Music | Guitar Lessons and Performance

Is it a bad thing that I know virtually nothing about music theory?

Is it a bad thing that I have been playing guitar for 10 years and know virtually nothing about music theory? Would it be harder for me to learn it at this point?

It’s not a bad thing, imho. James Taylor said famously “I don’t read music, I don’t write music. I just wander around on the guitar until something presents itself”. You’re probably pretty creative and have a decent ear. You can hear how some things fit together better than others and you’re willing to experiment until you get something that sounds nice.

That said, if you learn a little theory and can attach it to what you already know, you’ll move lightyears ahead! I mean it. Find a teacher or a book or an online system. Whatever works for you can help fill in some of the gaps in your music head. You’re asking if that will be hard; it will be easier if you can start making connections right away to what you already know. Take small bites at first. And if it’s any help at all, know that we (guitar players) are all on the same path. Best luck to you, my friend!

Paul2021-03-02T09:34:06-05:00

why do stringed instruments have tuning pegs?

Why do stringed instruments have tuning pegs?

To keep the strings from tangling
We peg them in their places.
or else they’d drag across the ground
like bad behaved shoelaces.

The other ends we twist ’em tight!
around each tuning post
well not too tight- but just enough-
to E A D G B and E at most.

Paul2021-03-02T09:35:03-05:00

what should I do if my neighbor plays loud music

What should I do if my neighbor plays guitar and sometimes has his band mates over to play (loud bluegrass/folk) music for hours each week? I’m doing my MBA and work from home when I’m not traveling for work, and it’s very distracting.

If your neighbor and his mates are playing guitar music loudly
and bluegrass music (ugh) is the style of tune they play so proudly
you could ask him (real polite like) for his lads to turn it down- say,
between the hours of 10 and 6 when you’re not out of town.

You could tell him of your studies and your serious intent
how an MBA requires – no- demands – long hours spent
in quiet contemplation, focused solely on the task.
Perhaps he’ll see your side! (you know, it doesn’t hurt to ask)

But barring that my friend, there are two other choices.
One light, one dark. One heaven-sent,
one spawned by hellish voices. So:

purchase a guitar and knock politely on his door
and when that door is opened, well- that’s a metaphor
for expanding your horizons, enjoying life – l’chaim!
(the MBA work might wait a bit, for just a little time)

My alternate suggestion’s simply horrifying, mate.
Not for the faint-of-heart. in […]

Paul2021-02-24T21:13:05-05:00

why do bass guitars even exist?

Why do bass guitars even exist? Why not just use an electric guitar and just use the lowest four notes?

This has been answered pretty well on Quora but I wanted to add my two cents.

A while ago, a friend was kind enough to loan me (thanks Chuck!) a Schecter Diamond Series electric bass.

I have been playing guitar for most of my life but this thing is just magical. You have to listen so much more closely when playing bass than guitar, I think partly because of all the frequencies under your hand- it seems like so much more is available than on a guitar string. You’ll hear “start with the 1 and 5” and that works fine but if you listen to a bassist who really knows the neck, they carve up chords like a horn player. You could spend a LOT of time getting this under control. It’s really only nominally a guitar if you think about it, in the same way that a ukulele is, imho.

I hope this is helpful and I highly recommend putting your hands on a bass guitar if you get the chance.

PS: how many bass players does it take to change a lightbulb? […]

Paul2021-02-24T20:54:23-05:00

why do folk songs not have key changes

Why do folk songs not change the key signature?

Well I dunno for sure, but my guess is, to keep them fairly simple. A musically simple song, more people can enjoy it. They can sing them or hear the song’s story without being distracted by unnecessary musical ornamentation (like a key change).

Think about holiday songs like “joy to the world”: that goes “do te la so fa me re do” which is just “do re me” backward. It’s a generality but I’d say folk songs are not musically nuanced on purpose so more folks can enjoy them. Just my opinion, I’d be interested to hear somebody else’s.

Paul2021-02-21T17:56:38-05:00

what are the four types of musical instruments?

What are the four types of musical instruments?

These are the four types of musical instruments, as far as I can tell.

First comes guitar. That is the first and primary category of musical instruments, of course, and the only one that a reasonable person should consider.

Following that there are things that are not guitars but sort of guitar-ish. Ukuleles and basses, banjos, dulcimers, lutes, etc., all fall in this category.

Third would be instruments that have strings but are otherwise, not at all guitar-like. You could lump pianos, kalimbas, harps and all that sort of non-guitar foolishness in that category.

Lastly comes instruments that are not remotely like guitars at all. They have no strings and they rely on, if you can believe it, having air blown into them, being plugged into an electrical outlet or being pounded on with wooden sticks to produce “music”. Blech. As a category, well, that last set of “instruments” is hardly worth a reasonable person’s attention at all. ‘course, I maybe a bit biased.

How do we eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

Paul2026-03-30T08:19:50-04:00

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

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