Common-Note Chord Progressions

There is definitely a trend in modern music for guitar players to act as a 'musical glue' in rock or pop songs. Some great examples of this are "the Edge" of U2, Don Felder of the Eagles, Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Mike Rutherford of Genesis, Mike Campbell of Tom Petty, and many more.

These players all seemed to create repetitive catchy guitar riffs that just brought the songs chord progression and melody together with a magical musical glue.

Take a look at this sample below.

Using common notes in your chords and riffs is a fantastic way of creating memorable guitar parts and to imitate some of the great classic and modern artist.

Listen to Guns 'n' Roses "Sweet Child O' Mine" and hear how Slash plays the same riff over a chord progression and how it creates musical continuity and a cool sounding harmony.

What I need to play a gig?

If I run through my checklist of things I need to play a live show (gig), I immediately think of guitars,  picks, strings, cables, pedals, amps and maybe some appropriate stage clothes and maybe a book to read if there are technical problems that cause long delays.

The gear stuff always seems to take care of itself but today I want to talk about another side of the things needed to play a gig.... and that is: PREPARATION.

Preparing for a gig or a show for me is never just preparing my equipment or simply packing up the tools for the job at hand. The preparation I am talking about involves three main focal points that help me more than anything else to do a good job.

KNOW YOUR GUITAR

I am in constant need of resharpening, refreshing and reshaping my guitar playing 

to keep my playing from being stale, predictable, and sloppy. I was labelled a gifted

child at the age of 4 but I can't, and have not been able to rest on that assumption or

label to sweep me through the challenges, however small, of live and studio performances

that I have learned to not take lightly or for granted. I have to know my instrument and

know how to animate it to be an effective guitarist 

KNOW THE MUSIC

Knowing the music for a gig is essential to playing with some confidence and making
 a good impression on the artist or producer that hires you. Knowledge of things like
different chord voicings, memorizing main melodies, song-arrangements, tempos, and quick transitions from song to song can make rehearsals and sessions go smoother, leaving room to
be more creative and establishing a rapport with the other musicians and singers you're
working with on the gig..

KNOW YOUR ROLE

Sometimes your role as a guitarist can change with different producers,
arrangers and artists. It's important to get a sense of what the people you're working for
are wanting as far as the approach needed to fulfill the your duties and meet the expectations
of that musical situation or event. Try to find out some information. Mt role can change from
rockstar to quiet sideman or from main lead player to 'bread and butter' rhythm player depending on the expectations of the artist.

Preparation can involve more than you think and presenting yourself as being prepared will put you at the top of the list for being called back and gaining the respect of other players.

The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr.