Song Writing Guitar Lesson
Song Writing
Kaki discusses the differences between a song and an instrumental tune and how they relate to playing guitar. She goes over some techniques that will help you write either instrumental or lyric based music.
Taught by Kaki King in Lessons With Kaki King seriesLength: 6:36Difficulty: 0.0 of 5
Supplemental Learning Material
Lessons With Kaki King
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsRenowned guitarist Kaki King teaches musicality, altered tunings and percussive elements in her artist series.
Lesson 1
Interview With Kaki King
To start off her artist series with JamPlay, Kaki King sits down with the JamPlay staff for an exclusive interview.
Length: 38:16 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Percussive Techniques
Kaki King explains how to use the guitar as a percussive instrument.
Length: 7:26 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Altering One String
Kaki King discusses changing your tuning by one note, or one half step to open up new possibilities.
Length: 7:37 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Keeping A Backbeat
Kaki King explains how to keep a rhythmic backbeat on your guitar.
Length: 9:47 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Fingerpicking Variations
In lesson 5, Kaki demonstrates how you can use variations on fingerpicking patterns to spice up your playing.
Length: 8:37 Difficulty: 2.0 Members OnlyLesson 6
Left and Right Hand Relationship
In lesson 6, Kaki discusses how the left and right hands can work together or independently of each other to create different timbres.
Length: 6:04 Difficulty: 2.0 FREE
5/4 Time Signature
Kaki King demonstrates how to count and play the 5/4 time signature. She demonstrates how she uses this odd meter in her own playing.
Length: 9:37 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Two Handed Tapping
Kaki King discusses and demonstrates a two handed tapping technique for acoustic and electric guitar.
Length: 8:18 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Single Note Tapping
Kaki King demonstrates single note tapping on the electric guitar.
Length: 6:09 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Pinky Development
Kaki King discusses the importance of the left hand pinky. She provides several strength building exercises.
Length: 6:34 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Muted Strumming
Kaki King demonstrates how muted strumming can be used to create dynamics and depth in your playing.
Length: 10:52 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Song Writing
Kaki discusses the differences between a song and an instrumental tune and how they relate to playing guitar. She goes over some techniques that will help you write either instrumental or lyric based...
Length: 6:36 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Altered Tunings
Kaki King discusses some of the reasons why you may want to experiment with altered tunings.
Length: 8:23 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Combining Hands
Kaki King provides an exercise that combines a tapped bass line in the left hand and a tapped chord in the right hand.
Length: 5:32 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Combining Elements
Kaki King takes a look at a few excerpts that combine most of the techniques she uses. The combination of hammer-ons, pull-offs, altered tunings and fingerstyle techniques create a sound that is unmistakably...
Length: 9:49 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Musicality and the Music Business
Kaki King provides a monologue about musicality and how it relates to the music industry. She talks about uniqueness, labels, and record contracts.
Length: 19:15 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Over Neck Tapping #1
Kaki uses her song "Carmine St." as a basis to teach over the neck bass tapping. This technique is not purely for show! Learn some practical applications in this lesson.
Length: 8:27 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
Combining the Right Hand and Over the Neck Tapping
Kaki King takes another look at over the neck tapping. This time you'll add right hand fingerstyle technique into the mix. Once again, excerpts are taken from "Carmine St."
Length: 4:58 Difficulty: 3.0 Members Only
False Harmonics
Kaki King demonstrates how she uses "false" or artificial harmonics in her playing. She discusses where it might be appropriate to inject this technique into your own playing.
Length: 8:27 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Tapped Bass Lines
Kaki King discusses how to create tapped bass lines using the over the neck tapping technique. This skill is usually associated with Michael Hedges' playing.
Length: 6:38 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Basic Over-Neck Tapping
Kaki King provides a lesson an exercise to acquaint you with the process of over the neck-tapping. She slowly introduces strumming hand elements as a discussion on creating rhythmic movement between the...
Length: 9:04 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Overcoming a Rut
In her 22nd lesson with JamPlay, Kaki King discusses plateaus and ruts. She talks about what she does to overcome these obstacles to her playing and how you might benefit from putting the guitar down...
Length: 8:00 Difficulty: 0.0 Members Only
Signature Riff
In lesson 23 of her artist series, Kaki King demonstrates a signature riff that she uses for transitional purposes. This riff will also help you build dexterity and strength in your fretting hand.
Length: 5:51 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
About Kaki King
View Full Biography
Kaki King (born Katherine Elizabeth King) was born in Atlanta, Georgia on August 24th, 1979. Showing early aptitude for music, Kaki was initially introduced to guitar and soon after the drums. Kaki has been active in the music industry since around 2001. Her first studio album, Everybody Loves You, was released on Velour Records in 2003. Since that time Kaki has released four additional records with another due out later this year (2010). She has quest appeared on the Foo Fighter's album Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, as well as contributing to film scores such as August Rush. Kaki was named in February of 2006 a "Guitar God" by Rolling Stone Magazine. Other notable accomplishments include a Golden Globe nomination for Best Original Score for music from "Into the Wild."
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Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Wish you have done more in your song writing lesson. Thanks!