Browsing Archive: September, 2009

Confusing Names and Symbols

Posted by Pure Speed on Thursday, September 24, 2009, In : Easy Music Theory

Confusing Names And Symbols

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Let's keep the riff raff out

So we know what to call the white keys on the piano. But what about the black ones in between? Well they actually have two names depending on where you're coming from. "There's no reason to keep it simple" the monks said "The more complicated we make it, the easier it is for us to keep the riff raff out." Let's humor these guys from the past and see what they came up with.

The note in between the C and the D is ...
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The Fast Practical Approach To Theory

Posted by Pure Speed on Wednesday, September 16, 2009, In : Easy Music Theory

The Fast Practical Approach To Theory

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Cut the crap and give me a practical approach

When I decided to get serious about my guitar playing I also decided to become an expert on music theory. And so should you. Because music theory is a nothing less than a basic understanding of the mechanics of music. This understanding will help you immensely when you improvise, when you compose or when you want to learn any chord progression or solo simply by listening to it. When y...
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Tone Changers & Trem Tricks

Posted by Pure Speed on Tuesday, September 8, 2009, In : Power Blues 101

Tone Changers & Trem Tricks

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Today I'm going to show you three techniques that you can use to bring some variety into the sounds you produce when you play. Use them all the time until they become a part of you. When this happens you'll find yourself using these techniques intuitively, without thinking about it.

Squealers

The first technique is also one of the most used in the "business". Most people call them "pinch harmonics" and they are really very easy to do with ...
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Power Blues Phrasiology - Bending

Posted by Pure Speed on Wednesday, September 2, 2009, In : Power Blues 101

Power Blues Phrasiology - Bending

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A keyboard with strings instead of keys

In this article and the next to come, I'll be touching on something essential to blues rock soloing: Phrasing. When I started out, I looked upon the guitar as sort of a keyboard with strings instead of keys. You fretted the note and picked the string and that was that. This attitude also made me focus on cool effects and gimmicks first and on pickups and amp second, but that's another story.

Th...
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