https://acousticguitar.com lessons, music to play, and how-tos for all guitarists Fri, 28 Jul 2023 18:15:06 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i0.wp.com/acousticguitar.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/AG_Favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 https://acousticguitar.com 32 32 103806923 https://acousticguitar.com/try-these-exercises-for-mapping-triads-all-over-the-fretboard/ Fri, 28 Jul 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=139264 Using a triadic approach to mapping the fretboard can help you break out of ruts and develop a deeper understanding of the guitar and music in general.]]> 139264 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-create-sophisticated-harmonies-on-guitar-with-cluster-chords/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=135631 Here are some of the evocative sounds you can create using chord voicings with notes that are close to each other—just a half step or whole step apart.]]> 135631 https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-building-colorful-chords-from-the-harmonic-and-melodic-minor-scales/ https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-building-colorful-chords-from-the-harmonic-and-melodic-minor-scales/#respond Fri, 17 Feb 2023 16:13:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=121903 In this advanced guitar lesson, meet the melodic and harmonic minor scales and then explore the harmonies that can be generated from them. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-building-colorful-chords-from-the-harmonic-and-melodic-minor-scales/feed/ 0 121903 https://acousticguitar.com/between-the-lines-all-about-guitar-notation/ https://acousticguitar.com/between-the-lines-all-about-guitar-notation/#respond Mon, 15 Aug 2022 15:44:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=106893 Here you’ll learn how guitar notation evolved into the sophisticated tool it is today, how it’s prepared for publications like AG, and most important, how you can use it to learn new music, whatever your style.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/between-the-lines-all-about-guitar-notation/feed/ 0 106893 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-build-scales-part-i/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-build-scales-part-i/#respond Fri, 28 Jan 2022 16:28:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=107650 In this acoustic guitar lesson, Gretchen Menn breaks down the basics of scale formation and shows you how to apply that knowledge to the fretboard.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-build-scales-part-i/feed/ 0 107650 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learning-the-notes-on-the-fretboard-and-the-staff/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learning-the-notes-on-the-fretboard-and-the-staff/#respond Fri, 14 Jan 2022 16:51:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=106580 Guitarist Gretchen Menn offers beginner's tips on how to familiarize yourself with the guitar fretboard and learn the fundamentals of music theory.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learning-the-notes-on-the-fretboard-and-the-staff/feed/ 0 106580 https://acousticguitar.com/learn-colorful-scales-and-sweet-harmonies-for-the-advancing-guitarist/ https://acousticguitar.com/learn-colorful-scales-and-sweet-harmonies-for-the-advancing-guitarist/#respond Wed, 31 Mar 2021 12:00:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=122753 The whole-tone, natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales on acoustic guitar can bring intriguing mystery and bittersweet emotion to your music.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/learn-colorful-scales-and-sweet-harmonies-for-the-advancing-guitarist/feed/ 0 122753 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-modes-and-pentatonic-scales-on-guitar/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-modes-and-pentatonic-scales-on-guitar/#respond Wed, 24 Mar 2021 22:02:01 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=122750 Here are some tips on understanding the power of modes and pentatonic scales (major and minor), and how to fit them into your own playing on acoustic guitar.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-modes-and-pentatonic-scales-on-guitar/feed/ 0 122750 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-make-the-minor-pentatonic-scale-work-for-you/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-make-the-minor-pentatonic-scale-work-for-you/#respond Sun, 19 Jul 2020 12:11:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111051 Here's how to make the minor pentatonic scale, aka the blues box, work in almost any musical situation.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-make-the-minor-pentatonic-scale-work-for-you/feed/ 0 111051 https://acousticguitar.com/start-enriching-your-music-now-with-seventh-chords/ https://acousticguitar.com/start-enriching-your-music-now-with-seventh-chords/#respond Sun, 10 May 2020 11:18:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=116938 The basic concept for seventh chords is simple enough: any number following a chord indicates the note that is to be included in the basic triad to form a more colorful harmony. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/start-enriching-your-music-now-with-seventh-chords/feed/ 0 116938 https://acousticguitar.com/introducing-the-way-music-works-by-gretchen-menn/ https://acousticguitar.com/introducing-the-way-music-works-by-gretchen-menn/#respond Sat, 07 Mar 2020 09:01:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=115537 "Many guitar players have an aversion to anything that smacks of music theory," Gretchen Menn says, "My aim is to show you that having a basic understanding of the fundamentals will benefit you as a guitarist, a musician, and a creative soul."]]> https://acousticguitar.com/introducing-the-way-music-works-by-gretchen-menn/feed/ 0 115537 https://acousticguitar.com/improve-your-technique-by-practicing-broken-thirds-scales-2/ https://acousticguitar.com/improve-your-technique-by-practicing-broken-thirds-scales-2/#respond Sat, 11 Jan 2020 09:21:29 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=112218 Scales are great for warming up and improving technical proficiency. Challenge yourself with new scales and patterns.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/improve-your-technique-by-practicing-broken-thirds-scales-2/feed/ 0 112218 https://acousticguitar.com/the-way-music-works-acoustic-guitar-plus/ https://acousticguitar.com/the-way-music-works-acoustic-guitar-plus/#respond Wed, 04 Dec 2019 00:15:00 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=115245 A step-by-step guide to using the fundamentals of music to unlock both the fretboard and your creativity.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/the-way-music-works-acoustic-guitar-plus/feed/ 0 115245 https://acousticguitar.com/an-introduction-to-reading-lead-sheets/ https://acousticguitar.com/an-introduction-to-reading-lead-sheets/#respond Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:20:12 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=111210 If you have a solid foundation but want to learn more about reading charts, then this lesson, based on an actual lead sheet, is for you.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/an-introduction-to-reading-lead-sheets/feed/ 0 111210 https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-build-chords-and-use-them-in-progression/ https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-build-chords-and-use-them-in-progression/#respond Fri, 15 Mar 2019 16:19:17 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=110445 In this guitar lesson we study the fundamentals of diatonic harmony to understand the theory, then apply it to the fretboard to build chords and use them in progression.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/guitar-basics-how-to-build-chords-and-use-them-in-progression/feed/ 0 110445 https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-chord-building-basics/ https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-chord-building-basics/#comments Fri, 18 Jan 2019 22:42:50 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=109670 The guitar is a wonderfully flexible instrument that allows for full, rich harmonies with easy fingerings. Yet so many guitarists stop there.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-chord-building-basics/feed/ 2 109670 https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-modes-demystified/ https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-modes-demystified/#respond Tue, 11 Dec 2018 23:08:12 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=109146 Learn the major scale’s modes and how to use their distinctive sounds to create melodies and chords on acoustic guitar.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/weekly-workout-modes-demystified/feed/ 0 109146 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-build-pentatonic-scales/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-build-pentatonic-scales/#respond Tue, 16 Oct 2018 20:41:05 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=108222 The pentatonic scale is everywhere. Its characteristic sound is useful in a wide variety of genres. ]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-build-pentatonic-scales/feed/ 0 108222 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-build-scales-part-2-of-2/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-build-scales-part-2-of-2/#respond Thu, 13 Sep 2018 04:00:44 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=107973 If you’re going to spend any time learning scales, why not really learn them? Why not own them? In the long run it'll be a valuable use of your time.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-build-scales-part-2-of-2/feed/ 0 107973 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-bringing-sunny-sounds-into-shadowy-harmony/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-bringing-sunny-sounds-into-shadowy-harmony/#respond Thu, 14 Jun 2018 13:44:02 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=106858 Playing melodies in parallel sixths evokes the sweet sound of classic Memphis soul. Here's how to use sixths in a variety of musical ways]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-bringing-sunny-sounds-into-shadowy-harmony/feed/ 0 106858 https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-expanding-your-harmonic-palette/ https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-expanding-your-harmonic-palette/#respond Fri, 15 Dec 2017 00:11:52 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=104781 Learn to use moveable chord shapes: a simple concept that can generate scores of chordal ideas while expanding your knowledge of the fretboard]]> https://acousticguitar.com/lesson-expanding-your-harmonic-palette/feed/ 0 104781 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-use-the-whole-tone-scale/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-use-the-whole-tone-scale/#respond Wed, 18 Oct 2017 20:18:15 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=104119 The scale is known for its ambiguous, dreamlike quality and has been used to great effect by composers such as Claude Debussy and jazz musicians like Thelonious Monk.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-how-to-use-the-whole-tone-scale/feed/ 0 104119 https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-to-play-your-favorite-songs-in-any-keys/ https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-to-play-your-favorite-songs-in-any-keys/#respond Sun, 10 Sep 2017 20:08:50 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=103809 Learning to transpose—the act of moving music from one key to another while keeping its basic structure intact—will make you a better guitarist.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/video-lesson-learn-to-play-your-favorite-songs-in-any-keys/feed/ 0 103809 https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-open-strings-when-playing-in-flat-keys/ https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-open-strings-when-playing-in-flat-keys/#respond Sat, 29 Jul 2017 18:00:39 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=98249 Because one of the things that makes something “easy” on the guitar is the presence of open strings, let’s see how many standard-tuning open-string notes can be found in flat keys.]]> https://acousticguitar.com/how-to-use-open-strings-when-playing-in-flat-keys/feed/ 0 98249 https://acousticguitar.com/improve-your-technique-by-practicing-broken-thirds-scales/ https://acousticguitar.com/improve-your-technique-by-practicing-broken-thirds-scales/#respond Sun, 28 May 2017 18:14:44 +0000 https://acousticguitar.com/?p=98210 This workout starts with a C-major scale played in broken thirds. This might be tricky at first, but take it slowly!]]> https://acousticguitar.com/improve-your-technique-by-practicing-broken-thirds-scales/feed/ 0 98210