Archives for May 2015

What is a Scale Formula and How to Use it For Guitar

May 14, 2019 by Klaus Crow

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Everything evolves around scales. We use scales to create music, study music theory, understand music, build chords, progressions, arpeggios and learn soloing and improvisation.

So how do you build a scale with a formula, how do you figure out the notes for a particular scale, what else can you do with a scale formula and how can you make sense of it all?

Well, let’s find out.

The scale formula gives you insight in the notes you play. It gives you a clear overview of how scales relate to each other and reveals the easiness of building any scale in seconds.

It also a great tool for learning and understanding chord construction and soloing. Once you know the logic behind a scale and how to use the formula, a lot of pieces to the puzzle will fall into place one step at a time.

To construct or build a scale we need a major scale and a scale formula. We use the major scale as groundwork and reference point for building all the other scales and then apply the appropriate scale formula to fill in the notes. Continue Reading

The Best High Quality Affordable Acoustic Guitars 2021

By Klaus Crow 25 Comments

March 28, 2021 by Klaus Crow

It’s amazing how the quality of affordable guitars is improving these days.

I can still remember the time when you would have to dig deep into your pockets to get a guitar with a decent tone.

Nowadays you can buy really good quality and a great sounding guitar for a reasonably cheap price.

Whether you want a guitar from one of the manufacturers that have proven high quality over decades or solid wood guitars built with passion and care, it’s all within reach.

I’m often pleasantly surprised when I hear and feel some of the lower priced guitars at the guitar store or when my students hand over their freshly new bought guitars for me to try out. After a while they dare to interrupt me, “Hey Klaus, Sir… Excuse me! Can we get on with the guitar lesson, please?” and I’m like “Oh yeah, right, Sorry. Where were we?”. I just get lost when a good sound captures me.

What you pay and get for these guitars is just really good. Don’t get me wrong, a 3000 dollar Martin or Taylor will take your sound to the next level, but we’re talking medium priced guitars here. Guitars with a good sound that give you a lot of value for your money.

When I play a Martin DX1RAE, a Mini Taylor (mahogany top) or a Cort 200 (all between 300 and 650 dollars)… I don’t know how to put a stop to my bucket list. They are all stunning beauties in their own way.

So, if you don’t want to spend a fortune, but neither want a cheap guitar that lacks quality and tone, then these guitars are the real deal.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Check out the list of great affordable guitars:
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Guitar Playing and The Power of Failure

By Klaus Crow 10 Comments

May 14, 2019 by Klaus Crow

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We all recognize those awkward moments of embarrassment, when it feels like everything you’ve worked so hard for suddenly falls and shatters to pieces.

In an instant you’re desperately seeking for that nearest whole in the floor to jump in and disappear quickly or better yet just vanish into thin air.

Reality sucks sometimes. But these are the crucial moments when the tables are about to turn.

The times in my life where I made dramatic improvement in guitar playing, performing, teaching, blogging and other areas, is when I failed. Failed and painfully confronted.

Yes it hurts, but you will get over it and if you have an open mind and listen to what just happened you can learn and benefit from it tremendously.

I still remember the time when I was asked for a pop rock cover band with musicians ten years older than me. I thought I could play pretty decent guitar (Satriani, Metallica and SRV songs were on my repertoire). Then during one of the first rehearsals the drummer of the band told me my rhythm playing s#cked and that I’d better head back to my room to practice.Continue Reading

How to Read a Chord Diagram and Other Chord Notation

By Klaus Crow 12 Comments

September 4, 2023 by Klaus Crow

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The first thing you want to do when you start out playing guitar is learn how to read a chord diagram (and buying a guitar).

Knowing how to read a chord diagram or other types of chord notations is pretty much essential when you want to learn pop, rock, blues or any other style of music.

When you go out and buy a guitar book, most books will show the chord diagrams for the appropriate song, but you will also find them on the web, in music notation software and apps.

In the beginning you will only have to acquire a small chord vocabulary to get you playing lots of songs. So let’s get this baby rolling!

There are different types of chord notation. We’ll start with the most traditional and accurate one.

How to Read a Chord Diagram

The chord diagram represent the neck of the guitar (see image below).
The six vertical lines represent the six strings on the guitar. From left to right; low E string, A string, D string, G string, B string and high E string or also called: 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st string.

The horizontal top line (which is thicker than the lower horizontal lines) indicates the nut of the guitar. The second horizontal line is the 1st fret, followed by the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th fret.