Guitar Lesson Survey

Sometimes, even guitar instructors like myself, can get into a rut. I was thinking that perhaps you could help me out of mine...

One of the most difficult things about teaching online, for me anyway, is knowing what you, the students, want to learn. So, I've created a Guitar Lesson Survey on my website in order to get your feedback and find out!

All you have to do is respond to a few short questions. It's very simple because the answers are multiple choice, so you just need to check the box that you like best. No further obligation is required. In fact, there is even a free gift for you at the end. :0)

Filling out my survey will help me have a better idea of the kind of guitar lessons you are looking for. So, please take a moment to go there right now. Here's the link again...

Guitar Lesson Survey

Thanks- I really appreciate your help!

Till next time...

Keep practicing!

Working Online Is Fun!

MUSIC AND INTELLIGENCE

Have you ever wondered if music has any effect on intelligence? Some baby boomers may remember their parents telling them that Rock and Roll would lead to permanent brain damage. But, kidding aside, is it possible that music may have a positive impact on cognitive thinking?

Recently I learned about an experiment several scientists conducted in 1994 using three groups of preschoolers...

• The first group received private piano and keyboard lessons
• The second group received private computer lessons
• And the third group received no training at all

After four months, the children who received piano and keyboard lessons scored 34% higher on abstract reasoning tests than the other pupils!

Amazing.

These studies show that music training does improve cognitive thinking. Somehow music helps the brain develop "synaptic connections" that are related to abstract thought.

Music has also been shown to benefit kids with learning disabilities. Not too long ago I saw a special on PBS about a young man with autism who was learning to play a musical instrument. After a short time his speech improved and he began interacting with people in a more positive manner.

Different types of music can produce different kinds of affects on the listener. Slow, soothing music, for instance, can lower a person's heart rate and help them relax. Music with an upbeat tempo can provide an energy boost which can stimulate and motivate people to action. A friend of mine likes to listen to music while cleaning her house because it seems to make the time go by faster.

All this just goes to show that music is good for you!

• It improves your intelligence
• Relieves stress
• Increases energy
• Enhances mood
• Develops coordination skills
• Stimulates intuitive thinking

The list could go on I'm sure. But the important thing is to let music become part of your life experience. Listen to it. Enjoy it. Benefit from it. Dance a little. Why not be really adventurous and try some free guitar lessons? Afterall, it could be fun!

Beginner Guitarist? Click Here To Get Started

Till next time...

Keep practicing!

Free Guitar Tips

UNDERSTANDING THE BLUES SCALE

Do you love the Blues, or have a desire to play lead guitar? If so, you will want to learn all you can about guitar scales...

Free! Three Video Guitar Lessons, plus a 40-page E-book:
How To Solo With Pentatonic Scales

The 5 tone Blues Scale, also known as the Pentatonic Minor Scale, is commonly used by guitarists to solo over chords. It can be created from any Diatonic Major Scale.

Let me show you how easy it is to create a Pentatonic A Minor Scale from a Diatonic A Major Scale...

The tones of the A Major Scale are:

A B C# D E F# G# A

Each degree (letter) of the A Major Scale is numbered like this:

1 = A
2 = B
3 = C#
4 = D
5 = E
6 = F#
7 = G#
8 = A

The Major Scale pattern of whole steps and half-steps is:

Whole, Whole, 1/2, Whole, Whole, Whole, 1/2

A w B w C#1/2 D w E w F#w G# 1/2 A

To create a Minor Pentatonic Scale from a Major Scale, we simply need to remove the 2nd and 6th degree. Now we have 5 degrees...

A C# D E G# A

(The A is counted as one degree)

Next we need to lower the 3rd and 7th degrees by a 1/2 step to get our minor sound...

A C D E G A

The degrees of our newly created Pentatonic A Minor Scale are identified like this...

1 b3 4 5 b7 1

The beauty of a Pentatonic Minor Scale is it's versatility. Whereas the notes of the A Major Scale might conflict with some of the chords that are used to play in the key of A, the notes of the A Minor Pentatonic Scale will not.

In fact, you can use this same pentatonic scale to play over any of the chords in the key of A Minor and C Major too.

Scales are the backbone to understanding chords and being able to improvise over them with your own licks and riffs. If you're serious about playing guitar, you should try to learn as much as you can about them. You can get started right now with these free Blues guitar lessons....

FREE! Three Video Guitar Lessons & 40-page E-book:
How To Solo With Pentatonic Scales

Till Next Time...

Keep practicing!

Free Guitar Tips