Guitar & Music Lessons

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Q: How long will it take to become a good musician (piano, guitar, banjo, bass)?

A: Depending on how often you practice, generally 6 months to a year and a half (6 months - 18 months).

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I worked on the filmscore to the feature-length documentary Pigweed Philosopher: The Untethered Zen of Kimball Johnson with director Gabriel Lakey and executive producer Jeffrey Gold. The film went on to win a number of festival awards, including:

Winner - 2009 Toronto Independent Film Festival - Feature Documentary (International)
Winner - 2009 Moab Film Festival
Winner - 2009 London Independent Film Festival - Feature Documentary (International)
Winner - 2009 Park City Film Music Festival - Director's Choice: Gold Medal for Excellence - Feature Documentary

The official website is: http://www.pigweedphilosopher.com

Synopsis:

Kimball Johnson is a non-conformist with a heart—and someone willing to lose everything to tilt at windmills. In the style of esteemed documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles, documentary filmmaker Gabriel Lakey spent six years following this true American original. Some might call Kimball Johnson crazy, some might call him foolish, and others might call him enlightened, but pursuing his passions headlong without a harness can bear a heavy price. Would you be willing to lose everything you owned for the feeling of having tried and lost? Is this pigweed philosopher an unconventional genius who figured out that life is best lived at the outer fringes or is he just the quintessential Don Quixote of broken dreams who never found his way home?

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Q: What is the best way to practice Guitar?

You Must Follow These Rules For Fast Advancement On Guitar

[Note: The following is written for right-handed players. If you play left-handed, please adjust accordingly.]



1) When practicing while sitting down adjust your guitar strap so the guitar is one to two inches above your left leg.

2) Use a foot stool for your left foot or a phone book or any sturdy flat surface will lift your foot four to six inches above the ground. When playing standing up the guitar should be about five to seven inches below the base of your neck.

3) Always pay extreme attention to keeping your left hand thumb on the lower to the middle portion of back of the guitar neck.

4) Always warm up! Start with the thin E string which is closet to the floor – begin by picking the string down up, down up, down up (also called alternate picking) in a smooth, continuous even flow. After about two hundred repetition’s continue to the B string or second string from the floor. As you progress from string to string (E, B, G, D, A, low thick E towards ceiling) concentrate on gradually increasing your speed and attack. Also use a hard pick and hold it at a slight angle downward from the left hand. Repetition with increasing concentration is the key to developing speed and control. It is very easy to not focus and rush though this process but that is a mistake!

5) When starting a new exercise or song start extremely slowly and gradually build speed. Your brain must first develop muscle memory so at first it will seem awkward and unfamiliar, don’t worry this is completely normal! After your nervous system learns where to go your strength will increase naturally and you will be able to play at the desired tempo. Also at first most students try to play at a tempo (speed) that is way to fast in trying to imitate what they hear in their mind. This leads to frustration. The key to great guitar playing lies in forcing yourself to slow down and concentrate. At first this is a little challenging but in time it with become natural and fun!

6) Also keep your shoulders relaxed and focus on breathing slowly. As your concentration improves your breathing will slow down, this is a good thing – but don’t hold your breath just breath normally.

7) Keep your fingers arched and on the very tips of your fingers. Also use minimum movement. When changing from chord to chord or string to string roll across the strings without completely lifting off of the strings. Remember to pivot and hover directly over strings. This where one or more fingers stays on the same fret and string while the others pivot around them. Also work on keeping your thumb of your left hand directly behind first finger!

8) Once you are comfortable doing the above techniques begin to incorporate the metronome. Start at about fifty beats per minute (50 BPM). Do this for five to ten minutes for each exercise! Then increase by five BPM’s (55, 60, 65, 70 BPM etc. etc). Though challenging at first you will develop great rhythm which is the weakest element in most guitarists (and musicians in general).

9) If you find your hand getting tired take a break and stretch your fingers in and out in a slow gradual process. Increase the tension opening your fingers and moving your hands back towards yourself. Do this two to five times a day two to five minutes a day.

10) Remember focused practice with increasing concentration is the road to mastering the guitar.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Q: What books has Vince Lauria Written? Are they available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and other booksellers?

A: Yes, the following books by Vince Lauria are available for sale on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and other booksellers:

Title: The Rock Riff Dictionary for Lead Guitar
Author: Vince Lauria
Publisher: ADG Productions
ISBN-10: 1882146816
ISBN-13: 978-1882146819
ADG Catalog Number: ADG039

Synopsis: The Rock Riff Dictionary For Lead Guitar is a Revolutionary New Technique for Learning Guitar". This Book/CD by author Vince Lauria demonstrates essential concepts and techniques using the familiar tab system. Learn trills, vibrato, slide and more in the lead guitar book. The book is supplemented with a CD featuring audio examples of the techniques found in the book. Recommended for beginning and intermediate students, the Rock Riff Dictionary is a practical, hands - on introduction to some of rock music's most useful concepts. 150 of the best riffs and melodic techniques ever assembled - blues, rock, major, minor, chromatic. Create your own intros, outros & incredible solos. 27 matching chords, 24 scale forms, note name chart and much more.

Available at: Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Borders | ADG Productions | AbeBooks

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Title: Mel Bay Presents The Original You Can Teach Yourself Rock Guitar
Author: Vince Lauria
Publisher: Mel Bay
ISBN-10: 0786644028
ISBN-13: 978-0786644025

Synopsis: This is the updated, revised & expanded edition. It now ranks as one of the very best introductory rock guitar methods available. The student will learn licks, phrases, solos, bass runs, and power chords in the keys of E,F,G,A,D,B-flat and C! Also included is a special section by Mark Lonergan on performing licks and riffs, rock techniques such as tapping, bending, double stops, etc., and some great solo ideas! In notation and tablature. Note-reading ability is not necessary!

Available at: Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Borders | Flipkart | AbeBooks

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Title: Mel Bay Presents Learn to Burn on Rock Guitar
Author: Vince Lauria
Publisher: Mel Bay
ISBN-10: 0871667657
ISBN-13: 978-0871667656
Mel Bay Catalog Number: MB94136

Synopsis: This book will show you some of the most commonly used patterns and devices found in contemporary rock guitar. This is an ideal study text for all contemporary guitarists regardless of their level of advancement.

Available at: Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Borders | AbeBooks

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Title:Mel Bay Presents Learn to Burn on Rock Guitar (Video)
Author: Vince Lauria
Publisher: Mel Bay
Mel Bay Catalog Number: MB94136VX

Synopsis: This video will show you some of the most commonly used patterns and devices found in contemporary rock guitar. This is an ideal study video for all contemporary guitarists regardless of their level of advancement.

Available at: Amazon.com

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Title: Mel Bay Presents The Complete Power Rock Guitar Course
Author: Vince Lauria
Publisher: Mel Bay
Mel Bay Catalog Number: MB94231BP

Synopsis: Mel Bay Presents The Complete Power Rock Guitar Course contains four complete books on rock guitar learning systems.

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Title: Mel Bay's Heavy Metal Solos for Guitar
Author: Vince Lauria
Publisher: Mel Bay
ISBN-10: 0786626879
ISBN-13: 978-0786626878
Mel Bay Catalog Number: MB96541BCD

Synopsis: Mel Bay's Heavy Metal Solos for Guitar contains commonly used rock lead and rhythm patterns.

Available at: Amazon.com | Barnes & Noble | Borders | AbeBooks

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Title: Mel Bay Presents Best of Rock Guitar
Author: Vince Lauria
Publisher: Mel Bay
ISBN-10: 0871668521
Mel Bay Catalog Number: MB94139

Synopsis: The Best of Rock Guitar book contains a wide variety of rock guitar styles and techniques.

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Title: Mel Bay's Best of Rock Guitar (Cassette)
Author: Vince Lauria
Publisher: Mel Bay
Mel Bay Catalog Number: MB94139C

Synopsis: Mel Bay’s Best of Rock Guitar contains some of Vince Lauria's finest performances and compositions.

Available at: Stanton's Sheet Music | C-Majeur (Netherlands)