Groups
A successful group is not just a mixture of good musicians. You will need to be aware of the many other factors involved in order to avoid the pitfalls that cause many groups to disband within a very short time. The following ideas should increase your awareness of the problems facing a group, and how to avoid them.
- Group Direction
Before forming a group, you should talk with prospective musicians about their aims for the group. You may decide to form what is called a "60/40" group; the type that plays at cabarets, dances and hotels. This type of group plays a selection of old pop standards (approximately 60%) and "Top 40" tunes (40%). 60/40 groups can be assured of a steady income, although recognition will not go beyond the local playing scene. A different aim for the group may be to play mainly original material in the eventual hope of cutting a record and going on tours. Groups of this type generally do not make much money until they have become well known.
If you are forming a new group you may find it beneficial to play a 60/40 style to gain experience and money to invest in top quality equipment.
Decide on the number of musicians, the type of instruments and the basic style of music before forming the group. - Music Choice
The style of music you play must be one that is enjoyed by all group members (note just a majority vote). Listen to other bands playing their various different styles and take particular note of the audience reaction in order to gauge the appeal of each style. Once you have decided on a style, aim specifically towards the section of people who enjoy that type of music. This will immediately decrease the number of possible venues for you to play at; but remember that you cannot please everyone and you should therefore aim to play to the type of people whom you will please. - The Group Structure
A group can be divided into 2 basic sections; a "rhythm section and a "lead section". The instruments of the rhythm section include drums, bass (which lay down the basic beat), and rhythm guitar (which "fills-out" the basic beat). These instruments must co-ordinate to provide the background rhythm; the "tightness of the group will depend on it.
The lead section usually consists of lead guitar, vocals and keyboards (which may be used as either a lead of rhythm instrument). The lead instrument acts as a separate voice from the vocals and "leads" in and out of each section or verse of a song (i.e., an introduction or a "lead break").
All instruments must work as a team, in order to provide a combined group sound. - Rehearsals
In a serious group you will spend more time rehearsing than doing anything else, so it is important to be properly organized. As far as possible, each session should have an objective which you should strive to achieve.
Remember that the performance of a song involves not only the music, but also sound balance and stage presentation. These facets should be practiced as part of the rehearsal.
As well as group rehearsal, you should practice individually. Concentrate particularly on the harder sections of your songs, so that it will be easier to play them when working with the group. It is far more beneficial and time saving for each member to attend group practice with full knowledge of his part.
The underlying theme of all the previous topics is one of group unity, both on and off the stage. This is essential if the group is to survive together as an effective musical unit.
Class Sessions
1- INTRODUCTION
2- Chord Diagrams
3- Musical Terms
4- E Chord
5- Chords G And C
6- Turnaround Progression No.1
7- F Chord
8- Chords A7, D7 and E7*
9- Continuous Right Hand Movement
10- Alternating Chord
11- Blues in E
12- Note Summary: Open Position
13- The Time Signature
14- Chords A Minor and D Minor
15- Chords C Major 7 and F Major 7
16- Chords, A Major 7, D Major 7 and G Major 7
17- Chromatic Note Summary: First Position
18- B Minor Chord
19- Chords E6 and A6
20- Rock Chords
21- Suspended Chords: A Sus, D Sus and E Sus
22- The Hammer on
23- The Bar Chord
24- Progression in F
25- Bar Chord Progression
26- Root 6 Minor Bar
27- Two Bar Percussive Rhythm
28- Dominant 7th Bar Chord (Root 6)
29- Right Hand Deadening Technique
30- Staccato Strumming
31- Root 5 Bar Chord
32- Basic Patterns
33- Dampening Technique
34- Rock Chords
35- Root 5 Minor Bar Chord
36- Basic Turnaround Patterns
37- Right Hand Rhythm Technique
38- Left and Right Hand Rhythm
39- Dominant 7th Bar Chord - Root 5
40- Arpeggio Picking
41- Arpeggio Picking With Bass Note Runs
42- Minor 7th Chords
43- Major 6th Chords
44- Rock Rhythm
45- Time Signatures - Simple and Compound Time
46- Bar Chord Formations
47- Suspended Chords
48- Major Seventh Chords
49- Off Beat Rhythms
50- Ninth Chords
51- Augmented Chords
52- Diminished Chords
53- Root 6 Sixth Chords - Alternative Form
54- Dominant 7th Chord - Alternative
55- Sixteenth Note Rhythm
56- Tuning
57- Song List
58- Transposing
59- Groups
60- Minor Keys
61- GLOSSARY OF MUSICAL TERMS
62- Solid Body Electric
63- Right Arm Position
64- Trouble-Shooting
65- 12 Bar Blues
66- Tablature
67- Turnaround Progression No. 2
68- Alternative Chord Forms
69- Note And Rest Values
70- Bass Note Picking ( <span class="symbolA">^</span> Time )
71- Bass Note Runs
72- Sixteenth Note Rhythm
73- Major 7 Progression
74- Progression in A
75- Triplet Rhythm
76- Blues in E
77- 12 Bar in A
78- G Major Scale
79- Hammer on Examples
80- The Percussive Strum (Bar Chords)
81- Key Signatures
82- Minor Bar Chord Progressions
83- Summary of Scales and Key Signatures
84- Rests in Music
85- Eighth Note Rests
86- 12 Bar in G
87- Chord Construction - Major
88- Reggae Rhythms
89- Arpeggio Variation
90- Chord Construction - Minor
91- Chord Construction Dominant 7th and Minor 7th Chords
92- Seventh Chords - Rock Form
93- Examples in Six Eight Time
94- Suspended Example
95- Chord Substitution
96- Root 6 Minor 6th
97- 12 Bar in D
98- Sixteenth Note Rhythm Variations
99- Tuning Hints
100- Sheet Music
101- The Capo
102- Chord Formula Chart
103- Other Books in The Progressive Series
104- Steel String Acoustic
105- Chord Progression
106- New Rhythm Patterns
107- Two Bar Rhythms
108- Bass Note Picking
109- The Chromatic Scale
110- Experiments in Bass Note Picking
111- Turnaround No. 1 in D
112- The Major Scale
113- Rock Chord Variation
114- The Pull Off
115- The Percussive Strum (Open Chords)
116- Section Two Summary
117- Jazz Blues in G
118- Section Three Summary
119- Electronic Tuner
120- Altered Chords
121- Seating
122- Pivot Finger
123- Rhythm Variations
124- Section One Summary
125- Extra Progressions
126- Extra Progressions
127- Scale Tone Chord
128- The Pick
129- Extra Progressions
130- Scale Tone Chord Extensions