Since I receive so many individual questions ranging on such various topics, I realized that some of these questions may be on everyone else's mind too and it would be beneficial to publish them here.

So here are some "questions and answers", "inputs and outputs" that I've compiled for your guitar playing edification.

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INPUT:

Will, I just did the exercise on your "Telltale Scale" article for the major scale in A, F# and Gb and found the following errors in your answers:
- F# - 7th position should be F, you have E#
- Gb - 4th position should be B you have Cb

OUTPUT:

When spelling out the notes in a key, you must follow the step rules, (obviously) and also all seven of the note letters must be accounted for.

Yes. F is E# tone wise. But in the key of F#, the E is sharped. In other words you can't have an F and F# in the same key. It's theoretically incorrect.

Same thing with the Gb scale.

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INPUT:

Hi Will, Last night when practicing a Paganini piece, I came across a section with a stretch from a horror movie! I consider myself a average to good guitarist, but this stretch is just impossible and you have to pull off between the three notes.

I have average sized hands, but it looks like you would have to have hands the size of Paul Gilbert or Steve Vai to pull this off (excuse the pun). Here's a small section for you to have a look at. Thanks.

p = pulloff
(13) = My suggestion



Am arpeggio
 p   p                      p
-12--16--8------------------------
--------(13)-10-------------------
-----------------9----------------
--------------------10------------
------------------------12--------
----------------------------12--8-

OUTPUT:

You're right! It's ridiculous!

If you discover something in sheet music that seems just way too much of a stretch, try to find the same notes in other places on the fretboard to achieve the same results. This will allow you to move forward AND keep your sanity!

If you haven't already figured it out, you could play the first string eighth fret C note on the second string, thirteenth fret to accomplish the A minor arpeggio.

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QUESTION:

Hey Will I like your site, it's awesome. I'm glad I came across it.

I really don't know if you'll be able to help me or not, but I have a problem...I am stuck with my guitar playing right now.

I taught myself everything I know. I am pretty good I guess, but when I try to learn something new like a Malmsteen riff or something I can never get it, and I always quit. I don't know where to go, I just wanna get better.

Got any advice? Thanks.

ANSWER:

I've actually addressed this type of question before in a previous article called "Recipe For Success". Here are some highlights.

There are several principles you must adhere to if you are to ever get to a level of great playing. Some of these principles are not just for guitar players. They apply to anything in life that you're trying to accomplish that's worth accomplishing.

1) DEDICATION
You MUST devote yourself to the task at hand. This can be difficult if you "don't seem to have the time" to play or practice. You will have to sacrifice some things in order to make time for your music. For example, Friday nights may be reserved as your weekly night to go to the movies with your friends. It may be a good idea to forget that for a while and use the time more constructively to develop your chops.

2) PRACTICE
Now that you've set aside time for your guitar playing, make sure you use it for what it was intended! You've brushed off your movie friends (who want you to be a famous guitarist anyway, right?) and now you're at home free and clear to practice. BUT, you see that the season finale of Star Trek is on tonight! DON"T GIVE IN! TAPE IT! GO PLAY YOUR GUITAR! Write out a practice schedule for yourself. Work on specific techniques or moves.

Here's an example:

6:00 - 6:15
Practice changing from Dm to C7 because it gives you trouble.
6:15 - 6:30
Practice G Ionian scale at different tempos.
6:30 - 6:45
Practice right hand tapping.
6:45 - 7:00
Practice 2nd inversion Em arpeggio at different tempos.

Do you know how many times you can play a G major scale in 15 minutes? Somewhere around 90! That's 90 repetitions closer toward you becoming an expert!

You could even break this hour into six 10 minute intervals if you want. You will be surprised at how much you can accomplish in an hour of structured practice.

3) PERSERVERENCE
Now that you have dedicated the time, and are using that time to practice, make sure you STICK WITH IT! If Fridays at 6pm is your time to practice, don't let other things interfere with that time.

Now, as everyone knows..."Life Happens". If you see your time being violated, make it up Saturday or Sunday. Try not to skip your practice time completely because it will "open the door" to letting it happen again and again.

4) FOCUS
Now that you are devoting the time to practice, you need to really concentrate on what you are doing. For example, if you're learning to sweep pick that Em arpeggio, you may notice that at a certain point in the sweep, you have a problem moving your fingers. Isolate your "problem spot" and just repeat that spot over and over. Pay attention to every move your hands are making. Also pay attention to your nerves. Are you relaxed or tense when trying to do this? You need to stay relaxed of course. I have actually helped students play better by just having them concentrate on relaxing!

5) PATIENCE
This is a BIGGIE! You can't be a guitar hero overnight or even after one year. There is so much involved with being a really good musician. Just because you see someone play real fast, does not make them a good musician.

- Can they compose a good tune?
- Can they improvise with others?
- Do they know how to bridal that speed and mix it up with tasteful slow playing as well?
- Do they have any sense of melody?
- Can they harmonize their leads?

Your playing and musicianship will mature with time. Heck, I went to dinner last week with Michael Fath and he was telling me how he was studying with some guy who was a master at a particular style because "there is always something else to learn". "The more you know, the more you realize what you don't know".

Oh yeah...patience..."if you practice, it will come". Give yourself credit for being ahead of yesterday's trials.

6) BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU'RE DOING
Stay positive. Don't let others tell you that it can't be done or "your song sounds like two cats in a fight". You have to go through it to get to it. You may have to write ten lousy songs before you begin to wr itegoodsongs.Don't let those ten lousy songs stop you! Learn from them! 9 times out of 10, a genius is just a person who refused to give up!

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QUESTION:

Hi Will: I receive your emails on a regular basis, and I have to say that they are very good and inspiring.

I have been playing guitar for about a year now, just as a hobby and I just love it. I don't have time to practice everyday because I am constantly on the road, but when I get a chance I go for it.

I was wondering if there any books that you can recommend about scales, modes, arpeggios, chords, soloing, etc. especially those that show you for example the minor scales and their extensions, how to identify them on the fretboard. How to identify which key are you playing, how to solo over chords, that kind of stuff.

Most of the books I have seen they will for example concentrate only on the pentatonic, and only on one position. Thanks.

ANSWER:

I share your thoughts on that too. We actually have an incredible book available by my friend Mike Overly called the "Guitar EncycloMedia". I'm not exaggerating when I say that this book has it all! I've said before that if I'm carrying a product on my site, you can rest assured that it's high quality. You can check it out here.

I'm also writing my own "book" (though it will be software) on the very things you're asking about that will be more specific and personal in nature such as approaches to soloing and composition.

I hope this helps!