5 More Things I Wish I Had Known As A Beginner Guitarist
by Simon Candy
In this video, you learn 5 more things I wish I had known when beginning to play guitar. You can check out the first 5 things I wish I had known here.
As a beginner, it is very easy to do things either the hard way or just flat out wrong.
It’s only in hindsight that we can see how much better we could have gone about things. In this lesson, you learn 5 more things I wish I had known as a beginner guitarist to help you avoid the mistakes I made including:
1. Reading chord charts
Reading chord charts is a great skill to have. It means you can be up and playing a song immediately, on the spot, which is great when jamming and gigging with others, as well as when playing on your own.
2. Learning chords that aren’t open or bar chords
Open and bar chords are useful, but limit one’s playing if that is all you know. Learning chords other than these early on in your playing will open up the fretboard and have you playing on a whole other level.
3. Apply what you learn
If you can’t apply it, you can’t use it. Applying the things you learn is the difference between playing a few songs and really understanding the instrument. The latter leads to far greater musicianship and playing skills.
4. Engage your brain when practising
Mindless repetition will only get you so far. You need to engage your brain with what your fingers are doing when practising guitar. Doing this for 10 minutes will yield greater results than an hour of mindless repetition.
5. Jamming with other musicians
Perhaps the biggest factor in the progress you make as a guitar player and musician. Playing with others, especially people who are better than you will help all areas of your playing, and have you improve at a much faster rate.
Watch the video below to learn more:
Triads
Below you will find the I V IV progression in the key of C via 3 postions using triad chord shapes.
Watch the video for a detailed breakdown and demonstration of these.
• Root Position
This first group stem from the C Major triad in root position:
• First Inversion
The second group stem from the first inversion triad shape in C Major:
• Second Inversion
The third group stem from the second inversion triad shape in C Major:
Application
Below are examples of the travis picking pattern and open string runs being applied to “Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix.
Watch the video above for a detailed breakdown and demonstration
• Purple Haze Version 1
This first version applies the travis picking pattern to the main progression of the song:
• Purple Haze Version 2
The second version adds an open string run when there is a break in the progression:
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