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5 Guitar Master Classes You Must See

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The beauty of guitar masterclasses is that they always give you new insights and make you aware of the infinite possibilities on the guitar.

Today I like to share with you 5 awesome masterclasses of some of the greatest guitar players of all times. They all contain their own unique and valuable lessons.

No matter what level of guitar playing you are, I recommend you to watch Steve Vai’s masterclass which covers all lot of topics from beginner to advanced. Also for guitar teachers like myself it is utterly inspiring! For the advanced guitar player, Robben Ford will show some great ways to incorporate jazz improvisation into your blues playing.

Next, BB King (King of blues) will demonstrate his world famous blues chops. All of todays blues guitar legends have begged, borrowed and stolen from his licks.

Acoustic guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel shows you the essence and basics of fingerstyle playing and how to turn it into beautiful music.

And finally a Joe Satriani masterclass. He gives a one on one private guitar lesson. He applauds the student’s skills but also points out his flaws and limitations that are so common with many guitar players. He shows the next step when your blues and rock playing is stuck in a rut. Watch and learn from the masters!

Tips:
– Take your time to watch each video over a couple of days or weeks.
– Take notes, there’s so much information you don’t want to forget.

Enjoy!
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8 Excellent Guitar Stretch Exercises to Develop Flexibility

By Klaus Crow 7 Comments

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Playing guitar requires a decent amount of flexibility in your fingers.

When you practice guitar regularly you develop more flexibility but at the same time you need more of that flexibility because your riffs and licks become more advanced as you progress.

Some beginner guitar students blame the lack of flexibility to short, thick, weird or chubby fingers.

Of course guitar players with long fingers may have some advantage, but the majority of guitar players should be able to learn to play barre chords, scales, solos and all the stuff most guitar players do, no matter the size of their fingers.

I know a lot of great guitar players out there with short fingers and they all rock! They increased their flexibility by lots of practice.

In this post I will show you 8 exercises that will improve your technique and develop the strength and flexibility you need.

You might not be able to play all the exercises (in the beginning) but that’s not the point, the point is that you extend your reach so that it becomes easier for you to play your favorite licks and riffs.

Note: If you are a beginner guitar player then first practice the 1-2-3-4 exercises before trying one of the exercises below. If your fingers feel really stiff then also start with the 1-2-3-4 exercises first.

Prevent any injuries! If you feel any pains or warning signs from your fingers, hands, arms or any other parts of your body when you are playing, stop and rest! Don’t hurt yourself. It’s okay to seek challenge but know your limits. Listen to your body carefully.

Tips:
– Practice these exercises slowly first and then gradually build up to normal speed.
– Place your thumb on the middle of the back of the neck.
– Focus fully on your hands and fingers. Concentrate.
– Take regular breaks between the exercises.
– Don’t do these exercises for too long. Practice in short periods of time.

Have fun and enjoy your progress!Continue Reading

The 6 Most Important Habits of Successful Guitar Players

By Klaus Crow 10 Comments

So what is it that you exactly want to accomplish with your guitar playing? Where are you heading and what is your goal?

Do you want to become a fresh sounding blues guitar player, a fast hell shredding rock dude, an authentic folk singer songwriter or a smooth jazz cat exploring the universe of possibilities?

Do you want to start a band, write, record your own music and build an audience?

Maybe you want to make money playing guitar through teaching and performing. Whatever it is, the stars will all line up for you if you pursue the steps of those who have gone before you.

The most successful guitar players have all incorporated the following habits to ensure their way to success.

Here are the keys:

Effective Exercises To Make Barre Chords Sound Clean

By Klaus Crow 11 Comments

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Getting a barre chord to sound good is a real struggle for many guitar students, especially on an acoustic guitar.

It takes a while to really get a barre chord to sound clean and clear. Let’s be honest here, barres are nasty pain in the &ss and can be pretty frustrating at first.

It almost feels like impossible to apply the amount of pressure on the fingers to get them sound smooth.

But don’t worry, if you follow the tips and exercises in this post, it’s gonna get better, a lot better. If fact, you’re gonna do great!

The trick is not just about pressing hard. There’s more to it. Yes, it is important to press your index finger firmly down on the strings in order to make it work, but then again, you don’t want to push too hard either. You need to find the right balance. Whatever you do, do not strain! Don’t be a wimp, but if you’re feeling cramps just let go for a minute.

Watch the positioning of your fingers. Alter the positioning of your index finger slightly up or down to see if you can fix some of the buzzes and mutes. Try rolling it to the sight a bit. Make sure your thumb is right behind the neck to give it enough support. Observe all your fingers and hand position carefully.

Don’t expect your barres to sound great in the beginning, it’s part of the process. Your fingers need to build strength but also learn to shape the right way. It takes some time for your fingers to find the right placement onto the strings. So it’s not just a matter of strength but also technique and the latter takes practice and patience.Continue Reading

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