Will Hay Guitar Tuition

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1 WILLHAYGUITAR.COM FREEBIES - MAMA TOLD ME NOT TO COME - PT 2 Organ Riff- Alternate Position Level: Advanced March 2014 Guitar Tuition WILLHAYGUITAR.COM - INFO@WILLHAYGUITAR.COM 1

2 WILLHAYGUITAR.COM Mama Told Me Not To Come ALTERNATE POSITIONS Only a short lesson today, but a particularly important one. It is often said by (mainly classical) Pianists that Guitarists are terrible sight readers. Most of us are sensible enough not to argue but if we explore that idea closer we realise that there may be an underlying reason. The guitar is a six string instrument as I m sure you're aware and the interesting thing about the way its tuned is that there is an overlap of note on each string. When you get to the fifth fret* on a string the notes will begin to repeat from the open position on the string below. For example if you play the 5th fret on your lowest (thickest) E string you will find the note A. The next string down played open will be the identical A note. The sixth fret will be a Bb and so will the first on the A string and so on. This means that if you explore different positions you can usually find the same notes jumbled up in slightly different layouts. This can be a nightmare for sight reading as some positions might yield the wrong timbre of note or you may find you run out of room in a position or the notes become un-fingerable. On the piano theres only one position for any one note so those issues don't arise. -I suppose you feel pretty good about yourself now? Well not so fast there mister, Pianos have many of their own complicated downsides like having to find a different shape for all chords and scales every time they move to a different key. And don t forget the many strung classical instruments like Violins, Violas and Cellos that have been associated with the same reputation of seamless sight reading that pianists enjoy. No, as it turns out many guitarists are bad sight readers simply because they don't practice it enough or at all. One final whimpering defence that may be offered is that the guitar being a younger, more carefree instrument isn't bound by the same pedigree and tradition that many classical instruments enjoy and so people tend to feel free to pick it up and learn and play it as they like. 2

3 WILLHAYGUITAR.COM Mama Told Me Not To Come A difficult second glance As we revisit the piece I want to show you the riff again this time in a different and more difficult position. There are always different ways of playing things and the more you force yourself to explore the fretboard and seek out different options, the more you will become comfortable playing and changing positions on the fly. ] It will give you a deeper insight into the instrument and help you gain massive confidence all over the neck rather than just a few safe zones. It will also begin to help you understand the way a shape has to change, in both pattern and fingering, in order to move to a new position. This is the chord shape for the melody in the new position. You have to be completely fluent in changing between the chords with the fingers I ve written. The reason this position is more difficult than the first lies in the chords above. Notice that we have to move two fingers around in the chord now and its not a case of simply sliding them back like the first time either. You have to switch the order of the first and second finger as well as the position. This may not feel too bad but remember you will have to do this in the piece with your fourth finger tied up playing the bassline which is moving independent to the rhythmic pattern of the melody. Ouch 3

4 WILLHAYGUITAR.COM The parts combined Here is what it will look like when you bring the arpeggiated chord movement together with the bassline: The same dynamic agenda as the first position applies: Try and aim to perform it and convince the listener that the Bass and melody are truly separate. It takes time and dedication to help break your fingers co-dependancies down and make them independent, like a drummer would with his limbs. It will make your playing far more fluid and capable in the long run though and allow you attempt difficult feats that will leave other guitarists scratching their heads. Stick at it and enjoy the challenge, Will 4

5 WILLHAYGUITAR.COM NEED SOME HELP? Not sure about some of the chords, scales or techniques in this lesson? Please check out my website where there are products and courses to help. I will be adding more as time allows but if you have any specific requests of topics you would like me to cover, or any other feedback then get in touch via the contact page of my website willhayguitar.com or me at info@willhayguitar.com. Guitar Tuition WILLHAYGUITAR.COM - INFO@WILLHAYGUITAR.COM I really hope you have enjoyed this freebie, It has taken many hours of hard work and effort to create. If you feel you ve learnt from it why not send a thank you in the form of a Paypal donation? It all helps me to keep this site running and lets me know my efforts are appreciated IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 5