Video Question: Speed and Technique

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Date: September 15th, 2009 | Length: 0.92 | Instructor: DJ Phillips

Nick Greathouse's free speed and technique lessons are why i became a JamPlay member. Since then my playing has improved dramatically. Kris Norris' metal style is extremely fast and absolutely blistering. If he would do a speed and technique series of lessons I feel I would develop the style I've dreamed of for quite a number years. Please, that would be absolutely awesome. 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:

Guitar Action - April 23rd, 2008 (3 minutes, 40 seconds)

Jdemail78 asks, "I hear a lot about guitar action but I'm not really sure what is good or bad. I had purchased an acoustic guitar that I believe had very low action (strings were very close to the neck of the guitar) and it was very easy to play but it ended up having some issues with fret buzz and other ringing sounds that I did not like and could not get corrected at the local guitar shop. I've since replaced it with a little bit better guitar and I no longer have any fret buzz nor do I have any ringing sounds but it seems like the action is higher (strings are much higher off the neck of the guitar) and therefore, for me as a beginner, it is harder to play. My question is when it comes to an experienced guitar player (which I am not...yet...) is it good to have a guitar with higher action or lower action? What would one typically prefer? Do really nice expensive guitars come with very low action making them easy to play but don't have any buzzing issues or is it a case where as you get better, higher action is ok because your better at fretting chords and notes? My curiosity with this comes from a hope that the guitar I have now, with it's strings higher off the fret board, will slowly become easier to play as I get better and I'll become ok with the higher action because it does sound better and cleaner than the one I had with the lower action. Also, please correct me if I have the "high action" "low action" descriptions backwards." View Response

Strumming 12 String Guitars - March 17th, 2008 (2 minutes, 35 seconds)

Hgnative says, "I've been playing guitar for about two months electric guitar and it seems to be coming pretty easy but i watched a lesson on jam play and seen a 12 string guitar and now i want to play it is this guitar to much for a beginner thanks." View Response

- August 7th, 2008 (8 minutes, 32 seconds)

Onlythehunter asks, "Hi. I took acoustic lessons as a kid but never completed them, then as a teen and early twenties I self taught well enough to strum and write my own songs, which is my passion. I just bought a couple electrics (one with a temolo, one without) to try to learn to play it and also work on home recording with a newly purchased home studio system. I have two quick questions. First, I know some basics, although I am in the "learning scales is scary" stage. Do you suggest I start strumming my familiar chords on the electric to get comfortable, or to learn lead should I study power chords and scales, which I've never done? What's the best option? Second, one of my favorite songs is Springsteen's Tunnel Of Love. The sheet music has a chord notation of G5 with a slach through a 3. I assume it means a G5 omitting the third, but I can not get it to sound right or figure out what the chord is. Any ideas? Thank you very much, I am recommeding you guys to everyone I know." View Response

Playing With a Thumbpick - September 15th, 2009 (1 minutes, 45 seconds)

Quick question, I've noticed that some really good guitar players will play with the thumb pick, from Nils Lofren to some of the instructors at JamPlay. I am trying to change up my style by learning how to use the thumbpick for some country and bluegrass music. Does JamPlay have any lessons on techniques for using the thumbpick such as exercises and hints? Thanks, Ron Terranova. View Response

Active vs Passive Guitars - February 5th, 2008 (2 minutes, 42 seconds)

Ellen asks, "Hi, what do I need to know about active and passive guitars? What makes one active and another passive? I have been shopping for a CD player and amp that I can run my guitar through at the same time. How can I tell if my guitar is active or passive?" View Response