Tag Archives: Guitar Teacher Brighton

Guitar Scale Runs- Three Note Motifs Part 2

Hey there, this lesson will be focusing on two different scale runs in the key of C major that have a different sequence. These two sequences will provide you with some interesting ways to practise your scales and modes when running up and down the scales in an ordinary fashion becomes boring.

Ensure to practise the sequences with a metronome starting out at 60 bpm and only increase the tempo when you are finding it easy at the current tempo. Try to accent each diatonic note of the scale, this means play the 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th, 13th etc note of the sequences harder than the other notes. This will help you build your dynamics so that you can learn to play loud and soft at different times.

Sequence 3

As with all the sequences I have been teaching throughout this series, I recommend you learn the sequence as it is shown and then experiment with idea. By experiment I mean that you should understand and absorb the sound of the sequence and then try to take another shape of the scale and recreate the sequence. To do this you will need to know all the positions of at least your major scale so that you can choose another position of the scale and then work out how to play the sequence.

If you want to learn your scales then see Be The Guitarist for easy to understand diagrams and full explanations.

Sequence 4

Keep practising and I hope you have enjoyed the Three note motif lessons. Come back for more lessons on guitar scale sequences where you will learn how to play Four Note Motifs.

Tom Clark

Scale Sequences- Diatonic Sevenths

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Hey there, another lesson on Scale Sequences for you today focusing on the diatonic sevenths designed especially for us guitarists.

As with previous scale sequence lessons I have given in this series, I would like you to consider the many ways you can use this knowledge so that you use it creatively and not let it stagnate. I want you to be able to pull out sequences when improvising as an alternative to simply running up and down scales at high speed. combine this sequence with other sequences learnt in previous lessons throughout this series to create unpredictable flurries of alternating sequences that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Once you have learnt the example below I would like you to try to play it by only using notes on the A and G string instead of moving diatonically up the the C major scale (A shape pattern). If you are interested in broadening your scale and mode knowledge then please see Be The Guitarist.

Try this sequence through the remaining 4 other shapes of the C major scale so that you are not tied to one spot of the neck. Try it in a different key for example E instead of C and finally play with modes by choosing a C Mixolydian and adjusting the fingering to achieve sevenths with the Mixolydian instead of the major scale (Ionian). Remember adjusting finger is not as hard as it may seem, if you know your modes then it is likely that you are just moving 1 or 2 notes up or down a fret.

If you have the desire to play at high speed then you a use a metronome and start slow- 1/8th notes at 80bpm and build up 5bpm at a time.

Keep Practising

Tom Clark

Diatonic Sevenths

How To Work Out Songs On Guitar By Ear- Part 3

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Hey there,

So far in this series on working out songs on guitar by ear, you have learnt that it is possible to use your ears to work out songs without wildly guessing which chords to use.

Use the chord shapes of the key of C or G- Key Of C- C, Am, Em, F, Dm, G OR Key Of G- G, Em, D, C, Am, Bm. (See the eBook to learn all about the chords).

Use the capo shifting it up the neck and playing the chord shape C or G until you find that it sounds ‘right’ for a sustained period of time is your first step. Once you have found it to be C or G then you can play a chord off each of the dots shown in the diagrams above. So if the G works over a sustained period of time (perhaps 20 seconds) then use the G diagram to play a chord off each dot and if its the C that works then use the C diagram to do this.
If you are unsure how to build a chord off each dot then you should look at Complete Beginner Guitarist to master the chord shapes you need to learn.

Please enjoy part 4 to learn some of the finer details that will take you even closer to learning songs by ear. If you are interested in training your ear at home or on the go then please find details on the home page by mid- November 2011 to download the Your Guitar Tutor iPhone/ iPad app.

Tom Clark

Brighton Guitar Tuition- Approaches to Lessons

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Hey there,

This post will discuss my approach to guitar lessons and the different routes I have tried and tested with my own private guitar students in Brighton.

My initial approach to giving guitar lessons was to first understand the current ability of the guitar student and then find out the tastes and interests in music. Once I have a clear understanding of the ability and tastes of the student, I arrange an introductory lesson to find out a little more about the student. During the introductory lesson I quickly find out which route the student would be best suited to and then get straight into some learning so they have some new skills to walk away with after just one lesson.

Approaches

Learning songs on guitar
Learning theory and songs on guitar
Just theory

The approaches shown above are in order of their popularity and are all approaches I have taken with individuals that I teach on a regular basis.

I am discovering the positive side of guitarists just learning simple songs on guitar because my students’ are having fun without weeks of preparation before they actually learn to play something that they can show their friends and family. It seems obvious but most students are normally not interested in long term goals with guitar but instead just want to get playing quickly and that’s where I come in. After thinking about the essentials that a guitarist cant live without, I am able to pick songs from the students favourite bands and get them playing songs in full without years of lessons.

I am very happy to be able to say that a few students who have just been playing songs have started to adapt the songs to write their own and go on to perform at local venues and at school. This for me is a huge achievement and in the near future I may aim to offer the chance for my students to perform if they wish to.

Quite often I am noticing that once a student has learnt a few songs they begin to take interest in what they are actually playing and I can blend in theory with guitar song lessons. This approach is also popular but only around 20% of my students have started with this route whereas the remaining 80% of students that have taken this approach only do so after having a couple of songs under their belt.

My final route is the ‘Just theory’ approach which accounts for just a few percent of my students but has provided some very interesting results. One student in particular has taken a very studious approach to learning guitar and uses my ebooks to study guitar chords, guitar scales, modes and techniques. Although this route may seem intimidating for some it obviously works for the individual who is excelling and practising guitar between lessons.

Essentially their is a route for everyone and I am passionate about helping you reach your goals as a guitar player whether it is by being able to play a song to your school mates or helping you prepare for an audition at a music school.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the future posts.

Tom Clark

Brighton Guitar Tuition Series- Part 1

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Hey there,

I am introducing to you a series of completely free blogs that will be discussing my guitar teaching in Brighton and an account of what makes my guitar lessons work. I am hoping that this series will give budding guitar tutors an insight into the world of guitar tuition and the many things to consider before opening a guitar teaching practice. Throughout this series I also aim to cover my varying approaches to private guitar lessons to highlight the key ways that students like to learn guitar. I will be sharing my lesson plans, success stories and findings as I grow as a guitar teacher based in Brighton. I also hope that anyone interested in having guitar lessons will enjoy finding out about Your Guitar Tutor and whether you wish to try an introductory half price guitar lesson.

To start the series I would like to let you know a little about what Your Guitar Tutor does and the reason I started my own business instead of dismissing it as unachievable.

Your Guitar Tutor started out as an idea whilst at University and has grown and adapted a lot since its original plan. Initially I imagined offering a service to guitar students that was really worth the money and allowed them to take their guitar playing into their own hands when they wish to. I had experienced guitar tuition that was not quite what I had expected as a youngster and I learnt a lot from this and realised how much I wanted to give great lessons right here in Brighton.

Whilst studying at University in Brighton I had the chance to learn about the different forms of guitar tuition and then gave the different approaches a try. First of all I taught one to one guitar lessons and found that you can achieve some great results. I tried teaching guitar to groups in secondary schools, arguably the hardest approach. Finally I gave private group teaching a go, had great fun and had some really interesting findings.

All this experience made me realise the following points:

The environment affects your guitar lessons massively- in a classroom students will be more inclined to misbehave and seem to be more distracted.
The amount of students affects the whole approach and outcome of the lessons- basically the more people you teach the harder it is to monitor each students progress and it is easy to let a student slip behind.
If a student has asked their parent to let them have private guitar lessons they usually are more focused and practise more in between lessons. Guitar lessons in school could also produce some great students but often the student wants to play so they can have something different to do during their day at school.

My conclusion was that I most enjoyed teaching one- to- one guitar lessons and small groups and realised some common approaches that guitar students wish to take. I will be sharing all this information with you in this series and I hope you enjoyed reading.

Tom Clark

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