50 More Guitar Hacks: For the Thinking Man's Guitarist

By Graham Tippett

Due to the fantastic response to the first book in this series, ’50 Guitar Hacks for the Thinking Man’s Guitarist’, it gives me immense pleasure to bring you this second installment; 50 More Guitar Hacks for the Thinking Man’s Guitarist. My hope is to again provide you with timely insight into all aspects of learning and playing guitar. These hacks are things I’ve learned from years of playing that should and will be passed on to those seeking insight, out-of-the-box thinking, and the deepening of their knowledge of the guitar whatever their current level may be. The information herein takes the form of mini-lessons, anecdotes, wisdom and knowledge, divine inspiration and friendly advice. It is my desire to help you on your journey to being the best guitarist you can possibly be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Unlock the Guitar
• Release date: Mar 20, 2016
• ISBN: 1519040431

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Foreword

Due to the fantastic response to the first book in this series,’50 Guitar Hacks for the Thinking Man’s Guitarist’, it gives me immense pleasure to bring you this second installment; 50 More Guitar Hacks for the Thinking Man’s Guitarist.

My hope is to again provide you with timely insight into all aspects of learning and playing guitar. These hacks are things I’ve learned from years of playing that should and will be passed on to those seeking insight, out-of-the-box thinking, and the deepening of their knowledge of the guitar whatever their current level may be. The information herein takes the form of mini-lessons, anecdotes, wisdom and knowledge, divine inspiration and friendly advice. It is my desire to help you on your journey to being the best guitarist you can possibly be.

To your best playing yet,

Matt

www.unlocktheguitar.net

Guitar Hack - NOUN - Informal. a tip, trick, insight, anecdote or efficient method for doing something on the guitar.

1. How to Always Land on the Right Notes in a Blues

If you’ve been playing blues for a while you’ll probably have noticed that you can blow through the changes with one scale. If it’s a blues in E, for example, you can blow through it with E minor/major pentatonic and the E blues scale. There’s nothing wrong with this, and people have actually made a living from doing this, as long as you land on the right notes!

To make sure you always land on the right notes you need to locate the sus4 triad within whatever pattern you happen to be playing. The sus4 triad contains the intervals 1, 4, and 5 just like the blues changes: I, IV and V (E, A and B if you’re playing in E). Check out the following diagram:

The blue notes are the sus4 triad; it’s not important to know what a sus4 triad is as here we’re only using it as a marking device. So, when the chord changes to E, land on the 1, when it changes to A land on the 4, and when it changes to B land on the 5. What you do in-between is up to you, just be sure to outline the changes by landing on the right notes.

2. Are You Really Improvising?

Without wishing to generalize too much, there are basically three types of improviser:

1. The Creator. The Creator improvises in a pure way, they compose on the spot and are always breaking new ground with their solos. They may play the same tunes every night but will never play the solo the same way twice as their lust for creation won’t allow it.

2. The Recycler. The Recycler is very adept at stringing bits and pieces of stuff he already knows together to form a solo. A lick from here, a lick from there, keep it all in the right key and you have a great but safe-sounding solo. The Recycler also has a vast library of his own licks and runs to fall back on, and consequently cannot be said to be truly improvising most of the time.

3. The Mathematician. The Mathematician knows all the scales, modes, arpeggios and chords, and can piece them together with mathematical accuracy,

Reviews for 50 More Guitar Hacks

[Richard Weissenberg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've been playing electric bass for thirty years, including three years at music school. I still found some great insights here, presented in a concise, engaging and bullshit - free style. Highly recommended.