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Beginner
Here
are some tips for beginners that will improve your
playing immediately:
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When
fretting a note, place fingers of the left hand
next to fret, and as close to the fret as possible
without being on top of it. You'll get the best
tone and eliminate any ”buzz" that beginners
usually experience.
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Use
the tips of the left hand when playing a note for
the best possible sound. Avoid letting your joint
"collapse" and playing "flat fingered."
You'll hear a difference.
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When
playing a melody, or riff on the same string, don't
lift your fingers up when you are going to the next
note. Keep your fingers down and don't lift them
up for a more legato sound. This will eliminate
a staccato or choppy sound.
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Right
Hand Picking: Play rest strokes when possible. Let
right hand follow through and rest on next string
for a fatter sound and better articulation.
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Angle
your pick to add more bass and reduce resistance
to make alternate picking (consecutive down and
up strokes) easier.
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Strum
with side of pick, not point, to reduce resistance
and make rhythms easier to play. Eliminates need
to stop and "reset" pick while in the
middle of playing.
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The
Fretboard: If you know one note, you know them all!
The seven letters of the musical alphabet and familiarity
of the chromatic scale will multiply your knowledge
of guitar tremendously!
- Half-steps
(one fret), whole-steps (two frets) and minor thirds
(three frets) are the key to learning scales on the
guitar. They are very easy to "see" on one
string.
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Half-steps,
whole-steps and minor thirds are a little more difficult
to "see" vertically on the guitar. The
benefits are definitely worth looking into.
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Take
two aspirin and don't call me early in the morning!
However, please send an e-mail
if you have any questions and I'll be glad to respond.
Hope
these ideas make a big difference in your playing.
–Carl Filipiak
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