Dan's Guitar Lessons
DIFFICULTY: MODERATE
LESSON 11 ~ Reading/Playing Real Tabs
An important skill to have as a guitar player is definitely good tab-reading abilities. Using the techniques we've already gone over, try this riff/short solo.
Dan's Riff
E:
B:
G:
D:
2p0
12h14 14^16
A: 2 2 5 9 8
2p0 2
5 9 8
12h14
E: 0 0 3 7 6
3p0 0 3 7 6
12h15
Here's some lead guitar tab...
Dan's Solo
E:
12 15^17 15^17 15 12
15p12 12
B: 15^17 12
15^17 15p12 15p12
G:
14 12
D:
1412
A:
14131210
E:
12
LESSON 12 ~ Trills
Trills are another lead guitar trick (a lot like hammer-ons) that involve a lot of notes without a lot of picking.
Playing a trill is actually a combination of hammer-ons and pulloffs in rapid succession.
Check it out in tab-
E: 12tr15
E: 0tr3
To trill a note:
- Pick the starting note.
- Hammer-on to the second note.
- Pulloff back to the first.
- Repeat.
See how fast you can go...
LESSON 13 ~ Pinch Harmonics
Often called "squeals" by metalheads, a pinch harmonic is a very difficult and precise technique that just takes practice to master.
The goal of a P.H. is to create a much higher pitched sound than the fretted note would by using a different picking method.
There are many different ways to make a squeal but I suggest holding the pick very close to the bottom and squeezing tightly when you contact the string. Spend some time once in a while working on this and I promise you'll get it eventually.
Pinch Harmonic
G: 14*
LESSON 14 ~ Scales II
Here's an except from my Myspace Blog on guitar that has a lot of helpful info on scales.
Practice these and know them. Try starting slow and playing the scales faster and faster.
LESSON 15 ~ Good Alternate Picking
Good alternate picking is the key to success in guitar. Although countless methods exist to avoid picking, its best in the long run to just practice and develop a good pick technique.
The simplest exercise to get your speed up is just to pick a single note and gradually increase speed... that's really the first step.
D: 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 000000000000000000000000000
Here's a few lead scale workouts to test/practice your alt. picking---
Shred for Dummies
E:
B:
12
G:
12 12 14 12 14
D:
12 12 14 12 14 16 14 16 16
A:
12 12 14 12 14 15 14 15 15
E: 12 14 15 14 15 15
E:
12*
B:
12 12 13 12 13 15 13 15
G: 12 14 12 14 14
D: 14
A:
E:
Neighborslayer
E:
B:
G:
D: 000222333222333555333555777555777999777999101010999101010121212 etc.
A:
E:
LESSON 16 ~ Guitar Solos
Lead guitar has changed dramatically over the past 100+ years, but it always requires a certain knowledge of the instrument.
Solos, just like most guitar techniques, are something you really have to figure out for yourself. There's no guaranteed path to success. The way to become great is basically through countless practice hours and jamming with bands/musicians of every type.
However, my lessons are meant to teach what you NEED TO KNOW. So here's the basic stuff to figure out when it comes to lead guitar, rockstar.
1) Listen to/understand the classics: Guitar is built off the fundamentals laid by guys like Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, and more. Study that shit.
2) Build strong technique: Practice all your scales, pulloff exercises, pinch harmonics, and alternate picking until you can do it in your sleep.
3) Play onstage: Something about performing and the interaction with the crowd teaches you real fast what it takes to be a lead guitarist.
4) Mix it up: Learn many different styles of licks and sounds with your guitar so you don't sound the same all the time. Guitar is a learning experience.
5) Make love to your guitar: Haha I'm jk about that one.
6) Work out: Every night before and after you play. Playing fast requires strong arms/shoulders and it also builds confidence.
7) Practice drunk: I do not condone underage drinking but if you can play good when you're f$%^ed up, you can play good anytime.
When you're playing a guitar solo, its really important that you stay with what the rest of the band is doing. A solo is really just a complex melody played over their chords, so make sure you're landing each phrase on the right note and not getting too weird with your rhythms.
Here's a tab of a simple solo I played over chords - - - - -
Sexy Guitar Solo #536
Chords: E D C D C#
E:
12 12
12 12
12 14^15r 12h14p12 12
B: 15^17
15^17 15^17~ 15 12
12
15 12
G:
14^16
12p11
D:
A:
E:
Notice how each note lands where it should, nothing should sound awkward during an improv solo.