Guitar Nine Columns: Guitar Technique

The second part of Scott Allen`s new series delves into the ways of the harmonic minor.

Andre Tonelli has great ideas to get you out of playing in boxes, and into playing music.

Do you struggle with not having enough time to practice guitar? How to practice effectively when time is at a premium.

Here`s some new ideas for looping string skipping ideas, with your instructor, Mike Campese.

Guy`s reference spreadsheet for modes, chord scales and substitutions

You can come up with listenable and interesting solos if you know just how to "word" everything.

Coming to a rational conclusion as to what improvisation could be.

Designing specific exercises to improve the picking hand, and develop right hand coordination.

Practicing scales in an interesting and systematic way.

Canadian guitarist David Martone goes over his summer itinerary of clinics and classes.

Here`s a master class on the distinct sound of the harmonic minor scale, with your instructor, Mike Campese.

The third part of Scott Allen`s new series introduces you to the melodic minor.

The proper right hand positioning will enable you to play any style with just three types of picking positions.

A workout that develops finger independence, alternate picking, and two hand synchronization.

Have you played guitar for years and not gotten very far? Mike O`Malley has practical tips for your practice sessions.

Very cool and unique runs that can add that missing edge in your soloing.

Mike`s got a great way to learn your arpeggios and triads all over the neck.

Paul Tauterouff takes a common three-note sequence and turns it around to create a new sequence that sounds much more interesting.

The fourth part of Scott Allen`s new series deals with the concept of perfect symmetry.

Some very useful methods to help you learn to tune in and play by ear.

Have you been working on your sweep picking and been struggling to improve? Here`s help.

Using odd time signatures, open tuning and hybrid picking to keep things interesting.

Here are some exercises to develop and improve outside picking and alternate picking.

Some of Greg`s personal uses and insights into this somewhat eclectic scale.

Don`t stifle your creativity by applying too much theory to the songwriting process.

Adapting legato technique to the ubiquitous arpeggio.

Canadian guitarist David Martone takes you into the nuts and bolts of preparing three tracks for a Rush tribute album.

Even more of Greg`s personal uses and insights into this somewhat eclectic scale.

Mike Campese takes you through this short, but excellent, Niccolo Paganini piece.

When you are forced to make soloing decisions quickly, you may often end up making bad musical choices which distort your creativity.

Here`s guidelines for making the most of backing tracks when learning and improvising.

Scott`s new column all about what your priorities should be when learning the guitar.

You haven`t been jamming without a purpose, have you? You have? Read Nick Layton.

Paul Tauterouff takes even more three-note sequences and turns them around to create new sequences that sound much more interesting.

All about combining different techniques into a truly scary lick.

A two-part Invention done by one of Dan Sorber`s all-time favorite composers: J.S. Bach.

The alternate picking of arpeggios can be a very tough technique to master - here`s a unique way to approach the problem.

Canadian guitarist David Martone demonstrates his unique approach to two of his favorite techniques: tapping and hybrid picking.

It`s not what you play, it`s how you play it. Read this column for more as it applies to your solos.

How to get a better handle on the fretboard by concentrating on one string at a time.

Taking you behind the making of Scott`s upcoming album "From The Blindside".

Mike Campese takes you through another section of this excellent Niccolo Paganini piece.