In Speed Playing 3 were going to cover vibrato, whammy bar techniques, theory and composing music. This lesson will be split into 4 sections:
1. Vibrato (including string bends)
2. Whammy bar techniques
3. Theory (why its important, finding what key your in and how to find scales)
4. Excersises for speed playing
Vibrato
Ok so youve heard people talking about vibrato, maybe you know what it means but you have to understand its an essential part of guitar playing, it can make any player look good instantly by looking at there vibrato. Vibrato means you simply vibrate the string the holding, only slightly, to give your note more tone. Try this
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------5v--------------7p5----------------------------------|
G|--5v------------------------5v-------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------|
Ignore the V's for now, you might have seen them on other tabs, they mean to add vibrato but first we have to learn it. Basically everyones vibrato is unique, sometimes its fast or slow, it doesn't really matter, it all creates different moods. If you watch good guitarist, Steve Vai in particular, anything he plays sounds so nice because he vibratos almsot every note. Its easier if you hold the fret with more than one finger to give you more strenght and control. Here are the key tips:
1. As you hold the string, bend it ever so slightly up and down, not so much as your doing like full on tonal bends but not too lightly either.
2. Its hard to explain but if you watch guitarists theyl vibrato each note slgihtly when they play it, sometimes widely or quickly, sometimes shortly and slowly, it's all up to you how you play.
3. You have to kind of massage the string into the wood, give it loads of feeling and emotion.
Bending is an important technique that goes with your vibrato. When your bending you're making a string change it's pitch so it sounds like a different note. Try these:
E|--15--13--13b(15)--------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------10--8--8b(10)-----------------------------------------|
G|----------------------------------16--14--14b(16)------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Ok so the bracketed notes are when you bend indicate the target pitch you want to reach. With this excersise, for example the first, you play the 15 and hear what it sounds like, then you bend the 13 and when you bend it your trying to make it sound like the 15 fret. A bend played right can sound beautiful but played wrong sounds horrible. Combining bending with vibrato can make a small series of simple notes really stand out.
E|-----------------------------------------17h19-17------------------------|
B|--15-10--13----------------------17--19----------------------------------|
G|--------------14--12h13p12-----------------------------------------------|
D|----------------------------14-------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
This passage looks simple and it is, it probably sounds really boring, but adding vibrato and bends can give it great feel. Like so:
E|-------------------------------------------------17h19-17b(19)-----------|
B|--15-10--13b(15)v---------------------17vv-19vv--------------------------|
G|-------------------14--12h13p12------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------14v-------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
Its a bit tricky but if you keep at youl get to the stage where your vibrating every note and it will sound a lot better and other players will recognise your playing with better vibrato.
Whammy Bar Techniques
Joe Satriani's trademark screechs and Steve Vai's amazing effects and created using whammy bar tricks. The best kind of whammy bar to use for this is a floyd rose, mainly because of the locking system they stay in tune when you rag them, which is what youl need. Here a few techniques:
1. Satch Scream
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
B|--0ph.-----------------------------0ph.--------------|
G|---------0ph.-------------0ph.--0ph.-----------------|
D|---------------0ph.----------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------|
Here your going to do what Satch does, he will cross his fretting over and get ready with the whammy bar, then you simply hit an open note with a pinched harmonic, it sounds weird and it might take a while but make sure your on the bottom pick up and really dig your finger in as you pick. As soon as you pick and hear the harmonic use the whammy bar to make the note screech really high, rumble low or mix it up. Obviously you can do other pinched harmonics elsewhere and artificial ones.
2. Scoops and dives
Scoop bar up Push pre-raised bar down
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|--------------8b-----------8bd-------------------------|
G|--5b--5b------------12bd-------------------------------|
D|----------3b---------------------10bd------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
With scoops simply have the bar ready in hand, you can have it pressed down already then as you play the note scoop the bar upwards. For the dives its kind of the same thing but have the bar already up then as you play the note dive it down.
3. Gargles
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------6bd-----------------------------------|
G|--------5---7----------7b------------------------------|
D|---3---------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
For gargles you have to sort of play the note and flick the whammy bar, so you're pulling it and then let it go quickly so it sort of gargles the note.
4. Satch whammy effect
Press whammy bar down as each note is hammered on
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|--19h24p19----19-19h24----21---------------------------|
A|-----------21----------21------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
With this you don't pick the notes, simply hammer them on but as you do push the whammy bar down for each note. This can be heard at the end of Surfing with the alien.
5. Satch lizard down the throat effect
As you slide down the neck gradually push whammy bar down
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
B|------------3/////11---5////////13---------------------|
G|------------2/////10---5////////13---------------------|
D|--2/////10-------------5////////13---------------------|
A|--2/////10---------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
Satch does this on his song Ice Nine in the break, satch slides notes down the neck but as he does he pushes the whammy bar down, meaning that the note kind of gets stuck.
Theory
Theory is essential for all types of guitar playing, it sounds boring but it helps you to write music that works well with other instruments and chords. How many times have someone asked you what key your in or asked if you can play in E dorian mode? Where going to have a quick look at how to find out what key to play in and how to find scales easily.
1. Finding what key you are in
Ok so you or someone else has played a few chords and you want to improvise a solo, well first you have to find out what key you are in. Well lets take a basic chord progression:
Am C G Am C G
E|--0----0----3----0----0----3------------------|
B|--1----1----0----1----1----0------------------|
G|--2----0----0----2----0----0------------------|
D|--2----2----0----2----2----0------------------|
A|--0----3----2----0----3----2------------------|
E|------------3--------------3------------------|
Ok so a basic A minor, C then G chord progression, well what key can you solo in? Well this chord progression has the combined notes A B C D E G, so you know you know the notes used, what scale has these notes in. Well C major, A minor, G major, all of the chords used. Even slighlty different progressions will have the same effect, a D, A, Bminor will let you use the D and A major and B minor scales.
3. Finding scales
Ok I've found a simple way to find the notes of any scale, by using 3 simple patterns on the guitar. Lets take the key of A major for example:
E|-----------------------------------------------5--7--9----|
B|--------------------------------------5--7--9-------------|
G|-----------------------------6--7--9----------------------|
D|--------------------6--7--9-------------------------------|
A|-----------5--7--9----------------------------------------|
E|--5--7--9-------------------------------------------------|
Ok, so this is the initial shape for this scale, there's many ways to play this but this covers most of the fretboard. As you know all scales have 7 notes and then they repeat, so if we count 7 notes along this shape we will find A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G# then it repeats itself, ok so weve got the first shape, you can play this shape anywhere starting with the root note on the low E string. So:
C Major
E|-------------------------------------------------------8--10--12|
B|----------------------------------------------8--10--12---------|
G|-----------------------------------9--10--12--------------------|
D|------------------------9--10--12-------------------------------|
A|-------------8--10--12------------------------------------------|
E|--8--10--12-----------------------------------------------------|
E Major
E|-----------------------------------------------0--2--4----|
B|--------------------------------------0--2--4-------------|
G|-----------------------------1--2--4----------------------|
D|--------------------1--2--4-------------------------------|
A|-----------0--2--4----------------------------------------|
E|--0--2--4-------------------------------------------------|
E Major (Octave higher)
E|----------------------------------------------12-14-16-------|
B|-------------------------------------12-14-16----------------|
G|----------------------------13-14-16-------------------------|
D|-------------------13-14-16----------------------------------|
A|----------12-14-16-------------------------------------------|
E|-12-14-16----------------------------------------------------|
Ok so you now can play the first shape, any time you want to learn the notes of the scale, find the root and play this shape. Now then what about the other shapes, there's 2 more. Lets try this:
F Major
Shape 1 Shape 2
E|-------------------------------1-3-5-------------------6-8----------|
B|-------------------------1-3-5---------------------6-8--------------|
G|-------------------2-3-5-------------------------7------------------|
D|-------------2-3-5---------------------------7-8--------------------|
A|-------1-3-5-----------------------------7-8------------------------|
E|-1-3-5-------------------------------6-8----------------------------|
Shape 3 octave repeat ,same as shape 1
E|---------------------------------10-12-----------------------------------|
B|---------------------------10-11-----------------------------------------|
G|-------------------9-10-12-----------------------------------------------|
D|-------------10-12---------------------------------------14-15-----------|
A|-------10-12------------------------------------13-15-17-----------------|
E|-10-12---------------------------------13-15-17--------------------------|
If you can memorise these 3 shapes it can help you play scales anywhere. So for example G Major:
E|------------------------------------8-10-----------------------------12-14
B|--------------------------------8-10----------------------------12-13----|
G|-------------------------------9------------------------11-12-14---------|
D|-------------4-5----------9-10---------------------12-14-----------------|
A|-------3-5-7---------9-10---------------------12-14----------------------|
E|-3-5-7-----------8-10--------------------12-14---------------------------|
E Major
E|-----------------------------5-7---------------------------9-11|
B|-------------------------5-7--------------------------9-10-----|
G|------------------------6----------------------8-9-11----------|
D|-----------1-2-------6-7------------------9-11-----------------|
A|------0-2-4-------6-7----------------9-11----------------------|
E|-0-2-4---------5-7---------------9-11--------------------------|
Speed Playing Excersises
Heres a collection of speed playing excersises that you can practice:
1.
E|-------12-14-15-17-15-14-12----------12-14-15-17-15-14-12------------|
B|-12-14----------------------14-12-14----------------------14-12------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
2.
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------10-11-------10-11-13----10-11-13-15-10-11-13-15--|
G|-10-11-13-------11-13----------13--------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|
3.
E|--------12-17p12----------12-15p12--------7-10p7-------7-12p7-------|
B|-----13----------13----13----------13---8--------8---8--------8-----|
G|--14----------------12----------------7------------9------------9---|
D|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------------------------------------------------------------------|
4.
T T
E|--------------12h15h20p15p12-------------------------14h17h22p17p14----|
B|-----------13----------------13-------------------15----------------15-|
G|--------12----------------------12-------------14----------------------|
D|-----14----------------------------14-------16-------------------------|
A|--15----------------------------------15/17----------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
T
E|--------------------------14h19h24p19p14---------------|
B|-----------------------15----------------15------------|
G|--14----------------16----------------------16---------|
D|-----16----------16----------------------------16------|
A|--------17/14h17----------------------------------17p14|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
5.
E|--0-0-0-3-1-0-0-0-5-3-0-0-0-7-5-0-0-0-9-7-0-0-0-12-10--|
B|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
6.
E|--------------------------------------------------5h8--|
B|------------------------------------------------6------|
G|----------------------------------------4h6/8-8--------|
D|--------------3h4p3p4---3h4p3h4-----4h6----------------|
A|--------2h4h6---------5---------5/7--------------------|
E|--2h4h6------------------------------------------------|
7.
E|--3-5-3h5h6p5-5-7-5h7h8p7-7-9-7h9h10p9-9-10-9h10h12----|
B|-------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
8.
E|--19-17-15---------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------19-17-16------------------------------------------------------|
G|--------------------18-16-15---------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------18-16-15---------------------------18-16-15-|
A|--------------------------------------16-14-12----------16-14-12---------|
E|-----------------------------------------------16-14-12------------------|
E|--------------------15-17-19-------|
B|-----------16-17-19----------------|
G|--18-16-15-------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------|
9.
E|-----------------19----------------19------------------|
B|--19-20-22-20-19----19-20-22-20-19----19-20-22-20-19---|
G|-------------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
10.
E|--7p4-------4-7p4-------4-7p4-------4-7p4-14p11----------11-14p11-17p13--|
B|------5---5-------5---5-------5---5-------------12----12-----------------|
G|--------4-----------4-----------4------------------11--------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------13-17p13-12p9---------9-12p9---------9 12---|
B|--14----14---------------10---10--------10---10--------|
G|-----13---------------------9--------------9-----------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------|
11.
E|--------------------------------------10-------10-11----10-11-13---|
B|-----------10-11----10-11-13-10-11-13----11-13-------13------------|
G|--12-11-12-------12------------------------------------------------|
D|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------|
12.
E|--------14-17-14----------14-17-14----------14-17-14----------14-17-14-|
B|--14-15----------14-15-14----------14-15-14----------14-15-14----------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|--------17-20-17----------17-20-17----------17-20-17----------17-20-17-|
B|--17-18----------17-18-17----------17-18-17----------17-18-17----------|
G|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|
13.
E|------------------------------------9h10h12p10p9-----------------------|
B|----------------------------9h10h12--------------12p10p9---------------|
G|---------------------7h9h10------------------------------10p9p7--------|
D|--------------7h9h10--------------------------------------------10p9p7-|
A|--------5h7h8----------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5h7h8----------------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------|
B|----------------|
G|----------------|
D|----------------|
A|--8p7p5---------|
E|--------8p7p5---|
14.
T T T T T
E|--10h17p13-------------------------------------|
B|-----------12h19p15----------------------------|
G|-----------------------------------------------|
D|--------------------12h15h19-------------------|
A|-----------------------------12h20h17----------|
E|--------------------------------------6h13p10--|
T T T T T T T T
E|------------------------------------------------------------15h24p20-|
B|---------------------------------10h18p13h18p13p10h21p13p10----------|
G|---------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|----------------7h14p10-12h19p15-------------------------------------|
A|---------5h13p8------------------------------------------------------|
E|--5h13p8-------------------------------------------------------------|
15.
T
E|--------------------8h12h13h20---------|
B|-----------------10--------------------|
G|----------5/9h12-----------------------|
D|--------7------------------------------|
A|------7--------------------------------|
E|--5h8----------------------------------|Hope this helps.
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