GUITARHABITS

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Why and How to Practice a Solid Song Repertoire

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how to practice song repertoireAs a student of the guitar you play and practice songs for enjoyment and to improve your skills to become a better guitar player.

After a period of time of regular and serious practice you can probably play a couple of songs. If you’re lucky you can play a few songs from the top of your head but with most songs you probably need music sheets, chords or tabs to help you out. And even then you might need to look into some of the parts of the song again to refresh your memory before you can play it from beginning to end.

This is what distinguishes the amateur from the professional. An amateur can play a couple of songs (sort of) and a professional can play a solid repertoire of songs with total conviction.

What you want is to start practicing like a pro. Create the habits of a pro and a repertoire is becoming part of your skill set.

So why do you want to build and play a repertoire of songs?

  • Having a repertoire is an amazing asset and a profound goal for any guitar player.
  • Working on a repertoire will build your confidence as a guitar player and a human being.
  • You will work towards becoming an accomplished guitar player and musician.
  • You will practice and build skills like a real pro.
  • You’ll be able to play songs instantly from the top of your head, so whenever friends, family or anyone else asks you to play something, you are ready to rock.
  • You are working towards becoming not just a better guitar player but also a musician and performer.
  • You will be able to play with other musicians more easily.
  • You’ll be ready to perform with great confidence before any audience anywhere and anytime.
  • You will face your fears and crush them head on!
  • Being able to play songs from the top of your head will give a feeling of freedom, flexibility and independence.
  • Having a repertoire is a great musical accomplishment and continues journey that will set the path for a lot of new discoveries, possibilities and opportunities for you as a musician.

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Top 4 Best Singing Lessons for Musicians

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top 4 best singing lessons for musiciansMost musicians love to sing along to the songs they play on their guitar or any other instrument. Some guitar players focus entirely and solely on their instrument and that’s perfect, but there’s also the breed who loves to sing and play their hearts out. Even if you’re not, you definitely want to read on.

Most of us are not naturally born singers, and even if you are, you can always use some help to improve your singing voice and work to become a better singer / guitar player.

A lot of musicians just think they don’t have what it takes and they can’t do anything about it. They just throw in the towels and accept they aren’t really the singer type. But that’s where they are wrong, you can definitely work to become a better singer, a good singer, and some even become great singers. But good is good enough.

How great is it to play your instrument and sing to your songs with confidence. Singing along with your instrument adds an extra dimension to the experience. You now have two instruments (your voice is also an instrument) that complement each other.

Learning to sing also helps you improve your playing, because playing guitar is all about listening and aural skills and that’s what you develop with singing lessons.

The most common problems people face are “problems with pitch”, “the crack in the voice” when going from chest voice to head voice, “singing higher notes” and “losing the voice” due to using of the voice in the wrong way. Most people also don’t know there are simple and easy ways to start improving the voice in a real short amount of time.Continue Reading

50 of The Best Country Guitar Songs of All Time

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50 Best Country Guitar Songs of All TimeMost of my students can’t comprehend. Even my wife, who knows me inside out. The two extremes. One day I will turn on my favorite heavy metal records as loud as I can and indulge in these amazing killer riffs, and the next day I will be just playing and singing country music songs as if my life depends on it. What can I say? I just love music.

There is so much love and heartache put in every song of every band and artist. If you take the time to really, really listen you can feel and understand it. No matter the style.

Besides that, there is so much to gain for your playing from learning all these different types of music. I can’t stress it enough.

So today we’re going to dive into 50 of the best country songs of all time. Wow, did I have fun creating this list and listening and playing all these songs. I hope you will too.

As always, note that the list is in no particular order and incomplete. If your favorite artist is not in this list, then it should be :) The list is here to inspire you, to take that guitar out of the stand and play.

Click the song title to listen to the song on Youtube, click the “chords” link to show you the chords of the song, and next to it, more great songs from your favorite country artist or band.

Please share your favorite country guitar song in the comments. I appreciate it.

Enjoy the list!

  1 – I walk the line – Johnny Cash – Chords – More Johnny Cash

  2 – I’m so lonesome I could cry – Hank Williams – Chords – More Hank Williams

  3 – He stopped loving her today – George Jones – Chords

  4 – Crazy – Patsy Cline – Chords – More Patsy Cline

  5 – Mama tried – Merle Haggard – Chords – More Merle Haggard
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How to Play Guitar With a Band or Group

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How to play guitar with a band or groupPlaying guitar with a band or group requires certain skills, knowledge and attitude for things to work properly and make the overall sound coherent, rocking, and above all, a joy to listen to.

Depending on who and what instruments you are playing with, you’ve got a role to fill and really need to look for the right ingredients to make a difference and be part of something great.

Let’s take a look at some of the most important things you need to work and focus on when playing with others.

Be cohesive
Be a part and value to the band or group. Don’t try to stand out by outplaying everyone in the band. To make a band sound great you want to make it a whole, not four musicians and an ego-maniac.

Make sure your amp volume is appropriate and levels with the other instruments. Try to find the right balance.

Don’t fill every second with riffs, fills and solos, leave space for your fellow-musicians and let the music breath now and then. Be a team player.

Listen carefully to what others have to say. Talk about it. Learn from constructive critism. It can be tough to swallow, but these are the moments when you grow the most as a musician. Respect the opinion of your fellow musicians. Keep things cool. Be supportive and appreciative. Continue Reading