The term arpeggio (ar-peg-ee-oh) may look and sound like a foreign language yet arpeggios actually belong to one, universal language — music. Simply put, arpeggios are a reason that regardless of race, color, social class, etc we all have a common connection with music. Consequently, understanding arpeggios (and incorporating them into your learning experience) will make you that much better of a guitarist.
Arpeggios represent a challenge for some beginner guitarists. Fortunately, the guitar skill is very easy to understand, discover in popular music and therefore implement into your own practice routine. If you do struggle with arpeggios at first do not get frustrated. Stick with the basics outlined (below) and you’ll improve over time.
Before you can master arpeggios you must first understand arpeggios.
When you play an arpeggio you are NOT strumming the chord. Rather, you are playing every single note in a specific chord SEPERATELY. Make sense?
Example: C Major Chord is composed of the notes C, E, G (or first, third and fifth note of the major scale). Instead of playing C, E, G together for the chord you play each note individually in a sequence.
The four major triads are:
Major (1st, 3rd, 5th)
Minor (1st, b3, 5th)
Augmented (1st, 3rd, #5)
Diminished (1st, b3, b5)
If you have a decent understanding of scales, chords and triads then you know that triads are the notes that traditionally “stand out” in a given scale. Once you know the scale and you know the notes that compose a triad of that scale you will finally become aware of just how powerful arpeggios can impact a song.
If you want to use the above C Major example then you know that the notes C, E, G create the triad. With that knowledge you can literally create hundreds of different patterns utilizing only those three notes. Pretty cool, eh?
One of the first steps to mastering arpeggios is really getting down the music theory. If you have done your homework, you know that the Major scale produces a happy vibe while the Minor Scale is sad. What does the Augmented scale produce? If you said something like “exotic” you’re on the right track.
Arpeggios add a whole new arsenal of options to your guitar playing. Do your homework on music theory, learn about finding the different scales on the guitar neck and begin working on those arpeggios!
Up close, the guitar has so many components that it might seem like the guitar pick is a rather unnecessary topic of discussion, yet a simple search on Google will yield several results with popular questions like “Do I need to use a guitar pick?”, “What is Hybrid Style Picking?”, “How do you make your own picks?” and more.
As a result, we thought it would only be fair to spend today examining some of those questions as well as providing a few resources (at the end) for additional answers.
Do I really need a guitar pick to play?
While it’s traditional (but not really expected) for individuals to play the guitar with a pick we have certainly heard stories and even know a few people who either learned to play without a pick or to this day still prefer to play without one.
There are several alternatives but playing with finger picks, hybrid picks or merely your fingers are common answers. More on hybrid picking in a minute.
What is the proper way to hold a guitar pick?
Good question.
Holding a pick might look easy but a lot of beginners actually choke the pick too tight and the result is a stiff strumming motion. You should hold the pick firmly (enough, at least that you will not drop it). A good test is to hold the pick between your thumb and finger, then pull it out with the other hand. You should see and feel a little bit of play in the thumb.
When you strum, do not push the pick through the strings. Rather, let your arm fall (pivoting from your elbow) so it drops straight down and quickly across the strings. If you try to force the pick through all the strings the strum will be very uneven. Instead, try and stop the fall of the arm just as it crosses the first string. It will take some practice so do not get frustrated immediately!
Last but not least, it may sound silly, but try to keep your other fingers loose when you pick. Place your pick on the third string and set your other fingers (2, 3 & pinky) on the face of the guitar. Lift away from the guitar and you will have what some call the “perfect pick position”.
NOTE: If your fingers are curled into your palm the hand will stiffen and subsequently cause the grip on the pick to tighten.
What is hybrid style picking?
This is a term you might be hearing a little more these days, but what exactly is it? Hybrid picking replaces the thumb pick and instead you use a flat pick with your thumb and index finger. Consequently, this technique frees up your 2 and 3 fingers (to replace your thumb) or thumb 1, 2 and 3. Some guitarists like this method because it essentially gives you the best of both worlds.
They say that exercise not only produces a healthy body but also fuels a healthy mind. The same could be said about your strumming habits.
Yes, a lot of guitar guides, courses, etc spend a lot of time on your left hand (assuming you’re a natural right) and what it takes to belt out clear notes, crisp chords, strong bends and the plethora of other skills that you will need to become an advanced guitarist. Although that is all very important, your right hand, the strumming hand is also vital.
Think of it this way. You could be exceptional with the various scales, quick at locating the key note and sharp with even the most difficult chords but if you have trouble strumming quickly or picking the right string, truly all of that practice is in vain.
As a result, you’re very first days on the guitar should be spent with a heavy emphasis on strumming patterns and exercise. Practice this stuff daily because it is one of the core fundamentals of the guitar. However, even an advanced guitarist (assuming that he is wise) should simply take five minutes at the beginning of each session to do a few mindless strumming exercises. Why? Because it does not become “mindless” until you have practiced it a lot and continue to maintain it regularly.
Beginners, your first duty is to locate a reliable guitar tuner (you can also tune by ear, but much more difficult). Then, tune the instrument. Once fully tuned, proceed to touch each string with your pick and name off the string name. If you have no idea what the string is called, reference this phenomenal visual.
It’s important that you not only learn the string names but also the sound. Once you have mastered the names, begin at the top with the low (or heavy) E string. Pluck it once. Listen closely to its ring. This is the correct sound (assuming it’s properly tuned) for what we call the “open D”. Pay attention because every once and awhile you’ll incorporate an open string or two into a chord.
Excellent Strumming Exercises: Open Strings, One Count Notes
Strum each open string four times. Then, move down to the next string and repeat. Begin with the low E and conclude with the high E. Start off painfully slow and increase speed with confidence. Play with a backing track or metronome if preferred.
The goal is to eventually create enough confidence that you can easily switch between strings on the fly.
Excellent Strumming Exercises: Varied Rhythm, Same Note
Next, I want you to place your middle finger behind the second fret on the fourth string (or A). For this next exercise, the note will remain the exact same but you will strum the string at a varied rhythm.
Feel free to mix and match but a good starter rhythm is to strum two full counts (count of four before strumming again) followed by two half counts (count of two before strumming again), followed by four quarter counts (count of one before strumming again).
You will note that the pace of the strumming obviously picks up as you move along. Once you feel comfortable strumming to a varied rhythm like the one above you should attempt to really play a complex rhythm like:
2 half-counts, 1 full-count, 2 quarter counts, 1 half count, 1 full count, etc, etc etc.
The rhythm does not really matter so long as you’re strumming and strumming to a purpose.
Moving forward…
As you can see, you could virtually create hundreds of different strumming exercises simply by changing the strings, notes and/or rhythm. As you become more advanced, so should your strumming patterns. Be sure to practice these daily in order to constantly improve!
So you’ve been playing the guitar for quite some time now. You’ve developed a nice practice habit, absorbed all the information possible and even joined a band. Where do you go from here? You play your first gig, of course.
I’m guessing that what motivated you to get into playing the guitar in the first place was eventually to perform. Do not get me wrong, practicing in your lonely old room is fun and all but the true joy of music comes from playing it in front of others. However, your first gig is going to be a little nerve-racking and more than anything NOT perfect.
Which means do not set your standards low (always shoot for the best) but after the gig is all said and done realize that you made mistakes and the beauty is that you can learn and improve on those mistakes. So what’s The Guitarist Survival Guide to acing the first gig?
I like to divide this guide into five separate steps…
Anticipation
This is the entire build up to your very first show. I’m talking about both the personal practice needed to hold your own in the band as well as the business side of actually booking that first show. You should obviously know the songs by heart and be familiar with the set-list prior to the gig. However, for an artist approaching the business side it may not be so easy. Remember to start with something small. This is your first show after all and it’s going to take some time to make your act known. Do not be afraid to play in a little venue and if all else fails, playing for free is not the worst thing in the world. Just do not make it a habit — you’re a respectable guitarist in a respectable band.
Gear Prep
If you’re nervous, it’s easy to overlook the gear prep. Big mistake! You must know your gear in and out, from what guitar works best for which songs to amp and effect settings. Double check that your strings are in good condition and that you have plenty of extra picks, string, cable, etc. Even little things like an extra set of batteries for your FX are important. Remember, nothing screams amateur more than a band that is not properly equipped.
The Arrival
You may idolize rock stars who did not play by the rules but for God sakes be respectful and BE EARLY. You’re not Led Zeppelin and the world does not revolve around your music. Those bands may have been able to get away with murder and unreasonable requests, but your local venue has plenty of other acts they can book if you’re just plain rude. Trust us, they’ll not give you a second chance. So do the little things (like being nice to the sound guy) and handle personal business (like arranging how your getting paid) in a professional and respectful manner.
The Performance
This is your opportunity to shine. In sports you hear the cliché, “preparation is everything”. The same is true of the rock show. It may look and feel great but those acts put a hell of lot of preparation into that performance. If you’re prepared, you’ll do great. A few pre-show jitters are expected. Take a deep breathe and relax. Remember, amazing performers are beloved because they have terrific stage presence, interact with the audience and do not just stare down at their guitar the entire time. HAVE FUN!
Wrap it Up
You may think your first gig ends with the final note of the final song but you are wrong. You have to tear down the set, thank the individual who booked you, meet and chat with your fans…and get paid. Most importantly do not forget to get paid. Pack your stuff up first and be courteous. If the manager likes your music and likes you personally, they’ll surely look to bring you back. Enjoy the rest of your night!
This is an old video from YouTube that I’ve watched at least a dozen times. It’s just so cool that I wanted to share it here:
Hope you enjoyed that as much as I do! If you’re into the “tapping” style, I’d recommend checking out Andy McKee as well. All of the guys at Candy Rat Records are really good at incorporating this difficult, high-octane, style with a strong foundation of classical guitar.
