Package 1 - Rhythm Guitar 1

The start point for any guitarist is gaining a knowledge of the most commonly used “open” chord shapes which are used by all contemporary performers from acoustic singer/songwriters through to rock bands like Oasis and Green Day. Open chords are shapes where some of the notes that make up the chord shape are open strings which are not fretted by the left hand. This gives them the distinctive ringing sound. The challenge initially is to keep the changes between chords going smoothly while maintaining a steady rhythm with right hand.

Rhythm Guitar I introduces you to the most commonly used open chord shapes and illustrates these with recorded examples using chord progressions typical of those you will have heard in countless rock/pop songs. All the examples are notated in tablature and standard musical notation with chord boxes. The accompanying CD contains both full speed and slowed down versions of the notated examples for you to play along with.

We also look at how to read commonly used rhythm patterns written in standard notation. The package rounds off with a look at a couple of commonly used moveable chord shapes – “barre” and “partial chords” where the same finger shape can be moved around he neck. The examples in this package can be played on either an electric or acoustic guitar. The following audio examples will give you an idea of the material covered in the package.

Audio Examples from Rhythm Guitar I

Example 1 - One of the first examples – just three simple chords and nice moderate tempo.

Example 2 - Later example – more chords and longer verse/chorus type structure.

Example 3 - Another slightly longer chord progression.

Example 4 - This one features the distinctive sound of “Sus” chords.

Example 5 - In this one we use chords where we hold a couple of notes through all the changes.

Example 6 - The penultimate example from the package using the big fat sound of Barre chords.

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Package 2 - Rhythm Guitar 2

This package covers the most commonly used moveable chord shapes where you can take one chord shape a move it up and down the guitar neck. These chords have a quite distinctive sound compared to the open chord shapes we looked at in Rhythm Guitar I. This package starts off where Rhythm Guitar I finished, looking first at the most commonly used Barre chord shapes and then moving into the wonderful word of partial chords - we are into classic rock territory here – from Led Zep and AC/DC to Nirvana and Green Day and countless others in between. There are also various examples combining chords and single note riffs. For the more difficult examples a slowed version of the track is included on the CD. Unlike the RG1 package you really need an electric guitar for this one as many of the examples are played with varying degrees of distortion/overdrive as you will be able to hear in the sample audio examples.

Audio Examples from Rhythm Guitar II

Example 1 - Straightforward Green Day like power chord example.

Example 2 - With partial chords you can cut the notes short simply by relaxing the pressure on the fretting hand which allows for some simple but great sounding accented rhythms.

Example 3 - This one is moving between a couple of partial major chords.

Example 4 - Still partial chords but Sus type chord riff this time combined with some power chords.

Example 5 - Two examples back to back which illustrate how to combine single note riffs with partial chords. The first one is a bit Zeppelin like, the second more like Van Halen.

Example 6 - This one alternates between a power chord riff and a bluesy shuffle type rhythm.

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Package 3 - Lead Guitar 1

A comprehensive look at what is the most commonly used scale in rock soloing, the pentatonic scale. With a bit of knowledge you can make it work equally well for classic bluesy rock, hard rock and metal through to mellow sounding major key ballads. We look first at basic lead techniques like string bending, hamer-ons/pull-off’s etc, then cover the scales in all five positions across the neck with examples of typical riffs in each position before pulling things together with four solo’s and backing tracks illustrating the scale in a variety of situations. Slowed versions of the solo’s are included on the CD for you to practice along with initially.

Audio Examples from Lead Guitar I

Example 1 - Nice moderate tempo for the first solo example from the package – played around the first scale position.

Example 2 - Moving right across the neck this time, faster and trickier than the previous example.

Example 3 - Uses just one scale position but right at the top end of the neck for a more intense sound.

Example 4 - The previous examples all used the minor pentatonic scale, this uses the major pentatonic to illustrate how you can get a completely different feel from exactly the same scale shapes just by using them in a different context.

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Package 4 - Lead Guitar II

Next to the pentatonic scales the most used scale in rock music is the Natural Minor scale and (to a lesser extent) its major equivalent, known simply as the major scale.

The Natural Minor scale has a more melancholy quality than the minor pentatonic scale and is perfect for any situation which requires a darker feel. You will find it used in tracks ranging from slower ballad type songs - think Gary Moore and Carlos Santana through to Guns and Roses. Metal guitarists also love it for its dark sound.

Like Lead Guitar we run through all five positions of the scales with examples of typical riffs in each position before illustrating the use of scales with demonstration solo’s along with full length backing tracks.

This Package then rounds off with a look at the use of speed riffs, fretboard tapping and the use of three note per string scales.

Audio Examples from Lead Guitar II

Example 1 - Solo featuring the typically dark sound of the Natural Minor scale.

Example 2 - Solo using the major scale this time.

Example 3 - One of the Speed lick examples.

Example 4 - One of the Tapping examples.

Example 5 - Three note per string example sweeping right across all the strings (tricky one!).

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Coming within a few days (19/11/11)

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