2 days agoRock Guitar Lesson: Bending & Vibrato with Paul GilbertOne of the innate characteristics of the human voice that we as listeners find to be so musical and pleasing is a singer’s ability to glide seamlessly from one note to the next, bending the pitch and sliding across micro-tonalities as they transition between a whole or half step. …Guitar3 min readGuitar3 min read
Jan 20Harmonica Lesson: Circular Breathing with Howard LevyOne of the beautiful qualities of wind instruments is that, much like singing, they are directly connected to the human breath. …Music3 min readMusic3 min read
Jan 13Banjo Lesson: An Introduction to Single String Playing with Noam PikelnyIn the context of more traditional bluegrass music, the most common style of banjo playing is the 3-finger technique pioneered by legendary banjoist, Earl Scruggs. When employing this technique, the banjo player will generally play slower-moving melody lines accompanied by rolling 16th-note arpeggios outlining the song’s harmonic movement and structure. …Music3 min readMusic3 min read
Jan 6Bluegrass Mandolin Lesson: Playing with Speed with Sierra HullClassic bluegrass repertoire is historically packed with fast, uptempo songs, often presented in the form of danceable fiddle tunes that feature a flurry of playful sixteenth-note melodies. As a result, students of bluegrass music often focus heavily on improving their playing speed and ability to play quickly while retaining accuracy…Bluegrass3 min readBluegrass3 min read
Dec 30, 2022Fiddle Lesson: The Concept of Tone with Brittany HaasWhen most fiddlers are first learning to play, their primary focus is on performing the proper notes of the tune, intonating those notes correctly, and producing a generally pleasing sound. …Violin3 min readViolin3 min read
Dec 22, 2022Fiddle Lesson: Bowing Patterns for Melodies with Brittany HaasA unique characteristic that sets bowed stringed instruments, including the fiddle, apart from others is the vast array of bowing techniques and patterns that a player can employ to alter a performance and the manner in which they execute a melody. …Bluegrass3 min readBluegrass3 min read
Dec 16, 2022Piano Lesson: Tips To Get You Sight Reading Music with Hugh SungOne of the most critical skills that many professional musicians will tell you is essential to master is the ability to sight read music. But, learning to sight read music is no small task. Not only do you have to be able to think linearly and perform the music on…Piano3 min readPiano3 min read
Dec 9, 2022Classical Violin Lesson: Dynamics & Color with Richard AmorosoWhat makes music so wonderful is its innate ability to tell stories and elicit deep, complex emotional responses from its listeners. Like human emotions and the human experience, the most impactful musical performances are loud, soft, aggressive, tame, beautiful, sorrowful, happy, sad, and every combination and iteration thereof. …Violin3 min readViolin3 min read
Dec 2, 2022Bluegrass Guitar Lesson: Playing in Open D with Chris EldridgeAn essential element of the bluegrass guitar aesthetic is the strategic use of open strings to craft fluid, tasteful melodic runs. Without the use of a capo or altered tuning, well-versed bluegrass acoustic guitar players frequently utilize open strings within their melodic phrases when playing in both the major and…Bluegrass3 min readBluegrass3 min read
Nov 18, 2022Blues Rock Guitar Lesson: Learn to Play Jared James Nichols’ New Single, “Down the Drain”On October 26, 2022, blues rock powerhouse and ArtistWorks instructor, Jared James Nichols released his latest single, “Down the Drain,” on Black Hill Records. Featuring swirling modulated effects, a psychedelic trance-inducing descending chord pattern, and signature screaming guitar solos from Jared, “Down the Drain” continues to showcase the “Blues Power”…Guitar2 min readGuitar2 min read
