Christmas songs to learn for the Festive Season

As the most wonderful time of the year edges closer and closer, as a guitarist or any musician, you may feel the urge to pick up the weapon of your choice and learn some festive tunes. This being the case, i thought i would share a few of my favourites with you so that you may enjoy them this Christmas and show off to your distant family.

1) "Happy Christmas war is over" John Lennon

This is about as classic as you can get during the holiday season. It is a great song with a great message about peace on earth and good will to all men; the Christmas spirit embodied. It is also remarkably simple to play and sing, no difficult high or low notes and the structure relies on A, E, D, Em, Bm, and a few other simple additions to jazz it up as you see fit. It also has the recognsable quality on hearing the first line and people will want to join in.

2) "Do they know it's Christmas" Band Aid

Another classic that people will recognise within the first line. This is even simpler than the Lennon number as it contains no Bm and the only barre chord is an F which can be converted to an open chord if necessary though i do not recommend it. Other than the F chord, it relies on the standard C, A, G, D chords of so many songs and is a song that will never go out of fashion and thus can be re-deployed every Christmas.

3) "Rudolph the red nosed reindeer" Various

This is a far more playful yet equally enjoyable number for all the family. It is very simple and even includes a few 7 chords to make it sound more difficult than it is. The vocals are very easy and un-challenging and thus is can be sung by just about anybody. Once more, this will not go out of fashion and harks back to your childhood in the season of happiness that is Christmas.

I hope you have fun with these Christmas tracks and i would like to wish anybody who frequently visits this blog a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year. I hope this Christmas gives you everything that you want.

As I approach 5 years of playing guitar

In January, I will turn 21 and that will mean that it is effectively 5 years since i first expressed interest in playing the guitar. As i realised this, I began to think about things i wished i had done more when i started learning and thus thought i would share some of these thoughts with you all. So, without further ado, here they are:

1) Learnt to play barre chords properly from the beginning

Like many beginners, i found barre chords exceptionally difficult at the beginning as the strength and dexterity of my left hand had not yet developed and the sounds that barre chords produced were thus blocky and unintentionally muted. It is only in the last three years of playing that I have been able to play barre chords cleanly on the first attempt without warming up as my hand strength has improved and muscle memory is firmly installed there. It is easy to find an inferior open chord voicing for chords such as F which is a very common and difficult to formulate chord as a newbie and thus it is imperative that you do not do this and instead persevere with the barre voicings.

2) Practiced more with the slide

As opposed to sliding with fingers, which i never found particularly difficult personally, sliding with a brass, glass, or plastic slide takes practice to master. My dad has always been very talented with blues style and thus sliding and so I have always wanted to replicate and imitate his sound but so far I am nowhere near. Sliding adds so much dimension to music and had i started from the beginning, nearly 5 years ago, I dare say that i would have now been rather good. Instead, I find myself reasonably skilled at playing guitar in most styles and then have to listen to my beginner-esque sound when i don the brass slide on my heavy little finger. There is of course much time to get better and i have faith that i will, but it would have been easier to learn all the tricks of the trade when i was starting out as it were.

3) Relied less on effects of amplifiers and pedals

When i began playing, like most people, i used a beat up old acoustic with three nylon strings, but on my 17th birthday, i got my first Strat from my mum and dad for christmas which i still love to this day. However, at 17, I had only been playing for a year and so could only play basic tunes and songs. I used to put the overdriven gain effect on every song I played which probably annoyed my family since the first songs i used to play were chorded songs bereft of solos and riffs. For example, today, i choose effects carefully and play my acoustic a lot as i believe the tones of a decent acoustic such as my tanglewood are hard to replicate on an amplifier. I use the electric guitar just as often and i play appropriate heavy metal, blues, and punk songs on there; All of which I can play on the acoustic too as i am now more than capable of barre voicings and riffing!

Any beginners that may be reading this, take note and you will thank me in 5 years time, i guarantee you will not regret taking these steps. Keep playing and good luck!

3 easy electric guitar songs to learn for any beginner (in my opinion)

In a very similar effort to my last post about acoustic songs, newbies also want some electric guitar appropriate songs to play during the infancy of their guitarist career. Without further ado, here are my top 3:

1. "Smells like teen spirit" Nirvana

This classic by Nirvana is so simple, all it requires for the simplest version is one shape to be moved around 4 frets. All it requires to get the original vibe is for some rhythmic chucking and some heavy distortion either by way of an effects pedal or simply by gain cranked up as high as it can go on any amplifier.

2. "Are you gonna go my way" Lenny Kravitz

This is not as simple as the Nirvana track but sounds far more complex than it is to a non-musician. It also allows room for addition as you become more advanced and can play fills and solos.

3. "Lounge act" Nirvana

Another Nirvana track, Cobain famously wrote his songs very simply and mainly using power chords in place of barre chords and technical solos. This is another great song that requires nothing fancy in order to sound great and largely consists of a simple octave progression down the neck.

Have fun with these and once again don't give up learning. Practice makes perfect. Good luck.

3 easy acoustic Songs to learn for any beginner (In my opinion)

Learning the guitar is a great decision that i have never regretted, but looking back on when i used to play and could only form around 3 chords, it was far less interesting than 4 years later when i would call myself reasonably skilled. Due to this, i feel like it might be helpful to any aspiring musician to know some songs that are not only easy, but also sound great as a beginner to play on any calibre of acoustic guitar. All of which are in standard tuning.

1. "Every rose has its thorn" Poison

This classic 80's love rock ballad is recognisable to any musician and ,though some may laugh at its cheesy nature, it is undoubtedly a song that any young non-musician will enjoy hearing. For the majority of the song, it consists of three chords: G, C, D, and due to the formulation of these chords, it is not necessary to move around the neck or indeed move the palm of your hand and thumb and so is a perfect song for a newbie who wants to play something recognisable and classic.

2. "Knocking on Heavens Door" Bob Dylan

This song has only 4 chords for the entirety of the simple version of the song which are G,D, Am and then G,D,C. These are some of the first chords any guitarist whether they are taught by a teacher or self taught such as myself and so it is handy to help them learn quicker chord changes and is another classic. The song has been covered by many including Clapton and Guns n' Roses. It is also a very easy song to sing along to due to the rhythm of the song.

3. "Come as you are" Nirvana 

This is a classic and well known song by people of all ages and tastes and will never fail to impress others. It is slightly different to the other two options as it is not chord based but instead single-note based around the first two frets and mainly over just two strings; E and A. This one is slightly harder to sing along with due to the odd picking pattern but others will be able to sing along and it will make people in their 30's nostalgic of their teen days.

These songs are all easy to find online and they will take minutes to learn. They can also be added to as you become more advanced with solos and reggae versions. Carry on practicing and you'll never regret it. Good luck and thank you for visiting as always.

Lets talk slides

Slides are a well-known and great sounding accessory for any guitarist to have. They have roots most strongly in blues but have also been used in jazz, rock, country, folk and many more. They are highly versatile and mastery of the slide is a very impressive and desirable skill. Personally, I'm not the best at using a slide but i can produce a basic sound largely in the realms of traditional blues-type-vibe. My dad can slide very well and it was listening to him that made me want to learn to slide correctly and i would like to share some of my knowledge of slides with you right now on here.

Types and styles

Just like guitars and musical genres themselves, slides come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. They vary from standard brass or copper slides and can include a range of materials such as metals, plastics, and even traditional bottle-neck slides. The different material along with the length and thickness of that material will decide what type of sound you will get from them. For example, a long and thick plastic slide will give you a far duller sound that a short and thin metallic slide, which will consequently sound brighter and more crisp. They increase ability for vibrato and when paired with a 12 string guitar they can produce some very unique and deep tones.

Price

Just like with the sound, this will vary very much depending on the style and the material you choose. A simple, standard long copper slide will cost in the region of £10 whereas a silver slide will cost more towards the £20 mark or possibly more. It is possible to create your own bottleneck slide with a glass bottleneck and a sander although doing it properly will require a certain level of skill. 

Artists

Many artists all over the world and genre spectrum use guitar slides in their music. These include the likes of BB King, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Richie Sambora, John Mayer, Slash, Ronnie Wood, and many more. They are versatile and relatively cheap and easy to acquire and give you another sound to infuse into your own personal style. 

"In Utero"

In Utero is the follow up album to Nirvana's highly successful and acclaimed album Nevermind. Though it did not do nearly as well in the mainstream media as its predecessor, it is famous for being the album that housed the track Heart Shaped Box which won a posthumous award for best video for Cobain which was received by Novoselic and Grohl. It is also known for its simple yet effectively moving album cover of the vulnerable and skinned looking angel, a theme that was continued in the video for Heart Shaped Box. Furthermore, it is an album that has been included in the recent vinyl revival and is available in department stores such as HMV as well as music and memorabilia stores.

Sound 

Whereas the sound on Nevermind could almost be described as commercial rather than true grunge, songs such as Heart shaped box re-vamped the band's sound but at the same time, songs like All Apologies did the opposite and once more aimed for the more commercial success and was even performed on MTV unplugged (with nirvana openly displaying dislike for MTV and commercially driven music). However, as a fairly strong fan myself, i still like the album, the tracks included are likable and there are some very grunge-rooted sounds in there.

Legacy

Sadly, In Utero is not blessed with much of a legacy among casual fans and chart success; however, the video for Heart Shaped Box is legendary and so the album has more than enough cause to resonate in history. Furtherore, the album enjoyed its release after the tragic passing of Cobain and subsequent dissolution of the band giving it the title as the last real album released by the legendary band. The album also holds a reputation in pop culture in shows like The Simpsons and Family Guy where it is visible in the shot but not necessarily central. 

The album is crucial in the life of the band and also the full stop in the short life of the late and great Kurt Cobain and an album that i would highly recommend to any rock fan and particularly to the younger generation in order for them to best appreciate the 90's roots of grunge and punk rock.

"Grace" Jeff Buckley

Grace is the first and only album that was released by Jeff Buckley in August of 1994. It contains original tracks such as Grace itself, eternal life, and Mojo Pin as well as covers of traditional songs such as Corpus Christi Carol and Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. It is a critically acclaimed album as well as being generally well received by fans and the charts of its time.

Sound

The album is exceptionally wide in terms of variety of genre and mood. It demonstrates a mix of folk music, to be found in Corpus Christi Carol; a middle-English hymn/folk carol written by Benjamin Britten, as well as more alternative Indie rock with tracks like Grace. Furthermore, It contains the version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah that Buckley had recorded as a cover and had originally not intended to be a part of the album. Despite this, there are many who would argue that it is the most famous and well known song from Grace and probably the song that Buckley is most famous for, regardless of it being a cover of another artist. Of course, the album was all centred around the vocal mastery of Buckley and his underrated guitarist ability and skill. There is something about his vocal delivery on Halelujah and Grace that sounds very like Robert Plant in my opinion. The powerful yet sometimes soft piercing screams and whispered tones. 

Legacy

Tragically, Jeff Buckley passed away at just age 30 in 1997 after drowning in Wolf River Harbor on the Mississippi river. Sadly, he died before he was able to produce a second album, however much of his work saw a resurgence in popularity after his tragic and sudden death. Buckley's cover of Hallelujah once more went to number 1 on the itunes chart in 2008 after the song was performed by a contestant on American Idol. On that same week, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard hot digital songs; Giving Buckley his first number one on any Billboard chart. Buckley was a close friend of Singer and Soundgarden frontman, Chris Cornell, and Cornell released a song called Wave Goodbye as a tribute to his friend on his album Euphoria Morning. Grace maintains its status as a classic album and was one of the albums to be given a vinyl version after the vinyl resurgence of today. 

*All images sourced from google images, I do not claim to own any rights

"Badmotorfinger" Soungarden

Badmotorfinger is the third studio album released by Soundgarden in 1991 with A&M records. It contains such tracks as Outshined, Spoonman, Jesus Christ Pose, and Slaves and Bulldozers. It accurately demonstrates the unique and violent sound that Soundgarden have always been capable of producing. It was also the last album before the release of their most successful album and the ever iconic Superunknown. At the time of it's release, it was their best selling album and was beaten by their next album.

Sound

The album demonstrates many of the band's identifying characteristics including the technical mastery of Kim Thayil on lead guitar and the Glass-shattering screams and high baritone pipes of Chris Cornell. The extent of Cornell's vocal prowess is demonstrated on the track Slaves and Bulldozers where he goes from a low murmuring poetic speech, to screaming at blood curdling pitches in the chorus whilst maintaining perfection in terms of hitting the correct notes. He has a very soulful voice and this is also present Rusty Cage from the very same album. Furthermore, the drumming and bass by Shepherd (who had recently replaced Hiro Yamamoto as the bassist) and Cameron helps to create sound and lasting tracks with a variety of styles in just this one album. Outshined and Rusty Cage found their way onto the billboard 200 and the album was nominated for a Grammy.

Legacy

The legacy of the album among Soundgarden fans is that of an original and deep grunge vibe. Though Superunknown was immensely popular overall, many fans of the band felt that it was aimed at a more mainstream audience and thus many still hold Badmotorfinger as their favourite album by the Seattle grunge rock fathers. Therefore, if you are relatively impartial and enjoy grunge rock and wish to get a feel for the sound of Soundgarden, I would highly recommend listening to this album.

*As always, all images sourced from google images and I own no rights to any images used

Led Zeppelin "Mothership"

Its been a while since i have posted anything here. The thing is, I'd like to review guitars and equipment but unfortunately i'm not rich enough to be able to afford new equipment all the time so I have to rely on friends and family to play new models or use new equipment. However, as it has been so long, I thought I would give my take on a classic album which is none other than Led Zepp's iconic "Mothership". So without further ado, here goes.

Mothership

This album is iconic in every way. From the infallible musicians that made up Led Zeppelin, to the album cover itself, which to me evokes ideas of capitalism and dictatorship (largely due to the association of zeppelins with Nazi Germany in my mind at least). The colours of the  album are black,white and red and this too is not only eye-catching but extremely effective in showing contrast, which can also be found in the music.

Sound

Mothership contains a total of 11 tracks over two discs. These tracks vary massively in theme, tone, lyrical depth and even in instruments. All of which, however, still contain Robert Plant's emotional and bluesy screams and Jimmy Page's incomparable guitarists's prowess. Only a few tracks on the album are missing the thunderous crashes of John Bonhams drumming and all rely on the impeccable rhythmic genius of John Paul Jones. The tracks include the likes of "Stairway to Heaven", "Black Dog", "Babe, I'm gonna leave ya" and "Rock and Roll". Overall, the entire album is such a classic now that very few people could dislike it and personally, I am a fan of each and every song on the album.

Legacy

This album perfectly sums up the legacy of Led Zeppelin and their impact on rock music, heavy metal and popular culture. This album is a compilation and was released in most parts of the world in 2007, despite the fact that the band officially split in 1980 after the death of John Bonham. This is a strong implication of just how popular they were and still are, even myself; I was only born in 1996 and am a fan of Led Zeppelin, therefore, they are an enduring band and a great example of British musicianship.

*All images sourced from google images. I do not own any rights.

 

Epiphone Les Paul custom pro (Tuxedo)

The Epiphone Les Paul custom pro is a mid-range Les paul model produced by the baby brother company of Gibson. It will cost between £300 and £500 depending where you go and what additional extras you choose to purchase or not. The classic Gibson Les Paul throughout history has rivaled the Fender Stratocaster and telecaster as the king of rock's guitars and this mid-range budget version allows for a newer musician to experience a taste of the sheer power and depth of sound that a pedigree Gibson Les Paul can produce.

Sound

The custom pro is capable of producing a rich and deep sound much like that of the blue-blooded version of itself. The 2 humbucker pickups allow for a deep and distinctive resonance and the perfect sound for blues or rock. The custom pro comes with the classic Gibson/Epiphone 3 way switch with the options of "treble", "neutral", and "rhythm" which gives scope for the guitarist to set the instrument to their own preference. There are a further 4 dials which control the volume, tone and activate their respective pickup. 

Design

The Custom pro has the almost identical design to the original model played by the likes of Slash, Jimmy Page, and Randy Rhoads. The most practical aspect of the Les Paul design (which is not new to this version of the model) is the cutaway on the underside of the neck for the fretting hand of the player. This makes it easier to hit that ever important E and E flat pentatonic scale that all blues and rock players should be aiming for.Furthermore, the custom pro has the jack socket at the bottom side of the body when it is worn. This increases the versatility and aids in elongating the life of the jack lead with the angle preserving the wiring inside.

In Summary, the Epiphone Les Paul custom pro is an excellent stand in for the full Gibson version. Its price is reasonable for its ability and the company is well respected and legendary in itself despite being in the shadow of its big brother, Gibson, for much of its life. I would place this in the same category as the Squier/Mexican stratocaster for performance and value for money. A friend of mine recently purchased this guitar and I own a mid-range stratocaster so I have the ability to weigh them up against each other. Both are very much worth the investment and I would recommend the Custom Pro.

*All images sourced from Google images. I do not claim to own any rights   

Fender 310-12 (Acoustic 12 string review)

The 310-12 is a 12 string acoustic guitar made by Fender. It is an older model of an acoustic 12 string, one of my dad's collection,  and one of only a few that Fender are known for. They are sold from new for anywhere from £200 all the way up to £400 online. They are a mid-range 12 string and produced by the ever-reliable Fender.

Sound
The 310-12 produces a clean and very bright sound. It gives the tone of similar style to folk music and sounds far fuller than even the best 6 string acoustics such as the likes of the Gibson J200 and the Tanglewood TW460. This is of course due to the 12 strings rather than the standard 6 and thus double the resonation. Furthermore, the harmonies that are produced by each pair of strings (which are an octave apart on the first 4 strings and in unison on the highest 2 strings) are far more diverse than than that of a standard 6 string acoustic guitar.

Design

The 310-12 is not a particularly unique looking guitar. It has 12 tuning keys, a scratch plate, a bridge, and a nut the same as any other 12 string. The body is the classic hourglass acoustic shape but is of course a little larger than any 6 string. The only downfall of the 12 string design is that it would be far harder for any beginner to play than a 12 string due to double the resistance in the fretting and also the far wider neck than standard on any Fender.

Overall, the 310-12 is a well rounded and excellent 12 string which would suit intermediate players and even professional guitarists but is not appropriate for beginners.