Playing Licks And Riffs

Learning how to play the guitar can be life-changing. You'll not only be called on to entertain at parties and gatherings, you will also have at your finger tips a skill that you can use to pour out your soul when you are tired or angry. It's a fabulous thing to know how to play acoustic guitar. Perhaps you already know some basic chords and now you want to progress into the realm of learning how to play riffs and licks. If so, this article is for you.

Based On Chords And Scales

When you can become thoroughly familiar with a variety of popular chords and keys, you will be on your way to mastering those rock guitar licks. Learning scales is the next step in your guitar instruction. You can get a guitar chord book from the local discount department store, and spend a short time each day familiarizing yourself with the scale names and diagrams that are shown.

"Voicings Are The Key

If you look at a book of guitar chords, you'll see that theres not just one "G" chord, but a bunch of "G" chords, such as G7, and G9, and G major 7, and G minor 7. . . well, you get the picture. Each voicing has it's own special feel. For instance, the major 7th chords have a soft misty feel to them, while a series of 7th chords has a "blues feel to them. If you want to play modern guitar music, especially jazz and blues, you will need to be familiar with these variations. Older songs don't use them as much, and if all you like to play is classic bluegrass or country, you can get away with nothing more than a couple of minor chords.

Pay Attention To Your Picking Hand

It would be natural to think that you only had to concentrate on the hand thats shaping chords. The fact is, you need to be able to find the string you need with your right hand. (Left for you lefties). The chording hand might have the lick all figured out, but if you hit the wrong string, you're never going to get the sound you want. Don't forget to experiment with different ways of picking as well, to find what works for you. Some guitarists never pick up a plectrum, preferring to feel the strings with their fingers. Some have several picks on various fingers. Most use a standard flat plectrum, Why not try some different methods and you might stumble onto your own personal style for playing sizzing guitar licks and riffs.

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