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ProGuitar Fellow

  • RE: Double checking tablature accuracy of banjo rolls and avoiding string squeak

    @alwayslearning
    Hi!

    Thanks for your message regarding The Wellerman.
    Often times when playing those types of right hand rolls, I tend to switch to the next chord just a tiny bit early to get a more "flowing" sound - and the roll stays intact in a different way than if I'd switch from one voicing to the next just at the exact point of the next bar. This is why - depending on the tempo - the notes for the next chord shape might appear earlier and sometimes later. So as long as you keep the right hand roll, it does not really matter exactly what note you play when switching to the next chord. If you're playing the right voicings, and the right hand roll is right - you will get the right sound even if you switch a bit early - late in terms of the chord shape going from one bar to the next.
    In the lesson video, I might've made that switch early sometimes and sometimes (if slowed down) I might've stayed and made the switch one or two 8th notes later.
    Sorry for the confusion!
    To sum it up: focus on the right hand roll pattern, and if you're playing the right left hand shapes - it'll sound right!

    Kind regards/Emil

    posted in The Wellerman
  • RE: Here, There, and Everywhere & What A Wonderful World - Tab/Lesson?

    @rod-d
    So glad that you're enjoying the site Rodney! Thanks for the kind words! Yes, me and Joe did that interview a few years back - when we still had hair and teeth! (just kidding :) Glad you enjoyed it! Joe is a wonderful musician and friend. I'm thinking about making a lesson about the G6 tuning, since many people like to play my arrangements in that specific tuning! :) Will release it here on the site - maybe even later this month! I have some notation on HT&E from a workshop that I did a few years back, and I can send it to you - let me know if you have any questions on it! :) Kind regards/E

    posted in Classical Music
  • RE: guitars

    @rosco
    Hi!
    I think around 17 guitars.
    Kind regards/E

    posted in Acoustic Guitar Forum
  • RE: Which capo do you use?

    @ian
    Just saw this message, so sorry for the late reply! I've used a lot of different capos. Now I'm back on the G7th performance 3 capos! :)
    Kind regards/E

    posted in Acoustic Guitar Forum
  • RE: Have any tutorial / lesson about this wonderful piece

    @aron_hu
    So glad you liked this one! This is an improvised take on "Nine pound hammer", and I don't have this written out or on any tutorial at the moment. It's a great fun piece to play though! Check out Thom Bresh's version of this song! :)
    Kind ragdrs/E

    posted in Reed It
  • RE: Roy Here

    @barbara-0
    So sorry for this incredibly late reply, your message got stuck in the queue and I just discovered it today.
    I'm so glad you liked my arrangement of "She's Always A Woman" !
    Unfortunately I don't have this particular song written out in TAB/notation. I hope that my instructional video (linked above) might be enough to learn most of it! Let me know if you ever have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them here on the forum!
    Kind regards/Emil

    posted in Announcements
  • RE: Introduction

    @undefined-26
    Welcome to the site!
    Yes, reaching difficult chords/voicings can be tricky - but working a little bit on it every day will make your hands get used to the fretboard and you'll be able to reach easier and be more relaxed in your playing.
    Kind regards/Emil

    posted in Introduce your self
  • RE: Improving improvisation

    @pepebzapata
    Hi Pepe!
    Thank you so much for your great question!

    I think a lot of people are having the exact same issues, in fact.. I think everyone (including me) have been struggling with not being able to use some of the information that we've learned - in the moment - and make it "make sense" in the music.

    For me, there are a few concepts that has helped me with being able to follow the changes. The first step in being able to really follow changes
    is to use the major pentatonic scale over each chord. Now, I don't mean using the same major pentatonic scale over each chord.. Let me explain;

    If we have a simple chord progression like: C, F and G7. C major pentatonic would sound good over all these chords. But what opened a little
    door for me was to be able to follow these changes and switching scales for each chord.
    Try playing C major pentatonic over the C chord, then F major pentatonic over the F chord, and then G major pentatonic over the G chord. This
    will outline the changes even more, and you'll be able to hear what chord you're playing over more clearly.

    In the lesson "Country Guitar Soloing Concepts" on this site, I'm walking you through this concept (and more concepts after that) which I think are essential when it comes to improvising over changes. This might sound simple, but it takes
    practice to do this in a musical way. The lesson is not really just a "country guitar lesson".. it features some of the most important fundamentals for improvising in my opinion. If you haven't checked it out yet, I suggest you to do it and then maybe you'll have some more things that we can discuss after that.

    Another thing for me has been to really learn how to outline the changes with playing strong chord notes on the downbeat of each chord. For instance, practicing
    resolving on the major or minor third of the chord. This really helps when it comes to enhancing and outlining the sound of the chord. Adding spice to the chords with alterations (and practicing V7 to I situations, for example G7 to Cmaj7 or Cm7) is something that one could practice a lifetime and still find new ways and new sounds and ideas.
    In my lesson "Jazz Up Your Blues", here on the site, I'm talking a lot about how to add tension using the diminished scale etc, to create tension and then resolve on a strong chord tone.
    For me, learning small ideas from grate musicians (not whole solos, but shorter phrases that I love) has helped a lot when it comes to hearing whats going on, and understanding how to use the phrase when I improvise.

    Learning a lot of licks, like you have, helps too - but it is important to try to move the licks around (or a part of the lick) on the fretboard, and in different keys. After a while - some of these ideas will pop up when you improvise.

    Another thing that I want to say is, that it is important not to get frustrated or overwhelmed by how much there is to learn on the internet. If you're focusing on one idea for two hours, you should never think that that's a waste of time.. because that "workout" will help everything else that you play on the guitar. It is never a waste of time. Focusing, and eyes on the road - is key!

    Let me know if I can help you with anything, and thank you so much for being part of the forum!
    Kind regards/Emil

    posted in Announcements
  • RE: backing tracks?

    @derek80 The backing tracks should be visible! Are the backing tracks not visible to you now, or does it work again?
    Kind regards/E

    posted in Salty Dog Rag
  • RE: Nut width and fretboard radius for fingerstyle

    @samuelfnilsson
    Hi Samuel!
    Thanks for asking about this, it's always exciting to get a new instrument but there's lots of things to think about before choosing "the one"! :)

    For me, the Maton EBG808 artist has been the ideal instrument for fingerstyle guitar - but I do have other instruments that I love for fingerstyle playing too. The specs on the guitar:
    Guitar Name: Maton EBG808 Artist
    Fretboard Radius: 12"
    Nut Width: 1.736" - 1 47/64"
    14th Fret Width: 2.165" - 2 11/64

    I also like guitars that have a little bit shorter scale as well.

    But to answer your question - I don't actually think one spec is better than the next for fingerstyle guitar. I think everyone has their own favorites and it's difficult to give you a certain tip on what would work best for you. I would try as many guitars as I can in a store, and find out what you like the best. It takes awhile to find out what you like the best! :)

    Kind regards/E

    posted in Acoustic Guitar Forum