Kicking off 2024 right with your guitar goals
Plus, some guitar resolution inspiration from around the internet
Welcome to the first issue of Six String Sunday for 2024! I have a great feeling about this year, and isn’t it always refreshing to start on a clean slate when that clock ticks over at midnight? I have a lot planned for the newsletter/website/social media and more for Chasing Sound, so I’m happy that you’re here with me!
This week’s issue features lots of great advice from top guitarists - 30 day challenges, how to actually get better in 2024, and a reflection on what worked gear-wise for 2023.
Resolutions
I wanted to kick off the newsletter this year asking some of my guitar friends what their resolutions were for 2024. For me, I’m going to continue working on my fretboard knowledge through studying triads, and working on things in a more intervallic based way. I’d also like to release some more music, because I had a blast releasing some last year. Here are some more resolutions from the group:
- Commit to learning 6 songs start to finish including solos by the end of the year, and to improve my fretboard knowledge - David
- Working on learning more theory from Berklee materials - Simon
- Learn the fretboard, to improvise better. Solo more fluidly and efficiently. Develop a stellar practice routine, that includes using a metronome. Metal Lawyer
- Keep learning and not give up! - Rhys
- Learn the solo to Mr. Crowley - Justin
Hope you can get some inspiration from the goals above! If you have some guitar resolutions for 2024, let me know what they are by replying! Alright, let’s get to this week’s links.
This week’s Guitar Links!
- Day 1: Vibrato - 30 Day Guitar Challenge - What better way to kick off the year, than with a 30 day challenge? String Joy is putting out a video every day in January to teach a bunch of different aspects of the guitar. Their first couple lessons focus on vibrato, slides, bends, and finger independence. I'm excited to check out all of these videos this month - so far each video has clocked in at about 10 mins., so they're super easy to watch.
- How to ACTUALLY get better at Improvisation in 2024 | 10 Points - If you want even more great advice, you should check out this video from Jack Gardiner. I love Jack's playing, and his teaching is always top notch. He always seems to have a unique and interesting way of explaining guitar/music topics. This video is totally worth your time.
- 7 excuses for avoiding guitar practice – and how to beat them - Are you still stuck with having an excuse to not practice in 2024? Guitar World breaks down the top 7 excuses that guitarists might have to avoid practice, and how to overcome them. Whether it be time, motiviation, physical or financial limitations...nothing should hold you back from practicing.
- Special techniques: Legato with Whammy dips. Eddie Van Halen / Steve Vai style. Animated Licks 46 - Wanting to get a little EVH or Vai style whammy dip technique under your belt? Check out this video from Mika Tyyska. One thing I'd add to this video, is to add a bit of delay to your signal chain, which makes this technique sound even more exciting.
- Gear of the Year: The best guitars, amps, pedals and more of 2023 - Guitar Player takes a look back at what gear was the most exciting of 2023. From gold foil pickups and the PRS “tele", to Joe Bonamassa amps and UAFX pedals - it's all here. Did you pick up any of this gear in 2023?
- Cortex Control (available now!) - Speaking of gear, and stuff that has been a long time coming - if you're a Quad Cortex user, your time has come! Neural DSP has finally launched Cortex Control. I really enjoy how they did this demo video for the software, so I wanted to include it here.
- How to Use Arpeggios to Create Some INSANE Guitar Licks with @TomoFujitaMusic - It's a great idea to get to grips with arpeggios. Tomo Fujita sat down with Marty Schwartz to show him how to make awesome guitar licks with arpeggios as a base.
- STEAL THESE LICKS... Transform Your Playing - Nuno Bettencourt was back in full force last year, not only with the “Rise" solo, but with pretty much every track off Extreme's new album. Cameron Cooper shows us some awesome licks in the style of Bettencourt that you can put into your own lick library.
- Bonus Link: The Most INSANE Music Interview - I had to include this one, because if you're a musician, you can always appreciate the greatness of other musicians. Not to mention a fantastic interviewer as well.