Volunteer Tutoring: The Best Career Choice For You

Volunteer Tutoring: The Best Career Choice For YouVolunteer tutoring is not an easy task to undertake, but if you can make the right effort then you will do just fine. The concept of a tutoring service provides a unique opportunity for people to help out another person and make a difference. A tutor job requires work from home dedication, time and energy in managing to train others. Well, this is all your dream has been waiting for.First, start by searching the web for free books on tutoring. Some of the things that need to be done include. This includes getting a resume, doing basic background checks on the potential candidate. Check out if the volunteer has other sources of income. While the candidate is traveling, he should always be free of charge as much as possible.Volunteer tutor jobs usually offer different classes such as English, History, Mathematics, Science and Vocational courses. You can be responsible for the application process of other applicants. It is recommended th at the candidate should be knowledgeable about each subject.Before accepting the volunteering as a tutor job, check out the applicant's references. Check out the resources that he or she has worked with. There are different courses available on the internet so it is important that you have sufficient knowledge. It is also advisable that you can get some training from a previous volunteer position. This will help you understand the working environment.Since you are basically responsible for other peoples learning skills, it is good if you know the project area. In the long run, your contribution as a tutor will reflect in the student's academic achievement.So many agencies are trying to lure more people as three jobs so it is important that you can identify one. People who have the talent and knowledge are also in demand in the tutoring industry. As long as you are committed, you can make the right choice. No one can tell you how to succeed in this line of work but you can get more i nformation by reading tutoring articles online.The volunteer tutor job is another great source of earning and helping others. This can be a very interesting and fulfilling occupation. If you have a hobby, you can show it by doing such work. In the end, you will find the world a much better place as you are helping others.

6 top tips to help children prepare for entrance exams

6 top tips to help children prepare for entrance exams Entrance exams! Just those two words are enough to send shivers down a parent's back. Entrance exams are everywhere. They are used by some private schools, for grammar schools, for some colleges and selective universities. And many children and students often feel the pressure when they are expected to do well. Children as young as four are taking entrance exams for select private schools around the UK! An article in The Telegraph stated: Across all levels of the British school system can be found evidence of the 'exam factory' phenomenon. Children are being tested at all ages - from 4 to 18 - with increasing pressure being placed upon the results of the exams. Whatever the reason your child is taking an entrance exam there are always steps that can be taken to help them to prepare and with the right approach and support secure a successful outcome. We at First Tutors know how stressful entrance exams can be but we also know that with a little help and some good encouragement, entrance exams don't have to be a terrible or terrifying experience. We have complied a list of our top six tips to ensure you help your child prepare for their exams in the best way possible. 1. Make a study plan Giving your child enough time to prepare for their entrance exam will automatically take away some of the stress. Once you have a date for the exam mark it in your calendar and plan the days with your child that they will study. Of course children should not give up their other extra-curricular activities to study for an entrance exam, just allow a certain amount of time per week to go over certain topics and prepare them as much as possible to build up their confidence and tackle any problem areas they may have. Entrance exams do not need a whole heap of study time and depending on the capabilities of your child three to four times a week should be sufficient if you are planning a couple of months ahead. Making sure they have a couple of days off from study will alleviate some of the pressure they may feel. 2. Review past tests and concentrate on problem areas Planning what your child needs to review is also an important factor to take into consideration. Consider the topics or subjects that may come up in the exam and try to organise them so that you are concentrating on the more difficult parts first. It is more beneficial to focus on the topics that your child struggles with the most to boost their confidence and take away some of the challenges. Reviewing past papers can also be a great way of preparing a child for the type of exam they will need to sit. Past papers can help a child familiarise themselves with what types of questions they will be asked, how they will be worded, how much time they will have for each question and what types of answers the examination board is looking for. 3. Seek the help of a private tutor An experienced tutor will encourage your child to feel confident when preparing for their entrance exams. They will have past papers at the ready to go over with your child and have plenty of techniques to ensure they build their confidence and understanding. Finding the right tutor for your child is very important and First Tutors guarantees you'll find the best and most suitable tutor with our incredible search options. We will list all available tutors within close proximity to you, give you details of their qualifications and experience as well as their rates and reviews. Children generally progress much faster with individual attention and a tutor is the best way to guarantee your child has the best chance at success, especially if they are struggling with certain topics around the exams in question. 4. Talk to others for advice Seeing advice from others is also a good idea when preparing for entrance exams. Have your child speak to someone who has already sat the same kind of entrance exam to get some information into what they can expect and what kind of questions came up. Speak to your child's teacher to get some advice on the best possible preparation your child should do and speak to your child's tutor about supplying some past papers and offering any insight into the entrance exam they may have. 5. Know which type of learner your child is There are different styles of learning and understanding which learning style suits your child the best will definitely ensure a smoother and more positive study progression. There are three basic styles of learning: Visual Learner - Visual learners can make pictures in their minds of how something will appear and learn best by seeing things written down, looking at images and watching videos. Auditory Learner - Auditory learners best understand new concepts through listening and hearing things and remember best through verbal lectures, debates and discussions. Kinaesthetic learner - Kinaesthetic learners learn best through interaction and movement and gain knowledge by discovering how things work and exploring the physical world around them. To read more about learning styles and how to understand which learning style suits you or your child best please read our blog on 'Understanding Learning Styles'. 6. Do not stress and practice calming techniques Keeping calm is a vital aspect for all exams and stress can bring a lot of negativity with it. If your child is feeling negative try speaking to them and giving them lots of encouragement. Motivate them and instil a positive attitude; it is not about passing the exam it's about doing their best and accepting all outcomes. Create some strategies with your child that may help them overcome some obstacles during their exam. Skipping difficult and challenging questions and coming back to them later is one great tip whilst another is using the process of elimination and eliminating any answers that are obviously incorrect making choosing an answer that they are not entirely sure about easier. Another great exam tip is to read any questions before reading a passage so that they will know what information to look for and always make sure to read all of the answer options before selecting one; there may be one that seems correct but further down the list may be a more correct answer. Ensure your child gets enough sleep both during revision time and the lead up to the exam and when they are studying to take small breaks to keep their concentration levels at a steady rate. Find ways to make studying more fun such as playing review games with a parent or tutor, acting out some of the topics they are studying, colour-coding their notes with them or even making fun videos to revise or explain certain topics they may find challenging. To conclude Entrance exams can be a stressful time for most children but following some of these tips can ensure a smoother preparation process and a happier child; which of course is a great recipe for success. No matter how your child does in their entrance exams it is always important to note their effort and praise them regardless of a pass or a fail; children should never be given the feeling that they have failed at something.

Take These Online Classes To Become A Manager

Take These Online Classes To Become A Manager pexels.com Leadership Everyone has heard of this term, whether in reference to work or sports, and yet it applies to multiple facets of life. Regardless of if you intend on being the main leader at your job, obtaining and using leadership qualities is what managers look for in their employees. It may sound pretty obvious and direct, but the truth is, most are unaware on how to properly lead one person, nonetheless a group of people. This quality will go a long way and assist you in more ways than one. You will be able to offer your leadership aspects to your coworkers and teach them the values behind leading a team. By taking online courses with a focus on leadership, there will be various tutorials that depict possible scenarios that could take place. For instance, if having to deal with coworkers who do not get along, you will have the knowledge and full ability to lead them to at least fake getting along. Fake it till ya make it people. For more information, take a peek at this site to further express the importance of leadership. Organization This is a must for everyone. If you are a mess, then everything you touch is perceived as also being a mess at least in my eyes. Organization is key, and without it, you will never be as great as your potential. I know, wise words. Many may underestimate the importance of staying organized. It is necessary to show you are capable of not only stability and coordination, but also of portraying it to others. This way, it is an obvious trait of those that intend on working there. Watching videos on organizing and knowing how to stay that way can truly help with improving the amount of work accomplished. This then shows you are a great leader by being an active role-model to those inferior to you. For more information, visit this site to learn the ins and outs of keeping up with the tidy lifestyle. Management We have all had that one manager that is absolutely the worst thing ever. Not a hyperbole, unfortunately. Well in order to avoid becoming that person, we have to know how to be a great manager. Or at least a decent one if you do not perform well under pressure. Understandable. This happens by watching videos expressing the importance of knowing how to manage. Obvious, I know. They will teach you how to build a working system from the bottom to the top. In order to have a solid structure, having a firm foundation is completely necessary. I think Drakes’ inspiration for Started From The Bottom, Now We Here is now known. And who knows, maybe we will encounter our personal success anthem and work our way even farther up the ladder. This site offers more insight into the ideas behind management. Team-Building This may seem like a weird, unnecessary facet to becoming a great manager, but it is in fact vital. Team-building exercises enhance the job performance, and offer a way for group improvement. These exercises also give the chance to better know your coworkers, and to test their strength, intelligence, and dependability. Plus, how else would we weasel out the weaklings? The time is now. You can always reference an episode of The Office because Dwight and Jim are the definition of coworkers/masters of ideas behind team-building techniques. To discover more information on team-building, feel free to visit this site. pixabay.com Accounting This can apply to various job descriptions and that is because everything costs money. Sad, I know. Being a manager means being forced to make calls (literally and figuratively) even when you do not want to. Being in charge of money is obviously a very important job, but can also be extremely difficult. You have to be fully aware of the budget, the amount of employees you have working under you, and of course the overall numbers involved with the company. You do not want to be the guy that messes up everyone’s paycheck because you mistook a comma for a one. Visit this site for accounting help. Although online classes can indeed be boring, it is no secret they can truly assist with issues or worries that surround becoming a manager. You have to be willing to understand your employees, be able to handle difficult situations, and most importantly, know when to stand your ground. But do not fret, these websites are there waiting to help you. You can do it, future manager.

Fullerton Writing Tutoring 4 Sites to Improve Your Writing

Fullerton Writing Tutoring 4 Sites to Improve Your Writing Tips From a Private Fullerton Writing Tutor: These Four Websites Will Help Improve Your Writing Writing is an essential skill for all students. Whether you are writing a college application or taking the ACT/SAT, being able to write well will help you succeed in and out of the classroom. Writing is a craft, and like any other craft, students must take their time and work on improving their skill set. What is good writing? To many, good writing is grammatically and structurally competent writing. While this is true, it is also essential, and arguably more crucial, that your writing is clear and concise. Too often, convoluted and jargon-filled writing is mistaken for good writing; just look at your textbooks for examples. The best way to get your point across in writing is succinctly and clearly. Sounds simple, right? Not quite. It takes a lot of practice to learn how to write lucid content (READ: 5 Tips for Success in English Class). Thankfully, many websites offer supplemental writing support for students. These sites are meant to improve your writing, not write your papers for you. While we encourage students to enhance their skill set by often writing and reading well-written articles and books, it is always a good idea to get some help to accelerate the process. Use these four websites as tools to become a better writer, and watch your grades improve our private Fullerton writing tutors are here to help. 1. Vocabulary.com Writing is getting your ideas and thoughts down on paper. Having an expansive vocabulary helps accomplish this goal. Just a few minutes a day on Vocabulary.com will help you learn new words to add to your arsenal. 2. Grammarly.com Proper grammar is a must for students. Utilizing Grammarly.com to double-check your papers will not only improve your writing, but help you learn more about common grammatical mistakes and how to avoid them. We encourage you all to use the plagiarism scanner as well better safe than sorry. 3. Words to Use Think of Words to Use as the modern thesaurus. According to the site, Unlike a thesaurus, which groups words by their meaning, we group subject-related words by parts of speech. 4. Arts Letters As mentioned earlier, one way to improve your writing is by reading well-written content. Arts Letters is a curated collection of articles, opinions, essays, and book reviews from across the internet. The site, which is updated daily, is an excellent source for articles written by some of the best journalists, authors, and thinkers working today. While you read, take note of how the author constructs sentences, gets their point across, and sources material. If you like a particular article, research the author and read more of their work. We cant stress this point enough: To be a good writer, you must be a dedicated reader. Online tools will help improve your writing, but they can only get you so far on your path to being a competent writer. The best way to develop your writing skills is to work with a one-on-one private Fullerton writing tutor. Call us today for more information. All blog entries, with the exception of guest bloggers, are written by Tutor Nerds. Are you an education professional? If so, email us at pr@tutornerds.com for guest blogging and collaborations. We want to make this the best free education resource in SoCal, so feel free to suggest what you would like to see us write.

5 Tips for a Great Profile Picture

5 Tips for a Great Profile Picture When completing their Teach Away profile, many teachers don’t include one of the most important things in finding employment overseas â€" their photo! Though it may seem out of the ordinary for North American teachers, including a photo with a resume or job application is standard practice in many countries overseas. Your photo is often your first introduction to school partners. What would you like your photo to tell your potential employers about you? A good photo lets them know that you are serious about finding a position overseas, and would be a great fit for their school. Below are some tips for ensuring you are representing yourself in the best way possible. A clear shot of your head and shouldersâ€" We should be able to see your smiling face and features. Your employers want to know what you look like, so make sure that the photo is taken at close enough range. Also, take off those hats and sunglasses! Professionalâ€" No principal or administrator wants to see a potential teacher dressed inappropriately or holding a cocktail â€" save those photos for your friends on Facebook. Your clothing choices and accessories should reflect what you would wear to a job interview. When in doubt, remember that many of our schools are in more conservative parts of the world. Err on the side of caution! You!â€" While we enjoy seeing “action” shots of teachers with their students, what our schools are most interested in is you: your personality, and what you look like. A photo of you (and only you) is best. Location, Location, Locationâ€" Ideally a photo with a light colored background is best â€" after all, the subject of the photo should be you, the teacher. If you have taken a photo with your mobile phone, remember that taking a quick shot while sitting in your car, or in your bathroom mirror at home, can show that you have not taken the time to get the best photo possible. Availableâ€" Often, your placement coordinators are not able to send your application to a potential employer until they have your photo. Having a photo uploaded to your Teach Away account, or sending through your photo as soon as it is requested, ensures that your application is sent through for review right away. Your photo can tell your future employers a lot about you, so you want to project a friendly a professional image of yourself. Best of luck! Kathryn Stewart is a Placement Coordinator at Teach Away Inc.

English Learning - Why You Cant Speak English

English Learning - Why You Can't Speak EnglishIt is no surprise that you should learn the English language as it is very essential for a proper life. Many people who live in the Western countries have absolutely no idea about how to speak English. Most of them are really clueless about the fact that they should learn to speak it properly.This is also a good thing that there are many people who are teaching the English language and do so very well. However, even if you are able to get hold of the basics of the language, this does not mean that you will be fluent in the language. There are several reasons why it is impossible to speak English.The main reason why people cannot learn the language is that they are using an incorrect spelling of the words. You should always start from the basic sentences and after you have understood the words then you can move on to more complicated sentences. You should be able to create your own sentences which is completely different from the sentences of others. This will make you fluent in the language.Learning the language should be fun. You should learn the language in an enjoyable way and it should be free from any sort of stress. If you do this you will be able to focus better. You will also be able to learn quickly.The second reason why people can't speak the language is that they don't have full comprehension of the vocabulary. Some words are just not in their vocabulary list. In case you have studied English, this doesn't mean that you can speak it perfectly.When you are reading English magazines, newspapers, books or even watching TV programs then you will find that there are few words that are not present in your vocabulary list. Also, this will make you understand the words correctly only in few cases. If you do not have full comprehension then you will find it difficult to understand the meaning of the words.No matter which language you choose to learn, you must always remember that this is an ideal language for ever yone. Whether you are studying in your home or taking an English language test, it is always ideal to learn the language.

Chemistry Conversion Chart For Moles

Chemistry Conversion Chart For MolesThere are several reasons to buy a chemistry conversion chart for moles. First, as you probably know, moles are the units of measurement for measuring the elemental composition of things like water, sulfur, or salt. Second, there is a lot of confusion in these parts about things like oxidation. Third, moles are sometimes used interchangeably with parts per million (ppm).Oxidation is the conversion of one element into another. This can be true whether the substances being oxidized are elements or compounds. Some of the more common examples of oxidation are:Carbon dioxide is one of the most common example of oxidation. In a petrochemical plant, which uses carbon dioxide to provide steam for the production of gasoline and other fuels, the process of harmonization involves combining the carbon dioxide with argon to produce carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is used for its smoke and odorless smoke properties.Other chemicals which are similar in behavior to carbon dioxide are oxides, ketones, and replacement methylamine. Oxidation can also take place during the cooling phase of a reaction. The most common example of this is the oxidation of a compound such as ethylene with sulfur.While moles are much easier to measure than water, it has to be noted that moles do not necessarily have the same boiling point as water. If you wish to measure moles of substances, you may need to find out the boiling point of the substance in question. It would be a good idea to use a conversion chart, because you do not need to measure moles of your own. You could also just use your own judgement to figure out the boiling point of something.Another thing to consider when converting your substances to moles is the trace element content. For example, if you mix aluminum oxide with hydrogen chloride, you will create aluminum sulfate, which is highly insoluble in water. But if you mix the two substances together in a mixture of water and sodium hydroxide, yo u will get aluminum hydroxide, which is a strong, odorless, but easily soluble, liquid. These are very different substances, yet they both have a similar chemical formula.As you can see, there are several reasons to buy a chemistry conversion chart for moles. In addition to serving their specific purposes, these charts can help you work out if you are mixing up items correctly, or if you have made an error in the measurement of a substance.

Basic Scale Theory for Guitarists

Basic Scale Theory for Guitarists Become a Guitarist by Learning Your Scales ChaptersThe Chromatic Scale for the GuitarThe Major Scale on the GuitarThe Minor Scale on the GuitarImprovising with the Pentatonic Scale on the Guitar“Music is the wine that fills the cup of silence.” - Robert FrippMusic is a part of almost every Brit’s daily life.  When we’re happy, we play happy music.Or is it that playing music makes us happy?In either case, your guitar playing should be your main priority.But before you start playing your guitar, you’ll need to work on a few scales and basic chords in order to make your life easier. In fact, by learning scales, you'll better understand each guitar chord, chord progressions, learn to play licks, and become a master of music theory.Here are a few of the most common scales that every guitar player should learn. PeterGuitar Teacher £12/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors EdgarGuitar Teacher 5.00 (8) £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors PaulGuitar Teacher 5.00 (12) £18/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tut ors DanielGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £40/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors ToddGuitar Teacher 4.75 (4) £35/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors SamueleGuitar Teacher 5.00 (5) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors KurtGuitar Teacher 5.00 (3) £20/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutors RyanGuitar Teacher £30/h1st lesson free!Discover all our tutorsThe Chromatic Scale for the GuitarThe chromatic scale is a scale with all 12 pitches, each a semitone apart: C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C.Working on scales is essential if you want to progress. (Source: Abiris)The chromatic scale is played on the guitar using each of the frets. However, playing it in its entirety isn’t much use on its own. Playing three or four consecutive notes this guitar scale can sometimes be useful before a beginner guitar lesson.Playing a chromatic scale will have you systematically playing each fret on a given string from the low notes to the high notes. You can go up and down strings as well if you play the 5th fret (index finger), 6th fret (middle finger), 7th fret (ring finger), 8th fret (pinky).Low E stringA stringD stringG stringB stringHigh E stringUse a metronome to improve your rhythm and timing as you play the notes. The plectrum should follow a back and forth motion as this gives your playing the typical sound that the guitar will usually have.The positioning of your left hand (or right hand if you’re left-handed) is key when it comes to doing these kinds of exercises. Your thumb needs to be placed on the back of the neck with your wrist slightly bent and your fingers curved towards the fretboard.As we said, the chromatic scale isn’t very useful when it comes to playing songs. It’s not very melodic like a major scale or a pentatonic scale.On the other hand, there are a few advantages to it:Warming up: it’s a good idea for when you want to gently warm up before playing.Working on your technique: it’s good for improving your flexibility, the strength of your fingers, coordination, and precision.Adding nuance when you improvise: adding the chromatic scale can sometimes be a useful addition when going between scales and allows you to add more harmonious and pleasant transitions. It can make you more creative.Don’t forget about the chromatic scale as you can use it throughout your entire “career” as a guitarist whether you’re playing an electric guitar, acoustic guitar, or an electro-acoustic guitar. If you've just started playing the guitar, this is a great one for warming up and working on your improvisation.The Major Scale on the GuitarThere are plenty of scales you can play when you first learn guitar and a lot of them might seem quite difficult. However, some of them are essential!Not so fast! You'll get there. You just need to be patient. (Source: jukazek04)If you take guitar lessons London or private tutorials, you’re bound to run into the major scale. Even if you’re not taking lessons, you should s tart with it! It’s the most common scale for musicians to learn.The C major scale is all the naturals, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. It’s easy on a piano as it’s all the white notes.  It’s also a diatonic scale.To play the major scale with other notes, you should learn its structure and the intervals between each note. Like a maths formula, learning the intervals can help you to transpose the scale anywhere on your guitar.I to II: A tone.II to III: A tone.III to IV: A semitone.IV to V: A tone.V to VI: A tone.VI to VII: A tone.VII to I: A semitone.You could also remember it like this:1T - 1T - 0.5T - 1T - 1T - 1T - 0.52 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1The second might be more useful for guitarists as it’ll indicate how many frets between two notes on the scale.  To stay true to the intervals on the major scale in other keys, you’ll often have to include sharps and flats when you’re playing.To work on the major scale, here’s some important advice:Start off slowly with the help of a m etronome at a very low tempo.There are seven positions in the major scale: make sure you’ve mastered one position before trying to learn the next one.Learn to read a scale diagram in order to learn to learn scales and the different positions more quickly.For the first position of the major scale, here’s how to place your fingers.Low E string: index finger on the 8th fret, middle finger on the 10th fret, pinky on the 12th fret.A string: index finger on the 8th fret, middle finger on the 10th fret, pinky on the 12th fret.D string: index finger on the 9th fret, middle finger on the 10th fret, pinky on the 12th fret.G string: index finger on the 9th fret, middle finger on the 10th fret, pinky on the 12th fret.B string: index finger on the 10th fret, ring finger on the 12th fret, pinky on the 13th fret.High E string: index finger on the 10th fret, ring finger on the 12th fret, pinky on the 13th fret.The Minor Scale on the GuitarThe minor scale is arguably the second most important sc ale along with the major scale.When you work on your scales, you'll improve several aspects of your playing. (Source: Samueles)It was constructed as a solution to difficulties found in vocal music. What makes a minor scale is the third interval. There are three semitones between tonic and the third in a minor scale and four in a major scale.There are several different types of minor scales: natural or relative, harmonic, and melodic. The three types of minor scales are very similar and only a few elements differ between each one.  Minor scales aren’t ideal for beginners, especially on the guitar.You should have mastered the major scale and the pentatonic scale before you start trying to tackle minor scales on the guitar as they’re harder than the former two.The Natural/Relative Minor ScaleThis is the most common one and it's made up of seven notes. Each major scale has a corresponding relative minor scale which includes all the same notes.Here’s its structure:1T - 0.5T - 1T - 1T - 0.5T - 1T - 1T2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 2The relative minor for C major is A minor: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A.The Minor Harmonic ScaleIf you want to compose or improvise, the harmonic minor scale is essential for various styles of music including blues, rock, pop, jazz, etc.  To remember it, you should start with the natural minor scale. It’s exactly the same apart from the seventh is a semitone higher.Here’s its structure:1T - 0.5T - 1T - 1T - 0.5T - 1.5T - 0.5T2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 3 - 1The Minor Melodic ScaleThe minor melodic scale is the most complicated of the three to master.  You have to start off with the harmonic scale to construct it. It’s the same but the sixth is augmented by a semitone.The structure changes again:1T - 0.5T - 1T - 1T - 1T - 1T - 0.5T2 - 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 2 - 1You could also start off with the minor natural scale and alter both the sixth and seventh notes.  To really master the three minor scales, it’s recommended that you learn how to transpose them. Why not get guitar tutorials to help you with this?Improvising with the Pentatonic Scale on the GuitarThe pentatonic scale is regularly used in rock music and especially in solos. It’s sometimes referred to as the rock scale or the solo scale.Most rock guitarists love the pentatonic scale! (Source: StockSnap)Penta means five and tonic means note. There are, therefore, 5 notes in the pentatonic scale.The pentatonic scale is easy to learn and to play and it’s used in a lot of different musical styles including pop, rock, blues, and reggae.There are two types of pentatonic scales, the major pentatonic and the minor pentatonic scales.  However, guitarists regularly refer to the minor pentatonic as the pentatonic scale.Here’s its structure:I to III: Three semitones.III to IV: A tone.IV to V: A tone.V to VII: Three semitones.VII to I: A tone.The II and VI degrees aren’t part of the pentatonic scale.1.5T - 1T - 1T - 1.5T - 1T3 - 2 - 2 - 3 - 2You can play the pentatonic scale in var ious ways: either on a single string or using one of the five positions and starting from the tonic of your choice.  The major pentatonic scale is just a minor pentatonic scale that starts on the third.Here’s its structure:1T - 1T - 1.5T - 1T - 1.5T2 - 2 - 3 - 2 - 3It’s a major scale because there are two full tones between the tonic and the third.The pentatonic major scale is very close to the major scale and you work on them both to help you remember them, understand them, and become more comfortable using them when you improvise or transition between scales.To get good at using pentatonic scales, you should follow these tips:Don’t lift your fingers too far from the fretboard, this will help you improve the speed of your playing.Break down each scale and work on it slowly and methodically.Leave the previous finger on the fretboard when playing the next note and don’t take it off until the very last moment.The pentatonic scale will really help you when it comes to composing , improvising, and playing solos.As you can see, scales aren’t just for pianists, guitarists, whether they're playing blues guitar, jazz guitar, or rock guitar, can also work on them.The theory behind a scale will help you understand a chord progression, write riffs, and play guitar solos, melodies, and guitar licks. If you want to play guitar, there are plenty of useful online guitar resources with scales and other resources for an aspiring musician.

How To Find New Interesting Guitar Chords Using a Capo

How To Find New Interesting Guitar Chords Using a Capo Suzy S. So youve memorized the basic major and minor chords, and learned a few easy guitar songs. Whats next? Check out what a capo can do for you in this guest post by Perth Amboy, NJ teacher  Jeff S... In case youre unfamiliar with a capo, theyre those metal devices that clip onto the neck of a guitar, as you see in the photo above. If youre a guitarist and you dont own a capo yet, but are curious about them, my hope is that youll want to get one after reading this article. And for guitarists who already own a capo but havent fully exploited its potential, this article should tweak your interest. What Exactly Can a Capo Do For Me? Capos come in incredibly handy in instantly providing a one-step solution to play along with songs written and sung in keys unfriendly to guitar (such as Ab, Bb, Eb, Cm, Fm, etc.). For instance, if you wanted to play Adeles Rollin In The Deep on guitar so that it matches up with the recording, all youd have to do is put the capo at the 3rd fret and play Am, E, G, and F chords (that you likely already know in 1st position). Simple, huh? There are countless other songs you can use capos for to play on guitar, even if they werent written on guitar or if theres no guitar in the recording. All you need is basic guitar chord knowledge. How Does It Affect the Sound? Depending on how far down the neck the capo needs to be placed to match up with the key of a song, it can either subtly or drastically alter the personality of them. The results will vary from song to song, but capos will immediately render new tonal colors, increasing the brightness and making your playing and songwriting more diverse and engaging. If you want to hear some amazing examples of how magical songs can sound with capos, listen to the Beatles classic Here Comes The Sun, written by the late great George Harrison. The capo is on the 7th fret, which creates a feeling of optimism and sparkle that would be completely missing without the capo. The use of the capo has increased exponentially since then and just about every artist (or their guitarist) has one and uses it extensively. Check out the incredibly mood-inducing and engaging capoed guitar on Passengers Let Her Go and the guitar work on Taylor Swifts Safe And Sound, for example. If youre still in doubt about the power of the capo, try playing those songs without the capo and listen to the difference. What If Im Not Super-Knowledgeable About Keys and Chord Names? You can effectively integrate the capo into your playing even if you know little to nothing about music theory and dont know too many chord names. Let me illustrate: say you want to create a higher-pitched G chord. Just clamp your capo on the 5th fret and play a conventional D chord form (see chart below) and you will instantly hear it in a crisp and refreshing new way. Next, lets say you want to brighten up the otherwise deep and dull E chord in first position. Just clamp your capo on the 7th fret and play a standard (1st position) version of an A chord (again, see chart). Voila! Youve instantly brightened the previously low-end E chord. Play that while your jam partner or singer plays the conventional E chord and youve got a very rich tonally-diverse sound. Familiarize yourself with all the capoed versions of the major and minor chords in the chart and soon youll be thanking the capo gods every night. Is There an Easy Way to Get Started With My Capo? You bet! I suggest you pick out two or three of your favorite guitar songs  that  youre really comfortable with and can almost play blindfolded. Then use the chart below to find different places further down the neck to play the chords that youve been playing in 1st position. Try several voicings of the chords until you find one youre drawn to. Relearn the song using a capo and these new chord shapes. Just doing this will widen your tonal range on the guitar without you having to play (much more challenging) barre chords, and it will also add a new chordal dimension to your playing. And the added benefit is that these new capoed versions of your favorite songs will make your future jams much more interesting. All you really need to get started on your capo adventure is a little time, an open mind, and (of course) a capo! Jeff S. teaches guitar, ukulele, speaking voice, songwriting, and more in Perth Amboy, NJ, as well as online.  Jeff has created and taught songwriting and music business classes at colleges, universities, and music schools throughout the country for many years. Learn more  about Jeff 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 James Kim