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Playing Guitar

FREE TECHNIQUE DOCUMENTS

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Commercial Guitar Documents/Tabs: Files

JOE PASS SIGNATURE JAZZ GUITAR LICKS

Important Info

One of the best-known Jazz guitarists in the style, Joe Pass has guitar licks that most jazz or fusion players know. From altered tones, to cool phrases in modal sounds, these five are certain to get you sounding like Joe Pass!

ERIC JOHNSON SIGNATURE ROCK LICKS

Key Facts

Eric Johnson redefined pentatonic and arpeggio playing in rock guitar history starting in the 1970s through the 1990s. From pentatonic cascades with blistering speed, to clean arpeggio tones, these 5 licks can revolutionize your rock guitar playing!

MAJOR SCALE PATTERNS AND RELATED CHORD INVERSIONS

Important Info

The following are major scales and related chord inversions. Scales and chords are a foundation of solid techniques that enlighten efficiency, cleanliness, tone, speed, and accuracy.

COMMON JAZZ CHORD SHAPES

Key Facts

Common chord shapes with harmonies of the 7th and above.

MINOR SCALE PATTERNS AND CHORD INVERSIONS

Key Facts

The following are minor scales and related chord inversions. Scales and chords are a foundation of solid techniques that enlighten efficiency, cleanliness, tone, speed, and accuracy.

WICKED PENTATONICS: DEVELOPING EXCELLENT LEGATO

Impress Any Listener!

Regular, habitual practice is vital to increasing your musical potential. Excellent articulation involves understanding sound and techniques that lead to flawless execution. The following examples below include legato, alternate picking, and economy picking. The fretting hand fingers are also included for building strength and stretching across the fretboard.

SIX POSITIONS OF II-V CHORD COMBINATIONS

Increase Chord Knowledge in Six Areas

These shapes show each ii-V in major and minor, rooted from the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings. It is imperative to internalize these for access and maneuverability of the fretboard.

CHORD POOL: QUADRUPLE YOUR FINGERINGS!

Key Facts

"Chord pool" is a concept that outlines additional harmonies and shapes which could replace or substitute for the main chord. Each figure related to the root chord can substitute in place of the harmony. An example of this would be playing G 6/9 in place of Gmaj7. Another example would be to play a Gm9 in place of a Gm7. In most harmonic scenarios, commercial guitarists use this standard practice to add, subtract, or substitute harmony and color.

WORSHIP CHORDS?

Good to Know for the Church Guitarist!

If you are experienced with basic open chords, additional open chords with great color are typically right under your fingers! The chords have been reshaped into movable inversions, which can add unique harmonic color, interest, and enjoyment to the audible sound. Learn the proper fingerings below and how they relate to the parent chord shape; they’re always one-to-two strings away!

PENTATONIC BOXES & RELATED CHORDS

Important Info

The Minor Pentatonic may be the most recognized scale in commercial guitar. These five patterns (also called “boxes”) are staples in all commercial styles of guitar soloing, improvisation, and riffs (A riff is a series of repeated notes in a rhythmic fashion.) Follow the fingerings for each pattern precisely. The tonality is movable if we move the scale patterns to any other fret; memorize the root of each shape as the patterns are in A Minor. For example, move the 2nd A minor pentatonic pattern (fifth fret) to the eighth fret, and you will perform a C minor pentatonic - in conjunction with the C minor bar chord: this concept is also movable. Consequently, the pentatonic patterns reflect minor chords, including their chord inversions.

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