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DOUGLAS NIEDT'S GUITAR TECHNIQUE TIP OF THE MONTH

Doug's Guitar Technique Tip of the Month will be sent to you monthly. These are the best on the Internet. No one else's technique articles and videos even come close. Most of the written tips run over 20 pages. Most of the videos run from 15-30 minutes. The tips are thorough and the production is excellent. Check out the free tips in Doug's Vault for a sampling.

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Left-Hand Technique Tips

  1. Bar Chords. The Secret ("Little Jennifer's Secret") of How to Play Clear Bar Chords. Many guitarists have trouble with bar chords. This guitar lesson will help.
  2. More on Bar Chords. How to Learn to Play a Bar Chord in Under 2 Minutes. Plus, watch Doug's video spoof, "Bar Chords--The Ginsu Knives of Guitar Playing." Sorry, subscribers only.
  3. Chord Changes. The Little-Known Secret of Connecting Your Chord Changes Smoothly. When you're changing guitar chords and it sounds disjointed, use this secret.
  4. Guide Fingers. More than you ever wanted to know about guide fingers.
  5. Slurs. ("Hammer-Ons" and "Pull-offs") When you learn how to play the guitar, your slur technique must be top notch. It's an important part of classical guitar technique. This tip contains high-def guitar videos.
  1. Playing in High Positions. Conquering Guitar Acrophobia: Playing in the High Positions Past the 12th Fret.
  2. Nasty Habits. Top Ten Nasty Habits of Guitar Technique Part 1: Allowing Left-hand Fingers to Help a Bar Chord. If your bar chord technique is weak, this is what happens.
  3. Nasty Habits. Ten Top Nasty Habits of Guitar Technique Part 2. Allowing the Helpless Pinky to be Pushed Around.
  4. String Squeaks.String Squeaks and Romeo and Juliet. How to get rid of string squeaks. Sorry, subscribers only.
  5. Vibrato. Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On: How to Execute Vibrato, Part 1. These are advanced guitar lessons on this essential classical guitar technique. Very few guitar lessons go in depth to this degree. This series on vibrato contains many high-def guitar videos.
  1. Vibrato. Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On: How to Execute Vibrato, Part 2 (subscribers only).
  2. Vibrato. Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On: How to Execute Vibrato,Part 3. The stunning conclusion--includes what to do if confronted by a HIPPLF. A must read! (subscribers only)
  3. Shifting. Hey Bud, Look Where You're Going or, Look Before You Leap. Here is a guitar technique tip that is very simple but has the potential to improve your playing a lot. It is one of those things you think, "Wait, that's too simple. There has to be more to it than that."
  4. No Girly-Men Guitarists Here. Develop your hand strength by practicing Macho-Monster Bar Chords.
  5. Stretching exercises. Good for everyone. And they make life easier for the player with short or stiff fingers.
  1. How to Use Hinge Bars as Guide Fingers.. This technique will enable you to play difficult passages containing consecutive bars securely and accurately with less hand fatigue and less string noise. Subscribers only.
  2. Specialty Bars Part 1: Hinge Bars.. There are more types of bars to master than just the basic bar. I call them specialty bars. This tip tells you everything you need to know about hinge bars. Subscribers only.
  3. Specialty Bars Part 2: Cross-Fret Bars.. There are more types of bars to master than just the basic bar. I call them specialty bars. This tip tells you everything you need to know about cross-fret bars. Subscribers only.
  4. Specialty Bars Part 3: Partial Bars.. There are more types of bars to master than just the basic bar. I call them specialty bars. This tip tells you everything you need to know about partial bars. Learn the valuable lesson I learned from the Rolling Stones about playing partial bars. And find out why I give thanks to the Rolling Stones every time I play Francisco Tárrega's Recuerdos de la Alhambra. Subscribers only.
  5. The Left-Hand Position. This month it's back to the basics: the left-hand position. This is an all-video tip. It is a nearly one-hour comprehensive guitar lesson on positioning your left hand. I explain the parallel and slanted hand positions, pros and cons of each, when to use them, and how to use and position the left-hand thumb. But this isn't just for beginners. Even if you've been playing a long time I think you will learn something new. Subscribers only. April 2013