JONNY MOSS GUITAR
  • Introduction
  • Book a lesson
  • Videos
  • Online lessons
  • Guitar Basics Blog
  • Music Workshops
  • ABOUT ME

GUITAR BASICS BLOG

Dynamics

24/4/2018

0 Comments

 
Just as a painter needs to add tonal variety to a painting, so too must a musician add dynamic variety to a piece of music, it would be very dull otherwise.

In this video I look at a simple device to add these dynamics. It is not just about playing a crescendo or diminuendo though, it's also about tension and release.

The video doesn't tell the whole story... it is a very basic introduction to dynamics. Playing louder as the notes climb in pitch can be useful and, for example bring scales to life, but one extra thing I should mention is that when the volume increases as the notes climb, it can be very pleasing to the ear to hold back the volume on the highest note.

A simple exercise to develop your use of dynamics would be to play i and m alternating on the open top string, start softly and gradually build the volume and then relax it. The next stage would be to apply this to a scale and then to a phrase from a piece of music you are working on.

​
0 Comments

Fingering descending notes

21/4/2018

0 Comments

 
Here's a handy hint that minimises left hand finger movements, two for the price of one. Using this technique helps the left hand become more efficient resulting in smoother playing.

​
0 Comments

Left Hand finger preparation

15/4/2018

0 Comments

 
A huge contributing factor to smooth playing is preparing the LH fingers early... Perhaps difficult to adjust to at first (focusing on fingers that aren't fretting), but if you scribble reminders on the music, eventually control will become more straightforward.


0 Comments

Rest and Free Strokes

5/4/2018

0 Comments

 
Time for another exercise.

This one is pretty essential and it breaks down the movements of the fingers as they strike the strings. As with all the exercises, slow and methodical repetition will speed up progress.

​
0 Comments

Repertoire to be inspired

3/4/2018

0 Comments

 
Choosing the right pieces to play will speed up development on the guitar...

​
0 Comments

    Guitar Basics


    Over the years I've developed techniques and picked up some gems from influential teachers such as Craig Ogden, Manus Noble and Gary Ryan that can make playing so much more pleasurable, snippets that can help make the seemingly unachievable, achievable. 

    My general approach to good technique is one based on relaxed posture and focused effort. The reason we work on technique is to allow the music to be freed from the score and expressed by the guitarist with ease and confidence.

    Lots of students have asked if I could record the exercises we regularly use and this blog is the result.

    Blog introduction can be read here.

    Archives

    July 2022
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Introduction
  • Book a lesson
  • Videos
  • Online lessons
  • Guitar Basics Blog
  • Music Workshops
  • ABOUT ME