Video Question: Violin to guitar transition

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Date: November 5th, 2008 | Length: 4.2667 | Instructor: Nick Greathouse

Ricky54326 writes: "Hey again JamPlay, this is my 3rd Q&A. I have been playing the violin for 7 years, so I know all the scale theory. I just seem to have a hard time memorizing chords.. do you have any idea how i can use my knowledge of the violin and easily adapt to the guitar? Obviously I have time signature, key signature, etc all down i just have a hard time bringing this knowledge over to the guitar. Please help and keep up the good work." Another benefit of being a member of JamPlay is the video response section. Our expert staff fields questions from our members and provides video responses each week.

Other Video Responses:

Unintentional Pull-offs - June 7th, 2007 (1 minutes, 35 seconds)

Vjludovico says "Hey guys, I just joined the site very recently. I'm doing Steve's lessons and starting from the beginning. It's only been about a week since I've picked up a guitar for the first time and my calluses are finally starting to form. However I have one problem that I thought would clear itself up once my fingertips started to harden, and that's when I lift my fingers off the strings to change chords or even stop playing I seem to perform a pull off. I lift my fingers directly off the string, and I've tried to lift them off in different ways (I'm not pulling the string or bending it) but I can't seem to stop this problem. Any suggestions?" View Response

- July 17th, 2008 (3 minutes, 13 seconds)

Stirlingc asks, "Dave, I recently saw your lesson on alternate picking. When i went and tried it on my guitar...it seemed as if my pick would "catch" on the string. When i kept trying to pick upward...i had to force it to come up all the way. Is there something I'm doing wrong when alternate picking? I've been trying the way you hold the pick and it doesn't help much." View Response

Difficulties Learning Chords - January 8th, 2008 (1 minutes, 45 seconds)

Mplourde asks ,"Why is everything so hard? I can't even get past the stupid b minor chord!" View Response

Steel or Nylon Strings - June 5th, 2009 (2 minutes, 31 seconds)

Capo asked "Hi, Jim. I am always (really coveting I think) wanting to buy a nylon stringed guitar to play alternating finger style guitar on. I don't know, of course, but I imagine this to be obviously easier on the fingernails but it must have a downside which I surmise is in the compromised sound or timbre of the notes and chords. And, others such as yourself, Jim, do not use the nylon string guitar and that makes me suspicious. Although I did see a vid of Buster Jones (is that his name) playing what appeared to be a nylon stringed acoustic electric and doing all right with it I might add. Another point I argue with my mind over is that I will never be a professional guitarist, this is not my goal, so I seem to justify my lame argument with that fact and my heart says well, therefore, go ahead and buy one (nylon stringed). Well, enough said. What do you think of these thoughts. You must have some opinions and I would love to hear them so I won't waste my money unnecessarily. All the best, Capo." View Response

Requesting Songs - September 15th, 2009 (1 minutes, 12 seconds)

Hello, I am a new member and am interested in learning many songs that are not on your lesson list. How do I go about requesting songs for future lessons? View Response