Guitar
Matt Hinsley Leads New Generation to Classical Guitar
While in Austin for the SXSW music festival last month, I took a break from the festival's famous rock and roll extravaganza to meet up with Dr. Matthew Hinsley, the Executive Director of the Austin Classical Guitar Society (ACGS). I learned about Matt from Jason Vieaux, who in addition to his extensive performance career also teaches classical guitar lessons online here at ArtistWorks. Jason explained to me that under Matt's leadership the ACGS has become the largest guitar society in the United States, and is now one of the largest guitar societies in the world.
I met up with Matt just outside of Austin's SXSW festival area for breakfast and a chat, and here are a few things you need to know about him. Matt is master guitar teacher and educator, virtuoso performer, and an energetic popularizer of the classical guitar as a concert instrument. He has devoted his entire adult life to the classical guitar, and it was clear to me after only a few minutes with Matt that he is probably one of world's greatest evangelists of the instrument. Under Matt's leadership, the ACGS has become the epicenter of a major resurgence in interest in the classical guitar.
Martin Guitar Raffle ending this Sunday!
The New World Youth Orchestras is giving away a vintage Martin D-45V Guitar! Click on the image for all the details or find them on the official Givaway Page. Don't miss your chance to win this sweet guitar, the live drawing is Sunday, May 12th!
Live #GuitarChat with Paul Gilbert – May 14th
Paul Gilbert will be answering questions live on Twitter on May 14th as a guest of @Guitarkadia's #GuitarChat. Anyone can join in the conversation via Twitter by sending questions and comments to the #GuitarChat hashtag. The #GuitarChat with Paul goes down on May 14th live at 6:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time - for more information visit the Guitarkadia website or the event page on Facebook.
New Jazz Guitar Lesson: 2-5-1 Minor
Greetings AGU! Got a new jazz guitar for ya - this one is on the infamous 2-5-1 Minor. Find it in the Jazz Basics section, or just click on the picture below!
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Blues Guitar Jam – Video Exchange Style!
For the first time ever in the history of ArtistWorks, each of our 6 guitar teachers have collaborated via Video Exchange™ for a blues guitar jam. That's 6 different players in 3 different countries across 2 continents all jamming on the same blues backing track: Martin Taylor (fingerstyle guitar lessons), Andreas Oberg (jazz guitar lessons), Andy Hall (Dobro lessons), Jason Vieaux (classical guitar lessons), Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar lessons), and Paul Gilbert (rock guitar lessons).
Paul Gilbert Guitar School Review by Guitar Noize
Jonathan Bloomer of Guitar Noize has posted an in-depth review of the Paul Gilbert Guitar School. He's recorded a video tour of the school, showing you exactly what Paul's students see from the moment they log in. If you've ever been curious about our online guitar lessons with Paul Gilbert, it's a must see.
This is a rare glimpse into what it's like at our online schools, and Jon does a great job taking you through some of the features.
Of course, it's not as good as experiencing it firsthand but it's the next best thing! Click on the image to read the review from Guitar Noize!
Classical Guitar Lessons – Bouree
Bouree, from the first Lute Suite by J.S. Bach is an oft-prescribed piece for classical guitar students early in their development. Jason Vieaux introduces the piece and begins teaching it in the classical guitar lesson above.
Guitar Lessons with Paul Gilbert: String Bending
"I think the most exciting day in my guitar life so far is when I learned to bend the strings." - Paul Gilbert
String bending: you love to hear it, now it's time to learn how to do it right. So grab your guitar and let Paul Gilbert show you how it's done! Read More
Jazz Guitar Lessons: Modes of the Major Scale
One of the keys to jazz improvisation is getting comfortable with the modes of the Major Scale: Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, and Locrian.
Each of these modes work for any scale by moving the first degree of the scale up one step or half step depending on where it falls in the scale.
In the key of C, for example, the Dorian mode would start one full step up, making D the first degree of the scale. This is called D Dorian. The rest of the scale would follow the original pattern for C, meaning that half steps would fall on the third and the seventh note in the scale, rather than the fourth and eighth.
Paul Gilbert’s Guitar Scale Exercise
"The world would be such a better place if people practiced their scales like this!" - Paul Gilbert
Aside from being a world famous rock star, Paul's been teaching guitar for a long time and knows what works and what doesn't. What he's referring to here of course is that muted down/up stroke between notes, what he likes to call the CHICKA (pronounced just as it sounds… say it with me now: "Chick-Ah").
Most guitarists have heard about the Pentatonic Scale and how important it is in Rock music. Well this exercise is even MORE important because it's something you can actually use in a song. And, it's a lot more fun to practice your scales this way. Read More