Guitar Lessons | Jim Bowley

Category: Guitar Lessons

February 21, 2012

Technique Spotlight on…Finger Rolls

by jim — Categories: Beginner, Guitar Lessons, Technique Spotlight — Tags: finger roll, legato, staccato, technique — Leave a comment

I could try to come up with some cute, snappy intro to this lesson, but in all honesty, it ain’t happening.

Why?

Because in the world of guitar techniques, finger rolls are just not as sexy as hammer-ons, pull-offs or string bending. They’re utilitarian, practical. They get the job done and move on. They don’t put on a show for you.

[IMPORTANT SIDE NOTE: The great Julius Erving's finger rolls did, however, put on a show, as evidenced by the sweet pic to the left where he is schooling Kurt Rambis and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Some of my students call me "Dr. J". Coincidence? I think not.]

But like any good craftsman will tell you, there is a correct tool for every job. And some jobs just require the lowly finger roll.

So what exactly is a finger roll and why should I care?

Glad you asked, young rocker!

The finger roll is an essential left hand technique that allows you to play notes that are on the same fret level and adjacent strings without a break in the sound. By rolling your finger correctly, you can link the notes and maintain that legato character that is so important to a professional-sounding single-note line.

As a bonus, finger rolls are easy to do, once you’ve got the correct approach. So allow your friend JB to take this bad boy apart for you and put it back together. In short order, you’ll be a finger rolling machine! Continue reading “Technique Spotlight on…Finger Rolls” »

February 7, 2012

The Only Theory Lesson You’ll Ever Need, Part 3

by jim — Categories: Guitar Lessons, Six String Theory — Tags: harmony, major scale, music theory, transpose, triads — 2 Comments

In Part 1 of The Only Theory Lesson You’ll Ever Need, we covered the foundational elements of music theory: the musical alphabet, the concept of whole steps and half steps, and the use of accidentals (sharps and flats) to fill in the blanks between natural notes.

In Part 2, we used that information to take the next step forward: constructing major scales and understanding keys.

Here in Part 3, we’ll take the final step and use our knowledge of major scales to harmonize them with chords.

This is where music theory really starts to come alive because it gives the musician insight into why certain chords work together to form complementary sounds. You can use this knowledge to empower you to learn songs by ear or to write your own songs. You can also use this knowledge for transposing to other keys, which is essential when applying capo strategies. Rock and roll! Continue reading “The Only Theory Lesson You’ll Ever Need, Part 3” »

January 26, 2012

The Only Theory Lesson You’ll Ever Need, Part 2

by jim — Categories: Guitar Lessons, Six String Theory — Tags: accidentals, key, key signature, major scale, major scale formula — 2 Comments

In Part 1 of The Only Theory Lesson You’ll Ever Need, we covered the foundational elements of music theory: the musical alphabet, the concepts of whole steps and half steps, and the use of accidentals (sharps and flats) to fill in the blanks between natural notes.

In Part 2, we’ll use that information to take the next step forward: constructing major scales and understanding keys.

Major scale construction is one of the most important things you could ever learn in music theory, since EVERYTHING else is built upon this foundational concept. And gaining insight into scales and keys teaches us how notes are related within a musical “family”, and what notes tend to complement each other in melodies, riffs and solos. Let’s get it on! Continue reading “The Only Theory Lesson You’ll Ever Need, Part 2” »

December 14, 2011

The Definitive Lesson: Thumb Placement

by jim — Categories: Beginner, Guitar Lessons, Intermediate, The Definitive Lesson Series — Tags: muting, string bending, technique, thumb position — Leave a comment

Wanna solve a host of guitar playing issues in one shot?

Learn to place your thumb properly.

I know. I was surprised at how easy that was too.

And yet I see so many guitarists place their thumbs in positions that actually hurt their technique more than help it.

I’ve learned a few things in my 30+ years of playing this fine instrument, but few concepts have become more profound to me than this:

If you place your thumb properly OFF the fingerboard, your technique ON the fingerboard will instantly improve. Few things have as much direct impact on your playing as thumb placement, for better or for worse! Continue reading “The Definitive Lesson: Thumb Placement” »

December 13, 2011

The Definitive Lesson: Bending Strings

by jim — Categories: Beginner, Guitar Lessons, Intermediate, The Definitive Lesson Series — Tags: bend, pre-bend, slurs, vibrato — 3 Comments

Learning to bend strings is essential to our progression as guitarists. Along with hammer-ons, pull-offs and slides, these types of slurs will give your playing nuance and a more legato, professional sound.

Bent notes lend a “vocal” sound to your playing, adding bluesy, “in-between” sounds to your riffs and solos. Although jazz and classical players do not typically use the technique, string bending is a critical part of the vocabulary for pop, rock, blues and country guitarists.

Bends can make your lines sound groovy, but they require an enormous amount of fine motor control to sound confident and in tune. This translates to a lot of practice! But if you roll the JB way, you’ll be bending strings like a pro in no time.

In The Definitive Lesson: Bending Strings, we’re going to learn proper bending techniques that will immediately add a bluesy, legato character to our single-note lines. Let’s rock! Continue reading “The Definitive Lesson: Bending Strings” »

December 1, 2011

The Definitive Lesson: Pull-offs

by jim — Categories: Beginner, Guitar Lessons, The Definitive Lesson Series — Tags: "seesaw", pull-off, slur, trill — Leave a comment

Learning to play pull-offs is essential to our progression as guitarists. Along with hammer-ons, slides and bends, these types of slurs will make your playing instantly quicker, smoother and more professional-sounding.

Most guitarists do not pick every note individually. As a matter of fact, when you hear a great guitarist playing blazing fast lead lines, they are often using slurs to facilitate their movements. Masterful pull-offs enhance your speed and help your playing sound legato, which are two things most players strive for.

Although there are a few picking Nazis out there who insist on “no slurs” – Al DiMeola comes to mind – almost all guitarists use slurs, and some world-class players have virtually built their entire technique on hammering, pulling, bending and sliding. You may recognize the names Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and Allan Holdsworth – slur monsters! If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.

Of course, there are times when picking notes individually sounds better, but a nice mix of picked notes and slurs gives you the best of both worlds. And picking each note is akin to asking a saxophone player to tongue every note – the notes would sound more like a machine gun than music. Slurs make your lines sound a little looser and groovier, less rigid.

So in The Definitive Lesson: Pull-offs, we’re going to learn proper pull-off techniques that will immediately enhance our speed and create a more legato single-note line. Let’s rock! Continue reading “The Definitive Lesson: Pull-offs” »

December 1, 2011

The Definitive Lesson: Hammer-ons

by jim — Categories: Beginner, Guitar Lessons, The Definitive Lesson Series — Tags: "seesaw", hammer-on, slur — Leave a comment

Learning to play hammer-ons is essential to our progression as guitarists. Along with pull-offs, slides and bends, these types of slurs will make your playing instantly quicker, smoother and more professional-sounding.

Most guitarists do not pick every note individually. As a matter of fact, when you hear a great guitarist playing blazing fast lead lines, they are often using slurs to facilitate their movements. Masterful hammer-ons enhance your speed and help your playing sound legato, which are two things most players strive for.

Although there are a few picking Nazis out there who insist on “no slurs” – Al DiMeola comes to mind – almost all guitarists use slurs, and some world-class players have virtually built their entire technique on hammering, pulling, bending and sliding. You may recognize the names Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, and Allan Holdsworth – slur monsters! If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.

So in The Definitive Lesson: Hammer-ons, we’re going to learn proper hammer-on techniques that will immediately enhance our speed and create a more legato single-note line. Let’s rock! Continue reading “The Definitive Lesson: Hammer-ons” »

November 15, 2011

The Only Theory Lesson You’ll Ever Need

by jim — Categories: Beginner, Guitar Lessons, Six String Theory — Tags: accidentals, chromatic scale, enharmonic equivalent, half steps, music theory, musical alphabet, whole steps — 1 Comment

Wacky Professor

“Music theory”.

Just saying the words can make a guitar student’s eyes glaze over, like we’re about to launch into a trigonometry class or something.

Honestly, it’s not all that difficult to understand, if you put a little mental energy into it. And theory is very logical, so the elements tend to build on one another in a clear, sequential manner.

But some folks have such a lack of confidence in their ability to comprehend complexities, that the idea of music theory immediately deflates them.

Never fear! JB is here to simplify and demystify!

Follow along as I take you through the only theory lesson most guitarists will ever need – and I’ll make it fun and easy to understand as a bonus! Continue reading “The Only Theory Lesson You’ll Ever Need” »

November 11, 2011

The Definitive Lesson: Essential Capo Strategies

by jim — Categories: Beginner, Guitar Lessons, Intermediate, The Definitive Lesson Series — Tags: CAGED system, capo, primary chords, transpose — 1 Comment

The humble capo.

Beloved by some, misunderstood by many.

If you’re one of the “many”, never fear. JB is here to rock your world with The Definitive Lesson on the art of the capo.

Since open strings are fundamental to the guitar’s sound, especially in pop music styles, learning to maximize those open strings with a capo falls into the “must know” category. And if you’re primarily an acoustic guitarist, a capo should be one of your first purchases, along with a tuner and some picks.

The bottom line: Effective use of the capo is essential for the modern guitarist. It will make your playing more professional, and the side benefit of minimizing barre chords will make you a much happier player to boot!

So pack a lunch and buckle up, fellow six-stringers – The Definitive Lesson: Essential Capo Strategies awaits. Continue reading “The Definitive Lesson: Essential Capo Strategies” »

November 10, 2011

Capo Basics

by jim — Categories: Guitar Lessons — Tags: barre chords, capo, kyser, shubb — 1 Comment

What do classic songs like “Hotel California” (The Eagles), “Here Comes the Sun” (The Beatles), “Fire and Rain” (James Taylor), and “Landslide” (Fleetwood Mac) have in common?

How about modern pop tunes like “If I Die Young” (The Band Perry), “I’m Yours” (Jason Mraz), “Hey Soul Sister” (Train), and “Come On Get Higher” (Matt Nathanson)?

Answer: They all require a capo for maximum musical mojo!

If you’re not using a capo, then you’re doing your guitar playing a major disservice. The modern guitarist needs to learn to use a capo effectively since so many songs either benefit from it or require it to sound their best. Luckily for you, you’ve arrived at the right place.

This lesson will answer all of your questions about the fundamentals of capo use, including types of capos, positioning, the “moveable nut” concept, and more. Let’s get this party started with a trip through Capo Basics! Continue reading “Capo Basics” »

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