Learn to utilize this element of songwriting for added depth and contrast by making use of its bridge section.
As you read tabs, take note of how their numbers are aligned vertically – this indicates that fretting the notes at once should be your goal.
Scale Tones
Scale tones, the individual notes that make up a scale, add tension and character to melodies derived from its scale.
Scale tones provide the basis for creating a collection of chords which fit musical composition written in its key. This collection is known as the triad chords for that scale.
As is common with basslines, ornamentation – the practice of connecting strong chord tones to weaker notes above or below them – adds melodic flair and is an effective way to add melodic flare.
Playing non-diatonic scale basslines like whole tone and chromatic can be challenging; due to a lack of tonal center they may require more practice before being added into your repertoire. But by mastering their use, these non-diatonic scales can add great drama and tension! Be sure to practice thoroughly beforehand!
Licks
Crafting guitar licks that are both cool and musical can be an engaging challenge for guitarists. Licks are musical ideas used as decorations in chord progressions or as the basis for entire solos.
As you begin creating your own licks, it’s essential to consider both their scale patterns and rhythm when coming up with original licks. Experimentation may help produce unique sounding licks combining various scale patterns together for new results.
As another method to add variety and make guitar licks more captivating, adding spaces between bursts of notes is an effective way to give them added interest and stand out in music you are performing.
Spend some time practicing your licks over chord progressions in various keys to gain an understanding of how they function within an overall song structure. Doing this will also allow you to observe their performance more closely, providing greater insight into their effectiveness and where they fit best within it.
Palm Muting
Palm muting is an extremely useful technique for power chords. To do so, place the heel of your picking hand directly below the bridge of your guitar, placing your picking hand directly on strings just below. This creates an percussive sound which adds dynamic flair and adds another dynamic element to your strumming pattern.
Pressure from your hand also has a dramatic effect on muting. Applying less pressure will create less muting and produce more of a staccato effect, while adding too much will deaden strings and create an unmusical tone. Experiment with different amounts and positions of your hand until you find an optimal combination.
As a general guideline, palm muting works best on downstrokes; however, some players also use it on upstrokes when required for their song. It all depends on the song you are playing and what works for you!
Scale Patterns
One great advantage of fretted instruments like guitars (and others like it) is their multiple points for playing different notes compared to pianos which only have one location for any specific tone.
As such, guitar has numerous ways of organizing scale patterns into easily recognisable chord shapes – particularly three note per string scale patterns.
Scale patterns provide you with all of the notes that can be reached from a given fretboard location, along with their respective actual scale from root to octave, as well as extended notes if playing past an octave when improvising or soloing.
Learning scale patterns also has another benefit: they’re adaptable. That means if you find an effective chord and choose which scale to play over it, the scale will fit right in with its shape and complement it perfectly.