Rock & Roll 101

March 30th, 2021

We wrapped up the songs we were learning, and added a couple of Ed Sheeran songs.

We're learning:

Afterglow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xG9CviE5Fs

Happier:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWQN7u6g62c

March 23rd, 2021

We added three new songs today - they're all two chord songs, so very easy to learn.

Before I Close My Eyes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EpBqtqf8Go

Wanna Grow Old (I Won't Let Go):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wdIxyFFUcE

The Interlude that Never Ends:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIoViqOFjIU

March 16th, 2021

We added a new song, Triumph, by XXXtentacion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oitBJxR9UUE

Aaron is going to continue working on the Ex Bitch song at home... he's close on it, just needs to work on the B minor.

This new song needs a capo on fret 1. The chords are F#m / / / | A / / / | E / / / | E / / / / |

(I didn't write them in his book).

March 9th, 2021

Aaron was tired of the Monster song, and hadn't made much progress on it, so we tried to find something else to learn to encourage him to practice. we went through about 5 songs, which he all felt were too hard (in my opinion they weren't at all, but I want him to own the song.)

We settled on one by XXXTENTACION, called Ex Bitch (he said his mom would be okay with him learning it -- hope that's true!)

It's harder than the others, but he says he's wanted to play it for a while.

March 2nd, 2021

Aaron hadn't seem to practice much, but we worked on the part over for most of the lesson trying to get it smoother, especially switching to the G on the low E string...

We also reviewed the bar chords for a quite a while, and Aaron did a good job picking this up fast. Switching is hard, but he's getting there.

February 23rd, 2021

Aaron did well today, considering it's been since before Christmas since we met last.

We went over Monster together, and then decided to go back to an older song to get warmed up, before returning and working out the details.

Part of that involved adding a new part to the TAB (bass on G), and then talking about bar chords, which are used in the chorus us of this song.

February 16th, 2021

I guess Aaron forgot to come today, or was at his dad's.

December 29th, 2020

I missed Aaron today - hope all is okay!

December 22nd, 2020

I missed Aaron tonight - hope all is okay.

December 8th, 2020

Aaron will not be coming this evening.

December 1st, 2020

We went over Photograph tonight, focusing on a few problem spots:

1. Asus chord is misfingered- watch that pink and ring finger.
2. The pre-chorus changes chords every bar instead of every two bars
3. Don't lose timing - especially going to the G too soon

After that we worked on a new song for the last 5 minutes or so, called "Monster (Under My Bed)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FJhEbhCYo8

This has finger picking in the intro, so we reviewed how to do that, and I wrote out TAB for him and reviewed how to read TAB.

By-the-way, here's the guitar chord printout if you want it:
https://rockandroll101.ca/images/guitar-chords-chart.png

November 24th, 2020

We finished up Perfect today - WOW, Aaron is learning songs fast, and learning them well!!

We added a new Ed Sheeran song, called Photograph today... I think he should have it ready by next week at this rate!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgmXPCX4VzU&ab_channel=DopeLyrics

We added a new chord, Asus.

November 17th, 2020

We finished up Senorita today and added Perfect by Ed Sheeran.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDDMYw_IZnE&ab_channel=DopeLyrics

Good job, Aaron!

November 10th, 2020

We practiced Senorita at .85 speed, and worked more on the strumming.

Down Down Slap-UP UP
Down Down Slap-UP UP

November 3rd, 2020

We went through Slow Hand together twice, then added a new song: Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendez: Señorita
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow1QqW0jzTo&ab_channel=TajTracks

This has got a number of new chords AND a new strumming pattern, so a tricky one. We spent most of the lesson learning how to play the strumming pattern. Aaron will have to practice this one to learn it, for sure. :)

October 27th, 2020

Aaron didn't have his book today, but we went through the song Slow Hands together, and I called out the chords - he's doing well!

We talked about 8ths and quarters, and how to strum the "ands" in between the other counts (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and).

Next week we'll go over it a couple more times, and then add the new song.

October 20th, 2020

Aaron is doing well. We reviewed Six Feet Under, and got it up to 95% speed, with pretty decent acuracy.

We then added Slow Hand by Niall Horan,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5FzCz8NC58

It's in C - no new chords, and he's off to a good start with it!

October 13th, 2020

Aaron came with his list of songs today! He said that he hadn't really practiced much at his dads, but I'm happy with his progress so far, anyway! We went through BIllie Eilish's song, Six Feet Under together - a new chord, B minor... he played it through with me a few times at 75% speed ... next week up to 100%.

Good job!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZgiAgYXneE&ab_channel=Equilanora

October 6th, 2020

Today we reviewed everything over the last set of lessons, and Aaron remembered so much on his own, I was really impressed!

We talked about next songs to learn, and here's a good list of pop songs with acoustic guitar:

https://www.guitarhabits.com/top-25-easy-pop-songs-for-guitar-of-the-last-decade/

Have Aaron go over this list and pick his top 10 or so, and we can learn those over the next few months.

Good job Aaron!

March 9th, 2020

Aaron did a good job in going over 7 Years - we worked through it together, and I wrote out the last choruses which are a little different.

Next week we can start a new song, so come with one you'd like to learn.

March 2nd, 2020

Tonight in Aaron's lesson we reviewed Heathens together, and focused quite a bit on improving the B7 chord - how to form a claw with your hand and apply his hand to the neck in one movement, instead of building the chord, finger by finger.

We then added a new song, By Lukas Graham, called 7 Years:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0bnAmfGQC8

February 24th, 2020

Aaron did well on both of his songs this week, so we added a new one and spent some time working through the chord changes on it.

It's 21 Pilots, Heathens:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZUttFHwy10

He is actually picking things up really fast now, I'm quite happy with his speed of learning.

February 10th, 2020

We reviewed Can't Help and he's doing fairly well. I don't want him to get tired of the song, so we moved on after 15 minutes tonight, so he'd have another song to practice. He should keep practicing this one though.

We added one by Imagine Dragons, called Thunder:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFhs7WVvuXk


It also has a lot of Fs and Cs in it, so a good next song to learn.

February 3rd, 2020

Aaron is doing well - we went over Can't Help Falling, and tried to focus on the F and C transitions - he's close! We worked on switching before the chord arrives so it's not a surprise.

I think by next week we should be able to start another song, so decide on what song you want to do.

January 27th, 2020

January 20th, 2020

Aaron came with his dad, Brad, tonight. We reviewed Can't Help Falling in Love, and worked on switching between the F and C chords, especially.

We also learned on the B flat scale and the blues scale (the first shape I teach).

January 13th, 2020

Aaron came in with a new book today, so we didn't review other things he'd been working on (except going over some chords and slapping on beats 2 and 4).

We added a new song, by 21 Pilots, Can't Help Falling in Love:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9HuRmTa41s

It has an F in it, so we wrote the F chord down and worked through that a bit.

It's a hard chord, but with a lot of practice he can get it.

January 6th, 2020

Aaron didn't have his book (he ran home to get it, but it wasn't there either), so we did some review, like playing chords he'd memorized, and learned a couple of new chords (sevenths, which are pretty easy to remember).

We learned A7, G7, C7, and D7.

We then worked on some strumming, especially focusing on strums with slaps or mutes in them.

December 30th, 2019

I guess Aaron's not coming again tonight. Hope everything is okay!

December 23rd, 2019

I missed Aaron on the 23rd.

December 16th, 2019

Aaron did well on Santa Claus is coming to town. He is still a little slower on getting to B minor and C. Please continue working on these chords. Some other transitions are really quick, and that's great!

We then added a new song, We Wish You A Merry Christmas. It has a new chord in it, B7.

We will have lessons on the 23rd.

December 10th, 2019

Aaron is doing great!

I lent him my old acoustic folk guitar so he has one at moms and one at dads.

We reviewed the two Christmas songs from last week, and added two new ones: Frost the Snowman, and 7 Nation Army (just the lead part that the bass usually plays.

December 3rd, 2019

Aaron was able to play through the chords fairly well, so we added two songs today - Christmas songs, just in time for the season!

We added Jingle Bells and Silent Night, both in the key of A, and played them through a few times.

Keep working on the G chord, so we can do more songs in that key.

November 26th, 2019

Aaron didn't have his book today, but brought another one, so I wrote out the chords he'd been working on again, and we practiced strumming through them. I wrote out a simple four bar sequence of chords for him to work on, and I'd like him to practice switching between all the chords a number of times, like A minor for four strums, to G for four strums, and then continue with that kind of thing... E minor for four to D for four, etc. etc.

November 19th, 2019

Aaron is feeling sick today.

November 12th, 2019

Aaron came with his step-mom Lisa today.

We reviewed the G and E minor chords, and added two new ones: Aminor and D.

We spent some time switching between these chords, trying to help him improve his speed at getting the chord played, etc.

November 5th, 2019

Jason sick today.

October 29th, 2019

Today was Aaron's first lesson.

We reviewed the names of the parts of the guitar, and I asked Aaron to draw a picture of a guitar, and label it with the names - as many parts as he could remember.

We then tried to tune the guitar (and broke a string) - you can buy new strings if you'd like, and I can help you string it.

We then learned to play the G and E minor chord, and talked about the difference of between major and minor chords.

At home, practice switching between chords as quickly as you can - we'll time you next week.