Ridglea Music

Philippe Bertaud - How to play fast scales

2010-08-05T05:24:00.000-07:00

Alhambra 3C

2010-07-28T05:16:00.001-07:00

Hand-crafted in Spain, with a solid red Cedar top, laminated mahogany sides and back, mahogany neck, Indian Rosewood fingerboard, and nickel plated heads.

Newly designed with – like all Alhambras – great attention to details!

You enjoy two borders of tropical wood, black inlay between border and a beautiful light wood headstock.

3 layers of varnish make this guitar looking so good — unbeliveable for the price!!!

What makes Alhambra guitars alluring is that their native sound so effortlessly captures the evocative, romantic, and proud spirit of the music of Spain. The Alhambra sound is earthy, full, warm, direct and full of character and personality. It is a voice that gives authentic expression to the charm and passion indigenous to the music of its homelandMellow sound, fun to strum, easy differentiation between strings when finger-picking; you even can flat-picking “a la Willie Nelson”!

A loud and clear sound strikes you, along with a much larger range of tonal possiblities than any competitiors’ model.

Free Basic Shipping

Contact us to buy it at great discounted price!

Guitar Lesson: Learn the Fretboard

2010-07-25T06:36:00.000-07:00

In this lesson I will do my very best to help you understand and navigate the guitar fret board in a more efficient way so that you will be able to play anywhere on the neck and improvise in any key. With this approach you will gain the freedom of expression and ability to create those original solos that you've been dying to come up with.

It can be really frustrating when you get stuck in one position on the neck of the guitar; this usually leads you to come up with a small amount of ideas with your playing. I know exactly how you feel as I used to be in this exact situation for a long time. I found the way to overcome this problem was through learning all seven major modal positions on the fret board based on 3 note per string patterns. After getting these modal positions and shapes down I set out to find as many ways of linking them together as I possibly could!

I use this strategy all the time in my own playing and have a large number of students that can confirm that this strategy works well. So if you're the kind of person that wants to play the guitar using theory to make music instead of studying the subject in books, read on!
So have a look at how the approach works:

Step one: Learn all of the modal shapes.

If you know all seven modes using the 3 note per strings patterns, you can skip this step

If you are not familiar with these shapes invest your time into memorizing all of the shapes – I promise to you that this is not so difficult and worth every minute of the practice time you dedicate into learning them. Many guitar players struggle to appreciate the power of modes due to lack of strategy to integrate them together into one logical shape. While improvising these people tend to stay within one particular mode position and if they attempt to change to another mode it usually happens by starting from the root note of the new mode position. This makes the transition from one mode to another very unnatural. The strategies given in this lesson are very straightforward and I promise that you can apply them right away.

Step two: Learning the Diagonal approach.

For this approach you will need to learn how to find octaves on the guitar. Refer to the diagram below to see the shapes for finding octaves. Let's say you are on the 5th fret of the E6 string (the note 'A'), if you look diagonally to the 7th fret of the D4 String you will find your 'A 'note one octave higher. Now look diagonally at the 10th fret of the B2 String that is your 'A' note an octave higher from the previous 'A' on the 7th fret of the D4 string.

Step three: Sequencing the modes

Look at the diagram below. What this shows is six notes on two adjacent strings repeated in three different octaves. Each octave for the sake of navigation belongs to a different mode position. To explain further the first six notes start in the Aeolian mode position, then the same 6 notes but an octave higher belong to the Locrian mode position and finally the last six notes belong to the Ionian mode position.

(The numbers inside the red dots refer to the fingers used to fret the notes).

Now let's take look at the tab below and explore how to play these patterns:

I have included below some easy but very powerful scale sequences to make things more interesting to play and listen to. I am sure that you will have a lot of fun playing them once you speed them up a bit! For the first sequence repeat the pattern on each string twice.

This sequence sounds very in keeping with neoclassical music and fun to play if you appreciate players like Yngwie Malmsteen or Paul Gilbert.

With this next sequence play the initial six notes of the first mode, then play the last three notes of the first mode together with the first two notes of the new one. To explain further I constantly repeat the same six notes in different variations in 3 different octaves. Keep in mind that I'm using the names of modes purely for the purpose of navigation, so whenever I name each mode please be aware that I'm using the names of each mode to simplify the position changes on the fret board. Each mode linked like this all belong to the same scale using this approach and is much more memorable than simply naming them ‘position 1 – 7'. Here's the sequence:

Step four: Linear playing

Another way of navigating the fret board is to link the modes in a linear fashion (along the fret board). To do this we will be moving from one shape to another in a linear pattern as opposed to the more well known and far more commonly used vertical technique (across the fret board where we play through strings 1 to 6 within a few frets).

This linear way of playing means that we are moving through the mode positions along the fret board instead of going across it. Thanks to this approach we can come up with some really interesting licks or phrases that will sound a little bit different to your usual scale sequences. This approach was used extensively by Yngwie Malmsteen and Paul Gilbert in mid 80's. Soloing in this linear way can grab the attention and more interestingly keep your audience interested for much longer. This is because you don't stay in one position of the neck keeping repetition to a minimum and it also physically looks more impressive. Also you don't start playing from the 6th string root note of each mode, which makes your runs more seamless, interesting and less predictable.

This is also great tool to build some tension in your music. The most basic form of soloing using the linear approach is simply playing the modes on one string. However we will focus here on playing the modes using pairs of strings for the simple reason of creating more interesting lines.

Using the diagram below look at how our modal positions link up on the fret board using the first 2 string on the guitar. I have taken all seven of the Major modes positions and highlighted each of them with a different colour. Keep in mind they are part of the same mode we are playing in but the interlocking shapes are just an extension of this initial mode through all of the various mode positions. I have pointed out the root note of the initial mode within each shape but keep in mind this is not the root note of each of mode but the root note of the initial mode. This is very important!

Here are some sequence ideas that can be applied to this way of thinking about the fretboard using a linear approach using pairs of strings:

Now we have looked at these patterns let's make things a bit more complicated for fun! Find below that each first note is accented. This will help train your timing as well as your fret board visualization.

I sincerely hope that you will find the content of this article useful and can integrate everything that you have found here into your playing. Have fun with exploring the possibilities of navigating the fret board with these new approaches and rip up that fret board!

I sincerely hope that you will find the content of this article useful and can integrate everything that you have found here into your playing. Have fun with exploring the possibilities of navigating the fret board with these new approaches and rip up that fret board!

Guitar Lessons in Fort Worth - Guitar Lessons in Mansfield

Alhambra 4P, the best selling Alhambra

2010-07-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

Alhambra 4-P Classical Guitar

Here is the best selling Alhambra.
4 layers of light varnish highlight the solid Red Western Cedar top and a gorgeous one-sided Rosewood laminate on back and side.
The fingerboard is made of gorgeous Ebony!
You notice the Machine heads (aka tuning keys, tuners) are superior quality. They allow you smooth and precise tuning.
Ebony knobs… wow… Really high class!

The soundboard – major influence on the guitar’s sound – consists of a thin piece of softwood that is supported by 7 braces like the Iberia.
2 harmonic bars at the bottom will enhance a full-bodied, warm and rich sound.
The important qualities of such woods include a close grain count and high stiffness to mass ratio (allows maximum output for the minimum input), resilience, light weight and resonance.
Beautifully hand-crafted in Spain with a lashy handmade inlaid wood Rosette proves all the attention from the Alhambra Guitar Makers.

Features:
Top: Solid Red Cedar
Back/Sides: Laminated Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony
Tuners: Gold Plated

Buy it Online, 10% discount, Free Shipping, 3 Years Full Warranty!

Guitar Lessons in Fort Worth!

2010-07-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

Ridglea Music has closed on June 30th.
But... You still can take guitar lessons in Fort Worth!

How to restring your guitar
July 4th, 2010 Author: admin Edit

Playing internationally for more than 20 years, fromCarnegie Hall to Montreal Jazz Festival, I will share with you theexperience of a real professional.
Guitar Lessons are tailored to YOUR needs.I will design your personal curriculum, based on songs, music, you dream toplay.
You will learn music theory as you go, pick up a music byear, improvise your own solo… and much more…
Contact:EmailContact
Cell : 682-553-1028
Philippe’s Website:http://www.philippebertaud.com/
“My guitar just WON’T stay in TUNE”!! One of the MOST common complaints heard, is that a guitar will NOT stay in tune.But, the reason can be found in it’s CAUSE. 9 times out of 10, it originates in HOW the STRINGS are put on the guitar. LEARN how to re-string your guitar, with… a self-locking method, and say ‘bye-bye’ to your tuning woes !!!

Guitar Lessons in Mansfield

SHEET MUSIC SALE!!

2010-05-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

We are offering a 15% discount on all in-stock sheet music March 3, 2009 - March 14, 2009. There are over a million titles in the store and every one is on sale! The sale does not apply to special orders or download music.

The New Website Online

2010-04-03T04:01:00.000-07:00

Our new website is online!

Some of the new features are going to include links to our new Facebook page as well as to ridgleamusic.blogspot.com.

Discover the teacher pages.
We have asked our teachers to give us short bios, photos, and links to see them in action on stage or in concert.

You can follow us on Twitter and stay tuned to know about special offers and promotion.
We hope to see you at the store soon!
New Location:

Ridglea Music

Our business hours are from 10 AM to 7 PM
Monday through Friday and 10 AM to 6 PM Friday and Saturday.3345 Winthrop Avenue

Fort Worth, TX 76116-5604

New Website Coming

2010-01-06T12:42:00.000-08:00

We are very excited about the launch of our new website. Some of the new features are going to include links to our new Facebook page as well as to ridgleamusic.blogspot.com. Another feature will be the teacher pages. We have asked our teachers to give us short bios, photos, and links to see them in action on stage or in concert. We can't wait to hear what you have to say about the new website, but more than that, we want to see you at the store!!!

Joe Fritz at Ridglea Music

2009-11-30T09:39:00.000-08:00

One of the questions I am asked most often is “What instrument do you play?”

The answer is I have played several instruments. I studied piano at a young age in the shadow of my older brother and sister. In 5th grade, I started playing alto sax in band and by 7th grade, I was playing tenor sax. When the band director made the announcement that he needed more low brass players, I volunteered to try my hand playing baritone and found that my piano experience really helped and allowed me to switch to the bass clef instruments. When I got to high school, I wanted to be in the jazz band but they did not need any more saxophone players and would not allow a euphonium or baritone in the trombone section, so I learned how to “play” trombone.

All through school, I was allowed to be involved with both band and choir and enjoyed being in the concert choir, swing choir and performing in several school musicals. Throughout junior high and high school, I was able to participate in honor choirs and honor bands as well as in Missouri All State Solo and Ensemble competitions. In my senior year, I had the most success at Solo and Ensemble by bringing home 1st divisions in five events, including vocal solo. In college I participated in the touring Chorale, Marching Band, and Symphonic Band and ended up getting a Bachelor of Music in voice.

New Location for Better Service!

2009-11-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

After years of serving the community at 6323 Camp Bowie, Ridglea Music moved to New Location for Better Service!
Visit the new store at:

3345 Winthrop Ave
Fort Worth, TX 76116-5604
(817) 731-1831

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Our team will be glad to assist you.

Music instruments and accessories.
You are looking for guitar, drums, band or orchestra instruments?
we offer many options and only the best brands.

Sheet Music
Regardless of the instrument and musical genre, Ridglea Music prides itself on its extensive sheet music selection.
Compilation books and individual song sheets, ranging from beginner to advanced levels of difficulty.

Music Lessons
Ridglea offers private instruction on piano, guitar, electric bass, drums, wind and orchestra instruments.
From beginner to advanced, and all styles from classical to jazz

Ridglea also performs instrument repairs.