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Christian Guitar Network

The Christian Guitar Network is a great site for Christian guitar players to find all the resources they need. Our site includes over two thousand tabs, MP3, chord charts, tons of lessons, mailing lists, and even space for your band to create a small webpage! Plus lots more! Come give us a visit.

114 thoughts on “Christian Guitar Network”

  1. bring the message
    bill lamie

    i am a christian guitar player looking for other players who have the same vision GOD has given me. to reach the lost and also to wake up believers.to share the love and truth of CHRIST no matter what the cost i live near kankakee IL. please pray and respond if HE leads you to in CHRIST, bill

  2. Bass chords
    Jon Vagle

    I am looking for any of the new hit christian artists bass chords so that I can learn them for the youth missions trip to Reynosa, Mexico. Please send any that you can. Jesus Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Your friend,
    Jon

  3. Looking for bass tabs
    Chris Camodeca

    Just looking for bass tabs for my church, I currently play for them and I hope to excell in playing maybee you can help me. We sing old gospel song such as the old rugged cross, I’ll fly away old glory, I love you Lord, and many more, can you help.

  4. Invitation
    Rhea Cary

    This group discussion is dedicated to Pure Ambient Space Landscape Music.
    To give Ambient Artist exposure due them and their music.
    And to promote these talented artist and their Recording Label’s.
    And to keep the fan’s in touch with the favorite artist e.g. (latest recordings, labels, concerts etc.). And allow there fans to speak out and discuss their ( artist ) music tracks and styles.

    the_ambient_way-subscribe@yahoogroups

    Rhea Cary Owner

    Hope to hear from you. and please pass on the word to others who might be interested.

  5. I need the lyrics to the older praise song… "How deeply I need you" I goes something like this… Here is my heart, I give it all to you……. I need you like the ocean needs the streams, I need you like the dessert needs the rain…"
    If you can get them to me as soon as possible I’d appreciate it!

        1. Re: chords
          matt

          : : : Please help.
          : : : Looking for the chords to "Revival" As sure as gold & "Days of Your Faith" These are the days by Robin Mark
          : : Revival in Belfast…
          : :

  6. The Undecided
    Michael Blackburn

    My band and I want to play a couple of songs by The Undecided for an upcoming show. Tab for this great band is impossible to find. If anyone knows where tab can be reached on the net, please email me!! We’re especially interested in the song "General Delivery". Thank you!! [email protected]

    1. Re: you are full of shitt
      God's messenger

      : fuck you ass whipes

      To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

      I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

      Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

      1. Re: you are full of shitt
        n8

        : : fuck you ass whipes

        : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

        : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

        : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

        Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

        1. Re: you are full of shitt
          Linds

          : : : fuck you ass whipes

          : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

          : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

          : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

          : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

          Lord,
          Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and replaced with Your love. I pray that w/e he needs he is given through You. Be with him now Lord. I ask these things in your name. Amen

          1. Re: you are full of shitt
            Eric

            I pray dear Lord that all the lost, all those who grab ahold of what is available and choose to follow that which they find out of convenience may find the peace that is God Jehovah convenient and accesible, in Your Son’s Name. Peace, Eric

            : : : : fuck you ass whipes

            : : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

            : : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

            : : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

            : : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

            :
            : Lord,
            : Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and replaced with Your love. I pray that w/e he needs he is given through You. Be with him now Lord. I ask these things in your name. Amen

          2. Re: you are full of shitt
            Brooke*

            : : : : fuck you ass whipes

            : : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

            : : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

            : : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

            : : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

            :
            : Lord,
            : Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and replaced with Your love. I pray that w/e he needs he is given through You. Be with him now Lord. I ask these things in your name. Amen

            Lord Jesus, I lift this boy up into your grace i just pray that will take him under your wing and you heal his heart of all of the hurt that he has, due to whatever. Take care of this boy, and Lord, I pray that you allow the people in his life to witness to him and pray for him that he might be converted to doing your will. I ask these things in your precious name, thank you Jesus, Amen.

        2. Re: you are full of shitt
          Linds

          : : : fuck you ass whipes

          : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

          : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

          : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

          : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

          Lord,
          Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and replaced with Your love. I pray that w/e he needs he is given through You. Be with him now Lord. I ask these things in your name. Amen

        3. Re: you are full of shitt
          Linds

          : : : fuck you ass whipes

          : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

          : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

          : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

          : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

          Lord,
          Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and replaced with Your love. I pray that w/e he needs he is given through You. Be with him now Lord. I ask these things in your name. Amen

        4. Re: you are full of shitt
          Linds

          : : : fuck you ass whipes

          : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

          : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

          : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

          : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

          Lord,
          Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and replaced with Your love. I pray that w/e he needs he is given through You. Be with him now Lord. I ask these things in your name. Amen

        5. Re: you are full of shitt
          Linds

          : : : fuck you ass whipes

          : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

          : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

          : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

          : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

          Lord,
          Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and replaced with Your love. I pray that w/e he needs he is given through You. Be with him now Lord. I ask these things in your name. Amen

        6. Re: you are full of shitt
          Linds

          : : : fuck you ass whipes

          : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

          : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

          : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

          : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

          Lord,
          Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and

        7. Re: you are full of shitt
          Linds

          : : : fuck you ass whipes

          : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

          : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

          : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

          : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

          Lord,
          Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and replaced with Your love. I pray that w/e he needs he is given through You. Be with him now Lord. I ask these things in your name. Amen

        8. Re: you are full of shitt
          Linds

          : : : fuck you ass whipes

          : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

          : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

          : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

          : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

          Lord,
          Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and

        9. Re: you are full of shitt
          Linds

          : : : fuck you ass whipes

          : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

          : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

          : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

          : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

          Lord,
          Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and replaced with Your love. I pray that w/e he needs he is given through You. Be with him now Lord. I ask these things in your name. Amen

        10. Re: you are full of shitt
          Linds

          : : : fuck you ass whipes

          : : To the young man who has identified himself as satan:

          : : I hope everyone who reads this kids’ e-mail will pray for him and post their prayer for him.

          : : Lord God, there are a lot of hurting kids in this world but I want to pray for this young man right now. I pray for his situation at home I pray for his parents to love him with the unconditional love you’ve given to us. Lord this young man would probably deny that he is hurting but God we know that he is and I pray for this young man may we all show our love to him … Amen

          : Lord, i just ask you that you would be with this guy, i don’t know him Lord, but i know he needs our prayers. You know what kind of life this guy has had, and Lord, right now i just lift this guy up to you. Amen.,

          Lord,
          Even though I don’t know this guy I know many just like him and I pray that in my life I can somehow touch them and help them out of w/e is going on. I pray that w/e is happening to this guy that fills him with hate is somehow removed and replaced with Your love. I pray that w/e he needs he is given through You. Be with him now Lord. I ask these things in your name. Amen

    1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music for all isreal houton song thanks and God bless you
      jude uwensuyi

      :
      : looking for bass lines for black gospel songs and hymns.

      for all isreal houton song and if possible ron kenoly.

      1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music for all isreal houton song thanks and God bless you
        .com

        : :
        : : looking for bass lines for black gospel songs and hymns.

        : for all isreal houton song and if possible ron kenoly.

        Go to http://www.echords.com they have a lot gospel tabs there

      2. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music for all isreal houton song thanks and God bless you
        chris

        : :

        :looking for all isreal houton song and if possible ron kenoly.

      3. electric bass lines for gospel music for all isreal houton song thanks and God bless you
        Rennel

        Hi am a 19 year old female who plays the bass in church i wanna further by talent in the bass and i like the bass lines from Isreal as well as hillsong. looking for all Ireals songs with bass notes as well as hillsong

    2. Re: colors of day
      sam

      :
      : looking for bass lines for black gospel songs and hymns.

      yes im doing a mass a school and i will only pass if i have these tabs for colors of day please help it in a week i love all gods things thanks love one of god followers-sam

      1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music
        andre dilworth

        : :
        : : looking for bass lines for black gospel groups such as the canton spirituals, lee williams and the spiritual qc’s ,fred hammond

        1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music
          Chris Camodeca

          : : :
          : : : looking for bass lines for black gospel songs and hymns. Fred Hammond + Kirk Franklin + Victory Mass Choir and any Other Hip Beats to Magnify God with.

          1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music
            alex

            : : : :
            : : : : looking for bass lines for black gospel songs and hymns. Fred Hammond + Kirk Franklin + Victory Mass Choir and any Other Hip Beats to Magnify God with.

            1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music
              Maurice Aarons

              : : : : :
              : : : : : looking for bass lines for black gospel songs and hymns. Fred Hammond + Kirk Franklin + Victory Mass Choir and any Other Hip Beats to Magnify God with.

              1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music
                DENNIS CRUMP

                : : : : : :
                : : : : : : looking for bass lines for black gospel songs and hymns. Fred Hammond + Kirk Franklin + Victory Mass Choir and any Other Hip Beats to Magnify God with. (PARTICULARLY "JESUS BE A FENCE").

    3. Gospel Bass Tabs
      Curtis Montgomery

      I need some bass tabs for Gospel music, both Hymns and Choir songs, can someone please help? I am a young (19)Bass player at my church and i am sort of begginning and need some assistence in playin good gospel music.

      1. Re: Gospel Bass Tabs
        pedro

        :
        : I need some bass tabs for Gospel music, both Hymns and Choir songs, can someone please help? I am a young (19)Bass player at my church and i am sort of begginning and need some assistence in playin good gospel music.

        1. Re: Gospel Bass Tabs
          oral

          : :
          : : I need some bass tabs for Gospel music, both Hymns and Choir songs, can someone please help? I am a beginner Bass player at my church and i need some assistence in playing good gospel music.

      2. Re: Gospel Bass Tabs
        gabriel

        :
        : I need some bass tabs for Gospel music, both Hymns and Choir songs, can someone please help? I am a young (15)Bass player at my church and i am sort of begginning and need some assistence in playin good gospel music.

      3. Re: Gospel Bass Tabs
        Brian Morrison

        :Did you get help. I need it too. Thanks!
        [email protected]

        : I need some bass tabs for Gospel music, both Hymns and Choir songs, can someone please help? I am a young (19)Bass player at my church and i am sort of begginning and need some assistence in playin good gospel music.

      4. Re: Gospel Bass Tabs
        sean parrish

        :
        : I need some bass tabs for Gospel music, both Hymns and Choir songs, can someone please help? I am a young (19)Bass player at my church and i am sort of begginning and need some assistence in playin good gospel music.i want mansion over a hilltop.

      5. Re: Gospel Bass Tabs
        jay

        :
        : I need some bass tabs for Gospel music, both Hymns and Choir songs, can someone please help? I am a young (22)Bass player at my church and i am sort of begginning and need some assistence in playin good gospel music.
        need of more gospel bass tabds thnks god bless

          1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music
            Mo lalakobau

            : Looking for Kurt Carr, Kirkfranklin-Rebirth, Hezekiah Walker, Fred Hammond, Commisioned- Reunion-

            :I was just wondering wether there was any bass tabs for fred hammond song "You are my daily bread"

              1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music
                Ralphy

                : : : Looking for Kurt Carr, Kirkfranklin-Rebirth, Hezekiah Walker, Fred Hammond, Commisioned- Reunion-

                Iam looking how to play donnie mcclurkin, fred hammond, and Pastor Hezekiah Walker for my church couse my church doesn’t have a bass player.

              1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music
                alexis gilmore

                : : : Looking for Kurt Carr, Kirkfranklin-Rebirth, Hezekiah Walker, Fred Hammond, Commisioned- Reunion- Jimmy Hicks

                1. Re: electric bass tabs for gospel music
                  Edwin

                  : : : : Looking for Kurt Carr, Kirkfranklin-Rebirth, Hezekiah Walker, Fred Hammond, Commisioned- Reunion-, Ron Kenoly Lift Him up, Alvin Slaugher , Donnie McClukin Live in London

      1. bass lines and tabs
        Anonymous

        I am looking for 4 string bass guitar lines/tabs for black gospel songs and hymns, Please….
        I play the 4 string bass guitar for my chruch choir (best as I can) but I need to learn how to create BETTER bass lines for the black gospel songs and hymns better than I am during. I play pretty good with the keyboard and drum (but not solo) and I want to create the bass lines better, much better than I am…… Any books or sheet music (with the bass line/tab) will be great……. thanks, thanks and thanks……. HELP……. PLEASE, PLEASE AND PLEASE…..

    1. Regot a question for anyone interested in answering it.
      john staszefski

      i have been playing guitar for about four years God has realy anointed me in playing. I would like to know how to start learning how to play lead I can play scales already and blues lead stuff but i would like to learn more . thanks a lot!

    1. Re: who's the best (Christian Guitar Players)
      Marty Phillips

      : Who would you say are the top 10 Christian Guitar Players?

      1.Phil Keaggy
      2.Hadley Hockensmith
      3.steve beegle
      4.Larry Carlton
      5.Kerry Livgren
      6.randy thomas
      7.Ty Tabor
      8.Stu Heiss
      9.Dana Key
      10.bob hartman

    2. Re: who's the best (Christian Guitar Players)
      Raphael Costa

      : Who would you say are the top 10 Christian Guitar Players?

      Dann Huff, Paul Jackson Jr, Gordon Kennedy and Larry Carlton

    3. Re: who's the best (Christian Guitar Players)
      russ

      : Who would you say are the top 10 Christian Guitar Players?
      number one is obviously phil keaggy. he is one of the best period.

      1. Re: who's the best (Christian Guitar Players)
        Chris Brecht

        Phil Keaggy for sure, Lincoln Brewster is the MAN, Steven Curtiss Chapman is more known for his song writing but his playing is beautiful.

  7. "Discover Your Discomfort"- a good essay to benefit guitarists!
    Stephen Maxwell

    Discover Your Discomfort!
    or

    Why Are So Many Guitarists Masochists?
    by Jamey Andreas (www.guitarprinciples.com)

    Okay, I’m going to explain some powerful things for the practicing
    guitarist
    who wants to see RESULTS from their practice. In other words, the
    guitarist
    who wants to do what I call CORRECT PRACTICE.

    Have you ever had trouble playing something on the guitar? Have you
    ever seen
    or heard someone play something, tried to do it yourself, maybe
    practiced it
    for a long time, and ended up with only frustration and bad feelings
    about
    yourself as a player? Be honest now. I’ve been playing for 30 years,
    and I
    have never met a player, including myself, who could honestly answer no
    to
    that question.

    There are a few things that are always true when we are unable to play
    something we want to play on the guitar.
    One of the things that you will always find, if you look for it, is
    what
    Arron Shearer called, in his first book, uncontrolled muscle tension.
    Many,
    many players have in fact commented on this fact, mainly because this
    fact
    becomes obvious to anyone who plays for awhile, pays attention, and
    starts to
    discover the path to gaining increasing ability on the guitar. Many
    people
    mention it. The problem is they never tell you what to do about it!

    Oh sure, you’ll hear people say "play S-L-O-W-LY", or "RELAX"! I
    asked,
    ordered, screamed, and pleaded with students to do that for probably 20
    years, before I realized that almost no one was listening to me, or
    maybe
    they didn’t believe me, or maybe they thought I was kidding (well,
    his face
    is turning purple, but, nah, I don’t think he’s serious)!

    No, it seems most people would rather try to play that bar chord or
    that
    scale with their shoulders tensed up to their ears, their pinky tensed
    up and
    pulled 2 inches from the neck as they dislocate their shoulder trying
    to get
    it to it’s note on time, practice and play that way day in and day
    out, and
    then wonder why they find that scale hard to play, that it breaks down
    at a
    certain speed. Or maybe they wonder why they have a pain here or there.
    Hell,
    they may be really persistent and keep at it till they qualify for this
    new
    disease I’m always reading about, Repetitive Strain Injury.

    I got a new student about a year ago, we’ll call him Tom. Now Tom had
    been
    teaching himself for a few years, is very musical, very intelligent,
    and
    managed to learn fingerstyle guitar well enough to attempt some rather
    challenging pieces, including some classical repertoire. In fact, he
    would
    play for friends and often impress them.
    However, it was also true that he knew he never played anywhere near
    his best
    in these circumstances, and the piece would often break down somewhere.
    It
    was also true that he had a growing pain in his left shoulder when he
    practiced.

    Tom has two very important qualities that a player must have in order
    to
    overcome problems, and make what I call Vertical Growth. Those two
    things are
    Desire, and Honesty.

    Tom doesn’t have the pain in his shoulder anymore, and his playing is
    getting
    better and better. This is because he has learned a few things. He has
    learned about the incredible state of muscular relaxation that a player
    must
    have as they play. He has learned how difficult it is to actually make
    sure
    you have that relaxation as you play. He has learned about Sympathetic
    Tension, how every time you use one muscle, others become tense also,
    and how
    if you are not aware of it, and allow it to be there, it becomes locked
    in to
    the muscles through the power of Muscle Memory.

    Tom is also learning, over time, that by always making the effort to
    focus
    his attention on this muscle tension, he can always eliminate some part
    of
    it, and by consistently doing this in practice, things begin to feel
    easier
    and easier, because he was really fighting his own muscle tension,
    which made
    it feel so hard.

    Tom inspired me to invent a phrase, something for him to always keep in
    mind
    when he practices. In fact, I told him to do what I do. Write it out on
    a
    sign and keep it somewhere in front of him as he practices. On the
    music
    stand or taped to the wall like I do. The phrase is "DISCOVER YOUR
    DISCOMFORT". Pay attention, notice what happens in the body as you
    play. How
    does it feel. Good players are not experiencing that discomfort when
    they do
    the thing you struggle to do. If they had to struggle they wouldn’t
    be good
    players!

    Now as usually happens, I began to use the phrase myself, and began to
    discover new levels of my own discomfort. And I began to see my playing
    improve, I mean fundamentally improve. You see, there is no end to this
    process.

    Why do so many of us allow such discomfort when we practice and play?
    There
    are many reasons, I’ll go in to them at another time. What I want to
    do now
    is give you some ways of discovering your own discomfort, and begin to
    minimize it.
    Â
    Hold the guitar as comfortable as you can.

    Allow your left arm to hand limp at your side.

    Place your right hand fingers on the strings, keeping them very loose
    and
    relaxed. If you use a pick, float the pick in between two strings and
    keep it
    there.

    Focus your attention on your shoulders, as you raise your left hand
    slowly.
    Raise it straight up without extending it, and place all your fingers
    on the
    sixth string, around the tenth fret. Keep them on the string so
    lightly, you
    don’t even press the string down. (Not easy at first)!

    Do you feel anything in your right shoulder as you do this? Do you feel
    any
    tightness come in to the pick hand, perhaps you are gripping the pick
    tighter, or tensing your wrist? Be honest now.
    Â
    Keeping your left hand fingers on the string lightly, begin to move
    your hand
    down toward the first fret. You must do this VERY SLOWLY. Notice what
    happens
    throughout your body. As I have had students do this, I have seen
    everything
    from tense ankles or belly, to practically falling off the chair!

    Â I hope I have provided a starting point for further investigations
    and
    insights for you. Take anything you find hard to do, stop yourself in
    the
    middle of it, and check out what is happening in your body. You will be
    amazed.

    For more information on how to develop these insights, visit
    http://www.guitarprinciples.com. Good Luck!

    Copyright 1999 by Jamey Andreas. All Rights Reserved.

      1. Re: Chord charts
        Neal Boudreau (Pronounced= Boodrow)

        : : What is the best site for downloading chords charts?
        : and sheet music
        I already use the Christian Music Web
        Thank tyou Much

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