Use the 6th in blues

Use the Major 6th when improvising blues

Here is a quick tip for those who are stuck in the pentatonic or blues scale, when playing blues leads. Try using the Major 6th (often guitarists will call it just the 6th, even though there is also a minor 6th, which is not used nearly as much in blues).

Let’s say you are playing in the key of A. If you play the A minor pentatonic backwards, the next note you arrive at is G. That’s a good one when playing blues, because it’s the minor 7th note, if we’re talking intervals. It’s a very strong note to end licks on.

Now, to find the 6th, just play the next available lower note – F#. This is the major 6th from the A major scale. It works great, because that note can be used in most minor and major scales, so it won’t sound very out there. In fact, if you listen to blues players like BB King and Clapton, you hear they do it frequently.

It’s probably not as strong as the minor 7th for ending licks on, but it works great as a lead-in note, or as a part of a good phrase. I use it all the time.

BB King example

Listen to the three notes at 0:13-0:14 into the video. That 2nd note is the 6th.

Clapton example

Listen to the notes at 2:34 into the video. Can you identify the 6th?

The 6th gives a slightly different sound to playing blues. I think it sounds happier, so to speak, or at least less static than the usual minor blues pentatonic. Use it to your advantage!

You can of course use the 6th in any kind of music; it’s not just for blues. Try it when playing rock or funk or whatever style you play – it really works for almost anything.

Interval Reference

Wikipedia – http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interval_(music)

In case you are interested in lessons from me on this subject, I do offer web cam easy guitar lessons.

Tube Mic Preamp

Tube Mic Preamp

The world of mic preamps is a large and confusing place for newbies. Questions inevitably come up. Should you get a tube preamp or solid state? Should get one with eq options on, compressor, class A, mono or dual preamp? Digital outs, phantom power, variable impedance? It can be confusing, to say the least.

I bought an ART Tube MP Studio Mic Preamp a while back, initially intended for voice overs on videos. I also tried it for my SM57 when miking my guitar amp.

This preamp is CHEAP, about as cheap as it can get. I knew it was not going to be stellar, but for 30 bucks, hey I’d like to try it, especially since I saw so many glowing reviews for it.

Well, I can’t say it’s a terrific preamp, and it should come as no surprise. Ever heard of the expression – you get what you pay for? Well, when it comes to this kind of technology, it is largely true.

On the good side, it does the job, and it made my microphone sound fine. Not stellar, but definitely not a bad sound. Lots of gain on tap in this unit, and the voice overs I made sounded quite alright.

The ART has decent features too:

• Provides Superior Preamplification for: Microphones, Instruments and Line Level Sources
• Analog VU Meter
• OPL Output Protection Limiter
• Hand-Selected 12AX7A Vacuum Tube
• Variable Input and Output Gain Controls

On the bad side? Noise. Bad noise. I don’t know why, but in one location, using a condenser microphone, the noise was acceptable for a video voice over. I later used the ART preamp for miking my amp in my studio, and boy – the noise was unreal. I could not dial it out. I tried many different ways, but in the end, a low humming noise destroyed any chance I had of making a good recording.

The tube in this preamp is more of a gimmick than anything else. It doesn’t do a whole lot to improve the tone.

In summary, if you want the cheapest microphone preamp you can get, just to boost your signal, this one might work for you. If you want low noise, excellent sound, look elsewhere.

If you are interested in a high quality, great sounding mic preamp that doesn’t cost a fortune, have a look at the

Golden Age Project Pre-73 Preamp.

This preamp is one of the better ones you can get at this price point, and it doesn’t have any of the noise issues that the ART tube MP preamp has. I will write more about the Golden Age Pre-73 later, as it is one killer unit if you are interested in getting great sounding recordings.

Gibson 61RI SG and Fender 1966 Vibrolux Tone Demo with Slide

www.learningguitarnow.com In this video I demonstrate the different tones you can get with a Gibson SG and a 1966 Fender Vibrolux. No effects …

G Major Chord, G Chord Chart

www.theguitarlesson.com The G major is a fundamental guitar chord you need to know if you want to be a guitarist. This short lesson will show you …

New John Hiatt Album – Open Road

New John Hiatt Album – Open Road

John Hiatt just released a new album yesterday. I bought it on iTunes the very same day, and I’ve been listening to it today.

I have been a fan of John Hiatt for a long time now. He is a tremendous song writer, and it’s always fun to check out a new album by him.

It is probably too early to give a good review after listening through to the album just once, but my first thoughts are the album could have had stronger tunes. The opening track Open Road is awesome, I really like it. After that, there’s quite a few non-memorable tunes. In fact, I felt the same way after his previous album Same Old Man, which also seemed a bit weaker than most of his work during the last 2 decades.

The production sounds sloppy too. I mean, I like dirty, down to earth, rough recordings, but there are some tracks on this album which sound almost too unpolished, if you know what I mean. A bit more strong vocal harmonies would have helped too, to make the tunes more catchy and melodic.

Lyrics are great though. Hiatt has an amazing ability to write interesting lyrics about every day life. Hiatt has his own style, and I find him quite unique as a songwriter and singer. If you haven’t heard him ever, you need to go check out the albums Perfectly Good Guitar, Bring The Family and Slow Turning. That’s Hiatt at his best, in my opinion.

However, I will give the new album Open Road more chances. You know how sometimes an album gets stronger the more you listen to it? Always give yourself enough time to really listen to new material.

You can have a listen on John’s Myspace page, and see what you think. I’d love to hear how you like the album.

Youtube comment of the month – February 2010

Youtube comment of the month – February 2010

Ok, I admit I don’t look like George Clooney or Cary Grant… so here are two funny comments, which share the award for February.

I am always entertained reading the youtube comments – and I do get a lot of positive feedback. Occasionally a few crappy comments pop up, but that’s no problem.

Hey, I can take it! My skin is pretty thick.

Its only the glasses that give the creepy vibe.

From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIJxv3WJocU

ur a funny lookin’ fella

From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQuVRnNfoeU

Country – Banjo Roll Style Lick

You Could Win This Bundle www.guitarjamz.com

Shiloh – I Remember

Standard Tuning:

Intro:
Em C G D (2x)

Verse:
Em C G D (4x)

Pre:
C D (2x)

Chorus:
Em C G D (2x)

Waking up from the shock, still dying from the night before
So mad I can’t speak, but I keep coming back for more
Did you see me there (looking back at you), did you even care?

All the things you said to me, every lie that I believed
I can’t erase the memory, I remember
Cut so deep I can’t forget, loving you is my regret
I thought that I was over it, but I remember (I remember)

I wanna shut it all out, I wish that this was all a dream (a distant memory)
I try so hard to forget but it keeps coming back to me (it’s coming back to me)
I should leave I know (but I keep looking back) but I can’t let go

All the things you said to me, every lie that I believed
I can’t erase the memory, I remember
Cut so deep I can’t forget, loving you is my regret
I thought that I was over it, but I remember (I remember)

I should’ve known you’d take it all away, shoulda known you’d break my heart again
I should just forget it all but I remember

All the things you said to me, every lie that I believed
I can’t erase the memory, I remember
Cut so deep I can’t forget, loving you is my regret
I thought that I was over it, but I remember (I remember)

Shred Academy Intro

Homepage intro video … shred academy intro …

$500 Sweetwater Pro Audio Gift Certificate Giveaway

www.learningguitarnow.com Win a $500 Sweetwater Pro Audio Gift Certificate. Click the link above to find out more. … guitar "free guitar …