Break Away II

There are many ideas for both the left and right hands of a guitar player. As you learn new techniques you will expand your repertoire and flexibility.These are the terms and skills you should know and work on right away.

Skills for the Right Hand

Flat picking is the name of strumming the guitar with a plectrum or pick instead of your fingers to play. Flat picking is a skill all guitar players need to know.

Finger picking is usually described as playing the guitar with only your fingers, not with a pick. Fingerpicking allows the guitarist to play technically challengingparts by using many fingers at once to play.

Playing with a constant, alternating bass is another style or pattern of fingerpicking. Playing the alternating bass with your thumb, you play the melody with your index, ring and middle finger.

Classical guitar playing is the pinnacle of guitar playing achievement and requires control over all of your fingers. Study some classical techniques so you can learn the techniques used and benefit from them, even if you never play classical.

Dampening is the technique that uses the heel of the right hand to muffle or mute the sound of the guitar.

Left Hand Guitar Playing Techniques

The barre chord is formed by using the index finger of your left hand to hold down all of the strings at once. Only after mastering the barre chord can you advance as a guitar player.

The arpeggio is a useful tool to help to build a improvisation as well as understand the theory of music. The arpeggio is probably the most basic of music theory skills and a great way to build your
solos.

Dampening is a technique that can be used by either hand and involves muting the strings just slightly to produce a muffled, percussive sound.

A hammer-on is a left hand technique that refers to using only your left hand fingers to press down in a forceful method to sound the string.

A pull-off is when you take your finger off the string and causing it to sound the note. The combination of hammer-ons and pull-offs is a great way to build a lead solo as well.

To play solo is to expose your faults as well as talents. It can be ambitious and rewarding. The solo can occur in many distinct settings, a band or group setting or one performer and one instrument. Regardless, the techniques and work ethics are the same in either case. You must comprehend the music so well that you can play it in your sleep.

Excellent examples of good solo instruments are the piano and the guitar. Both of these instruments can play a melody and chords at the same time so they are effectively accompanying themselves. Other instruments are devoid of these same features.

Pick your music wisely as it can make a lot of difference in your performance. The music available to you in your situation will vary widely and may take some study to decide which is best. Try to learn as much as you can about the place you will be playing in, what are the acoustics? Any special needs as far as amplification goes?. If the setting is very quiet, such as a wedding; you may not need any sound amplification at all. Be confident and dress well, look the part. Confidence will build as you do even the smallest act with confidence.

If it is possible, stand while you perform. The principles of knowing your music and crafting a good solo are the same in any type of music. If you continue to learn scales and study other musicians solos you will get ideas of what you would like to say in your solo. If it is possible to have rehearsals in the venue prior to performing by all means do so.

Each and every solo performer must face the ups and downs of solo music performing. The solo is a good way to get recognized for your accomplishments. It will definitely take a good deal of preparation to play a solo well, but you will be rewarded if you put in the time and practice. You can be the solo artist you aspire to if you follow these tips.