HelloReader, When I started playing guitar in 1988 (yikes!), one of the many big influences that guided my own guitar journey was Greg Howe. What makes Greg’s solos sound so colourful, fluid, and harmonically advanced? The secret lies in his groundbreaking use of superimposed arpeggios, inventive scale shapes, and rhythmic phrasing. Greg's new book covers ALL of these concepts and more. Now, if you're totally new to arpeggios, fear not... there are a few great free lessons on my website to...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, How has your guitar practice been going? Learning anything new?Let's talk alternate picking! The J-Curve The J-curve describes the typical path of a corrective technique or action from initial loss to dramatic gain over time. Essentially.. Things might get worse before they get better. You could apply the J-Curve concept to all kinds of things in everyday life… but let’s apply to it alternate picking. Phase 1: Where you might be now… You can alternate pick at slow tempos....
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, I know, I know… so many Black Friday sale emails.. but this one is a good one!.. and if you’re a practicing Guitarist like me this material will last you for years! 🎅🏼 For a limited time, enjoy ALL 5 guitar books for only $19. 📅 Don’t wait — this is over Monday at midnight! 👉No CODE Needed.Shop Now & Save BIG!» PS -FREE Guitar Triads Book. If you didn't already get it directly from me, you can grab it here whether you want the bundle or not, its my FREE GIFT to you!Guitar Triads...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Hey Reader, It's Back to School time again.. and my biggest sale of the year on ALL of my Guitar Books. 🌼 For a limited time, enjoy ALL 5 guitar books for only $15. No Tariffs Here! Sale ends Friday at Midnight! 📅 Don’t wait — this is over Friday at midnight! 👉No CODE Needed.Shop Now & Save BIG!» Until Next Time!, Guitarist & Author - Craig Smith Let's Be Friends! 👇Find me on Social Media👇 Lifein12Keys.com & GuitarPractice.Pro3825 Swanfalls Ter. Sanford, FL 32771 Unsubscribe | Change Preferences
8 months ago • 1 min read
Guitar Newsletter January 30th, 2025 Hey there Reader, Recently I had a great question from a reader about other ways to use the Circle of Keys to find useful information besides just the notes in a particular Major scale or Key. Like, what about the chords? A great way to find all of the Major Chords in a Key is to look at the adjacent keys on either side of the one you want to play IN. For example, in the Key of C Major you see F before and G after, so those 3 chords will be Major type...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
Guitar Newsletter January 18th, 2025 Hello Reader!, I hope you enjoyed the free Triads book. I had over 2000 downloads this past week! If you missed it, you can still grab it anytime. Here's a little mini-lesson to get you through the weekend. Steve, an email reader had a great question:"What happens if you add the next (diatonic) 3rd to the existing triads in the book?" Answer:You get a Tetrachord built on each scale tone like this. 💡A tetrachord is a musical pattern of four notes that are...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Guitar Newsletter January 12th, 2025 Hey Reader!, I don't know about you, but when I first learned guitar chords, I found the hardest part was where to find useful shapes on the neck past the open position. For example: Where else can I play a D minor chord past the 3rd fret?Can I find 4 or more shapes quickly?What about the rest of the chords in a Key? I wrote this free 30 page book on Triads and how they fall across the fretboard. If you remember last month I had a request from an email...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Guitar Newsletter January 4th, 2025 Happy New Year Reader!, What kind of guitar stuff are you working on this weekend? Need any help with anything? Just reply back anytime. I had a great gig last night in Orlando at Digress Wine Bar. (follow my Instagram for all of my gigs if you're ever in town).... ....but I've noticed my picking getting a little loose over the holiday season. Too much making merry and not enough time in the practice room lately. 😏 That's an easy fix.. getting out my...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read
Happy Thanksgiving! Sipping some coffee ☕️, watching the parade, and thinking about all of the food I'm going to eat later today. [burrrrp] 🍗.... and checking up on Black Friday Sales! A question I'm often asked is; how do I make the awesome neck diagrams and charts for my chords, scales, and arpeggio lessons? It all starts with the amazing Neck Diagrams 2 software! The reason I mention it is, they are having a Black Friday sale now through Monday on Mac or Windows software. Book Hard Copies...
over 1 year ago • 1 min read