You are here:
- Home
- Music/Performing Arts
- Musical Instruments
- Guitar - General
Guitar - General/Questions Answered by Expert Dustin Martin
| Subject | Date Asked |
| hi | 6/30/2009 |
| Q: is it possible to finger tap on my guitar with one hand A: If I understand your question correctly then my answer would be yes. Finger tapping is primarily ... | |
| guitar learning | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: hey, i'm a beginner at guitar [14 years old, and trying to teach myself how to play by using the ... A: Usually in tab you will play the chord on the word it is written above. However, tab is not always ... | |
| Music theory specific to guitar | 6/5/2009 |
| Q: Martin, I've been playing for just over 2 years, but being an "insane, unemployable Bipolar" I am ... A: 1) Although, I recommend learning how to move all your major scales up and down the neck to ... | |
| a guitar i just bought | 5/24/2009 |
| Q: my grandson is a music major, plays the guitar, bass, etc, in a band, and will be attending oneonta ... A: I haven't personally played that model of guitar. I think it is doubtful he would want to use that ... | |
| key bass part off | 2/8/2009 |
| Q: how are you? I have a problem with understanding this sentence. Adam from U2, working in the ... A: To understand this sentence you have to understand what it means to key a bass part from the bodhran ... | |
| arthritis | 12/23/2008 |
| Q: i am no longer able to finger the frets due to having rheumatoid arthritis. any suggestions? thank ... A: Since I have little experience with the condition I can offer little help. However, it would seem to ... | |
| trouble reading music | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: I am working my way through Guitar Compendium by Howard Roberts. I can read music a little but I'm ... A: I think what is confusing you here is that often in notated guitar music the melody line and bass ... | |
| Help with Am Scale and chords to play | 8/7/2008 |
| Q: I am a new player and trying to figure out what chords (I, IV, V) I can record on my Loop Processor ... A: An A minor pentatonic Scale would typically be played over a I IV V in A so your chords would be A ... | |
| chords | 7/26/2008 |
| Q: hey, I'm currently in the process of writing a metal song, which uses the chords g5, a5 and b flat ... A: If those are your only chords the song can be thought of as being in the key of G minor / Bb major. ... | |
| Guitar | 7/3/2008 |
| Q: I've been playing guitar for about 4 years I suppose, and I've been mainly self taught. But ... A: The simple answer would be just learn every solo you hear, and that would provide you with an ... | |
| B add 11 chord | 5/7/2008 |
| Q: the first song I ever learned on guitar has a chord in the book which says B (11), and is tabbed: ... A: The chord you have shown is a B Major add 11. The particular voicing you depicted is spelled as: B ... | |
| Playing metal-style guitar and upstrokes | 4/23/2008 |
| Q: Hey, I've been asking myself this for awhile now, and it's beginning to bother me everytime i watch ... A: My general rule for upstrokes and down strokes is as follows: A. I keep my foot taping to the beat ... | |
| chords in music keys | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: If I play a chord progression that sounds good (random chords) how do I establish what key it is in ... A: No you can not play a C chord and still be the key of A. Its hard to give a definite answer on how ... | |
| Modes | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: I've been messing around with guitar modes for a while now, and I must say I'm having some real ... A: This can be a hard concept to understand. It also doesnt help that there are two different systems ... | |
| insurance value for my Martin | 1/4/2008 |
| Q: I have a 1942 D-18 Martin guitar. Rough life but carefully repaired with original finish. The ... A: I by no means will claim to be an expert on value of instruments or any type of equipment. With that ... | |
| How do I solo like Kirk Hammett? | 12/31/2007 |
| Q: Ive been playing for 2 years almost and I know basic chords ABCDEFG Minor,Major and some others, ... A: Different picking techniques are vital to putting feeling in music. Each technique gives a different ... | |
| Vintage Sigma 1980 | 11/2/2007 |
| Q: I have a sigma anniversary model 1980 model 10 - one of 100 produced. I rarely play it. I am curious ... A: I've heard of them selling for $450, and of other people asking for $1000. Though, every thing I've ... | |
| How can I integrate several scales in a solo? | 9/29/2007 |
| Q: I'm 17 years old and have been playing for about 3 1/2 years. I do simple standard solos ... A: First I'm going to need you to clarify what you mean when you say "integrate." Do you mean when 2 ... | |
| keys of music | 9/5/2007 |
| Q: Whats up dude, i always hear my friends say"Oh, that song is in the key of C" or stuff like that. I ... A: Sharp Keys Key of C (0 Sharps): C D E F G A B C Key of G (1 Sharp) : G A B C D E F# G Key of D (2 ... | |
| Major and Minor pentatonic/blues and solos | 6/28/2007 |
| Q: I have been playing guitar for a few years but I have a question! I like to play blues, rock, ... A: The most basic and common way to modulate between the major and minor pentatonic scales in a song is ... | |
| guitar theory, help me please!:) | 6/16/2007 |
| Q: okay so in diatonic chords there are triads on all 7 chords on a scale. lets say C so its Cmaj ... A: First, sorry it took so long to respond my internet stopped working for a few days..... To make it ... | |
| question. | 6/3/2007 |
| Q: well, i'm tryin to learn LEAD GUITAR these days frm accoustic guitar. can u suggest me few commmon ... A: There are a number of different songs that are good to learn soloing from. If your just starting out ... | |
| 1 last question.. | 4/29/2007 |
| Q: Also, are there any other blues scales that can be played in the key of E phrygian? Please let me ... A: The blues scale that would fit best over it would be A minor pentatonic. Beyond that I would have to ... | |
| A few more questions.. | 4/29/2007 |
| Q: I have a few more questions..for these questions, all I need is just a yes or no.. If I am in the ... A: "Would the Bb note be the diminished 5th note in that key?" Yes it would be, but there isn't a Bb in ... | |
| 1 more question.. | 4/28/2007 |
| Q: ok, so it sounds like if I am playing the A harmonic minor scale over those power chords, then, I ... A: I would consider it too be it to be in A minor, however it really matters on the piece of music. ... | |
| 1 question.. | 4/27/2007 |
| Q: I have 1 more question.. If I play the A harmonic minor scale over these power chords-A5, D5, E5, ... A: Without using the full extensions of the chords (meaning major minor, or diminished) It is hard to ... | |
| Music questions.. | 4/7/2007 |
| Q: a couple more questions.. Do you know about how long passing chords and tones are usually held for ... A: "Do you know about how long passing chords and tones are usually held for in a song?" As far as I'm ... | |
| Music.. | 4/6/2007 |
| Q: I have a couple music theory questions.. If I play the A Aeolian scale over chords, and then play ... A: Playing A Aeolian and A harmonic minor would be switching between f# minor and A harmonic minor. If ... | |
| Music theory.. | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: Ok, so it sounds like I would want to stick with A harm and A melodic minor scales over chords in ... A: "Also, I could probably hold the notes from the A harm and A melodic minor scales over all the power ... | |
| Quick question.. | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: also, how many scale patterns are there for the harmonic minor and melodic minor scales? I think ... A: I believe there are only five. I suppose it would matter how you were fingering the scales. As a ... | |
| Music theory.. | 3/28/2007 |
| Q: I have a couple music theory questions. If I am playing in the key of A minor, would I be able to ... A: " If I am playing in the key of A minor, would I be able to play and hold the notes from the A ... | |
| confused | 3/7/2007 |
| Q: Ok I understand everything completly, That's pretty much what I've been doing I just wanted to see ... A: >Would I really have to concentrate on the root notes or can I just play around with the scales? No ... | |
| confused | 3/6/2007 |
| Q: Ok, first off, I'm trying to get a band together. I'm actually very good for my age, I'm 16 and can ... A: When soloing, expecially over rock music, guitarist usually will stay in one key, and a lot of the ... | |
| Bass Quitar Questions | 2/10/2007 |
| Q: I want to thank you for the great reply! I do have a follow-up question regarding the last part of ... A: 1. Yeah your right. I was in a hurry to answer and i accidently wrote g=3rd because that is what it ... | |
| Bass Quitar Questions | 2/10/2007 |
| Q: I have two questions related to the bass guitar. They are as follows: 1. Do the four strings of an ... A: The thickness of bass strings and electric guitar strings are not the same at all. Bass strings are ... | |
| Primary | 2/7/2007 |
| Q: Sir, I aam currently 15 and I have been playing the electronic keyboard and the piano for the ... A: There are a several things you can do that will make learning a new instrument easier if you already ... | |
| Practice Time | 1/13/2007 |
| Q: What is the best practice regiment? A: First 80 percent of your practice time needs to be used figuring songs out by ear. The other 20 ... | |
| Guitars | 1/11/2007 |
| Q: Is an acoustic guitar the same as a regular type guitar, one with a hollow body with a hole in the ... A: All guitars are fundamentally the same. Most guitars are made to be tuned in standard tuning EADGBE ... | |
| Chords | 1/7/2007 |
| Q: What is theory behind chords. Why is it called a major chord or minor etc.? A: Chords names and qualites come from how they lie naturally in the major scale. For example in the ... | |
| tension | 1/6/2007 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could explain how some musicians can build up tension and the theory behind ... A: There are a couple of ways to build tension. Rhythmically or melodically. Rhythmically there are ... | |
| feedback? | 1/4/2007 |
| Q: * Running: Fender Lite Ash Strat ($650) on Fender G-Dec Amp ($300) *PICKUPS: 3 Seymour Duncan ... A: The buzzing is a very common and can become annoying to say the least. There are a few things you ... | |
| writing first song | 1/4/2007 |
| Q: sorry i wasn't too specific... no that cello thing was just extra info... i want to be able to play ... A: Okay im going to try explain this as best possible. In writing a song there a variety of ways to ... | |
| writing first song | 1/3/2007 |
| Q: ok here goes: i just started playing the acoustic guitar about a month ago and have played the cello ... A: Before i can answer this question i will need a bit of information. When you say you want to put ... | |
| help guitar | 12/25/2006 |
| Q: REALLY NEED HELP......I have seen a godin soldiac for regular $800,on sale for $500 at Long And ... A: The reviews I've read about the godin solidac guitar have all been pretty good. I have never played ... | |
| Music.. | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: I have one more question. Would I be able to hold and repeat an F# note over a C major chord and ... A: You would be able to hold an F# note over a C Major chord and be able to still retain the basic ... | |
| Music.. | 12/19/2006 |
| Q: For how long can I play an out of key chord in a key? And how long can I play out of key notes in a ... A: It really matters the context of the music. However, typically an out chord will be played for the ... | |
| Music.. | 12/18/2006 |
| Q: I have a couple music theory questions.. If I play and hold onto an F power chord in the key of E ... A: an F power chord would be considered out of key in e minor because there is no F in eminor. The ... | |
| Mystery of guitar solos | 10/20/2006 |
| Q: I'm what you would call an intermediate-beginner guitarist with a focus on electric guitar ... A: If want to be able to solo well you need to learn all your scales up and down your guitar neck; at ... | |
| guitar tab | 10/16/2006 |
| Q: I writing to you to ask for your help with the song Cancion Del Mariachi - Los Lobos Antonio ... A: I tried to find a copy of this song; However, I was unsuccessfull. So my suggestion is to make a ... | |
| confused | 10/7/2006 |
| Q: I'm confused,a little, about the progressions of keys in a song.If playing a song in the key of C, ... A: There arent any rules actually set in stone about what chord you need to go to after one chord. ... | |
| chords for kids music | 9/20/2006 |
| Q: hopefully this isn't so below you that it is difficult to answer. i am interested in playing guitar ... A: if you learn two major and minor barchords you can basically play along with every song on the ... | |
| a mode query. | 9/11/2006 |
| Q: ------------------------- Dustin. Here is the information I have been trying to understand.you have ... A: Okay this took a little while to figure this out but i think i did. The way guitar players would be ... | |
| a mode query. | 9/10/2006 |
| Q: Last question.Are there two ways to approach modes, like Derivative and Parallel. I think I may be ... A: Im not aware of the derivative or parrallel approach to modes. I went online and read some ... | |
| a mode query. | 9/10/2006 |
| Q: The fist way you describe is the way I had. So could you please describe how guitarist use modes. ... A: The fist way you describe is the way I had. So could you please describe how guitarist use modes. ... | |
| a mode query. | 9/8/2006 |
| Q: This seems more complicated than I first imagined. Say you were playing the 7 modes for me so I ... A: Previously you aksed "Say you were playing the 7 modes for me so I could hear and learn them. Now, ... | |
| a mode query. | 9/8/2006 |
| Q: If I am playing modes and If I start in the key of C with the Ionian mode, when I go to the Dorian ... A: To discuss modes i must first say that there are a different ways people approach them. The ... | |
| Pickups on a Fender Strat | 9/7/2006 |
| Q: I just installed a "Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro for Strat" pickup in the middle position of my ... A: This isnt exactly my area of expertise, but i shall attempt to assist. The "sitar-like" effect is ... | |
| freestyle | 9/4/2006 |
| Q: I've been playing for two years and I'm only 13 years old (I'm a girl also) but people tell me I am ... A: to be a good guitarist you probably dont actually need to know any theory what so ever (if you have ... | |
| GUITAR CHORDS | 9/2/2006 |
| Q: I NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING CHORDS I SEEN WRITTEN DOWN SOMETHING LIKE THIS G/B OR B/G? I'VE NEVER ... A: When a chord is written as G/B it just means that Its a G major chord with a B as the bass note, and ... | |
| Finding a key for soloing | 8/23/2006 |
| Q: Ah, ha. Alright this looks like it could be helpful. I have a few follow questions though. a) ... A: a) Yes you are correct there b)Yes G# would be the correct key to play over those chords c) (If I ... | |
| Finding a key for soloing | 8/23/2006 |
| Q: I’ve never posted here before. In high school I sang/played rhythm guitar in a band. Now, a few ... A: Note: this may seem overly complex and tedious, but this is how i was taught and it has been ... | |
| intonation??? | 8/21/2006 |
| Q: wats a intonation? and how do i fix it? do i have to go to a musical shop? cheers A: Intonation has to do with the way your guitar is set up, and if you don't know what it is you pretty ... | |
| my string vibrates | 8/20/2006 |
| Q: the b string of my guitar vibrates(while i play the first few frets)i think its hitting the other ... A: When you say vibrates do you mean the guitar makes a buzzing type sound at certain frets? If so you ... | |
| harmonics | 8/6/2006 |
| Q: I've been playing guitar for about two years now, and I keep coming across something called a pinch ... A: http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/f/p/fpm108/glw/lessons/lesson49.htm This link will give a decent ... | |
| Scales and Patterns for bass over Guitar Chords... | 7/17/2006 |
| Q: There are so many scales out there, how do you know which scales sound good for which chords? I mean ... A: The best way to describe what scales sound best is to talk about modal playing. There are seven ... | |
| Bass Guitar... | 7/13/2006 |
| Q: I have been playing bass for over three years now. I've never taken lessons and am self taught, ... A: First off I need to note that I haven’t played allot of bass, but I do know enough to get by. I'm ... | |
Guitar - General
Answers by Expert:
Dustin Martin
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Music Theory Related questions. Harmonizing scales, Chord progressions, Chord formulas, Modes. What scale patterns you should/could play over certain chords. etc... I should be able to answer almost any theory related question and if I don't know off hand I will try to find out. Please Do not ask me any questions about how much your guitar is worth, I am only interested in helping students and those interested in furthering their musical comprehension.
Experience
I have a had 5 years of private lessons with an experienced teacher who has done studio work, worked live, He has taught several students who are now professional musicians, including Madonna's Guitarist. Personally, I have taught classes of students from age 12 to age 50. I have also had 2 years of training at the collegiate level. I've played jazz, rock, classical, country, and plenty of other things That i don't recall at the moment. I've worked as Live Sound engineer, Drum Technician, live guitarist, and some studio work.
Currently I am working at Dark Horse Recording in Franklin, Tn.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.