General Discussion Questions and Topics

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Susan Palmer of Lead Cat Press on April 20, 2009 at 5:54pm

Here are 2 questions I received recently:

Can I practice with and with out a pic? I like the way both sound.

This book is designed to teach how to play pick-style guitar. There are other books available that teach fingerstyle; although a good fingerstyle guitar teacher may be able to teach you correct fingerstyle playing using this book.

Is there a reason why you don't teach tablature? I was just curious.

You will see tablature throughout the book, especially in the second half, where you will find riffs and solos mixed into the chord exercises. The explanation of tablature is on page 100.

Permalink Reply by Darius Turner on April 23, 2009 at 10:15pm

Susan,

Just broke a guitar string. What strings would you recomend? I dont have an ear or feel for whats different just yet.

Thanks

Darius

Permalink Reply by Susan Palmer of Lead Cat Press on April 24, 2009 at 12:53pm

What kind of guitar are you playing?

Generally, I recommend D'Addario strings. Bring your guitar to a music store so they can see what gauge will work best for you.

If your store does not have a guitar string recycling program, tell them they should. Folks are welcome to send their used strings to me.

Darius Turner said:

Susan,
Just broke a guitar string. What strings would you recomend? I dont have an ear or feel for whats different just yet.
Thanks

Darius

Permalink Reply by Susan Palmer of Lead Cat Press on April 24, 2009 at 4:32pm

Here are a couple of questions I recently received via email:

1) Will the Complete User Guide and Weekly Lesson Planner be available to all customers who bought "The Guitar Lesson Companion" on the Lead Cat Press website?

Yes! I'm putting the finishing touches on it and I will be contacting all the folks who bought it from my website soon.

2) What melodic song books do you suggest?

I use the "Easy Pop Melodies" book with most of my beginning students. It's cheap (especially without the cheesy CD, which I don't recommend) and it's got some cool songs in it. In the Weekly Lesson Planner, there are suggested songs you can play as you work through the book. I recommend you support your local music store and buy a copy there.

3) What chord song books do you suggest?

There are a bunch. I find that the the Hal Leonard "More Easy Pop Rhythms" book works well for beginning students, and I do suggest that students get the one with the CD on this one. Again, support your local music store, and while you're there, pick up some strings and picks too.

Each teacher applies the concepts you learn to different songs, and good teachers do their best to make sure that you are applying the concepts to the songs that you want to play. Don't be shy, ask your teacher to teach you what you want to learn. You can check out some songs that teachers use in the Teacher Group, here.

Permalink Reply by Paul Byrne on May 5, 2009 at 9:33am

Hey Susan, I love the idea of recycling strings, as we try to recycle everything else in our lives. Where do you send these strings?

Permalink Reply by Susan Palmer of Lead Cat Press on May 5, 2009 at 1:35pm

I give them to a local jewelry maker here in Seattle. I'm happy to pass yours along too, if you mail them to me:

Susan Palmer
PO Box 20748
Seattle, WA 98102

Susan Palmer
www.leadcatpress.com

Permalink Reply by Susan Palmer of Lead Cat Press on February 7, 2011 at 10:50am

I recently received this question from a student who bought "The Guitar Lesson Companion" online:

 

I revieved the book yesterday and I am not clear with what the CD has. All the tracks are like background music (audio  only) there is no instructions. Can you please explain me how to make use of it?

 

The CD contains 67 backing tracks for the exercises in the book. If an exercise can be played with a backing track, the track number is listed at the top left side of the exercise like this, "TRACK 14." For most of the exercises, you play the melody. On some of the exercises, you play the chords.

 

For most of the reading exercises, the tempo is about 72bpm and for most of the chord exercises, the tempo is about 80bpm. So, if you cannot play an exercise up to speed the first time (which most students cannot do) I suggest you work each exercise out with a metronome and then put the CD on to test yourself. While the "answer" is not played on the CD, your ear should guide you in your practice sessions and your teacher will be able to evaluate you during your lesson. I did this so that you learn how to read music (or chord charts) and not just develop your ear. There are many more exercises that do just that.

 

Great question, and keep up the hard work!

 

Permalink Reply by Jay Peek on April 14, 2011 at 7:31pm

No link for "Blues Guitar" April 14. (404 not found.)

Permalink Reply by Susan Palmer of Lead Cat Press on April 14, 2011 at 9:06pm

It's by Greg Koch, published by Hal Leonard.

Permalink Reply by Jay Peek on April 16, 2011 at 11:46am

Tks.