Category: Uncategorized
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Find the natural notes anywhere on the fretboard
Many guitarists aren’t too sure about the notes on the higher parts of the fretboard, especially on the 4th and 5th strings. But it’s a simple matter to put that right if you just focus on the natural notes – i.e. ignore flats and sharps for now. Then you’re left with just seven notes to…
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New transcription – Chet Atkins’ arrangement of ‘Vincent’
Chet made a beautiful arrangement of a beautiful song when he took on Don McLean’s ‘Vincent’. Click here for my note-for-note transcription (standard notation and TAB) taken from the live performance in the video clip.
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How to do a 5 minute practice session
No matter how many lessons you have, how good your teacher is, what innate talent you draw upon or what your good intentions are, in the end it all comes down to how effectively you practise. But if playing guitar is a hobby, not your day job, you might find it hard to keep a large block of time free every…
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FunkeeJunkee play Forest Row gig
My band FunkeeJunkee are playing at the Brambletye Hotel, Forest Row on Friday. Come along and beat the Friday 13th jinx!
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Fender shuts down US production of Ovation guitars
I had an Ovation Balladeer for many years. It was a great guitar – played well, good tone and projection, and equally at home fingerstyle, picking or strumming. But there’s something of a ‘frozen in time’ quality about Ovations now – as much a part of the ’70s and ’80s as long hair and four (or…
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Stocking fillers and gifts for your guitar hero
With only 33 days until Christmas here are some ideas for gifts and stocking fillers for the guitar-person in your life. If that’s you, then drop some hints to your significant other! All these items are available through the Ashdown Guitar Lessons Store, powered by Amazon.co.uk (Prices may vary. Correct at 21st November 2012) Stagg…
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FREE Download: The 6 Vital Major scale and arpeggio patterns
Ashdown Guitar Lessons is delighted to make available to everyone who wants it a set of charts giving fretboard patterns for Major scales and their associated Major 7th arpeggios. If you didn’t know, it all starts here. From these scales you can derive all the other modes/scales and their arpeggios. We’ll be making other sets…
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Replacing broken strings – a Tom and Jerry solution
A radical solution to the guitarist’s problem of strings breaking – courtesy of Tom and Jerry. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5irou_tom-and-jerry-pecos-pest-1955_shortfilms
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Memorising music
This is a long post but a really valuable one. I’m reproducing an article by the great classical pianist Ruth Slenczynska on memorising music. Although it’s specific to the piano there’s much here that can be applied to guitar (or any instrument). Thoughts on Memorizing – Intermediate-to-Advanced Piano Repertoire by Ruth Slenczynska One of my more frustrating…
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