SP Guitarists beginners' Blackboard

Finally a new post!!! haha...

2009-04-17T05:17:00.003+08:00

Yoz ppl.... its almost been a year i last posted something here.... hahah no complains from u guys also.... well... saw my contract with sp on monday then i notice wah..... officially i'm not ur instructor anymore after 19th april.... time really flies....

Now i still can remember the first day i meet u all... (i cannot remember all ur faces lah) Can't blame me.... blame kuri.... he takes in almost 90 freshies.... + current members.... the first day in the lecture theater i got more then 100 of u all.... i also got a culture shock.... hahaa....

now and today.... i saw u all from sec sch just come in until now starting year 2 liao.... seeing ur music and guitar skills from 0 to something that can put u all up on stages and perform.... really makes me feel happy for u all.... those of u who "survived" with me until now... u all are very pro... it took me almost 3 years to reach the current level u all had... and u all took less then 1 year.... feel so proud of u all....

then i also saw u all from dunno each other until can play and fool around with each other also made me very happy.... when i first join this club... other then its a guitar club.... i also felt that this club brought me alot of joys... knowing all my jie mei's.... i had knwn alot of great ppl in this club.... hopefully u all too can experience wad i had.... its not just a guitar club.... its a club for fun and laughter too.... just see how alastair and li yi u will knw wad i am telling u all liao....

also notice u all in this club also picked up more then 1 instruments.... i also glad the club have this platform for u all to get to knw more abt music.... coming the next acadamic year there's even more options the clubs will be providing.... blues... electric.... these are great music genres..... make use of the chance to get to knw more abt those genres... who knws u might like them....

Regarding this blog... i think i wun be removing in the near future.... i dun really like to share to the whole wide world (World wide web lol...) my personal problems.... so ya... i wun be keeping a diary here... (i think no ppl will be really interested to knw my stuff anyway... lol...) when i got really nutting to do or one of u wanna me to post something musical.... then ya... i will update the blog.... the past posts will also will be there for u all to have references....

concert is coming.... i also notice alot of u took up a leadership roles to make sure things run well.... for the leaders.... good job... hopefully u all will continue to maintain the disicipline and leadership..... show good examples to ur freshies and continue to lead them to the path of music.... for those of u who haben got the chance to take up a leadership role.... its doesn't mean u all are not important.... as seniors of the club now.... u all also have the responsibilities to take care and help out in the club.....

having said all that.... i will still help u all when u all got problems.... and u all will still be seeing me quite often during the concert rehearsal period.... this is the last chance to see wad u all had learnt the past 1 year..... work hard and give a last push for the concert....

hahah.... back to me... i myself gotten lazy and my guitar skills got worst.... some of u might noticed that... :x hopefully u all dun be like me.... as for my lessons.... hopefully u all can give me some comments.... i will try to explain to u all y sometimes i do things like this or like that.... u all are the first batch i teach for almost a year.... i also quite happy i manage to at least made something out of each and everyone of u....

Last but not least.... i thank you all for all the time and effort to "endure" my lessons and my bad jokes... haha...

P.S.

SP Guitarist is a music related club. Music is something that is to be enjoyed. This is what I strongly believe. There should be no stress for music. Everyone will go on there own pace and without stress, slowly pick up music. Skills and theories are hard. Be patience. Do not be too stressed and got pressured to practice. Nothing good turn out if done hastily. Continue to improve yourself. spread the joy and happiness when u are performing.

MOST IMPORTANTLY.

REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN AND ENJOY PLAYING MUSIC.....

Dylan signing off.... Cheers....

Lesson 7

2008-07-25T20:11:00.011+08:00

today's lesson consider a decent 1..... got alot of crap and laughter... just the way i like it.... i just love alastair and li yi.... they damn kum gong.... lolz....

Back to business.... ok.... today we learnt actually alot of things.... u learnt new, funny and weird rhythm... triplets.... i find it hard to teach triplets during lesson.... i need to do alot of demo before ppl can get it.... tripletes u need to feel it... then u all can understand wad it really means.... next lesson remind me to demo for u....

ok... for the lyrics of "The house of rising sun" A cover from The animals
youtube link here.... The house of rising sun....

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one

My mother was a tailor
She sewed my new blue jeans
My father was a gamblin' man
Down in New Orleans

Now the only thing a gambler needs
Is a suitcase and trunk
And the only time he's satisfied
Is when he's on a drunk

------ organ solo ------

Oh mother tell your children
Not to do what I have done
Spend your lives in sin and misery
In the House of the Rising Sun

Well, I got one foot on the platform
The other foot on the train
I'm goin' back to New Orleans
To wear that ball and chain

Well, there is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
And it's been the ruin of many a poor boy
And God I know I'm one

Today i also taught u all alot regarding theory...

what is a scale... what is a key...

"Although many musicians confuse key with scale,

a scale is an ordered set of notes typically used in a key,

while the key is the center of gravity, established by particular chord progressions."

wad it all means.....
Scale... is just notes from Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do.... thats all... 8 notes...
Key... is scales.... chords family... accompliments.... everything u need that is needed to play together.....

example.... its not right to play a C scale notes together with G family chords....

they wun fit.... so key denotes a guide to everything...

there... layman term enough ?
lol...

Accidental

what u all need to knw are already shown in below's pic....

Sharp Flat Netural

done... short and sweet....

below is a score with a few sharps.... by looking at this.... we already can tell what key the whole score is... This is what we call a key signature.....

how can we tell....

as we already know.... G key has 1 # at F note....

therfore if we sees only 1 # at the key signature... means it a G key score....

Any idea wad key the score is refering ?

tips.... print out the above table and write from A all the way to G to see which scales has 3 #...

you shd able to do it in 1 try... lol...

With all this... playing the house of rising sun shd be no problem for u already.... enjoy this oldies... its been around since 1933... there's a reason y it can stay so long... learn to enjoy it... lol

Dylan signing off.... cheer....

The chords posting

2008-07-07T22:46:00.016+08:00

Ok... i got some of u asking me qn like "wad if i go home liao i forgot how to press my chords liao...." i decide to post it here some of the chords i already taught and going to teach u all...

For Lemon tree the chords are....

Am Em Dm

For doggie at the window...

A E

For Cupid love...

C G F (Am Em Dm refer to the top)

That all for now.... this coming friday i will add in more chords.... dylan signing off.... cheer....

Lesson 3.5...( 4th lesson lah)

2008-07-03T02:47:00.008+08:00

Hope after today... u all ppl got a recap of wad 3 weeks ago i taught... now mst is already over...so no more excuses saying no time to practice.... so let me stress it again over here wad to take note of....

Lesson 4
Actually only 2 basic points...

Try to master the basic notations
Get yourself familiarize with chords

Cause these 2 points are the most core basic of music and guitar.... Don't worry... you all wouldn't be sticking with cupid love for long.... If possible I will give I all the score for "beauty and the beast" by Disney next lesson..... That score's difficulty is something like cupid love.... Hope you all will look forward to coming the next lesson...

Today I've taught a bit about strumming and it's rhythm playing....

Refer to the 2 pictures on how u are suppose to place your thumb on your index finger...

Fig.1 shows the joint the thumb should be placing....

Fig.2 This is how the thumb will be place...

When you start strumming down stroke... Use your index finger's nail to stroke downwards from bass strings to treble strings... (make sure u stroke all the six strings....) Up stroke you will use the flashy front tip of your index finger from treble e string to the G string.... That's only 3 strings for you.... (Abit hard to describe here.... dun worry i will teach again in the next lesson... for now u all can enjoy my sexy hand... hahah...)

To train on the rhythm of the right hand.... We'll use the E chord to play...

Fig. 3 shows how you should be holding an E chord....

Fig. 4 This is the 2nd position of the "E" chord.

Fig. 5 This is the 3rd position of the "E" chord.

After the 3rd position you will repeat from the normal E chord position.

With these E chord positions, you can learn all the world's strumming rhythm. Isn't that just great....

The next lesson will be on next Friday (11th july).... For those of you having problems pls inform ur mentors early so we can make arrangements...

Sorry for the last minute changes cause I did not anticipate that my uni lessons will so just nice lies on wed.... Any inconvenience caused is regretted....

Some of u got problems with my msn address (got so hard meh..) for those of u who wan to get my address.... just ask alastier. maggie, li yi or kuri if u have their msn to link u to mine.... for those dun have i will sms u my add provided u give me ur hp no.... (dun wan to write my address here... my hotmail account got alot of spams liao...)

Ok lah tat's for lesson 3.5.... Dylan signing off.... Cheer...

New songs update...

2008-06-26T15:53:00.004+08:00

When u guys go spguitarist webby u all heard the song "how six songs collide" there's a song "superman" within it.... guess what... at ur level already can play tat song... wheee....

here u go.... http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/f/five_for_fighting/superman_crd.htm

Edited: I went to acid bar and heard the song "stop and stare" by One republic... Very nice song to jam along... those can play some chords and play the drums can play this song already...
Chords over here....
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/o/onerepublic/stop_and_stare_ver4_crd.htm

If u try to play the song without the "capo" u cannot play along with the mp3... I'll intro u all wad is the "capo" and its uses... but the chords are fairly good enough to sing and strum alone... enjoy... cheer....

NEW UPDATES

2008-06-24T02:37:00.003+08:00

well... decided to change into this cool itheme skin... (cos tat no ppl to help me with the old stupid skin :p) maggie said its nice... so i think i'll stick to this skin liao.... (spent abt 3 hrs changing lo)

i also edited the chords for the song "untitled"... Cos previously i noticed some of the chords not right so i changed it... i also arranged the chords for both "doggie at the window" and "untitled" so the chords fits the lyrics.... just play the chord when u sing until the lyrics.... sweet right.... ( i spent almost 1hr arranging) hahaha....

hope u guys saw and enjoyed the "blackboard".... dylan signing off... cheer...

Help and suggestions !!!!

2008-06-21T09:30:00.003+08:00

Ok ppl... For abt 4 hrs this is the best way i can come up with this blog...... Its using the default template.... i dun really like it.... though i started tis blog 4 years ago.... all i did is just well.... start it.... nv go post it or anything.... so i still a noob here.... so i need some help from u guys.... try to leave comments here and suggestions for lessons and this blog.... things like what u all wan to see in this blog things like tat.... ur help and suggestions are greatly appreciate.....

edited: got home and slept for a few hrs... then gone online searched for some template... this 1 look nice... so decided to use it.... got some stupid problem though.... i somehow can't manage to edit the title colour.... (hinting for help*) lolz... cheers....

ehhh what ??? there's more ????

2008-06-21T08:08:00.011+08:00

Now is 8:00 am in the sat morning.... On friday i went to the clubhouse and arranged scores and teaching materials to teach you all... Some senior members are studying for their MST then makan with them and Li Yi and Alastair cames around evening... Guess what.... All my hell broke lose...
I got super high and started jamming with them.... ( I am very sorry if i disturbed those who is studying for their exam) Sometimes i very blur lah.... Slow to notice all these things.... Please forgive me... :x

And ya i from evening jam until early in the morning 1am.... I was thinking to take cab home... After i finish resting and toking cock with Li YI, Alastair, Sock Yong & Li Yun (still trying hard to remember freshies names.... please forgive me if i still cannot remember your names....) its already 3+.... They are here is because they wanted to study overnight for their exams also.... I somehow disturbed them also... lolz... (Feeling so bad now lah me.... )

They got tired around 5 and my first train starts at 6 so without permisson i just take Li Yi's laptop and start browsing the net... And i come across the spg blog... Then i remembered way back in 2004 i had a blog.... So i might as well use it to somehow help those freshies ONLINE!!!

So here i am.... (abit tired already...) starting my last posting.... (for the day)

Lesson 3.....

hmmm let me think.... this time round also at T1554.... But this time round thanks to the efficiency of the seniors.... I finally started my lesson on time for the first time.... Good job guys....Thanks a lot....

Back to business... lesson 3 i summarized what i had taught in lesson 1 and 2 Basically i had taught you all how to read scores.... (hahaha) But scores without rythum is just robot.... So lesson 3 is all about Timing and Rythum!!!!

Notations..... (This is actually the actual spelling for the black dotes with funny tails on the scores... i always like to refer them as notes.... short forms here...)

I had taught you all how to see the duration of the notes....

This diagram i "stole" it on the web... Hope the author would not mind..... :x We are all music lovers that like to spread our knowledge of music..... hahah... anyway...

I've taught you all until the eighth note.....With only 1 tail.... For those having problems with this... try clapping your hands to the rythum.... Like what i did with you all during lesson....

Then for now i also told you all that normally pop songs come with songs with 4 beats.... That timing will be your common time... So just stick to it until i further update you all with more interesting beats and timing....

Now that you all know how to play notes with rythums.... Try playing the scores i previously gave them to you with rythum.... It will be a little tricky.... lolz... But like i said.... Play it slowly first....

Then I given out a new score.... The english title is call "cupid love".... For the chinese its more commonly known as "关怀方式"..... This score is 1 of the most complete scores i had given out to you all.... Its has all the things commonly seen in a score.... With chords, notes and all the "signs and symbols" there's a lot of things you all can practice and learn from this score..... (btw i haben finish teaching this score but at ur current knowledge, u shd be able to play this song decently)

I've taught some of the symbols... But for those who had already forgot.... You can refer be below....

Here is a very good website that teaches a lot of basic on reading a scores... you might be interested to take a look.... But give me some time to full teach finish all the scores basics....
Here you go....

Tomás Howie Drumming Web

Very sorry to my non chinese freshies..... I was unable to find any score level as good as this one.... To beg for your forgiveness, I sang "Untitled" by simple plan in front of the whole of you.... You all cannot believe i am actually shaking..... lolz.... The song is actually around the standard with cupid love..... For those of you who are too shy to come find me... You can scroll down and see the chords....

Untitled - Simple plan
Arr. Dylan


VERSE 1:
  Am
I open my eyes
                                    C
I try to see but I'm blinded by the white light
        Am
I can't remember how

I can't remember why
    F            G
I'm lying here tonight
      F               G
And I can't stand the pain
      Am            C
And I can't make it go away
     F               G
No I can't stand the pain

CHORUS:
                         C
How could this happen to me
             Am
I made my mistakes
                F
Got no where to run
               G
The night goes on
              C
As I'm fading away
                 Am
I'm sick of this life
             F
I just wanna scream
G                        C
How could this happen to me

VERSE 2
Am
Everybody's screaming
                                 C
I try to make a sound but no one hears me
    Am
I'm slipping off the edge
    C
I'm hanging by a thread
  F                     G
I wanna start this over again
   F        G           Am        C
So I try to hold onto a time when nothing mattered
    F         G
And I can't explain what happened
    Am      C                          F
And I can't erase the things that I've done
   G
No I can't

Repeat CHORUS x2

This 2 songs teaches us 3 new chords.... The C, G and F chords (by now u all shd knw the diff between chords and notes.... chords are a set of notes... and notes are.... well... melodies to a songs...) So total now you all already know 6 chords.... C Dm Em F G Am.....
With these chords in hand... you are ready to OWN the internet world of guitar (well... not totally own.... but you can already play alot of songs)

For those fast learners and adventurous guys out there..... Here are some of the guitar links I find quite good.... Their library of songs is quite huge....
For english songs.... http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/
For chinese songs... http://www.gita2.com/

If possible try to play cupid love score both the melodies and chords.... Try to master the both of them and in the future both of them are the very basic that forms your guitar solos arrangement.....

Hmmmm.... That's all i can though of for now..... I will edit the posting if i can remember anything or found new stuff to add on... Good luck for your exams and see ya on the 2nd of July.....

ehhh... part 2 ?

2008-06-21T06:37:00.032+08:00

okok i also feel a bit long-winded... Then I also just though of this idea after 3 lessons.... If i going to squeeze all 3 lessons into 1 post.... Its gonna be boring... (Its already boring enough when this stupid template) So i was thinking i do different lessons on different posts....

So here you go....

Lesson 2

ehhh.... ok.... This time round after discussing with Ning and Kuri..... We managed to find a classroom to teach..... YES AH!!! With you people close to me.... You all can see what i am really pressing on my fretboard... Vice verse.... *_*V

Hmmm.... almost only half of you turn up for my lesson... *Sob.... (So many ppl dun like me arh....) But its ok.... I'll like to take this chance to thanks the rest who turn up.... (At least i knw u all dun hate me....) :p

ok enough crap.... time for business....

That day I've taught how to identify notes ( or melodies ) on a score (Just to let u all knw.... all singapore pri and sec sch had taught this long ago.... but its ok... i am also same as u all during music lesson i just use my mouth.... either to tok with my friend or sing song) and on your guitar fretboard...

Here are some refreshments.... (not food that kind) duh!!!

For reading notes on scores...

Try to get use with the 5 lines....notes in between lines will give you F A C E (for those slower guys it actually the spelling for that thing u see every morning when you stand in front of the mirror)
Notes on lines will give you E G B D F (these letters makes no sense to me too.... but during lesson some of u so clever and gave me a useful tip to remember them

Every
Good
Boy
Does
Fine

The notes actually goes higher and lower... but for now just know this....

Notes on the guitar... actually open strings has a melody to it they are E B G D A E from the bass to the treble strings..... (These are notes for a standard tuning guitar....... ?!?! meaning u shd tune them to these notes when u are tuning ur guitar)

Remember !!!! B and C is together.... E and F is together.... B loves C and E loves F..... They will never be separated... (theory No. 1(theory No. 2????) The rest is 1 fret away from each other.... For those of you who is good at memories.... u might just want to take a look at this.....

I taught a bit on conducting.... how you all going to see me do conducting so all of you wouldn't play songs on your own.... (I find it hard for me to example this here.... if got problem just give me a call and i give u a personal lesson... lolz....)

I gave out 3 score sheets to all of you that day.... Amazing grace, hot cross bun and a score with lots of simple notes using B and E strings to play with.... Let me try to explain here.... ( its abit hard to teach guitar online u knw....)

Amazing grace???
A-ma-zing grace ♫♫♫♫ blah blah blah.... WRONG SONG!!! hahah... the reason i give u all this score is because i wan u all to take a look at 2 chords diagram on it...

Its the A and the E chord.... (very very similiar fingerings to ur Am and Em... Btw A and Am is the short form for A major and A minor chord.... We normally write them in short forms... Though they got As in them.... they actually sound very differently..... I will come to that in later lessons....)

With the A and E chord in hand.... What i want to teach is the song "How much is that doggie in the window" (arf arf!!!) FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CHILDHOOD SONG.... PLEASE ENTER THIS LINK (specially created for those who dun have childhood)That_Doggie_in_the_Window..... who what where when why.......

How Much Is That Doggie In the Window
Words & Music by Bob Merrill Recorded by Patti Page, 1953 (#1)

Refrain:
A E
How much is that doggie in the window,
A
The one with the waggley tail
E
How much is that doggie in the window
A
I do hope that doggie's for sale.

A E
I must take a trip to California
A
And leave my poor sweetheart alone;
E
If he has a dog, he won't be lonesome,
A
And the doggie will have a good home.

Repeat Refrain:

I read in the paper there are robbers
With flashlights that shine in the dark;
My love needs a doggie to protect him
And scare them away with one bark.

I don't want a bunny or a kitty,
I don't want a parrot that talks;
I don't want a bowl of little fishies
He can't take a goldfish for walks.

Repeat Refrain:

The way to play it is plucking p ima ima for a chord(lemon tree u play p ima p ima take note of thedifferences) then u start sing "how......" at the word "much" then your A chord starts with the bass...

Then you continue Ax2 Ex4 Ax4 Ex4 Ax2 for a verseof the song... Then repeat... and voila!!! you completed your first song on your guitar!!!YEAH!!!!

The reason for this song is so you can have asecond piece of song to practice the squeezing method for your right hand... (the first 1 is lemon tree...)

Ok.... For the other 2 score sheets....Its to let all of you slowly (painfully for mewhen i first started) to go count and practicereading on scores and finding notes on yourguitar.... (muahaha)

!!!!!!!!!! IMPORTANT THINGS TO TAKE NOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE REFRAIN FROM PASTING STICKERS ON YOUR GUITAR AND WRITING ALL THE LETTERS ON SCORES. IF YOU ALL DO THAT, YOU WILL BECOME DEPEND ON THEM.... I'M TRAINING YOU ALL TO BE INDEPENDENT.

I do not mind waiting for all of you to slowly play the songs notice i never set datelines for you allto learn the songs..... I rather you all slowly play the songs, than go write and paste stickers....
FINALLY END OF LESSON 2..... Enjoy !!!!

ehhh here goes nutting....

2008-06-21T06:02:00.027+08:00

OoooKkkk... My first posting.... The purpose of this blog is so the beginners in spg can come online and know and learn more about what I am going to teach them.... I will try to upload scores and useful tip on the blogs.... For now its going to be just a simple webby to see.... (Hope those html pros out there can help me out with this ugly templete.....) Ok since when i doing this posting i already taught u all abt 3 lessons..... Lets go through them here....

Lesson 1

The first lesson is in the lecture theater.... All of you can see me.... I hardly manage to see u all.....
Almost close to 90!!! of members are gathered in that theater.... 70 freshies and abt 20 current members helping me.... Everything happen so fast not all of you know what's going on.... (that including me)

You all collected your very own guitar theory book !!! yeah.... its free also.... (Actually its from the club fund you all gave).... Its not the best book out there where u can start learning guitar.... But its good enough to start the ball rolling....

If all of you can remember what happen that day.... I taught you all how to...

Identify the parts of the guitar
The classical way of holding the guitar and sitting position
And last and most importantly taught you all the song "lemon tree

Point no. 1 and 2 you need to know.... but i hope u all can put in effort in practicing the 3 chords in lemon tree.... They are the Am, Em and Dm (Remember to use your pinky to hold that chord) That finger is very useful..... (Other then using it to dig your nose) Its the finger a lot of guitarist failed to train up and regretted....

Other then that.... Take note when you all trying to pluck the strings on the guitar.... make sure the thumb when you finish playing the bass string do not can caught with the rest of your fingers....

There should be quite a number of your having trouble changing your chords.... Here are some tips that i think some of your might find it helpful....

try to play the bass string first then form your chord
play the song slowly.... ( when your play the song slowly.... the rythum and melody will still make sense....)
Practice
Practice
And practice more (haha actually everyday play about 10 mins is good enough for this song)

I myself is a lazy person.... I also hardly practice my guitar.... lolz.... It took me around 1 week to play the song smoothly.... I find music is something to enjoy with.... So when i feel i am tired, i'll just stop and go play game.... hahaha.... (bad example here... :x) Hope all of you who saw this will enjoy the song.....