music theory

Latest about music theory

John McLaughlin, Marty Friedman, Yngwie Malmsteen and Al Di Meola
John McLaughlin, Al Di Meola, Marty Friedman and Yngwie Malmsteen Didn't Rely Exclusively on Western Scales - so Why Should You?

By Guitar Player Staff Published

Add intriguing twists to your playing with the tonal flavors of the Far East, Middle East, Africa and beyond

Lessons
L-R: Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Andy Summers and Dimebag Darrell
Learn How to Use Suspended Chords in the Style of Jimmy Page, Van Halen, the Police, Pantera and Others

By Guitar Player Staff Published

Ditch the 3rd and explore sus 2, sus 4 and 7sus4 chords using open-position and movable voicings

Lessons
Allan Holdsworth on 9/14/83 in Chicago, Il.
“I Was Instantly Humbled”: First Call Session Guitarist Carl Verheyen Shares Rare Insights Into Allan Holdsworth’s Unorthodox Chord Voicings – as Revealed by the Man Himself

By Carl Verheyen Published

“This concept of spreading out the notes of a chord into wide-interval voicings like this resonated with me years later,” says the Supertramp alumnus and seasoned solo artist

Lessons
Freddie King
Have the Same Old Blues Chord Shapes Become Stale and Boring? Here’s How to Avoid Sounding Predictable

By Guitar Player Staff Published

Avoid the trap of humdrum chords by getting command of a few alternate dominant voicings

Lessons
Jimmy Page performing on stage at the Seattle Coliseum, playing Gibson Les Paul guitar
Three Sure-Fire Ways to Break out of That Old Minor-Pentatonic Deadlock

By Mac Randall Published

Completely alter your use of the minor pentatonic scale using these examples in the style of Jimmy Page, Noel Gallagher, Robert Fripp, Peter Green and Eric Clapton

Lessons
American swing jazz guitarist Freddie Green (1911 - 1987), circa 1960.
Get the Know-How of Jazz Rhythm Guitar and Venture Into Any Session With Confidence

By Patrick Brennan Published

Advance your chordal and rhythmic accompaniment with this easy-to-follow guide on jazz guitar comping styles

Lessons
guitar fingerboard with keyhole inlays
Ever Feel Lost on Certain Parts of the Fingerboard? These Ten Invaluable Pointers Are Your Key to Unlocking It All

By Jesse Gress Published

Don’t waste years struggling to remember every single note on the fingerboard – this awesome lesson will get you there fast

Lessons
Sun Records owner Sam Phillips and Elvis Presley both fingering a chord on the same guitar, United States, 1956.
Bored of Using the Same Old Chords? Here’s One of the Hippest Ways to Spice up a Progression

By Jake Hertzog Published

Turn stock rock chords into sweet jazz changes with reharmonization

Lessons
LEWISHAM ODEON Photo of Eddie VAN HALEN and VAN HALEN, Eddie Van Halen performing live onstage
Learn 'The Eddie Van Halen Scale' in This Short, Simple Lesson and Add Some Attention-Grabbing Passages to Your Solos

By Dale Turner Published

Discover the memorable, three-notes-per-string symmetrical pattern that Ed frequently used for both major and minor keys

Lessons
Left to right: Joe Satriani, Wayne Krantz, Alex Lifeson and Tom Petty
Want to Add Intrigue to Your Playing? Try These Creative Ways to Harness the Ear-Catching Sounds of Suspended Chords

By Chris Buono Published

Give your improvising and composing a sharper edge

Lessons
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