FAQs | Guitar Lessons and Performance - Paul Elwood

how do I play a major scale on guitar

How do I play any major scale on the guitar?

Well you can do 5 of ’em right off the bat and I like to do this with my starting guitar students. You know intervals? the space between the steps in a scale? Major scale intervals go: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step. Now each of the frets represents a half step, so of course, 2 frets is a whole step.

If you start from the open string (call this fret 0) and follow that pattern, you ’d put your finger on frets 0, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 12 which will give you the octave. So there’s the major scale for E, A, D, G, B and E again. You can easily play a major scale on any one string from any fret, the only provision being that if you want to stay on that string, you need 12 frets after the one you start with. Try it!!!

Paul2021-02-21T11:40:19-05:00

why are all the strings used when you only need 3 notes?

When all the strings of the guitar are played at once, why does it form a harmonious chord even though only 3-4 of the strings make up the original chord?

It’s because of the voicing. “Voicing” is how chords are organized, as they sound different depending on which notes are on the bottom and which are above.

For instance if you play a hand-friendly, top-of-the-neck E major chord, you’ve got two open E strings and a finger on the second fret of the D string, so that’s three E’s! Plus your G# which you need for the 3rd and 2 Bs (the 5th), That voicing for an E major sounds so full and rich because that voicing has a bunch of overtones from playing the root note (the E). and one of the amazing, beautiful things about a guitar is that you can play the same chord in a ton of different places! You can take advantage of the different voicing each position can offer.

Keep experimenting & have fun!

Paul2021-02-22T12:19:50-05:00

how do lessons with Paul work, exactly?

How does this work exactly?

You’re probably interested in playing a particular song, or maybe a couple of ’em. You’ll give me a couple of choices; I’ll pick one and break it down into manageable sections*. We tackle it one piece at a time, at a comfortable speed for you. During the online lesson I’ll help you figure out any parts you’re having trouble with. Split screen video show both hands and my face, so you can hear and see just what I’m doing. I will record any video you might find helpful and post it up to YouTube after the lesson.

* how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!

Paul2021-02-21T11:47:37-05:00

How do we get started with lessons?

How do we get started?

How to get started with distance guitar coaching, personal online lessons? Just reach out and we’ll set up an online session. The first one is generally to get acquainted, make sure the technology is comfortable for you, get a baseline on your skill level and for me to understand what your intention is. Based on our interaction, we’ll choose a tune and tailor your lessons specifically to your interests and playing level! Contact me

Paul2023-09-22T11:16:23-04:00

which musical notation software is best for guitar-playing songwriter

Which music notation software programs are the best for someone who simply wants to compose by playing a guitar and singing?

I can highly recommend Musescore for that. The learning curve isn’t too steep and it’s wicked easy to use once you get past some basic stuff. I use it every day, practically. And it’s FREE which is hard to believe considering what you get, but true. Download it here

Here are a couple of tunes I wrote using Musescore while on vacation in New Orleans. You can easily see- the program has tons of capabilities. Enjoy!

Paul2021-02-21T11:48:54-05:00

what is the best instrument to play around a campfire?

What is the best instrument to play around a campfire?

OF COURSE it’s a Tuba.

Hands down, the best instrument to play around a campfire for several solid reasons. Number 1, you (tuba campfire player) will generate stories that will last for decades. 30 years or more from the date of your campfire intubation (I may be spelling this incorrectly), people will still be marveling at your verve and chutzpah and the precision with which you hammer out those blazing tuba riffs. Secondly, when you run out of tunes, or when people ask you to stop playing, you can pack the bell with ice-cold lagers. See? two excellent reasons for tuba camping. Thirdly, tuba music, I have heard, is an excellent bear, raccoon and bigfoot repellent. you will need to sit up all night long gently oompa-ing into the forest, and your camping mates will sleep all the more soundly for hearing the rock-steady stream of tuba’d quarter notes echoing through the darkness. So bungi that instrument to the top of your sedan and head for the woods! You’ll be glad you left your guitar at home, imho.

Sorry to disillusion you, but although tuba music is an excellent bear repellant, it acts like a mating call for moose. (I don’t know about Bigfoot.) […]

Paul2021-02-20T11:47:53-05:00

How do you stay motivated as an older beginning guitarist?

How did you stay motivated as a beginning guitarist (who is over 50 years old)?

Two pieces of advice I offer all my students, regardless of their age. First: manage your expectations! You cannot expect to master this in weeks or months, it is the work of a lifetime. You can, however- and this is my second piece of advice- have fun while you’re learning!

I ask my students not to set the guitar down until they do something that makes them smile. I don’t care what it is! Did you play that single note beautifully? Did you finally get that strumming pattern you were aiming at? Did you learn something new about the neck of the guitar? Enjoy the ride, pat yourself on the back frequently and have fun with it! Having fun doing anything spikes up your endorphins, and that is a great way to stay motivated, imho.

Paul2021-02-20T11:33:06-05:00

What is the coolest technique you use on guitar?

Claude Debussy

What is the coolest technique you use while playing guitar?

French composer Claude Debussy famously said, “Music is the space between the notes.” I still try to shoehorn as many notes as possible into a piece but I play more musically when I think about the spaces too. Phrasing is more interesting to play (I hope, to hear as well), the playing is more nuanced and more expressive. So I’d say “using space more effectively” would be my cool technique. Still workin’ on it…

Paul2021-02-21T08:46:30-05:00

Do you use a metronome when practicing?

Do you use a metronome when practicing music?

I always keep one handy, though more for students than myself these days. I still pop it on for myself- I’d say, weekly. Playing to a metronome is a wildly valuable way to practice playing your instrument! You can of course use a drum track and a lot of loopers come with settable drums- they sound cool for sure, but there is a distinct advantage to playing along with a precise click. Annoying and tedious but quite valuable, imho.

Thanks for a great answer. Timing is everything!

Absolutely! The older I get, the truer that is. If only my now self could reach back in time and smack young me alongside his head. I think a half-dozen measures of quarter note beats might get his attention :-)

Paul2021-02-19T16:14:25-05:00

Can I learn to play guitar from a book?

Can I learn how to play the acoustic guitar from a book?

well, yes…

but to really learn guitar
lute, banjo or sitar
there’s one method that I recommend by far:

if you follow my advice,
you’ll be sounding pretty nice!
and be on your way to playing above par (like a star).

books are great, and video too
though they may not do for you-
but the single finest thing that you can do…

is to get yourself a teacher!
For sure, I’m pleased to meet ya-
guitar coach Paul, that’s me,
How do you do?

Paul2021-02-21T08:55:26-05:00