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Real Guitar Live #43 | Q & A Session

As with all of these Live Q & As I'll also cover any guitar questions you might have. If you want to join these sessions live, head over to my YouTube channel and subscribe. We have these the first Thursday of every month. Make sure to ring the bell for notifications so you don't miss these!

[02:22] When I play with the backing tracks, I’m having difficulties keeping an eye on the tablature and my fingers at the same time. Should I look at the tablature or at the fretboard?

[5:40] How come an F# is played rather than an F in the G major scale?

[10:33] How do you explain C major chord having to play C-E-G and then for E minor having to play E-G-B. How are these guitar chords defined using these same semitones?

[13:21] In the Key of C, will there be ever a D major chord? Likewise in the Key of G will there ever be a D minor chord?

[15:50] I find a lot of trouble with the Hammer-Ons and Pull-Offs. Is there any good exercise to practice daily in order to learn these techniques?

[18:22] I was at an intermediate level before but haven’t touched the guitar in 3 years. I would like to start playing again but honestly don’t know where to start.  Part of what stops me is knowing the pain my fingers will go through and how awful I will be.

[22:57] I am using light gauge strings and when I hammer a chord I’m hearing a buzz. Should I go to a medium gauge or will that be harder to play chords?

[27:43] If you know the chords to a song and the melody, how can you arrange that into a fingerstyle?

[32:36] What chords should be committed to memory vs. learned as needed?  Any advice? Currently, I am trying to learn the A-G major, A-G minor and A-G 7th chords. Is this appropriate?

[37:11] One item I am not finding on your site are chord charts for the chords we are learning. I use them like flashcards in a spelling bee. Is this perhaps something that I should NOT be doing?

[40:38] The picking hand is the problem.  I hold the pick between my thumb and the pad of my first finger. Lately I am getting pain in  the part of the palm below the thumb. Am I holding  the pick too tight? Any ideas on how to fix this problem?

[44:57] The biggest challenge I am having strumming. It looks simple when I watch tutorials, but when I  try it sounds twangy. I am using a thin to medium pick. When I do  an upstrum should I just strum the lower strings?

[49:10] What can triads a.k.a baby chords be used for? Can they replace a full chord in a progression that has a really hard-to-play chord, like E flat?  Can they be integrated with improvisation together with riffs? Are there any other interesting uses for them?

[51:20] When do I play chords vs. single notes?

[52:05] Do you have any advice for beginners that want to learn electric guitar?

[53:51] What size strings should I use if I have fat fingertips?

[55:03] How do I stretch my fingers to play wide chords if I have short fingers?

[56:38] How do you feel about alternate picking for a beginner practicing with the Speed Developer exercise? Note from Tomas: I made a mistake when answering this question. I meant to say economy picking instead of hybrid picking.

[58:23] Should I put new strings on my electric guitar for the first time by myself?

[01:00:12] My fingers are stiff and short. What should I do?

[01:02:41] Should I play barre chords on an acoustic guitar?

[01:04:08] What pick should I use?

[01:07:10] Economy picking (NOT hybrid picking)

[01:10:13] What is the best left-hand positioning?

[01:12:25] Do you play any reel or jig? 

[01:12:37] How do I play a fast guitar solo?

[01:14:41] What is a good strum pattern for the song "Take Me Home Country Roads?"

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Arranging a Song for Fingerstyle Guitar

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