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Musicians Resources, our personnel, and our readers would like to say “Thank-You” to all our veterans past and present. Without your sacrifices in the past and present, we would not live peaceful and harmonious lives, we live today.

 

Thank-You and Lest We Forget. 11-11-09

When you listen to one of your favorite songs you become aware to the fact that it is built up of notes and chords that are changing and causing the song to evolve in a way that is pleasing to the ear. The question that I want to look at today is: why do some chords sound good together and others sound absolutely terrible?

To answer this, we need to look at root notes as they are the base that chords are built upon. If we take the notes of a scale and number them from 1 to 8, you will find movements between notes 1, 4 and 5 consistently sound better and stronger than between any other number. Let's take a look at a scale (for learning purposes we will use the C Major Scale):

It might be a good idea to get your guitar out at this point and just have a play around with the notes in the above scale so you can hear what I mean about strong movement between numbers 1, 4 and 5. Also, play around with some of the other numbers to see what some weaker movements sound like.

So, now that we have established the above fact, let's use it in some chord progressions.
A turnaround progression is a sequence of chords that can be continually repeated due to strong sounding chord movement between the ending and starting chords. In the following turnaround progression we use the F chord (F being 4 in the C major scale) to get back to the starting chord C (C being 1 in the C major scale):

Try playing the above chord progression using a strum of your own. If you don't know the chords, they are shown at the bottom of this page - you will hear that the progression sounds good and repeats itself through a strong chord movement.
Here are some more turnaround progressions for you to practice:

 
1)

 

2) 

 

3)

 

Chords

 

This free lesson is provided by Jamorma. Providing excellent guitar courses.

Learn to play like a pro.

If you are new guitar player who wants to make a career or a hobby out of playing blues guitar, then this essay will give you the basic points to get you on your way as a player and interpreter of the blues. Or maybe you have no intention of specializing in blues guitar playing. In that case my essay will give you the bare bones of musical interpretation using the guitar. These basic points can be applied to any genre of guitar music.

 

So, let us start with a minor pentatonic scale. Whenever you see the word pentatonic you know the scale has just five notes. This is the A minor pentatonic scale starting at the root note - A at the fifth fret of the sixth string:

 

E---------------------------------5--8----

B--------------------------5--8-----------

G-------------------5--7------------------

D-------------5--7------------------------

A------5--7-------------------------------

E-5-8-------------------------------------

 

If you are used to playing barre chords, just barre the fifth fret and use the third and fourth fingers to play the notes at the seventh and eighth frets. As the first note in this scale is the root note, all you need to do to play this scale in other keys is to slide your first finger up or down the guitar neck. So now we move the barre up to the eighth fret which gives us the root note C. You will notice that now we have added some extra notes. This is the blues scale in the key of C. The notes we have added to the minor pentatonic give you more opportunity to give your music that "bluesy" feel.

 

E-----------------------------------8---11

B-----------------------------8---11------

G--------------------8--10--11------------

D---------------8--10---------------------

A-------8--9--10--------------------------

E-8---11----------------------------------

 

The minor pentatonic scale can be played in other positions on the fretboard. You need to learn where the notes are because the same note played on a different string sounds different. So the more positions you can play in the more variety you can put into your playing.

 

A word of warning here. Do not spend all your time learning the scales by heart. Once you can play a scale in one position, play with it. Try bending the notes, see what other notes sound good with the notes in your scale. In other words, give the scale some of your individuality. If you do not feel confident about doing this, then just fall back on imitating what other guitar players do. Do not worry that you are copying other guitarists' material. Most guitar players start off this way. Using other musicians' licks as a springboard for your own playing will get your juices flowing and you will be adding your own licks in no time.

 

Another way to approach learning scales is to learn a melody by ear and try to work out the scale it comes from. This might seem like hard work at first but it is a very pleasant way to learn music. Another thing to remember that blues music has a resolution. Your solos are all travelling to the end of the twelve bars or whatever style of blues you are playing, so any note you play on the way is fine.

 

Once you have a basic understanding of the blues scale and you can play it in a couple of positions on the guitar fretboard, you will need to look at the question of phrasing. There are so many excellent blues music tracks on record going back over a hundred years all you need to do is listen and imitate. Of course, your imitation does not have to be one hundred percent accurate, but other guitar players blues solos give you ready made starting points for your own original blues playing. One point to remember for beginner blues guitar players is that now you have a blues scale to play, you do not need to play all of the notes all of the time. If you have a backing track or some music you would like to solo over, start with one or two notes in the scale. Bend them, hammer them on, practice your vibrato, slide into those notes, make them yours.

 

Do you want to learn to play the guitar? http://playaguitarforfree.com/ is my blog which shows you that there are many people like you who wish to learn how to play bass, acoustic or electric guitar. You will find guitar lessons, videos, articles and reviews to answer your questions, calm your fears and help you play the guitar.

Hot For Chords

Today we are going to talk about
2 note chords.

This lesson is a bit longer than usual but there are some surprises so
make sure you read the entire lesson.

Just as common chords made of three notes are called Triads the 2 note chords are call diads.

Two-string play, or more popularly called double stops.

Another term that you will hear in musical notation circles is diads.

 
So, basically double stops are referring to when you're playing an instrument
and playing two notes at a time, while diads is a music theory term talking about two notes on a musical staff.

 
Two note chords are also know as harmonies because two notes played simultaneously
always make a harmony.

 
Even if the two notes are the same note they are harmony and called unison harmony.

 
So what are common Diads or Double Stops.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I like to play 3rds, 5ths, 6ths and 7ths.

 
This is an easy was to play chord/melody.

 
It may not be the fancy jazz chord melody we usually think of but it can make your
playing more interesting.

 
So lets look at the thirds.

 
Here is a G major scale harmonized in thirds.
E|-----------
B|-----------
G|-4-5-7-9-11-12-14-16-
D|-5-7-9-10-12-14-16-17-
A|-----------
E|-----------

 
More Lessons on Guitar Chords at: http://www.guitar5day.com

 
There are two fingerings. One fingering for the major 3rds:

 

The first, 4th and 5th harmonies. I am referring to the tab sequence above.

 
Use your first finger on the G string , use your second finger on the D string

 
One fingering for the minor 3rds: The 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th

 
Use your first finger on the G string, use your third finger on the D string

 
Practice this a couple of times.

 
When picking the notes I like to pick the D string with my thumb and G string with my first finger.

 
If you are using a pick then use your second finger on the G string.

 
After a while you can here the Latin sound,  and even can start making the harmonies that
are often associated with the trumpets in a mariachi band.

 
Think of the Song La Bamba:

 
Here is a tab of what I mean:

 
E|------------
B|------------
G|-4-4-9-9-11-11-11-9-11-
D|-5-5-10-10-12-12-12-10-12-
A|------------
E|------------

 
Play around with this and change it to your taste and the melody you have in your head.
The finger pattern I showed you works when the lower note is on the Low E string, A string and D string or B string.

 
When you play the Lower note on the G string the pattern changes:

 
I will use the Key of A major

 
(G would start with open G and B strings)

 
E|----------
B|-2-3-5-7-9-10-12-14-
G|-2-4-6-7-9-11-13-14-
D|----------
A|----------
E|----------

 
There are two fingerings. One fingering for the major 3rds:

The first, 4th and 5th harmonies.

 
I am referring to the tab sequence above. Use your first finger on the G string
and B string. One fingering for the minor 3rds:
The 2nd, 3rd, 6th and 7th

 
Use your first finger on the B string. Use your second finger on the G string.
As you can see by the two different forms we have discussed you just need to add a 5th
and you have triads. But if you had Project X you would have already known that.

 
I hope you enjoyed this lesson!
Next week I will have another lesson
on Hot for Chords!

 

Author: Andrew Koblick teaches guitar lesson through his site: http://www.guita5day.com

Randy Rhoads was a young American guitarist who rose to fame after becoming the guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne  at the very beginning of Ozzy’s solo career. This was 1979. Randy Rhoads and Ozzy Osbourne along with Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake formed the band that was to put Ozzy firmly on the map again as a performer in his own right, following his departure from the hugely successful Black Sabbath.

Randy Rhoads was a classical guitar teacher. In collaboration with Bob Daisley, he and Bob composed some of the greatest music of Ozzy’s career many songs of which Ozzy still plays today in his live set.

 

Randy Rhoads is also famous for the “Randy Rhoads V” guitar, a guitar Randy designed and had built by Charvel back in 1981 and 1982. The CEO of Charvel at that time, Grover Jackson, went on to produce Randy’s guitar under the brand name Jackson (apparently the reason for choosing the Jackson branding was that Grover had thought that the Randy Rhoads model might be too radical and didn’t want to risk branding it as a Charvel.)

 
The Randy Rhoads V guitar was the guitar that put Jackson fully on the map. It was Jackson’s first production model. Prior to this time Charvel was a parts supplier for a few retail musical instrument shops, and they made the odd guitar here and there.
Tragically Randy’s career ended on a fateful day in 1982 when the plane he was a passenger in crashed, killing all on board. Further, he never actually saw the final production model of his design, what would come to be known as the “Randy Rhoads V” by Jackson Guitars.

Charvel and Jackson guitars were built in the same factory until 1986 and then the company was sold to Japanese manufacturer AMIC in 1989. Charvel’s ended up being exclusively made in Japan until 1991 while Jacksons continued to be made in California Although the Charvel name had faded away by the end of the century, Jackson/Charvel would see new light when it was purchased by Fender Music Corporation in 2002.
Today, the Randy Rhoads V is still produced by Jackson Guitars, but now that Jackson is part of Fender, all Jacksons are manufactured in the Fender plant in Corona, Ca and Jackson is of course, now subject to the company directions of the parent company, Fender Musical Instruments. It appears from spending some time on the new Charvel website, that Grover is indeed alive and well and lending his wisdom and hand to the revival of Charvel guitars and in a video clip credits Fender for aiding in these new directions.

 
The Randy Rhoads V guitar available from Jackson comes in various colors and schemes and there are models which are variations of the original. Some of these variants were brought about by later artists who have released their own signature variations of the Randy Rhoads V. One thing though... the left handed option of the Randy Rhoads V is very, very limited. A few colors, and that is it. One model only. Jackson’s budget range of guitars (made in Asia) don’t even allow for one left handed Randy Rhoads V.

 
At Gaskell Guitars (http://www.gaskellguitars.com) , located in Sydney Australia, we make only left handed guitars. We make a Randy Rhoads V model as a production model. We offer all colors through our custom options AT NO EXTRA COST. Our stock, production model comes in black and the original Randy Rhoads White and Gold scheme. We only cater for the left handed guitarist. We are trying to prevent the left hand guitarist from “always getting the short end of the stick.” Check us out. In many cases, what we offer make dreams come true!

Wow, that was fast. Eminem comes out a Winner. Eminem and Apple Inc. strike a deal and end the lawsuit.

 

As previously mentioned in our post “Eminem music publisher sues Apple Inc. Twisted Case.” Eminem was suing Apple Inc. for unauthorized use of his songs on i-Tunes.

 

No details are mentioned, and this is case Closed!

 

Eminem is the WINNER

 

Looks like Eminem did have a good reason to sue and go to court, funny how Apple Inc. quickly and easily Settled out of court.

Eminem’s music publisher is suing Apple Inc. over unauthorized use and distribution of 93 songs from Eminem’s catalog, including his biggest hit from the movie “8 Mile”

 

Eight Mile Style LLC and a co-plaintiff, Martin Affiliated LLC are involved in the suit against Apple Inc.

 

This is a twisted case, and will be very interesting, because of the other party involved, which is Aftermath Records. Eight Mile, Eminem’s publishing company is also suing Aftermath Records.

Eight Mile also claims Aftermath wrongfully collected $4 million off Eminem's songs on iTunes. The plaintiffs claim Apple wrongfully gained $2.5 million through iTunes downloads, including $466,915 from "Lose Yourself," Eminem's biggest hit from the hip-hop film "8 Mile." The publisher also believes it should get a share of Apple's profit from the sale of iPods.

 

Apple denies the allegations and says it has a valid agreement with Aftermath Records. Eight Mile has received royalties but says that doesn't mean it can't press ahead with a lawsuit.

 

Eight Mile says it still retains ownership, including copyright, of the compositions inside Eminem's recordings.

 

Eight Mile agreed in 1998 and 2003 that "Eminem would create master sound recordings embodying compositions, and that Aftermath would own those masters," Apple's attorneys said in a court filing.

 

"The parties also agreed that Aftermath Records, its distributors and licensees would 'have the exclusive right' to exploit the masters embodying the Eminem compositions 'in any and all forms of media now known or hereinafter developed,'" the lawyers said.

 

This will be an interesting case, and one we will be following. If court records are correct, and the contracts signed. This would mean that Eight Mile has no merit in this case.

For Eight Mile to file suits, means there is other information not disclosed, and or additional contracts not being fulfilled legally and completely.

 

By George Luker © Copyright 2009 Krule Music Group

All logo’s belong to their respected owners: Apple Inc. Aftermath Records.