Guitar Lesson: Electronic Style

Okay, guys, let's check out 101 from the debut guitar book here.

Genre Overview

• Genre: Electronic
• You can hear that, obviously, in the arrangement as well.

Guitar's Role

• The guitar usually has a more "chilled" role in this genre.
• We sit back and support the synthy elements.

Comparison with "Another Dime":

• In "Another Dime," we were upfront, blasting out riffs.
• In this song, we want to be more relaxed in our delivery.

Structure of the Piece

• Opening:
  • We start with some strum chords, followed by playing arpeggios.
  • An arpeggio is simply when you play the notes of a chord individually.

Chord Progression

1. A Minor Chord:

   • Bar one, we have an A minor chord.
   • Followed by an A minor arpeggio (playing the notes separately).

2. Progression:

   • Then we do the same with a G chord and so on.

B Section

• In the B section, our role shifts:

  • We come to the forefront and play a melody.
  • Over the A section, the synth plays the melody, while we support with chords and arpeggios.

• Roles Reversed:

  • In the B section, we play the melody strongly, while the synth sits back.
  • We go back to chords and arpeggios, but reverse the order of the arpeggios.

  For Example:

  • In the second bar of C, the same chord/arpeggio is played backwards.

Tone Setup

• Our job is to provide a nice "bed" of sound.
• Starting Point:
  • A very clean sound is ideal.

Experimenting with Effects

• If you have an amp with built-in effects or any pedals:

  • Try Reverb:
    • Turns on reverb to create a room-like sound around the guitar.
    • Makes the guitar sound like it's set in a space.

• Tip:

  • You don't need gadgets; it's all about experimentation.
  • Consult your teacher for fine-tuning your sound.

Technical Tips

• Chord Clarity:

  • When fretting chords, ensure you're using your fingertips and that all notes are ringing clearly.

• Let Ring:

  • This means to allow all notes to resonate together.

  For Example:

  • In bar two, rather than playing staccato, you want to hear:

  (Playing Example)

Dynamics in Melody

• During the B section:

  • Be expressive; vary how hard or soft you hit the strings.

• Effectiveness:

  • Combining dynamics with reverbs and delays revives the piece.

Practice Recommendations

• Practice in small chunks.
• If you struggle with the A section, slow it down with a metronome, and build up speed gradually.

Transition Points

• Pay extra attention to transitions between:
  • A and B sections
  • B and C sections

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Best of luck with the song! Let's move on to the next one.