In this session, I talk about a simple way to transpose the key of a song even if you don’t know what key it’s in or what the chords are. Then, we’re diving deep into practical guitar tips, student questions, and some fun exercises to boost your skills! Whether you’re tackling tricky bar chords, refining your fingerpicking, or curious about jamming with a friend, we’ve got you covered. Jump to the sections you’re most interested in with the timestamps.
I attempted to ask a question during the live broadcast, but it wasn’t accepted by the system for some reason. Perhaps you can answer it here. This is related to another question you addressed at 00:40:21 about nylon guitar strings (and may be what that listener intended to ask). What is the difference between normal tension and high tension nylon strings (other than the obvious tension difference)? When would you choose to use one type over the other? Is sound or tone quality affected? Or is it more a matter of playability and finger stress?
Hi Roland. The high tension (or Hard tension) strings are stiffer, harder to press down, and have a little more volume and Fuller tone. There’s also an extra hard. Again, a little stiffer than hard but a little more tone. I use the hard tension, which is a nice balance for my music. For most people starting out, the normal tension would be best. The extra volume and tone wouldn’t really show up when you’re learning, but the ease of pressing down the strength would be a real benefit. You tend to develop a lot of strength in the fingers over many years of performing and practicing. I’ve tried extra hard, and the extra work isn’t quite worth it.
I attempted to ask a question during the live broadcast, but it wasn’t accepted by the system for some reason. Perhaps you can answer it here. This is related to another question you addressed at 00:40:21 about nylon guitar strings (and may be what that listener intended to ask). What is the difference between normal tension and high tension nylon strings (other than the obvious tension difference)? When would you choose to use one type over the other? Is sound or tone quality affected? Or is it more a matter of playability and finger stress?
Hi Roland. The high tension (or Hard tension) strings are stiffer, harder to press down, and have a little more volume and Fuller tone. There’s also an extra hard. Again, a little stiffer than hard but a little more tone. I use the hard tension, which is a nice balance for my music. For most people starting out, the normal tension would be best. The extra volume and tone wouldn’t really show up when you’re learning, but the ease of pressing down the strength would be a real benefit. You tend to develop a lot of strength in the fingers over many years of performing and practicing. I’ve tried extra hard, and the extra work isn’t quite worth it.