GUITARHABITS

Extended Chords 9th 11th 13th for Guitar

September 4, 2023 by Klaus Crow

Extended chords are usually used in jazz music, but also in other styles like pop, blues and latin music to spice up chord progressions and add some nice flavor to the chords.

When I first learned the theory behind extended chords, it opened up a whole new world for me. All these mysterious chord names made finally sense.

I would use the chords for my own material, incorporate them into some of my favorite guitar songs and started learning some wicked jazz tunes.

Once you play around, experiment and incorporate these chords into your playing it will make guitar playing really fun and colorful.

If you’re new to chord construction then first check out How to Use Chord Formulas and Their Benefits and How to Play The Most Common Types of 7th Chords. These posts will give you the basic chord theory you need.

Let’s dive in…

Triads and 7th Chords

Extended chords are the 9th, 11th and 13th chords.

To understand the chord structure of extended chords we must first know the major and minor triad and three types of seventh chords. We use the “C” chord as an example to show the chord names.

10 Tips on How to Make Yourself Play Guitar Everyday

By Klaus Crow 25 Comments

May 14, 2019 by Klaus Crow

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Most of us would like to play guitar everyday, but the reality is there are so many other things on our todo list we sometimes forget to practice at all.

So I tried a little experiment a few weeks ago. I took a piece of a paper and wrote down the most important scales, songs and exercises I needed to work on.

I placed the notes on the fridge, the toilet and living room walls. It now keeps reminding me of what I need to be practicing even when I’m too busy and get lost in other things.

The fact that I’m constantly reminded, triggers me to pick up my guitar several times a day and just play. That’s what I need.

Along with this effective trick I use some other strategies to make sure there’s nothing in my way. Read and apply them.

Here are 10 tips to get you playing everyday:

And remember The more you practice, the better you get, the more fun it will be!

1 – Unescapable reminders
Place reminders everywhere. Put reminders in your cell phone and your computer calender. Place reminders on the kitchen fridge and the toilet wall. Wherever you spend most of your time you want to put up a reminder that makes you start practicing. Continue Reading

Top 30 Easy Guitar Solos

By Klaus Crow 20 Comments

April 5, 2021 by Klaus Crow

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Do you know any easy guitar solos?

It’s one of the most asked questions I get from guitar players who are just starting out playing solo guitar. And I get that.

The most solos you hear in songs are not exactly beginner solos. They are often intermediate or advanced guitar solos.

For the beginner lead guitar player it almost feels like every solo is out of reach and that can be discouraging. How do other guitar players go about this?

Well almost every guitar player starts off with an easy guitar solo. Those who don’t are up for a major challenge and often left disappointed. You’ve got to work your way up one solo at a time.

My first solo was Wonderful tonight by Eric Clapton. Beautiful, short and fairly easy.

Once you practiced a couple of solos and you get the hang of the basic techniques like pull-offs, hammer-ons, slides and bend-ups it get’s easier and more fun. Then you also want to work on scales, dexterity and speed which you will achieve with regular practice and specific exercises.

But first thing first, let’s start off with choosing one easy guitar solo and have loads of fun with.

You can click the song title and listen to the song and solo on Youtube or click Tab to find the tablature for the song.

Note: As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases via amazon links.

Enjoy!

1 – Wonderful tonight – Eric Clapton Tabs

2 – High and dry – Radiohead Tabs

3 – Smells like teen spirit – Nirvana Tabs

4 – Let it be – The Beatles Tabs – More TABS on Amazon

5 – Californication – RHCP Tabs
Continue Reading

Building Scales Using The Whole Half Step Formula

By Klaus Crow 17 Comments

May 14, 2019 by Klaus Crow

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Knowing how to build a scale is essential for understanding music theory, learning how the guitar works, to able to communicate with other musicians and to grow towards becoming an accomplished guitar player.

Every piece of musical knowledge adds to your musicianship and makes you become a better guitar player. Applied knowledge is power.

The whole-half Step formula is the perfect way to build and recognize the pattern of any scale. The scales you need for soloing, chord construction, chord progressions, arpeggios and a dozen of other things. It gives you insight in the whole matter.

So let’s see how this baby works.

The whole-half step formula is similar to the scale formulas only it uses whole and half steps to explain the construction of a scale.

A half step = one fret. A whole step = two frets. So going one fret up or down the neck is a half step. Going up or down two frets equals a whole step.

Let’s take the major scale as an example:

Major scale = Whole step – Whole step – Half step – Whole step – Whole step – Whole step – Half step
or simplified: W-W-H-W-W-W-H (W = Whole, H = Half)
You can also notate the fret intervals: 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 (W = 2, H = 1)Continue Reading

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