The Quantum Guitar Method
Master the “Quantum Guitar Effect”, where player and instrument effortlessly merge, not from practice and control, but from a deeper, mind/body connection.
Quantum Guitar: Playing Without Conscious Thought
The Quantum Guitar Method is about reaching a state where your mind and body take over. It’s like walking or driving a car—you don’t consciously think about every step; you just do it.
When you first start, changing from a C chord to a G chord feels difficult. But soon, a mental shift happens. Your fingers start to move on their own. You stop thinking about the chords… they just happen.
Beyond Just Chords
Most guitar players only learn to strum chords. The Quantum Guitar Method is a leap beyond strumming. Once you know the chords, you can add melody notes at the same time. This works because a song’s melody notes are “hidden” right inside the chord structure you are using.
Watch and Learn
To master this, you simply have to see it in action and make a concentrated effort to follow along. By practicing chords and melody together, you’ll reach a level where you play unconsciously. It’s the moment the music stops being a struggle and becomes a part of you.
That is the Quantum Guitar Method.
Playing lead is not playing melody
When I first started learning guitar in the early 1960s, I was particularly interested in Guitar Instrumentals by such bands as the Ventures, “Walk Don’t Run”, the Shadows, “Apache”, the Fireballs, “Bulldog”, and Duane Eddy, “Rebel Rouser”, and I practiced these and other instrumentals a lot.
As time passed, I started singing and playing rhythm guitar in several local bands… and continued playing as a local musician throughout my music career.
However, I never forgot my instrumental guitar passion, and I incorporated my ability to play melody notes on my rhythm guitar. I thought of myself as playing second lead. (I’ve run across a few recorded songs where some artists use this technique for a few specific songs — usually country).
Lead players, on the other hand, generally never play the melody of a song; they play well-practiced guitar patterns or riffs based on a song’s chord structure.
In contrast, my Quantum Guitar method inserts various melody notes within each chord of a song. In addition, these added melody notes can act as intros and outros between chords.
THINK ABOUT THIS
When strumming a chord, a maximum of six notes are being played (one for each string). However, the melody (while strumming a chord) can contain a much greater number and variety of notes.
Learning the Quantum Guitar Method
NOTE: The Quantum Guitar Method can only be used while playing major open chords.
In the sample set below, focus on how my fingers move while playing some typical songs. For a wider application, see the videos in my “Play Along Video” sets.
You may notice that I often use my single index finger when playing an “A” chord.
This frees up two of my fingers so I can play additional melody notes.
Play Set A
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Incidentally, the Quantum Guitar method works just as well, if not better, without a backing track… because the melody notes are more distinct and impressive.
The Quantum Guitar method is based on a song’s melody, chord pattern, energy, and “feel”.
Success depends on how well the player enjoys these elements. (Your mind and brain strive to anticipate and produce results you enjoy and expect).
There are no rules or lessons involved with learning my advanced Quantum Guitar method.
The process of learning this technique is based on each person’s desire to become a more skillful and entertaining guitar player.
Visit my SoloBand “play-along” video library
Play along and practice, practice, practice… Have Fun!
The most important factor when learning or playing guitar is not what kind of guitar you have… electric or acoustic; how much money your guitar cost; or kind of strings you use.
The most important factor you need to consider when learning or playing guitar is your mind and your ears.
Being a good musician depends on how well you train your mind and ears to hear and understand the kind of music you like and want to play.
If you play music that you enjoy learning and playing — your mind knows — and helps…
If you think learning guitar is frustrating and/or boring — your mind knows — and goes to sleep…