GUITARHABITS

Pentatonic Scale Shape Exercises Around The Fretboard

May 15, 2019 by Klaus Crow

Photo by Bigstock photo
A lot of guitar players use only one pentatonic position / shape: The first position (E shape) it’s because it’s the most comfortable shape to play in.

That’s great if you start out with soloing, in fact it’s better to stay with that for a while to explore all the possibilities and to really be able to improvise with that one shape.

But after some time it’s good to get out that box and discover more of the world. Wouldn’t it be great to attain the freedom to use the entire fretboard for all your rock, blues, country and heavy metal soloing? It’s the next step to becoming a complete guitarist.

To expand your reach on the fretboard beyond the most popular pentatonic position #1 (E shape), you need to learn all five pentatonic positions, also known as shapes. If you haven’t learned the five pentatonic shapes yet check out: The Five Pentatonic Scale Shapes You Must Know

This post is to designed to give you some extra exercises (once you’ve learned the five shapes) to really get those shapes down.

Have fun!
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The Art of Letting Go in Life and Musicianship

By Klaus Crow 8 Comments

May 15, 2019 by Klaus Crow

Photo by Bigstock photo
I love being lazy and relaxed but I am also a passionate and productive dude. It’s the yin and yang.

But in a society where productivity is at the top of the list we need to be aware and careful that we don’t live just productive lives. We need to leave more than enough room for the things that matter most.

When you let go of things you’ll come to the essence of what is truly important. And the more you learn to let go the more you realize why and what that is.

Life becomes more joyful, appreciative, pleasant and a lot easier. Wonderful things will show up and happen just because you allow it to. Try it and experience it yourself.

Discover the amazing world in the art of letting go.

Here are the keys:Continue Reading

The Vital Keys to Playing Slow And Fluently Fast

By Klaus Crow 11 Comments

June 24, 2022 by Klaus Crow

“In order to play fast you need to play slow.” A saying that holds the keys to the Lamborghini, but has been quoted so many times by teachers and guitar heros that it almost seems it has lost its significance.

A lot of guitar players feel like it’s a myth, some are not familiar with the saying and others easily ignore it.

They can hardly believe that it’s true or don’t think it’s that important. But let me tell you, it is! It is that important.

How to Play Fast

I’ve been there and I’ve wasted my share of time. So memorize this phrase “In order to play fast you need to play slow.” and apply it to every guitar workout. It will make all the difference in the world.

So why do you want to play fast in the first place? Maybe you just don’t like the speed-ass shredders and monster lick killers that are racing the fretboard with 250 miles an hour. Well you don’t have to! Because learning to play fast is not just about speed soloing, it’s about developing dexterity.

Once you’ve increased your level of speed and learned to play faster your fingers will move a lot more smoothly across the fretboard. It’s almost seems like your fingers have gotten little wings. And that’s great for everything you play. No matter if you’re into blues, jazz, classical, country or metal.

Playing slow will not only help you develop dexterity, but also to play correctly, clean and clear as you become faster. Playing guitar will become effortlessly.

Let’s take a closer look:

The Awesome Harmonic Minor Scale

By Klaus Crow 13 Comments

May 15, 2019 by Klaus Crow

Photo by Bigstock photo
The harmonic minor scale is often used in neo-classical, gypsy and jazz music.

But also rock guitar players like to step outside of the pentatonic or minor scale now and then and add this kind of middle eastern sound to their solos to keep things interesting.

It really catches the ear of the listener because something different and exciting is happening. John Petrucci, Joe Satriani and Marty Friedman are good examples of guitar players who incorporate the harmonic minor tastefully into their solos.

If you’re ready to add some cool flavor to play over a minor chord or dominant seventh chord then let’s dive into it:

Formulas
The harmonic minor scale contains 7 notes. The scale formula = 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 7. So compared to the major scale (1 2 3 4 5 6 7) it’s got a minor third and a minor sixth.

The harmonic minor scale and the natural minor scale (1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7) are pretty much the same expect the harmonic minor has raised it’s 7th by one semitone.

If you play an harmonic minor scale on a single string the pattern of whole and half steps are:
“whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole & a half, half”.
(half step = 1 fret, whole step = 2 frets, whole & a half = 3 frets)
So the formula in semitones = 2 1 2 2 1 3 1

Here’s how you play an A harmonic minor scale. The root note starting on the 6th string (Low E-string)

Here’s the harmonic minor scale starting on the 5th string (A-string): D harmonic minor scale.Continue Reading

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