Extended harmony takes all the fun of music and ruins it with a bunch of numbers. It's also very important because it reveals the hidden link between chords and scales. But all those numbers don't have to be confusing. Chords are built in thirds (playing every other note in the scale). The most basic chord … Continue reading What Are the Four Chord Extensions?
Modes vs Scales Modes are one of the most misunderstood topics in music theory. That's especially true among guitar players. I know how confusing modes can be. Despite studying music theory in high school and college, it took nearly a decade of personal study to understand the difference between a mode and a scale. But … Continue reading What’s the difference between a mode and a scale?
The chromatic scale is kind of strange. We call it a "scale" but anyone who uses it like a typical scale is going to be labeled "avant garde." The chromatic scale is essentially the musical alphabet. It's no more muscial than the regular alphabet is literary. Chromaticism can be used to connect notes within a … Continue reading Should You Practice the Chromatic Scale?
When I hear aspiring guitar players complain about pain in their wrist and fingers from playing barre chords, I totally get it. I had a lot of dumb ideas about the guitar when I first started playing. I honestly believed that pain was a normal part of being a guitar player. It took more than … Continue reading How Do I Get Better at Barre Chords?
Learning to play guitar can be frustrating if you only know a few chords. But what if there was a way to play more songs with the chords you already know? That’s what makes the capo an ideal accessory for beginners. It's a clamp that fastens across the strings at a particular fret, allowing a … Continue reading Is a Capo Good for Beginners?
Mike Eiman 