Guitar Lessons for Beginners
by Jim Barrie

There are a lot of resources available online for the beginner guitarist, varying from free, to expensive - so how can you really be sure you're not wasting and time or money on something when you could be learning so much faster elsewhere and wowing your friends?

Read this checklist and you will have a number of questions to ask of the online resources to make sure you get the best value for your money.

There are no magic shortcuts - despite amazing claims many systems make. Deciding to teach yourself means disciplining yourself. Keeping motivated and making sure you practice as often as possible is the key.

1. Does the guitar lessons have video? - To be value for money insist your guitar lessons are shown as video as it will be much easier to learn and much more fun.

2. Make sure you get audio to play along to? - Playing along to music is the fastest way to learn and develop your technique & rhythm.

3. Make sure the content has an easy way to learn to read music and tab? This is another must have seeing as the tab and music for just about every song ever written is available online - you need something easy so you can learn to play any guitar song.

4. Guitar tuning software is a must? Playing your favourite tracks or with custom made jam tracks is pointless if your not in tune...

5. Does the system guitar lesson have a method of keeping you motivated? When your beginning to learn the guitar motivation is everything, the best systems have ways to deal with this, this is a must have requirement.

6. Does the content have something to keep you in time? The best ones offer a metronome or other rhythm keeping device.

7. Does the system have a clear learning path? Look for a game plan so you know you are making progress.

This simple checklist should help you decide which beginner guitar lesson option is best for you. You basically get what you pay so keep these 7 basic questions in your mind when evaluating your option

Recommended resources that I am aware of that offer great value and cover the 7 key points.

Lead guitar lessons for beginners.

Acoustic guitar lessons for beginners.

Source: Ultimate guitar blog.

Major Scale Patterns On the Guitar Fretboard
By Desi Serna

Guitar players play melodies, riffs, lead guitar solos and bass lines using major scale patterns. The notes of these patterns cover the whole fretboard. To learn the whole scale template, players break it up into smaller pieces. This article will discuss how this is done and address common issues concerning scale patterns, fingering options, alternate picking and transposing to new keys. With this information, you'll be on your way to successfully using and applying major scale patterns, which is necessary in order to develop a strong knowledge of guitar theory.

Major Scale Patterns: When learning the major scale, it's necessary to break up the notes into positions or patterns. Usually this is done with five pieces but some players prefer seven. It really doesn't matter whether 5 or 7 patterns are used as long as the whole guitar fretboard is covered. Also, don't think of patterns as separate scales. They're not. They're just the same notes in different positions.

You can find major scale pattern diagrams by going to Google.com and searching "major scale patterns." Many web sites will come up that have pattern illustrations available for free. Major scale patterns are also drawn out in many instructional guitar theory books such as Fretboard Theory and Fretboard Logic.

Memorizing the Patterns: Major scale patterns should be learned one at a time. Visualize the pattern on the fret board and play up and down it until it's completely memorized. It's not necessary to start or end on the root of the scale, but rather just be sure to touch on every note available in a given position.

Major Scale Fingerings: Contrary to what is often taught, there are no correct or perfect fingerings for major scale patterns. With that being said, there still are some bad habits that should be avoided. Never do something silly like play through a whole pattern with only one or two fingers (unless you want look and sound like a hack). You've got four fingers so you might as well use them. Work on getting three or four fingers involved. Also, don't shift your hand but rather leave it set and then reach with your fingers. You may need to position your thumb behind the neck of the guitar so that you can spread your fingers and play with the tips.

It's good to settle on an effect fingering that works for you and then use it consistently as you practice, but you'll no doubt use other fingerings when you start actually playing music. For example, techniques such as slides, hammer-ons, pull-offs and bends may require you to use your fingers differently.

Alternate Your Pick: Don't spend your practice time reinforcing negative habits. For example, plunking through the scale entirely with downstrokes. Instead, be sure to alternate your pick as you rehearse the scale patterns. This is a good way to kill two birds with one stone because you can develop your alternate picking technique while you master the scale patterns.

To sharpen your picking technique, choke up on the pick, keep your hand planted on the guitar body and alternate continuously without skipping or repeating any strokes. Your right hand should rest just above the string you're picking. As your right hand moves across the strings, it should slide over and rest upon the strings that are not being played in order to keep them quiet.

Reference Chords: Every time you learn something new on the fret board you should try to peg it to something familiar. This trick can really help you to develop a good working knowledge of music theory especially when applying guitar theory to the fret board. This pegging idea can be put to good use with major scales by associating each pattern to a reference chord. For example, patterns one and four can be played right around common barre chords.

Other patterns can be associated with barre chords derived from the CAGED chord system. If you know how to navigate the fretboard with chord forms, and you link these forms to major scale patterns, then you'll be able to instantly jump into the major scale from any chord or any position. Google search the "CAGED Template Chord System" to learn more about chord forms on the guitar fretboard.

How Major Scale Patterns ConnectAfter you have completely memorized a pattern you can move positions and start on the next. With each new pattern you complete, be sure to go back and review the others that came before it. This process should be continued until the whole guitar neck is covered. Then you can practice connecting the patterns in both directions across the neck. For example, connect pattern one to pattern two, two to three, three to four, four to five, and then reverse your direction by connecting pattern five back into pattern four, four into three, three into two, and two into one. There may even be room to continue moving backward by connecting the original pattern one back into pattern five and so on until you reach the open strings. Don't forget that these open string can be used too.

As you move across the fretboard try to focus on how a portion of each pattern is reused in the neighboring position. Visualizing how these pieces connect is critical to navigating the fretboard, mixing and matching music elements, and understanding guitar music theory.

Playing Major Scales in Different KeysOnce you use all the patterns to cover the entire fretboard in one key you can transpose and play in a new key by simply shifting everything to a new starting position. Don't let the fret numbers throw you off in the new key. Instead, focus your attention on the pattern shapes and fingerings. Connect all the patterns in a new key until the fretboard runs out or it's not possible to play any higher. Don't forget about the area of the neck before pattern one begins.

You may be able to fit in a pattern five there, possibly more. Continue this process until all twelve keys are covered. Then you'll surely have the patterns down pat!
More Guitar Lessons to ComeMore guitar lessons will be added soon including great ways to practice and helpful ways to begin applying the major scale to music and songs. This information is needed in order to complete the major scale learning process, and develop a deeper understanding of guitar theory.

Guitar Theory Podcast and Major Scales: To find and listen to free audio lessons on the major scale and music theory go to iTunes or TalkShoe.com and search "guitar theory" or "Desi Serna."
Play Until Your Fingers Bleed!

Mr. Desi Serna (Google me!)
Author of Fretboard Theory
http://www.guitar-music-theory.com/

Source: Ultimate guitar blog.

Developing a Guitar Practice Schedule
By Ryan Gloman

If you want to improve at guitar the fastest way to do it is consistent and focused practice. This is easier than it sounds. Often times guitar players will sit down and noodle around on the guitar for an hour, play some of their favorite songs and call it practice. You may see some minor improvement this way, but I guarantee you are not living up to your potential. The real way to get the most bang for your buck is to develop a guitar practice schedule so that you can direct your focus and achieve results.

Now if you are looking for someone to tell you exactly what to play for how long, you are not looking in the right place. Everyone's needs are different because everyone's goals are different. You need to tailor your practice schedule based on your unique goals. What is important to you? Do you want to be able to play lightning fast? Do you want to be able to play any song by ear? Do you want to be able to play any possible chord in the chord dictionary? Your goals can be anything. It doesn't matter as long as you have goals.

The next thing to do is lay out your goals and then decide what the best way to achieve them is. If my goal was to be able to play lightning fast, I would have to spend a considerable amount of time on my technique. So if I am laying out a practice schedule I would split it up into small manageable chunks. For example, I could practice my left hand technique for ten minutes and my right hand technique for ten minutes and then coordinate them together for ten minutes. That adds up to a thirty minute practice time. If I stuck with this consistently, I would improve much faster than if I just played randomly each day.

One final thing that I notice is that most guitarists only play what they already know. This is great for polishing off your favorite songs and getting emotional enjoyment out of the guitar, but it does not force you to grow. I would recommend spending most of your time playing things that you cannot play well. If you would like, you can schedule time into the end of your practice session to play the things that you know and love.

To sum up, you should develop a focused guitar practice schedule and stick to it on a consistent basis. This is the way for you to improve the most in the shortest amount of time. Focus on things you cannot play well and save some time at the end to play the things you do play well.
My name is Ryan Gloman and I have a passion for guitar and a passion for sharing information. I hope that this article helps you on your way to becoming a great guitarist. I understand that learning to play the guitar can be a daunting task at times. Luckily, you can find tons of helpful info on the net. Check out this site for some great tools.

Source: Ultimate guitar blog.

Guitar Techniques for the Right Hand
By Ryan Gloman

In this article I want to give the readers a brief introduction to the many right hand techniques that guitarists employ. A player would be selling themselves terribly short if they stuck to only one of these techniques. Sadly, many players do just that. They are taught a certain way and they stick to it for the rest of their playing careers. Adding different right hand techniques will allow you to insert more harmonic and melodic ideas into your playing.

Alternate Picking: This is the most common right hand technique that guitarists today employ. In this technique the player used a plectrum to strike the guitar strings in an alternating up/down/up/down fashion. No matter which string is to be struck next the pattern is always up/down/up/down. The reason that this is such a popular way to pick is because it is so effective. Alternate picking allows the player to have a good rhythmic foundation in their right hand and it allows a lot of freedom of movement over one, two, or more strings. Alternate picking is used in almost all styles of music but it is very prevalent in blue grass and shred metal guitar.

Sweep Picking: Sweep picking is another style of picking that uses a plectrum. In this right hand technique, the player sweeps the picks across the strings in either an upward or a downward motion. This is an extremely efficient way of picking and a flurry of fast notes can be played. This technique is commonly used when playing arpeggios. This right hand technique is very common in neo-classical shred guitar.

Finger Picking: Finger picking is a school of its own in the guitar world. Many guitarists are never taught to use a plectrum but are taught to play exclusively with their fingers. The benefits of finger picking are many. The player can play fast repetitive phrases much faster and more accurately than a plectrum player. Also, finger picking players have much more freedom to mix both harmonic and melodic ideas than plectrum players. Finger picking is the style used most often in classical guitar. Many jazz players will use finger picking as well, especially when comping.

Hybrid Picking: Hybrid picking combines elements of both plectrum playing and finger style playing. In this style, the guitarist hold the pick between his or her thumb and index finger and the other three finger float above the strings and pick the notes. This is a very popular style of picking in jazz where the guitarists must shift frequently back and forth between harmonic and melodic playing.

I hope that my introduction to guitar techniques for the right hand was helpful. I encourage all beginning guitarists to experiment as much as possible with each of these techniques. Your guitar playing will only improve!

My name is Ryan Gloman and I have a passion for guitar and a passion for sharing information. I hope that this article helps you on your way to becoming a great guitarist. I understand that learning to play the guitar can be a daunting task at times. Luckily, you can find tons of helpful info on the net. Check out this site for some great tools.

Source: Ultimate guitar blog.

Guitar Soloing Tips
By Ryan Gloman

Who doesn't want to be able to play a mind-blowing guitar solo? Even people who don't play guitar want to play guitar solos. In this article, I'm going to give you some guitar soloing tips that will help you on your way to playing those mind-blowing guitar solos.

The first tip I am going to give you is to build your solo up. Think of it kind of like sex. The best kind is the kind that takes awhile to get to the finish line, but when you get there EXPLOSION! The same is true of guitar solos. Don't just unleash a flurry of notes right away. Force yourself to leave space in the beginning of your solo. It will make your rapid fire more effective.

The second tip I am going to give you is to vary you dynamics. That means to vary your volume. You don't need to play at full tilt all the time. In fact, if you start off playing some quiet notes it can really lay the groundwork for the storm that you release later.

The third tip I am going to give you is to memorize whatever pattern you are using on the fretboard. This mainly refers to an improvised solo. I don't mean to memorize your solo, although this can be helpful if you don't have a lot of experience. But you should memorize the scale form on the fretboard in at least one position. You can't play much of a solo if you don't know which notes to use.

The fourth tip I will give you is to use all the registers of the guitar. That means to use both the high and the low notes. A lot of beginning guitarists think that they have to be playing in the double digit frets to express any emotions. This is far from the truth. You can play very expressive and meaningful notes down in the lower registers of the instrument.

My fifth tip is to use repetition judiciously. Repetition can be a great tool for building up tension. For a perfect example, just listen to Free Bird by Lynard Skynard. There isn't a much better use of repetition in a guitar solo. Obviously though, if you use it too much you will put your listeners to sleep.

My last tip is to NOT use everything you know in every solo. Some of the best solos are the simplest. Just because you know one-bajillion scales doesn't mean you have to use all of them. So what is the take home message from this article? I think you can tell by now that it is VARIATION!! No matter what you are doing - fast notes, high notes, behind the head notes - try to vary it up a bit by doing the opposite every now and then. Showing that contrast will make the technique you are using much more effective.

My name is Ryan Gloman and I have a passion for guitar and a passion for sharing information. I hope that this article helps you on your way to becoming a great guitarist. I understand that learning to play the guitar can be a daunting task at times. Luckily, you can find tons of helpful info on the net. Check out this site for some great tools.

Source: Ultimate guitar blog.

What to Look for in a New Guitar
By Scott Daugherty

Scott DaughertyLevel: Basic PLUSScott Daugherty works as an auto technician and mechanical engineer for an independant repair/ custom shop in L.A. In his spare time, he plays guitar ...
Most new guitarists aren't sure of what kind of guitar they should buy when they decide to purchase. Myself, I spent months and thousands trying to find the right guitar. Here is a list of things to look at when trying to decide which guitar to choose.

Tone
This is probably the single most important thing to look at in a guitar. Whether you are playing electric or acoustic, country, rock, blues, or jazz, you need to have a tone that fits your musical genre. You wouldn't want to play a guitar that is perfect for country music in a heavy metal band. Which guitars have the right tone for you?

Blues
If you are playing blues, you need a guitar that has a bluesy tone. That being said, there are a few guitars that are perfect for that style: Semi-acoustic electric guitars with "soapbox" humbuckers sound great, as do Fender Stratocasters. The other important thing to achieve a blues tone is your strings. In blues, the heavier the string, the better the sound. You can't achieve the right sound using extra light gauge strings. They won't have the resonance, the bottom end or the mid range of the heavier strings.

Also playing electric guitar blues, your amplifier will make a difference on your tone. If you are using a vintage amplifier, preferably tube amp, you will notice a BIG difference in the tone.

Country
Country music needs a brighter tone from the electric guitar. To get the brightest tones, it is best to use a guitar with single coil pickups. The two best guitars for this category are Fender Stratocasters and Fender Telecasters. Using a Tele, it is as easy as plugging in and playing really. On the Strat, there is a secret that a lot of guitarists don't know that I am going to share with you.

A lot of Nashville guitarist call it the 'Nashville Sound'. Simply put your toggle switch all the way to the bridge pickup. Then start sliding it back to the next position toward the neck. In between the bridge position and the second position, you will find a sweet spot. The switch will not be locked into place on either pickup but the sound is awesome. It takes only a minute to find it and when you do, the sound is incredible.

Again, the amplifier plays a big key on the sound of an electric guitar as well. A lot of Nashville musicians use a Peavey Classic VT/Series Tube amplifier or the newer Peavey Classic. Behringer also makes a great amplifier that is used in country music.

Jazz
For jazz guitarist, a good semi-acoustic electric guitar is almost vital. The pickups on these guitars are usually humbuckers. For tone, a medium gauge set of strings is suggested.
As far amplifiers go, just about any 'natural' sounding amplifier will work. My personal recommendations are Mesa Boogie, or Peavey. They recreate a good sound.

Rock
Last but not least, let's look at rock and roll. Getting the right tone for rock and roll is tricky. Maybe you want a heavy sound that a standard 6 string can't give you so you get a 7 string guitar. The best 7 string guitars are made by Ibanez. Since the conception in the late 80's or early 90's, Ibanez has perfected the tone from the instrument.

If you don't want a 7 string but want that same tone, you can get the same tone from a 6 string using heavy gauge strings. The guitar should have humbucker pickups to get better tone as well. Guitars recommended for this are Gibson Les Pauls and Ibanez.

For a more modern top 40 rock style, the sound would vary. For the retro sounds heard in a lot of today's alternative music, Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters are used. Sometimes, the Fender Jaguar is played as well. For the heavier sounds, you would need a guitar with the humbuckers and probably two of the best guitars for this would be the Gibson Les Paul and Paul Reed Smith.

To get the tone at the amplifier, it is important to have a good tube or solid state amplifier that can model a tube amp. Mesa Boogie has the leading edge on tone in rock music as does Marshall. Other good amplifiers are made by Peavey, Crate, Behringer, and Fender.

Playability
The way the instrument plays determines a lot on your happiness with it. You can have a guitar that makes the most beautiful sound but you hate to play it. It is said that the perfect guitar will be like an extension of your body. I have found this to be true with my number 1 axe. Whenever I pick it up and play, it feels like a natural extension of my body.

After you pick the guitar that you want for tone, play it and see if it frets right. If the strings are too high, adjust the torsion rod and intonation. This in itself could make the world of difference on your guitar. If you don't know how to adjust these yourself, call your local guitar shop. It usually costs no more than $15 and takes about 30 minutes to do it.

Think about these things before purchasing your first or next guitar. It may save you a lot of headache and money in the long run.

Scott Daugherty is a performing guitarist and studio engineer. For a free guitar lesson visit http://www.superguitartab.com or for purchasing a new beginner guitar visit http://www.superguitartab.com/store/

Source: Ultimate guitar blog.

Buying Your First Guitar
By Ryan Gloman

There are many things to consider when buying your first guitar. However, if you do your research you can come away with an instrument that will be a solid tool for starting your lifelong relationship with guitar music.

One of the first things to consider when buying your first guitar is whether you want an electric or an acoustic guitar. There are advantages and disadvantages to both and a large part of the decision comes down to personal taste and the type of music you want to play. First answer that question. What do the musicians you usually listen to play? Is that what you want to sound like? Pricing is not that much different between the two when you consider just the guitar. However, an electric guitar typically requires many more accessories (more on that later) which can rack up the price.

A second key issue to consider when buying your first guitar is whether to buy online or in a music store. I will say that each guitar is different and individual and this makes buying a guitar online a risky proposition. You have never gotten to touch or hold that guitar and there is no guarantee that you will like it. However, you cannot deny that the internet has become a great resource for comparison shopping and you can find some pretty great deals online. This is my "happy median" advice. Go into a local guitar store and play a bunch of different guitars.

Make a note of the model and brands of the ones that you like. Then go do a search online and see if you can get a better deal. Chances are, you will be able to. You can now order online with some degree of confidence that they guitar that will be sent to you is similar to the one that you played in the store. Sure, I may be talking about minute differences, but chances are you are going to spend a lot of time with this thing. So, you should like it.

Price range is a big factor to consider when buying your first guitar. This is largely a matter of the commitment that you plan to make to the instrument. If you are setting yourself up for a lifelong relationship, then invest and break the bank. You may never buy another guitar again.

However, if you are wishy washy about whether you even want to play guitar, then don't sell the farm for the first one. You can get a good "intermediate" quality guitar for a few hundred dollars. I would not recommend going any lower in quality. Some of the guitars that you can get for $40 dollars in Wal*Mart are only appropriate for the most uncommitted individuals or for young children.

Another comment about pricing and budgeting: don't forget the accessories! These can add up. If you are buying an electric guitar you have to buy an amp. These can run you as much as the guitar itself. My advice on this is to always barter. Ask the shop owner if you can get free cords or tuners thrown in if you buy a package deal. This will be more difficult if you buy online, but you may be saving a substantial amount of money already anyway.

Finally, should you buy used or new? This question is akin to buying a car. You can get a great used car that will be reliable and will run for years because it is a decent car and the owner took care of it, but these take research and time. You can also get a vintage used classic that will run forever. This will break your bank. Don't buy any used guitar that is beat up or broken. Always be sure to buy from a reputable source if you go the used route.

My name is Ryan Gloman and I have a passion for guitar and a passion for sharing information. I hope that this article helps you on your way to becoming a great guitarist. I understand that learning to play the guitar can be a daunting task at times. Luckily, you can find tons of helpful info on the net. Check out this site for some great tools.

Source: Ultimate guitar blog.

Easy Guitar Songs To Play On The Guitar
By Kevin Sinclair

Music is the language of the soul, according to the old saying. It can speak to you and evoke certain feelings and emotions. Nearly everybody likes music of one type or another and many others want to learn to play an instrument, such as the guitar.

Playing the guitar is a great way to express your feelings and sentiments. It is also a way of expressing your artistic skill and entertaining yourself and others. That is why millions of people want to learn to play the guitar or improve their playing ability.

When someone plays the guitar, other people assume they have either had professional lessons or taught themselves. Whichever way you go about learning, it is important to use the right techniques to play the guitar properly rather than develop any bad habits which might be hard to get rid of later on.

One great way of learning to play the guitar is to use some simple guitar songs. This makes it easier to understand the tablatures and gets you more used to playing. If you can "sight read" a particular song, it will be easier to learn how to play the guitar. This all depends on your musical experience.

Some experts think guitarists can sing along with songs and then learn it on the guitar as they go. An interest in the type of music you want to play is also a great help because you will be more enthusiastic about it all.

Using easy guitar songs in order to learn how to play the guitar helps the beginner to learn the rhythm and pace of the song. If you listen to the song first or, better still, pick something you already know, you will have a good idea of how it is supposed to sound. With this knowledge, you can practice getting the note pattern and tempo right.

If you use simple guitar songs to teach yourself to play, you will help to tune your ear for music. When you know how to listen well, you will be able to know if you are playing the right note or if you have made a mistake. You will also know if your notes are slightly off key and if your guitar needs to be tuned up.

Using these easy guitar songs can make a huge difference in your ability to learn the guitar. It is, of course, much more difficult to learn the instrument if you are not able to have easy tools such as easy songs and a guitar. And remember - take your time because practice makes perfect!
Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development.

Source: Ultimate guitar blog.

Sight Reading Tips for Guitar Players
By Ryan Gloman

Sight reading is one of the most valuable skills that any musician should develop. At the same time, it is one of the least practiced skills in the music world. This is probably because it is often a tedious and frustrating task to practice. It is my hope in this article to give you some sight reading tips that will make your practice easier and more enjoyable. One last thing before I begin. The title of this article may be a bit misleading. I am a guitarist and I wrote this article with guitarists in mind, but the information in this article can translate to any instrumentalist or even singers.

My first tip is to always keep going. When you are practicing sight reading it will be extremely tempting to stop when you mess up and review the passage that you messed up on. I urge you not to do this. The goal in sight reading is to be able to play through an entire piece the first time you see it. If you are constantly stopping and starting, you are not practicing towards this end. This can be one of the most frustrating aspects of your sight reading practice but trust me, just keep going. If you need to, slow down your tempo. Which leads to my second tip...

Always use a metronome. This is the only way that you can be certain you are keeping good time. Most people don't keep time as well as they think they do. Add to this the fact that you are trying to decipher pitches and rhythms and you are bound to get off the beat. Just use a metronome to help guide you in this department. As with all metronome practice, start slow and increase in small steps.

My third tip is to read ahead. Think of it like walking or driving a car. You don't look at the ground in front of you. You look ahead several feet or several hundred feet. The same is true in successful sight reading. Try to read ahead by one or two measures and you will experience a smoother ride.

My fourth tip is to work on the rhythm first. This is often the most difficult part of sight reading. However, most people think they struggle with the pitches. This is not true. Rhythmic aspects of the music will trip up more would-be sight readers than pitches any day. In the beginning, try tapping the rhythm on your knee before playing through the piece.

My last tip is simply to practice and then to practice some more. Sight reading will never come easy. The only road to get there is the road of consistent and focused practice. Get some music you love. This can make practicing more enjoyable than only working with sight reading exercises. A transcription of your favorite artist can be an invaluable tool.

I hope that you are able to employ some of my sight reading tips in your musical future. It really will put you head and shoulders above the competition. I guarantee it. Good luck and remember - focused and consistent practice!

My name is Ryan Gloman and I have a passion for guitar and a passion for sharing information. I hope that this article helps you on your way to becoming a great guitarist. I understand that learning to play the guitar can be a daunting task at times. Luckily, you can find tons of helpful info on the net. Check out this site for some great tools.

Source: Ultimate guitar blog.

How to Sight Read on Guitar

By Ryan Gloman

The goal of this article is to introduce you to a fantastic skill that all musicians should work to develop - sight reading! I am a guitarist and I have written this article with guitarists in mind, but the information could be useful to all instrumentalists and even singers. Sight reading is a skill that is appropriate for musicians of all levels. Beginner, intermediate, or advanced - I have never heard anyone say that they are too good at site reading. This should help give you a long-term perspective on what is occasionally a frustrating task to practice. Now, without further ado... "How to sight read!"

The ultimate goal when sight reading is to be able to play any piece of music through to the end the first time that you see it. Of course this partly depends on your technical abilities and the difficulty of the piece you are playing, but you get the idea. Developing this skill will give you the capacity to play with tons of different musicians in all different styles. I can guarantee that it will help you book more gigs, especially as a guitarist. I know so few guitarists who can read. It is just the nature of our instrument and how people learn it and the prevalence of tab. If you can sight read well as a guitarist, you will be head and shoulders above your competition.

One key that I always like to emphasize is for students to use real music when practicing. Certain exercises have value; for example, if you are learning all the notes on the B string in first position of the guitar, you might have a passage with only b, c, and d notes. However, I think that you will get much more out of your practice time if you are using some of the music you like as study material. Getting your hands on a good fake book can be invaluable. Also, check local music stores or the internet for transcriptions of your favorite artists. As a bonus, as you are learning how to sight read, you are learning to play your favorite songs!

Finally, the only way to improve at anything is consistent and focused practice. Sight reading is no exception. It is necessary to schedule time into your current practice schedule in order to achieve your goals. Most people only work on sight reading for fifteen to twenty minutes per day. This is perfect. Just make sure that you are doing it consistently. Just think, at fifteen minutes a day for two weeks you will have practiced only your sight reading for two to three hours. You will definitely start to see improvement at this time.

I hope this article helped answer your questions of how to sight read. I am publishing another article soon on tips that will make sight reading easier, but I didn't want to bog you down all at once. Remember, consistent practice is the key. Good luck!

My name is Ryan Gloman and I have a passion for guitar and a passion for sharing information. I hope that this article helps you on your way to becoming a great guitarist. I understand that learning to play the guitar can be a daunting task at times. Luckily, you can find tons of helpful info on the net. Check out this site for some great tools.

Source: Ultimate guitar blog.