Special articles....

• What makes a good guitar player?

• Teachers and schools - Find a tutor near you!

• New Column! Ask Dr Shredley! All your problems solved. (and others created!).

• Guitaranalysis - More thoughts from DR S

• Led TrouserSnake - How not to be in a band?

• Guitarist links

• About the author - Jamie Page page.

What really makes a good player?

Is it speed, technique, schooling, feel...or is it bestowed upon them by alien visitors?!  Hmmmm....speaking from personal experiences with aliens I can discount that idea! D'oh!
Here are some ideas for you to take forth with you!

My fave thing about a player is vibrato. Speed is great fun, but ultimately irrelevant. To achieve a smooth wide vibrato imagine a singer singing a note full of vibrato and passion, whether it is a Gillan scream or an Fattozio operatic blinder! Copy that feel and emotion! Hit the note and feel the note, caress it, strangle the life out of it even!

"A great player should be able to floor you with one note!"

Play the D note on the seventh fret, G string.....too easy! Now, with your first, second and third fingers grab behind the string and bend it smoothly up a tone to the equivalent of the E note, 2 frets above on the G string (9th fret). Keep a hold with all your fingers and slowly shift between the lower D note and the E note, keeping it as in tune as possible! To aid tuning, sing along as you play, connecting both voice, ear and fingers to produce a soulful bluesy tone.

Assuming that you are using the A blues scale, apply the same method to the G-A bend on the 2nd string 8th fret, and the C-D bend on the 1st string 8th fret. I would spend hours getting the feel of these important bends, trying every way possible to bend them....slowly, fast, wide or quick. Another fave is to try and bend up to the note before playing it and hitting the note in tune purely by feel for the note! Try it! Hard work but sounds cool, and gives your bending tons of confidence.

Some great string benders!

Paul Kossoff...Free, Angus Young...AC/DC, Michael Schenker...THE God of bending, Stevie Ray Vaughan...one of the best ever, any blues player as they are all great at it! Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Yngwie, David Gilmour, interesting that all the classic players are the best at this technique!?...Hmmmm....there must be something in that! Shake those strings baby!

Hammer on's and pull offs:

Here is another great way to add power, speed and finesse to your playing! This is simply the art of either hammering on to a fret with a left hand finger, or pulling said finger off the string to sound a note. Use both together and surprise yourself! I often sit in front of the TV playing left hand only across the scales, building up strength. Try hammering thru a simple major scale and see how fluid your playing becomes. Use the one finger per fret rule to maximize efficiency.

My fave exercises:

#1: Triplet pattern. Work it into your scale practice.

Try your own 3 or 4 note patterns, string them together and burn! Simple but it works!

There are more speed exercises on the Tab page.

More rock tips and survival techniques!...

• Think carefully about what you practice and why. Don't just rattle off things you already play well, try things that are uncomfortable. Every time you conquer a difficult to handle part is progress.

• Keep a diary of what you do, so you can accurately gauge your work.

• DONT put other players or styles down as there is something to learn from everyone! Besides, what do they say about you?!!

• Jam with other players as much as possible.

• Play along with your fave albums.

• Buy and read the great Guitar mags, learn from the masters.

• DONT give in to trends. Believe in your music! Have the will to be your own master, not a slave to fashion! (Unless you work in a cover band for a living!).

• Treat songwriting seriously! Create melodic parts that fit the song, and don't be afraid to play nothing if required!

• Treat your other bandmates with respect, even if they are wrong! Hmmm...

• Learn about the business of rock. It is great to dream... find out the reality! Are you ready to tour, understand record and management deals, do you really believe there is any artistic integrity in the music business?
  What do the record companies really want?... Money! *

• Be realistic in your goals!

What do record companies expect of you? 

Picture this:

The moguls at Sory records are discussing new signings and their projects development...
"How are Led TrouserSnake going?" asks Mr. Goldnuggett, A&R boss...

Click here to read more about Led Trousersnake!

• What makes a good guitar player?

• About the author - Jamie Page page.

• Teachers and schools - Find a tutor near you!

• New Column! Ask Dr Shredley! All your problems solved. (and others created!).

• Guitaranalysis - More thoughts from DR S

• Led TrouserSnake - How not to be in a band?

• Guitarist links

Written by Jamie Page, Kosmic sales  person and Black Steel guitarist. Check out what is happening with my latest project and stuff here...

www.kosmicsound.com - www.guitars.com.au - Contact