Guitar Nine Columns: Guitar Technique

Mike brings up some of the typical reasons why so many guitarists are unable to improve their musical skills.

Virtuoso classical guitarist and instructor Jamie Andreas provides some clarity on the subject of scales.

Backstage warm ups take on their own quirks, stories and connections that help to explain their success and approach to their music.

Playing high-pitched squeals that are so important in the style of metal players (and others).

Mike Campese introduces you to a cool scale sequence that is not commonly used.

Mike discusses one of the most effective methods for practicing chord changes.

Virtuoso classical guitarist and instructor Jamie Andreas teaches you that practicing one thing affects everything else we play, for good or for bad.

Michael Knight has a 4-note diminished scale for you to add to your repertoire.

Building on the last two columns, Mike wraps up the series with a G minor arpeggio progression.

Is it really necessary to know how to read music? Let`s open this can of worms.

Michael Knight returns with the first installment of his Exotic Scales series.

Building on the last column, Mike adds more examples here, building on his previous sweeping columns.

Virtuoso classical guitarist and instructor Jamie Andreas teaches you to constantly be open to new ideas and new intuitions about ways to improve your playing.

Joe discusses one of the most invaluable practice techniques known - recording yourself and listening.

Here`s a lesson in dynamics from Michael Knight - make your songs come alive with cues from bands such as Van Halen, Black Sabbath, Rush and Nirvana.

Mike gets a little more detailed here, building on his previous sweeping columns.

Here is the main guitar line from Campese`s version of this holiday classic, as featured on his Christmas album.

It`s essential to practice everything to a metronome to develop tight rhythm guitar playing skills, increase guitar speed and track musical progress.

Where many guitarists struggle is in knowing how to make sense out of general guitar practice materials and organize them into an effective practice schedule.

Virtuoso classical guitarist and instructor Jamie Andreas teaches you to put your mastery of the physical aspect of playing guitar at the service of the ultimate goal: making music.

If you are familiar with pentatonic scales, this may be a great way to get into modal playing.

Scott Allen focuses once again on licks that grab attention of the listener.

Avoiding critical mistakes in learning to increase your guitar speed.

You`ve grouped in fives; now add two, and we`ll group in sevens.

Scott Allen focuses on licks that grab attention of the listener.

Oscar plays devil`s advocate in the matter of a music, or music business, education.

Playing with another guitarist can open up a lot of new musical options.

Digging in with practical application of the pentatonic scale.

Mike is back to take your scales up to a whole new level.

How about opening your mind and opening yourself up to new styles of music? It can only help your guitar playing and musicianship.

Mike is focusing on the Japanese Hirajoshi scale in this lesson on exotic scales.

Guy`s second column in a series for experienced guitarists with very little formal knowledge.

A different perspective on the pentatonic scale using arpeggios.

Internalize what you are learning and use it to develop your own style.

Do you want to improve your guitar technique, play guitar cleaner, eliminate sloppy playing and unwanted string noise?

Guy`s first column in a series for experienced guitarists with very little formal knowledge.

Scott Allen continues his tour of arpeggio-land with beautiful ninth chord arpeggios.

Just when you thought all arpeggio topics had been covered, Mike`s back with triad arpeggio practice ideas.

There are a lot of ways to go about finding your signature tone.

Juan Coronado shows how playing circles with the pick can help you play scales faster by economizing the movement.

Mike Campese serves up a holiday treat - his take on the Grinch`s theme song.

Paul Tauterouff is back with an easy to play sequence that can help you to create some new and interesting sounds.