The Fine Tune Academy in Encinitas, CA proudly serves the local community, including neighboring areas such as Carlsbad, Rancho Santa Fe, Olivenhain, La Costa, San Marcos, and greater San Diego North County, with a groundbreaking approach to performance-based music education. Encinitas boasts a rich musical heritage, counting world-renowned musicians like Switchfoot and Tom DeLonge (Blink-182) among its residents, whose influence on the music industry is profound. We leverage this vibrant musical legacy to empower our students to excel on guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and vocals, spanning diverse genres including rock, funk, pop, R&B, metal, electronic, and more, encompassing hits from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and contemporary tunes. Encinitas fosters a thriving arts scene, where our students have showcased their talents at community festivals like the annual Switchfoot Bro-Am. Embark on your musical journey towards excellence and join The Fine Tune Academy today!
Rock 101 stands as one of The Fine Tune Academy’s premier programs tailored for kids and beginners. Participants engage in weekly group rehearsals, delving into simplified renditions of classic rock anthems suitable for novice musicians. Additionally, Rock 101 students in Encinitas benefit from private music lessons conducted weekly by instructors who impart essential concepts and skills underpinning their performance repertoire.
Our music programs for kids in Encinitas are meticulously crafted to propel students onto the stage, fostering robust musical aptitude. Younger students who have completed the Rookies program at The Fine Tune Academy can transition seamlessly into our Rock 101 music program when ready. Moreover, newcomers (typically aged 8 to 13) can embark on their musical journey directly through Rock 101, irrespective of prior experience. This foundational rock program aims to swiftly cultivate fundamental competence on students’ chosen instruments before advancing to our renowned Performance Program.
Beginner Guitar Lessons for Kids:
At The Fine Tune Academy, we offer beginner guitar lessons tailored for kids, guided by expert instructors who provide comprehensive private instruction alongside weekly group band rehearsals. Each instructor at The Fine Tune Academy boasts extensive musical expertise, emphasizing foundational music theory and technique throughout the guitar lessons. Unlike conventional guitar programs, our approach at The Fine Tune Academy emphasizes ensemble performance, ensuring students thrive within a band setting.
Beginner Guitar Lessons for Adults:
It’s never too late to embark on a guitar journey. Similar to our kids’ guitar lessons, The Fine Tune Academy’s beginner guitar lessons for adults adopt a performance-centric curriculum. Our seasoned instructors engage adult learners through popular rock songs, fostering a challenging yet enjoyable learning environment. We advocate a hands-on learning approach, combining weekly private guitar lessons with group band rehearsals. At The Fine Tune Academy, adults can enroll in our Adult Program, culminating in live performances at local venues across Encinitas.
Key Concepts:
- Technique
- Solos
- Chords
- Theory
Intermediate to Advanced Guitar Lessons:
As students progress in skill and experience, they advance to more challenging programs tailored to higher proficiency levels. Intermediate and advanced students at The Fine Tune Academy build upon foundational skills acquired in beginner guitar lessons, tackling advanced techniques and concepts. Our curriculum features advanced guitar lessons for both kids and adults, centering around challenging classic rock compositions and fostering real-world performance experiences in established music venues. Encinitas guitar instructors at The Fine Tune Academy collaborate closely with each student to devise personalized learning strategies.
Experienced Music Teachers:
All instructors at The Fine Tune Academy are seasoned musicians committed to nurturing students’ musical proficiency. Our personalized one-on-one instruction aims to inspire confidence, cultivate social skills, and tailor learning experiences to individual student needs.
The Fine Tune Academy: Where Music and Learning Converge
For over two decades, our exceptional instructors at The Fine Tune Academy have mentored hundreds of thousands of students worldwide, transforming them into accomplished musicians. Begin your musical journey at The Fine Tune Academy today.
The Path to Take the Stage:
Our music programs for kids in Encinitas prioritize stage performance, aiming to bolster musical proficiency. Students who have completed the Rookies program can seamlessly transition to Rock 101, while newcomers aged 8 to 13 can directly enroll. The Rock 101 program serves as a springboard, fostering fundamental competence before students progress to the renowned Performance Program.
Music Lessons in Encinitas:
Our Songwriting program for kids and teens imparts fundamental songwriting, arrangement, and music theory skills, fostering the creation of original compositions. At The Fine Tune Academy, songwriting students receive weekly private lessons delving into concepts, technique, and theory on their chosen instrument. These principles are then applied in weekly group sessions focusing on songwriting exercises and lyrical workshops. Regular showcases provide students with opportunities to perform their original compositions in bands at local music venues.
The Path to Take the Stage:
The Songwriting program at The Fine Tune Academy is designed to nurture musical proficiency through original music creation. Upon completion of the Rock 101 program, students can transition to Songwriting. Additionally, newcomers with prior instrument experience and basic knowledge can also commence their songwriting journey. The program culminates in a live showcase, where students perform original compositions in bands at local venues. Online Songwriting Program students remotely record their original songs to produce a class demo.
At The Fine Tune Academy, students can access online, one-on-one music instruction through our School of Rock Remote program. This online music program features weekly one-on-one sessions led by expert instructors in a secure virtual environment.
What to Expect:
- One weekly 1-on-1 lesson
- Lessons conducted via secure video technology
The Path to Take the Stage:
All our music programs for kids, teens, and adults are designed to foster exceptional musical proficiency, including our online music lesson program. Online Guitar Lessons, Online Piano Lessons, Online Drum Lessons, Online Singing Lessons, and Online Songwriting Lessons are all offered through the School of Rock Remote program.
The Fine Tune Academy’s House Band music program provides students under 18 with opportunities to join gigging bands comprised of fellow school musicians, performing live shows throughout the year. Performance Program participants can audition for a spot in The Fine Tune Academy’s House Band, where selected members lead within the community and perform at rock venues across CA.
What to Expect:
- A gigging musician’s experience
- Regular live performances in the community
The Path to Take the Stage:
Performance lies at the heart of The Fine Tune Academy’s educational philosophy, driving additional performance opportunities on stages throughout Encinitas and CA. The House Band music program offers talented students the chance to play regularly in front of live audiences, fostering real-world music experience and leadership roles within the School of Rock community.
The School of Rock AllStars Tour showcases the top students from around the world on a nationwide summer tour across the United States. Less than 1% of School of Rock students are selected each year to represent as AllStars, with all Performance Program students eligible to audition. The rigorous audition process involves video submissions and live auditions, culminating in an authentic touring experience featuring performances at renowned venues and festivals.
What to Expect:
- A multi-city, country-wide music tour experience
- Performing on some of the biggest and most famous stages globally
The Path to Take the Stage:
Becoming an AllStar represents the pinnacle of achievement for School of Rock students. AllStars grace legendary stages, from The Knitting Factory to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, The Troubadour, and Lollapalooza. Former AllStars often forge successful careers in the music industry, pursuing avenues such as touring, Broadway musicals, record deals, and prominent roles in talent competitions like “The Voice” and “American Idol”.
SINGING LESSONS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS
BEGINNER SINGING LESSONS FOR KIDS
The Fine Tune Academy in Encinitas offers beginner singing lessons tailored for kids. Our innovative, performance-based approach nurtures students’ musical proficiency by preparing them for live performances. Vocal coaches at The Fine Tune Academy, themselves active musicians, integrate essential music fundamentals—such as breathing techniques and posture—into a curriculum centered on band performance. Each week, beginner singing students participate in a private singing lesson alongside a band rehearsal.
BEGINNER SINGING LESSONS FOR ADULTS
Adults keen on mastering the art of singing can enroll in The Fine Tune Academy’s groundbreaking Adult Program. Our curriculum is meticulously designed to accelerate vocal development, catering to adult learners with diverse skill levels. Participants learn to maintain tempo, pitch accuracy, and adopt advanced vocal techniques for a robust and healthy voice. Our teaching methodology revolves around popular rock songs that underscore key concepts, ensuring an engaging and effective learning experience. Adult Program students benefit from weekly private singing lessons and group band rehearsals.
KEY CONCEPTS:
- Technique
- Harmony
- Power
- Reading
INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED SINGING LESSONS
At The Fine Tune Academy in Encinitas, our singing lessons for both kids and adults are crafted to elevate students to a high level of musical proficiency. Intermediate and advanced singers build upon foundational skills acquired in previous lessons, delving into more complex techniques and concepts. Advanced singing lessons at The Fine Tune Academy emphasize practical application through popular rock songs that exemplify specific vocal techniques. We complement weekly private singing lessons with band rehearsals, aiming to cultivate live performance skills within Encinitas’s vibrant music scene.
KEYBOARD LESSONS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS
BEGINNER KEYBOARD LESSONS FOR KIDS
At The Fine Tune Academy, we redefine music education in Encinitas with our performance-based curriculum. Our beginner keyboard lessons for kids seamlessly blend weekly private instruction with band rehearsals, laying a strong foundation for musical proficiency. These lessons introduce key concepts and music fundamentals—such as finger placement, scales, and key differentiation—through popular rock songs, inspiring and engaging students to achieve mastery. With years of teaching experience in the Encinitas area, our piano instructors possess the expertise to motivate students of all skill levels effectively.
BEGINNER KEYBOARD LESSONS FOR ADULTS
The Fine Tune Academy’s Adult Program offers beginner keyboard lessons designed to immerse adult learners in a band environment from day one. Regardless of prior experience, adult students embark on a journey of musical discovery through weekly private piano lessons and band rehearsals. Our seasoned instructors facilitate opportunities for adult students to perform live at local Encinitas music venues, transcending traditional classroom learning.
KEY CONCEPTS:
- Technique
- Tone
- Theory
- Reading
INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED KEYBOARD LESSONS
At The Fine Tune Academy in Encinitas, our keyboard lessons for both kids and adults are tailored to deliver tangible results. Intermediate and advanced students expand upon foundational skills acquired in beginner lessons, exploring more advanced piano techniques and concepts. Our local keyboard instructors, all active musicians in Encinitas, utilize popular rock songs as effective teaching tools, fostering a deeper understanding of complex musical concepts. Weekly private piano lessons are complemented by band rehearsals, ensuring students are inspired and engaged throughout their musical journey.
DRUM LESSONS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS
BEGINNER DRUM LESSONS FOR KIDS
The Fine Tune Academy in Encinitas provides unmatched beginner drum lessons, igniting a passion for music in young learners. Our beginner drum curriculum combines private instruction with weekly band rehearsals, preparing students for thrilling live performances. Drawing upon years of teaching experience in Encinitas, our drum instructors instill core techniques—such as groove and rudiments—in beginner drum students, setting them on the path to musical excellence.
BEGINNER DRUM LESSONS FOR ADULTS
Our drum lessons for adults cater to individuals of all skill levels at The Fine Tune Academy in Encinitas. Tailored for adult learners with little to no experience, our beginner drum curriculum mirrors our approach for kids—emphasizing band performance to accelerate learning. Adult students showcase their skills live at venues across Encinitas, distinguishing our program from traditional drum lessons and enhancing the learning experience.
KEY CONCEPTS:
- Rudiments
- Time Signatures
- Technique
- Groove
INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED DRUM LESSONS
Experienced drum students at The Fine Tune Academy receive personalized instruction aimed at refining skills and fostering musical growth. Our drum instructors customize lessons to meet each student’s goals, integrating advanced techniques and concepts—such as intermediary grooves and meters—into individual lessons and band rehearsals. With a selection of challenging songs for live performances, students are equipped to excel both on and off the stage.
BASS LESSONS FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS
BEGINNER BASS LESSONS FOR KIDS
At The Fine Tune Academy, beginner bass guitar lessons for kids offer a dynamic blend of private instruction and band rehearsals. Our performance-based approach instills a high level of musical proficiency, inspiring and engaging students through popular rock songs that illustrate key concepts and techniques. Led by experienced instructors who are active musicians in Encinitas, our bass lessons for kids deliver outstanding results.
BEGINNER BASS LESSONS FOR ADULTS
Adults seeking to master the bass guitar can enroll in The Fine Tune Academy’s Adult Program. Designed for beginners, our bass guitar lessons empower adult students to hone their skills through weekly private instruction and band rehearsals. Our performance-based curriculum ensures adult students have the opportunity to perform live at local Encinitas venues, making learning both rewarding and enjoyable.
KEY CONCEPTS:
- Groove
- Technique
- Theory
- Tone
INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED BASS LESSONS
Intermediate to advanced bass guitar lessons at The Fine Tune Academy in Encinitas provide students with the tools to become indispensable band members. Building upon foundational skills, students tackle more advanced techniques and concepts, guided by our experienced instructors. With popular rock songs as teaching aids and weekly band rehearsals, students are inspired to excel throughout their musical journey.
SCHOOL OF ROCK IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Every day, The Fine Tune Academy witnesses students evolve from beginners to confident musicians in their local community. Explore our photos, videos, and posts to discover why The Fine Tune Academy is more than just a music school in Encinitas.
Ready to unleash your musical potential? Join The Fine Tune Academy today and experience the joy of playing in a band or crafting original songs. Our diverse music camps and workshops cater to musicians of all skill levels, offering instruction in guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, and vocals.
HOW TO HAVE THE STAGE PRESENCE OF A MUSICIAN
WHAT IS STAGE PRESENCE?
Stage presence encompasses the visual aspect of live performance, complementing the auditory experience of music. This article breaks down stage presence into three key components: Movement, Energy, and Musical Proficiency. Discover how you can enhance your stage presence and captivate audiences during performances.
MOVEMENT
Movement is a critical aspect of stage presence, allowing performers to engage with the audience and enhance their live performance. Whether it’s subtle gestures or dynamic actions, movement can significantly impact how your performance is received.
- Utilize the space: Take advantage of the stage area, whether it’s by standing in one spot and moving your body or walking around while playing. Experiment with different movements to find what feels natural and enhances your performance.
- Make it big: Ensure your movements are visible to the entire audience, even those seated far away. Opt for big and dramatic gestures, but always prioritize safety and awareness of your surroundings to avoid accidents.
- Forward movement during solos: When playing a solo, consider moving forward on the stage to command attention and signal to the audience that this is a focal point of the performance.
- Practice and awareness: Record yourself performing or practice in front of a mirror to assess your movements. Pay attention to cable management, especially if you’re playing guitar or bass, to avoid tripping or equipment mishaps.
ENERGY
Energy onstage is crucial for captivating audiences and conveying emotions through music. Here are some tips to enhance your stage presence and exude confidence:
- Project confidence: Even if you’re feeling nervous, exude confidence through your body language and facial expressions. Remember, the audience often can’t tell if you’ve made a mistake unless you show it.
- Fake it till you make it: Pretend to be confident, and eventually, it will become second nature. Focus on delivering a compelling performance rather than dwelling on potential mistakes.
- Record yourself: Record your performances to gain insight into your stage presence and energy levels. Viewing yourself from different perspectives can help identify areas for improvement.
MUSICAL PROFICIENCY
While stage presence is essential, musical proficiency remains the foundation of any live performance. Here’s how to balance both aspects effectively:
- Prioritize practice: Dedicate time to regular practice sessions to become comfortable with your instrument and repertoire. The more proficient you are, the easier it will be to focus on stage presence during performances.
- Simulate performance conditions: Practice under conditions similar to live performances, including different venues, environments, and attire. Familiarizing yourself with various scenarios prepares you for unexpected challenges.
- Enjoy the moment: Remember to have fun and enjoy the experience of performing live. Embrace the opportunity to share your music with others and let your passion shine through onstage.
By integrating movement, energy, and musical proficiency, you can elevate your stage presence and deliver memorable performances that resonate with audiences. Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned musician, honing these skills will enhance your overall live performance experience.
THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR
Choosing the right guitar for your musical journey can be daunting, but understanding the basics can simplify the process. Here’s a breakdown of the main categories and considerations when selecting a beginner guitar:
1. Body Shapes:
- Consider comfort and tone: Some guitar bodies may be too heavy or have uncomfortable shapes, impacting your playing experience. Experiment with different shapes and sizes to find what feels right for you.
- Tone differences: The shape of an acoustic body can affect tone, with smaller bodies producing higher frequencies and larger bodies offering deeper, resonant tones. Listen to various guitars to determine your preference.
2. String Gauge/Action:
- Opt for low-string gauge: Thinner strings require less pressure to fret notes and facilitate techniques like vibrato and bending. Beginners may find lighter gauges (e.g., 0.008 or 9s) easier to play.
- Action adjustment: High action can make playing more difficult, so look for guitars with adjustable action or be prepared to have it set up to your liking.
3. Electric Guitar:
- Versatility: Electric guitars offer a wide range of sounds and are versatile across various genres.
- Amplification required: You’ll need an amplifier to fully enjoy an electric guitar, though it’s possible to practice without one.
- Price range: Electric guitars can range from $180 to several thousand dollars, but investing in a quality beginner model is recommended.
4. Acoustic Guitar:
- Convenience and accessibility: Acoustic guitars are readily available and don’t require amplification, making them ideal for beginners.
- Limited tonal capabilities: Acoustic guitars lack the versatility of electric guitars but offer a specific tone suitable for genres like rock, country, and blues.
- Difficulty level: Acoustic guitars can be harder to play due to higher string tension, but nylon-stringed guitars offer a softer alternative.
5. Electro-Acoustic Guitar:
- Combines acoustic and electric capabilities: Electro-acoustic guitars can be played unplugged or plugged into an amplifier for added versatility.
- Tonal range: While broader than acoustic guitars, electro-acoustics still can’t replicate the full range of electric guitar tones.
- Price range: Expect to pay between $200 and $500 for a beginner electro-acoustic guitar.
Conclusion:
- Ultimately, choose a guitar that aligns with your musical preferences and budget.
- Experiment with different options to find the right fit for your comfort, tone, and playing style.
- Whether you go for an electric, acoustic, or electro-acoustic guitar, focus on enjoying the journey and making great music!
GUITAR LICKS: HOW TO LICK LIKE A PRO
Guitar licks are essential for adding flair and expression to your playing. Here’s a breakdown of what guitar licks are, why they’re important, and how to incorporate them like a pro:
1. What is a Guitar Lick?
- A guitar lick is a short musical idea used in improvisation, often incomplete on its own but adding color and energy to a song.
- Unlike guitar riffs, which serve as main motifs, licks are used sparingly to complement music.
2. Why Play Guitar Licks?
- Adds color and expression: Licks can enhance your music by adding stylistic expression, highlighting your personality, and conveying mood.
- Versatility: Licks can be used to transition between parts, fill empty spaces, or add energy to a song.
3. Guitar Licks vs. Riffs:
- Licks are short bursts of notes used sparingly, while riffs serve as main musical ideas repeated throughout a song.
- Licks add color and emotion, while riffs drive the song’s theme and structure.
4. Phrasing Guitar Licks Like a Pro:
- Phrasing is crucial for presenting licks effectively within the music.
- Utilize space: Separate licks with space to avoid musical clutter and create impactful statements.
- Experiment with rhythms and note placement to create dynamic phrasing.
5. Writing Great Guitar Licks:
- Identify key and scale: Determine the key of the song and choose notes from the corresponding scale.
- Experiment with patterns: Create note groupings and rhythmic patterns that fit the music’s mood and style.
- Incorporate phrasing: Use space and rhythmic variation to enhance your lick’s impact.
Conclusion:
- Guitar licks are powerful tools for expressing yourself and adding depth to your playing.
- Practice incorporating licks into your music, focusing on phrasing and creativity.
- Draw inspiration from your favorite guitarists and experiment with different styles to develop your unique sound.
BEST GUITAR STRUMMING PATTERNS AND TECHNIQUES
Mastering guitar strumming patterns and techniques is essential for becoming a versatile player. Here’s a guide to unlocking your strumming hand’s potential:
1. Importance of Strumming:
- Rhythm foundation: Strumming patterns provide the rhythmic foundation for songs and enhance their musicality.
- Genre versatility: Different styles like funk, reggae, punk rock, and country have unique strumming patterns that define their sound.
2. Learning Strumming Patterns:
- Start simple: Begin with basic downstrokes and upstrokes to develop coordination and timing.
- Progress gradually: Gradually introduce more complex patterns, focusing on consistency and accuracy.
- Experiment with dynamics: Vary your strumming intensity to add depth and emotion to your playing.
3. Techniques for Mastery:
- Focus on wrist movement: Use your wrist to generate strumming motion, maintaining a relaxed and fluid technique.
- Incorporate accents: Emphasize certain beats or chords within a pattern to create rhythmic interest.
- Practice with a metronome: Develop solid timing by practicing with a metronome and gradually increasing tempo.
4. Genre-Specific Patterns:
- Explore different genres: Experiment with strumming patterns specific to funk, reggae, punk rock, country, and other styles to broaden your musical repertoire.
- Listen and imitate: Study recordings of songs in your preferred genre and try to replicate the strumming patterns and techniques used.
5. Applying Strumming Patterns:
- Play along with songs: Practice strumming patterns by playing along with your favorite songs, focusing on matching the rhythm and feel.
- Experiment with variations: Modify existing patterns or create your own variations to suit different musical contexts and add personal flair.
Conclusion:
- Strumming patterns and techniques are essential components of guitar playing.
- Start with simple patterns and gradually progress to more complex ones, focusing on consistency and expression.
- Explore different genres and styles to develop a versatile strumming repertoire and enhance your musicality.
TIPS ON TIMING AND TECHNIQUE
Before we get started, there are a few things to consider when learning proper strumming technique. Here are some tips on how to develop your rhythm playing:
HAVE A COMFORTABLE GRIP ON YOUR PICK
Hold your pick with your thumb and index finger, and employ a Goldilocks-style grip: not too tight, not too loose, but just right so that it is comfortable to you. With the right grip, you should be able to pick/strum through all the strings without getting caught on a string or dropping your pick. Additionally, you can experiment with the placement of your middle/ring/pinky fingers either fanned out or folded into your hand to find what works best for you. Generally, it can be easier to have your fingers tucked in while strumming at faster tempos.
STRUM PRIMARILY USING YOUR WRIST
You’ll feel a slight bounce in your elbow naturally, but most of the strumming action should come from the wrist. This promotes better speed, timing, and accuracy – the smaller the motions, the smaller the margin for error. The turn of your wrist also helps angle your pick up or down to ensure clean contact with the strings on each stroke.
KEEP YOUR STRUMMING MOTION CONSTANT AND CONSISTENT
Your strumming hand acts as the perfect metronome. Even if you’re just playing whole or half notes – and especially if you’re playing more syncopated patterns like in funk or R&B – constantly feeling the beat in your strumming hand will help you to stay in time with the song and can give you the precision to nail more advanced syncopated rhythms.
SYNC YOUR DOWNSTROKES WITH A FOOT TAP
Another tip to conquering heavily syncopated rhythms is to keep tempo with your foot and align your downstrokes with each foot tap. This can help you subdivide 1/8th notes and even 1/16th notes with greater precision and prevent you from rushing or dragging the tempo.
UPSTROKES ARE USUALLY DONE ON THE G/B/E STRINGS
A common misconception is that you must hit every string with your upstrokes just as you do on your downstrokes. Try that on your own and you may find it to be unnatural and uncomfortable. The truth is a natural upstroke (returning your hand to its starting position to begin another downstroke) will usually only strike the 2 or 3 highest strings. This helps with strumming speed and accuracy and also helps strongly reinforce the downbeat by emphasizing the low strings only on a downstroke, creating a virtual drumbeat on your guitar.
With these tips in mind, learning to strum your guitar should hopefully feel a little less daunting. Next, let’s talk a little about how to break down a brand-new rhythm or strumming pattern and what you can do to simplify a rhythm to make it easier to understand.
HOW TO LEARN AND PRACTICE NEW PATTERNS
SAY IT BEFORE YOU PLAY IT
As you’re reading a new rhythm, it can be incredibly helpful to recite it as you’re reading it by simply saying the beats. For example, a measure of all 1/8th notes could be counted with the word ‘and’ representing the offbeat.
Syncopated rhythms will omit beats, so those beats will not be said aloud. For example, an 1/8th note strumming pattern that does not contain a note on beat 3 will be counted as:
Speaking these rhythms will allow you to understand how they should sound before you play them and will help you apply them to your instrument.
TAKE IT SLOW
Taking things at a slower tempo at first will also help to ensure you are reading/hearing/playing the rhythm correctly. Playing a new concept quickly or at tempo right away before you’ve had time to properly learn it leads to sloppy playing – a bad habit that can be difficult to quit.
Speak or play the pattern at a tempo slow enough that allows you to play it mistake-free. When you’re ready to try it on guitar, playing at half-speed or half-time can be a great starting point but feel free to start from a tempo slightly slower or faster than that if that’s more comfortable for you. From there, you can gradually increase your speed until you finally reach the original tempo of the song. Try setting milestones for yourself to reach along the way – 60% speed, 75%, 90%, etc. Practicing at slower tempos helps build up your muscle memory and before you know it those tricky rhythms will become a lot easier.
PRACTICE ON A SINGLE CHORD
Many songs will repeat a strumming pattern throughout an entire chord progression consisting of 2, 4, and sometimes even 8 different chords. However, playing these chord changes while trying to learn an already-difficult strumming pattern can cause more trouble than necessary and hinder your learning process. Instead, choose one chord and practice the strumming pattern solely on that chord. Once you’ve built up the muscle memory and you’re able to cleanly loop this new pattern over and over, then the next step will be to add the other chords in the progression. It could be helpful to take this step at a slower tempo as well to solidify the timing of the chord changes as they fit within the strumming pattern.
Now that you’re ready to tackle some new strumming patterns, let’s take a look at some iconic songs that utilize some of the most essential rhythms and techniques that every player should keep in their bag.
ESSENTIAL STRUMMING PATTERNS
QUARTER NOTES (EXAMPLE: “BOULEVARD OF BROKEN DREAMS” BY GREEN DAY)
The intro to “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” consists of only ¼ notes (albeit with some assistance from a delay pedal). With two quarter notes per chord, the song moves quickly through the progression despite the spacious strumming pattern. This pattern should be played only with downstrokes, and will help you get comfortable with keeping and controlling the tempo in your strumming hand.
EIGHTH NOTES (EXAMPLE: “GO YOUR OWN WAY” BY FLEETWOOD MAC)
While the verses are slightly more syncopated, the chorus of “Go Your Own Way” is straight 1/8th notes. This song is at a much quicker tempo than the last, so feel free to begin practicing with ¼ notes to get comfortable with your timekeeping. When you’re ready, add in the upstrokes between every beat (play the &’s between each downbeat) to give the song a driving, double-time sort of feel.
SIXTEENTH NOTES (EXAMPLE: “PAPA’S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG” BY JAMES BROWN)
Depending on the tempo of the song, often the smallest subdivision of notes that we can play on guitar is the 1/16th note. Funk music is built upon the foundation of the 1/16th note subdivision because of the great opportunities for syncopation. For this example, however, we are going to focus on straight 1/16th notes played throughout an entire measure with no rests or syncopation. The chorus in “Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” always ends with a 1/16th
Perhaps the trickiest pattern of all is the triplet pattern which sees the guitarist strumming a chord three times per beat, hence the name. Again this pattern can become quite difficult at faster tempos, but with lots of practice can greatly improve your precision and timing. On “All My Loving,” John Lennon strums a very jangly triplet pattern throughout the verses, giving the song its signature sound. Because of the unique concept of fitting 3 strokes inside a single beat, we also must count it differently:
Besides the tempo, what makes this pattern so difficult is that the 3-stroke pattern begins with a downstroke on the odd-numbered beats (1 & 3) and with an upstroke on the even-numbered beats (2 & 4).
It may be helpful to think of the pattern as strong-weak-weak, meaning you emphasize the first stroke which falls on “1”, followed by two weak strokes on “& a.” As you repeat this pattern on beat 2 it becomes flipped, so you’re constantly alternating:
This can feel unnatural and uncomfortable at first, so it is important to practice this pattern slowly. This will allow you to get comfortable with accenting beats 2 and 4 with an upstroke which we haven’t seen in any other strumming pattern.
CONCLUSION
The measure of great guitarists throughout history is too often their soloing ability, but that is only one aspect of being a great player. Guitarists such as Malcolm Young, Nile Rodgers, James Hetfield, and Pete Townsend – while not known necessarily for their soloing – no doubt belong in the conversation of greatest guitar players of all time for their mastery of rhythm. A guitar can sound like a symphony when played by the right player and we hope this article has helped move you in that direction. Just remember to slow things down, take your time, and above all – practice, practice, practice!
SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITAR PLAYERS
Learning to play the guitar takes time, and as many have come to find, it isn’t as easy as it looks. While there are some of us who happen to pick it up quickly, there are others whose learning curve requires a little more effort. While the ease or difficulty of that initial learning curve is simply the luck of the draw, the good news is that by the time a student is at the intermediate level things begin to even out. If you happen to be reading this, chances are that you have already progressed past the beginner phase and are looking to take your playing to the next level.
And since nothing is more inspiring than modeling your guitar playing after your favorite artists, we’ve put together a list of 5 Core Intermediate Guitar playing skills to work on in this stage, along with a track list of songs to learn ranked from easiest to most difficult.
OPEN CHORD MOVEMENT AND STRUMMING
When thinking of intermediate guitar playing skills it’s important to recognize that with the guitar you’ve got two hands that are doing very different things. As such these first two core skills are as important to work on independently as they are to work on together. At the intermediate level, students should be able to move between open chords with ease and in time with the music. In tandem with the chord movement students should be able to strum the guitar in some basic patterns in both up and down strokes, and in eight note sequences.
Here are some examples and their ease of playing:
EASY OPEN CHORD SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS
1 “House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals – The chord changes in this one are easy enough, but what gives this song the intermediate edge is the slightly arpeggiated strumming pattern as well as the 6/8 meter.
2 “Let It Be” by The Beatles – Quick and fluid chord changes are your main skills to master with this classic Beatles tune.
3 “Heart of Gold” by Neil Young – Pretty basic chord changes, with a quick riff in between one of them along with some cut-in strumming patterns that should help to break students out of more traditional strumming patterns.
MEDIUM-DIFFICULTY OPEN CHORD SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS
1 “Back in Black” by AC/DC – This song is a great one to master for the intermediate student as it combines both strumming and lead techniques. It is also one that many students tend to play incorrectly. Try listening to the intro slowed down to correctly identify the first lead lick. The final note is a bend from A to Bb to (open)G.
2 “Space Oddity” by David Bowie – While most of this song’s chords should be familiar to the blossoming intermediate guitarist, it introduces a few oddities, including the A minor over G and D over F#, the former of which requires some pinky muscle to fret properly. This is a good opportunity to get experience with some of these lesser-known chords and different voicings with known chords. It also utilizes a few 7th chords, which are essential to learning for the intermediate guitar player.
3 “Hotel California” by The Eagles – Seamless chord movement and strumming is the key to mastering this song. If you aren’t yet comfortable with 8th note strumming, this is a great place to get your practice in.
HARD OPEN CHORD SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS
1 “Plush” by Stone Temple Pilots – This iconic 90’s classic introduces players to a couple of unique chord shapes, including using your thumb to fret the low E string for the D over F# chord. You’ll also need to harness some more of that pinky strength for the most difficult chord in the song, the Eb Major 7 played at the 6th (pinky, A string), 5th (ring, D string), and 3rd (pointer across the G, B, and e strings) frets. The song also has a tricky rhythmic strumming pattern on the chorus that may take a few attempts before it begins to click.
2 “Pinball Wizard” by The Who – In addition to some new and moveable chord shapes (variations on the bar chord shape), the beginning of this song utilizes a strumming pattern that has the player using the bottom note of the chord as a “drone” while the rest of the chord only being played once per segment. It then progresses into a quick strumming pattern, utilizing 8th and 16th notes strums. Your metronome will be your best friend when attempting to master this classic tune.
POWER CHORD/BAR CHORD MOVEMENT AND STRUMMING
While open chord movement and strumming are common in both electric and acoustic guitar playing, power and bar chords tend to be favored and geared more towards the electric guitarist. As such it’s important to recognize that if you’re working with an acoustic guitar, this skill may take a little more time to develop simply because of the difference in action (space between the strings, thus the amount of pressure required to properly fret a chord) between an acoustic and electric guitar.
Similar to open chord strumming and movement, the intermediate guitarist must move fluidly between power chord and bar chord segments of a song and be able to quickly change chords along the neck of the guitar. This includes being able to mute strings that aren’t part of the chord, strumming and palm muting in a variety of patterns, and having some experience playing and adjusting chord shapes for different tunings, such as drop D.
Let’s take a look at some examples:
EASY POWER CHORD/BAR CHORD SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS
1 “Cut Me Some Slack” by Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear – A relatively simple chord progression right out of the pentatonic scale at a moderate but still engaging tempo, this is a great place to start for students who are still working on getting comfortable with power chords and bar chords.
2 “American Idiot” by Green Day – Though relatively simple, the quick power chord changes can easily throw students that aren’t used to quick switching at quicker tempos. Slow it down, and speed up as needed!
MEDIUM-DIFFICULTY POWER CHORD/BAR CHORD SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS
1 “Barracuda” by Heart – This classic tune introduces students to the wonderful world of chugging. A simple variation on palm muting combined with a quick up and down strumming pattern, chugging may pose some difficulty at first, but once you put in the time to connect to the rhythm, the power of the chug will be yours!
2 “Enter Sandman” by Metallica – While the intro for this song is simple enough for most intermediate students, the challenge comes with the quick chord-changing chugging pattern that follows and continues throughout the song. Playing this one from start to finish will definitely give your fingers and forearms a great workout!
3 “Point of No Return” by Kansas – Quick bar chord changes and 1-2 note fills in between some of the chords are some of the challenges to overcome on this classic tune. Bonus points for learning the lead organ lines!
4 “Remedy” by The Black Crowes – The proper way to play this song is in the open G tuning, however, it can just as easily be played in standard with power chords. Try it both ways! The open G tuning will give students the experience of playing a song in an open tuning, and how it changes the approach to chords. This is a really great opportunity to learn some interesting chord voicings in a completely new tuning!
HARD POWER CHORD/BAR CHORD SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS
1 “Everlong” by Foo Fighters – For students not yet exposed to Drop D, this song is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the most popular alternate tuning. In addition to learning to do power chords with just one finger, Dave Grohl’s legendary 90’s ballad also introduces the player to some interesting, power-chord-based voicings in Drop D, including D Maj7 and B and G sus 2. Without a doubt, the most challenging aspect of this song is the strumming pattern. Be patient, as it can take some time to get the hang of, but once you do, this is arguably one of the most enjoyable songs to play on this whole list.
PICKING PATTERNS/FINGERPICKING
Another key skill of the intermediate guitarist involves picking patterns and fingerpicking. Precision and resonance are key to keep in mind when working on these skills. Precision deals with tempo while resonance deals with the sound of the note being played. The trick to developing precision with your picking patterns is utilizing the metronome.
In truth, the metronome is an essential companion for all these skills but it is absolutely invaluable for picking patterns! For some of these songs in particular (such as “Street Spirit” or “Jolene”), the picking pattern may seem like something rather daunting at first. But, as with much of guitar playing, once you can more slowly break down what’s going on it’s easier to understand what we’re hearing as a relatively simple pattern. Each song example in this section has the tempo listed; once the song is learned, try to play it at its official tempo, and when encountering issues, slow it down by 5-10 bpm and begin to gradually work up. As the old adage goes, “To play fast, first learn to play slow.”
With a better understanding of the importance of precision, let’s now move on to resonance, and this applies especially to fingerpicking. Resonance in this context refers to the ability to play each of the strings at the same relative volume. For many of us who began playing guitar with a pick, this will be a completely new skill to learn from the ground up.
The most common and (arguably) efficient style of fingerpicking involves assigning strings to each of our right-hand fingers. For the E, A, and D strings, we use the thumb while using the pointer, middle, and ring fingers for the G, B, and high E strings, respectively. The key to developing good resonance with fingerpicking is simply acquainting yourself with this style of playing. If your only experience plucking strings has been with a pick, this will be a challenge at first, but with patience and repetition, most find themselves playing just as efficiently as they do with a pick.
Funnily enough, some may end up enjoying the fingerpicking style so much that they all but abandon their use of the pick thereafter. The touch of our fingers is much softer when compared to the more pronounced attack of the pick sound, and thus the sounds coaxed from this style are often more rounded and smooth, which makes for a much warmer tone.
Only two full-on fingerpicking songs are listed in this section, however, the truth is that pretty much any song that can be picked can be fingerpicked as well. Therefore, we encourage the student to apply fingerpicking and plectrum (fancy name for a pick) picking to any of the songs listed in this section and compare the sounds of the two different styles.
EASY FINGERPICKING SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS
1 “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” by The Beatles (Tempo: 138 BPM) – A great tune that utilizes quick shifting chords in close proximity. The intro goes from an A to an A7, to an A6, and then finally to an F.
2 “Hey You” by Pink Floyd (Tempo: 112 BPM) – With a relatively simple pattern, this tune is a great place to start for both working on picking patterns, and for an introduction to fingerpicking.
MEDIUM-DIFFICULTY FINGERPICKING SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS
1 “Street Spirit” by Radiohead (Tempo: 69 BPM) – A seemingly difficult tune that, when slowed down, becomes much more manageable. Utilizing a cross-picking technique across three chords with some slight finger augmentations in between, the key to this tune is muscle memory. Train your hands and fingers at a slow, consistent rate, and only ramp up the speed once you’ve nailed the pattern.
HARD FINGERPICKING SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITAR
FEEL AND STYLE
Last but far from the least is what tends to be one of the most difficult skills to teach, as well as being simultaneously a vital stepping stone to more advanced guitar playing: feel and style. This skill requires the student to be able to dive much deeper into an artist’s songs and begin to break down not what is being played, but rather how that artist plays it.
Not only is this vital when it comes to achieving mastery of guitar playing, but it is crucial for any student who has ambitions to develop their own, unique style of playing. The trick isn’t to necessarily perfect one’s ability to play in the styles of others, but rather to get acquainted with learning different styles and approaches to playing. In doing so, the student’s guitar playing is able to open up to new heights and offer the opportunity for a more expanded repertoire of skills.
EASY SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS TO PRACTICE FEEL AND STYLE
- “1979” by Smashing Pumpkins – This song utilizes both a drone note for the main riff, as well as other open strings in tandem with riffs and chords to evoke its dreamy imagery and theme. To really master the feel of this song, it’s important to make everything sound fluid. The additional notes are key. Whether it’s the drone in the main riff or the addition of open notes to several chords, both help to glue the melody to the rhythm to give this song its ethereal, melodic sound.
- “Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin – Similar to the Smashing Pumpkins tune, the challenge with this song is making everything sound fluid. The way this song achieves that fluidity is through Jimmy Page’s ability to slide in and out of chord shapes with ease, giving these otherwise pretty janky riffs a gliding quality. The intermediate student would do well to give special attention to mastering these slide-ins and outs to harness the feel of this song.
MEDIUM-DIFFICULTY SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS TO PRACTICE FEEL AND STYLE
- “Pride and Joy” by Stevie Ray Vaughn – Some would describe Texas Blues as the cleanest dirty sound, and part of what gives it that character is the combination of the swing feel and–especially with the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughn–the power behind every single note. Swing feel is hard to put into words, but what comes to mind is the swaying feeling it evokes. Being able to connect to that rhythmic feel in addition to mastering not only the notes played but being able to play them as loud as they are clear are essential to this tune.
HARD SONGS FOR INTERMEDIATE GUITARISTS TO PRACTICE FEEL AND STYLE
- “Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix – When it comes to Hendrix, many attempt but so few are able to truly harness the dynamic nuances of his playing style. Now that being said, if you have come this far you are definitely ready to throw your hat in this particular ring. Utilizing all the skills mentioned above, this song challenges the intermediate guitar player to utilize much of their skillset in order to begin the path of mastering this classic tune. There are not many tricks when it comes to this song other than consistent practice to nail the feel. However, one thing to keep in mind is Hendrix’s sense of dynamics he employs throughout the song. While he’s certainly riffing all throughout, if you pay close attention you’ll notice that all the while he’s playing with the dynamics of each riff he uses. Some are quiet and some are louder, and they perfectly complement the mood and feel of the song.
- “Brick House” by Commodores – Last on this list, but likely one of the first for many players as a proper introduction to skank guitar playing is this Commodores classic. Skank guitar playing is a style that is all about feel. Usually utilizing the higher strings for “chords” and a LOT of muted and rhythmic strumming, this style will be a challenge for many guitarists. The key to harnessing this feel will involve slowing down the song and really zoning in on the rhythmic nuances.
READY TO TAKE YOUR GUITAR SKILLS TO THE NEXT LEVEL?
The intermediate stage is where playing the guitar begins to feel the way we first envisioned it when we first touched our fingers to the fretboard. This is where many will likely begin to learn the songs that originally inspired them to play guitar. However, this is also the phase of guitar playing that most people end up getting stuck at, and while there tend to be more student drop-offs in the beginning stage, there are many guitarists whose guitar playing progression pretty much ends at this stage.
While staying at that intermediate stage of guitar playing is perfectly OK, School of Rock can motivate students to new heights of their guitar-playing ambitions and help them achieve their next level of musical proficiency. Check out our Guitar Lessons page for more information on how School of Rock can take your music skills to the next level.
FEMALE GUITARISTS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Despite what its image in the 20th century might suggest, the guitar hasn’t always been a symbol of masculinity. In the 18th and 19th centuries, guitars were seen as women’s instruments. Guitars were smaller back then, and in the 1800s, the parlor guitar—a small, compact model—was developed for women. As a result, women, such as Spanish virtuoso Madame de Goñi, were some of the greatest early guitarists.
But as the commercial availability of steel strings in the early 1900s accompanied the general popularization of the instrument, it found a new home among a male demographic. By the time rock emerged in the 1950s, the guitar had come to be viewed as masculine—a supposed quality that was reinforced by the media. In their study of music ads in Seventeen magazines from 1944 to 1981, Lyn Ellen Burkett and Kim Wangler note, “girls were pictured … standing near guitars, and watching boys playing guitars, but rarely was a girl shown holding or playing a guitar.
Now, 40 years later, more and more female guitarists have played a role in the evolution of rock and been recognized for their contributions. They are shredders, bandleaders, singer/songwriters, sidewomen, and more. They’ve become platinum-selling artists and have lead musical movements.
JOAN JETT
Perhaps one of the biggest names in rock, bandleader/guitarist Joan Jett rose to fame in the ‘80s with her band the Blackhearts. Starting out in the late ‘70s with all-girl rock group the Runaways and switching to a brief solo career from 1980-81, Jett became known for her loud, defiant, no-frills rock edge, which can be heard on songs like “I Hate Myself for Loving You,” “Bad Reputation,” and most famously, her Top Ten hit “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll.” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
JONI MITCHELL
Starting out in the ‘60s, singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is one of the most influential, poetic, and multi-faceted artists to have emerged from the mid-20th-century folk scene. Born Roberta Anderson in Alberta, Canada in the early ‘40s, Mitchell adopted her stage name shortly before she moved to America in 1966. Early singles “Chelsea Morning,” “The Circle Game,” and “Both Sides Now,” the latter brought to a wider audience by Judy Collins, first put her on the map. Then, following the release of her debut album, Song to a Seagull in 1968, she went on to produce such masterpieces as the traditional folk album Blue (1971), jazz-rock record Court and Spark (1974), and jazz-fusion work Hejira (1976), among others.
LITA FORD
With a career that began with the Runaways, pop/hard rock/metal guitarist Lita Ford made a name for herself in the ‘70s and ‘80s as a shredder who could hold her own in a male-dominated genre. After the dissolution of the Runaways in 1979, Ford embarked on a solo career that began with the 1983 release Out of Blood and peaked with 1988’s pop-metal record Lita. She reached number 12 on the charts with her single “Kiss Me Deadly,” and broke through to the Top Ten with her duet with Ozzy Osbourne, “Close My Eyes Forever.”
NANCY WILSON
Rock ‘n’ roll force Nancy Wilson’s versatile career started with Heart, a ‘70s pop-rock outfit lead by her and her sister Ann. Among other singles, her guitar work can be heard on their greatest hit, “Barracuda.” The band has released albums periodically since their formation, landing one in the Top Ten in four different decades. Outside of her work with Heart, Wilson composed the score to the film Elizabethtown in 2005, and in 2009, released Baby Guitars, an instrumental children’s album. Most recently, she released her first proper solo album You and Me in 2021.
MELISSA ETHERIDGE
Roots rock songwriter and guitarist Melissa Etheridge has become known not only for her music but for her activism in and outside of the music community. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, Etheridge performed at the 2005 Grammy Awards while still bald from chemotherapy treatments. Since her public coming out in 1993, she has been a gay and lesbian activist, and in 2007, she won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “I Need to Wake Up,” featured in An Inconvenient Truth. To top it all off, her 1993 album Yes I Am spent 138 weeks on the charts, making her a multi-platinum artist.
BONNIE RAITT
Recognized as one of few women who played bottleneck guitar in the 1970s, blues/rock/R&B artist Bonnie Raitt reached commercial success in the late 1980s with her release Nick of Time. As she came into the spotlight, Raitt was lauded for both her guitar skills and distinctive voice, and went on to play with fellow big-name artists such as Warren Zevon, Little Feat, Jackson Browne, The Pointer Sisters, and John Prine. Today, she has 10 Grammy Awards to her name, and appears on Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
ORIANTHI
Australian pop-rock guitarist Orianthi Panagaris—who performs under her first name—began playing guitar at the age of six. By 15, she and her high school band were opening for virtuoso Steve Vai, and just three years later, she impressed her hero Carlos Santana so much that he said she would be his first choice if he were to “pass the baton.” She came out with her debut record, Violet Journey in 2005, but has since made a name for herself by playing with Michael Jackson on his This Is It album and tour and joining Alice Cooper’s touring bands in 2011. In 2015, she joined Cooper’s supergroup, Hollywood Vampires, with Johnny Depp and Joe Perry.
SUSAN TEDESCHI
What guitarist and singer Susan Tedeschi brings to modern blues is part of what keeps the genre fresh and evolving. Mixing classic R&B, blues, and gospel, Tedeschi first entered the scene as a singer, later forming the first iteration of her blues band when she graduated Berklee College of Music in 1991. Cultivating their chemistry around Boston in the ‘90s, the band released their debut album Just Won’t Burn in 1998. In 2011, she merged her band with that of her husband Derek Truck’s to form the Tedeschi-Trucks band. Tedeschi has garnered six Grammy nominations since 2000, and in 2012, won the Grammy Award for Best Blues Album with the Tedeschi-Trucks Band’s Revelator.
TIPS ON HOW TO PLAY A KEYBOARD IN A ROCK BAND
Feeling ready to take your keyboard playing to the next level? These tips will help you stand out as a keyboardist in any band.
Playing music with others is one of the most rewarding experiences life has to offer. Here are some tips on how to play keyboard in a rock band.
BE FAMILIAR WITH YOUR INSTRUMENT
Every keyboard instrument handles differently. When learning how to play keyboard in a rock band, it’s important to know your own instrument and its capabilities. The soundbank, touch sensitivity, and weight of your keys impact the kinds of key parts you can most easily play. It’s good to keep this in mind when buying your first keyboard. What works on a piano patch will not sound as good on an organ patch and vice versa. Knowing what types of keys work with different types of rock keyboard sounds makes you a real keys player.
Piano: the classic sound everyone is familiar with. Piano patches sound good across the whole keyboard and are extremely versatile. Some piano patches are bright, with bold and brash sounds, while others are darker with no percussive element and a more somber tone. Piano patches don’t respond to quick attacks as well as electric piano patches.
E. Piano: electronic piano patches take the behavior of a piano patch and add more potential for funk. The percussive quality of the attack boosts your status as a rhythm player.
Organ: organ patches add a full retro sound to any song. They work well for both lead and rhythm in a song but it’s important to know how to play chords specifically for an organ. If you play chords like you would on a piano patch, the sound will quickly get muddy. Spreading notes across the rock keyboard and being intentional with your low end is important to not overwhelm the sound of the band.
Clavinet: clavinet has a brighter sound that cuts through a mix very well but can also get muddy quickly. The patch is famously used by Stevie Wonder in “Superstition” for a funky keys bass line.
Synthesizer: there are thousands of synthesizer patches to choose from, each with its own unique sound. These patches fall into two broad categories: synth pads and synth leads. Pads are used more for texture; to take up ambient space and fill out the sound of a song. They are typically used while holding chords. Leads are brighter monophonic patches that only allow one note to sound at a time. These are great for playing iconic melodies and keys riffs.
KNOWING WHEN TO PLAY LESS
What distinguishes a good keys player from a great keys player is knowing when and how much to play. Sure it’s fun to play something flashy, but the rock keyboard is a versatile instrument in the band and requires a lot of listening to bandmates and reading the room to play well. You need to listen to the song and hear the empty spaces – what register is missing? A great keys player hears what the song needs and fills in that space.
BE AWARE OF THE BASS REGISTER
When you first start learning how to play keyboard in a rock band, you may feel uncertain about what to do in the bass register. After all, the band has a bassist and you don’t want to step on their turf. Remember a great keys player listens for what the song needs – this means you need to pay close attention to your bassist.
If the bassist is playing something relatively simple, you can use octaves in your left hand to double the bass part. If they’re playing something more intricate, consider shifting both your hands to a higher octave to help spotlight their bass line.
Remember, the lower the frequency the easier it is to muddy your sound. It’s better to err on the side of fewer notes in the bass register than too many. If you want to play more notes, be sure to spread them further apart and use open voicings to keep the sound balanced and beautiful.
SYNCING WITH THE DRUMMER: WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
When learning how to play keyboard in a rock band, you should remember that you are a member of the band’s rhythm section – the backbone of any song. You, the drummer, and the bassist need to be totally in sync.
It helps to get to know your bandmates outside of rehearsal. You want to know your drummer’s non-verbal cues and be able to give them non-verbal cues yourself. Eye contact is helpful for making sure all your hits are in unison. Oftentimes your chord progression rhythm will lock up with your drummer’s snare or hi-hat rhythm, so keep an eye on their hands!
INVERSIONS: WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW TO USE THEM
Inversions are different ways of stacking chords that bring out different flavors and sounds. Using inversions is crucial to your growth as a rock keyboard player and helps make playing more fun, too!
Every chord can be inverted. 3-note chords can be played in 3 positions: root position, first inversion, and second inversion. Take a C major chord for example:
To easily practice finding chord inversions as you learn how to play keyboard in a rock band, you’ll first need to play a chord in root position, then let go of your root note. Now carefully move your fingers so your lowest finger is now on what was your middle note, and add the note you took away to the top of your stack. You’re now in first inversion! If you do this process again, you’ll find yourself in second inversion. One more cycle will bring your hand back to root position but up an octave from where you first began.
Using the correct fingers for each inversion type is important for keeping your playing dexterous. Talk with your Fine Tune Academy teacher about the finger patterns for each inversion.
When picking which inversion to use, you want to keep a few things in mind. Root position chords are very stable sounding while first and second inversion each feature one note further away. In first inversion this is your top note and in second inversion it’s your lowest note. The note that is a fourth away will stand out more and dominate the inversion’s color.
Whichever note you put at the top or bottom of the inversion will emphasize a different aspect of a chord progression (this is an important aspect to keep in mind when learning how to play keyboard in a rock band). Maybe you want to put a melody at the top of your right-hand part – you can use inversions that leave melodic notes on the high end of every chord to really bring out that internal melody. Maybe you want to do a chromatic walkdown and harmonize with the bass line – you can pick inversions based on their lowest notes to deliver.
Keeping your hand comfortable and your movements fluid is important, too. This is another reason rock keyboard players love inversions – you can move your hand more quickly between chords when you invert them.
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC
The best way to become the keyboard player you’ve always dreamed of being is to look and listen closely to your musical role models. By analyzing what they do that works, you can get a better sense of what you appreciate as a listener and audience member and provide that to others yourself. This can also help you to write better piano parts.
Freddie Mercury of Queen is known for being a virtuosic pianist, but did you know many of his iconic piano parts rely heavily on arpeggiating different inversions? The iconic intros of both “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Don’t Stop Me Now” use arpeggiated chord inversions to deliver memorable rock keyboard melodies known the world over.
HOW TO BECOME A MASTER AT ROCK PIANO
It can be easy to understate the piano’s contributions to rock and roll. When most people think about the genre, the piano is likely not the first instrument that comes to mind. Considering that many successful rock bands have no keyboard player at all, it can seem almost non-essential. However, when utilized properly, the piano is good for more than just Bach and Beethoven and can liven up any rock sound with its percussive and melodic qualities. Electronic keyboards and synthesizers can open doors to even more sonic possibilities while still functioning as the same basic instrument. Because the piano is such a versatile instrument, it can be difficult to know where to begin. The techniques outlined in this article will provide insight to anyone who is interested in sharpening their rock piano skills and gaining a better understanding of one of the underappreciated stars of rock and roll music.
UNDERSTANDING THE RIGHT HAND
When playing piano, much of your technique should be similar regardless of whether you are using your right hand or your left hand. You will typically be using them both together, but each hand has its own role to play in what it can bring to the music. Because of the layout of the piano, the right hand is generally going to be playing on the higher side, bringing out the treble sounds through chords (multiple notes played at once) or melodies. The left hand often acts as an accompaniment, or secondary part, supporting the right hand.
Proper finger technique is vital for not getting your fingers tangled up in knots – this especially applies to the right hand as it is often doing much of the heavy lifting with chords, arpeggios (notes of a chord played one after the other), and melodies. In Led Zeppelin’s “Fool in the Rain,” the right-hand piano part plays through quick chord changes as well as melodic parts that complement the vocal line.
THE OLD SCHOOL LEFT-HAND RHYTHM
Many of the first breakout rock and roll hits utilized piano as a primary instrument, often using a signature left-hand rhythmic pattern known as “boogie woogie.” Like much of the rock and roll canon, boogie woogie has its origins in African-American music. Grasping this technique is not only important for understanding the origins of rock music, but it’s also a great trick to have up your sleeve to liven up any basic rock tune. The boogie woogie pattern in the left hand consists of a repetitive “walking” bass line, that is a bass line which outlines the chord while also using other notes from the scale to transition to the next chord, all using a consistent rhythm and creating a feel of forward motion (the “walk”). This old-school left-hand rhythm is featured prominently in “Tutti Frutti” by one of rock piano’s greatest, Little Richard.
CHORD PROGRESSION
A song may have a different chord progression for each section (verse, chorus, etc.) while some songs maintain the same few chords the entire time. Every song has a chord progression, and often the role of the piano is to outline those chords very clearly. Starting to learn chords on the piano can be overwhelming, but the most commonly used chords are only made up of three notes each; these chords are called triads. “Let It Be” by The Beatles features a strong, fairly repetitive chord progression made up of mostly triads which serves as an anchor for the song.
Once you have started to get the hang of triads in their root position (playing them starting from the “root” or primary note), you will want to start exploring inversions (playing the same notes for each chord, but rearranging the notes so that they are stacked in a different order). Because of the layout of the piano, the instrument has a lot of potential to create rich harmonic textures and chord voicings that can be difficult to achieve on other instruments.
CLASSIC ROCK FILL
Fills in music are short passages played between the phrases of a melody. Piano fills are a great way to keep the listener engaged during breaks in the vocal melody or chord progression. A good fill can come in handy especially when the structure of a song is simple or repetitive. One hand (often the left) can maintain a steady pattern while the right hand plays fills, energizing the song with creativity and spontaneity. Elton John’s classic “Bennie and the Jets” makes use of piano fills between vocal lines.
GRACE NOTES
The use of grace notes is another relatively simple technique that is often used to energize keyboard solos, especially in blues and similar styles of music. A grace note is a note that acts as an embellishment (or addition) to the melody. These notes are played incredibly quickly to give the listener the impression of one note “sliding” into the next. The solo sections in “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles feature grace notes that add substance to the melodic lines.
GLISSANDOS
A glissando in music is a continuous slide upward or downward between two notes. Often on the keyboard, this is a big distance – many times a glissando will span the entirety of the white keys on the keyboard. The glissando is primarily used in upbeat music and is a prominent feature of many older rock and roll songs. A properly placed glissando can keep the energy up and surprise the listener. The Beatles’ cover of “Rock and Roll Music” by Chuck Berry contains a prime example of a classic rock piano glissando. The intro to Dexys Midnight Runners’ hit “Come on Eileen,” while very different stylistically, also features a prominent glissando on the keys.
ROCK PIANO GRIPS
Piano “grips” are common voicings that you can visualize across the keyboard to help with playing common types of chords. The grip system provides an easy way to start approaching seventh chords, four-note chords which contain a “seventh” note, creating a richer harmonic texture). A good understanding of these piano grips will require basic knowledge about how certain intervals (distances between notes) appear on the keyboard but can enhance your understanding of music theory down the line as you learn which
COMMON PIANO CHORDS CHART
When it comes to playing the piano, pianists have thousands of chords to select from, with some chords being more popular than others. Check out some of the most common chords in the piano chord chart below, or keep reading to find out more about piano chords.
The most common piano chords include:
1 A major (A). A – C# – E
2 A minor (Am). A – C – E
3 C major (C). C – E – G
4 C minor (Cm). C – Eb – G
5 D major (D). D – F# – A
6 D minor (Dm). D – F – A
7 E major (E). E – G# – B
8 E minor (Em). E – G – B
9 F major (F). F – A – C
10 F minor (Fm). F – Ab – C
11 G major (G). G – B – D
12 G minor (Gm). G – Bb – D
WHAT IS A PIANO CHORD?
A chord is created when more than one note is played at once, and contains two, three, or more individual notes. On the piano, this means you push down more than one key at the same time.
All piano chords contain a root note — this is the note the chord is named after — as well as one or more additional notes. Basic piano chords often consist of only two or three notes, while the more advanced chords tend to incorporate even more notes.
The most common type of keyboard or piano chord is a triad, or three-note chord. A triad contains a root note and two other notes, most often the notes that produce the intervals of a third and fifth above the root note.
THE MOST COMMON TYPE OF KEYBOARD OR PIANO CHORD IS A TRIAD, OR THREE-NOTE CHORD.
One way to get the basic shape of a triad is to place your thumb and fingers on adjacent white keys and push down with your thumb, middle finger, and pinky. Learning this technique will set you up to play various basic piano chords with ease.
WHAT ARE PIANO INTERVALS?
The distance between piano notes (called an interval) determines how they sound when played together. Intervals are measured in half-steps and whole-steps.
• Half-steps. A half-step is the distance from one key to the next key immediately to its right or left.
• Whole-steps. A whole-step is the distance of two half-steps.
• Common intervals. A common interval used in piano chords is the major third, which is the distance of two whole-steps or four half-steps.
WHAT ARE THE STANDARD PIANO NOTES?
Piano notes follow a pattern of black and white keys, with a group of two black keys close together followed by a group of three black keys close together. This pattern repeats across the keyboard, and we use it to identify the notes.
Each of the white keys is assigned a letter name from A to G, and each of the black keys is called a sharp or flat.
WHAT ARE SHARP AND FLAT PIANO NOTES?
Sharp or flat piano notes are named for what letter name they’re immediately above (to the right on the keyboard) or below (to the left).
READING SHARP PIANO NOTES
The black key immediately to the right of the key “C” is called “C#,” pronounced “c sharp.”
READING FLAT PIANO NOTES
The black key immediately to the left of “B” is called “Bb,” pronounced “b flat.”
PIANO NOTE CHART
This piano note chart introduces all the different notes you’ll find on your keyboard, and is essential for understanding how the space between the notes you play will determine the type of piano chord that is produced.
WHAT ARE MAJOR PIANO CHORDS?
The most common triad, or three-note chord, is the major chord. Their popularity and versatility make them great piano chords for beginners to learn first.
PRO TIP: LISTEN TO YOUR FAVORITE ROCK SONGS!
Chords are used in almost every song you hear. The opening chord of “Let It Be” by The Beatles is a C major chord. Listen to some of your favorite songs and see if you can hear the sound of major chords.
HOW DO YOU PLAY A MAJOR CHORD ON THE PIANO?
To play a major chord, begin by choosing a root note, which can be any of the keyboard notes From the root note, count up two whole steps. This note is the “third,” named for being the third note in the key beginning with the root note. From the third, count up one-and-a-half steps, or three half steps. This note is the “fifth.”
When you play these three keyboard notes together, you hear a major triad, or major chord. For example, to play a C major chord, press down on the “C,” “E,” and “G” keys simultaneously.
Here are some common major piano chords to get you started:
• A major (A). A – C# – E
• C major (C). C – E – G
• D major (D). D – F# – A
• E major (E). E – G# – B
• F major (F). F – A – C
• G major (G). G – B – D
WHAT ARE MINOR PIANO CHORDS?
Minor chords have a reputation for sounding serious or sad, as opposed to the more light-hearted sound of major chords.
HOW DO YOU PLAY A MINOR CHORD ON THE PIANO?
To play a minor chord, start by choosing a root note. Like with major chords, this can be any of the keyboard notes From the root note, count up one-and-a-half steps. This note is the “third.” From the third, count up two whole steps, or four half steps. This note is the “fifth.”
When you play these three keyboard notes together, you hear a minor triad, or minor chord. For example, to play a C minor chord, press down on the “C,” “Eb,” and “G” keys simultaneously.
Here are some common minor piano chords to get you started:
• A minor (Am). A – C – E
• C minor (Cm). C – Eb – G
• D minor (Dm). D – F – A
• E minor (Em). E – G – B
• F minor (Fm). F – Ab – C
• G minor (Gm). G – Bb – D
WHAT ARE PIANO SEVENTH CHORDS?
Seventh chords add a fourth note to a triad, or three-note chord. These are referred to as seventh chords, as they add a seventh note to the triad, and they are often used in jazz music.
HOW DO YOU PLAY A SEVENTH CHORD ON THE PIANO?
To play a seventh chord, begin with the root note of any major or minor chord. Then, you’ll add the seventh note in the key above the fifth. For example, to play a C major seventh chord, press down on the “C,” “E,” “G,” and “B” keys simultaneously. To play a C minor seventh chord, press down on the “C,” “Eb,” “G,” and “Bb” keys simultaneously.
Here are some common seventh piano chords to get you started:
• A major seventh (Amaj7). A – C# – E – G#
• C major seventh (Cmaj7). C – E – G – B
• D major seventh (Dmaj7). D – F# – A – C#
• E major seventh (Emaj7). E – G# – B – D#
• F major seventh (Fmaj7). F – A – C – E
• G major seventh (Gmaj7). G – B – D – F#
WHAT ARE PIANO SUSPENDED CHORDS?
A suspended chord is created by taking a major or minor chord and moving the third note up or down one half-step.
HOW DO YOU PLAY A SUSPENDED CHORD ON THE PIANO?
To play a suspended chord, start with a major or minor chord. Then, instead of playing the third note of the chord, you’ll play either the note a half-step above or below the third note. For example, to play a C suspended chord, you could play a C major chord, but instead of playing the “E” note, play the “D” or “F” note. To play a D suspended chord, you could play a D major chord, but instead of playing the “F#” note, play the “E” or “G” note.
Here are some common suspended piano chords to get you started:
• A suspended (Asus). A – D – E
• C suspended (Csus). C – F – G
• D suspended (Dsus). D – G – A
• E suspended (Esus). E – A – B
• F suspended (Fsus). F – Bb – C
• G suspended (Gsus). G – C – D
CONCLUSION
Now that you understand the basics of piano chords, you can start to experiment with different chord progressions and create your own unique sound. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep playing and exploring different chords until you find the ones that resonate with you.
IT CAN MAKE YOU MORE WELL-ROUNDED
An interesting thing happens with dense harmonic compositions when you add other instruments into the mix. Maybe the piano’s bassline begins to clash with the bass; the octave chosen for your synths chords could complement or overpower rhythm guitar parts; high, trilling solos might not layer well with one another.
Our understanding of theory is at the heart of all music, and as a study, it is infinite. Theory does not start and end with a single instrument. To understand the theory behind your bandmates’ instruments is to understand how these instruments play with one another. Knowing how to play multiple instruments will make you a more well-rounded musician.
When you begin composing, you can write whatever melodies you choose, but knowing how to voice them begins with studying other instruments. The acquisition of general theory is made easier by learning the piano, as it is perceived as a more visually responsive instrument.
While the piano is linear, the guitar makes sense to the spatially-minded, moving finger shapes up and down the neck of the guitar. Learning theory might seem like studying charts of intervals or analyzing staff notation but it can also be as simple as objectively listening to a piece of music.
GENERATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOURSELF
Rockstars come in all flavors, and while the layperson may think of the ultra-famous, there are a thousand working musicians to every mega-star. And working musicians, by definition, work. They look for solo gigs, perform in local festivals, record as session artists, compose radio jingles, and host open mics, among loads of other odd jobs. Multi-instrumentalists are much better positioned to seek and accept jobs if they can fill any position.
Guitarists are plentiful, and pianists may not always be in high demand; so, learning the bass and the drums can open you up to new gigs, while learning guitar and piano can broaden your abilities to make you more of a sought-after performer. Unique instruments may be more bankable, and commonplace instruments may have more total gigs in the marketplace.
Of course, musicians who play multiple instruments are not always sought specifically to play six or seven different instruments but to ensure that communication between the band is at its highest caliber. It can be really helpful to be able to speak the language of multiple instruments in a band situation.
Music industry jobs exist outside performance, too. For example, learning and knowing different instruments can be extremely beneficial in music production.
EXPAND THE QUALITY OF YOUR COMPOSITION
While possible to write for instruments one cannot play, there is no guarantee the parts will make sense for the performer. Knowing how the instruments work will help you write full compositions that truly highlight each instrument. Certain arpeggios may sound wonderful in your DAW but are practically impossible to perform live. Knowing multiple instruments will see you create higher-quality work.
With electronic music production becoming more and more accessible to burgeoning creators, there are scores of young musicians contributing to the corpus of modern music, sometimes with very little training. Digital workstations can be highly useful tools, but can also create impossible (if not wildly difficult) parts – electronic drums ticking faster than a human can play, or with extra limbs; bass lines bouncing through octaves with no regard to live performance.
Knowing how all the instruments in a band work, you can pen music that can be infinitely replayable. You become more aware of textures within an ensemble.
Sometimes, it is easy to notice the increase in the quality of a composition by knowing multiple instruments; sometimes, you can knock out the work much more quickly.
DIVERSIFY YOUR SKILLS THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY
Any professional guitarist will be quick to tell you: there is more to being a guitarist than knowing how to play the guitar. Beyond knowing how to play an instrument, a good musician would know how the instrument works, how to create tone profiles, how to set it up, how to mic it, and how to communicate with other instrumentalists. Keyboardists may need to use various patches, specialized power supplies, and separate pedals.
To learn all these elements of another instrument can help not just with performance and composition, but with sound design, audio engineering, and recording. Not to mention, being able to help your drummer set up a kit, or your bassist set up their ambient mics will just facilitate load-in and load-out at your gigs.
BECOME A TEAM PLAYER
Humans are fragile and clumsy, but until we have a 12-fingered android that shreds the sickest of solos, even the best bands take days off, drop parts, and forget their form. We don’t want to always be covering up for a bandmate, but it is nice to know we can if needed.
From calling out chord changes to counting down the form, knowing your other bandmates’ parts can help get through tricky spots of songs, and cover for mistakes.
If you’re passionate about your craft, you’ll make it work; and, arming yourself with as much knowledge and skill about multiple instruments as you can creates an opportunity for you to get on the same wavelength as your bandmates and create some real music magic.
ROCK AND ROLL BENEFITS THAT HELP ELIMINATE STRESS
A large amount of research has been conducted regarding the effects of music on both the psychological and physiological well-being of all types of people, from all walks of life. Rock music has long been found to possess therapeutic properties and can undoubtedly have a soothing effect on our bodies and minds. Medical studies have shown that rock music can help reduce stress, increase positive emotions, and even regulate mood. Rock music can act as an effective tool in stress management by increasing the production rate of dopamine, effectively reducing levels of stress hormones. Rock music has also been shown to increase the production of serotonin which can help fight depression, anxiety, panic, and anger. People sometimes refer to dopamine and serotonin as the “happy hormones” due to the roles they play in regulating mood and emotion. Getting lost in rock and roll is a great way to cast out negative attitudes and gloomy forecasts!
ROCK AND ROLL IS MUSIC THAT TOUCHES THE SOUL
When you really listen and “feel the music,” rock and roll often strikes a chord within that resonates with our heart, mind, and spirit. Nothing touches the soul quite like rock and roll music, because it expresses at times what we cannot express ourselves. Music can also provide a major distraction, which helps us forget our trials and tribulations for a moment, and take us to another place. Perhaps it reminds you of a pleasant memory or gives you hope and courage to press on against your daily struggles. It not only carries an infectious groove but rock and roll conveys profound emotion and meaning. Words and lyrics are combined with the instruments and melodies to create something special, something one of a kind. Rock music is beautiful and emotional and has the potential to “speak to you” if you’re willing to listen!
ROCK AND ROLL BENEFITS THAT HELP BOOST BRAIN ACTIVITY
When we’re rocking to a great song, our limbic system, which supports long-term memory, emotion, and behavior, is rocking with us. The “happy hormones” we get from listening to our favorite music can impart on our brain’s motivation, registering as rewarding. Neuroscientists have found that listening to all types of music, including rock music, is effective in improving cognitive and motor skills, spatial-temporal learning, and neurogenesis, which is the creation of new neurons. This is especially useful for children, as rock music can help stimulate their brains and promote healthy development. In addition to helping with memory and learning, listening to rock music has been shown to improve mood and reduce stress. Music with a strong beat can stimulate brain waves to resonate in sync with the beat, which can improve concentration, alertness, and focus. And the emotional response to music engages regions of the brain involved with paying attention, making predictions, and updating events in our memory. Rock on!
ROCK AND ROLL IS A FORM OF EXPRESSION AND CREATIVITY
Many individuals use music, particularly rock and roll, as a means of self-expression and creativity. Whether it’s through writing lyrics, playing an instrument, or simply listening to music, rock and roll provides an outlet for people to express themselves in a way that they might not be able to in other aspects of their lives. Music allows people to convey their emotions, thoughts, and experiences, and to connect with others on a deeper level. It’s a form of communication that transcends language and cultural barriers and allows people to share their stories and perspectives with the world. Rock and roll, in particular, has a long history of rebellion and social commentary, and many artists use their music as a platform to address important issues and advocate for change. Whether it’s through protest songs, love ballads, or anthems of empowerment, rock and roll has the power to inspire and unite people from all walks of life. So, turn up the volume and let your voice be heard!