Smooth, effortless-sounding fast picking is a goal for many guitar players. One of the most effective ways of achieving this oft-elusive aim is by using economy picking, which minimises changes in pick direction, helping to make your solos and licks sound slick and articulate. It's not an easy technique to grasp, but well worth perfecting if you want to really advance your playing.
Using some wide intervals in your solos can be really ear-catching and break you out of the cliched "blues boxes" that it's easy to get stuck in. And don't worry if you don't have huge, Paul Gilbert-style hands - with good technique and hand position you can cover wide stretches with ease.
Marc Seal takes us step-by-step through this electric guitar exercise to improve pick leading (leading the pick to the next string) and chord progressions.
Los Angeles session guitarist, songwriter, teacher and endorsing artist, Tom Strahle, demos how something as simple and inexpensive as a guitar pick can have a big impact on your playing.
Nashville Tuning And How To Set It Up On An Acoustic Guitar
Nashville tuning is one of the classic "best kept secrets" of studio guitarists, and can add a beautiful, shimmering high-end to acoustic or electric rhythm guitar parts. Far from being a complicated alternate tuning, Nashville tuning simply requires the use of the "thin strings" from a 12-string guitar set, tuned as normal.
Learn To Play A New Orleans-style Rhumba On Acoustic Guitar
Rhumba-style chord progressions are an instantly-identifiable part of the New Orleans blues sound, but they're mainly associated with piano players like Professor Longhair and Dr John. The syncopated, rolling groove is adaptable for guitar with a little work however, and will add an unusual, distinctive rhythmic tool to your arsenal.
One of the wonderful, unique things about the acoustic guitar is the extent to which it allows you to introduce a percussive edge to your playing. The bright, powerful sound of steel strings combined with a resonant body allows for real expression and tonal variety when using hammer-ons and slap techniques. Add in the use of harmonics - those beautiful, ringing fundamental tones - and you have a recipe for a really dynamic style.
3 Legato Phrasing Techniques by Fingerstyle Master Alex de Grassi
Acoustic guitar legend Alex de Grassi adds expression to his melodies with slides, hammer ons and pull offs. Watch as he shows these 3 legato phrasing techniques to create fluidity and texture.
In this acoustic guitar lesson, Marc Seal teaches us common bass-style techniques like slapping and popping to coax some different sounds from your acoustic.
How to Use Dynamics to Improve any Guitar Performances
Fingerstyle master Alex de Grassi demonstrates the use dynamics (volume variations) to highlight and contrast the interplay between the thumb and fingers; and to add color, nuance, and refinement to any guitar performance.
Seasoned guitarist Marc Seal demonstrates how to arpeggiate (play chords one note at a time)more efficiently and accurately using a technique known as “pick leading.”
Endorsing artist Massimo Varini gives a close-up demo of his hybrid picking and percussive slap chops. Learn how to use these percussive techniques on your acoustic guitar to create a real beat.
Endorsing artist Ben Montague explains how experiences can inspire lyrics, chords can spark melodies and how he makes choruses "as big as possible." Learn this acclaimed British solo artist's songwriting tips.
Mike Eldred, Elixir Strings endorsing artist, has been called "The best unknown guitarist in America." Watch as he demonstrates how to play key blues guitar turnarounds. Try playing different turnarounds to add variety to your blues.
Building Complementary Parts on Two Acoustic Guitars
Hudson Taylor, the Dublin folk duo, explain their jam-led approach to songwriting and reveal how they build complementary parts on two acoustic guitars. Hudson Taylor is made up of brothers Alfie and Harry.
Los Angeles session guitarist, songwriter, teacher and endorsing Elixir® Strings artist, Tom Strahle, shares what it takes to make it in the studio scene.
Endorsing artist Tom Crouch breaks down the techniques behind his unique cover of Daft Punk's "Get Lucky." Tom slows the pace to show how chords combine with percussive effects to turn his acoustic into a one-man band.
Elixir® Strings endorsing artist Arthur Lee Land shows, step by step, the art of looping. From percussion to banjo, watch as he builds the tracks for his song "Into the Waters."
We all know that practicing is key to continuous improvement as a musician. There's no escaping the need to put in the time to develop great technique, but warming up even before a practice session or gig is equally important. Without warming up, your hands won't work efficiently, your technique will suffer and you increase the risk of injury too. But warming up is even more boring than practicing, right?
Endorsing artist Chris Hargreaves walks through the bass looping techniques he uses with Submotion Orchestra, demonstrating how even non-virtuosos can achieve atmospheric soundscapes and percussive effects with a blend of echo, reverb, delay, EQ and panning.
Top session bassist and endorsing artist Dave Marks believes a knowledge of FX makes a musician more versatile and therefore, more employable. Watch as he talks us through his pedalboard - from drive to flange - giving insider tips and tricks for each stompbox.
Improve your timing and groove. Practice with a metronome! Check out personal tips from Derek Jones, Bassist for KÅ by Cirque du Soleil, for the best way to practice bass with a metronome.
Session luminary and Elixir® Strings endorsing artist Yolanda Charles makes grooving on a busy bassline and counterpoint vocal look simple. Here she walks us through the art of juggling melody and rhythm using "Lean On Me" by Bill Withers.
To prevent endless tweaking, your first move is to grasp each string where it passes over the pickups and gently pull it upwards away from the body, so eliminating slack at the nut, bridge and tuners.
John Carruthers shows us the proper way to set up your Bass. This is a 4 part series. Videos include adjusting the Truss Rod, Bridge, Nut and Intonation.
The string gauge used on an acoustic guitar makes a huge contribution not only to how the guitar feels but how it sounds and how it responds to changes in tuning etc. So it's a really important consideration. If you always buy the same string gauge out of habit, it's worth taking some time to think about whether they're really the best option for you.
Phosphor Bronze and 80/20 Bronze String Comparison
In addition to the choice of which gauge of string to use on your acoustic guitar, the type of string is an important consideration. Elixir® acoustic strings are available in both 80/20 Bronze and Phosphor Bronze, but which one is right for you? And what are the differences in the way they sound?
How To Set Up Your Acoustic Guitar To Match Your Playing Style
Your preferred playing style - whether strumming with a pick or fingerstyle - has an impact on how your acoustic guitar needs to be set up. There's no "one size fits all" approach, just as no single string gauge suits everyone. In this video, master luthier Ron Ruggiero (who apprenticed under Roger Sadowsky and now operates Ruggiero’s Guitar Workshop in Yardley, PA.) shows the steps necessary to get your instrument playing exactly as you needed.
How to Use Dynamics to Improve any Guitar Performances
Fingerstyle master Alex de Grassi demonstrates the use dynamics (volume variations) to highlight and contrast the interplay between the thumb and fingers; and to add color, nuance, and refinement to any guitar performance.
Los Angeles session guitarist, songwriter, teacher and endorsing Elixir® Strings artist, Tom Strahle, shares what it takes to make it in the studio scene.
Building Complementary Parts on Two Acoustic Guitars
Hudson Taylor, the Dublin folk duo, explain their jam-led approach to songwriting and reveal how they build complementary parts on two acoustic guitars. Hudson Taylor is made up of brothers Alfie and Harry.
Endorsing artist Ben Montague explains how experiences can inspire lyrics, chords can spark melodies and how he makes choruses "as big as possible." Learn this acclaimed British solo artist's songwriting tips.
