Workshops
Workshops
Introduction on Capo Techniques
Workshops
I teach three different group workshops. If you’re interested in any of these, please contact me.
Most of us pick up a guitar and play it because we like how it feels. That’s great. In fact, the truest music anyone can make is probably made because someone loves doing it. Where some of us falter is when we need to advance past three-chord songs and we don’t understand which chords go together and why. Music theory explains why, and it gives a framework in which we can create.
When presented slowly and carefully, music theory is not at all intimidating. Open tunings and advanced capo techniques become surprisingly approachable when understood in the light of theory. Idiomatic voicing, timbre, and chord function lead up to “structural thinking,” which helps workshop participants understand the guitar in a whole new light. Best of all, once a student knows why something works, they can reproduce it themselves.
Workshop I: Introduction to Open Tuning
Open to guitarists of any level, no previous open tuning experience required.
Workshop participants learn:
· How to think functionally on the guitar
· How open tunings work and why they do
· How to retune a guitar in a variety of open tunings
· How to transpose songs and play them in open tuning
Workshop II: Open Tuning II
Open to anyone with experience playing in open tunings or a strong grasp of music theory.
Workshop participants will:
· review basic functional thinking on the guitar
· explore why open tunings work idiomatically and create new open tunings
· learn how to build and structure chords in open tunings
Workshop III: Partial Capo Techniques
Open to guitarists who are comfortable playing at least a few songs.
Workshop participants learn:
· how to chose capo positions for idiomatic voicings and ensemble playing
· how to use partial capos in standard tuning
· how to use several capos to create multiple drones
Workshop IV: Partial Capo Techniques II
This very cerebral workshop is open to guitarists who are comfortable playing in several open tunings and have a strong working knowledge of music theory.
Workshop participants learn:
- how to structure partial capo use in standard and open tunings using the circle of 5ths
· how to create open tunings which are friendly to partial capos
· how to use partial capos in cross keys in standard and open tunings
· how to use multiple capos in open tunings
All workshops consist of an interactive lecture followed by practice and one-on-one coaching, then each participant will perform a song that uses the techniques they have learned. One session is about two to three hours.
A one-page handout will be provided for each workshop. Participants should bring a guitar and standard six-string capo, as well as pen and paper. Audio recording is encouraged.
