Guitar Today

 Guitarists often use alternate tunings in order to have access to lower notes and new chord shapes. Dropped D is standard tuning with the 6th E string downtuned to a D note making an open fifth with the A string.

Where a guitar tuned to standard tuning is EADGBE a guitar tuned to dropped D will be DADGBE. This allows you access to lower pitched, heavier frequencies and allows you to play power chords using only one finger. For this lesson, you should first be familiar with power chords and be able to tune your guitar to standard tuning.

Dropped D tuning is commonly found in heavier music. It gives your guitar just a little more crunch when you are playing nice and loud and distorted. It also allows you to do certain things with more ease as you only need one finger to make a power chord. Single finger chords mean you have three other fingers to add whatever notes you want to the chord or just to have subtle nuances going along with what you are playing.

Tuning using the fifth - The easiest way to tune your guitar to dropped D tuning is to loosen the E string while strumming the E and A strings untill you can hear the harmonized fifth between the two. It is basically always going to be about a half turn of the tuning machine. With some practice, you should be able to recognize when the first two strings (e and A, which will later be D and A) have made a fifth.

Tuning using the seventh fret - Another simple way to find your D note is by tuning the seventh fret of the A string to the open A. Normally the fifth fret of the E string would be the open A, but by making it the seventh fret, you are lowering your guitar to the D note required.

Tuning using octaves - If you can recognize notes that are the same but in different octaves, tune your E string to the D note you already have two strings down. Pluck the open D note on your guitar then tune your top string to that.

A power chord is a note played along with its fifth above to create a chord. It can be two or three notes. The power chord is a triad missing the third so it is niether major nor minor. That is part of what makes it so versatile. Many single note fingerings can easily be converted to power chords. They are commonly associated with rock guitar and they are quite easy to play.

Once you have the power chord mastered, you can move the chord shape anywhere along the fretboard and it will still be a proper chord. Because it is only two notes (sometimes three but that is more of a barre chord) it is easily harmonized. The reason for having only two notes, is that it eliminates some undesired harmonics that can clutter the sound of a distorted or overdriven guitar. They also help beginners achieve a better tone from their instrument.

To play a power chord, pick a note and place your first (index finger) on the fret. On the string below it, place your middle or ring finger two frets to the right of the original note. There should now be one fret in between the two you are fingering.

E----3---|

B----5---|

G---(5)--|

D--------|

A--------|

E--------|

-power chord shape in G with optional octave note in ()

The above is a diagram of the power chord fingering. For this example we have used a power chord in G (3rd fret, top string). You are now free to move about the fretboard using that same shape. Practice sliding your fingers without loosing the position.

Here is a video example we found on YouTube. It explains power chords and teaches you to play IronMan by Black Sabbath on guitar. Iron Man is a great example of how to use power chords on the guitar.

Every hear those funky high pitched guitar chords mocking the organs in ska and reggae music? It is a guitar chord method first popularized by the reggae music of the 90s, utilized by musicians like Bob Marley. Bands like Sublime NOFX and Less than Jake use these ska chords all the time. They consist of playing the bottom three strings and muting them with your fret hand instead of palm muting.

Muting - To get the sound just right, strum upwards and mute the strings by reducing the amount of pressure you are putting on the guitar strings after you you strum them.

Get the beat - To keep time while you are playing ska chords, block the strings by resting your hand over the strings and strum downward between chord strikes, so you are strumming Down, Up, Down. i.e. Down(x), Up(A), Down(x). The following example uses an A chord strummed ska style.

     D  U  D    D  U  D

E----x--5--x----x--5--x--

B----x--6--x----x--6--x--

G----x--7--x----x--7--x--

D----x-----x----x-----x--

A----x-----x----x-----x--

E----x-----x----x-----x--

Moving it further - To take it a step further, try incorporating a wah wah pedal. You don’t actually want to do full sweeps of the pedal. The way reggae and ska guitar players use the wah pedal is by pumping their foot to the rhythm of the song while they are playing. Simply count the beats in your head 1-2-3-4 pumping for each beat. The muted upstrokes will take care of themselves and the blocked downstrokes will take on the resonance of the wah pedal.

More on ska guitar -

It was only a matter of time before someone took their love of drinking beer and listening to rockin’ tunes and put them together in such an ingenious manner.

This is by far the coolest thing I have seen as far as DIY gadgets go. This 20 watt sound amplifier would make the perfect gift for any beer loving guitarist. But of coarse, it will connect to just about anything: guitars, bass guitars, mp3 players, you name it.

This Heineken guitar amp keeps it simple. On/off switch and volume knob. Thats it. Simplicity always did great things when beer and music were concerned. I am truly stoked on this original creation. Did I mention I love beer and guitar amps and today is my birthday? Well I just thought I would throw that in there. This is truly a great DIY invention. It sells for just under $120 but due to overwhelming popularity, these beer keg amps are subject to a two week wait before shipping commences.

The original product sold out on Etsy, and the maker of the product had to create another listing to let people know they are made to order.

***I’ve gotten a huge surge in interest for these amps. I am going to try and keep up with the orders, but just to let you know the amp is made to order. Should arrive within 2 weeks from purchase. Thanks!***

hesslerk on Etsy

Hammer ons and pull offs are essential techniques for all guitarists to have in their repertoire. Especially when it comes to learning to play lead guitar. Although they frequently appear in rhythm guitar patterns as well. Clear hammer ons can be heard in ‘Beast of Burden’ by the Rolling Stones or “Listen to the Music” by the Doobie Brothers. A great example of both hammer ons and pull offs and their application in rock music can be heard in the intro and main riff to ‘Thunderstruck’ the anthemic AC/DC song with one of the most recognizable riffs in rock music. We will take a look at these and other rock tunes later on in the lesson. First, we will take a look at how to execute each of these techniques so you can safely put them away in your bag of tricks.

Hammer on technique

The hammer on consists of striking a note on a string then quickly hammering down another finger on another fret to create a new note.  It is usually noted in guitar tablature with a small letter ‘h’, sometimes bracketed, appearing between two note.

A simple hammer-on

A–7-h-9—–|

Pull Off Technique

Pull-offs consist of striking a note with your fingers fretted in two positions on the same string, then quickly pulling a finger off so that the next fretted note down begins to ring.  For a tab something 9-p-7 you would need to have a finger on the seventh fret and one on the 9th fret. Strike the ninth fret and pull your finger off to let the 7th fret ring.

Hammer ons and pull offs in music.

The Rolling Stone’s song ‘Beast of Burden’ uses a signature hammer on techniques that makes for a great rhythmic hook and is instantly recognizable. The tab below shows the main riff and how the hammering on on a full chord can be utilized. (hint - these are the bottom halfs of barre chords, but it is alright to play them this way).

E|------------------------------------------------|

B|-7-/-9---9--9--9---12----9----9------------10---|

G|-8-/-9---9--9--9---11----9----9-------------9---|

D|-9-/-9---9--9--9---13---11---11-----9-/-11------|

A|------------------------------------------------|

E|------------------------------------------------|

This chord-based hammer on guitar technique can be heard in songs like Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd, and Listen to the Music by the Doobie Brothers.

Combining the two to further your skill.

When you combine hammer-ons and pull-offs it can also be called ‘finger tapping’. Finger tapping is a technique that brings a whole new finesse and dynamic to your guitar playing. You will sound like a total pro once you have mastered this guitar pro secret. There is a classic metal guitar finger tapping technique tabbed below. It can played on any string, but sounds best on the higher pitched strings. You will need both hands for this one, but there no picking involved.

—-12-p-5—h–8—h–12—

Whats going on here? How many fingers do you have? Ok, the 12th fret is handled solely by your index finger of your picking/strumming hand. You start by fretting the 5fth fret and pressing your index finger on the 12th fret. When you pull your index finger off of the 12th fret, the fifth fret note begins to ring. Quickly hammer your ring or pinky finger down onto the 8th fret, then hammer down your 12th fret with your other hand.  Try this slowly at first then speed it up gradually. You will be amazed with how fast you can play this after a few moments of practice.

What is a capo

A capo is a small device that clips on to the neck of your guitar to change the pitch or key. Capos are most popular among acoustic guitarists. The basic function is so you can play in a different key without having to play barre chords. Instead of barring your fingers across that big acoustic neck, which is known to be a little more difficult than an electric guitar, you clip on a capo and play open chords like G and E major. Another common usage for the capo was for 12 string guitars. Originally 12 string guitar were not meant to be tuned higher than one whole tone below standard tuning. This reduced stress on the strings. With a capo, 12 string guitarists could bring their guitars into tune with 6 string guitars. Nowadays we have ultra lite strings that can usually handle the stress of a standard tuned 12-string.

How to use a capo

If you clip the capo onto the third fret of your guitar, the third fret becomes your zero fret or open fret. Your open notes are now G,C,F,A#,D,G instead of E,A,D,G,B,E.

Creating a makeshift capo

With a little bit of know-how and some things around the house, you can make your own DIY guitar capo. You’ll need one or two strong elastics and a pencil or similar shaped wood or metal dowel.

• Loop the elastics around one end of the pencil a few times and twist them so they are snug.
• Place the pencil across your fretboard so it is parallel with the fret you want to capo.
• Pull the loose ends of the elastic(s) around the back of the neck a secure them onto the other end of the pencil.

Your end result should be something like this.

Pretty clever eh?