Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Guitar Theory Podcast

Guitar Theory Podcast

Listen and learn about guitar theory online or on the go with my guitar theory podcast entitled "What Is Guitar Theory?" This free online guitar lesson will explain what music theory is and the benefits of applying it to the guitar fretboard. Listen to examples of how pentatonic and major scales are used to play melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines. Learn how guitar chords and progressions are derived from the major scale. Hear how the guitar CAGED chord system creates a variety of chord shapes, fingerings, voicings and inversions. Experience some of the tonal variations of guitar modes. Taught by me, Desi Serna author of Fretboard Theory. Absolutely FREE! Available at iTunes or at any other link below. Running time: Approximately 25 minutes.

Guitar Theory Podcast at iTunes


Guitar Theory Podcast at TalkShoe.com


Guitar Theory Podcast at PodFeed.net


Guitar Theory Podcast at PodcastAlley.com


Guitar Theory Podcast at ZenCast.com

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Guitar Theory Includes Scales, Chords, Progressions and More.

Guitar Chords
Consider your favorite song. It probably has guitar chords in it. Where do the chords come from? How are they built? What is the chord progression, that is, what are all the chords used, how are the chords combined and in what order? Why can the chords be combined in this manner?

Guitar Scales
Does your favorite song include a melody, guitar riff, lead guitar solo or bass line? Parts like these are derived from guitar scales. How are scales made? How are scales played on the fretboard? Which guitar scale does your song use? Why does the scale work over the chords and chord progression?

Guitar Keys and Chord Progressions
Do you think these questions are relevant? If you had to learn a song would it help you to understand how it was put together? How would knowing a song's key, chord progression and scales used effect how quickly you learned it? Would having a complete grasp of a song's inter-workings help you remember it better? Have you ever tried composing your own guitar music? When you know exactly how scales, chords and progressions are combined to make music, what will you do with this newfound knowledge?

Guitar Theory
As you can see, there are many benefits to learning the details of music and how they specifically apply to the guitar fretboard. Aside from being interesting, guitar theory can really open up your playing and greatly impact your rate of development. You'll pick up on new songs faster, retain more of what you learn, jam, improvise and compose your own music.

Monday, June 11, 2007

What Is Guitar Theory?

What is Guitar Theory?
According to wikipedia.org, music theory is the name for a branch of study that includes many different methods for analyzing, classifying, and composing music and the elements of music. Narrowly it may be defined as the description in words of elements of music, and the interrelationship between the notation of music and performance practice. Basically, theory is the study of music, how it's played and how everything fits together.

Guitar Theory is Necessary
Have you ever learned something new on the guitar but had no idea what to do with it? Many guitarists suffer from this ailment and most instructional materials do little to remedy the problem. You can buy a chord or scale book at your local music store and learn some new shapes and patterns, but rarely do these books explain what these components actually do or how they ought to be applied. Without knowledge of how something functions it's pretty much useless. This is why guitar theory is necessary.

Guitar Theory Offers Explanations
Guitar Theory will explain what something is and does. For example, a new chord shape might be seen as an extension of a common barre chord. Wherever you may play the barre chord the new shape can be substituted for a new sound. A scale pattern might fit together with a specific chord progression. Each time you play this progression the scale tones can be used to add melody and harmony. Certain combinations of chords will effect a songs overall emotional feel. Choose the right combination in order to successfully convey your song's meaning.

Scales, Chords, Progressions and More
Music can be approached and studied from many different angels. You can study notation, technique, rhythms, scales, chord construction and so on. While all musical topics are interesting and have their benefits, scales, chords and progressions top the list of must-knows. All guitarists, beginner through advanced, strum chords, follow progressions, and play melodies, riffs, solos and bass lines with scales.