Lesson IX: 6/9/2008

• Took the strum patterns of the kid's book through the 12 bar blues.
• Began playing "Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down"
• Began playing "Pay Me My Money Down"
• Introduced the chord A7.

How to play a barre chord rooted on the A string:

1. Lay your ring finger over the 2nd, 3rd & 4th strings at the 9th fret. Your ring finger will NOT lay firmly on the 6th string (the high e string) but rest softly so it will not sound while strumming.
   
2. Press your index finger on the 7th fret of the 5th string (the A string). I lightly mute the low E string with the tip of my index finger. (Some barre the E string as well but the root will then be on the E string rather than the A string, which changes the sound of the chord.)
   
3. Strum the chord. Both E strings should be muted. It may take some time to get this down but just with the first barre chord you learned, you'll get it down eventually.

That's about it. I should mention the CROCK gods were pretty pissed off when Arbo the Dragon realized that he can't play standing. Arbo's homework assignment was to burn all the chairs in his house so he will not be tempted to sit while playing.

Lesson VIII: 5/30/2008

Pretty basic stuff:

• Reviewed 12 bar blues
• Reviewed barre chords & power chords began lowering them down the neck (beginning at the 7th fret).

Lesson VII: 5/23/2007

• Played "These Boots Were Made For Walking"
• Reviewed power & barre chords.
• Introduced "I Wanna Be Sedated".
• Introduced the 12 Bar Blues (I, IV, V progression) in the keys of G & A Major.

Lesson VI: 5/16/2008

• Reviewed Exercises 4 & 5.
• Introduced "These Boots Were Made For Walking"
• Introduced "Yellow Submarine"... a good song to practice a lot of chord changes.
• Introduced barre chords & power chords.

How to barre chord:

1. Play an E Major chord WITHOUT your index finger. Shift all the fingers down so it forms the same shape, but with different fingers.
2. When you're comfortable with that, slide the fingers up the fretboard until your middle finger is on the 8th fret. Strum, it will sound a little funky but make sure all notes pluck clearly.
3. Lay your index finger down on the 2nd fret, as close as possible but not too close. Bend your finger slightly to the left so your finger is pressing on the boney, unpuffy part. Pick each note to make sure they all pluck cleanly. This will take some time to master, especially the B string.

How to play a power chord:

• Place your index finger on the 7th fret (E string & your index finger on the 9th fret (A string). Mute the other strings with your index finger.To play it on the A string, simply shift your fingers down one string (index on A string & ring on D string). Slide it around, have fun. Turn the distortion to 11.

CROCK goes electric: 5/9/2008

The mysterious tinker, known in some circles as "Bruce" has taken the CROCK guitars to his workshop in mystical Warren, New Jersey. There he worked his magic... after the ritual animal sacrifices, the guitars were boiled in goats' blood & there they were transformed into the soul-crushing machines that they are today. In addition to the ritual stuff, there may or may not have been some string changes going on... maybe a truss rod adjustment. Gramzon was pretty psyched about his new nut too.

Being that "Bruce" was working on the guitars, the ninth of May found many basses at CROCK's door. Lacking of any educational material, the day was simply a low-frequency barrage of poetry. Arbo supplied power (one part Satan, one part really long orange extension cord) & his new electric guitar which complimented the basses well with his trebly goodness.

Lesson V: 4/25/2008

• Reviewed chords & Exercise 4 & 5.
• Played "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" again.

Lesson IV: 4/18/2008

• Reviewed Exercise 4.
• Reviewed G, Em, D, C, Am, E & A
  

Lesson III: 4/11/2008

• Learned the CHORDS E & A; reviewed G, Em, D, C & Am

• Reviewed the C Major Scale (in the open position).

• Began learning "Knockin' On Heavens Door". If you're thinking of Guns & Roses right now, you're never allowed to read this blog again for the rest of your life. Bob Dylan... just think of Dylan.

Lesson II: 4/3/2008

• Learned the CHORDS C & Am; reviewed G, Em, D: http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=6942
  

• Learned the C Major Scale (in the open position)

• Referenced Rob Bourassa's ear training lessons: http://www.youtube.com/user/robbourassaguitarist
  

Lesson I: 3/28/2008

On this day, the Ides of March... wait, no, not the Ides of March. Is that the 15th? It wasn't the 15th. Wait, I'll start over...

On this day, March 28th, 2008, Gramzon the Bringer of Ashes & Dem the Firebreather presented the first of the sacrificial mortals to the God of CROCK during their lunch hour. Drake the Devil & Arbo the Dragon took a blood oath as they vowed to serve the mission of CROCK. Then we tuned our guitars.

• Learned CHORDS G, Em & D from the following lesson: http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=6942