Moving onto measures 5-8 we have F#m7b5 going to B7 and onto Em. Arranged in the key of G (relative minor key Em), in measures 7&8 the melody comes to rest on Em.

As fingerstyle guitarists we can learn a lot from the technique of classical guitarists. There are some great close ups in the clip below of Andres Segovia’s right hand fingerstyle technique. Segovia was one of the first classical guitarists to pluck the strings with a combination of fingernails and fingertips. Playing in this manner gave him a wider range of timbres. Often by concentrating on holding down chord shapes with the left hand we forget about what the right hand is doing. Don’t fall into that trap and don’t be put off by Segovia’s virtuoso playing….I have some basic right hand technique tips in my free introductory course  !

This is the first 4 measures of the classic song Autumn Leaves. There has been many great recording of this song and I’ve listed some of my favourites in the songbook pages. I’ve arranged the chord progression here in the key of G . The first chord in the progression is Am which moves to D7 and then onto G and then Cmaj7. I’ve used a “p” “i” “m” “i” right hand picking pattern as I think it gives a nice flow to progression. With this picking pattern the thumb plays the root of the chords on the lowest sounding three strings of the guitar – E A D – and the index finger “i” and the middle finger “m” play on the highest sounding three strings – G B E. Go to the Autumn Leaves Guitar Chord Progression page for the the full chord progression for the song and go to the Autumn Leaves Guitar Lesson Chord Chart which lists the left hand chord shapes I use in the arrangement.

I love this old recording by Blind Blake, one of the main ragtime guitarists, who lived from 1896 to 1934. Not much is known about who he was or where he came from, however he was and has been very influencial amongst other guitarists including names such as The Reverend Gary Davis, Jorma Kaukoonen, Ry Cooder, Ralph McTell and leon Redbone . His type of ragtime was one where he would frequently syncopate the bass with the melody often leaving gaps for short single line solos. While my playing is different than his, I do adopt this principle of mixing things up in my playing.

Blind Arthur Blake – Black Dog Blues

Merry Christmas everybody !

What an exciting few weeks I’ve just had! I’ve been in Savalas Sound Studios in Film City Glasgow recording my new guitar course. These studios have played host in the past to such names as Ewan Mcregor (Obi-wan Kenobi in the Star Wars trilogy), Robbie Coltrane (Hagrid in the Harry Potter Films), Franz Ferdinand (the band not the Austro-Hungarian Royal Prince)…and now me! No wonder I’m smiling (sometimes) in this promotional video.