Category Archives: Melbourne Guitar Lessons

Insights on how to play the guitar. Lessons and instruction to develop creativity and well being

Melbourne Guitar Lessons, Must Read

Writing on the Guitar-Songwriter Exclusive

WRITING ON THE GUITAR – SONGWRITER EXCLUSIVE

I am currently finalising my new online course for songwriters and guitarists who need more emotion from their songs. And uniqueness in their melodic and harmonic choices.  Especially, for those who wish to deliver the most powerful live performance of their song  and  record it with others.

What do you need to know to get the most out of a song  ?

Module 1 Harmony

  • What chords do I have to work with the song I have in my head ?
  • What other chords can I use for variety ?
  • What chords can I choose to create more excitement?
  • Is my voice shining ? Do I need to transpose?

    Songwriter

 

Module 2 Structure

  • How can I choose a flowing structure ?
  • How to add a surprise to the structure?

Module3 Groove

  • What is the groove of my song ?
  • How to make even it more groovy, especially in the most exciting parts?

Module 4 Intensity

Module 5 Variety in the melody 

  • How can I make my melody more interesting ?
  • How can it stand out more ?
  • Does my melody reflect the emotional content of the words ?
  • What tools do I have to achieve the desired emotion?

Module 6 Variety in the accompaniment

  • Do I hear backing vocals?
  • Can they help my melody stand out ?
  • What type of vocals lines do I have to choose from ?
  • Do I hear background lines? How can I translate them to the guitar?

Module 7 Enhancing bass lines 

Can I make the bass line more interesting and therefore make the harmony even more powerful? And the melody more emotional ?

Module 8

Decide how the song is be played by others to enhance the final product. Think and define the roles of each section and how you would like them to play, to accompany your desired emotional goal.

  • What is the outline of bass I need to define the chords and the groove of the song  in each section? And the climax ?
  • What is the rhythm I need, to  define the groove and pulse in each section, and the climax?
  • How should the accompaniment be played in each section ?
  • What is the background line of the accompaniment in each section and the climax ?

This course is to take your music to the next level and make it sound totally professional.

Melbourne Guitar Lessons, Must Read

Creative guitar improvisation

Creative guitar improvisation

Does creativity thrive from the need to organise the chaos in material life?  Our lives are structured in a manner where improvisation, sometimes,  cannot fit into our daily schedules.  I personally,  just feel great when I am able to sit down with the guitar, play what I wish, and express what comes to my mind.

I invite you,  to share with all of us, your creative guitar improvisation at our Guitar Social Club.

Creative guitar improvisation

All students, including beginners at the Melbourne Guitar School,  can participate in group ensembles. You will be immersed in creating music in a social environment, sharing your musical thoughts with other like minded music lovers. The Creative Guitar Social Club organisers frequent retreats to further develop musical skills and consequent creativity.

Students learn skills by completing the course outlines that may be found on the website.  At present, courses are in their 5th week; new courses will be starting on the 2nd week of June. There are still two openings for Thursdays at 6 p.m and 7 p.m,  for level 1 , and on Thursdays at 8 p.m,  for level 4.

Please send me an email, if you would like further information on all our courses and creative guitar improvisation.

Melbourne concerts and events

During the following months,  I will be producing my yearly Melbourne Concert 2017 series, at the Armadale Uniting Church. At these concerts, I will share with the audience my latest musical creations, in an intimate musical setting. Please take a peek at my latest releases.

 

Book Full Melbourne Concerts: Thomas Lorenzo  2017

Where:
Armadale Uniting Church 86A Kooyong Road, Armadale, VIC, 3143 (03) 9509 8958

Tickets: $ 30 ( General)

Melbourne flamenco guitars for sale

Back in the year 2007, I spent a few days in Madrid, Spain,  auditioning all the guitars, available at one of the Hermanos Conde Guitar Shop.

In the end , I finally selected the flamenco guitar model which I have on sale now. I selected this model,  based upon its timbre,  projection and the overall spectrum, in relation to the room sound.

This guitar emanates sound in all directions. The luthier created a guitar with extremely well balanced mid frequencies . They allow for extreme clarity,  in the projection of sound, in an ensemble setting.

Therefore, ff you would like to audition this guitar,  please send me an email.

Pro Session Guitarists for hire 

Enhance the lyrical character of your music by adding the Spanish guitar to your arrangement. Your musical creations will over shine others.

Check out my music production services, Pro Session Guitarists for hire, for songwriters; my past and present projects. Experience how the flamenco guitar can enhance your desired emotions, that your compositions truly deserve.

Libros de Música

My textbook on  arranging and orchestration, in the Spanish language is called:  Libros de Música,  El Arreglo Un Puzzle de Expresión Musical. This book compiles, in it’s 483 pages, contemporary arranging techniques , which I classify as  tools,  to help the arranger and composer,  understand their creations and deliver them to the audience,  with the utmost harmonic and melodic expression, in relation to the chosen  style .

Melbourne Guitar Lessons, Must Read

Creativity through guitar music

Creativity through guitar music

Creativity through music: a warm current that tingles up the spine, excitement beyond limits, peace, strength..

It feels good to be able to choose a language, for existence, that eliminates confusion rather than develops understanding of facts.

A gentle strum, a choice of chords a change of rhythm, textures, intensities, and there we have it: a door opens up to start feeling who we are and, we start sharing such beauty with others.

Creativity through guitar music

We recently finished our first term of courses here at the Melbourne Creative Guitar School, and all the students got together for a barbecue and a concert. Yes, we all had a good time;lovely food. We played some very nice music but above all, 70 individuals shared a  select special hours, where each of us was sincerely appreciated for what we thought, expressed and played.

Thank you to all music lovers for making my life more meaningful every day.

Upcoming Melbourne Guitar courses

All Melbourne Guitar courses started last week, May 3. However, I have constant requests for new enrolments , therefore new courses are always opening up. Please send me an email  to learn about starting dates.  Also, stay in touch, through our Creative  Guitar  School Social facebook page, as students are on the lookout for fellow guitarists to get together, compose, practice and perform.

Flamenco Guitars for sale

I have recently brought back from Spain part of my collection of flamenco guitars, on sale at present. I have personally selected all my guitars based upon timbre, and the projection of spectrum .

Please take a peek, listen and book an appointment to try them out. That is,  if you wish to further enjoy the beauty of a unique artisan guitar in your life.

Melbourne Concerts

I am starting to warm up with all my Melbourne events. Stay tuned for my appearance on ABC ( TV), Get Cracking Series, soon to be aired nationally.  What a treat !, to share my music with all Australians.

Libros de música

Libros de Música,  el Arreglo un Puzzle de Expresión Musical.  This is the name of my text book about arranging and orchestration; a must for all professional arrangers and composers that are in search of ways  of expanding their array of  musical techniques.

 

Melbourne Guitar Lessons

Melbourne Guitar Courses Aural training

Melbourne Guitar Courses Aural training

When we learn to play the guitar, we learn how to coordinate in relation to a specific time frame; notes and chords must be played in  a sequence, this sequence is generally a slave to a constant pulse:  the tempo.

If a student can target a note, or a chord, because they are able to anticipate the sound, they will tend to learn in a quicker manner, than those who target only specific mechanical position.

It is important to always anticipate and hear, what we are going to play. This approach is also most enjoyable, and precise muscle coordination will occur at a quicker pace.

Melbourne Guitar Courses Aural training

Please join us at our upcoming new Melbourne Guitar Courses.

  • A level one course has opened up for: Wednesdays at 6pm, starting May 23.
  • A level 3 course  will be starting May 21, Mondays at 6pm.

I require all potential students to undergo a short interview, so I may assess  their musical skills and point them towards the most appropriate group for their learning.

Upcoming Melbourne Concerts Flamenco Jazz Guitar

Thomas Lorenzo will be performing June 28,  at 8. 30 pm at the Paris Cat Jazz Club, 6 Goldie Place, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. As special guests I have : Ben Robertson on Bass, and Darryn Farrugia on Drums.

Please join us for a celebration of music from the heart.

Flamenco Guitars for sale

The Ramirez guitars from 1962 represent the golden era of flamenco guitars from Spain. Please send me an email, or call me, to book an appointment, to check out this unique flamenco guitar for sale. 

Libros de música

I consider the art of accompaniment a reflection of a conscious arrangement of a composition;  clusters, fourth note chords, background lines( passive, active, melodic, harmonic) and much more.

These are some of the tools an arranger must have on a day to day basis, to be able to deliver an understable exposition of a melody to the audience. Please read more  “Libros de música, el Arreglo un Puzzle de Expresion  Musical”

 

Melbourne Guitar Lessons

Guitar creativity on the rise

Guitar creativity on the rise

Students must compose their own songs in all courses and levels at our Melbourne Creative Guitar School. Music is a language we use to express emotions.  I trust, you agree that our language skills improve when we write an essay. In music, it is also the same, but in this case we write musical essays: compositions.

All students feel great joy when they hear how their emotions come to life in their guitar compositions.

Please enjoy both the the audio and video files of Jamie’s composition. It is based on the Ionian mode with modal interchange from the aeolian mode.


Creative Guitar School Social Club

Please join us and share with us your personal guitar creations.  We have also recently opened up our Creative Guitar School Social Club. These are the links for the Face book pages and the Instagram accounts.

Creative guitar social club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/guitar.clubinfo/

Instagram (creativeguitar.club): https://www.instagram.com/creativeguitar.club/?hl=en

All guitar students are also welcomed to showcase their talent at our regular guitar meet ups. Please take a a peak at our latest barbecue and guitar concerts.

Guitar creativity on the rise

Upcoming Guitar Courses

I have scheduled new guitar courses to commence the first week of May. There are very limited spaces available for all levels of learning. Please send me an email to book an appointment,  so I may recommend  the most appropriate group for your guitar learning adventure.

Melbourne Concerts

I am pleased to announce my next round of Melbourne concerts that I will produce at the Armadale Uniting Church.  I will be showcasing my latest compositions, and sharing the stage with unique representation of the great the Melbourne cultural diversity.

Please join us for a Celebration of Music from the Heart.

Flamenco Guitars for sale

My Flamenco Hermanos Conde Guitar guitar 2007,  is currently undergoing refurbishing in Barcelona, Spain. I will pick it up in a few weeks time and bring it back to Melbourne, where I will place this flamenco guitar for sale on my website. Please take a peak and book an appointment, to hear the beauty of matured artisan craftsmanship.

El Arreglo un Puzzle de Expresión Musical

I have on sale, through Amazon, my text book on arranging and orchestration: libros de música, arreglos y orquestación.  Amazon provides the best rates and service for international shipping, as they print on demand at the location of the buyer. Therefore, I can maintain the cost if the book at the lowest rate possible, since the cost of storage is reduced.

Melbourne Guitar Lessons

Creativity Guitar Well Being

 Creativity Guitar Well Being

Where we perform music in a manner that we flow, we tend to feel great about ourselves. At my Melbourne and Sydney Guitar school,  students learn to express their emotions through the guitar. We  strive for Creativity Guitar Well Being.

The guitar is the medium for our well being. In order to achieve a beneficial flow of expression we will need to play the guitarwith joy and overcome the natural frustration we all encounter, when we enter a new world of knowledge.

Students need to learn to be logical and emotional at the same time. You will only learn to play the guitar if you can feel, hear and reproduce the rhythmic and melodic values of the composition.

 

Please let me help you learn to play the guitar with joy, and contribute further well being to your marvellous life  in which you are immersed .

Creativity Guitar Well BeingMelbourne Flamenco Jazz New Release

I would love to share with you my latest world music release for Flamenco guitar. I composed this song while hiking in the Pyrenees ( Spain) this last Spanish summer. Once I arrive back in Australia, I then converted to original idea to a composition for two guitars. Please enjoy and download, so I may continue creating and sharing my view of life with you all.

 

Melbourne Concerts

On March 8, at 8pm, I will be performing at the Paris Cat Jazz Club in Melbourne with Ben Robertson on bass. This will be my major Melbourne concert in March as l I will be starting my yearly tour in Spain, this coming April.

 

El Arreglo Un Puzzle de Expression Musical.

El Arreglo, Un Puzzle de expresion Musical, is a text book on arranging and orchestration. It is written in the Spanish language and classified as: “libros de musica, arreglos y orquestación.” It has over 400 pages in which I narrate a theoretical and practical explanation on what melodic, harmonic and rhythmic tools composer  have to aid them in their creative goals.

Melbourne Guitar Lessons, Must Read

Bass lines

Guitar level requirements

At the Melbourne Creative Guitar school, students specialize in contemporary styles of music, that allow their inner voice to flow freely. I believe that it feels good to be able to reinterpret a composition in a different manner, each time we perform it. The interpretation will be a consequence of what was heard before, and of how we choose to feel, when each new note is played.

Music should makes us feel alive and joyful. There fore, if we can create our own pathways of expression, then we will have greater enjoyment In our lives.

Developing Bass lines

One of my favourite bass players is Ron Carter. Bass players create melodic lines that define chords. The more lyrical the bass line is, the richer the overall arrangement of the composition will be. The better it will feel.

Guitarists also play bass lines and therefore we can harmonize them. I would recommend all students to transcribe a bass line of Ron Carter and to harmonize such.  I would suggest the first twelve bars of Billies Bounce, that he performs with George Benson on the album: Blue Benson.

Once you have transcribed,  harmonise the strong beats  with standard blues chords and inversions. Harmonize all passing tones, or those you would like to create the feel of passing, with secondary dominants or substitute chords. Once you have all this down and are able to play it, you will never want to play a blues again in any other manner.

Bass lines on Guitar

More news

I would like to invite you all to my Melbourne flamenco and jazz Concerts. My next concert will be this coming Friday, August 26 at 7pm. It will be held at the Armadale Uniting Church, in Melbourne. For more info and Melbourne concert ticket sales, please follow this link.

 

I am also happy to announce the new release of my first 2016 single. Please follow this link to take a peak at: Tico Tico no Fubà. My new flamenco rumba jazz release.

I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter for updates on guitar courses, masterclasses, cd releases and upcoming tours.

Please subscribe to my tube tube channel  for regular updates on guitar videos.

Melbourne Guitar Lessons

Are we all musically gifted ?

 Are we all musically gifted ?

This morning I was having a coffee, at a bar on High street, here in Melbourne, next to my Creative Guitar school. I was having lovely conversation, with a fellow customer, who stated that only those who had the gift of music could play guitar.

This comment made me very sad as I believe we all have the right to explore our need of self expression through an instrument as the guitar. I also believe, that we not only have the the right, but the obligation to do so.

Music learning, or learning to play the guitar, is a skill we all have. If you have the need to develop i,t please do so.

There are no short cuts in learning how to play the guitar. The student requires to follow a discipline, to achieve a learning, that will allow them to play their favourite songs, in a manner that they will feel good about.

Guitar musically gifted

All levels

The Creative guitar school welcomes all levels of learners, who wish to start their adventure of guitar learning, or who wish to broaden their boundaries, and further develop their talent. I believe we are all musically gifted.

All groups and guitar lessons are currently booked until October 10. I have a waiting list available, for group lessons that will be scheduled on Wednesdays from:

  • 6 to 7 pm level 1
  • 7 to 8 pm level 2
  • 8 to 9 pm level 3

You may read specifics, of each guitar level, though these links. You may also read about prices and conditions through this other link.

 

Upcoming Concerts

I would also like to post about my next major upcoming Melbourne, flamenco and jazz, concert. It will be held at the Armadale Uniting Church on August 26 at 7 pm. You are all welcomed to join us in an evening of  celebrating music from the heart.

I have been a busy bee these last few months and I have 3 new guitar compositions. They feel just great, and I would love you all, to take a peak, and listen to them on my website .

Please subscribe to my newsletter for updates on Melbourne concerts, acoustic wedding music, Cds and other guitar music related topics.


Melbourne Guitar Lessons

Creative guitar learning, well being self expression

Creative  guitar learning, well being, self expression

Jimi Hendrix before birth

After 40 years of playing music, understanding how it works and sharing such with others, through education, I reach the conclusion that,  Jimi Hendrix,  and other musicians of his caliber, were born with the musical knowledge implemented in their DNA.

As a mere mortal,  I have had to struggle to understand his talent, and somehow transfer that knowledge into my own form of personal expression, that at the end of the day makes me very fell happy as a musician. So,  40 years down the road,  I have put together an outline that all musicians and guitarist should master,  to reach that level of musicianship and personal satisfaction.

Each level, upon completion, will make you feel better about yourself and your playing.

The levels are:

LEVELS

Creative Guitar learning Melbourne Guitar Lessons.Beginners

Artistic Guitar

…………..

The more you learn, the more you can express and the better you will feel upon such goal. Music allows us to be. To be is to breathe in balance with nature, making sure we are not bombarded or  distorted by all those elements that generate hate. Come and join me on your personal journey through music with my creative guitar learning method.

For all music lovers I wish to invite you to my next  Melbourne concert to be held on June 24th at 7pm at the Armadale Uniting Church

Also please take a peak at my website. I have organized my compositions in categories of feelings. Please have a listen and leave a comment about the feeling it generates in you and I will classify accordingly.

Subscribe to my newsletter

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More by Thomas Lorenzo

Melbourne Guitar Lessons

Musical Creativity Guitar Courses

Musical Creativity

It is my objective in music to deliver emotions through creative self expression: Musical Creativity

All courses, masterclasses, Melbourne concerts and music books I offer are a consequence of such.

Just a quick reminder to have all students hand in their compositions prior to June 10th, so I may select for my upcoming newsletter. I would like to ask readers and students to subscribe to my newsletter so as to be up to date on Melbourne concerts, masterclasses and my new cd releases.

New courses are opening up every two weeks at my creative guitar school. The level 1 and 2 guitar groups are scheduled to commence on the following dates:

Level 1 . Wednesday at 6pm starting June 8th

Level 2 Wednesday at 7 pm starting June 8th

All students are more than welcomed to attend my Melbourne concerts. At these concerts they will hear all those musical concept that I teach with the objective of allowing a constant flow of creative self expression: Musical Creativity.

Musical Creativity Melbourne Guitar School

Here you may find all the the upcoming dates of my new concerts in Melbourne at the Paris Cat or at the Armadale Uniting Church.


How do you compose?

The objective of my compositions is to make sure the music matches up with my emotional content. Each song has to feel balanced from the beginning till the end of the interpretation. The core composition has to feel logical at all stages.

The interpretation, how I play the composition, has to flow with how I feel daily. Each time I play the composition it will be placed in time after a previous emotion. I can be sad before I play it, or I can be happy. The interpretation will vary but the composition will always sound unified. If this is the case, then I conclude that my compositions are mature enough and I do not retouch them ever again.

Melbourne Guitar concerts: Jazz and flamenco

You tube subscription:Thomas Lorenzo

Thomas Lorenzo CD sales and downloads

 

Melbourne Guitar Lessons

What do you need to know to improvise in Jazz

What do you need to know to improvise in Jazz ?

 

At the creative Guitar school we offer monthly workshops in Jazz , Blues and Flamenco Guitar

What will you learn in my Jazz Guitar workshops

Jazz Guitar

  • To master what you need to know to improvise and play jazz the way you would like to
  • To identify your weaknesses and strengths so as to develop what your naturally good at
  • To choose your path of learning to achieve your goals in the shortest period of time
  • To learn what goes through the mind of your top world jazz artists when they play and how you can do the same from the start
  • To learn how to turn the whole interpretation of a jazz song into an unforgettable new song
  • To learn how to tell a story with your improvisation and never run out of ideas of what to do

What specific knowledge will be presented to all jazz guitar students

  1. How to memorise a chart and why
  2. What are the minimum chords and scales required to know all over the fingerboard and why
  3. How to practice scales and why
  4. How to reach a climax in your playing and why
  5. How to play chords and define them in your unique manner
  6. How to identify what is your unique timbre , how to develop it and why
  7. How to be creative and why
  8. How to transcribe a solo and why

Jazz 2

  1. How to sound contemporary versus classical in your playing and why
  2. Lyrical soloing versus chord soloing and why
  3. Chordal soling versus non chordal soloing and why
  4. Pentatonic soloing over chord progressions and why
  5. How to add the blues touch to a jazz standard
  6. How to alter the harmony of the existing composition and why
  7. How to harmonise a melody with chords
  8. Stretching time and playing behind the time

 

Please feel free to call me or send me an email to make an inquiry on dates,  location, methods of booking  and prices of our monthly workshops in jazz , flamenco and blues guitar.

Melbourne Guitar Lessons

Creative Guitar Accompaniment

Creative Guitar Accompaniment

I would like to share with you all a video where I showcase how I approach creative guitar accompaniment on the electric guitar in pop, funk and jazz styles. In the video I accompany the vocalist Christina del Mundo from my Melbourne Acoustic Duo (Jazzy Pop)

As taught, throughout my guitar courses, the role of the accompaniment is to define the beat, the groove and the harmony. We do so by creating a constant variation of melodic rhythmic and harmonic tension.

How?
When we accompany in a specific style we have the option of creating bass lines, reharmonizing, adding rhythm, melodic tensions and dynamics. For such we need a solid notion of harmony, chords and chord scale relationships.

I like to play the electric guitar softly which allows me to produce a greater difference between loud and soft passages therefore adding greater emotional contact to my performance.

The guitar, both electric and acoustic, sing better if played softly. It does seem a contradiction but if you hit the strings with extreme force, the sound will not project. When we hit the string hard, the amplitude of the vibration is compressed as the string hits the fretboard. Hence the guitar will produce a lower relative volume than expected.

The guitar is recorded with a Shure 58 microphone. In the mixing session slight compression was added to increase attack. No other effect was used. The amplifier used is a Vox Valvetronic which costs around 350 dollars. I must point out that the sound comes most from the way you play the guitar. In other words the person is the core element of the sound.

Please enjoy the video and subscribe to my you tube channel to further enjoy my creative output.

In this channel there are further educational videos and live performances with my acoustic, Spanish and electric guitar in a variety of genres and formats as: Flamenco, Jazz, Pop and World Music.

Regards

Thomas