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When there is so much craziness in the world, what is the point of reading (or writing) articles on effective habits and routines? Simple–we need our personal peace and effectiveness more than ever! Having better habits helps us be more resilient and effective in adversity–and it’s more fun, too!  In my last “habits of greatness” blog post, I wrote about the power of using everyda

If there’s one technique that proves that guitarists will always strive to find new ways to play their instruments past what their creators intended, then it’s probably tapping. Tapping is a guitar technique where notes are played by pressing directly onto the fret with one finger instead of being traditionally strummed. Tapping can involve both the left and right-hand in the fretting of notes, an

  Different types of chords can have starkly different sounds from one another, and the perfect chord at the right moment can transform an entire song. Understanding the different types of chords can elevate both your songwriting and guitar playing to new heights. In this article we are going to look at the six most commonly used chord qualities, although it is worth noting that there are many mor

  Often nicknamed “guitarmony”, twin lead guitar lines can be used to both craft harmonies that are rich and elegant as well as harmonies that are dark and sinister, as can be evidenced by any of the groups mentioned above. Guitarmony can be performed live by multiple guitarists, or it can be recorded by as a little just one guitarist through use of overdubs.  Although any two guitars playing non-

If you feel like you’re starting to fall into a rut with your soloing, exploring the harmonic and melodic minor scales can be a great way to pull you out of it. Both scales are similar to the minor scale that you likely already know, but with some essential notes changed, making for a formula that will force you just far enough outside your comfort zone to spark some new creativity. In this piece,

  It’s a question that gets asked a lot because it’s one without an easy answer. Many of us have heard tales of how guitars legends like Jimi Hendrix, Jack White, and Eric Clapton were/are entirely self-taught players. We’ve heard how Dizzy Gillespie never had any formal instruction on the trumpet and how Frida Kahlo taught herself to paint through grueling trial-and-error. There’s certainly a con

Indie-Pop songs are the underdogs of Bollywood. And they are perfect for guitar players because of their beautiful melodies and simple chords. These songs inspire me to write my own songs and share it with the world! Here are 5 uber-famous Indie-Pop numbers that can be played by Guitar Beginners using simple open chords like G, C, D, E, A, Em, Am, Dm etc. Use the links below to watch the music vid

  As parents, we want to raise capable, self-reliant children who can reach their goals and have healthy relationships.  We also want to raise children with the courage and skill to be a positive influence in the world.  Right? In this blog post, I’m going to promote the use of a single word—with a question mark—as a way to empower your child to get better results as an individual and as a contrib

Part 1: What Is a Drop Tuning? A key part of heavy guitar music, drop tunings can give your playing a beefy, rumbling sound unmatched by standard tunings. However, despite drop tunings association with more aggressive styles such as metal, hardcore, and grunge, drop tunings have long been used by both classical and blues guitarists. They also make some notable appearances on pre-metal classic rock

This piece includes three important tips for playing improvised guitar solos, all of which are things that I find myself telling my students quite often. That’s because all three of them are simple concepts that can be tricky to actual a habit of implementing, but are pretty easy to do when you find yourself thinking about them. If these tips are new to you or something that you otherwise feel lik