Tips, Tricks & Licks

CLEAN UP WOMAN
This is the riff from a great old song from the soul music era by Betty Wright. The music that developed during this time saw the birth of some of the hippest, most fun to play and coolest riffs in popular guitar music history!
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Cool Blues Bounce
This reminds me of some of the stuff George Benson was doing back when he was recording with Lonnie Liston Smith playing organ.
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BURTON'S REVENGE
This lick sounds a lot like something James Burton would play. You’ll want to use the pick and finger technique to play this one.
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ACOUSTIC SWAMP
There’s something about a blues lick in E being banged out on an acoustic guitar. Go out on the front porch and play it on a porch swing while yer hound dog is laying there almost asleep and it’s even more cool - this is ageless, evergreen cool!
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SPEED KILLS? NO, TENSION KILLS SPEED
If you find yourself becoming more and more tense the faster you try to play, this tip is for you. Some time back I purchased a book by Adam Rafferty on developing speed as a player. It’s one of the best books on the subject I’ve seen out there.
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GET YOUR EFFECTS IN ORDER
As modern synths and inexpensive yet feature-rich recording equipment become more standard, guitarists are under increasing pressure to match the keyboardists versatility of sound. While the quality of amps and guitars has improved in some ways, the basic effects used by guitarists have not changed much in the last 20 years.
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WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GUITAR AMP
Shopping for a new guitar amp can be a tough decision. There are many questions that enter a guitarist’s mind when considering a purchase. Which ones sound better? Are tube amps better than solid-state amps? Do I need a stack? All of these questions are important to consider.
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BUYING A BEGINNER ACOUSTIC GUITAR
Acoustic guitars are very diverse in their shape, size, style, beauty, and sound. A great acoustic guitar is usually the one that works best for the player. Although the perfect guitar is usually a matter of opinion, one should still follow several guidelines before making a purchase.
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TRUSS ROD ADJUSTMENT
Most guitarists cringe when the term “truss rod” is brought up in a conversation. Many would rather seek professional help when making guitar neck adjustments as opposed to doing it themselves.
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CHECK OUT THE EBOW
The “EBow” is a small handheld device that was introduced to the guitar industry in 1976. Since then, this small device has allowed guitarists the ability to simulate the sounds of horns, cellos, violins, harmonicas, and many others.
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FIX THOSE INFERNAL JUMPING STRINGS
Everyone who has ever tuned an acoustic guitar with anything heavier than light guage strings has at some time or another experienced the string that would pop and “jump” above the correct tuning pitch.
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HAND POSITION FOR OPTIMUM REACH
Whenever I see guitar players with their guitar hanging down around their knees I’m reminded that. . .
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ON CHANGING STRINGS
One of the easiest ways to make your guitar sound better is to put on new strings!
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