The Georgia Tech Guthman Musical Instrument Competition, 2016

 

The #1 problem with Teaching Guitar- whether it be face-to-face or online- is that people will always have desires to play in different genres, and not every Guitar Teacher will teach you techniques that are specific to your genre of music.

When she was a teenager Joan Jett famously walked out of a Guitar lesson because her Guitar Teacher tried to teach her Folk Music. Little did he know that the soon-to-be “Godmother of Punk” had no use for Folk Guitar Techniques. She eventually self-taught herself rock-style guitar.

So to sum up, this article is all about genres, and being genre-specific with what you need to learn. Although all genres clash these days, and many phrases (such as: “rock and roll”) have become nothing more than umbrella terms, I have summed this up into 4 basic genres:-

1. Traditional Rock/ Metal 2. Modern Rock/ Metalcore 3. Jazz 4. Folk/ Indie/ Country

1. TRADITIONAL ROCK/ METAL

Traditional Rock and Metal guitar knowledge still applies to guitar playing today. They centre around the use of  electric guitars; making them sound big and powerful. Guitar solos are common in these genres, as well as intricate riffs and licks. Some of these bands made use of multiple guitar players (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, David Bowie etc) whereas others stuck to just 1 guitarist and 1 bassist (Rolling Stones, Motorhead etc). In some cases the Lead Singer might play rhythm or bass guitar simultaneously whilst singing (Motorhead, The Beatles) or if they’re a show-off then they might even play the lead guitar too!

Here are the main things that you need to learn for this genre:

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• Standard Powerchords
• Single note techniques: Hammer-ons, Pull-offs and Bends
• Pentatonic Scales
• Combining Rhythm and Lead Guitars[/custom_list]

Power Chords

“Powerchords” sounds really cool, doesn’t it? This is because Powerchords do generally sound really cool when played. They get their name because they are usually played with distortion- so they sound very powerful. Standard powerchords are made up of 3 notes- the root note, the 5th note, and the root note again but an Octave Higher. So for example a Standard E powerchord would be made up of an E (root note) a B (fifth interval note) and a higher E (root note again). Powerchords are usually noted by the Note with a “5” after it (to denote that it is a fifth/ power-chord). So a E powerchord would be E5 and a C# powerchord would be written as C#5.

Powerchords only have 3 notes because of their tendency to be distorted. If they contained 4, 5 or 6 notes (like open chords)  then they would sound too thick and grungey. Some later bands did take advantage of the Grungey sound though- such as The Smashing Pumpkins, who often played open chords with distortion for a heavier effect.

Anyway- most chord progressions in traditional rock and metal will be made up of powerchords. I suggest you go and learn them! They are a moveable chord shape so once you’ve got them down then you’re sorted!

Single note techniques: Hammer-ons, Pull-offs and Bends

These techniques are some of the most basic elements to solo, riff and lick playing. They give the Guitar a more vocal, flowing feel- and take advantage of it’s stringed instrument nature.

Hammer-ons occur when you play one note and then “hammer-on” to another note on the same string without plucking again. You are essentially using the vibrations caused by plucking 1 note to make another note ring without re-plucking. Hammer-ons are always on the same string, and the second note is always higher than the first. You might use your index finger to fret the first note (let’s say 12th fret), and then push then your ring finger down onto the next note (let’s say 14th fret) to perform this. Hammer-ons are common in riffs (Walk This Way, I Love Rock ‘N Roll) as well as in solos (pretty much any Guitar Solo ever).

Pull-offs are essentially the reverse of hammer-ons. You fret 2 frets (let’s say 12th and 14th fret with your index and ring fingers again) and you would play the first note (14th fret in this case- as it is closer to the bridge so it will ring first) and then “pull-off” your ring finger to cause the vibrations to travel onto the 12th fret, which you are still holding down. You are essentially making your strings vibrations travel downwards rather than upwards. Not everyone does it, but you are supposed to slightly pluck the string as you pull-off, the give the 2nd note some more strength. Pulls-offs are also used widely in riffs and solos alike.

Pentatonic Scales

Pentatonic scales are made up of 5 notes per octave (hence the term: “pent” for 5). They are widely used by traditional rock Guitarists for solos and improvising over Chord Progressions. The main scales to learn for this genre are the Minor Pentatonic Scale, Blues Scale, Major Scale and the Natural Minor Scale.

Combing Rhythm and Lead Guitars

To be fair, this applies to a lot of genres, and it’s something that can’t really be properly taught. Knowing your musical theory is essential- and for every song you must know what key you’re in etc. If soloing or improvising lead guitar parts; you must ensure that you are in the same key as your chord progression. If using scales then you must shift them around the fretboard to keep them in key with your chord progressions. A Rhythm Guitar- in this genre- will normally play either a riff or a chord progression for a lead guitar to play over. Making sure that these parts marry together nicely is somewhat of an acquired skill!

2. MODERN ROCK/METALCORE

Modern rock and metal has basically built-on and evolved from the aforementioned traditional styles. Some bands will stick to the traditional rock methods, but more and more new bands are using new guitar techniques- this section will cover these modern techniques.

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• Lower Tunings
• Pinch Harmonics
• Palm Muting[/custom_list]

Lower Tunings

Many modern Guitarists are tuning-down their Guitars in order to achieve a more unique or heavier sound. Many modern rock bands record their songs in standard tuning and then for shows they play their songs in Half-Step-Down (all strings tuned down a semitone) or Full-Step-Down (all strings tuned down 2 semitones) so that the singer finds it easier to stay in key and hit higher notes when singing live.

Dropped tunings are also extremely common these days too. The simplest of these is Dropped D (or: “Drop D”) which involves lowering the low-E string 2 semitones so that it becomes a low D. This means that plucking the top 3 strings would make a D5 powerchord (D-A-D) without even having to fret. Powerchords in Dropped Tunings are played by just barring frets with 1 finger, making them more simple. There are lots of different dropped tunings, they all take the same intervals as Dropped D, but lower. So for example Drop C is the same as Drop D, except that every string is a full-step lower (a D down to a C). The lowest I’ve ever seen a band go to is Dropped A#, but that does begin to take quite a toll on your strings. Your strings can become extremely loose and twangy at such low tunings so be careful if you go down this route!

Pinch Harmonics

Pinch Harmonics are sometimes colloquially referred to as: “squealies”. This is because they make a squealy sound. Makes sense really!

They differ to natural harmonics- which are achieved by hovering your fingers over certain frets- because you fret normally and use your picking hand to cause the sound.

It can be difficult the master, but basically when you pick a note you just lightly brush your thumb against the string. You may want to adjust your plectrum-holding position for this as it could be difficult to strike the string with your thumb if you hold the pick near the top! Pinch harmonics are difficult so don’t worry if you don’t get them straight away!

Palm Muting

Palm Muting is widely used in lots of types of rock- for a variety of purposes- but it is very common in Hard Rock, Pop-Punk and Metal genres of the modern day. Palm-Muting literally involves muting the strings with the palm of your fretting hand. The result is a more “subdued” kind-of sound, which often sound ironically heavier- despite actually being less aggressive!

By: “palm” we don’t actually mean the palm of your hand- as in the middle of your palm. We mean more like the fleshy part of your picking hand that tends to rest around the bridge of the guitar if you allow it to. The main thing with palm muting is just muting the right amount. A lot of people over-do it when they first try, and literally mute the strings to the point of silence!

3. JAZZ GUITAR

I’m not gonna lie to you. Jazz Guitar is like seriously complicated. I have a high respect for Jazz Guitarists because they really have to know their game inside and out.

The amount of Chords and scales that these people know is ridiculous; and their chords are often very awkward and difficult to fret. Jazz timings by nature are also very complex and off-beat, meaning that Jazz Musicians often have very good senses of timing- a trait that is useful across all genres. Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain was a trained Jazz Drummer for example; and his work with the Pumpkins was widely acclaimed for this reason.

Anyway I have tried to give you some very brief foundations on the complex topic that is Jazz Guitar:

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• Open 7th Chords
• Jazzy Ornaments[/custom_list]

Open 7th Chords

These chords are the most basic Jazz Chords that you’ll ever really come accross. They mostly involve taking Major Open chords and just slightly changing them. It’s hard to describe, but 7th Chords just sound cool. They just do sound Jazzy when you hear them! I try to incorporate them into songs whenever possible just because of how nice they sound!

The 7th is basically the last interval before you reach a chords root note again. So for example a standard open D chord involves fretting the 3rd fret of the B-string (this note itself is actually a D) whereas the 7th Chord version involves changing the fingering so that you fret the 1st fret instead. This now gives the string a C, which is the 7th interval from D.

Jazzy Ornaments

No, I’m not referring to things that you might keep around the house, but I am referring to fancy little sounds that you might make with your Guitar while playing! Jazz very much takes advantage of the timbre of all its instruments- and the Guitar is certainly no exception.

Slides are common, and literally involve sliding around the fretboard! So if you were to slide “up and back down” then you play a note at a low fret (say fret 3) then after you have plucked (whilst the string is still ringing) then you would slide your finger up the frets (without removing it at all) to a higher (perhaps undesignated) area, and then back down again. Slides must always be done quite quickly, to avoid losing steam and string vibrations.

Muting and scratching are also very common. Muting and scratching are kind-of the same thing really- you’re just taking the major vibrations out of the strings so that they make more of a “scratchy” noise than produce any recognisable notes. Lighting resting your finger or hand/palm on the fretboard and plucking lightly worth your picking hand is generally the easiest way.

4. FOLK/ INDIE/ COUNTRY

What I’m referring to in this section is music that is primarily based on the Acoustic Guitar- or Acoustic Guitar techniques anyway! Here’s some basic techniques for Acoustic Guitar-playing!

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• Open Chords
• Using Capos
• Finger-Picking[/custom_list]

Open Chords

Open Chords are your most basic of all Guitar Chords. They involve different hand-shapes that fret chords towards the top of the neck, (near the headstock), they primarily use the first 3 frets of the guitar, but some of the more awkward ones do go higher up the neck. These are the chords that you hear everyone talking about (G, C, D etc). They come in both Major and Minor forms, so do make sure to learn both types of all of them.

Probably the most awkward open chord to fret is F Major. Everyone hates that chord, and many change the hand-shape to make it easier.

Open chords are what we call “non-moveable” chord shapes. This means that- unlike powerchords- if you shifted the shape up the fretboard then it would sound dissonant and wrong. This is because of the use of open strings in these chords. The only way you can shift these chords around the neck is with the use of a capo. Which leads me nicely onto my next section.

Using a Capo

A capo is basically there to change the key of your open strings. It acts like a massive barre, and it means you can play open chords at a different section of the fretboard. You place the capo at your desired fret, and then just treat it as if it is the nut of your guitar. You can apply all your open-chord shapes to it in this way- they will just be played higher-up, in a different key. Some songs have Guitar Capos on quite high frets- such as “There Is a Light” by the Smiths, which has a capo on the 6th fret, making the chords sound rather high-pitched.

Finger-Picking

I have talked about Finger-picking a couple of times before. Finger-picking is essential picking with your fingers. Haha!

Finger-picking actually tends to involve your fingers AND your thumb, but unfortunately: “Finger and Thumb Picking” isn’t very catchy. It involves picking different strings with your thumb/ fingers. A lot of player use their thumb to pluck the bassier strings and fingers to pluck the higher ones. You can do various patterns, and pluck anywhere between 2 to 4 or 5 (at a push) strings in a pattern. Maybe even 6 if you were that gosh-darn amazing.

Finger-picking is very often done to the separate notes/strings of a chord. This means that the chord is this essentially played, but it is split-up into it’s separate notes and made to sound more interesting. A good example of this would be: “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” by Green Day; which famously finger-picks standard G, C7, D and Em chords into a memorable rhythm.

So there we have! A very basic guide to the foundations of some different guitar genres! I hope this article has given you some guidance on what you need to begin learning for your chosen genre!