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Learning Guitar by Visualizing Patterns

ezineWe've all heard of a technique that golfers use to improve their games called "visualization". When a golfer steps up to the tee, he or she will visualize the ball landing on the green, or in the middle of the fairway, before they approach the ball to strike it. And while this method of visualization can be utilized by a guitarist, in essence, visualizing themselves playing a difficult lead, run or progression, prior to picking up the guitar - we are going to discuss today a different form of visualization that you can use to ramp up your skills on the guitar.

A guitar is a unique instrument in that, unlike the piano, many of the scales, chords and progressions are "moveable". In other words, once a scale or chord "pattern" is learned - that same fingering pattern can simply be slid up or down the guitar neck and applied to a different key.

With the piano, every scale is played with a different fingering for different keys, making the learning curve much steeper.

A good example on the guitar would be a major scale. If you learn the fingering "pattern" for a G major scale in the first position starting on the 3rd fret of the 6th string - then all you have to do to play an "A" major scale, is to slide that "pattern" up the neck two frets and start on the 5th fret of the 6th string. The fingering is exactly the same.

Barre chords on the guitar are another good example.

If you learn the fingering pattern for a major barre chord in the "E" shape, then you can apply that pattern to play any major chord, anywhere on the neck.

Going back to the previous example, if you play a G major barre chord with the root on the 3rd fret - you can change that chord to an A major barre chord just by sliding that same fingering pattern up the neck two frets.

You can also easily figure out chord progressions just by knowing the fingering pattern for a major scale, and counting steps.

The key is to be on the lookout for various fingering patterns and to be aware of the fact that many of those can be applied to virtually any key on the guitar.

By spending some time "visualizing" those patterns you will find that your learning time on the guitar is greatly reduced, allowing you to get down to the important business of making great music.

Enjoy!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Dean

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