Bones Jones Music

Paranoid Bass Lesson

2012-02-08T08:22:00.002-08:00

Here's the bass line to "Paranoid" by Black Sabbath. It's got some classic bass riffs in it including a few Em pentatonic riffs and a root-fifth-root riff in the bridge. Enjoy!

Use Somebody by Kings Of Leon

2012-01-26T18:25:00.001-08:00

Here's an acoustic version of "Use Somebody" by Kings Of Leon. The chords are C, C/E, F followed by Am, C, F. Enjoy!

God Put A Smile Upon Your Face by Coldplay

2012-01-26T18:21:00.000-08:00

Here's my 'version' of Coldplay's "God Put A Smile Upon Your Face" in the key of D. The original song is done in C# open tuning, but I've done a version in DADGAD. Enjoy!

You're Beautiful by James Blunt

2012-01-26T18:13:00.000-08:00

You're Beautiful was written by James Blunt. The chord shapes you'll find in this song are: G, D/F#, Em7, Cadd9, A7sus4. I have the capo on the 8th fret. Enjoy!

The 1st Bones Jones Music Student Jam

2011-11-21T10:00:00.000-08:00

The first Bones Jones Music student jam was a huge success! It was Saturday Nov. 19th and was hosted by Chloe’s Coffee in Gaithersburg, MD. Everyone that performed did an amazing job!
For most it was their first time performing in public. Pictures video coming soon!

Thanks to everyone who participated and helped out to make it such an awesome event!

Learning Songs You Actually Like

2011-10-11T13:24:00.000-07:00

The other day after a lesson, one of my students said 'It's fun to learn songs that I like, cause it makes me want to play them!'

Ah ha! That's the point dude. That's the point!

While I do sometimes pick songs for certain reasons, it's best to learn songs that you like as it will make learning an instrument so much more enjoyable!

"Divided Sky" Guitar Solo/Theme from Phish

2011-08-05T07:12:00.000-07:00

So, this is the first Phish song I ever learned for one of my students. It's turned me into a bit of a fan. Here is one of the guitar 'themes' or solos from "Divided Sky". It's first played at 2:41 in the studio version.

"Divided Sky" (studio version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd1CCIFKV8k

Shuffle Bass Line - "The Billy"

2011-06-08T04:55:00.000-07:00

Here's a cool shuffle bass line that was inspired by Steely Dan's "Reeling In The Years" and named by a student of mine.

Lick of the Week is now the Lick Library!

2011-05-25T09:57:00.001-07:00

It's been way too long since I last posted a Lick of the Week! The amount of students I'm working with has doubled over the past few months and it became too hard to keep up with! So, I've decided to change it to the Lick Library. Now, I'll post similar videos with songs, licks, and practice ideas as frequently as I can.

Thanks for checking them out!

Billy

"Rope" - Foo Fighters

2011-05-25T09:52:00.001-07:00

Here's the main riff and chorus from Foo Fighters "Rope". It's super fun to play!

Here's the Foo Fighters video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbpqZT_56Ns

The Missing Licks

2011-03-01T07:20:00.001-08:00

Hey followers! You may have noticed that the Lick of the Week hasn't been posted this week or last. I've strained my left hand and am trying to give it a rest for a little while. Not to worry though, the licks will return shortly!

Thanks,
Billy

Interpol - Slow Hands Bass Lick

2011-02-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

This month on the bass, we're checking out Carlos Dengler from Interpol. Here's the bassline to the chorus of "Slow Hands". He uses octaves to outline the chords and moves them up and down the neck.

Neon Trees - Animal Guitar Lick

2011-02-16T11:25:00.000-08:00

Lick Of The Week - Week 7

This month we're checking out guitar parts by Chris Allen of Neon Trees. This is the intro and chorus part to the song, "Animal".

Lick Of The Week - Week 6

2011-02-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

To all of my students and followers:

The Lick of the Week has the week off since I'm in St. Paul this week. It will return in Week 7!

Thanks,

Billy

Lick Of The Week - Bass - Week 5

2011-02-01T18:43:00.000-08:00

Like the guitar part series, I'm also starting a series which will feature a different bassist each month. We'll check out how they approach their lines within a song. This month we'll be checking out Carlos Dengler from Interpol. He creates spacious, melodic lines with tons of rhythm and groove. I'm demonstrating the verse bassline from Interpol's "Obstacle 1".

Here's the original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkBAUqp6NKg

Lick Of The Week - Week 5

2011-02-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

I'm starting a series on 'guitar parts' which will feature a different guitarist each month. We'll check out how they approach their guitar parts within a song. This month we'll be checking out Chris Allen from Neon Trees. He creates simple, melodic parts that fit in their songs perfectly.

The part I'm demonstrating is played in the intro and the chorus of the song, "Sins Of My Youth".

Check it out live here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wWbLtyJQqY

Lick Of The Week - Bass - Week 4

2011-01-26T12:27:00.000-08:00

Here are two simple bass licks that use notes in the G minor pentatonic scale. First they're played separately, then within a bassline.

Here's the TAB ( / = slide)

|--------------|--------------|
|-/5-3---------|----3---------|
|------5-3-----|-/5---5-3-----|
|----------6-3-|----------6-3-|

|-----------------|-----------
|-----------------|-----------
|-----------------|-3-3-3-3---
|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-----------

--------------|
----3---------|
-/5---5-3-----|
----------6-3-|

|-----------------|-----------
|-----------------|-----------
|-----------------|-3-3-3-3---
|-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-3-|-----------

--------------|
-/5-3---------|
------5-3-----|
----------6-3-|

Lick Of The Week - Week 4

2011-01-25T15:37:00.000-08:00

In week 4, I'm demonstrating the intro to a cool acoustic version of "Just The Way You Are" by Bruno Mars. This version is done by these amazing Australian twins called Jayesslee. Check them out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae-qoFPINCc

I'm using a capo at the 2nd fret which gives us nice open chords in the key of F#.

Capo at the 2nd fret:

e|---------0-------0-|------------0--------0-|
b|-------------------|-----------------------|
G|---10---------10---|------10----------10---|
D|------11----11-----|----11---11-----11-----|
A|--9----------------|--9--------------------|
E|-------------------|-----------------------|

e|---------0-------0-|------------0--------0-|
b|-------------------|-----------------------|
G|---10---------10---|------10----------10---|
D|------11----11-----|----11---11-----11-----|
A|-------------------|-----------------------|
E|-11----------------|-11--------------------|

e|---------0-------0-|------------0--------0-|
b|-------------------|-----------------------|
G|---10---------10---|------10----------10---|
D|------11----11-----|----11---11-----11-----|
A|--0----------------|--0--------------------|
E|-------------------|-----------------------|

e|---------0-------0-|--0--------------|
b|-------------------|--0--------------|
G|---10---------10---|--10-------------|
D|------11----11-----|--11-------------|
A|--9----------------|--9--------------|
E|-------------------|-----------------|

Lick Of The Week - Bass - Week 3

2011-01-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd go with a theme this week and have both the guitar and bass lick of the week feature something from the same band. So, here's a bassline from Elbow - one of my favorite bands. I'm playing this with a pick and some distortion to get it as close to the recording as possible. Check out the original here if you haven't already!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FTFOqCTgBI

(Cool video - Song starts at 1:52)

"Mexican Standoff" by Elbow

G|-------------------------------

D|-------------------------------

A|-5--5--55/--10--9/--5--55-7--5-

E|--------------10---------------

G|-------------------------------

D|-------------------------------

A|-5--5--55/--10--9/--5--55--3-4-

E|--------------10---------------

G|-------------------------------

D|-------------------------------

A|-5--5--55/--10--9/--5--55-7--5-

E|--------------10---------------

G|-------------------------------

D|-------------------------------

A|-5--5--55/--10--9/--5--55-7-5/-

E|--------------10---------------

G|---------------------------

D|-11------11---12------12---

A|---0--00---0----0--00---0--

E|---------------------------

G|---------------------------

D|-14------14---16------17/--

A|---0--00---0----0--00------

E|---------------------------

G|---------------------------

D|-11------11---12------12---

A|---0--00---0----0--00---0--

E|---------------------------

G|---------------------------

D|-14------14---16------17-17

A|---0--00---0----0--00------

E|---------------------------

Lick Of The Week - Week 3

2011-01-18T14:01:00.000-08:00

This week I'm demonstrating a riff on the acoustic guitar from one of my favorite bands, Elbow. The song is called "Station Approach" and is from the album Leaders Of The Free World.

The guitar is in drop D tuning, which means the low E string is tuned down to D.
So, the bottom three strings are now: D, A, D

Check out the video, then see the TAB below. Good luck!

"Station Approach" by Elbow

e|------------------------------

b|------------------------------

G|------0---0-0--0-0-0-0--0-0-0-

D|------------------------------

A|-----3---3-3--5-5-5-5--5-5-5--

D|-0h3--------------------------

e|------------------------------

b|------------------------------

G|------0---0-0--0-0-0-0--0-0-0-

D|-----3---3-3--5-5-5-5--5-5-5--

A|-0h3--------------------------

D|------------------------------

..Repeat..

Bass - Lick Of The Week - Week 2

2011-01-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

In week 2, I'm playing a funk line the uses octaves to move between D and E.

Lick Of The Week - Week 2

2011-01-11T15:59:00.000-08:00

Here's a cool country/blues lick I came across in a lesson last week. It's in A major, but uses the flat7 then the bluesy sounding minor 3rd to major 3rd.

It's hard to see so here's the TAB:

|-------5-------------------

|(3)-/5---5--8-7--5-7-------

|---------------------5-6---

|---------------------------

|------------------------2--

|-7---5-4-----4----------2--

|---7------7-----3-4--0--0--

|---------------------------

Bass - Lick of the Week - Week 1 - ala Flea

2011-01-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

Here's a cool E min funk line inspired by Flea. I'm slapping the low E string with my thumb, and plucking the A string with my first finger.

Lick of the Week - Week 1

2011-01-04T08:03:00.000-08:00

In week 1, I'm demonstrating the first part of the solo from Stairway To Heaven. It contains classic blues licks which use notes from A minor pentatonic and D minor pentatonic. Enjoy!

Happy New Year!

2011-01-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to all you musicians out there! I'm going to be posting a new lick each week throughout 2011, so be sure to check back frequently. Lick of the Week will feature parts of solos, songs, scales, chords, and anything else that comes up while working with my students.

It Might Get Loud - Part 3

2010-06-16T05:57:00.000-07:00

Here's the 3rd song from "It Might Get Loud". Click on the above picture to see the clip of The Edge demonstrating his echo theory and technique.

Here's a classic U2 riff from "Where The Streets Have No Name":

e|-10-----------------|-10-----------------|

b|---10------------10-|---10------------10-|

G|------12-11-12-11---|------12-11-12-11---|

D|--------------------|--------------------|

A|--------------------|--------------------|

E|--------------------|--------------------|

e|-10---10-------------|

b|---10---10---10------|

G|-----------12---11---|

D|-------------------0-|

A|---------------------|

E|---------------------|

Simple version (played 2x)

e|-10----10--10----10--|

b|-10----10--10----10--|

G|-12p11-11--12p11-11--|

D|--0-----0---0-----0--|

A|---------------------|

E|---------------------|

e|-10----10----10----10--|

b|-10----10----10----10--|

G|-12p11-11h12-12p11-11--|

D|--0-----0-----0-----0--|

A|-----------------------|

E|-----------------------|

Full version (played 2x)

e|-10-10-10-10--10-10-10-10-|

b|-10-10-10-10--10-10-10-10-|

G|-12p11-11-12----p11-11----|

D|--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0-|

A|--------------------------|

E|--------------------------|

e|-10-10-10-10--10-10-10-10-|

b|-10-10-10-10--10-10-10-10-|

G|-12-12p11-11--12-12p11-11-|

D|--0--0--0--0---0--0--0--0-|

A|--------------------------|

E|--------------------------|

It Might Get Loud - Part 2

2010-05-28T06:20:00.001-07:00

Here's the 2nd song from "It Might Get Loud". Click on the above picture to see the clip of Jimmy Page playing "Whole Lotta Love". Jack White and The Edge are grinning throughout. It's obvious that watching him play it in person is overwhelming.

Here's a classic Zepplin riff that every guitar player should know:

Whole Lotta Love – Led Zepplin

/= slide :||= repeat

e|----------|-----------------

b|----------|-----------------

G|----------|-----------------

D|----------|-9-------9-------

A|----5---5-|-7-------7-------

E|-/7---7---|---0-0-0---0-0-0-

---------------------------------

-9-------9-------9-------9-------

-7-------7-------7-------7-------

---0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0---0-0-0-

------:||

-9-9--:||

-7-7--:||

------:||

It Might Get Loud - Part 1

2010-05-11T07:09:00.000-07:00

I just watched the new guitar documentary "It Might Get Loud". It focuses on Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White. It's worth watching! The three of these guitar giants get together and talk about their careers and guitar styles. I've decided to feature one song by each of them found in the movie. Here's the first.

Jack White is heavily influenced by the blues and it shows in this riff. It's based on the blues scale with a chromatic touch. Check it out!

Dead Leaves And The Dirty Ground – The White Stripes

Intro:

e|-------------------------------

b|-------------------------------

G|-------------------------------

D|-------------------------------

A|-------------------------------

E|-5--5-5-0-3--3-3-0-2-2-0-1-1-0-

e|---------|

b|---------|

G|-2-2-2-2-|

D|-2-2-2-2-|

A|-0-0-0-0-|

E|---------|

e|-------------------------------

b|-------------------------------

G|-------------------------------

D|-------------------------------

A|-------------------------------

E|-5--5-5-0-3--3-3-0-2-2-0-1-1-0-

e|-------|

b|-2-----|

G|-2-----|

D|-2-----|

A|-0-----|

E|----3^-| ^ bend up

e|-----------3--3-3---------------

b|-2--2-2----3--3-3---------------

G|-2--2-2----0--0-0---------------

D|-2--2-2----0--0-0---4-4---3-3---

A|-0--0-0-------------4-4---3-3---

E|--------0--3--3-3-0-2-2-0-1-1-0-

e|--------|

b|-2--2---|

G|-2--2---|

D|-2--2---|

A|-0--0---|

E|------3-|

Ear Training 2 - Blues Scale & Intervals

2010-04-08T06:11:00.000-07:00

Here are a few ear training exercises you can practice to get the blues scale down.

The intervals in the blues scale include: minor 3rd,

perfect 4th, augmented 4th, perfect 5th, minor 7th, octave.

G blues scale: Do, Me, Fa, Fi, Sol, Te, Do

e|---------------|

b|---------------|

G|---------------|

D|-----------3-5-|

A|---1-3-4-5-----|

E|-3-------------|

Blues Scale Intervals

e|----|----|----|

b|----|----|----|

G|----|----|----|

D|----|----|----|

A|--1-|--3-|--4-|

E|-3--|-3--|-3--|

|-min3|-P4-|Aug4|

e|----|----|----|

b|----|----|----|

G|----|----|----|

D|----|--3-|--5-|

A|--5-|----|----|

E|-3--|-3--|-3--|

|--P5-|min7|Oct|

Do, Me, Fa, Fi, Sol, Fi, Fa, Me, Do

e|-------------------|

b|-------------------|

G|-------------------|

D|-------------------|

A|---1-3-4-5-4-3-1---|

E|-3---------------3-|

Do, Fa, Fi, Sol, Te, Sol, Fi, Fa, Do

e|-------------------|

b|-------------------|

G|-------------------|

D|---------3-------5-|

A|---3-4-5---5-4-3---|

E|-3-----------------|

Do, Te, Sol, Fi, Fa, Me, Do, Te, Do

e|-------------------|

b|-------------------|

G|-------------------|

D|-5-3---------------|

A|-----5-4-3-1-------|

E|-------------3-1-3-|

Ear Training - Major Scale & Intervals

2010-03-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

I've always believed ear training to be one of the most important parts of a musicians' development. A well-trained ear will enable you to transcribe songs and parts on your own, which will give you the freedom to learn anything you want.

I recently began focusing on ear training exercises with one of my students and thought I'd post a few of them for you to practice.

Start by signing a major scale using solfege like so:

Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do

The distance between each note is called an interval. Here are the intervals found in a major scale:

Perfect 5th, Perfect 4th, Major 3rd, Major 2nd

e|---------|---------|---------|---------|

b|---------|---------|---------|---------|

G|---------|---------|---------|---------|

D|---7---7-|---5---5-|---4---4-|---2---2-|

A|-5---5---|-5---5---|-5---5---|-5---5---|

E|---------|---------|---------|---------|

Do---Sol | Do---Fa | Do---Mi | Do---Ra

Octave, Major 7th, Major 6th

e|----------|---------|-----------|

b|----------|---------|-----------|

G|---7---7--|---6---6-|--4---4----|

D|----------|---------|-----------|

A|-5---5----|-5---5---|-5---5-----|

E|----------|---------|-----------|

Do---Do | Do---Ti | Do---La

Radiohead's "Reckoner"

2010-02-26T06:30:00.000-08:00

Here's an introduction to Radiohead's "Reckoner". This is one of my favorite songs from In Rainbows. In this example, I play the intro once slowly, then again closer to the original speed. The chords they're using in this portion of the song are C, Em, & D. Enjoy!

e|-----------------------|

b|---5---5---5---5---5---|

G|-----------------------|

D|-----------------------|

A|-3---3---3---3---------|

E|-----------------------|

e|-----------------------|

b|---8---8---8---8---7---|

G|-----------------------|

D|-----------------------|

A|-7---7---7---7---------|

E|-----------------------|

e|-----------------------|

b|---7---7---7---7--7----|

G|-----------------------|

D|-----------------------|

A|-5---5---5---5---------|

E|-----------------------|

e|-----------------------|

b|---5---5---5---5----10-|

G|-----------------------|

D|-----------------------|

A|-3---3---3---3--3/7----|

E|-----------------------|

e|-----------------------|

b|---8---8---8---8---3---|

G|-----------------------|

D|-----------------------|

A|-7---7---7---7---------|

E|-----------------------|

e|-----------------------|

b|---5---5---5---5----10-|

G|-----------------------|

D|-----------------------|

A|-3---3---3---3--3/7----|

E|-----------------------|

e|-----------------------|

b|---8---8---8---8---7---|

G|-----------------------|

D|-----------------------|

A|-7---7---7---7---------|

E|-----------------------|

e|-----------------------|

b|---7---7---7---^7--7---|

G|-----------------------|

D|-----------------------|

A|-5---5---5---5---------|

E|-----------------------|

Blues Bending

2010-02-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

While working on a great solo from "Rising" by the band Dozer, I came up with this cool exercise to work on bending - especially while soloing. Check it out!

^ represents a bend. In this case, it's a whole step bend.

e|------------------------------|

B|------6------6------6------6--|

G|--^5-----^5-----^5-----^5-----|

D|------------------------------|

A|------------------------------|

E|------------------------------|

e|----3-----3-----3-----3-------|

b|------------------------------|

G|-^5----^5----^5----^5---------|

D|------------------------------|

A|------------------------------|

E|------------------------------|

e|------------------------------|

B|-----10-----10-----10-----10--|

G|--^9-----^9-----^9-----^9-----|

D|------------------------------|

A|------------------------------|

E|------------------------------|

e|-----7-----7-----7-----7------|

b|------------------------------|

G|-^9----^9----^9----^9---------|

D|------------------------------|

A|------------------------------|

E|------------------------------|

e|-----9-----------------------|

B|-------12-11-9---------------|

G|-^11-----------12-11-9----9--|

D|-----------------------11----|

A|-----------------------------|

E|-----------------------------|

e|-----9-----------------------|

B|-------12-11-9---------------|

G|-^11-----------12-11-9----9--|

D|-----------------------11----|

A|-----------------------------|

E|-----------------------------|

Check out "Rising" by Dozer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Enpt5RmHoU

Open E Exercise

2010-02-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun way to experiment with using the open e and b strings while moving up and down the G string in the key of E major. The second example uses chords that are diatonic (in the key of) to the key of E major.

1st Example:

e|-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0-

b|---0-----0-----0-----0-----0-----0---

G|-1-----2-----4-----6-----8-----9-----

e|------0------0------0------0-|

b|----0------0------0------0---|

G|-11-----13-----14-----16-----|

2nd Example:

|E|F#m|G#m|A|B|C#m|D#mb5|E|F#m|G#m|

e|-----0-----2-----4-----5-----7-----9-

b|---0-----2-----4-----5-----7-----9---

G|-1-----2-----4-----6-----8-----9-----

e|-------11-------12-------14-------16-|

b|----10-------12-------14-------16----|

G|-11-------13-------14-------16-------|

Cool D - A Guitar Exercise

2010-01-26T06:26:00.000-08:00

Here's a cool way to play over a common chord progression found in many pop songs. In this case, it's D to A.

Here's the chord progression: |D|A|D|A|D|A|F#m|E|

|-----------------------------------

|--------3----------2-----------3---

|------2---2------2---2-------2---2-

|-2-h4-------0-h2-------0-h4--------

|-----------------------------------

------------------------------------

---------2-----------3----------2---

-------2---2-------2---2------2---2-

-0-h2--------0-h4--------0-h2-------

------------------------------------

---------------0--------------------|

----1-2-1---------------------------|

-4---------2------------------------|

------------------------------------|

Harmony & Melody

2010-01-06T17:27:00.000-08:00

So, what's the difference between Melody and Harmony?

A melody is the part of a song you sing in the shower or hum to yourself. It's the hook, the tune. The harmony typically refers to the chords you play underneath the melody to create a certain feel or mood.

Often times, you'll hear someone say, "Can you sing the harmony?" or "Can you harmonize this?" That request usually refers to an additional voice offering a separate line that supports and adds color or movement to the melody.

The Beatles have some of the best examples of "singing harmonies". You'll find an example of this in virtually every song they wrote! For an easy and clear example, check out Norwegian Wood.

In Norwegian Wood, John Lennon is singing the melody. When Paul McCartney starts singing, that is him adding a harmony to the mix!

Norwegian Wood:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkcRZSdc8us

This site (below) has a cool tool for hearing a melody with different sets of harmony under it.

Go here and click on The SFS Harmonizer:

http://www.sfskids.org/templates/musicLabF.asp?pageid=16

Thanks for the idea F.

E minor Chord Progression

2009-12-29T08:33:00.000-08:00

Here’s a cool chord progression that can played under our first E minor pentatonic lick*. Notice how the lick has a different quality when played over each chord.

|Em|G |D |A |

|-7-7-7-7-7-|----------------

|-8-8-8-8-8-|-12-12-12-12-12-

|-9-9-9-9-9-|-12-12-12-12-12-

|-7-7-7-7-7-|-10-10-10-10-10-

|-----------|----------------

-----------|-----------|

-7-7-7-7-7-|-5-5-5-5-5-|

-7-7-7-7-7-|-6-6-6-6-6-|

-7-7-7-7-7-|-7-7-7-7-7-|

-5-5-5-5-5-|-0-0-0-0-0-|

-----------|-----------|

*Here’s the E minor lick to play over the chord progression.

|---------12---------------12-------|

|------------15-12------------15-12-|

|-14^-14^-----------14^-14^---------|

|-----------------------------------|

E minor pentatonic lick & exercise

2009-12-23T07:50:00.000-08:00

Here's a common E minor lick that can be useful when soloing!

I've taken the lick and moved it up and down the neck a bit to give you more to work on.

The ^ indicates a whole-step bend. (So, the 14th fret bent UP a whole-step will sound like the 16th fret played normally.)

(The bottom three strings E, A, D have been omitted to save space.)

e|---------12---------------12--------

b|------------15-12------------15-12--

G|-14^-14^-----------14^-14^----------

e ---------12---------------12--------

b ------------15-12------------15-12--

G -14^-14^-----------14^-14^----------

e --------3--------------3------------

b ----------6-3------------6-3--------

G -5^-5^-----------5^-5^--------------

e --------5-----------5---------------

b ----------8-5---------8-5-----------

G -7^-7^--------7^-7^-----------------

e -------7-------------7-------------|

b ---------10-7----------10-7--------|

G -9^-9^---------9^-9^---------------|

E minor arpeggio in groups of three (triplets)

2009-12-15T06:04:00.000-08:00

In a recent discussion about Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters", I decided to have a student begin working on the almighty E minor! E minor is a very popular key/chord and is used all the time in rock music. There are many tools we can use to play over E minor! Let's start with the E minor triad arpeggio. An arpeggio is a group of notes (all belonging to a chord) played one after the other. The notes in an E minor arpeggio are: E G B.

Here's an exercise to get started:

e|-----------------------

b|-----------------------

G|-------------------0---

D|------------2----2-----

A|-----2----2----2-------

E|-0-3----3--------------

e -------------0----0-3--|

b -----0-----0----0------|

G ---0-----0-------------|

D -2---------------------|

A -----------------------|

E -----------------------|

e|-3-0----0--------------

b|-----0----0----0-------

G|------------0----0-----

D|-------------------2---

A|-----------------------

E|-----------------------

e -----------------------|

b -----------------------|

G -0---------------------|

D ---2----2--------------|

A -----2----2----2-------|

E ------------3----3-0---|

The new Jet "Shakka Rock"

2009-09-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

I've been checking out the new record from Jet, "Shaka Rock". It's classic Jet. It's full of great rock songs with classic rock riffs ala AC/DC and many memorable sing-along hooks!

I saw Jet in LA at the Henry Fonda (one of my favorite LA venues) while they were touring for their second record, and they were amazing! A lot critics didn't like that record, but I loved it!

Here's a guitar riff from their new single:

http://www.myspace.com/jet

Jet – “That Girl’s A Genius”

Riff 1:

e|----------------------------|

b|----------------------------|

G|----------------------------|

D|----------------------------|

A|-7-7------7-5-7--7----------|

E|-----0--0----------0--3-0-5-|

New Mute Math Record "Armistice"

2009-09-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

I got the new Mute Math record "Armistice" last week and it is fantastic! My buddy Brian turned me on to these guys when I was in LA. I saw them at Avalon in Hollywood and it was by far one of the best performances I've ever seen! They are coming around to DC this fall - I totally suggest that you check them out!

Bassplayers: There are many great basslines to check out on this record, but the stand-out song in my opinion is the title track "Armistice". It's got a Jamiroquai meets Tower of Power feel to it. Classic syncopated and 16th note funky lines interweaved into a great rock song.

Guitarists: There are amazing U2/Coldplay-esque textural lines and parts throughout the entire record. Guitarist, Greg Hill, is a master at adding, fitting, and filling just the right space with just the right part. His riffs and textural approach add so much and never get in the way of the song!

http://www.myspace.com/mutemath