by Andrew Scrivens | Mar 11, 2018 | Learn To Improvise
Improvisation is one of the most exciting aspects of playing music and is a direct manifestation of our desire to create, express ourselves, and jam with other musicians. Learning to improvise and expand one’s improvisational skills are among the most common goals... 
by Andrew Scrivens | Dec 21, 2017 | HOW To Learn Guitar
Common Questions from People Learning The Guitar This is a series of in-depth conversations between me and many students over the years about the difficulties that they have faced on their journey of learning the guitar and how we have overcome them. Note: this is... 
by Andrew Scrivens | Apr 5, 2016 | HOW To Learn Guitar
Feel The Music When You Play We always hear the phrases like a guitarist’s “touch” and that one should “feel the music” associated with great players and other musicians but it’s easy to overlook the significance of these particular... 
by Andrew Scrivens | Jul 28, 2015 | Learn To Improvise
Pentatonic Scales We have made it this far which means you should now know at least 1 major scale position (but most likely a few or even all 5) and be able to use it/them in a creative way, playing little melodies and phrases, using all parts of the position or... 
by Andrew Scrivens | Jul 28, 2015 | Learn To Improvise
Transitioning Between Thinking Major and Minor Ok, so it’s probably getting clear that the major and minor scales can really be thought of as the same pattern but with different root note positions within that pattern. Often they will seem to be described as... 
by Andrew Scrivens | Jul 28, 2015 | Learn To Improvise
The Minor Scale What do you mean “I already know it?” Now, remember how earlier on we went through the Major Scale and not only memorised where all the Major Root Notes were but also added the Minor Root Notes to our mental labelling? By the end we... 
by Andrew Scrivens | Jul 27, 2015 | Learn To Improvise
HOW to Use the Major Scale on guitar So by now, you (hopefully) know at least 1 major scale pattern. On guitar there are 5 patterns (often called positions) that make up the major scale between 12 frets. After 12 frets the patterns will start again because the 12th... 
by Andrew Scrivens | Jul 27, 2015 | Learn To Improvise
Begin with the Parent Scale: The Major Scale This is a 5- step lesson that contains a lot of information so take it slowly and patiently. Try to apply each suggested exercise. By the time you reach the end you should have a very strong foundation on which everything... 
by Andrew Scrivens | Jul 5, 2015 | HOW To Learn Guitar
Think Like a Farmer: Planting and Watering Seeds I often like to say to students that learning to play guitar should be simple. I’m choosing my words very carefully here- should be simple. I’m not being smarmy! Instead, I’m just trying to remind both... 
by Andrew Scrivens | Jul 5, 2015 | HOW To Learn Guitar
When to Recall Your Reasons for Playing Guitar It can be really tough to stick with things, trust me I know! It seems to be almost a curse at times that we desire so many things, behaviours and knowledge. With so many great activities to enjoy, places to see, foods to... 