by John McGinley | Jun 13, 2017 | Articles, guitar, Resources
You may be surprised at how much power you literally have at your fingertips when playing the guitar. Below are the top 5 factors in achieving great guitar tone. These are listed in order of importance: #1 – Where you strike the string Right/strum...
by John McGinley | Jun 6, 2017 | Articles, guitar, Resources
One of the most common desires of aspiring guitarists is learning to solo or improvise. It often boils down to this: “I want to play like that guy!” In learning to play like [insert your favorite guitarist here], it will help to understand some...
by John McGinley | May 9, 2017 | Articles, guitar, Resources
If you’re new to the world of guitar, you may hear some terms and phrases bandied about that sound like people talking in a foreign language. In many cases, these are simply ways to describe how the mechanical parts of the instrument are calibrated for the...
by John McGinley | Apr 26, 2017 | Articles, guitar, Resources
When you’re ready to branch out and play with other musicians, you’re likely to find lots of available guitarists. Learning to blend musically with other musicians is an ongoing skill that can take years to develop and a lifetime to master....
by John McGinley | Apr 18, 2017 | Articles, guitar, Resources
Pickups may just be the most important factor in shaping a guitar’s sound. Yet, they often get overlooked when choosing an instrument. In this article, we’ll go over basic pickup types, how they differ and what guitars you’ll find them...
by John McGinley | Apr 11, 2017 | Articles, guitar, guitar-showcase, Resources
Ever feel frustrated with your progress on the guitar? Well, don’t worry because you’re in good company. One of the most common themes I hear from students is some variation of frustration. First off, just know that struggling to get where you...
by John McGinley | Mar 28, 2017 | Articles, guitar, guitar-showcase, Resources
There are two primary approaches to constructing a solo on the guitar: 1) Work it out in advance 2) Improvise. Regardless of the method you’re using, it can help to think of the solo as a structure that has a beginning, a middle and an end and not...
by John McGinley | Mar 19, 2017 | Articles, guitar, guitar-showcase, Resources
Ever hear a sound that you know is a guitar but you just can’t figure out how it’s done? More often than not, it’s because the guitar’s signal is being processed through an effects pedal. Listed below are the main types of guitar...
by John McGinley | Mar 7, 2017 | Articles, guitar, Resources
…well, at least to the musical universe. Learning this basic 12 measure pattern can help you in numerous ways along your guitar journey. If you’re a fan of any popular music made in the last forty years, chances are you’ve enjoyed some...
by John McGinley | Feb 28, 2017 | Articles, guitar, Resources
John Lennon played an Epiphone guitar. It was, and still is, called the Casino. In fact, John Lennon played the same Epiphone Casino from 1965 through his remaining years with the Beatles. The original sunburst finish was stripped off to a natural...