Articulation is the term we use in music for the how you play notes. Scales are great for learning what notes can be played, but how you play them transforms bland notes into musical ideas. In this video I’ll walk you through six ideas for articulation that can expand your sound into new areas.
I am sure that you are already familiar with most of these ideas, but I want to try and help you expand your ability to use these techniques.
Technics covered:
– Staccato
– Legato
– Slides
– Bends
– Grace Notes
– Vibrato
It appears to me that one of the most difficult parts of the journey for the contemporary guitarist in training is this; learning to create spontaneous melodic content once specific patterns have been mastered (such as scales and arpeggios).
Basically I just mean learning to solo is the hardest part for a lot of players. I’ve seen players that have a natural understanding of what to do, probably from listening to a lot of music or an innate creative spirit. But if you’re someone who struggles with this, you are not alone!
I’ve worked with a lot of students who have a stiffness about improvising. But by learning to focus on simple patterns with good articulation they start improvising melodies that they actually like to hear. That’s what I hope this lesson helps you with, in some small part.
Thanks for your support
Trent