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Guitar Lessons Guitar Lessons Online

The Only Guitar Stuff You Need This Year (or check out these music related gift ideas)…

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please read my disclosure for more info.xmas presents

So you need some holiday gift ideas for your guitar player?  No problem.  I will totally hook you up with some ideas that won’t break the bank.

Here we go…

Kyser Quick-Change Capo 6-String Gold

Kyser Quick-Change Capo 6-String Gold
My favorite (and most helpful) tool of all time.

A capo is basically a little clamp for your guitar.   I’ve been using this since I’ve been playing the guitar.

I strongly suggest anyone who is new to the guitar (especially kids) pick up a capo.  I love this Kyser kind because it’s super easy to get on and off of the neck of the guitar.  I have a bunch (and they come in multiple colors if you prefer something other than gold).  Capos are especially awesome for kids because they can help smaller fingers get used to fretting notes and chords.

 

Elixir Light Polyweb Acoustic Guitar Strings

Elixir Light Polyweb Acoustic Guitar Strings
My Favorite Acoustic Guitar Strings. Ever.

At some point, you’re gonna need to change your guitar strings.

I’ve been playing with these guitar strings for as long as I’ve been playing the guitar.  There is a reason for that.  These strings are super easy on the fingers.  Do your fingers hurt when you play the guitar?  These little babies will ease your finger pain (if only a bit).  They have a coating on them that is easy on the fingers, cuts down on the screechy sound, and has a nice mellow tone.  Get them.  They’re awesome.

 

The Best Electric Guitar Strings in the Universe 

Best Electric Guitar Strings
My Favorite Electric Guitar Strings. Ever.

Same brand as above, but for electric guitars.  I’d go with ta medium or light gauge.

Snark Clip-On Chromatic All Instrument Tuner

Snark Clip-On Chromatic All Instrument Tuner Red
Easy to use + Hard to lose = Awesomeness

Ok… So I’ve gone through at least 10 different brands/styles of tuners.  And I always lose them (or leave them in sofa cushions or at gigs, etc).  This is by far my favorite.

It is durable, easy to read, easy to use, and bright red (so it’s not easy to lose).  I also recommend getting a tuner app for your phone (the app has definitely helped me in a a pinch), but these clip-on snark tuner has been awesome.

 

Guitar Picks

guitar picks
Pretty much any guitar picks will do. Just get A LOT OF THEM.

Pretty much any guitar picks will work (it’s all about personal preference).  Good selection over here. 

 

Guitar Pick Stamper

how to make your own guitar picks
Or… Just Make Your Own Guitar Picks.

This is so cool… and it’s a good way to get rid of all those used up gift cards you’ll get this Christmas.

 

Guitar Cable 

best guitar cables
These Guitar Cables Will Do Just Fine.

Pretty much any guitar cable will work.  I’m not picky.  Though I’d go with at least 10 feet of cable or longer.  It’s just more convenient.

 

Guitar Stand

best guitar stand acoustic or electric
Love This Guitar Stand (and I own at least one per guitar).

You know I’m not a fan of guitar cases.  I prefer leaving the guitar out in the open where I’ll actually remember to pick it up and play or practice.  Rather than leaning it up against a wall, I’d suggest a nice little guitar stand.  I have at least one per guitar (or I use a guitar wall mount like this).  Either way, keep those guitars out and ready to play.

 

Some Other Cool Gear

Basic (and Awesome) Microphone

Awesome and easy to use microphone for recording (macbook not included)

If you’re a singer/songwriter, you may want to pick up something like this Blue Microphones Yeti USB Microphone.   It’s an easy way to record your vocals and acoustic (or electric if you’ve got it amped up).  It’s not meant for professional quality, it’s really just a nice way to get your music down.  It’s a inexpensive and easy to use microphone.   You can use it to add better quality to videos (especially if you like recording stuff and uploading it to youtube).

Should work with most current Mac or PC software/computers (check the specs just to be sure).

Nice Little Webcam

This is the camera I use. It's cheap and effective.
This is the camera I use. It’s cheap and effective.

If you’re serious about putting some videos of your songs/recordings on Youtube, you probably want to use a webcam (that didn’t come built into your computer).  I have this Logitech camera for my videos.  It works great and it’s pretty cheap.

 

Wireless Headphones

bluetooth headphones
Worth it. Totally. Amazing. Buy these.

I used to use a pretty decent pair of bose headphones for all my recording (Youtube or otherwise).  Until the cable/wire wore out and they became useless.  I spent a month researching wireless headphones (that were affordable).  I finally came up with these.  I have not been disappointed.  They hold a charge really well (i.e. excellent battery life).  The sound quality is great.  Easy to pair to multiple devices.  Plus they have a microphone built in (that I use when paired with my phone).

Seriously… get these headphones.

That’s it!

If you have any other thoughts or ideas, leave them in the comments below.  I’d love to know what you think (or if I missed anything).

Happy Holidays and all that stuff!

 

(Full Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that I earn a commission if you purchase through my site.  But don’t worry – these products are awesome, I love them… if I didn’t I wouldn’t recommend them.  I recommend them because they’re great… not because of the small commission that I make from them.  If you have other recommendations, just shoot me an e-mail and let me know!)

 

(Photo Credit: JD Hancock)

 

Categories
Guitar Lessons

Why We Play Music (Check out George Ezra)

It’s easy to get caught up in the technical aspects of playing music.  We frequently focus on learning to play faster, more accurate, more difficult chords, more complicated styles and genres.  While  it’s good (no great) to push ourselves, sometimes we need a reminder of why we play music in the first place.

I had a student recently request a bunch of songs by George Ezra (who I hadn’t previously heard of).   When students request new songs by new artists I sometimes get nervous (will I be able to learn these songs fast enough to teach them?  are these songs too difficult for a beginner?  Are there even guitar parts in these songs?).  After listening to a few of the George Ezra songs I quickly realized:

1.  I had nothing to worry about.

2. I’m so glad that my student told me about this artist.

3. I remembered the fun and excitement of discovering (and learning) new music.

That’s it!  Check out the video above (and any other George Ezra stuff).

 

Categories
Guitar Chords Guitar Lessons Guitar Lessons Online

How to Play Cups by Anna Kendrick (from the movie Pitch Perfect)

This is such an awesome little song... and great for beginners (especially the version below).  

Artist: Anna Kendrick
Song: Cups

G
  I got my ticket for the long way 'round
Em               D               G
  Two bottle 'a whiskey for the way
       C           G        Em        
And I sure would like some sweet company
         C         D                 G
And I'm leaving tomorrow, wha-do-ya say?

Chorus:
          Em
When I'm gone
          C
When I'm gone
 G                             D
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
              Em            D
You're gonna miss me by my hair
              C            G
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
 Em           D                G
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse 2
G
  I've got my ticket for the long way 'round
Em                  D            G 
  The one with the prettiest of views
           C                   G                Em   
It's got mountains, it's got rivers, it's got sights to give you shivers
        C             D             G
But it sure would be prettier with you
Chorus:
          Em
When I'm gone
          C
When I'm gone
 G                             D
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
              Em            D
You're gonna miss me by my walk
              C            G
You're gonna miss me by me talk, oh
 Em           D                G
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
(Repeat Chorus)


		
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Guitar Chords Guitar Lessons Guitar Lessons Online

Guitar Chords for Riptide by Vance Joy

Artist: Vance Joy
Song: Riptide
Note:  The tuning on this song is a little weird.  
It's not 440 (as is pretty much every song in the universe).
If you're trying to play along with the recording it'll sound a bit off.

INTRO:
Am  G  C (x2)

VERSE:
Am              G                 C
I was scared of dentists and the dark,
Am               G                C
I was scared of pretty girls and starting conversations,
Am         G                   C
Oh all my friends are turning green,
           Am          G                  C
You're the magicians assistant in their dreams.

Am     G    C
Ooh,   ooh ooh
Am    G           C (One Strum)
Ooh,      and they come unstuck

CHORUS:
Am   G                    C
Lady, running down to the riptide,
C                  Am
taken away to the dark side,
G                C
I wanna be your left hand man.
   Am       G                        C
I love you when you're singing that song and,
C                   Am
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
G                            C
you're gonna sing the words wrong

VERSE:
Am                  G                   C
There's this movie that I think you'll like,
Am                   G                C
this guy decides to quit his job and heads to New York City,
     Am        G             C
this cowboy's running from himself.
    Am         G                       C
And she's been living on the highest shelf

Am     G    C
Ooh, ooh ooh
Am G           C (One Strum)
Ooh, and they come unstuck
CHORUS:
Am   G                    C
Lady, running down to the riptide,
C                  Am
taken away to the dark side,
G                C
I wanna be your left hand man.
   Am       G                        C
I love you when you're singing that song and,
C                   Am
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
G                            C
you're gonna sing the words wrong

Repeat 4 Times:
e-----------3-------------
B--3h5-5--------5---------
G--------------5----------
D-------------------------
A-------------------------
E-------------------------

Am                          G
I just wanna, I just wanna know,
C                                 F
If you're gonna, if you're gonna stay,
Am                          G
I just gotta, I just gotta know,
C                                          F (One Strum)
I can't have it, I can't have it any other way

One Strum Per Chord:
Am             G                  C
I swear she's destined for the screen,
Am                G                 C
Closest thing to Michelle Pfeiffer that you've ever seen, oh
CHORUS 3 Times:
Am   G                    C
Lady, running down to the riptide,
C                  Am
taken away to the dark side,
G                C
I wanna be your left hand man.
   Am       G                        C
I love you when you're singing that song and,
C                   Am
I got a lump in my throat 'cause
G                            C
you're gonna sing the words wrong
This file is the author's own work and represents his interpretation of this song. 
It's intended solely for private study, scholarship or research. 
Categories
Guitar Lessons

The Most Awesome Guitar Jam Session in the Universe…

 

James
James… Rocking out with “Home on the Range”

On June 6th 2013, Severn River Guitar had their first official Jam Session/Recital.  It was a great experience and a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their talents and support each other.

Since I focus on teaching lessons in the homes of my students, we don’t have that many opportunities to meet each other.  It was so cool to see everyone come together and support each other.

Below are some of the photos from the event (you can check out more at our facebook page).

 

Darby Getting Ready
Darby… Getting ready for her set.
Keagan
Keagan and me. About to perform “Hallelujah”
Indian Creek Kids
Amelia, Parker, and Caroline (all from Indian Creek!) getting ready for their set.
Indian Creek Kids performing
The Indian Creek Girls getting ready to perform Taylor Swift’s “Fearless”

 

 

Cameron getting ready
Cameron getting set up to perform his original song, “Wonderland Fanatic”
Audience
Checking in with James before his set





Categories
Guitar Lessons home recording

What To Get Your Guitar Player For Their Birthday…

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please read my disclosure for more info.empty microphone

So.. recently the mother of one of my students asked about some guitar related birthday present ideas (that won’t break the bank).  I wasn’t sure what to recommend.  I’m usually terrible at coming up with birthday (and Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, Valentine’s Day) present ideas.  Strangely, as I began compose the e-mail back to her, the ideas just started flowing and I began to get excited and started to recall (what I think are) awesome gifts for anyone who is a sort of singer-songwriter type of guitar player or performer.

Here are my thoughts…

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Guitar Lessons

How Often Should I Change My Guitar Strings?

This post may contain affiliate links.  Please read my disclosure for more info.

One Broke String_MG_1892
When should you change your guitar strings? I don’t really care.

 

Frequently, folks ask me how often they should change or replace their guitar strings.  As with most of my guitar-related questions, my answer is an obnoxious: “It depends…”  (see: this, and this, and this)

Seriously though…

Categories
Guitar Lessons

4 Reasons Why Music Stores Are The Worst…

We’re going waaaay back.  Fifth grade.  My best friend played the guitar (so naturally I wanted to as well).  My mom did the logical thing and signed me up for guitar lessons at a music store.   I took my little electric guitar to the store every week.  I did what the teacher told me.   I went home and hooked up my amp, cracked open my Mel Bay music book and plugged away at “Hot Cross Buns” and “Mary had a little Lamb”.

It.  Was.  Awful.

My teacher was getting me to read music (which was soooo boring and difficult – for ANYONE, let alone a fifth grade kid).  I dreaded going to that music store – crowded with other kids (playing much better than me) – it was embarrassing.  I didn’t feel like I fit in.  Not to mention the sketchy older guitar players sitting in the corner and blasting out distortion-laced riffs.  It was weird.  Alien.  And after two months of lessons… I was done.

Fortunately, I picked up the guitar a few years later and haven’t put it down since.  But my disdain for music stores has only grown stronger over the years.  And there are four main reasons for that.  Here they are…

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Guitar Lessons Guitar Teacher Resources

Why Anna Kendrick is Responsible for Keeping Me In Business…

If you haven’t seen the movie Pitch Perfect (see above photo), or heard the song Cups, check out this link.  At about a minute into the video Anna Kendrick does this fancy little percussive/drumming thing with a cup – that is evidently so addictive among girls aged 5-10 it’s almost an epidemic.  Hence, this tweet from Anna’s twitter a few months ago…

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Guitar Lessons Guitar Teacher Resources

The Most Awesome Beginner Songs To Learn On The Guitar…

There are tons of resources online that house chords/tabs to songs.  Simply google the names of your desired song/artist/band/singer followed by the words chords or tab and you’ll likely find what you’re looking for However… sometimes those songs are geared more towards non-beginner players.

Sooooo… below is a list of songs that I’ve taught over the years.  Many of them are great for beginners.  Right now, it’s just a list, but I do have the tabs, lyrics, and chords for these…it’s just gonna take awhile to get them all linked up online.  Check back later or (if you see a song that you really really like), just shoot me an e-mail and I’ll hook you up!