Stories from A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook
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Huge Chord Chart Update
A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook &bull Jun 7, 2010
I'm happy to announce the biggest chord chart update ever-over eighty new songs added, plus about thirty revisions. Almost all have strum pattern recommendations. I know how valuable those are to many of you. These are simplified versions of songs… Full Story »
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PolyTune Rocks
A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook &bull Jun 2, 2010
I usually don't plug products, but the just-released PolyTune app for the iPhone is amazing. You strum the open strings on your guitar, and the six pairs of dots-one for each string-show which strings are out of tune. Instead of… Full Story »
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Metallica Interview
A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook &bull Apr 2, 2010
I've been singing along with Metallica videos to try to get this John Denver voice to rock a little harder, and I came across this excellent Fresh Air interview with Metallica's lead singer and rhythm guitarist, James Hetfield. Thanks for… Full Story »
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Chameleon Guitar
A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook &bull Oct 6, 2009
My former student Mark alerted me to the Chameleon Guitar, a new acoustic-electric hybrid that uses computer processing to make realistic acoustic tone. I was impressed with their audio files, and then astounded to watch a video and realize that… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Guitar
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We Have eBook Liftoff
A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook &bull Oct 4, 2009
Yesterday I launched Rob’s Totally Awesome Guitar Teaching Handbook, my guide for running a successful guitar teaching business. It’s been two years in the making. I summed up my feelings in the Conclusion, written during yesterday’s marathon of last-minute writing,… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Guitar
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Teaching About Teaching
A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook &bull Sep 22, 2009
I’m spending the morning revising Rob’s Totally Awesome Guitar Teaching Handbook, still on track for an October 3 release. Writing a first draft can be a slog, but I love revising. I just turned a terrible paragraph in the book—my… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Guitar
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The Bummer of ‘72
A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook &bull Aug 26, 2009
Up early this morning working on my almost-finished book for guitar teachers, which I’m tentatively calling Rob’s Totally Awesome Guitar Teaching Handbook. Yesterday I came up with this introduction to a section on teaching your students to play safely (I… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Bass Player
- Play
- Guitar
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Archive: Interview with Brett Singer
A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook &bull Aug 7, 2009
Brett and I discussed the popularity of Wesley’s “Folsom Prison Blues” video, some of the tricks I use for teaching guitar to young kids, and I got in a little rant about the bankruptcy of American culture. Here’s a recording… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Guitar
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5-year-old Plays “Folsom Prison Blues”
A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook &bull Jul 26, 2009
More footage from this Spring’s Coffee Shop Jam: Wesley, who just turned five, performed “Folsom Prison Blues” with a soulfulness that would have made Johnny Cash weep. Many people, including my mom, are unsettled by a kid this young performing… Full Story »
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Topics:
- Johnny Cash
- Jam
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The Heartwood Beat, Issue 13: Fingerpicking Hand Position
A Guitar Teacher's Lesson Notebook &bull Jul 23, 2009
I hope you’re all having a great summer. The Heartwood Beat reached 4,000 subscribers since I last wrote. Welcome new readers! Fingerpicking Hand Position This past week I introduced yet another beginner to fingerstyle guitar–that is, picking the guitar with… Full Story »
