Coda Guitar

Here’s a couple of score previews to have a look at. As mentioned in the previous post, this Blues-Funk song is based around an Em Pentatonic scale and uses riffs and a solo in the middle.

All the level 1 songs have full and easy versions of the student guitar part, and there is a sample of the easy version included at the bottom of this post. The easy versions of all the songs are equivalent to Rockschool grade 1 songs which use open position riffs (open strings and notes on frets 1,2 and 3), open chords and fairly easy rhythms. So we’ll be demonstrating how to play the easy versions of the songs first in the lesson videos, which will make it easier to learn the correct phrasing (eg: timing / rhythm), and structure whole songs with the playalong tracks.

Later lesson chapters will demonstrate how to play the full student part which will by then be much easier to learn as the structure, phrasing and actual notes are basically the same in both versions. If you compare the 2 score samples you’ll be able to see the rhythms are the same for both. The actual notes (the top line of notation – not the tab), are also the same so the only difference is that the easy riff is played in the open position, and the full version is played further up the neck of the guitar. For some inexperienced players stretching fingers 1 and 3 across 3 frets (in this case frets 5 and 7), can feel uncomfortable which is why the Rockschool grade 1 songs just use open position riffs.

To make songs sound more like commercial tracks it is often better to play riffs further up the neck. The full student parts for all our level 1 songs use riffs, solos and chords which are similar to those used in famous songs. For this Blues-Funk song the full student part uses fretted riffs and typical lead guitar techniques in the solo: string bending, slides, hammer ons and pull offs. The full student part is actually at grade 2 standard so if you can play this in full with the backing track then you’re doing pretty well!

To play these sample scores listen to the playalong track and try to copy the phrasing (rhythm), if you don’t know how to read the notation (open this link in another browser tab to hear the audio). As I mentioned for the Classic Rock sample, try to sing the riff first when learning the rhythm (it’s easier to do this than play on the guitar even if you think your singing is rubbish!). For the easy sample use fingers 2 and 3 for frets 2 and 3. For the full sample try to use fingers 1 and 3 for all the notes (starting with finger 1 on fret 5, and finger 3 on fret 7). When position shifting it is usually best to shift down with finger 1 (eg: from frets 5 to 3), and up with finger 3 (eg: from frets 5 to 7).

Don’t worry if any of this is confusing though – all will be explained in the finished video lesson!

Level 1 – Blues Funk

Here’s another playalong track from our new level 1 series. It’s got a similar feel to classic tracks such as Stevie Wonder’s Superstition and is based around the Em pentatonic scale. This track is all about riff playing, it doesn’t use any chords but has some great funk licks and a lead solo in the middle.

Often there are just small differences between styles of music. Pentatonic riffs are used in pretty much all styles: metal, jazz, blues, reggae etc. Pentatonic simply means ‘5 notes’ and the minor pentatonic scale is the most common scale in modern guitar music. For more info you can check out these free lessons:

http://www.codaguitar.com/freelesson-44.htm

http://www.codaguitar.com/freelesson-46.htm

In the case of this new Level 1 track it’s the phrasing (or rhythm), which gives it a funk feel – the riffs play on the off beat a lot (this means the notes in between beats 1,2,3,4 often sound the strongest).

Because of all this, the riffs and solo in this song can be used in other styles of music and will still sound great. You can crank up the distortion and sound like Rage Against the Machine, or take it down a notch and play along with Bob Marley.

Most importantly the student guitar part is designed to be playable by beginner and less experienced guitarists. It is often difficult to play commercial tracks in full and up to speed, as they are recorded by pro guitarists who are usually famous because they’re better than most! Coda Guitar’s songs allow all guitarists to play realistic structures in full, helping to fast track playing and develop new skills.

Classic Rock score sample

Ok so we can’t give you the whole thing but we can show you some samples of the score for the new classic rock song.

This intro is using a bluesy trick of playing different fretted notes on string 4 (D string) over an open A on string 5. Combined with a punchy off-beat rhythm and a bit of distortion this style of riff was used by loads of great 70s bands including ACDC and T. Rex, and still crops up in modern songs by indie and rock bands.

Try to use fretting hand fingers 1, 3 and 4, on frets 2, 4 and 5 (on the D string). If you’re not sure how to play the rhythms listen to the audio track and try to copy the riff (open this link in a new browser tab). A good trick to help learn rhythms is to try and sing the riff first – singing a riff is easier than playing on a guitar (even if you don’t think you’d cut it on X-Factor), so once you’ve got the ‘tune’ in your head try it on the guitar.

If you find it a bit of a stretch to use your little finger (finger 4 on fret 5), try the EASY score instead. This only uses frets 2 and 4 and sounds just as good – you can just use fingers 1 and 3. A lot of beginner guitarists find it easier to use fingers 1,2 and 3 at first, plus frets 2 -5 are pretty far apart so don’t worry if you can’t play the full version to start with.

We’ve also got a some free lessons which could help you to develop a more comfortable fretting hand postion:

http://www.codaguitar.com/freelesson-38.htm

http://www.codaguitar.com/freelesson-45.htm

Classic Rock EASY score sample

Level 1 – Classic Rock

We’re in the middle of sorting the videos for our new series of song lessons. These will be included in the Level 1 section of the site. We’ve got 6 new songs for you in different styles – acoustic, blues-funk, classic-rock, indie, melodic-rock and metal. Check out this first example – the mp3 is attached or you can listen on YouTube: classic-rock

Learning our songs is great experience for guitarists who want to play famous songs in similar styles with more confidence, and develop their all round playing. You’ll be able to play at faster speeds more quickly, your rhythm and timing will improve, and you’ll learn to play all the basic techniques properly which are the building blocks of great guitar playing.

The majority of great guitarists don’t often use tricky ‘advanced’ techniques, they can play the basics really well which is why they sound so musical. By becoming secure with the techniques we’re covering in our songs you’ll find it easier to learn more advanced styles, and make your playing sound more fluent.

Each of these new songs will be available as a full video lesson with playalong tracks at different speeds, with each section broken down making it easy to learn. We’ll also be demonstrating easy and normal ways of playing the parts, which means beginner guitarists will be able to learn and play the full structures, while more experienced guitarists can use them to reinforce and develop their playing.