October 15, 2009
- Mastering Finger Picking
Mastering Finger PickingThe 'How To Master Finger Picking' course is now in a book and DVD format. The new name is 'Jean Welles Worship Guitar Class(TM) - Mastering Finger Picking.' This new book is currently shipping to the retail stores and is available on the website. It has 12 lessons with both song accompaniments and instrumental solos. The last song is a Flamenco piece with techniques like the tremolo, the tambour and the rasgueado.
July 24, 2009
- Travis Pick Fingerpicking
A Video Lesson On Travis Picking
The Travis Pick works well with songs like 'What A Friend We Have In Jesus.' I'm working on an instrumental arrangement of this song and planning on adding it to the Finger Picking Course along with some other songs using the Travis Picking patterns.
June 18, 2009
- Getting Clean Notes On Your Guitar
How To Get Clean Guitar Notes and ChordsHere are a few tips to getting a clean chords on your guitar, so your worship songs sound great
1. Trim your left-hand fingernails. If you have nails it’s impossible to hold the strings down cleanly.
2. Hold a string down with the tip, or pad, of your finger right behind the frets. If you hold a string down on top of a fret it can produce a muffled tone. If you hold down a string too far from the fret it can produce a buzzing sound. Stay on the tips of your fingers and hold each string firmly, as close to the frets as you can. More on Getting Clean Notes On Your Guitar
January 22, 2009
- Music Instructional Streaming Videos
What do the 'How To Master Finger Picking' and 'Jean Welles Worship Guitar Class for Kids' programs have in common? They are now both available as online streaming videos.The advantages are instant access, no shipping costs, no worries about losing or damaging the DVD and no customs costs for International orders.
May 23, 2008
- How To Practice The Guitar
Christian Guitar Practice - Pray First
The exciting difference between just practicing the guitar and using it as a tool for worshipping an Awesome God is that our purpose and focus shifts.
It's no longer just you learning to play the guitar. When you as God to help you, He can give you insights and help. You can use the guitar as a tool to worship Him. It helps to continue to ask Him for His help whenever you're playing the instrument.
In my guitar studio there were countless times when a student was having difficulties and I just said, '"Help him Lord.'" They always immediately played better. Then I'd always say '"Thank you Lord."
The first step as a Christian musician is to pray. Try to use your practice as a time of worship. It's a matter of where your heart is focused. It says in Scripture, if we seek Him with all of our hearts we will find Him. (For the rest of the article click the 'More' link below.). More on How To Practice The Guitar
February 26, 2006
- Relaxed Right-hand Technique
Here's a brief, probably one minute, video to help you see how you can play with a relaxed Right Hand. At a Christian Guitar Convention I taught at a few years ago, I was surprised that out of 2 classes, maybe 50 students, only 2 had relaxed right hands. Most people play with way too much tension. It takes a lot of strength to play, but it's easier to play if you relax between each note, or pluck.
June 18, 2005
- 6 Picking Patterns + Writing Songs
I often get emails from guitarists that are stuck in a rut using the same strumming pattern for every song. Here are 6 finger-picking patterns that you can use with 4/4 time songs. I wanted to teach them to you with a song, but I can't use popular worship songs because most are copyrighted.
