Brian Roberts Guitar Academy

Received a message from a newer student the other day. Thought I'd share: "Was very fun" that's what it's all about.

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For anyone attempting to teach themselves guitar, I highly recommend this book.
I bought it from a thrift store on Kauai whilst I was attending K.C.C. many years ago. During the dial up era, it was happenstance books like these and random VHS / DVDs that would begin to shine some light on the fretboard for me. There weren't too many resources available to a young aspiring guitarist on Kauai, but this book some how found me.
I would attempt to read this book sporadically through the years, progress was slow. I mean, my first crack at it I probably only got to page 3... but every time I'd attempt to read it / follow along some time later, I wouldn't get much further (maybe like another couple pages) but I'd get further and it'd actually would make some sense.
Ultimately I never finished reading this book front to back. About 50 pages in got me far enough. After all my experiences and musical revelations, now I can flip to any page and understand what it is I'm looking at, it's kind of incredible. So, I still keep this book as a momento and a symbol to myself and potentially to you, too. Life will give you tools at times, and although you may not realize it at that immediate moment, their may be avenues towards success right in front of you that you have yet to discover.
Oh yeah, one more thing. Happy birthday Bernard, whoever you are and wherever you are. I hope you have gotten past the cowboy chords and had "some fun beyond the 3rd fret" like your friend had written. I suspect I have you to thank for either mastering the book or giving up on your journey trying to master it like many do. Eventually it would up at Salvation Army on Kauai where I would eventually buy it and learn from it. Adopting many concepts, approaches, diagrams and explanations for my own teaching practice. Now this teaching affords me a lifestyle to continue playing and learning guitar and sharing my discoveries with the communities around me. Life is a trip!

It's always a great moment when it becomes (or returns to becoming) fun to practice guitar!

https://brian-roberts-guitar-academy.creator-spring.com/listing/classic-t-shirt-8894

A little hump day pick me up from one of my sweet students! 😊 Thanks!!

I used Legos (or at least the idea of them) to help a student kid of mine that was struggling with pattern 2 today (everyone struggles with that pattern). I didn't erase the whiteboard as I had to run away to rehearsal tonight. Just got home and saw it there, illustrated and unerased. Made me smile. Legos, the universal language?

https://youtu.be/LzlS-QAfDWQ

"Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran, Strum Along Video Slow, then fast!

https://youtu.be/v8mPKH5IbVc

Changing Keys with Pentatonic "Pattern One" (G Shaped Pattern)

Hop aboard the conveyer belt / train as we pull into any of the 12 stations (key signatures)

Changing Keys with Pentatonic "Pattern One" (G Shaped Pattern) Hop aboard the conveyer belt / train as we pull into any of the 12 stations (key signatures)

How I feel about relative major / relative minor (and all the other relative modes for that matter).

It's been windy lately. Got a fur ball condenser mic sock, should block out the wind!

https://youtu.be/mgM0fJaptXM

The "Cat Reflex Game" Always Landing on Your [Musical] Feet This is an ADVANCED exercise to train your modal flexibility. Between my chord and your note you should be able to navigate the different sonic possibilities...

https://youtu.be/v8uVu9KAZRo

Pentatonic Polygons, part 2 Let's streamline the pentatonic scale positions by making them more simplerer. Expanding upon the last video.

Some love from

Pattern 1 in all its glory.

I have this running joke with my students, if I have an actual physical diagram, that generally means it's important!

and of the and variety.

Had to do it. I am iron man!

New tool for lessons. No more coin flipping and dice rolling (for certain things). I used to make these kinds of things for myself once upon a time. Can you figure out how it's used? for life!

Harmonic Minor Modes.

Harmonic Minor harmony.

Modal Intervals

Groovy, baby!

Wicked Game by Gregory Isaak