# Supertonic School of Music

> Music Lessons in Franklin TN


## Posts

- [Beginner Guitar Player Dead Ends](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/beginner-guitar-player-dead-ends/): Beginner Guitar Player Dead Ends Just wanted to make a short post about what I see in beginner guitar players. Specifically beginner guitar player dead ends which prevent them from moving forward.  This is not what beginner guitar players think. Over even what experienced guitar players often think. I’ll explain.  Beginners hit these roadblocks or dead ends because they don’t know they exist or aren’t seeing themselves falling into this trap.  Experienced guitar players somehow didn’t get caught in this trap, so they don’t realize it exists. When a beginner is talking with an experienced player and is stuck at […]
- [Play Guitar Without Looking](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/play-guitar-without-looking/): Play Guitar Without Looking Does your head whip back and forth between looking at your right hand, then looking at the left, then up at the piece of music you working on and then back again? Everybody wants to become free of having to rely on their eyes so that they can focus on the music they are learning but when does that happen? How long will it take? In this article, you will find help on how to break free of this. You are a beginner, remember to relax and remind yourself that everybody starts here. There is a […]
- [Learning Guitar On Youtube](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/learning-guitar-on-youtube/): Is learning guitar on YouTube a good idea? YouTube as a free video platform offers many opportunities to improve your guitar playing. Therefore, in this article we want to shed light on the advantages and pitfalls of learning to play the guitar with YouTube. Let’s start with the biggest plus. As long as there is an internet connection, YouTube does not cost any money. This enables the consumption of many different videos for learning guitar without financial restrictions. Why Technique Matters For All Guitarists, Whatever Your Style YouTube also allows videos to be played at slower speeds and even frame-by-frame. […]
- [4 Question You Need to Ask Guitar Teacher](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/four-questions-you-need-to-ask-a-guitar-teacher-before-studying-with-them/): Four Questions You Need to Ask a Guitar Teacher Before Studying With Them Finding a great guitar teacher will help you learn faster, reduce your frustration, and make learning to play more fun. Unfortunately, many teachers are not very effective. Studying with an ineffective teacher will slow your progress and potentially make learning the guitar seem like a chore. Here are four questions you need to ask to avoid working with a lousy teacher. How Will You Teach Me? Many inefficient teachers will start to answer this question right away without asking you questions first. These teachers tend to teach […]
- [Creating An Effective Warm Up Routine](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/creating-an-effective-warm-up-routine/): Creating An Effective Warm Up Routine Warming up before playing is a crucial part of your long-term progress as a guitar player. One of the benefits is that you prime your fingers to make the most efficient motions and use the minimum amount of pressure each time before playing. In the long-term, you drastically lower the risk of developing any physical injury to your hands.  However, a common mistake amongst many players is that their warm up routine isn’t as effective as it should be. Instead, many players just go through a series of already familiar motions during their warm […]
- [Why Technique Matters For All Guitarists](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/why-technique-matters-for-all-guitarists-whatever-your-style/): Why Technique Matters For All Guitarists, Whatever Your Style What is guitar technique and why does it matter?  The point of having good technique on guitar is to have the freedom to express what you hear in your head.. So that if you hear a fast flurry of notes, when you have developed your technical skill, you can make that flurry happen, or if you hear a smooth line of melody with a haunting bent note, you bend just the right amount to make that exact sound that you’re hearing. There are some false beliefs that can be bandied around […]
- [How To Avoid Going Down The Rabbit Hole](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-avoid-going-down-the-rabbit-hole/): How to Avoid Going Down the Wrong Rabbit Hole When It comes to learning guitar  How long have you been learning guitar for?  Are you getting stuck with your guitar playing?  Do you read information and feel like you are being dragged down with information that you don’t understand?  Do you find conflicting information regarding topics and don’t know how to figure what’s right and wrong?  How To Spice Up Your Blues Guitar Playing With Turnarounds The Rabbit Hole of Guitar Playing  If it very easy to chase the rabbit down the wrong hole.  Playing guitar is awesome. It’s so […]
- [The Ultimate Method To Play The Guitar](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/the-ultimate-practice-method-in-learning-to-play-the-guitar-with-a-strap/): The Ultimate Practice Method In Learning To Play The Guitar With A Strap In the attempt of becoming a more complete guitar player, many things can totally wreck your growth when you’re not aware of it. One of the crucial things to get right is the ability to transition from bedroom guitarist to being able to start playing with other guitarists and musicians in general. I’ve worked out a proven strategy that will help you with realizing that without this you won’t grow to the next level. It’s an often neglected area of your development as a guitarist, but so […]
- [The #1 Trick That Drastically Improves Lead Playing](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/improves-lead-playing/): The #1 Trick That Drastically Improved My Lead Playing Regardless of your preferred genre, chances are you’ve imagined yourself playing an amazing solo or melody line at some point! I mean, come on, playing solos on the guitar is totally awesome and a lot of fun, so why wouldn’t you? There’s only one problem. Every solo you play sounds the same, and no matter how many new licks you learn off of YouTube you can’t seem to shake the habit of going back to the same old things. Why And How To Use A Metronome Luckily for you, I know […]
- [How To Write Your Own Songs, Not Advanced](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-write-your-own-songs/): How To Get Started With Writing Your Own Songs Even If You Are Not Advanced Most people think that you have to be really amazing to write your own songs. You hear things like “you have to have natural talent” or “you either have it or you don’t” which isn’t surprising since there are even a lot of guitar teachers out there who say “writing songs can’t be taught or learned”.  Or some may know that is possible but they just have no idea where to start. After that they think they do not know enough and therefore have to […]
- [3 Major Mistakes Of Beginners](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/major-guitar-mistakes/): The 3 Major Mistakes of Beginners When you start out learning how to play the guitar, most of the students do not know, what they have to focus on in order to get maximum results in the shortest amount of time. One simply does not know what the consequences of bad habits are. After time, we develop more experience and most of us think: „If I had learned this properly right from the beginning, that would have saved me a lot of work and frustrations“. In order to avoid such an scenario, I am going to show you the 3 […]
- [How To Create A Groove Using Harmonized Scales](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/harmonized-scales/): How to Create a Groove Using Harmonized Scales Introduction Many times in lessons, I create a groove for students (using a looper or midi-generating pedal or software) on the fly for them to solo over or practice switching chords with.  The advantages of doing this as opposed to using pre-made backing tracks (on Youtube, for example) are: How To Avoid Going Down The Rabbit Hole The tempo is exactly suited for whatever they are working on, be it certain picking techniques, chord switching, etc. The chords and key are exactly tailored to whatever the context is in class The loop […]
- [Comparing How Amateurs And Professionals Jam](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/comparing-how-amateurs-and-professionals-jam/): Comparing How Amateurs and Professionals Jam Because of the unpredictable nature of a jam session, each participant’s musicianship really comes to the fore in many ways.  I have run many jam sessions that were open to the public over the years, and I offer this, not as a be-all end-all guide to jamming, but as a flashlight whereby musicians can become aware of certain elements that can make playing with other people a lot more fun for yourself and for everyone involved. The Ultimate Practice Method In Learning To Play The Guitar With A Strap Professionals listen A pro musician […]
- [Guitar Playing With Turnarounds #1 Guide](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-spice-up-your-blues-guitar-playing-with-turnarounds/): How To Spice Up Your Blues Guitar Playing With Turnarounds Blues is a great style to jam with other guitar players and musicians. It doesn’t matter if you consider yourself to be a blues player or not, with just a little knowledge and know how, you can easily find your way around in a blues jam. As your skills improve, you will be able to do more, but starting out by simply strumming some basic chords across what is known as a 12 bar blues, the most common form of the blues, is enough to jam out with any musician […]
- [Your vibratos aren't sounding great](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/reasons-why-your-vibratos-arent-sounding-as-great-as-they-could-be/): Reasons why your vibratos aren’t sounding as great as they could be  A quick introduction for beginner guitar players A vibrato for anyone who doesn’t know. Is a phrasing technique to make a note on your guitar sound super awesome. Well, it does sound super awesome when you do it well. And can really make a big difference to whether you sound a beginner, intermediate or advanced guitar player.  This technique used for many other instruments, and involves a note being made to “vibrate” back and forth.  The ways you can do it on the guitar involve whether bending a […]
- [Why you should NOT quit guitar lessons](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/why-you-should-not-quit-guitar-lessons-when-your-life-gets-stressful/): Why you should NOT quit guitar lessons when your life gets stressful Every guitar teacher knows that guitar lessons are often the first thing that students give up on when their life gets more stressful due to school or work demands, while other activities such as various sports are often kept up. This is a bad choice, because learning an instrument has an almost unparalleled list of benefits that transfer to almost all other areas of your life outside of music. So it would be a far better choice to reduce social media or other activities while keeping up your […]
- [2 Simple Ways To Get Creative With Your Open Chords](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/open-chords-simple-ways/): 2 Simple Ways To Get Creative With Your Open Chords A common trend I see in lots of guitar players as they start out, is that once they’ve learned their open chords, they get bored and want to move onto something else (learn new chords in other positions on the neck, do some lead guitar, etc.) and generally want to move away from playing their open chords all the time. Creating An Effective Warm Up Routine I get that if it’s one’s goal to be a killer shred guitar player, then you obviously don’t want to be stuck playing open […]
- [Encourage your child to practice guitar](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/why-are-you-struggling-to-encourage-your-child-to-practise-guitar-when-there-are-video-games-around/): Why are you struggling to encourage your child to practice guitar when there are video games around?  A lot of parents express to us that they are struggling with their child practicing guitar because they always want to play their video games.  They are also very lovely parents who feel bad when they take games away from their children.  While there are other reasons that having boundaries are good for young children. I’m here to talk about why video games themselves specifically are so addictive for children. And why you shouldn’t feel bad that you have to be the one […]
- [Easy Ways To Create Your Own Chord Progressions](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/create-your-own-chord-progressions/): Easy ways to create your own chord progressions When you start learning guitar, most of the times you begin with learning some basic open major, minor or 7th chords. After a while, you expand your chord vocabulary to some advanced or suspended chords by learning from either chord progressions created by your teacher or that are part of the songs you like.  Creating An Effective Warm Up Routine However, It’s often challenging for beginner to intermediate guitar players to create their own chord progressions, and even when you attempt to create chord progressions, you tend to run out of ideas […]
- [How I Climbed Mount Everest](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-i-climbed-mount-everest/): How I climbed Mount Everest… Imagine this – you’re at the base of Mount Everest. You’ve got all your hiking gear on and you’re ready to climb.  Now just the idea of climbing this mounting can seem pretty like a daunting task. I mean… that’s a lot to climb! Where do you even start? Should I get someone to help me train for this? Am I going to survive this journey? How long will it take to be able to achieve it?  This is how most people think and feel about guitar playing. We all have dreams and ambitions but […]
- [2 Critical Ear Training Exercises You Must Master](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/ear-training-exercises-you-must-master/): Two critical ear training exercises you must master It is very obvious that having a good ear is important for all musicians, but it is especially important for guitarists to consciously train and focus on this. As guitar players we don’t get any automatic help in ear training from our instrument. Pianists always get aural feedback while playing as they play melody and chords together. This forces them to listen to their playing and automatically train their ears. As guitarists we don’t have that luxury. We also have the “disadvantages” of the fretted instrument. This means that we don’t have […]
- [3 Reasons You Are Not Likely To Blame](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/3-reasons-you-are-not-likely-to-blame-for-not-being-able-to-play-guitar-yet/): 3 Reasons Why You Are Not Likely To Blame For Not Being Able To Learn To Play Guitar Yet So, you have tried to learn how to play guitar already and it did not go well. Guess what? You are not alone. The reality is that most people who pick up a guitar to learn how to play it end up quitting. Some of them because they really did not give it their best effort, some because of circumstances. How to Avoid Going Down the Wrong Rabbit Hole When It comes to learning guitar Fact is the majority quit because […]
- [Why You Should Understand The Fundamentals](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/why-you-should-understand-the-fundamentals/): More Than A Theory: Why You Should Understand Music Fundamentals On Guitar Over the years of my playing guitar and taking guitar lessons, I have noticed that many guitarists tend to not learn basic fundamentals of music which is a shame since just understanding a few basics can easily solve many problems that guitar players face on a regular basis. The problem is that many guitarists just assume that theory isn’t needed and continue to struggle with not knowing how to fix simple issues. The following addresses some common occurrences and how to remedy them. 3 Benefits Of Learning Music […]
- [5 Reasons Your Guitar Doesn't Sound Good](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/5-reasons-why-your-guitar-playing-doesnt-sound-good-yet/): 5 Reasons Why Your Guitar Playing Doesn’t Sound Good Yet A time comes, in the course of learning the guitar, where the student feels like he can play songs, riffs, licks and solos but for some reason, they don’t seem to sound good. How To Get Started With Writing Your Own Songs Even If You Are Not Advanced Where he knows he’s hitting the right notes, but for some reason he couldn’t really put a finger on, the music just doesn’t sound right. The following are some of the most common reasons why your guitar playing doesn’t sound right, even […]
- [3 Benefits Of Learning Music Theory](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/3-benefits-of-learning-music-theory/): Three Benefits Of Learning Music Theory There are many guitar players who try to learn independently (without guitar lessons or a teacher) and for some reason take pride in it. Some of these people believe that doing so will create a unique sound for themselves, something that nobody can teach. While this could possibly happen by accident, almost always gaps are left in the web of knowledge as they try to progress to more advanced levels of guitar playing. Unfortunately the biggest gap I have found in these guitarist players is their knowledge of music theory. Here are three areas […]
- [Beware Of Trojan Horses](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/beware-of-trojan-horses/): Beware of Trojan Horses I don’t mean computer viruses here, nor literal wooden horses delivered unexpectedly to your door. ‘Trojan horse’ in this case is a metaphor for ‘things which you think are good for you but are actually bad.’ 3 Reasons You Want To Play Guitar With Other People Modern society constantly bombards us with marketing and cultural messages. If we are not careful, our world view can very quickly end up being ‘hijacked’ by external forces. How can our mind get hijacked, you might ask? It’s quite simple really: We get used to accepting that certain beliefs or […]
- [Finger Strengthening Exercises | You need to Know](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/finger-strengthening-exercises/): Finger Strengthening Exercises Do you spend hours working on finger strengthening exercises but still struggle to make your playing sound musical? Have you bought a grip strength builder only to find it had no effect on your playing whatsoever? Chances are you’ve bought into the myth of requiring immense finger strength in order to play guitar. If you want to stop wasting time on pointless exercises and learn how to better direct your practice to help you improve then keep reading. The #1 Trick That Drastically Improved My Lead Playing “If only my hands were stronger” is a phrase I’ve […]
- [The Top 5 Reasons People Avoid Learning Guitar](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/the-top-5-reasons-people-avoid-learning-guitar/): The Top 5 Reasons People Give To Avoid Learning to Play Guitar  One of the coolest parts of being a guitar teacher is getting the opportunity to meet and talk with people. These people come from all walks of life and have different likes and dislikes. One of the things I’ve noticed that people have in common is their reasons for not wanting to do something. In this case it would be learning to play guitar.  This purpose of article is to look at the reasons people give for not wanting to learn to play guitar. If you have thought […]
- [What To Do When Practicing Guitar Becomes Stale](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/what-to-do-when-practicing-guitar-becomes-stale/): What To Do When Practicing Guitar Becomes Stale (PT 2 Inner Turmoil): There are many reasons why your practicing might become stale as a guitar player and so, as a teacher I think it’s important to discuss why your practicing has gone stale and how to give it some new juice and life. If you do it right you should never be stale for long. This is article 2 of my, what to do when practicing guitar becomes stale series. This article will be focused on the inner turmoil aspect of guitar. If you can master the mental world, you […]
- [5 Reason People Give To Avoid Learn Guitar](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/the-top-5-reasons-people-give-to-avoid-learning-to-play-guitar/): The Top 5 Reasons People Give To Avoid Learning to Play Guitar  One of the coolest parts of being a guitar teacher is getting the opportunity to meet and talk with people. These people come from all walks of life and have different likes and dislikes. One of the things I’ve noticed that people have in common is their reasons for not wanting to do something. In this case it would be learning to play guitar.  This purpose of article is to look at the reasons people give for not wanting to learn to play guitar. If you have thought […]
- [Benefits Of Exams For Guitarists](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/benefits-of-exams-for-guitarists/): Benefits Of Exams For Guitarists For a lot of guitarists, taking an exam to evaluate their musical ability can be a daunting prospect. After all, many of us opted to pick up the guitar strictly for enjoyment, and some may fear that undertaking an exam could seemingly turn a fun pastime and expressive outlet into a chore. Still others may look at prominent self-taught musicians, and wonder if a graded exam might stifle their creativity or compromise their own artistic individuality. For those who might be on the fence about taking an exam themselves, or having their children enter exams, […]
- [The Lick Problem](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/the-lick-problem/): Here Is Why You Will Always Run Out Of Licks Are you familiar with the following scenario? You sit at home and study a whole bunch of licks by your favorite guitar player. You’re looking forward to your next band practice to jam with the guys and fire off all the new licks you have learned.  Next band practice arrives, and it’s your time to solo. You bang out all the new licks you have learned, and suddenly you run out of licks to play in the middle of your solo. You start sweating and start playing the licks again, […]
- [Is It Hard To Learn The Guitar?](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/is-it-hard-to-learn-the-guitar/): Is It Hard To Learn The Guitar? Learning the guitar is a long term process.  You cannot binge practice for a month and become a great guitar player.   You need to practice regularly for a long period of time to reach advanced levels of guitar playing. But is it hard? Like algebra? It can be hard if you just practice random things from the Internet without having clear goals and a plan how to achieve them. But it shouldn’t be if you practice the right way, the right things, and in the right order. In this article I will […]
- [3 Reasons You Want To Play Guitar With Other People](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/reasons-play-guitar-with-other-people/): 3 Reasons You Want To Play Guitar With Other People by Maurice Richard It’s pretty intimidating right? You have seen others play together in a group at a campfire or party before. You saw how much fun they were having and you want that too. But your skills are not as good as theirs, you will probably mess up and make mistakes. The last thing you want to do is embarrass yourself. Here are 3 reasons why you should really find a way to play guitar with other people so you can be ready when the campfire happens. 1. It’s […]
- [Parent Support Childs Development On Guitar](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/what-parents-can-do-to-support-their-childs-development-on-guitar/): What Parents Can Do To Support Their Child’s Development On Guitar As a guitar teacher and trainer I teach a lot of kids how to play the guitar. One of the most most important things, in this process is actually not me teaching the kid, but me educating the parents on how to make learning the guitar easy and fun for their kids. Without the parents active participation and involvement the kids will never be really good on guitar. If you are the parent of a child who attends guitar lessons, adopting the right attitude can make a world of […]
- [Finding The Right Guitar Teacher For Your Child](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/guitar-teacher-for-your-child/): Finding The Right Guitar Teacher For Your Child After you’ve purchased the right guitar, the right accessories and an amp (the amp is not necessary to get started) you are going to need someone to teach your child how to play guitar. Without knowing what things to look for in a potential guitar teacher, you run the risk of choosing someone based on the wrong criteria. Here is a list of the right criteria to use when choosing a guitar teacher.  Why are you struggling to encourage your child to practise guitar when there are video games around? 1. Will […]
- [Music by Numbers](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/music-by-numbers/): Music by Numbers Do you want the holy grail of music?  I’ll tell you where it is, but remember, don’t look at it directly or you will turn to stone.  Of course I’m being facetious, but what I mean is, I can tell it to you in one sentence, but it can take years or decades to perfect.  The holy grail is when you a) conceive of a musical idea (or hear it played by someone else)  b) hear its intervallic relationship (by training your ears) and c) knowing where it is on your instrument.   This last step is […]
- [Up Your Creativity With String Skipping](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/up-your-creativity-with-string-skipping/): Up Your Creativity With String Skipping String skipping is one of those techniques that is quite difficult for a lot of people to do at first. On a technical side and the creative side. I won’t go deep into how to handle it on a technical level, but more about how to get creative with string skipping. A lot of people focus a lot of time on the technique of string skipping but they never work on being creative using this technique. This is why many guitarists find they can’t use the technique they have mastered in a musical context, […]
- [How To Work With Other Band Members](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-work-with-other-band-members/): How To Work With Other Band Members Like it or not, a band is a family of sorts, and like all families, a band comes with its own drama. This article will be about how to deal with any type of drama among the band members that may arise over time. Note that this comes from my own personal experience, and there are bound to be many other ways to deal with these potential situations. That being said, I’ve noticed typically that communication skills work in these situations as well. You must set expectations. This doesn’t mean that one person […]
- [Get Excited about Practicing Guitar Again](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/get-excited-about-practicing-guitar-again/): Get Excited about Practicing Guitar Again We all love guitar, but how come sometimes getting better at the guitar feels like such a struggle? We know we want to improve, but there are periods where it just doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. And sitting down to practice guitar feels more like a chore than a sense of relief.  Many people wish they can just magically start playing the guitar like their favorite artists without the hard work and diligence that goes into it.  And that’s it, without the hard work and diligence, being playing to play the guitar would […]
- [Catapult Your Guitar Playing This Year](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/catapult-your-guitar-playing-this-year/): Catapult Your Guitar Playing This Year The years always pass by more quickly than we would like.   Every new year is an exciting new time where many people make their new year’s resolutions in areas of their life such as work, health, hobbies etc… but here’s an interesting thought. How many of these dreams ever see the light of day? Unfortunately, very little.  Why is that? Why is it that some people achieve a lot with seemingly little effort, and others set out to achieve a dream but never obtain it? One reason is that they have no one […]
- [How To Practice Guitar For Maximum Effectiveness](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-practice-guitar-for-maximum-effectiveness/): How To Practice Guitar For Maximum Effectiveness by Tommaso Zillio What is the best way to improve your guitar playing and avoid frustration? There are few dos and a few don’ts you want to be aware of when you are practicing your instrument that will make everything easier for you. Here we go: Things that will make your practice easier: Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. The secret of speed is to learn everything slow and relaxed. If you can’t play it a a slow tempo, do not try to speed it up. Patience young grasshopper: soon you will […]
- [Learn To Sight Read Faster](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/learn-to-sight-read-faster/): 10 Key Principles to Help You Prepare To Learn to Sight Read Faster as a Seasoned Guitar Player If you would like to do certain things with your guitar, learning to sight read will be very helpful. Such as being a working musician, having to play with other instruments.  For most instances, as long as you are relatively comfortable with score, you can successfully communicate with other instrumentalists, vocalists, do song writing.  This article is for you if you want to become as sufficient at sight reading as you are reading a book.  Musical Score as a Language And that’s really […]
- [How to Develop Better Guitar Phrasing for Beginners](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/develop-better-guitar-phrasing-for-beginners/): How to Develop Better Guitar Phrasing for Beginners Guitar phrasing is a massive subject. I could probably write a whole book on the subject, but if you are a beginner, there are a couple steps you can take to work on your phrasing to become a better guitar player. Since this article is for beginners I will address some topics that many of you who are more intermediate may feel is below you. Keep reading and get beyond those feelings and you will learn some new ways to improve your phrasing as well. First let’s start with the definition of […]
- [Form: The Lesser Known Musical Element](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/form-the-lesser-known-musical-element/): Form: The Lesser Known Musical Element The big 3 when it comes to elements in music are melody, harmony, & rhythm. This article is about one of the other 4 elements that perhaps get less attention, and they are form, dynamics, timbre, and texture.  Today’s topic is on the musical element of form. How To Create A Groove Using Harmonized Scales Form is underestimated, both in songwriting and in improvising.  Having taught guitar soloing and songwriting for almost 2 decades, I can say that it is very common for students to suffer musically by not understanding the element of form, […]
- [How To Best Practice Guitar To Play](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-best-practice-guitar-to-play-the-way-youve-always-dreamed/): How To Best Practice Guitar To Play The Way You’ve Always Dreamed You’ve heard the saying “practice makes perfect”. This however is not entirely true. It assumes one will not only practice, but practice the correct way. It would be better to say “perfect practice makes perfect”. Simply picking up your guitar regularly to practice, while certainly good, won’t cut it. You need to be sure you are practicing in the very best, most effect ways when picking up your guitar each day. How exactly do you do this? I’m glad you asked, because that is the topic of this […]
- [3 Mistakes Of Beginner Guitarists](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/3-mistakes-of-beginner-guitarists/): 3 Mistakes Of Beginner Guitarists This article will cover the 3 mistakes of beginner guitarists. Most new guitar players do not know what they have to focus on in order to get maximum results in the shortest amount of time. One simply does not know what the consequences of bad habits are. After time, we develop more experience and most of us think: “If I had learned this properly right from the beginning, that would have saved me a lot of work and frustrations.” In order to avoid such an scenario, I am going to show you the 3 major […]
- [Why is Ear Training Important?](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/why-is-ear-training-important/): Why is Ear Training Important? When you first learn how to play the guitar, doing ear training may not seem that important. As your physical skill improves on the guitar, your ear will start to develop with it. Whether it’s your ability to pick out the separate guitar parts in a song to picking out the chord progressions. You can actively train on your ear training so that you can improve your guitar playing faster. How To Write Your Own Songs Even If You Are Not Advanced What benefits will you have as a guitar player by working on your […]
- [Achieve Hendrix Sounds With Blues Guitar](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/achieve-hendrix-sounds-blues-guitar-chord/): How To Achieve ‘Hendrix Sounds’ With Blues Guitar Chord Inversions This Will Open The Door To Play Blues Licks Like Jimi Hendrix By Antony Reynaert Knowing this concept and using it in your improvisations as a guitar player, will give you this overall bluesy Hendrix sound. Hendrix often uses this variation of the barre shaped major chord with some embellishments in songs. It’s important to understand this concept to bring your blues guitar playing to the next level. This concept I’m about to tell you is used in so much songs such as ‘Yellow Ledbetter’ from Pearl Jam or ‘Don’t […]
- [Getting Your Fret Hand In The Best Position](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/getting-your-fret-hand-in-the-best-position/): Getting Your Fret Hand In The Best Position By Paul Kleff Most beginning guitar players have difficulty learning to play chords on the guitar. It is important that you learn the basic open chord fingerings and become fluent at placing your hand into the chord shapes. Until you memorize the chord fingerings, you will not be able to practice getting them to sound good or work on building speed with your chord changes. The good news is that you do not need to memorize a large number of chord fingerings before you start to work on building your chord change […]
- [How To Clean Your Guitar To Stay Good](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-clean-your-guitar/): How To Clean Your Guitar So It Will Stay In Perfect Condition In this article I will tell you how to clean your guitar, so it will keep being in perfect condition for your performance. You want your guitar to sound the best it can and the first step to achieve this is to keep it it clean. How To Spice Up Your Blues Guitar Playing With Turnarounds A clean guitar not only looks beautiful, but more importantly, it prevents guitar from getting damaged and it prolongs its lifetime, sound, and performance. When it comes to a guitar body and […]
- [How to Kill Self-Doubt](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/kill-self-doubt/): How To Kill Self-Doubt Overcome Your Frustrations, Your Fears, And Every Obstacle That Holds You Back From Becoming the Musician You Want to Be. Self-doubt destroys motivation. It prevents people from reaching their full potential and when left unchecked, self-doubt leads people to give up on themselves and their musical dreams. You don’t have to let self-doubt win. There is a way to become the musician you want to be regardless of where you are now. There is a way to kill self-doubt right now. When you discover and implement the secret to overcome self-doubt, you will develop burning hot […]
- [3 Guitar Practice Myths That Slow Down Your Musical Progress](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/3-guitar-practice-myths-that-slow-down-your-musical-progress/): 3 Guitar Practice Myths That Slow Down Your Musical Progress By Mike Philippov To become a good guitar player quickly, you must make your guitar practice as effective as possible. Effective guitar practice is about: Knowing what to do to improve your guitar playing quickly Staying away from common guitar practice myths and mistakes that slow down your progress and make you frustrated. Avoid these guitar practice myths that slow down your progress: Myth #1. You Need A Lot Of Time To Practice To Become A Good Guitar Player. Reality: You can make a lot of progress even when your […]
- [How To Guarantee Results When Practicing Guitar](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-guarantee-results-when-practicing-guitar/): How To Guarantee Results When Practicing Guitar Disclaimer: only you are responsible for your results. I cannot guarantee anything. This approach is considered a way for you to guarantee and ensure your progress when practicing guitar. There is one very important LAW I want everyone to know about how to guarantee results when practicing guitar. It’s called Parkinson’s Law. I’m sure some of you have heard of it, but haven’t thought about it in regards to practicing. Parkinson’s Law states “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion”. The first time I heard this my jaw hit the floor. It […]
- [The Forgotten Force Invaluable To Improving Your Guitar Playing](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/the-forgotten-force-invaluable-to-improving-your-guitar-playing/): The Forgotten Force Invaluable To Improving Your Guitar Playing Do you remember what first got you interested in guitar? How about what first got you excited enough to buy a guitar and start investing the time into improving your guitar playing day after day? Was it a song you heard on the radio or when you saw your favorite band perform in concert? Dig into your memories. Find that moment or series of events that sparked the real and raw desire in your soul to want to be a musician and play guitar. Got it? Good. Now don’t forget it. […]
- [How To Make Practice Exciting Every Time You Pick Up The Guitar](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/make-practice-exciting-every-time-you-pick-up-the-guitar/): How To Make Practice Exciting Every Time You Pick Up The Guitar Have you ever struggled to do what you wanted to do, but couldn’t find the motivation to even pick up the guitar? Has practicing guitar begun to feel like a chore even though you knew you really wanted to practice? Have you ever felt like you just didn’t have it in you to actually reach your guitar playing goals because you doubted you ability to practice consistently? If you’re like me and everyone else who has ever played guitar, then you answered yes to all three of these questions. […]
- [How To Follow Through With Your Resolutions](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-follow-through-with-your-resolutions/): How To Follow Through With Your Resolutions Most people make resolutions for the new year, but they happen all throughout the year and should. The new year is only a number, but can still be pretty useful and motivating or demotivating. It’s very valuable to do a quick check in regularly and reassess what needs to be done to keep in line with your goals. One major problem with New Year’s resolutions is they only happen once a year. To reach your goals, it is important to review them not yearly, but daily. First, did you fulfill your resolutions or reach […]
- [Stay On Course With Your Guitar Playing](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/avoid-distractions-stay-course-guitar-playing/): How To Avoid Distractions And Stay On Course With Your Guitar Playing Do you find yourself jumping all over the internet trying to find solutions to your guitar playing problem. Or maybe you just search out new things to play all the time because you feel like it will make you sound awesome instantly? How about jumping from song to song without ever learning to play any one song all the way through? Most everyone has gone through this. I believe this article is very important and will help you because, becoming distracted it is such a major problem for most everyone. First […]
- [Choose a Style of Music to Play on Guitar](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/choose-style-music-play-guitar/): How and Why to Choose a Style of Music to Play on the Guitar This subject might be quickly dismissed by most, but it is more than essential to give some attention to. For many the style of music they want to play on guitar is simply what they like, but I have found this is often not the case. This is why I have decided to write on the subject. First we must define what style is. Every genre of music has its own specific corresponding guitar styles and techniques. Everyone has styles(genres) of music they listen to and […]
- [How To Improve Your Guitar Playing Right Now](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-improve-your-guitar-playing-right-now/): How To Improve Your Guitar Playing Right Now Do you wish you could be a better guitar player right now? Do you feel lost on how to improve your guitar playing? Have you felt overwhelmed by having so many things to practice? Every guitar player no matter how good would like to get better at playing guitar now. Keep reading to find out what is the best thing to do to become a better guitar player right now. The first thing you will need to do is determine what you want to do and be very specific. Write down everything that […]
- [3 Overlooked Things to Consider when Choosing a Guitar Teacher](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/3-overlooked-things-to-consider-when-choosing-a-guitar-teacher/): 3 Overlooked Things to Consider when Choosing a Guitar Teacher Lets first cover why you should have a guitar teacher Guitar is a complex instrument. Many people try to learn on their own. Most quit very quickly. Many of those who have quit could have be great, but they just didn’t know how. It’s very easy to quit when you are by yourself in anything. There is no accountably, no encouragement, no guidance, no example to look to for help. There are countless amounts of people who have guitars sitting around their house collecting dust. You may be one of […]
- [How To Tune Your Guitar](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/how-to-tune-your-guitar/): How To Tune Your Guitar Each string on your guitar has a letter name that it must be tuned to. They are as follows: This is a quick guide about how to tune your guitar.  To start you will need a tuner. The one on this page shows the strings and as you pass over them they will ring out. Try to match the note. This will take practice and patience, but doing it every day before you sit down to play will help your ear improve quickly. Be sure to continually pick the string you are tuning every few […]
- [Play Guitar For The Guitar Illiterate #1](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/where-to-begin-playing-guitar-for-the-guitar-illiterate-part-1/): Where To Begin: Playing Guitar For The Guitar Illiterate [Part 1] There is a uncomfortable feeling when first attempting anything you’ve never done. Playing guitar is not an exception. It’s not the easiest instrument to learn. Especially by yourself. The best route to venture down is to find a teacher who can walk you through the process. I wrote this article, so you can feel like you at least know something. It can be intimidating to ask, because no one wants to be a beginner. Asking is the best way to get the information you need and you have to […]
- [How To Deal With And Overcome Your Stage Fright](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/overcome-your-stage-fright/): How To Deal With And Overcome Your Stage Fright You know that feeling you get when you accomplish something. This feeling can be subtle or overwhelmingly awesome. Subtle when it applies to doing dishes, you’re glad they’re done and you don’t have to worry about it anymore…. until tomorrow. The feeling becomes awesome when it’s something significant that you worked hard on like an old car you’ve been restoring with for years and you can finally start it and take it for a drive without loud noises and smoke. There are also the average feelings of victory as well. When […]
- [Using An Electric Tuner; Step By Step Instructions](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/using-an-electric-tuner-step-by-step-instructions/): Using An Electric Tuner; Step By Step Instructions Playing guitar is a lot of fun. Like anything in the beginning it can be intimidating, especially if it isn’t in tune. You pick up the guitar and strum a chord and it causes you to cringe. You think you did something wrong. You double check to make sure you had your fingers in the right place and still it sounds bad. The logical conclusion is you a not good. An out of tune guitar will sound terrible no matter how good you are at playing it. Tuning a piano is a lot of work and requires hiring someone […]
- [The Secret to Playing Like a Master](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/the-secret-to-playing-like-a-master/): The Secret to Playing Like a Master The act of practicing or performing can be a very daunting thing. Most people refer to these as “playing” guitar, but it doesn’t feel like play when you’re all “worked up” about it. Do you feel stressed out when you think about practicing? Is it were a chore or some kind of mountain you don’t know how to climb? How about performing in front of people? Thinking and feeling like this isn’t going to let you have any fun. At first we are pretty excited about doing something. You go to a concert […]
- [2 Secret Keys to Improve Your Guitar Playing](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/2-secret-keys-to-improve-your-guitar-playing/): 2 Secret Keys to Improve Your Guitar Playing Like any instrument it takes lots of knowledge of the instrument. To truly improve your guitar playing it will take consistent practice and time to learn to apply what you’ve learned and lots of patience. This is common sense, but for many guitar players, there is a feeling that they are missing some kind of secret. Well, this is kind of true. Today we will look at two very important elements you will need to become a great guitar player. Whether it’s just to be able play what you want from home […]
- [4 Reasons Why You Are Not Growing As a Guitarist](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/4-reasons-why-you-are-not-growing-as-a-guitarist/): 4 Reasons Why You Are Not Growing As a Guitarist I’ve met many people who play guitar. Most are mediocre at best and are not growing as a guitarist. I don’t say this to knock them and feel better about myself. When I hear great guitarists I am challenged and inspired. This is an attitude that takes time to develop, because it’s natural to compare ourselves to each other and feel inadequate when there is someone better then us or feel superior when someone else isn’t as good. It’s a temptation that is almost impossible to avoid, but we have […]
- [Why And How To Use A Metronome](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/why-and-how-to-use-a-metronome/): Why And How To Use A Metronome Many new musicians aren’t fully aware of how to use a metronome. They are even less aware as to why they should use it. A metronome is a very useful tool to help you improve your rhythm on guitar. It is a time keeping device. You can set the tempo(how many BPM; beats per minute) and play along with it. It’s like a really simple drummer. Why you should NOT quit guitar lessons when your life gets stressful Practicing along with a metronome will instill into your playing a very strong sense of […]
- [Buying A Guitar - Tips For Beginners](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/buying-a-guitar-tips-for-beginners/): Buying A Guitar – Tips For Beginners Buying a guitar is always a challenge for anyone just starting to play guitar or who have an interest in starting. People ask me all the time about their guitar. If they don’t I know they are curious what I think. This is much better than assuming all the guitars are the same, but if you have no prior knowledge how would you know. Beginning to learn the guitar with a poor instrument is really, really frustrating and will not help in the learning process. It isn’t necessary to spend a lot of […]
- [Play Guitar For The Guitar Illiterate #2](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/where-to-begin-playing-guitar-for-the-guitar-illiterate-part-2/): Where To Begin: Playing Guitar For The Guitar Illiterate [Part 2] This is part 2 or this series, make sure to read the first article, Where To Begin: Playing Guitar For The Guitar Illiterate [Part 1], so you are a little familiarized with the instrument. It doesn’t matter if you have an electric or acoustic, both are quite suitable for you to start playing guitar. It doesn’t even matter if you have an electric without an amplifier. It still makes sound, just more quietly. Which if you’re a beginner might be preferable to whomever you live with, because you’ll be making […]

## Pages

- [Terms and Conditions](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/terms-and-conditions/): Lesson Terms & Conditions Electronic Payment Agreement (Note: Trial lessons are not enrollment and your payment information used for the trail lesson is NOT kept on file.) Once you do enroll, you consent to having a payment method on file and authorize monthly recurring electronic payments until you submit a withdrawal form. Tuition is auto-charged 15 days in advance the upcoming month. A $25 late fee applies if not paid within 5 days. We do not offer refunds for missed lessons. If a payment fails due to insufficient funds, we may retry the next day. You are responsible for updating […]
- [Jobs](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/jobs/): Receptionist/Administrative Assistant Position at Supertonic School of Music This job is for you if you can confidently say the following… “I love being the person who makes things feel welcoming and smooth. I like helping people and staying organized. I’m the kind of person who just gets things done—not for the spotlight, but because it feels good to keep things running well. I like having structure, but I need variety too. I’m people-oriented, but I also love the behind-the-scenes stuff. I’m not a performer, but I love being part of the show. I want to bring positive energy to a […]
- [Drum Lessons](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/drum-lessons/): Drum Lessons in Franklin TN Develop most excellent timing while having a most excellent time Kids to Adults Drum Lessons Opportunities to jam with others and perform It’s time to get your groove on Book Your Trail Lesson Thinking of playing the drums? At Supertonic School of Music, our drum lessons let you jump into the excitement of making music!Whether you’re tapping along to your favorite songs at home or picturing yourself rocking the stage, we’ve got lessons just for you.Escape from anxiety and stress while having fun and growing skills that will enhance, mental focus, creativity, and physical coordination. […]
- [Guitar Lessons](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/guitar-lessons/): Our comprehensive guitar lesson program covers all your needs to help you reach any guitar playing goal.  Supertonic was a guitar school for many years before growing into a music school. So our guitar roots run deep! Whether you are a parent looking for lessons for your child or an adult just getting started, or maybe you’ve been playing for years, we’ve got you.  From strumming songs by the campfire to shredding face melting solos, we are game to get you going. Click the button below for what you’re looking for.  5.0 of 5 based on 94 Google reviews Kids Guitar […]
- [Privacy Policy](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/privacy-policy/): Privacy Policy Last updated: October 21, 2025 Privacy Policy for Supertonic School of Music We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. Use of Information: We use your phone number to send SMS messages regarding your inquiry and customer care related topics We do not sell or share your information with third parties for marketing purposes. Opt-Out: Reply “STOP” to unsubscribe or “HELP” for assistance. Message Disclosures: Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Data Security: Your data is protected and retained only as needed. Interpretation and Definitions Interpretation The words of which the […]
- [Piano Lessons in Franklin TN](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/piano-lessons-in-franklin-tn/): Piano Lessons in Franklin TN At Supertonic School of Music, we believe that music is for everyone—whether you’re a child taking your first steps on the piano, a teen ready to explore independence through music, or an adult seeking a creative outlet.    Our programs are thoughtfully crafted to inspire students of all ages, blending fun, creativity, and personalized instruction. Join us on a journey where music becomes more than notes—it becomes a way to tell stories, express emotions, and unlock your full potential. Explore what we offer for every age group and find the perfect fit for your musical […]
- [Student Concert](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/student-concert/): BE A PART OF THE SUPERTONIC SCHOOL OF MUSIC 2025 STUDENT CONCERT 7pm May 17, 2025 Watch This Video Before Reading Any Further  WARNING: Side Effects of Performing May Include… An experience of sheer excitement before and during performing on a stage Loud applause of your new fans! Massive growth of skills More focus and confidence as a musician Inspiring others to start learning an instrument or take lessons Forming new friendships with bandmates A new understanding of the ins & outs of performing.  Lifelong memories that bring pride and joy when you see photos of the performance or even […]
- [Virtual Gig](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/virtual-gig/): Virtual Gig 3  Saturday October 15th, 2022 – 6pm CST After 2 exciting and unforgettable nights of performances, it is time for the 3rd installment of the Virtual Gig! Our student concerts are the highlight of the year for us and many of our students. 2021 brought us the first and second Virtual Gig’s to fill in the gap when live performances weren’t an option for many. I know many have been waiting a long time to do it again. Why You’ve Got To Do This Every year our students make the most progress in the 3 months preparing for the […]
- [Contact Thank You](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/contact-thank-you/): Congrats! Here are the Next Steps… Step 1 – Make sure to check your email for the Info Pack. Step 2 – Keep an eye out for our call to discuss your musical needs. (or you can call us at 615-731-3900)  Step 3 – We can schedule a time for your 1st lesson. Step 4 – Attended your 1st lesson where we assess your playing, learning style, etc. and we make sure you’re in the best lesson program to meet your needs and then do enrollment.   Looking forward to meeting you! “I was trying to teach myself and it was very frustrating […]
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- [Gift Cards](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/gift-cards/): Music Lessons Gift Certificate $250 Gift Certificate   No Refunds, not redeemable for cash, no duplicates accepted. Valid for 12 months from date of purchase. Not valid for current students. Good for any music lessons we offer.
- [About](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/instructors/): Supertonic School of Music Values 🌱 Purpose Is Found in Possibility At Supertonic School of Music, we believe music is much more than just learning a skill — it’s a journey of transformation. The name Supertonic comes from music itself — it’s the second note in the scale: do – re – mi – fa – so – la – ti – do. And no, it’s not because we think we’re second-best 😄.  It’s about that first brave step away from what’s familiar (“do”, the tonic) and into something new (“re”, the supertonic) — where growth, creativity, and transformation are brought […]
- [Student Testimonials](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/student-testimonials/): Student Testimonials Check out what our students are saying about their experience in being a part of Supertonic Guitar. https://youtu.be/vDTSFbLDSGshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrYNbD0Bbwc “I started taking lessons because I felt like I was trapped in a box… Ever since I started taking lessons, I feel like everyday I’m learning things I never even thought I’d be able to do… I feel much more confident.” Chris K. “It’s been a really rewarding experience for me… You can start learning guitar on your own and it’s going to be a lot more difficult. You’re going to pick up a lot of bad habits or if […]
- [Instructional Articles](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/articles/): Articles Play Guitar Without Looking 08 November 2022 Read More Articles Learning Guitar On Youtube 30 August 2022 Read More Articles Four Questions You Need to 09 July 2022 Read More
- [Music Lessons In Franklin, Tn | Supertonic School of Music](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/): MUSIC LESSONS IN FRANKLIN, TN Helping students make music and make memories PIANO GUITAR DRUMS We cater for all ages and genres for the best option for music lessons in Franklin, TN. We teach guitar, piano/keyboard, voice, & drums. With loads of opportunity to play with others by just jamming, learning to improvise solos over songs, or performing on stage.   Let’s get you or your child playing how you want to play, develop confidence, and make real progress. We guide students to stay inspired and approach their instrument in the best way to save from developing bad habits.   […]
- [Contact](https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/contact/): Supertonic School Of Music Contact Form FILL OUT THE FORM TO DOWNLOAD OUR INFO PACK After you fill it out we will contact you to make sure we really understand your needs and how we can help. Full Name * Email * Phone * Instrument(s) Drums Guitar Piano Musical interests and/or experience How did you hear about us? * By submitting this form and signing up for texts, you consent to receive marketing text messages (e.g. promos, cart reminders) from Supertonic School of Music at the number provided in agreement with our Privacy Policy, https://supertonicschoolofmusic.com/privacy-policy/. Consent is not a condition […]


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