OFFICE HOURS 114 | Thursday, April 6, 10AM Pacific Time
Added 2023-04-04 02:38:57 +0000 UTCNew here? Wondering where to start? Click here for my Patreon start page, or here for my recommended lesson plan.
Hi Everyone,
Here are the timestamped questions:
Question 1: Ray had questions about big hands and how to hold the guitar to maximize dexterity
Question 2: Wayne and Harsh had questions about warming up - best practices and why.
Question 3: Harsh had a question about how to practice using the D shape chord - I gave some ideas using SPJ Jam Tracks
Question 4: Tristan had some questions about movable pentatonic shapes
Question 5: Stevie was wondering about the difference between a melody and a riff. I muddied the waters more here, but it ultimately comes down to context.
Question 6: Vicenco had questions about keeping the pulse while strumming anything other than the classic patterns. I recommended my strumming course.
Question 7: Harsh had questions about how to identify the key of a song so you can play along and solo - check out my Ear Training series and my Live Song Analysis series.
Question 8: Mathias had questions about how to keep the rhythm and pulse while soloing
Question 9: Omar was curious about how my camera guitar works - I can't say yet!
ASK ME ANYTHING! I'VE NEVER MET A QUESTION I DIDN'T LIKE!
Continue the conversation on the community forum.
Check out the Lesson Archive for more Office Hours Live Streams
Other helpful links:
Scott's Recommended Lesson Plan
Searchable Lesson Archive
How to Join the Community Forum
Scott's Jam Tracks
Scott's Main YouTube Channel
Comments
while my guitar gently weeps?
Gyro
2023-04-14 03:31:44 +0000 UTCA vamp?! Brilliant observations as ever @scottpauljohmson. You gave me a new word in my musical journey. I wrote a vamp 👍
stevie walters
2023-04-07 11:21:12 +0000 UTCAny advice on identifying the key/scale of a song and practicing soloing on the same ? Is there a strategy to it ? What are the best ways of going about getting comfortable with it. I am trying to make learning scales/arpeggios more fun.
harsh ghesani
2023-04-06 17:02:05 +0000 UTCHi, Could you give us some tips on rythm while strumming. I have a problem with feeling music and strumming patterns. I learned some basic patterns like dduudu and I am perfect at those. But when something is changed I mess up becuase my hand is so used to those patterns
Vicenco
2023-04-06 16:19:57 +0000 UTCHello Scott! Here is a terminology question for you. I wrote a short melody on banjo for the last Community Challenge. Ever since I posted it I’ve been thinking, that’s a Riff, not a melody. So begins the circular argument. I need more information to break out of it. Aren’t they are both just a collection of notes. Could you share what you feel distinguishes a riff from a melody? I am pretty sure what I did below was write a riff rather than a melody. #1 Melody on a Banjo Key C Guitar tuned to Drop D https://community.scottpauljohnson.com/t/community-challenge-write-something-outside-your-comfort-zone/4109/9?u=stevie_wal
stevie walters
2023-04-05 12:40:34 +0000 UTCHey Scott! So I’ve been diving a little more into pentatonic scales but I’ve come across a problem. I know all five shapes, but how can I use those to play in different keys? For example, if I wanted to play only in the key of G major, but I wanted to use all five shapes so I can go up and down the fretboard, how would that work? Because how would I play a shape from the root note A on the low E string without being in the key of A minor? Anyways, hope this makes sense and I look forward to hearing from you!
Tristan Melton
2023-04-04 13:26:12 +0000 UTCHi Scott Hope you are doing well. I am working with CAGED Basics. I finished the D shape. What strategy can I use to identify songs I could apply my D shape learning to ? Would it be just finding songs that play a few chords and try to play them using the D shape only be it via strumming or through arpeggios ???
harsh ghesani
2023-04-04 13:09:24 +0000 UTCHi Scott, Thanks very much for your advice a few weeks ago regarding playing with sore arthritic fingers. It has opened my eyes and brain in new ways to play chords that are much more comfortable to play. As a 62 year old intermediate(ish), player, I hadn't really thought much about new and different ways to chord. For example, one song I've always enjoyed is Melissa by the Allman Brothers, but in the last year, that B bar chord, played in the A shape on the second and 4th frets was more and more difficult. Now I simply play the B using my third finger on the middle strings 4th fret and mute the rest. Love it! Sounds good too! My question this week is in regards to warm ups. Is there anything you find helps get your fingers moving at the start of practice? Thanks again, Wayne
Wayne Barlow
2023-04-04 10:42:45 +0000 UTCHi Scott. Just wondering about finger position when you have big hands. I've found the strings can be unintentionally muted with my fingers. I have one acoustic classical style with a wide neck which I really enjoy playing, my other acoustic, yamaha fg800, and various electric guitars, prs se custom 24 and epiphone dot, I constantly have to re-position my fingers to try and get all the strings to ring out. I have read that putting your thumb towards the back of the fretboard forces your fingers upright and wearing a guitar strap in a certain position can also help by balancing the neck rather than grabbing it to hold it up. Any advice would be welcome. Thank you.
Ray F
2023-04-04 10:38:54 +0000 UTC
