Guitar Lessons

Groupon's Selling an Electric Guitar Complete Set!

2011-10-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

Check it out!
If you've wanted to play electric guitar, but had a hard time justifying the up-front fees for an amp, wire, guitar, gig bag, strap, picks and tuner, NOW is the time!
You can pick one of four colors for your guitar too!

Click here: Groupon Guitar Set
The Deal expires on Friday, so hurry!

Chords - Exactly Why the Guitar Rocks!

2011-08-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

Only so many instruments can play several notes at the same time. Forget the flute and all the woodwinds.

It's hard to carry around a piano in your car. So you've got a choice between violin with a bow, making it impossible to sing along with yourself, and a guitar. You chose guitar because of many reasons, yet the freedom to sing while you play almost anywhere makes guitar highly worthwhile.

Click on this text link to view, download or print the chords handouts.

Don't get scared by all the eighth and sixteenth notes! Stretch yourself to learn.

We begin with simpler chord sequences and I include the tab so you can remind yourself in the beginning, while you're on the steep learning curve.

Also see my past chord key of G handout. Enjoy!

Note Values Handouts... Timing is Everything!

2011-08-09T09:05:00.000-07:00

What are note values?

Kind of like fractions in math. Really, if you intend to play music well, you'll never escape math.

Click this text link to view, download, or print my Note Values handouts.

Note values simply tell you how long to let a note last. The difference between the familiar tune of "Flight of the Bumblebee" and the tune of a popular funeral march begins with note values.

Start with a tempo... keep the value of your notes consistent, and you'll find memorizing note values a breeze.

This is a practice handout. If you want to look at all the values, click on my simple, easy handout for understanding notes. This reference and the above handout will help you understand things a bit better.

Music Theory Part 2 - Intervals? Huh?

2011-08-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

Intervals? what's that?

Intervals just tell us how far apart two notes are from each other - one step or five steps away.

Click this text link to view, download or print my intervals handouts.

It's important to know intervals as you learn chords on the guitar. The guitar sounds so magnificently when you play the right combinations of notes. One combination of notes can really ring joyfully in your audience's ear while a half step up or down can mean cruel torture.

Enjoy!

Music Theory Part 1... We All Need It!

2011-08-02T10:03:00.000-07:00

So scales, schmales,...

Quick and simple, the do-re-mi made so famous by "The Sound of Music" is a basic scale.
In our culture, we organize 8 notes on a scale as they progress from bottom to top. Learn your scales, and you'll automatically know the rules making each song that you learn, sound so fantastic.

Click this text link to view, download or print my scale handouts.

Practice makes perfect and there's no other way to memorize scales than to play them.

Grab Mom's Old Credit Card Stash! Pick Punch!

2011-04-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

You'll never run out of guitar picks again! And none of your adult family/friends will have to worry about cutting up their own credit cards again. Win-win, here folks.

Order yours at:
www.pickpunch.com

International Guitar Night starring Clive Carroll @ Wolf Trap tomorrow night @ 8!

2011-01-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

Check 'em out!

Tomorrow Night @ Barns of Wolf Trap @ 8pm

$25 tix

Visit Guitar Heaven!

2010-11-15T09:36:00.000-08:00

Right in DC, take the Metro to Dupont Circle, walk two blocks down Connecticut Avenue, and you'll find yourself in what should be termed "Guitar Heaven" ... call it a museum, call it a shop, call it whatever you want, just visit the space! I suggest it as a great afternoon field trip for homeschoolers or a cold weekend family adventure.

Just this month, it was highlighted in the Sunday Washington Post Magazine's "Closer Inspection."

Check out that harp guitar! Play the guitar strings with the right hand as usual, and then play the 10 harp strings with your left! Tricky pick action! What do you suppose the "Tab" tablature would look like for these players?

Chord Sequences: Key of A Chart

2010-10-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

I want you to succeed when it comes to learning chords. Here's a fantastic chart I've put together for you to practice the Key of A.

Enjoy!

How to Buy A Guitar

2010-07-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

There are thousands of designs out there, which one will help you learn best?

Whether you're buying new or used, online or from a store, make sure you know these two factors before you buy.

Test the Sound

I highly recommend at least going into a store that sells guitars and asking a store clerk to test the sound of a few different types of wood. That way, even if you end up buying online, you know from what type of wood you want your guitar made.

Test the Size

Take the guitar and place the bottom of the guitar on the ground. Make sure the guitar comes up to or a little above your waist. Then make sure your hand is able to wrap around the neck of the guitar and your thumb and third finger are able to touch. Watch my video to see how it's done.

Buying New:

Whether online or from a store, the most important two factors to consider are: size and sound. You normally won't need to worry about wear-and-tear or poor manufacturing when buying new from a store.

Obviously, if you're buying online, you can't test the sound of the guitar you may want to buy, nor can you test the height of the guitar from floor to waist.

Buying Used:

Ebay? Craigslist? Yard Sale? There are plenty of well-loved guitars out there that are well worth the deal. If you're just starting out, if you're not quite sure how quickly you'll progress, or if you're not sure how long you might be playing guitar, a less expensive option is a smart route to take.

I always recommend, whether you want electric, bass, acoustic, or classical, go into a real guitar store, and have a clerk give you a quick sample of the sound. You want to make sure that what you're buying is what you expect.

Imperfections to Look Out For:

Check the neck: look along the neck to ensure there is no bowing. If it's straight, holding the guitar up to your neck and looking down from the base to the head, you will see the top. If it's bowed up or down or somewhere in the middle, you should be able to catch that from this angle.
Inspect the bridge: the bridge is where all the strings are bolted down at the bottom. No part of the bridge should be buckled or bowed. If it is, pass it up and don't look back.
Hold the frets: hold down all strings along the second and the twelfth frets. Make sure each fret in between is touched by all strings.

Why Did You Start Playing Guitar? Why Do You Love It?

2010-06-25T11:14:00.000-07:00

Someone recently asked me how I got into playing guitar and why I love it. Well, here's my story, and I'd certainly like to hear yours.

Why did I decide to start playing guitar?

Back then (ancient history of course), guitar was a very popular instrument in Ireland, and every guy in school had a guitar and was learning to play. So I guess you could say it was the "in" thing to do. But of course, I always like the sound of the guitar and so started taking lessons when I was 9-year-old and have been playing ever since.

Why do I love it?

All my family played instruments, piano, violin and guitar. There was always music in the home, either the radio was playing or my Mother was singing and playing the piano.

Key of G Major

2010-06-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

Here I've provided one of my worksheets that I give to students to practice and master chords. Enjoy learning the key of G Major. Click on the image to open it in a new window.

Quiz Yourself

2010-05-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

Test your knowledge. In what key is this music written?

Click the image to open up a new window. Zoom in to print.

Understanding Notes

2010-05-28T08:56:00.000-07:00

Check out this music values chart!

On the road to reading music, it's important to know what each note and rest is called. This easy chart lays it all out for you. Enjoy.

Click the image to open in a new window and zoom in to print it out.

Detailed Guitar Chart

2010-05-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

Check it out! Click on the image to view it in more detail. One of my fantastic students created this chart for me.

Understanding "Sus" Chords

2009-11-12T10:51:00.000-08:00

Sus4 chords have no third, which is "suspended" (sus = suspended) and replaced by a fourth. A variant of the sus-chord is the sus2, where the third is replaced with a second. The sus-chords are neither major nor minor chords. Ex: Csus4 consists of the notes C, F and G.

Key of G chord sequence is G - Em - C - D or D7

Let me know if there is a chord you would like to see here:

Key of G chords in tablature and music staff

Click on the image below to make it bigger.

http://www.dpmusicservices.com/

e-mail me dtpreston@verizon.net I look forward to hearing from you. Dominic