Today’s riff combines the power and the fury of power chords with the E-natural minor scale on the 6th string and the imagination of a 10-year-old student named Jack who co-wrote this song. If you’re following along with the book, The Ultimate Rock Guitar Dojo for Kids: White Belt Edition, this study correlates directly to […]
Year: 2015
Power Chord Rock
If you want to play rock guitar, you have to master power chords. After all, nothing captures the rage and the fury of rock music like power chords. Furthermore, they’re easy to play on the guitar. For a more in depth investigation of power chords, check out pages 39 – 45 of The Ultimate Rock Guitar Dojo for […]
Intro to Power Chords
If you want to play rock guitar, you have to master power chords. Power chords capture the rage and the fury of rock music. Furthermore, they’re easy to play on the guitar. For a more in depth investigation of power chords, check out pages 39 – 45 of The Ultimate Rock Guitar Dojo for Kids: […]
Victory: Moveable Power Chords in G Minor
Although power chords are—well—powerful, they can also be tender and delicate. In this study, co-written by a 9th grade student of mine, you’ll master power chords in the key of G Natural Minor. Just remember to all open 4th string to ring throughout the entire A-section. This technique, known as a pedal tone, is used […]
Halloween Thing: A Riff so Awesome, It’s Scary
Riffs are the short repeated musical phrases that keep you coming back again and again to your favorite songs. From Suzie Q to Poker Face, a great riff can grab you by the tail and pull you in! In today’s lesson, we’re going to check out an awesome riff I composed with the help of […]
Simple Riff on the Fifth & Sixth String
Rock History: The King of the Slide Guitar Born in 1918, in Homes County, Mississippi, Elmore James is one of the earliest and most influential blues guitarists of the 20th Century. James was known for his haunting slide guitar, searing vocals, and indelible live performances. For the full lesson, click on the PDF file below. To […]
Five Guitarists Every Kid Should Listen To: #4 Albert Lee
When it comes to legendary rock guitarists, most kids know about the big three: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards. But there has been a pantheon of gifted and innovative guitarists contributing to the evolution of popular music over the years. From blazing bebop and country soloists to soulful blues and jazz players, here […]
The BeatBuddy: A Drummer in a Pedal
If you’re like me, you love jamming along with a steady drum beat. After all, something magical happens when a driving guitar riff locks in with a heavy back beat. In that instance, the two instruments meld into one, and the groove is born. And that, Jack, is where it’s at! But finding a reliable drummer with […]
Simple Riffs on the Open E String
Rock History: The Deep Roots of Rock ‘n’ Roll With it’s unique combination of blues, boogie woogie, jazz, gospel, western swing, and country music, Rock ‘n’ roll revolutionized the American music scene in the 1940s and 1950s. Early rock ‘n’ roll stars like Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly, and Elvis Presley challenged the status quo writing […]
Becoming a Black Belt Musician- The Bridge Article
Becoming a Black Belt Musician Using martial arts motivators to get kids to practice. By David Aldred – October 5, 2015 If you’re like me, you may have occasionally asked yourself “What do music and martial arts have in common?” . . . or not. Fortunately for aspiring young guitarists, a local Portland […]
