guitar, you have probably seen and heard a LOT about scales. Not to mention "magical" methods, etc. It can be overwhelming and confusing at the beginning. Especially on the Internet!! ( I know there's some irony here somewhere…;-) While it's true that knowing which notes you are on is of extreme importance -- particularly for those intermediate and long time players who are spinning there wheels on the same old tired licks and cliches, it CAN be a bit much for the aspiring novice lead player. All the guitar scale charts on this site are labelled as Roots ( in red) or 3rd, 4ths, 5ths etc. If you have no basic music theory to stand on it's not gonna help you. Does that mean you can't reach your goal of playing lead guitar? No! If you pay attention to each and every note when you play and INTERNALIZE the sounds and do this on a consistent basis, you will learn what you need. At some point, you'll take another look at theory and it'll probably make much more sense to you. So for now, just play and LISTEN. My top tip would be to record your practice sessions. Don't analyze too much. Your brain will automatically filter out the good stuff from the bad stuff over time. Click here to go to my Facebook page for a beginning lead guitar video tutorial. It's as close to a "paint by numbers" guitar scale for those of you starting out with lead guitar as I can come up with. It's a jumping-off point if you will. You could also get to the video by clicking on the Facebook "visit my page" icon on the right column of this page. Hope it helps! Keep on picking and grinning :-)

Which Strings to Strum?

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:43:59 GMT

Are you uncertain about which string to start at in order to strum guitar chords?

If so, you may also be wondering how many strings to hit while you are strumming.

Each chord is unique. Some chords will require you to use 6 strings. Some will be 5. Some 4. It's important to know which string to start at. This is the lowest sounding note.

Also, you don't necessarily need to strum ALL the strings in a chord all the time!

If you'd like to see a video where I demonstrate these ideas, simply click on my Facebook "visit my page" button to the right. It'll take you to my Facebook page where the caption says "Do you know which strings to strum on your chords?"

Best of luck with it and let me know how you're doing!

Happy New Year!

Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:53:13 GMT

Happy New Year!! I've had some questions recently from readers who are a little unsure about all the graphics and diagrams used to explain things on guitar. I don't blame them! I know because I have to draw the darned things all the time ;-) In a nutshell, here's what we are looking at:

Guitar chord diagrams for guitar chords.
Scale diagrams for guitar scales.
Guitar tab -- or Tab -- to notate songs, riffs and musical ideas.

There you have it. You simply need to be aware of which lines represent the strings and which lines represent the frets. Dots are where you put your fingers. The numbers inside the dots have to do with music theory. The red dots are roots and define which note is the fundamental sound of the chord or scale. Tab is a little different. The horizontal lines represent your guitar strings and the numbers represent which fret on the string to press down on. Read it like English -- from left to right. In other words, the notes are played in the order they are written. The permalink at the bottom of this post will connect you to an intro lesson where I explain a bit more about guitar tab. If you don't understand it right now, don't worry. Just learn to play and strum the basic guitar chords! The theoretical "understandings" will reveal themselves gradually to you as you continue to play guitar. With guitar chord diagrams and scale diagrams, there are sometimes numbers BESIDE the dots. This is a suggestion as to which finger to use. I'm looking forward to creating many more useful and in depth guitar lessons for you in the coming year! Wishing you much happiness, health and prosperity in this New Year, Dave

No Excuses

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:07:01 GMT

One of the biggest challenges to learning guitar is making the time to practice. Despite what anyone say, you are teaching yourself. That's right. All learning is done on the guitar. Lessons, videos etc. are only guidelines for you to follow. A map. But you have to pick up your guitar and work things out. On an almost daily basis. For at least a few minutes. And if you really want to make guitar a part of your life you will.

"I'm too old."
"I'm too busy."
I'm too tired."
My life is too crazy."
"My guitar isn't good enough."
"I'm not talented or smart enough."
I'm not musically inclined."

Don't Feel Like Practicing Today?

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 14:19:48 GMT

Do it anyways! Just do it. Once you start, you'll feel better. Don't believe me? Try it out. I'm not saying you'll necessarily be ready to turn cartwheels because you picked up your guitar to practice. But you'll have a strong sense of satisfaction. That's how to improve. Good guitar players practice whether or not they feel like it. They don't wait for the inspiration to come. Inspiration doesn't come beforehand very often. It usually comes during. Like right now. I didn't feel much like writing. I've been super busy with other music related projects. But I had a goal to post something helpful today. So I sat down and started punching out letters on my keyboard. Now I'm in a flow of ideas and I feel better about myself. Of course there are times we need to rest and take breaks to recharge. There are times to spend with family, friends and loved ones. There are times for recreation. But stay true to your guitar playing dreams! Just because it may not earn you money doesn't mean it's not an important dimension to your life. If you set the intention to get better at guitar, put that thought into action on a consistent basis. It doesn't have to be perfect. Somedays you may only manage to strum a couple of chords. Other days you may get a focused 20 or 30 minutes -- or even more. Don't let "perfection" block you from playing one or two chords. Set small goals such as practicing everyday for 1 week. Even 30 seconds can count. A focused finding and playing one new chord for example. At the end of the week, rent a movie or take yourself to a restaurant you love. A small reward. You get the idea. Brain research shows that an activity like guitar playing can become a "positive addiction" leading to creation of new neural pathways and better brain health. Let's get going!

Struggling With Bar (barre) Chords?

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:56:23 GMT

If you are -- and specifically the F major barre chord, the following tips should help your practice (and frustration)!

Accept that it may take a few months of practicing to master bar chords.
Practice them consistently, but not "obsessively." Keep it loose, goose ;-)
Try using a capo at the 2nd fret.
Use light gauge strings.
Here's an exercise. Using your index finger only, bridge across the first 2 strings closest to the floor. Do this at fret 5. Once both notes are ringing clearly, add your 2nd finger ( remember, don't count your thumb) onto the 3rd string at fret 6.
Once the above sounds good at fret 5, move it down to fret 4. Start with only your index finger across the first 2 strings. Once that's good, add your 2nd finger to the 3rd string 5th fret. Once THAT'S good, move down to the 3rd fret. Start with only your index finger, etc.
Make sure that your wrists, elbows and shoulder are relatively straight. You shouldn't need to bend them in any unusual or forceful ways.
Have your thumb placed opposing your index finger. On the back of the guitar neck. Find a spot that feels "right" without moving your wrists or elbows into awkward positions.
Place your fingers fairly close and behind the fret wires. Not too far back.
After a few weeks, add your 3rd finger into the mix. Do yourself a favor and don't rush this process. Take your time with it.

That's about it. The number one tip? The learning is in the doing. Practice consistently, but not too much. It should be enjoyable effort :-) And of course, patience!

Advertising Information and Disclosures

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:41:03 GMT

Advertising Information and Disclosures. Complete information on our sponsors, our compensation or to arrange for advertising on this site.

Cool Amp Settings for Electric Guitar

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:29:37 GMT

This cool beginner guitar lesson gets you up to speed with what the basic knobs are. Find out the best amp settings for your style of electric guitar playing.

Guitar Bar Chords and Free Online Video Guitar Lesson

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:53:49 GMT

Frustrated with guitar bar chords? These clear instructions include a free video guitar lesson that will heal any frustration you feel.

How To Play Blues Guitar

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:52:56 GMT

How to play blues guitar is group of several free blues guitar lessons. Get some new ideas to spice up your blues!

Teach Yourself Guitar

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 13:43:59 GMT

Tutorial to teach yourself guitar. This cool online guitar lesson includes printable guitar chord charts and a guitar video lesson.

New Beginner Guitar Lesson Videos Added

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:33:49 GMT

Two new guitar lesson videos have been added to beginner lesson pages. Chord guitar lesson now has the lesson video as does teach yourself guitar.

If you've been struggling with learning basic guitar chords, these videos will make things clear. Of course, you'll still need to put in some quality time with your guitar ;-)

Stick with it! It is slow going for many in the beginning stages. You CAN do it. You can realize your dream of playing guitar. It just takes some dedication :-)

Cheers,
Dave

Guitar Strumming Patterns With Free Guitar Video Lesson

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:21:20 GMT

This free chord guitar lesson gets you started with guitar strumming patterns. Read the instructions and then watch the online guitar lesson video.

How To Play Acoustic Guitar for the Beginner and Intermediate

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:13:07 GMT

Some of the online lessons about how to play acoustic guitar are either confusing or risky. Here's top instruction for your acoustic guitar playing quest.

Chord Guitar Lesson For Beginners

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:45:25 GMT

This in-depth chord guitar lesson for beginners gives you a powerful method for memorizing and learning the basic guitar chords. The lesson is accompanied with a video tutorial.

Guitar Scale Charts and Free Printable Guitar Lessons

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:56:29 GMT

Start learning guitar major scales with these free printable guitar scale charts and guitar lessons. This lesson is designed to boost the skills of intermediate level guitarists.

How To Play Reggae Guitar

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:32:29 GMT

This free basic guitar lesson on how to play reggae guitar will get you up and strumming right away. It's actually 3 lessons rolled into 1. Yes, mon!

Free Guitar Lessons for Beginners.

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 11:11:30 GMT

Want to learn guitar?These free guitar lessons for beginners make learning to play a guitar fun. This is reliable online guitar instruction you can feel confident about.

Basic Guitar Chord Charts. All You Need to Start Easy Chord Guitar Today.

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 11:44:51 GMT

Confused by guitar chord dictionaries with pages full of tiny diagrams? The basic guitar chord charts in this lesson are all you need to get started playing basic chord guitar today.

This Basic Guitar Lesson Gets You Started Right.

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 11:59:06 GMT

Learning guitar can definitely seem overwhelming - especially in the beginning. This basic guitar lesson helps you get it right the first time with some important tips.

Blues Chords

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:16:48 GMT

Blues chords are a crucial part of learning blues guitar. This excellent tutorial includes printable guitar chord charts and a guitar video lesson.

Blues Guitar Scale

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:40:42 GMT

The blues guitar scale is a "must-know" scale for modern guitarists. This cool lesson shows you how to do it.

12 Bar Blues

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:53:36 GMT

The 12 bar blues is a fundamental style of electric guitar playing. This cool blues guitar lesson shows you how to play those 12 bars in more than one way.

Blues Guitar Licks

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:36:38 GMT

Some cool blues guitar licks in the style of Albert King, BB King and Eric Clapton are demonstrated and explained with this in-depth blues guitar lesson.

Blues Guitar Lessons

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:12:15 GMT

There are several very cool blues guitar lessons now posted onsite. I wrote them all at the same time because the concepts in each lesson are interconnected and related. For a couple of days recently, some links connecting these new blues lessons were broken. This was because the page that was linked was yet to be published live. I was working as fast as I could and I was aware some links wouldn't work for a day or two. I apologize if you encountered a "broken" link. I was trying a new workflow by writing related lessons in batches. I learned that one at a time works better for the internet :-) All the blues guitar lessons are completed now so you can surf the blues all you want! I'm now starting production on the accompanying blues guitar lesson videos as I write this update. Stay tuned!

Guitar Lessons Resources

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:29:45 GMT

Guitar lessons resources is a webpage with links to an online tuner and free printable guitar fretboard sheets. Useful stuff!

Dave Yeager Songs

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:58:36 GMT

Besides running his own successful guitar teaching practice in Toronto, Dave Yeager has been writing and performing his own music since he was a teenager.

Guitar Fretboard Obstacles And How To Blast Them To Smithereens.

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:56:27 GMT

When it comes to the guitar fretboard you need a solid grasp of these 3 concepts… IF you want to learn and master guitar.

Learn Guitar Fretboard Quickly and Efficiently

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:30:54 GMT

To do list... learn guitar fretboard. Do you know the names of the bar chords you've been playing? With this simple and effective method you'll quickly be able to identify what chord you're on.

Guitar Chord Lessons Show How To Add Flair to Basic Guitar Chords

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:39:07 GMT

So your can strum some basic chord guitar... now what? These free guitar chord lessons teach some cool techniques that add flair to basic guitar chords.

Advanced Guitar Lessons. The Tools You Need to Learn and Master Guitar.

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:32:04 GMT

The ultimate goal of these advanced guitar lessons is to provide tools to assist you in Playing Through the Chord Changes -- regardless of genre or style. Or at least to get you thinking about it!

Guitar Keys To Unlock The Door?

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:29:32 GMT

Guitar keys. What are they? How are they different from car keys? Will they unlock the door to guitar music theory?

Restringing An Acoustic Guitar In Easy Steps

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:25:52 GMT

Restringing an acoustic guitar is a necessary skill to have in order to and makes your guitar playing adventure more enjoyable. This free online guitar lesson and video show you how to get great resu

How To Play Guitar Scales And Not Go Crazy?

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 10:24:21 GMT

his cool guitar lesson is an introduction on how to play guitar scales. How can guitar scales be useful and how best to practice them? When learning guitar there seem to be so many!

Guitar Music Theory. Music Theory for Guitar in a Nutshell.

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 10:25:16 GMT

Have you been trying to solve the riddle of guitar music theory? These guitar lessons are practical and easy to understand. Don't waste any more time "learning" theory that won't improve your guitar

How to Play Electric Guitar. Free Guitar Lessons that Deliver.

Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:25:50 GMT

Learning how to play electric guitar can be frustrating. There's so much information out there. These free electric guitar lessons and videos point you in the right direction so that you can enjoy lea

Guitar Pro Tab Review

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 14:46:29 GMT

Guitar Pro tab software is a fantastic learning tool that I've been using to create the guitar tab lessons on this website.

How To Play Rock Guitar

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:00:13 GMT

How to play rock guitar? This tutorial covers the important elements to make sure you're on the right track.

Rhythm Guitar Lessons for Electric Guitar

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:47:35 GMT

If you're into electric guitar playing, you know that it's not all about solos. These rhythm guitar lessons will show you some basic techniques that will help you learn to play rock guitar.

Contact Dave

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:59:44 GMT

Is there anything specific about guitar playing that you need to know? Any questions or comments regarding the website? Ask Dave.

How To Read Guitar Tab - Do You Know How?

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:06:00 GMT

If you're just beginning guitar lessons, knowing how to read guitar tab is a basic skill. It's easy to learn with this free guitar lesson for beginners.

How To Play Lead Guitar

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 15:01:48 GMT

This how to play lead guitar lesson shows you how to play guitar solos. Includes video and guitar tab!

Secrets to Playing Guitar Revealed

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:15:54 GMT

Do you believe there are secrets to playing guitar? Find out the truth in these free guitar lesson articles and lessons.

Vote for Dave!

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:41:22 GMT

Vote for Dave's Guitar Solo: Click on the widget to vote. I recently entered a contest -- I play a 2 part ( clean and distortion) guitar solo to a track by hard rock band "Staind." I did it mostly for fun, but I could use any and all votes to help my cause!

Voting is free -- just supply your email address in order to confirm that you're a real person -- and contestants aren't "spamming" the polls. Voting closes on August 18.

If you're a fan of rock or hard rock, take a listen to the song. It's a good one!

Free Lead Guitar Lesson

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:52:57 GMT

This excellent free lead guitar lesson also includes a guitar lesson video that will show you how to create your own exciting electric guitar solos.

Toronto Guitar Lessons in the Beaches

Mon, 01 Aug 2011 19:37:45 GMT

Toronto guitar lessons are available here. Fun guitar lessons that deliver results. Beginners of all ages welcome!

Free Guitar Lessons Online. High Quality Info on How to Play a Guitar

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 14:21:33 GMT

These lessons on how to play a guitar are among the best free guitar lessons online. Organized and easy to follow - you'll know you're on the right path.

The Caged System Is Powerful Help For Those Of You Weary Of Playing The Same Old

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:24:26 GMT

Stuck in a rut? Playing the same tired guitar licks? The caged system for guitar is quite possibly the single most powerful method that electric guitar players have at their disposal... if they want t

Barre Chords Underrated?

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:01:35 GMT

Do you know your barre chords? I think they are sometimes underrated. Why? Not all chords can be played in open position. Even beginners eventually need to master an F chord or a Bb chord. You know that stuff? Great! Did you know that barre chords are also a picture of some the best note choices? Ever solo through a song and the pentatonic "box" you know so well just doesn't cut it? And you don't really know what to do? Find the barre chords for the song on your guitar. Start by playing and soloing on the notes that are in each chord. Now record those chords and try soloing to each chord. Congratulations -- you've now graduated to playing through the changes!! By the way, barre chords also have pentatonic shapes contained within them -- but that's another story for another day :-) But don't forget! There ARE still times when the blues scale or "box" rules! Trust your ears :-)

Beginners Mind For Advanced Players

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 01:24:57 GMT

Have you been been playing guitar a long time -- and you wanna break outta the same old pentatonic box? It's like this. There's a guy at the gym who's big. He's already got the muscle. All he needs to do is clean up his diet for a few weeks, do more cardio and he's gonna look much sharper and defined. You' ve already got the chops. You just need to be courageous enough to adopt what's known as beginners mind. Check your notions and experience at the door. Choose a couple of things from the following checklist to focus on. Focus. Slow down. Bite sized chunks. Discipline yourself to use your machete to cut new trails. Don't allow yourself to let your well developed muscle memory to take over and cover old footprints. Here's a short list of basic questions to ask yourself:

Do I know the pentatonic scale in all positions on the neck?
Do I know it in both major AND minor versions?
Do I know which scale degree I'm on at any particular time? ie. the b3, p5, b7, etc.
Can I outline the arpeggios to a I vi ii V or a basic blues in ONE position on the neck?
Do I have the tenacity to learn the above arpeggios in other positions on the neck? In other keys?
Am I willing to record myself playing and deliberately work on the areas I feel need improving?

Sometimes it's frustrating when I meet guitarists like this. And they want to study with me. They've played for years. They have serious chops. They all say they want to play "jazzier." They all blaze on the minor pentatonic box. And they even know other things. But they haven't taken the time to discipline themselves to find the chord tones. Target notes. Apply the pentatonic scale in other ways. Outline the changes. 'Cos that's what separates the men from the boys. The ladies from the girls. You know what mean! Just do it. Yes. It's work. But if you don't do it? I't's gonna be "I Can't Get No Satisfaction" when you play. And by the way, I'm not "dissing" the song because it's "simple." I love that song!!! Awesome. I mean you won't get the satisfaction out of playing guitar that you are looking for. You need to grow! The link below is a great place to start your work. Be honest. Don't skim. Slow down! Start simply by applying pentatonics and chord tones to chord changes. Busy? Start with 15-20 minutes a day. If you really do it, the excitement will carry you further!!