So what is the best way to become really good at playing slide guitar? Well, one way is to learn the best slide guitar songs from your favorite players.  This will no doubt include the magnificent slide guitar songs from the Allman Brothers Band, played by Duane Allman.

Duane Allman is perhaps the most recognized electric slide guitar player that has ever lived.  In the Allman Brothers Band he created the most memorable and challenging, slide guitar solos ever created.  Listen to “One Way Out”, “Statesboro Blues”, “Done Somebody Wrong”, and “Don’t Keep Me Wondering”, and you’ll understand why he is considered the greatest slide guitar player of all time.

So what makes him so special?

To me, it is his creative use of rhythmic and melodic develoment.  He’s not too flashy, but everything he plays just seems to be the perfect part for the song.  In slide guitar you have to be careful not to play too many notes, or your playing will lose the feeling.  Duane Allman always knew which notes to put where in many of his legendary solos.

So what scale is Duane using?

Duane Allman  creatively blends the pentatonic minor and major, along with the blues scale to create some truly masterful slide guitar solos.

Here are these 3 scales in open E tuning.

Minor Pentatonic

Major Pentatonic

Blues Scale

By creatively blending these 3 scales when playing slide guitar, you will be able to play many of Duane’s infamous licks.  I’ve recently put together some video tutorials on how to play like Duane Allman on my website.  I specifically show you how to play “One Way Out”, “Done Somebody Wrong“, and “Statesboro Blues”.

If you’re interested in learning any of these songs please check out www.learningguitarnow.com

Sign up for my guitar lessons newsletter and get a 7 part FREE video tutorial on how to play like Duane Allman.

John W. Tuggle is a recommended instructor by Gibson.com,  on how to play like Duane Allman.

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Have you ever wanted to play slide guitar licks that sound like “”Dreams from the Allman Brothers, or maybe “Soul Serenade” from the Derek Trucks band?  If you said yes, then the Mixolydian Scale is the scale you need to learn.

So what is the mixolydian scale?  Well, this scale is exactly like the major scale except for one note, the b7th.  This one note makes a drastic change from the sound of the major scale, and you’ll hear this sound in many types of music including blues,  R&B, Funk, and Jazz.  Bass players use this scale to play all the funky bass lines you’ve heard including, “We Want the Funk” from Parliament.

So why should I learn this scale?  Put simply, the mixolydian scale will open up a whole new world of sounds for you.  It’s kinda like the Major scale but not as pretty sounding.  Hear are the notes contained in the mixolydian scale.

Major 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Mixolydian 1 2 3 4 5 6 b7

If you already know the Major Scale you just have to change one note to be able to learn this scale.  It’s not really that hard, but you have to get a feel for what this scale sounds like so you can understand how to use it.

Play each note of the Major scale and sing the note as you play it.  Now do the same with the Mixolydian scale and take note how the b7th changes the sound of the scale.  Memorize this sound in your head.

Here is how you play the Mixolydian scale in Open E Tuning.

Here is a slide guitar lick in Open E Tuning using the Mixolydian Scale.

This Scale sounds great when played over a C to Bb chord progression.

I’ve recently released a Slide Guitar DVD that explains the Mixolydian scale on more detail.  This scale is a must learn if you want to take your slide guitar playing to the next level.

For more info on slide guitar check out my website as well as all of my slide guitar DVDs.

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Do you want to know how to sound like a pro when playing blues slide guitar? Or maybe you’re only interested in playing the blues. Regardless, there are certain things to keep in mind when learning how to play the blues on slide guitar.

I think there are at least 3 things that will dramatically improve your skills when playing the slide guitar in blues.

Here are my top 3 tips on playing the blues on slide guitar.

1. Feel it. This may be obvious, but are you really doing it? I’m talking about when you sit down and every note you play is drenched in emotion. This is how you sound good when playing blues slide guitar. The slide guitar is a vocal like instrument, so make it weep. You can conjure so many types of moods with the slide guitar, but you have to mean it when you play it. Don’t think about scales, don’t think about keys, and don’t worry if it sounds perfect. Make it emotional and that will make up for the technique.
2. Don’t be too flashy. To be honest, slide guitar sounds best when you play less notes. No one wants to hear a jumbled mess of notes that are out of tune. Listen to Derek Trucks, he plays a lot of simple notes. He does throw in some technical stuff, but he does it with taste, and executes it flawlessly. There is nothing worse than listen to somebody trying to play above their skill level. Slow it down, and make every note count.
3. Use Repetition. To build up the intensity level when playing blues, repeating a lick or phrase over and over again will create a sense of tension to build up to a next part in a solo. Use repeated licks to create this drama. It sounds great and everyone from Derek Trucks to Bonnie Raitt, and Lowell George use this technique to create excitement when playing slide guitar.  Check out my video on playing reapeating licks on Gibson.com.  I show you how repeating licks actually sound.

Well those are my 3 tips to help you start playing the blues slide guitar like a pro. If you are interested in more information on playing slide guitar I have DVDs available that will show you how to become a pro slide player. It does take some practice, but if you do learn this style of guitar playing, you will become an in demand player in the blues scene. There’s just nothing quite like the slide guitar in blues!

For more information on other types of guitar lessons please visit LearningGuitarNow.com 

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Here’s your chance to receive a FREE copy of Slide Guitar Method 2: The Major Scale.

To qualify for the drawing , simply submit your top 5 guitar albums of all time by commenting on my previous post about this topic. You can submit your top 5 HERE.

After all the entries have been submitted, I will have a drawing and 1 person will receive a FREE copy of Slide Guitar Method 2: The Major Scale.

So what’s included in this DVD? Check it out.

What you will learn:

• Major Scale
• How to apply basic music theory by using intervals
• 5 Major scale patterns for soloing
• How to solo like a singer
• Exercises to build speed, technique, and articulation
• 6 must-know major scale slide guitar licks
• An entire solo
• And much more…

What you will receive:

• 80 minute Slide Guitar Lessons DVD
• 5 pages of tab in a PDF instant download
• Chord chart that contains 2 ways to play Major, Major 7th, Minor, Minor 7th, Dominant 7th, 9th, and 7#9 chords
• 2 backing tracks to play along with, including full band instrumentation
• Quicktime video of my tips on slide guitar setup, and how to get a killer tone!

Pre-order starts Thursday, April 24th. Submit your top 5 albums now.

Preview the DVD right here!

Are you ready to learn some of the best slide guitar music today? If you said yes then you need to listed to Derek Trucks. His slide guitar style is nothing short of amazing. He effortlessly combines blues, rock, jazz, and Indian music into a cohesive easy to listen to, slide guitar style.

So what makes his slide guitar playing so unique? I believe it is all due to his melodic development of his slide guitar licks. If you listen to him enough, you will know that he is not about flash. He is about taste and melody. His playing often reminds me of old R&b, and blues singers. By incorporating this type of style, his slide guitar licks take on a vocal-like quality.

So how does he play so well? One word, commitment. Derek Trucks has dedicated his life to pushing the envelope of his slide guitar playing as well as music in general. He plays over 300 shows a year, and has been touring since the age of 12! This is a lot of guitar playing. This does not guarantee you will be great. I believe he is constantly learning new licks and styles, which is the key to improving musical skills. All the great guitar players don’t really think they’ve achieved what they’re capable of, and this, I believe, is what makes them great.

Derek Trucks relies on the pentatonic major and minor for a lot of his slide guitar licks. These two scales only have 5 notes, hence the term pentatonic. All the notes in the scale sound good when played over the right chord progressions. Here is what they look like.

By combining these 2 scales with tasty melodies, you’ll be on your way to playing in the Derek Trucks guitar method. It will take a lot of practice to sound like Derek, and at some point you will want to forget his licks and create your own style of Slide guitar playing. That’s what Derek did. He learned from Duane and moved on. This is an important step if you want to really get good. Face it, you will never sound as good as Derek does. Why? Because he’s Derek, and you are you. Only you can put things together like you hear them in your head. Don’t think of this as a disability, but as a unique talent.

Learn as much as you can from other Slide guitar players, then put it in your own words. Until you realize this, you will never reach your full potential. This could take you a lifetime, but the journey will be well worth it.

For more info on slide guitar check out my DVD, Slide Guitar Method 1 Open E Tuning.

Check out my website as well  Learning Guitar Now.

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Let’s face it everybody wants to play guitar. With the popularity of Guitar Hero, even more youngsters are picking up and learning how to play the greatest instrument of all time. That’s right, I said the guitar is “The Greatest Instrument of All Time!” Don’t even try to disagree.

Now that we’ve got that covered, let’s talk about my favorite albums for learning how to play blues, rock and slide guitar. Of course there are many on my list but there can only be 5. I challenge all readers to submit their 5 favorite guitar albums and see where we disagree or agree.

Ok here we go. in no particular order these 5 are seen as equal to me, but at the end I’ll name my favorite guitar album of all time!

1. Pink Floyd “Dark Side of the Moon” You know it, you love it and if you haven’t heard this album, man you are missing out. Beginners can benefit from all the basic chords in such songs as “Brain Damage/Eclipse”, while the blues guys can learn a thing or two about melodic leads from “Time”. I listened to this CD over and over for about 2 years while in college, and it is just fantastic. Get it, learn it, enough said.
2. Jimi Hendrix “Are you Experienced” What can I say it’s Jimi. There are so many cool songs and styles on this debut album that if you don’t learn the whole album, you really don’t know how to play guitar. Yes it’s that good, and yes you will learn it. From the fuzzed out solos of “Foxey Lady”, to the clean R&B scrapings of “The Wind Cries Mary”, no one should be without this album. He really is the greatest guitarist ever. Don’t even try to deny it!
3. Steve Ray Vaughan “Texas Flood” The debut album from the King of the Texas Blues. Listening to this album is like listening to pure perfection of the blues guitar style. I don’t think anyone has been so influential of the blues genre in recent history. The title track does it all, a barrage of notes coming at you like a texas flood. This album feels the blues and the guitar playing is nothing less than legendary. “Pride and Joy” has been covered by more bar bands than I care to mention. All hail SRV. It’s also a fact that this album was recorded live, with only one overdub, in a couple of days. The only reason for the overdub is because SRV happened to break a string!
4. Allman Brothers “Live at the Fillmore East” You’ve already heard my affection for this album, but I’ll say it again, This is the best live album ever recorded period. Bill Graham, Tom Dowd, what else do you need to know. Standouts include, “Whipping Post” perhaps one of the greatest jams ever recorded! It blends jazz, blues, and rock like no other song before it. Their use of the Dorian scale recalls their love of John Coltrane and Miles Davis. This is a must have. Get it and revel in the masterful sounds that come out of your speakers, or ipod buds these days.
5. Led Zeppelin “Led Zeppelin II” No list could be complete without getting the Led out! Responsible for all rock music as we know it. The Gods of Rock release this monumental album in 1969. Every song on this CD is the stuff only legends are made of. From the crushing solos and power chords of “Heartbreaker”, to the Acoustic strummings of “Thank You”, there is something for all rock lovers. The riff to “Whole Lotta Love” Inspired a whole generation of rockers, while the funky bass, and bluesy guitar solos of “The Lemon Song” proved they were a band that knew how to groove. Buy this album if you truly want ot rock. Without it you are stuck in Kenny G. land!

So there you have it folks, my unofficial top five guitar albums of all time. Let me know you’re top 5. I love to see other people’s opinions. Oh yeah, if you wanna hear my number one, you’re gonna have to listen to the upcoming podcast. Subscribe here

For more info on guitar playing check out my website, and for slide guitar players check out the DVD.

Technorati Tags: Learning how to play guitar, learn blues, top 5 guitar albums

Do you want to improve your slide guitar playing in Open E tuning? Do you find yourself constantly practicing alone? You don’t have a band to practice with, and you’re stuck in your room, playing with no one. Well this is fine for practicing specific things, but you need to start playing with some people. If you can’t find anyone, the next best thing is your CD collection.

I’ve spent years practicing along to my favorite CDs. It allows you to react to playing situations, and create new licks on the spot. It’s fun too. You can jam out with your favorite band all day long if you want. Don’t just sit in your chair either. Crank it up, put your guitar strap on, turn down the lights, and pretend like you’re on stage. You might think this is stupid, but it puts you more in the moment, thus pushing you to create some cool licks from improvising.

Here are some CDs I spent years practicing to.

1. Allman Brothers- Live at Fillmore East
2. Johnny Winter- Third Degree
3. Eric Clapton- From the Cradle
4. Allman Brothers- Eat a Peach
5. Derek Trucks- Joyful noise
6. Allman Brothers- Live at the Beacon Theatre
7. Allman Brother- Back Where it All Begins.

This is only a few, but you get the idea. As you can tell I like the Allman Brothers, and for good reason. They have a lot of songs that are just easy to jam to, and last a long time. They are definitely the band to listen to when learning slide guitar.

I can’t recommend people practicing this way enough. It just helps when practicing to some kind of a beat. Practicing slide guitar can be a boring thing sometimes, and this will take the staleness away, and face it, it’s just fun!

I find that backing tracks are extremely helpful as well. This is why I include backing tracks with my DVD, Slide Guitar Method 1 Open E Tuning, as well as most of my Guitar Lesson Downloads.

So break out the CD collection, dust off the guitar strap, and start jamming with your favorite bands. You’ll have more fun and you’ll be learning all at the same time.

For more info about playing slide guitar visit my website.

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Do you want to take your blues guitar licks to the next level? Are you tired of playing nonstop scale type blues licks? If you said yes, then this blues guitar lesson is for you.

So how do you start playing vocal-like blues guitar, that makes your audience stand up and listen, and keep them wanting more?

It starts by learning vocal licks on the guitar. You may say this will not help me to impress anyone with simple melodies, but YOU are wrong. All those flying speed licks you are playing don’t mean a thing if you can’t communicate a melody to a listener. The fastest licks in the world won’t mean a thing unless it is setup properly and executed in a manner in which it sounds good in context of the song.

Listen to any great guitar player, and listen to their melodies. They all have excellent rhythm, phrasing, and melodies within their chaotic solos.

SRV, Steve Vai, Van Halen, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Eric Clapton, Dimebag Darrell, Tom Morello, John Frusciante, and all your favorite guitar players play vocal-like guitar licks as solos, and guitar parts.

To start playing vocal-like guitar licks, listen to the greatest vocal melodies of all time. This would be the melodies of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Beethoven, Ben E. King, Chopin, Ray Charles, and there’s so many more. By learning the vocals by these and many other artists, you will learn to think in a different way. Singers naturally phrase different than guitar players, and their vocals make for some tasty guitar licks. Don’t miss out on these awesome guitar licks. They will set you apart from your average guitar players. And you don’t want to be average do you?

Make a commitment today to learn 1 vocal melody a week, and in the next year you will have 52 melodies that shaped the world of music at your fingertips! This is powerful stuff that WILL make you stand out from the pack.

For more info about playing guitar visit my website.  

Technorati Tags: playing blues guitar licks, playing guitar, vocal guitar licks

Is your slide guitar technique not quite what you want it to be? Well, developing a great right hand technique is the key to sounding good when playing slide guitar.

One technique that is a must know is right hand muting.

Right hand muting allows you to play single note phrases using the slide without other notes ringing into it. This will allow you to play many types of vocal melodies on the slide guitar. By doing this you will now have complete control of the slide and any scale you want to incorporate in will be much easier.

So how do you develop this masterful slide guitar technique? Well here are 3 things that will drastically improve your right hand muting technique.

1. Relax your hand. You will never sound fluid if your hand isn’t relaxed. To truly sound great, you need to be as relaxed as possible.
2. Mute all strings not played with either your thumb on the large strings or a combination of fingers on the small strings.
3. Rest your thumb in the space between the strings. This will mute more than one string and your palm should rest on the strings above it.

Developing a good technique takes focused practice and dedication. Daily practice of the same technique is critical. Once you have developed the correct technique for this, learning slide guitar licks will come much easier for you. It’s just a matter of practice now, pay later. In my DVD, Slide Guitar Method 1 Open E Tuning, I go over specific instructions on how to learn this concept.
For more info on playing slide guitar please visit my website.

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Everyone has dreams right?  Of course they do.  As a kid, we stare up into the sky imagining the most amazing things possible for our lives.  As adults I think our dreams change, but we all want basically the same thing.  So what does this have to do with guitar playing?  Everything!

You must dream about being a great gutar player and fantasize that you’re on stage with your favorite bands.  It’s part of learning guitar.  As a kid learning the guitar, I always wanted to play like Duane Allman and jam with the Allman Bros.  Well I still do to this day.  Yesterday I had my picture on the same page as Duane Allman in Gibson’s Lesson of the Day.  For me, this is a dream come true!  To even be mentioned in the same article as Duane Allman is a huge honor for me.

The Gibson Guitar Company has even put 4 of my Slide guitar video lessons on their site.  They contacted my last week and asked me if it was ok if they used my lessons on their website!  I of course said yes with extreme pleasure.  So now I’m on Gibson .com and on the same page as Duane Allman!  They will soon help me promote, Slide Guitar Method 1: Open E Tuning, in their newsletter and webpage.  It’s really been a fantastic week.

So do I believe in dreams?  That is a overwhelming yes.  Without dreams what drags us out of bed in the morning to face each day.  I find that people who actually believe in their dreams live a more satisfied life.  There is only so much time we have in this world, so why not fill it with the things you can only dream of.

Check out my website Learning Guitar Now.com and let me help you start dreaming again.

Technorati Tags: dreams, guitar lesson, duane allman, slide guitar lessons