Build and Maintain Hand Strength for Guitar
Speed Up the Learning Process
When you first start out as a guitar player, your grip is probably going to be pretty weak. This is problematic for holding down your notes for long periods of time, and can make barre chords a nightmare.
Using the Varigrip from Planet Waves can speed up building your grip strength, which can lead to enjoying the learning process of guitar even more.
Get Rid of that Weak Pinky
A very common issue guitarists seem to share is having a weak pinky.
Using this hand exerciser can absolutely help you strengthen that pinky. Help Build Callouses
A very unique feature that comes with the Varigrip is the callus builder.
This can be useful for those who may be away from their guitar and want to make sure they don't lose those calluses. 
What Other Users of the Varigrip Had to Say
"This is Fantastic! Has definitely improved my finger dexterity and hand strenght! Very small and durable. After two months there has been a noticable improvement! This even though I already have been using one of the "A" shape spring grip strenght devices for years. Have yet to need to increase the spring tension wheels, although it is good to know the capability is there. Easy to stash in your pocket, a guitar case, keep on your desk or night stand, and use while driving. The removable back cushion reveals three parallel simulated string ridges to help keep your finger calluses in good shape."
-Robert G.
"Bought this for guitar playing strength!! Very helpful even after just a week!!My fingers are much stronger I know because I couldn't snap my fingers on left hand.I can get a loud snap out now!!I have to use it on right hand too because my left hand is getting stronger!!Seems like it's made well. Don't know how other people's fell apart?? The callus builder really works & hurts!! Each fingers resistance is adjustable.Instructions on how to best use exerciser are very helpful.I'm very happy with this exerciser & the price was right!!I'll keep ya posted but for now, after a week, I'm very satisfied!!
1 Month later: Still holding up great. Much improved strength in my fingers, hands & forearms.Exercises the whole finger depending on what part you use to push down.This thing is PERFECT for guitar players!"
-Joe Joe Gadget
"First, let me say that I have not had ANY issues with the device breaking or the little finger pistons/springs popping out. I've had mine for over a year and it is still fully functional. I use both functions (finger movement and the flipside fingertip toughener) with no problems. With that said, I can definitely see how, with improper use, you could dislodge the pistons. The key to me is to apply your pressure as straight up and down as possible. If you try to squeeze the finger pistons down at an angle then you are applying a large amount of lateral force in addition to the vertical force. The pistons are not built to hold up to large amounts of lateral force and it causes them to dislodge. The device should be held between the fingers and the thumb not between the fingers and the base of your palm (at an angle). It's harder this way but it is supposed to be hard. Just turn the tension down and build up to it."
-Josh
CLICK HERE
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Share Your Thoughts
Have you used a Varigrip before? Perhaps something similar?
Share what you think of it in the comments section!
Share what you think of it in the comments section!
2 Comments
Perfect Portable Amp for Metal Guitarists
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As someone who travels to student's homes, I need a reliable amp that's portable, battery powered when needed, and allows me to play whatever I want without fast notes getting cut out due to shitty ampness.
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Crunchy Distortion and Pretty Cleans
For a pint sized amp, the tone you can get really impresses me.
The sounds range from good crunchy distortion or light overdrive to
beautiful cleans.
The sounds range from good crunchy distortion or light overdrive to
beautiful cleans.
Built In Guitar Effects
There are a few classic guitar effects built into the amp so you can have fun playing around with different sounds.
- Chorus
- Flanger
- Phaser
- Tremelo
- Delay
- Reverb
Amp Demonstration
Until I have a video of my own demonstrating this amp, check out this Guitar World video to hear what this amp can do.
User Reviews
"Plain and simple WOW!!! This amp is really good for people who are just starting out and need a decent, affordable and quality amplifier. It is small, light in weight, can fit your luggage easily when travelling( which I do a lot of), but above all, IT CAN PERFORM!!!!"
-Whitefalcon
"This amp is great for the home. I leave it set up in the living room and you don't notice it being there ... so I don't have to go to another room to sit down and play if the mood strikes me. It also has a powerful output for such a small amp. I would recommend for the home for your own enjoyment or giving lessons etc. A lot of sound from a little box!"
-Bela Walton Jenks iv
"Can't be beat. Portable and great sound. Good effect variety without being overwhelming. Every guitar player should have one."
-Roger M.
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If you NEED a super portable amp,
I HIGHLY recommend the Roland Micro Cube. |
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Share Your Thoughts
Do you have this amp already?
Share what you think of it in the comments section!
Share what you think of it in the comments section!
A Musician's Best Friend
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A metronome is an ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE for any musician who wants to take their craft seriously.
This is something I preach to my students a LOT! And, I absolutely use a metronome myself to ensure I get the most out of my practice sessions. |
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Improve Speed and Accuracy
Countless hours of meticulous metronome practice is how I gained my speed and dexterity.
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When used correctly, metronome practice CAN and WILL improve your
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Favorite Features
Boss's DB-30 Dr. Beat Metronome is pretty straight forward and easy to use. Boss does make much fancier metronomes that are almost like drum machines, but I don't need anything that fancy.
I just want something that keeps the beat, and can have the BPM moved in increments of one BPM. That's exactly what this metronome does, plus some other cool things that have proven useful when working with students.
All my favorite feature are:
I just want something that keeps the beat, and can have the BPM moved in increments of one BPM. That's exactly what this metronome does, plus some other cool things that have proven useful when working with students.
All my favorite feature are:
- You can increase/decrease the tempo by one beat per minute (BPM)
- You can change the number of beats you hear (I prefer to leave it on one)
- You can turn on/off subdivisions like 8th notes, 16th notes, Triplets, etc.
- There is a volume control.
- You can plug in headphones to hear the metronome better, or even hook it up to some speakers with an aux cord.
- You can use the "tap tempo" to tap out how fast/slow you want the metronome to go.
User Reviews
"Folks, this does it all. Choosing your tempo is quick and the "tap" feature is huge when making a big time change. It provides both audible (click) and visual (lights and meter) timing cues."
-Anthony De Lucia Jr.
"Everyone hates carrying around those huge metronome/tuners. This is such a better option. I myself attach it to the strap of my R.B. triple continental bag, via the belt clip on the back, so that way it is always there. It could be a little louder, but I solve that issue by putting in earbuds. Great for subdivision and different syncopation. I would say this a MUST HAVE for any middle school, high school, college, or even professional (yes even they still practice with a metronome)."
-CWH
"The Boss db-30 by DR Beat delivers ! When I need to know the exact BPM I use this product. I have used Dr Beat metronomes for over 25 years. I have a mixer... a pro cd player and several digital software programs that also measure bpms but they seem to be " FOOLED " by complicated bass and drum patterns. NOT Dr. Beat."
-Javis Swanson
CLICK HERE to Get a
Highly Recommended Metronome
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At only $37.99 for a brand new one (some used ones are available for less) I feel this is a great deal.
Other metronomes can cost 2 or 3 times as much! |
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Share Your Thoughts
If you already use this metronome, or use a different one you prefer, please share your thoughts in the comments section!
- Videos with imbedded tabs that display the count, strumming pattern, and chord names - everything you need in one convenient place
- Video explanations that ensure you understand how to count each rhythm pattern
- Video demonstrations (at various tempos) that show you how to play each rhythm pattern
- Audio tracks (at various tempos) allowing you to practice at the speed you want
- Etudes with uniquely created drum tracks, so you’re not just playing exercises - you’re playing a song
- “John has a natural way of teaching music that makes it a little easier to understand…And it feels good to know how to properly do certain things, especially things like 16th notes and rhythms in general.” ~ Derek
- “John's got a very systematic approach to teaching guitar …” ~ Josh
- “As a teacher, I find him to be very, very attentive to detail, to the structure of the music, and how things function and teaching you how they function and helping you understand how they function.” ~ Mike
- 180 different pieces of music, tabbed out with rhythm notation - You’ll be busy for ages
- 609 videos (demonstrations and explanations) - You’ll know exactly what to do and how to do it
- Over 5 ½ hours of audio files - Play along and be confident you’re playing in time
- EPUB version of the course (think of it as an eBook)
- 32 bit and 64 bit Windows app (if you don't want to use the EPUB reader)
- PDF, Guitar Pro 6 and 7 files of all the tablature
- An explanation of the principles and techniques necessary for pushing your genetic potential in how fast and accurate you can pick
- A section covering 16th notes, and a section covering 8th note triplets
- Each section comes with 22 exercises designed to start you off with something simple, and gradually increases the difficulty so you become better and better
- A speed picking etude for both the 16th notes and 8th note triplets
- Tabs for all of the exercises
- Video demonstrations for all of the exercises at four different speeds
- 8th Notes (this section has material with 8th notes being the fastest subdivision)
- Chord Strumming Focused - 87 items
- Single Notes Focused - 118 items
- Legato Focused - 83 items
- 16th Notes (this section has material with 16th notes being the fastest subdivision)
- Chord Strumming Focused - 83 items
- Single Notes Focused - 122 items
- Legato Focused - 11 items
- Triplets (this section splits the beat up into 3 or 6 parts as the fastest subdivision)
- Chord Strumming Focused - 2 items
- Single Notes Focused - 79 items
- Legato Focused - 28 items
- Slower Than 8th Notes - 11 items
- 6 Bend Licks
- 3 Finger Tapping Licks/Riffs
- 15 Tabs Pertaining to Music Theory
- 9 Sweep Picking Riffs
- 9 Miscellaneous tabs
- 8th Notes (this section has material with 8th notes being the fastest subdivision)
- Chord Strumming Focused - 60 items
- Single Notes Focused - 61 items
- Legato Focused - 37 items
- 16th Notes (this section has material with 16th notes being the fastest subdivision)
- Chord Strumming Focused - 62 items
- Single Notes Focused - 137 items
- Legato Focused - 57 items
- Triplets (this section splits the beat up into 3 or 6 parts as the fastest subdivision)
- Chord Strumming Focused - 24 items
- Single Notes Focused - 76 items
- Legato Focused - 54 items
- Slower Than 8th Notes - 12 items
- 19 Palm-Mute Focused Riffs
- 5 Finger Tapping Licks/Riffs
- 41 Tabs Pertaining to Arpeggios (not typical sweep picking)
- 14 Tabs Pertaining to Sweep Picking
- 4 Miscellaneous tabs
Metal and Rock Rhythm Guitar Crash Course
$97.00
What's the #1 thing every guitarist needs? Speed? Accuracy? Natural Ability? Knowledge? WRONG!
Psst! Let me share a little secret with you…if your rhythm sucks, everything suffers. Everything. Rhythm, by far, is the single most important aspect of music. It separates the men from the boys. You’ll never become the guitar player you dream of being with poor rhythm.
I designed the new Metal and Rock Guitar Rhythm Crash Course to dramatically improve your rhythm. This will carry over into all other aspects of your guitar playing.
What if the material is too difficult? Won’t it overwhelm me?
This course has been carefully crafted to benefit a wide variety of guitar players. Each section has varying levels of complexity at a variety of tempos. That means you learn at the pace and tempo you want. The section-ending etudes provide you with the chance to put everything together. With them, you’ll solidify your ability to switch between different rhythm patterns. As you conquer each one, watch your confidence soar.
So what do I actually get? Do I only get a few tabs and some videos?
Phhffttt! Are you kidding? You get way more than that. Each section includes:
My favorite song isn't in 4/4 - will this course help me?
Though 4/4 time is the main focus of this course, I haven’t ignored other time signatures. The section “Beyond 4/4” has got you covered. You’ll learn how to count and play in 8 other time signatures. There’s even a short section on polyrhythms and polymeters - for those seeking a real mental workout.
Here’s how some students have described my teaching methods, which you’ll enjoy in this course:
The Metal and Rock Guitar Rhythm Crash Course includes:
And if you buy the course outright, you get Guitar Pro files (Ver. 6 & 7) for the entire course. As an introductory offer, you can get everything in this course for only $97. That’s the price of 3 guitar lessons.
CLICK HERE to see a preview of how the course looks.
This download will be a .zip file containing the following items:
Speed/Tremolo Picking Guitar Course
$25.00
This speed picking instruction course is focused on getting that picking hand/arm as fast as you can get it! Here's what you will find in the course:
CLICK HERE to view a free demo (the actual course has MUCH more material!)
666 Real Lessons - Volume 1
$6.66
CLICK HERE to get Volumes 1 and 2 at a discount!
You can think of this as sort of a grab bag of various things given to students throughout the years.
Every collection contains Guitar Pro files. Yes, you will need to be able to view Guitar Pro 7 files to use this collection. I'm not affiliated with Guitar Pro, and I receive no money from sales from them. That being said, I highly recommend this program to anyone who is serious about learning and/or writing their own guitar music.
Right now, there are two collections. As more students receive lessons, more volumes/collections will be released. Here is what you can find in volume one:
Rhythm Work Sets Collection v1
$50.00
Rhythm is, by far, THE MOST important skill for any musician to develop.
If your rhythms suck, EVERYTHING suffers!
To help guitar players improve their rhythm skills, these Rhythm Work Sets were released on the Mile High Shred Patreon group covering a variety of 8th note, 16th note, and 8th note triplet patterns using metal guitar chords, single note riffs, and even some legato.
With 33 different rhythms, there are over 300 different examples you can learn to make sure you have plenty of material to work with that matches your current skill level.
Now, you can absolutely pay the $50 to buy this collection, OR...
666 Real Lessons - Volume 2
$6.66
CLICK HERE to get Volumes 1 and 2 at a discount!
You can think of this as sort of a grab bag of various things given to students throughout the years.
Every collection contains Guitar Pro files. Yes, you will need to be able to view Guitar Pro 7 files to use this collection. I'm not affiliated with Guitar Pro, and I receive no money from sales from them. That being said, I highly recommend this program to anyone who is serious about learning and/or writing their own guitar music.
As more students receive lessons, more volumes/collections will be released. Here is what you can find in volume two:
666 Real Guitar Lessons - Both Volumes
$9.99
Both Volumes 1 and 2 - 666 Real Lessons, giving you a total of 1,332 different things to play!
You can think of this as sort of a grab bag of various things given to students throughout the years.
Every collection contains Guitar Pro files. Yes, you will need to be able to view Guitar Pro 7 files to use this collection. I'm not affiliated with Guitar Pro, and I receive no money from sales from them. That being said, I highly recommend this program to anyone who is serious about learning and/or writing their own guitar music.
Author
John Taylor, guitar instructor for Mile High Shred.
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