Everybody has to start somewhere, even if that somewhere is sitting Indian-style on the floor in your bedroom, plucking out an awkward first chord and feeling like a dork. In fact that’s what stops most wannabe guitarists before they’ve even begun: The initial agony of knowing nothing just doesn’t match up with the imagined ecstasy of ripping into a guitar right off the bat.

But the fact that even Frank Zappa got his start fooling with chord books and that John Mayer was subjected to a year of guitar store lessons is somewhat heartening, right? This collection of quotes imply that not only does their love of music bind these amazing guitarists but also their complete and utter dedication to learning guitar. As Judas Priest’s Glenn Tipton said, “I gave dedication a completely new meaning.”

Stroll on over to Gibson Lifestyle to read the rest of this superb post by clicking HERE.

I used to think that buying another new chord book was like buying the 2009 edition of Webster’s Dictionary (is it really that different from last year’s?). That may be true for “most” chord books, but certainly not for Guy’s Grids. This book is very different from the others and is well worth the $64.95 price (CD included).

To start, this book is massive. I’m talking about 228 spiral bound 11×17 pages! When you open the book and lay it flat on a table it is nearly 3 feet wide! Printed on high quality and heavy paper stock, Guy’s Grids is in itself a stunning work of art. Even my non-guitar-player friends are amazed at the detail when they flip through the pages.

Make no mistake, this is not a large print version of a “pocket-sized” guitar chord book. This is a comprehensive encyclopedia that will guide you along the path of understanding music theory and the relationship between chord families. On his website, Guy says: “I searched for a great chord reference book that would present the most useful chord forms in a manner that would reinforce the chord theory I had just learned… I wanted a book that would help me to recognize the relationship between related chords… I could not find such a book… So, I created my own.”

The book is very thorough and includes over 2,000 open chord forms and over 700 moveable chord forms. The book is divided into four major sections with sturdy tabbed dividers for 1) Open Chord Grids, 2) Moveable Chord Grids, 3) Index of Open Chords and 4) Index of Moveable Chords. Each page is extremely detailed with chord forms illustrating the recommended fingering and the chord tones and scale degrees for each string. Each page is a “grid” (obviously!) with identical column and row formats. The columns are divided into chord families (major, dominant, minor, and diminished). The rows are divided into triads and the variations of the triads that are created by the inclusion of a 7th, 6th, 9th, 11th, or 13th scale degree.

While the magnitude of reference information included in this book may seem intimidating to the new player, it is important to note that the book also contains a section for the beginning student called “Anchor Chords” with grids for the most commonly played chords that every guitarist should focus on first. The book also includes a “Bonus CD” for play-along practicing of the progressions found on every grid.

I ordered my book direct from Guy’s website which arrived quickly, wrapped in bubble-wrap inside a sturdy box. I have averaged spending about 30 minutes a day with the book since it arrived and in less than a week, my eyes have been opened to a fascinating new way of looking at the fretboard. I highly recommend Guy’s Grids to every guitar player who is serious about becoming a better player!

For more information or to order your copy, visit http://www.guysgrids.com/.

Yesterday, my guitar teacher suddenly stopped in the middle of our lesson and asked me to play a chromatic scale in the key of A. I sat there with the all-to-familiar “deer in headlights” look… That was a lesson in itself.

If we want to become better at anything, we must practice. You have heard it said before that you’d never forget how to ride a bike. Well, playing guitar is not like riding a bike! You can forget how to play!

Obviously there is a difference between practice and memorization. Having a scale memorized is different than playing the scale perfectly. But memorization cannot occur without practice.

Here are some tips for creating an ideal atmosphere to practice the guitar:

1.) Set aside a certain amount of practice time every day. At a minimum, it should be 20 minutes. Longer is better, if your day allows. 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening is another option.

2.) Select a location that will be comfortable and totally free from distractions. Turn the TV off and if possible (without offending anyone) ask others to not disturb you during practice time except for emergencies. You do not want to become a hermit, but you need to focus and stay focused on your practice efforts.

3.) Commit to practicing every day. Make it a part of your daily routine. If you miss a day, it’s not the end of the world. Just don’t miss the next day! Remember, the result of continued practice is that you will become a better player. Isn’t that what you really want?

4.) Choose specific things you will practice each week. Memorize a new chord shape, work on a new strumming pattern, develop faster chord changes, learn a new lick, etc…

5.) Use a metronome! A great guitar player with poor timing and rhythm is not a great guitar player. If you do not own a metronome, buy one! If you cannot buy one, then search Google.com for the words “Free Metronome”. There are many options available. No excuses!

6.) Record yourself playing the guitar. This is the best way to monitor your progress. You do not need to invest in elaborate recording equipment; you can use a simple little cassette tape recorder. Keep a history of tapes, at least 1 per month. Go back and listen to recordings from 6 months ago. Your improvement will inspire you to keep practicing as you realize how much better you have become!

7.) Take breaks. Never practice for over 1 hour without taking a break. Your fingers (and your mind) need a rest! Go visit the folks that agreed not to disturb your practice time…

8.) Finally, end each practice by playing your favorite song. It does not matter if you play alone or play along with your favorite backing track. Just play… and smile… because you are getting better every day!