Modern Rock Style Guitar
The two-octave G major scale (1:15)
Octave
Example one.
"Play a one octave chromatic scale in ascending order!"
Means that you play a scale from the starting note, (known as root note) and ascend the scale in half steps up to the same note 12 pitches higher.
Example two
"Play a C note, then play it one octave higher!"
This means playing the note "C" then ascend skipping D, E, F, G, A, and B, finishing by striking the "C" one half step, (fret) beyond B.
The Five Primary Left Hand Techniques
Hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, bends, and vibrato are the primary left hand techniques you will need to become a quality guitar player. These five techniques are used simultaneously in all guitar playing and help you to develop comfort on the fret board and also allow you the ability to develop or improve your phrasing without having to use a lot of notes. Tone Color, one of the five elements of music, is directly related to the left hand techniques that are used in all styles of playing.
Hammer-On
Strike the note or notes and instead of a second pick stroke to get to the next note you literally hammer one or more fingers onto the next desired fret(s). Within written music, a hammer on can be indicated by a small “h” between two notes, or a slur tying one note to another.
Playing example using the hammer-on
Using Vibrato
Vibrato allows you to put emotion and/or sustain into the notes you play by slightly or dramatically wiggling a played note(s) or chord. A "squiggly" line above or below a note can indicate that vibrato is to be used. Different types of Vibrato on the guitar can be made by wiggling front to back, or down to up. Lateral Vibrato or Linear Vibrato
Pulls-Off
Pull offs are the opposite of Hammer-ons. Instead of a pick stroke to get to the next desired note, you literally pull your finger off onto the next fret/note. To achieve the highest quality on your pull-offs, make sure you pull your finger down a little bit as well. Within written music a “p”, or a slur connecting the notes being played indicates a pull-off.
"Hammer ons" and "pull offs" are commonly used together in phrases on the guitar. Here is an example of the two being used together. This exercise should be practiced regularly. You should become comfortable moving from one end of the guitar to the other as you develop accuracy. Let your right hand lead the way and force your left hand to keep up. Start slow and build the speed gradually.
Slides/Sliding
Slides are achieved when you strike a note and use the inertia from the pick stroke and sustain of the pitch to slide to another note or series of notes.
Bends
Bends are one of the techniques that make the guitar unique. You can bend a note(s) with one or more of your fingers to the pitch of another note or notes. It's a common technique in "soloing". An upward arrow indicates bends. A downward arrow indicates a release to the bend. A string/note can be bent a ¼ step, ½ step, a full step, or greater.
Using the power chord and strumming techniques
The Down stroke
The down stroke is a technique that relies heavily on control and consistency. It is commonly used to play rhythm guitar parts in punk, rock, nu-metal, and other contemporary styles of guitar-based music to provide a driving rhythmic harmony. It is commonly used with a right hand technique called palm muting. This is a perfect technique to practice with a metronome. It will help you to learn to stay on beat but will also help you develop the ability to use accenting to your advantage. Efficiency in your right hand down stroke means you make the exact same motion each time.
The power chord is the most common chord used in modern rock music. It combines the first note of a scale with the fifth note of a scale or the "Tonic" and "Dominant". These are the two strongest tones in a scale hence the name "power chord". It is held with the first finger on the root note, the third finger on the fifth, and the pinky reinforces the root by playing the octave at the same time on the fret directly below the fifth, or a half step above when the power chord is rooted in the "G String". The chords used in the following exercises are power chords. They are named by the root with a "5" after it. For example an "A5" is an "A" power chord.
A (.) above or below a note or chord indicates that it should be palm muted when it is played. A chord is two or more notes played at the same time. Chords are covered in extensive detail later in the series. For now understand that you shape your fingers to cover all the notes being indicated and strike the notes together at the same time. Palm muting means that you dampen the vibration of the strings with the backside of the palm. You can accomplish this by sliding the palm of your picking hand forward from where it should be resting in the bridge. The side of your palm should be about 1 inch in front of the bridge. The further forward you move, the more you dampen the chord or note.
You’ll notice that 3 single notes are stacked vertically. Place the first finger of your fretting hand across the second fret of the "A" and "D" strings directly behind the second fret. Slide your picking hand forward from its bridge position about one inch. Hold the pick with your thumb on the top and your first two fingers on the underside. Make sure there is no more than a quarter inch of your pick hanging out from your fingertips. Now practice the exercise above. Once you have played it as written create and copy variations for your own use.
Try one more
Sixteenth Note Rhythms
A sixteenth note is voiced as 1 e + a. 4 sixteenth notes equal one-quarter note or one beat. So it can be said the one-sixteenth note equals a quarter of a beat. Sixteenth notes need to be practiced so that they are played evenly and with clear definition.
Form and Song Structure
Form - Structure of a composition, song, or musical arrangement. Order of individual sections of music. (ie. Verse, chorus, verse, or A, B, A)
Intro
Prelude
(usually the chorus without the singing)
Verse
Pre-Chorus
(optional)
Chorus
Verse II
Pre-Chorus
(optional)
Chorus
Bridge
(The bridge can be up to three levels and build upon an idea through sections)
Chorus
Chorus
(sometimes an outro)