The document is an email newsletter from Ben's guitar lessons website. It discusses power chords, a simple guitar technique useful for rock music. It also provides advice on starting a band, including finding band members, practicing together, and getting early performance opportunities at open mic nights and parties. The newsletter encourages the recipient to watch an accompanying video lesson on power chords and palm muting, and to explore more lessons on the website.

1. Ben’s Blog : Part 8
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Listen Up!
This is for the Rockers! Today I'm going to explain about power chords and
how you can go about starting a band and getting gigs. Maybe you don't
want to be in a band or play in public, that's fine, but if it is something you
think you'd like to do one day, I've been gigging professionally since I was
16 years old and I'm happy to pass on a bit of advise.
I Love this part of the course, because it's so simple and so effective. If you
like Rock music, especially Punk or NuMetal , you will absolutely love
playing power chords. It’s usually the first thing beginner electric guitarists
learn to do. If you like popular stuff like Greenday and Blink182, then you
are going to love this section.
It's likely that you already can play some power chords, if you can, I want
you to read all of this segment and watch the mini-video-guitar-lesson

2. anyway because I'm going to teach you some extra stuff as well which will
help you even further.
Power chords are simple, easy, but very satisfying! (It’s kind of like
smashing up old roofing tiles with a sledgehammer, or maybe it's just me,
who likes doing that,)
Power chords are best played on electric guitar; you need some kind of
distortion or over-drive. Most amps have a knob, which says, "Gain". Turn
it up! Some amps have a "Channel select" button or maybe you have a
foot pedal, which will give you that dirty rock sound! Any of the above is
fine.
If you want to start a band, this technique can be learned relatively quickly
and it will sound pretty cool when played with a drummer and base player.
Please understand me, I’m not suggesting that you have to play Rock,
Punk and NuMetal in order to start a band, you can play any music you
like, folk, classical, blues, rock n roll, country, jazz, all I am saying is that
Rock is very popular and power chords are a simple and effective way to
get used to playing.
If you want to learn more about power chords now, go straight to the link at
the bottom of the page and watch your mini-video-guitar-lesson.
If you want some advise about starting a band, keep reading.
STARTING A BAND
If you want to start a band you need to pick your team. Maybe you have a

3. friend who plays drums or base or guitar. Music shops always have a
notice board on the wall with signs saying "drummer seeks band" or
"guitarist wanted to start covers band" etc. Also ask the shop assistants
because it's likely that they will know lots of musicians in town. You could
go to a base/drum/keyboard/singing teacher and ask them if they have any
students who are looking to start a band. The reality is, you probably have
some friends who play instruments and would be willing to come and have
a Jam with you.
Start off with some simple Jamming. Think of it as a "first date" (here I go
again!). You don't have to marry the musician you're jamming with, you just
want to test the water and see if there's any musical chemistry between
you! It helps if you like the same type of music, be flexible and easy going.
Be willing to experiment and don't worry if it sounds awful at first! I doubt if
U2's first band rehearsal was perfect either.
When you have practiced a few songs which sound good. It's usually
easier to get gigs than most people think. Open-mic nights are a great way
to get on stage for the first time. These are usually held in pubs and bars,
all you have to do is turn up with your guitar and anybody is welcome to
get up on stage and play a song or two. The crowd are very forgiving and
supportive. There will be a whole range of people performing. Some will be
on stage for the first time ever; some will be experienced musicians testing
their latest songs on the audience. This is a very good way of increasing
your confidence.
Next, play at some parties for friends and family. This is a great way of
doing gigs without being too stressed. Nobody will mind if anything goes

4. wrong, and as you build the quality of you performance you'll eventually be
able to ask to be paid. (I talk more about this in another section of the
eCourse, which you'll receive within the next few weeks)
These days it's easy to record audio and burn a CD using your own
computer. It's handy to produce a demo CD so you can give it to people
who may be interested in booking you.
If you approach a music venue and speak to the person in charge of
booking bands, they will want to hear your demo. Not because they want
to listen to your music, but because they want to feel certain that you are
organised and professional. If you have photos or video footage this will
also demonstrate that you are serious. These days it's easy enough to
create a website with audio, video and images of your band.
Also, websites like www.myspace.com are a brilliant way of showcasing
your band.
It should be easy enough to get a mid-week support slot. This means you
play before the headline band go on stage. Often the promoter will give
you a support slot as a way of auditioning you, then if you perform well,
he/she may re-book you as a head-line or give you a better night like a
Friday or a Saturday booking.
Here's the bottom line folks, you may not be ready to start a band and start
gigging yet, but I want you to know that it is definitely something you can
achieve. Many of my students have gone on to start their own bands,
either playing their own original music or covers.
Some of my ex-students now even teach guitar themselves.

5. Gigging can be a lot of fun; you can earn money doing it, make lots of
friends, and meet lots of important contacts in the music industry. It can be
daunting at first, like the very first time you go on a rollercoaster, part of
you feels nervous and part of you feels excited.
But once you step out of your comfort zone and get on stage, you will be
delighted by the wonderful sense of satisfaction you can get from
entertaining people.
If you would like to ask me more questions about this, feel free to email me
on info@vGuitarLessons.com I'll be happy to answer your questions and
give you as much advise as I can.
So, Would you like to learn this simple technique called "power chords"
which can make you sound like a rock god within minutes? Would you like
to learn how to "palm mute" so everything you play sounds dirtier and
grungier than ever before?
(If you have been playing for some time already, you may already be
familiar with "power chords" and "palm muting". If so, I suggest you watch
the mini-video anyway, then click the link below and go to the archive
where you will find "full-length-video-guitar-lessons", more advanced
techniques and songs which will challenge your playing ability even further.
This 12-part eCourse is mainly aimed at beginner guitarists so some of it
may seem obvious to you. However, stick with
Me, because each segment I send you will focus on different techniques,
such as strumming, punk rock, lead solos, bar chords, improvising, funk-
rhythms, rock'n'roll, etc. so there's plenty here for you to enjoy.

6. to Watch Your MINI-VIDEO-GUITAR-LESSON "power chords and palm
muting" (I suggest you do watch it!) click on the download link above or
below.
Once you've watched the mini-video-guitar-lesson, BROWSE THE
ARCHIVE at www.vGuitarLessons.com/archive. I've put a whole selection
of full-length-video-guitar-lessons there; including lots of rock songs to
chose from and learn.
Also, if you have friends who are learning guitar, send them this link
www.vGuitarLessons.com/course because I'm sure they will benefit from
this eCourse also.
Until next time, keep practising, and enjoy playing guitar no matter what
standard you are at. I'll see you in a few days with the next segment of
your eCourse where we'll learn to play 'bar chords'.
Remember don't make it more complicated than it needs to be, start
simple, follow my instructions, and your ability will improve as you continue
to practise.
Ben Lowrey
http://www.vguitarlessons.com

7. to Watch Your MINI-VIDEO-GUITAR-LESSON "power chords and palm
muting" (I suggest you do watch it!) click on the download link above or
below.
Once you've watched the mini-video-guitar-lesson, BROWSE THE
ARCHIVE at www.vGuitarLessons.com/archive. I've put a whole selection
of full-length-video-guitar-lessons there; including lots of rock songs to
chose from and learn.
Also, if you have friends who are learning guitar, send them this link
www.vGuitarLessons.com/course because I'm sure they will benefit from
this eCourse also.
Until next time, keep practising, and enjoy playing guitar no matter what
standard you are at. I'll see you in a few days with the next segment of
your eCourse where we'll learn to play 'bar chords'.
Remember don't make it more complicated than it needs to be, start
simple, follow my instructions, and your ability will improve as you continue
to practise.
Ben Lowrey
http://www.vguitarlessons.com