What are Alternate Tunings?

  I have always felt that being a Guitar Player means you're part of a special club. Guitar is just different than many of the other instruments - it just is. We have our own notation, our own terminology, and our own culture (well, sort of). And all of that carries with it, a sense of adventure and a little bit of mystery that you don't get with the other instruments.  Guitar has mojo. One of the greatest points of interest to me early on, was alternate tunings.  What? You can re-tune the Guitar? You bet and for certain kinds of music, you'll have to.

  So what is an alternate tuning? Well, let's first look at standard tuning. The six strings of a Guitar tuned from high to low are: E B G D A E. So, basically any other combination of notes would, in theory, constitute an alternate tuning.  However, since tuning is such a hands on experience for Guitarists (we pretty much have to tune up every day), re-tuning our instrument isn't that big of a deal. And the even better news is that you don't have to invent your own alternate tuning ; there are some standard ones that already exist. Three of the more popular tunings include (low to high): D A D G A D (think Jimmy Page), D G D G B D (open G tuning), and E B E G# B E (open E tuning). With all of that in mind, here are three reasons why alternate tunings might be for you:

• Variety: It's the spice of life isn't it? And for playing a musical instrument, it can be vital in keeping things interesting for you. I can't remember how many times I've heard another Guitar Player mention that their playing felt stale. Simply learn one of these cool alternate tunings and watch all of your cliche's get washed away in an instant.

• Stylistic Concerns:  Sometimes you have no other choice but to learn them! Many songs and musical styles demand that you re-tune your guitar otherwise the music will be nearly impossible to play. Want to learn how to play "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin? Well, to play it right you'll have to re-tune. How about Slide Blues Guitar? Most likely you'll have to re-tune to one of several open tunings to make everything playable and sound correct. 

• Musical Concerns: Somewhat related to the previous reason, sometimes there will be instances when it will be necessary to re-tune the Guitar to accomplish a particular Music Goal. There have been a number of times when I've had to re-tune the Guitar to make a passage or Bass line work better. And when translating Classical Music, for example, into Guitar Music, re-tuning is often a way to make the Music flow better.

  So there you have it - Alternate Tunings! While this is really a primer on the subject, I encourage everyone to explore this subject further on his or her own. If you can meet up with an Qualified Instructor, that would be the fastest way to get going on this topic. Additionally, there are loads of books and articles covering these tunings as well. Have fun!


Tune in next week for the next installment of Have Guitar Will Travel.

What's the Deal with Ukulele?

  I LOVE Ukulele. No, I really mean it. And it's a funny thing because I never thought I'd be interested in something so kitschy. Let's face it, on the surface it appears that we've got a tiny guitar - like Christmas tree ornament with four strings. Simply utter the name Ukulele and images of Tiny Tim and Don Ho are conjured up in one's mind - not exactly poster children for hip, modern and cool. Then why was the Ukulele one of the biggest growing imports from overseas this past year? Why is it being used on loads of new pop recordings by the likes of Train, Jason Mraz, and Eddie Vedder? Hmmm? So, what's the Deal with Ukulele?

  The Ukulele actually started it's life as another instrument from Portugal, the Machete. It was first introduced to the Hawaiian Islands in the 19th century by Portuguese immigrants and slowly developed into the instrument we know today as the Ukulele. The Uke, as it is often called, eventually made it's way to the United States and began appearing in Popular and Jazz music around the time of World War I. It quickly made it's way into Tin Pan Alley / Vaudeville acts and was transformed into variant forms of the instrument such as the Banjo Ukulele to fit the idioms. In response to it's popularity, instrument manufacturers such as Martin, Gibson, and Harmony all began to make Ukuleles on the mainland U.S. After World War II however, the popularity of the Ukulele began to wane, most likely as it was overshadowed by the emergence of the Guitar.

  However, all was not lost for the little Guitar and in the 1990's,  production of Ukuleles began into increase as did it's popularity. By the early 2000's, the Ukulele was definitely on the up swing probably thanks to Native Hawaiian singer,  Israel Kamakawiwo'ole and his now famous rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".Since then, many other brilliant Ukulele players began to emerge such as Jake Shimabukuro and Rob MacKillop, each bringing their own unique flair and influence to the instrument.

  So what's so cool about the Ukulele? Here are 4 reasons why I believe YOU need to check it out.

• Range: While people often view the Ukulele as a limited, accompaniment instrument, it is capable of real beauty and intricate musical passages. In fact, it has a lot in common with the Baroque Guitar, as it has a similar kind of Re-entrant Tuning. The great news is that from Baroque Guitar Music, to Jazz, to just strumming away to your favorite song, the Ukulele can handle it all and handle it well.

•  Variety: The Ukulele actually comes in 4 sizes (starting from the smallest to the largest): Soprano, Concert, Tenor, and Baritone. While they all look and sound like Ukulele's, they all have their own unique tone and characteristics.

• Portability: For traveling with an instrument, it doesn't get any easier than this. Occasionally, I have trouble with my Guitar not being able to travel with me on the plane, but never the Ukulele. It fits perfectly in the over head compartment of any plane and is easy to carry around ; even in it's case, it weighs only a few pounds.
  

• Timbre:  Or tone of the Ukulele is unique with it's Re-entrant tuning. This gives it a brighter, higher pitched sound within the texture of the various chords being played. Overall,  most players would probably agree that the Ukulele basically has a sound similar to a higher pitched Classical Guitar. However, some Ukulele's are tuned to tunings other than the standard C6 tuning. Some even have a Low G rather than a High G as it's last string, opening up the sonic possibilities even further.

 So there you have it, my low down on the amazing Ukulele. Whether you're looking for a great first instrument for your kindergartner,  are an adult looking to play Pop Songs for fun, or a Guitar Player looking for something new, the Ukulele has something for everyone. And, it's probably one of the easiest instruments to pick up and learn.

For a great first Ukulele, check out: Eddy Finn Ukuleles, available at:

The School of Music

1331 Rockville Pike, Unit S

Rockville, MD 20852

www.theschoolofmusic.net

301-340-1150

  

Tune in next time for the next installment of Have Guitar Will Travel.

Guitarists and Rhythm: The Missing Link Beckons With Urgency

Among most teachers of academia as well as privately, the study and training in proper rhythmic fluency and rigor is currently almost entirely neglected. Great artists are not affected in their early development  as they are born with their rhythmic consciousness expanded; However, this state of affairs is to the detriment of the majority of aspirants  who cannot ascend to the higher levels of improvisational  mastery present in their heros given the current incomplete music education programs and to most  private teachers neglect.

Contrary to the real world experience of a master, rhythm is not considered to be very important in contemporary music curriculums and harmony and scale theory are considered to be the foundation of music and musical education, when in the real world of improvisational mastery it is rhythm that is the foundation of all music. Without it there is diffuse amateurism and tentative grasping for coherence at best. The result is disappointingly  powerless performances that do not inspire and audience in any genre.

Most dissect solos by Hendrix, Pat Martino, Coltrane, Holdsworth, Chick Corea, Clapton, Jack Bruce, Jaco Pastorius and other masters, but purely on a harmonic level and in a modal framework, atonal, polyphonic, etc... But there is no realization that it is the rhythmic variations and accents, as fundamental  elements of phrasing, that give life, power, grace and transcendence to these masterpieces.

Most players cannot play in time for very long and improvise at the same time . That in itself  reduces their power by 95%. Yet it is not even acknowledged by them in most cases, but an audience knows when it is missing and when it is there. A Coltrane or Dolphy or Michael Brecker solo exists in a state of timeless wonder only because they were both absolute masters of playing in time and using rhythmic variations very deliberately, with exalted fluency and superb control and spontaneity.

John Mclaughlin is explosively transcendental because the  elements -seen by most as otherworldly- in his improvised language are held tightly in his finely honed dominion over rhythm and time signatures. Emerging master improviser  Bryan Baker was forged into a  musical colossus by his long and focussed study of the elements of rhythm. As a result he as ascended as a unique voice rather early in his career. Allan Holdsworth is admired for his melodic fluency and harmonic conception but nothing is said about his mastery of rhythmic fluency, where one finds the relentlessly hypnotic momentum behind his phenomenal legato and sometimes staccato phrasing.

It is high time in 2012 that music educators ad the missing link of absolute rhythmic study to their curriculums. If not the current situation will continue with only  the very few born with rhythmic awareness going on to great musical expression and the great majority staying mired in  frustration and  imprisoned in mediocrity.

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