4 Essential Classic Rock Guitar Solos That Will Make You a Better Player

4 Essential Classic Rock Guitar Solos That Will Make You a Better Player Megan L. Learning to play other peoples guitar solos is a great way to begin learning to write your own! Guitar teacher  Nils B.  shares his tips to learning four classic rock solos so you can develop your technique An essential part of every musicians development is to imitate those who have already mastered their instrument.  After settling on a song, give it a couple of close listens (preferably on headphones or a decent stereo), pick up a good transcription, then learn the rhythm parts, while analyzing the chord progressions and any distinctive rhythmical features. Then start learning the solo, phrase by phrase, while determining the relationship of each note with the chord thats being played, as well as the key of the song.  Also try listening carefully to the guitar tones, and be conservative with the amount of gain or overdrive when trying to copy these. Among other drawbacks, too much overdrive tends to hide your mistakes. Once you are able to play along with the original (or a backing track if you can find one), try recording yourself, and pay close attention to the details, such as timing, and bending accuracy.  And as a final step, once youre fairly comfortable, try to improvise using the same concepts, simply start by making small variations to the original solo.  And of course, if you havent already, seek out an experienced instructor who can give you essential feedback about how to play guitar solos like these listed below and keep you from making fundamental mistakes. Four Guitar Solos You Should Study The Eagles Hotel California This is my personal favorite of the four. Since the progression doesnt stay in the same key, you are forced to take a more chord based approach.  And although there are still plenty of great B minor blues licks to be found, there is also a healthy dose of major pentatonics, played using fairly tricky compound bending techniques commonly used by country guitarists. On top of this, the F#7 chord adds a darker flavor, which is nicely addressed in the solo with some harmonic minor licks.  Last but not least, theres the harmonized arpeggio outro, which is great to expand your fretboard knowledge, so be sure to learn both parts!  In terms of guitar tone, its a pretty straight forward approach. Most guitars played into a somewhat overdriven amp will sound great. Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven Jimmy Page was heavily influenced by American blues and rock and roll guitarists, which can be heard in the many great blues licks demonstrated here.  Be sure to pay close attention to the dynamic build up, his vibrato, and timing.  Page was known for using Gibson Les Pauls, SG doublenecks, and Fender Telecasters into either big Marshall stacks or low wattage combo amplifiers, so any tube overdriven lead sound will do. Try to add some delay to help with the sustain. Guns Roses Sweet Child O Mine First off, it should be noted that this was originally recorded with the guitar tuned down a half step (Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb). Even though it is in the key of Eb minor technically, it feels like E because of the tuning. This guitar solo actually consists of two shorter solos and a long outro. The slower, more melodic middle solos in Eb minor are a great opportunity to venture out of the familiar box at the 12th fret, and explore the area around the 7th.  The outro solo is a series of well executed pentatonic blues ideas via a tricky harmonic minor lick in the buildup- all while using a wah pedal. On the recording, Slash used a custom built Les Paul copy into a modified 70s Marshall amplifier, but any dual humbucker equipped guitar into a Marshall-esque sounding amp will work.  Try using the neck pickup for the melodic parts, and switch to the bridge pickup for the more aggressive sounding climax, together with the wah wah. Pink Floyd Comfortably Numb This solo is a great way to develop your sustain and vibrato because of the slower tempo, which really works well with David Gilmours melodic lead playing.  Although his playing is largely pentatonic based there are some tasteful notes from the minor scale thrown in, together with some great bends and tremolo arm tricks.  David Gilmour is known for using fairly elaborate setups, but the essentials to get his sound for this song would be a Stratocaster-style guitar with a tremolo into a relatively saturated/compressed fuzz or distortion pedal (he often used an Electro Harmonix Big Muff), into a clean amp via some delay. There are obviously plenty of other solos out there which would make good examples, but it is essential that they consist of memorable and coherent phrases.  Some other suggestions would include Ozzy Osbournes No More Tears, Thin Lizzys Dancing in the Moonlight, Jimi Hendrixs All Along the Watchtower, Deep Purples Highway Star, and Lynyrd Skynyrds Free Bird. Learning how to play guitar solos can be tricky, so whichever solo you choose, be sure to learn it inside-out (any capable guitar teacher should be able to assist you), and be open to critique from the people around you. Most importantly, use your ears and dont simply rely on effects to make sure it sounds its best! Good luck! Nils B. teaches guitar,  ear training, and  music theory  in Los Angeles, CA. He attended various schools for his training, including the  Musicians Institute in Hollywood. Nils has been teaching students since 2002.  Learn more about Nils here! Interested in Private Lessons? Search thousands of teachers for local and live, online lessons. Sign up for convenient, affordable private lessons today! Search for Your Teacher Photo by  Rick McQuinlan

Tutor pace; trains the busy Brains

Tutor pace; trains the busy Brains 0SHARESShare We specialize in the art of training the young brains to meet the challenges of today’s tough study environment. Loads of information is to be digested in a short period of time and with limited time resources. We specialize in fine tuning the young minds with simple techniques. We share information on how to define the thought process, way to measure the difficulties, way to analyze the tricky problems, way to implement easy solutions and verify the results. The information inputs cover interesting facts and figures related to science and mathematics of the school and college standards and are presented in a lucid manner. The solved examples help the child to find the right ways of tackling a problem thereby increase the self-confidence. The scientific approach trains the brains to unlock the secrets of learning and establishes a tall order for the kids. This takes away the worries from the busy parents regarding the educational anxiety and makes the child enjoy e- lea rning, just like another exciting hobby. Learning the subjects through plenty of visuals, models and solved examples creates an interest in the child to excel in the class. The online help is also supported by face to face to interactions through the computer terminals. All these come to you at your place, at your time, at a reasonable rate. The experts are available 247 to lift your child’s performance from ordinary to extra ordinary levels in a short span through online and personal communications. Start early to enjoy the early bird incentives! [starbox id=admin]

Prepare for SAT Test Online in 3 Easy Steps

Prepare for SAT Test Online in 3 Easy Steps 0SHARESShare It is easy to take a SAT test but students often find it difficult to do SAT preparation online. There are various reasons to this such as unawareness about online tutoring facility and time required for other activities. Let us note the following 3 easy steps to prepare for SAT test / other competitive exams such as ACT test: Identify  your objective to go to college First things first, why do you want to go to college? The reasons are many; well pick those that matter to you the most. Then try and relate these reasons to your perception about the SAT test and you will see that your mind expands to maintain a positive balance between ‘what is required’? And ‘what is done?’ Identify your training essentials   You need training to appear for SAT test, hence focus on your training essentials. Stick to the plan as long as value is being added to your candidature. If you diverge from the path it is not going to work. Identify your existing priorities Be sure about what you want to achieve in the current week, current months and current year. Start small and build on that. By thinking about small goals and achieving will increase your confidence. Once the confidence is developed appearing for the test becomes easier than you think. [starbox id=admin]

4 Tips to Make a Good Impression on a Campus Tour

4 Tips to Make a Good Impression on a Campus Tour If you plan to attend university, you have perhaps scheduled a campus tour or two to begin exploring collegiate life in person. These experiences are important, as they allow you to interact with current students, pose questions, and begin to make the academic and social adjustments needed for higher education. Embarking on a campus touris a fantastic way to determine whether a particular school is a positive fit for youbut it is also your opportunity to stand out from other candidates. 1. Prepare This may seem obvious, but researching a college or university before you arrive is advantageous. Knowing a schools enrollment, major achievements, and even its mascot will distinguish you from less prepared individuals. Admissions officers love students who are proactive about scheduling their own tours, knowledgeable about the college or university, and punctual. Also ensure you dress professionally. These are the top ten tips for college campus visits. Collect business cards or contact information from everyone who helps youyou will want to send thank you cards when you return home. You will remain in their minds, and your gratitude will not go unnoticed. 2. Ask questions If you have done some basic research on the school, you will also be able to ask better questions on your campus tour. It is okay to inquire about anythingacademics, community, student life. But demonstrate some familiarity with the college or university, and be appropriate. You can also make a good impression by taking notes. Obviously, you have asked a question because the answer is important to you. Note-taking shows you are serious, and it will also allow you to compare schools later in your decision-making process. You may also want to check out these 6 things to look for on a college tour. 3. Participate It is a wonderful idea to be an active participant in the campustourbefore, during, and after. Scheduling your own visit shows your interest and independence, asking questions demonstrates your ability to assimilate into the schools environmentbut what should you do after? Utilize what you have learned on the college tour to make appointments with others on campus. The admissions office is an excellent place to begin, as they will be able to put a face to your application after meeting you. You can also ask admissions representatives questions and again foster a goodimpression. Consider meeting with a professor or department chair in the major you are interested in. He or she can provide specific, helpful advice. Plus, you will have a connection if you choose to attend that school. Here are a few top questions to ask at a campus information sessionthat may be useful to you. You can also sit in on a class, speak with students, attend a sporting event, or participate in a club meeting to show your interest and help you make your decision. 4. Write an elevator speech Finally, compose an elevator speech for the meetings you will attend. If you are unfamiliar with this term, it refers to a one-minute speech you give by way of introductionas though you were simply sharing in an elevator and had very little time. Your speech should address your interest in the college and a possible major (no one expects you to commit to a subject 100%). It should also be compelling and memorable, though you should avoid rambling. Above all, make a good impression and leave them hoping that you will return as a student!

How Parents Can Help Children Prepare for Assessment Tests

How Parents Can Help Children Prepare for Assessment Tests How Parents Can Help Children Prepare for Assessment Tests These days, helping your student strengthen his or her test-taking skills takes on new meaning if you live in a state that has adopted the Common Core State Standardsand the standards newly aligned assessment tests. Two consortiums are currently creating the next generation of assessments to measure students progress toward college and career readiness (the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)). That means that the standardized tests that your child has taken in the past will look very different as early as this year. In addition, school curriculums and expectations of students are significantly different than under the previous state standards. How can you help your child do his or her best on assessment tests? Here are several trusted tips to share with your child to help him or her have the best chance for success on these or any important exams: Read all questions carefully and follow the directions. On any test, it is critical that you identify each question being asked before rushing into solving or answering the problem. Narrow down choices. If you are unsure of the answer to a question, eliminate choices that do not make sense or are obviously incorrect (for example, answers that include words such as always and never are red flags). When working on math problems, eliminate extra information provided that has nothing to do with the question being asked. If you get stuck on problems, mark them and move on. You can return to them later if you have time at the end of the test, but dont waste valuable test time spinning your wheels. Pace yourself. At the outset of a test, do a quick calculation of how many minutes you have for each questionand give a little extra time for essay questions. Try to leave a few minutes at the end of every test to revisit skipped or troublesome problems. Draw out problems to help yourself visualize them better. Minimize test anxiety by keeping things in perspective. Remind yourself that tests are simply how teachers can evaluate what you know. The best form of test preparation is to keep up with homework and in-class work. What can you do to prepare your student for Common Core-aligned assessment tests? Here are a few suggestions: Talk with your childs teacher about how you can ease your childs transition to school work and tests under the Common Core State Standards. Continue to emphasize the importance of thinking criticallyan area of elevated importance under Common Core. Ask questions about what your child reads and learns. Encourage him or her to talk about how he or she feels about stories, current events and more. Have your child explain his or her thinkingin both math and reading. Embrace technology in your household. The new standards focus heavily on the skills needed by todays 21st-century digital learners and incorporate research and media skills into all content areas. As always, one of the best ways to help your child do his or her best on any exam is to equip him or her with good study skills and habits. It is also important that you stay apprised of the curricular changes that are happening in your childs classroom and understand how those may impact the tests that your child takes. Stay in touch with your childs teacher on the best ways for you to support your student in the era of Common Core.

Reviews, Interviews, and Grammar Checker Articles

Reviews, Interviews, and Grammar Checker Articles Here is a list of articles that were published recently about the Virtual Writing Tutor grammar checker: EFL Magazine  interview with Nicholas Walker  by Sharyn Collins 10 Reasons to Use a Grammar Checker with College Students  by Nicholas Walker  Teaching English to Intermediate and Advanced Learners on the English Learner Portal Using grammar checkers to provide written corrective feedback by Paul John, Nina Woll, Mariane Gazaille, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières; Walcir Cardoso, Concordia University (PDF) Teacherpreneur interview with Nicholas Walker ESL Teacher, Writer and Website Designer  by Patrice Palmer The Virtual Writing Tutor by Nicholas Walker Compare Virtual Writing Tutor vs. Reverso Perfect Your Writing: 5 Free Grammar Checkers Check Your Grammar With Virtual Writing Tutor What is the best grammar checker software/online for aspiring ESL writers? What is the best grammar checker software? Writing Analysis: online spelling and grammar checkers and text diagnostics Grammar and Punctuation for Academic Writing Guide: Free Online Grammar and Punctuation Checkers  by Charles Darwin Library Services 7 Best Free Online Punctuation Checker And Corrector Tools: Picked By A Freelance Writer  by C. Newcomer Best English Grammar Checkers Online ›› Grammar check your writings  on My  English Teacher Grammar Checker | Virtual Writing Tutor  on Union  County Technical-Vocational Schools 15 GREAT Grammar and Punctuation Checker Tools for Writers  on Proficient  Blogging Virtual Writing Tutor  on Edshelf How the Virtual Writing Tutor Can Provide a Better Writing Solution on Medium.com Grammar Checkers and Writing Aids  on Writers Write Virtual Writing Tutor A Trusted Grammar and Spelling Check Tool  on IBO Social Le Virtual Writing Tutor : un correcteur web adapté à l’anglais langue seconde par Nicholas Walker Présentation du Virtual Writing Tutor : un correcteur web adapté à langlais langue seconde   par Nicholas Walker  Addressing Mixed Levels in Courses with Information Technology by Norman Spatz Integrating Grammar Verification Technology into Your Classes webinar 10 Reasons to Use a Grammar Checker with College Students by Nicholas Walker Grammar Checker Tools Sent Back from the Future by Nicholas Walker Please follow and like us:

Top ten books for great half-term reading

Top ten books for great half-term reading Half-term gives kids a great chance to catch-up on some great, fun, reading time. And with these adventure-packed, hilarious and heart-warming books, we guarantee your child won't get bored this break. Keep their minds sharp and boost their English skills with some of these fabulous new releases: 1. The Racehorse Who Wouldn't Gallop by Clare Balding A classic, funny, animal story about 10-year-old Charlie Bass who is absolutely horse-mad. After her dreams come true and she buys a pony that she thinks is perfect, Charlie faces a major problem; her horse, Noble Warrior, won't gallop. With the family farm at risk of being repossessed and Darby Day just around the corner, Charlie is convinced that Noble Warrior can save the day. Can Charlie enlist the help of her family and help Noble Warrior overcome his nerves? 2. Clover Moon by Jacqueline Wilson Jacqueline Wilson's new book about Clover Moon, a bright, young heroine who's imagination is her escape from her hard life in Victorian London. Sad, moving, exciting, this book has everything and your children will struggle to put it down. A great read for ages 7-12. 3. The World's Worst Children by David Walliams For those who have yet to read this wonderfully funny and entertaining book about truly terrible children, then this half-term is the perfect opportunity. Get ready to meet five beastly boys and five gruesome girls including Dribbling Drew, Grubby Gertrude and Nigel Nit-Boy. An absolute must-read for all young readers who enjoy a good giggle. 4. Double Down (Diary of a Wimpy Kid book 11) by Jeff Kinney The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a best-selling series and for all those fans this read is an absolute must. Greg's mum is on his back about the amount of time he spends playing video games. With Halloween coming up, Greg discovers a bag of gummy worms and his mind goes into overdrive. Can Greg make a movie and become rich and famous getting his mum off his case in the process? Or will doubling down just double Greg's troubles? 5. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: The Original Screenplay by J.K.Rowling Author of the adored and internationally best-selling Harry Potter books, J.K. Rowling introduces this magnificent adventure-packed story about Newt Scamander, a Magizoologist who arrives in New York. When Newt loses his magical case and some of his unusual beasts escape, there is trouble for everyone. The film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will be released in theatres on 18th November. 6. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Illustrated Edition by J.K.Rowling, Jim Kay (illustrator) For those who want to revisit Harry Potter with the exceptionally beautiful illustrations by Jim Kay then this book is for you. Unforgettable characters, such as Dobby and Gilderoy Lockhart, and dark, intriguing themes this book is full of humour and magic. Now in year two at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft, Harry Potter and his friends seek out a legendary chamber and the deadly secret it hides. 7. DanTDM: Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal by Dan TDM and Daniel Middleton For all YouTube fans this graphic, adventure-filled novel sees Travarus and DanTDM embark on an exciting, yet dangerous adventure when a strange looking crystal plummets to earth and shatters into five pieces. When they recover one of the shards they quickly realise they hold an object that is far more powerful than they have ever known. Follow them on their quest to defeat evil. 8. Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven This heartbreaking and exhilarating love-story is a new best-seller and an absolute favourite half-term read. It tells the story of Libby Strout, the girl once dubbed 'America's fattest teen' and the girl with dreams and Jack Masselin, the charming, Mr.Popular who can't recognise faces. Their lives are pushed together when they both end up in group counselling and the more time they spend together, the less alone they begin to feel. 9. Nevernight by Jay Kristoff This fabulous YA book is based on the story of 16 year-old Mia Corvere who has been having lessons in death since the age of ten. Since the day Mia lost everything she made a promise to seek her revenge. But first she must be trained by the Red School; and Mia is no ordinary student. A wonderful story of a heroine in a dark, dangerous fantasy world. 10. Flawed by Cecelia Ahern 'Flawed' is a great novel about teenage life and trying to keep up with your peers. The story is about a young, beautiful model named Celestine. From a poster girl, Celestine's life is turned upside down after a moment of compassion sees her made an example of. A must read for all teenagers and a great thought-provoker.

Teaching in China with a family 6 questions to ask before accepting the job offer

Teaching in China with a family 6 questions to ask before accepting the job offer When Grace and I received our final contracts, there was a feeling of excitement that overcame both of us. Although we were making a huge, life-changing decision, many of our doubts had been put to rest as we had formulated a list of essential questions we wanted to answer before receiving our contracts. Although your circumstances might be different, I wanted to share the questions we came up with and how we ended up arriving at the answers. Catch up with Ryne’s teach abroad journey so far 1. Where do we want to live and how much do we want to save? I’ve discussed in my earlier blogs the importance of doing your research and picking the right country and region that fits your lifestyle. We chose China as the country that we wanted to work in as we appreciated the importance the country places on education, along with the many different travel opportunities that China opened up for our family. While travel and multicultural education for our kids were the driving forces behind our decision to teach overseas, Grace and I are also very fiscally conservative. We wanted to be sure we could save enough money while teaching abroad to give our family a financial head start on our return to the US in the future. When choosing the right school for us, we looked at whether the packages allowed to save one of our salaries. This was the case with the school we decided on, but I’m looking forward to reporting back once we have lived in China for a full year to see how much we have been able to save. 2. What does the healthcare plan look like? Since we have two young boys, it was important that whatever school we chose had solid health care and coverage available in their benefits package. We do plan on returning to the US each summer and through our research discovered that some school insurance plans only cover you in the country you work in. We chose a school that provides international coverage for our family, with health facilities located near the school. Since our boys are young, they’re also still receiving vaccines. This can be tricky when teaching overseas as sometimes you’ll need to have vaccines imported. Luckily, we’ve been able to plan with our current pediatrician to administer their vaccines over the summer, when we’re back in the US. 3. Who will watch the kids? Both of our boys are in daycare right now. As many of you know, the price tag for quality childcare can run pretty high. Depending on the school and country you’re thinking of teaching in, researching the childcare available is critical. One of the schools we looked at had free childcare at the school starting at six months, but other schools left it up to the teacher to figure out childcare arrangements. The school we chose has a preschool program for Reed, our four-year-old, where he’ll get the opportunity to start a multicultural early education program. We will also get to walk to school with him and pick him up at the end of our day, which was a significant concern for us. We’re planning on hiring an “Ayi” for our one-year-old, which in Mandarin means aunt. Everett is too young for the preschool program but having an Ayi is very affordable compared to the childcare we are paying for in the US right now. 4. What will we do with the house? Some of you might be homeowners. Grace and I were when we decided to teach overseas. So, we needed to decide to either sell our house or rent it out. We signed our contracts in December and our departure date is at the end of July. Luckily for us, we had enough time and had decided to sell our house. The market for renting in our area was not worth the hassle for us to deal with renters while in another country. Sign up to Teach Away today for access to the latest teaching jobs around the world. We do have family in the area that are willing to host us in the summers when we come back, as well as before leaving in July, but had also considered renting a smaller apartment before leaving. We decided not to wait until spring or summer to sell our house. We didn’t want to add the stress of moving house to the laundry list of things that needed doing before departing for China in July. We put our house on the market at the end of January and it sold within a week! We moved out at the end of February and luckily have been staying with family and saving a lot of money before we leave to go overseas ever since. 5. What would we do with larger possessions and furniture? Deciding to sell our house was a big decision but choosing what to do with all the stuff in our house was a whole other decision in itself. At first, we thought it might be easier just to have an estate sale and sell everything. But when breaking down the cost of buying all new furniture/appliances on our return from China, we felt that keeping them in a storage unit was the way to go. Due to our first contract being two years, our storage facility would only run us about $1,000 USD per year. However, we’ve agreed to readdress the issue when we complete our initial contracts because the cost of storing our furniture may become prohibitive if we decide to stay abroad for a longer period. 6. How will our retirement be impacted? As Grace and I have been paying into our state retirement funds, we were concerned with how our departure could impact this. I highly recommend looking at your local state retirement agencies as every state is different. When doing our research, we discovered that we were allowed to leave our retirement funds in the system until our return from teaching abroad. However, if the criteria changes, there’s a chance that when we return the amount our employer must match could decrease, meaning we would continue to pay into our retirement, but at whatever rate current teachers get. For now, we’re planning on increasing the amount we pay into our own private Roth IRAs as a way to continue saving for retirement. Many international schools have retirement plans, but they may not start until the end of your first contract. The school working at will provide a retirement plan after the first year of teaching. 7. What subjects are we willing to teach? Grace and I received offers from multiple schools at the Teach Away job fair, but this was one area we used as a dealbreaker when comparing numerous offers. I’m qualified to teach chemistry and biology and Grace specializes in special education and elementary. When evaluating our offers, we chose the school that provided us an opportunity to teach in one of our content areas. Grace will be working in special education, and I will be teaching AP chemistry. So there you have it - the burning questions that we had to answer before deciding to teach abroad. Hopefully, there have been some points that you might not have considered to help you in your decision to take the leap and teach abroad, too!