What songs can you play?

[anthony]

Hey everyone,

I recently sat down and for myself I made a list of all the songs that I could play on guitar, whether I could play the melody line to the song or the chords to the song, no matter the style of that particular song. I listed everything from Hotel California by the Eagles, You Were Meant for Me by Jewel, Breakfast at Tiffany's by Deep Blue Something, Colour My World by Chicago to O' My Darlin Clemintine, Row Row Row Your Boat, and classical music Cannon in D.

There were about 25 to 30 songs on the list, more than I have listed. It was really amazing to see how many songs I had learned without realizing it.

I mention this because one I think its kind of a good way to see how far you've progressed in learning the guitar. It also gives you an assessment of the songs you do know and how you play each song whether chords, or melody, or even scales. ie. A perfect song for learning the major scale is the Christmas song Joy to the World. And maybe we can share knowledge about learning songs. I know I would like to add to the list of songs that I can play. So if anyone would like to respond with an email message maybe we can learn some things from each other.

Anthony

[rockmund]

I want to hone in and focus on learning some easy guitar solo's. Any idea which ones may be easiest? ;D I also want to learn some more fingertapping tricks. The ones I learned here on the free lessons have really helped me alot as far as to understand the many different approaches. I especially enjoyed the "fingertapping the 7 modes lesson". There is so much to learn and play on the guitar. Share some knowledge if you may. Thanks.

[anthony]

Rockmund,

Learn theory as part of songs, it keeps it interesting. Here's something basic. The chord progression in C major is C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, Bmin7b5. Now if you go through these chords C, Dm, Em, F, G, F, and repeat. Then follow the F with Em, Dm, C, F, Em, Dm,G. Finally for the chorus C, F, G and you've got Bob Dylan "Like a Rolling Stone"

But if you notice you are progressing through the C major progression and you're learning this along the way.

The Christmas song "Joy to the World" is a great song to learn any major scale. It progresses from the high end to the low end of the scale.

But as for bending and hammer ons.... Start with your index finger on the A (5th fret on the low E string). Now on that same string play B (7th fret) with your middle finger. Stretch the pinky down to the C#(9th fret). On the fifth string play D (5th fret) with the index finger, E (7th fret) with middle finger, and F# (9th fret) with pinky. Now slide your hand down and over to the fourth string and play G# (6th fret) with your index finger. Then A (7th fret) with middle finger, and finally B(9th fret) with pinky. See how natural that feels, once you can get your fingers used to stretching and that is A major. If you want to play it in reverse from the fourth string to the fifth string do the following. After you play the G# (6th fret) jump your pinky over to the F# (9th fret) and then play upwards to the E (7th fret) and D (5th fret) with the middle and index finger.

Now put your middle finger on the A (5th fret) on sixth string. Play the B (7th fret) with your pinky. On the fifth string play the C# (4th fret) with your index, D (5th fret) with your middle, E (7th fret) with pinky. On the fourth string F# (4th fret) with index, G# (6th fret) with ring finger, and A (7th fret) with pinky. Now over to the third string play the B (4th fret) with your index. See how natural it feels. Again the A major scale. For different modes just begin and end on the different notes. If you begin on B end on B, D then end on D, etc.

Try and figure it out with your pinky placed on the A on the 5th fret of the sixth string.

Are you getting the idea? If you start with a different finger on the root note it will vary the possibilities of how you can play the scale. Depending on how you play some notes will be easier to reach than others. Once you've got it hammer on and bends should come naturally.

Anthony