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Better Productivity is about Locking and Rocking

Copyright (c) 2009 Bryan Beckstead

“I’m sorry I didn’t have time to get to your order today”. There is not a person on the face of the earth that has not heard that from someone in their lifetime. It’s a classic excuse. Unfortunately it’s absolutely false. The person who just told you they did not have your order ready when it should have been because they did they did not have time to get to it was making the excuse we all make. At the end of the day, this poor clerk had probably worked his butt off, had gotten 12 other orders done but because your order was not important enough, it was left off the production line today. Let’s help this poor guy out.

First, increasing your productivity is not about getting more done, it’s about getting the important things done. Despite what we might think, increasing our production starts with getting the things that should get done first and ensuring that other less important tasks do not crowd them out. If you had a choice of accomplishing two priorities everyday or getting 4 tasks done with no relationship to importance, which one would you choose? The answer is pretty clear; we would want to get the priorities done each day. Getting key priorities done on a consistent regular basis has a tremendous positive impact on how we view what we accomplish on a daily basis. It not only helps us out daily, it helps us keep our eye on the mid and long range goals.

Getting the important things done deals with locking those key tasks into your Day Planner and Time Activating a specific time to get the job done. It sounds so easy, but it isn’t. I wish I could say it was but I would be kidding myself as well as you. From the time you decide what is important and what gets locked in, there is an onslaught on you and your time. Everyone and everything wants a piece of you and your time, it’s up to you to follow the systems, policies and procedures that are laid out for you and coupled with your determination and commitment, you are giving yourself the best possible chance to succeed.

If you know going in that it will be a battle, you are just that much more prepared when the fighting starts. The fighting that I’m’ referring to is the fight over that time slot you have locked in for a specific task that you have deemed important and one that you want to accomplish today. That’s why we use the term “locked in”. Locked in as iron clad, as in etched in stone, as in not to be messed with under any circumstances. It is here, in the trenches of your day that the battle for increasing your productivity is won or lost. Remember that poor clerk that had to tell you he did not have your order done because he did not have the time to get to it? This is where he lost that battle. He could have had every intention of getting your order done but was not organized, disciplined enough and did not have any system in place to ensure that he was in a position to get your order done. He had plenty of time to get your order done, he just allowed himself to be moved off doing your order by some other activity. He allowed someone or something to set the agenda and dictate to him what would be done, and he went with the flow, pure and simple.

Let’s not be too hard on our guy, remember, that is probably you and I on more days than we would like to think. The difference between this guy and myself, as an example, is that when I wake up I’m ready to do battle. I know what is out there and I know how to protect what I want to get done that day. My head is already in the space it has to be in, in order that I have any chance of succeeding at all. This is the locking phase of locking and rocking. The harder you lock something in, the greater chance you have of getting it accomplished. If your attitude is less aggressive, more of an “I will get to it when I can” attitude, your chances of getting to it get worse and worse as the day rolls on. As the competition for you time heats up, the activities that are not protected and locked into specific time slots will just get swept aside and replaced by more focused and disciplined agendas.

The rocking phase is probably the easier of the two. Clearing the decks so we can actually perform the functions we want to do is usually harder to accomplish than actually doing the work. You are going to see a noticeable improvement in the amount of work you will be accomplishing not because you are doing more work, you will just be doing more of the right jobs.

Bryan Beckstead is the creator and developer of the Power Time System and the Power Productivity Maximizer and has been involved in the Self Improvement and Self Empowerment industries for almost 35 years. His aggressive, in-your-face approach has earned him a reputation as someone who will give you the facts without the usual sugar coating. If you are really serious about improving your quality of life, visit him at http://www.powertimesystem.com

Download best mobile ringtones to lead a rocking day

Mobile phones have revolutionized the entire process of communication. But the extended features of these phones have made it a style statement these days. The users have become so conscious about the look as well as applications of the phones that they want to glamorize the device by giving a distinct touch to it. Latest mobile ringtones are one of those features. Today, these melodious are treated as one o the hugely accepted medium of entertainment. Importance of the cell phones are increasing in such a speed that it is no more treated as a mere calling device, it has turned out be a symbol of style which everyone likes to flaunt. That is the reason, the trendy ringtones are getting so much hype in the recent time.

Mobile ringing give such a soothing sound that can make the user’s mood in an instant. All genres of music are available to focus on the requirements of various users. Starting from folk to rock, pop to classical, everything is just a click away. These ringing tones are good indicator of one’s mood. Because, a person’s choice of music definitely differs with the mood. An happy go lucky person will go for some foot tapping good tracks which can speak about his prevailing mood. On the other hand, person going through some not so good experiences, will select the sad music. Not only this, personality of an user can also be guessed from the kind of music one has chosen as a tune for the phone. This way, they can create an impression on the people surrounding him.

Nowadays, acquiring these melodious tracks are not at all a tough job. There are numerous websites which offer thee musical ringtones. Not only this, looking at the rising popularity of this feature, service providers are now providing free mobile ringtones to the users. As it can be accessed for free of cost, more and more people are attracted towards this application. Once, you find out the tones of your choice, downloading mobile ringtones is not a big trouble. The entire process is very simple process. One can also set different tones set for different person, so that he can let them feel their importance. An uniqueness will come to the phone. But before downloading, a person must keep in mind that all phones can not play the MP3 tracks, so first cross check the capability of the device. Generally the ringtones come in four various categories, monophonic, polyphonic, MP3 ringtones and true tones. Depending upon the configuration of the phone, the type of ringing tone changes. After that, all the enjoyment will be in your kit.

So, get the music of your choice and let the entertainment continue without any break. All the boredom, stress will fly away at once when you will tuned into these musical tunes. Let the fun continue with all the rocking tracks.

Nisha is a Professional writer working with YouTring. An online Entertainment portal offering complete mobile applications like free downloadable mobile software, free mobile games , mobile software, themes, latest mobile videos and mobile wallpapers.

Have Fun Rocking With A Genuine Marshall Mini Amp

One of the most convenient accessories you can have when you but a guitar is a top quality practice amp and one of the best ones on the market is the Marshall mini amp. For those who have no idea, a mini amp is just what you may think it is – a scaled down version of the real thing that you carry around with you when jamming or practicing.

While they may not have the same giant sound as their huge siblings these practice or mini amps are handy to carry, need no separate power source and are great looking pieces of kit. A Marshall mini amp is a straight replica of the big stacks favoured by famous guitar acts like AC/DC, right down to the brand and distinctive black box. They’re great for noobs as they’re simple on the pocket but offer some extraordinary extra features. Marshall mini amps all feature the the classic Marshall look and sound but distilled into a dinky one watt package!

You get the classic grillecloth, the distinctive Marshall crunchy distortion, and enough volume to satisfy all but the hardest core rockers out there. They also come with a collection of controls for overdrive, tone, and volume, and when you think that they get power from just one 9V battery then you can appreciate how transportable and fun they really are.

So next time you are wanting to gig with some chums but do not have a spare van or even a vehicle to lug your gear around in, look for a real Marshall Mini amp and get rocking.

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Dont be a mug and lug that big stack of amps around with you. Get a genuine Marshall Mini Amp at my website for only a few bucks.

Baby Gifts With Rocking Horses Are Popular


Ride \’em cowboy; Tally-ho!; trip trot to Boston; no matter what your child cries out when he or she plays horsie ride they all mean the same thing. I love riding!

The rocking horse is a must have classic of childhood. There are so many cute models on the market that any child will love having one. Christmas is the perfect time to give your baby or toddler the gift of their own personal thrill ride!

What age is appropriate for a young rider to gain his or her first mount? This is a good question. A rocking horse is better given when the child is too young rather than too old because a young rider can grow into their saddle, while an older child will likely never see much time in the seat.

The typical age ranges for rocking horse gifts spans from about 6 months right on up to 4 years depending on the model of rocking horse you choose.

A rule of thumb for babies and their first horse is as soon as your baby can sit up, they are ready to ride. Of course mom and dad may need to take the reigns for much of the ride, but it is still fun for both. The smiles and giggles issuing from your baby will attest to that.

There a re a large variety of baby gifts sets that include rocking horses and even rocking dinosaurs.

Shopping for a traditional rocking horse will be fun, but a horse made just for babies might be a better choice. There are many kinds of horse toys that have seats like a dish to hold babies and reduce the risk of falling. Parents will appreciate this feature as their baby begins crawling onto the rocking horse all by themselves. There are even many choices in baby gifts that have the rocking horse as the basis of the presentation.

Once your baby is steady on their feet and that pitter-patter runs from one end of the house to the other without the intermittent thump, then it is time for a larger steed. There are so many fun rocking horses that are just a toddler\’s size. These shorter rockers allow toddlers to mount and dismount without help. It is also a safer horse. Your toddler is bound to be bucked off at least once. A short toddler horse means that the fall will not be far.

The idea of a rocking horse might really appeal to you, but what if your child hates horses? It does happen. There is a rocking toy for any child\’s tastes or interests. Is your toddler a fancy princess dressed in ruffles and crowned with a tiara everywhere she goes? This child will like a unicorn or princess pony. Perhaps your son is a born train engineer. There are rocking trains. The endless choices of rocking toys are perfect as baby gifts or for baby\’s first Christmas.

Woodworking Plans Rocking Horse

Building Up Your Happy Home!

Since I met jessica dating with that guy enjoying candle dinner romanticly last week, I find a biggest, yet cruel truth of my life—I really fall in love with the girl whom I always considered as a sister!
Oh, no, that is not true. I tell myself. We are good friends for many years, and there is no doubt that we are intimate pal, we are family. How could it be? What, that guy actually dare to touch her hand, and she smiles at him so happily and warmly just because of a clumsy joke! When I see it, I feel that my blood pressure nearly escape the gravity, and goes up into sky like a rocket.
God, I will be crazy, maybe already have.
“what are you waiting for, just go ahead!” jessica’s comfidant, susan scolds me. It won’t be easy, I think. That guy is a postgraduate of a famous university, and he has great expectation. It seems that jessica has a little like of him. What could I do? I am only a freelance earning little money, introvert and boring. Maybe the only merit is to do some good woodworking, the biggest achievement is to be called a good writer and excellent carpenter by a local reporter of our town. Sounds good?!
“Then just show your love, let’s see how she choose between shinning diamond and merrygoround”. Susan sighs. One day later, I receive a special gift—Wood Working 4 Home. At the end of the mail, susan writes: “ you should research the ebook carefully, and learn how to tell your love. the meaning of supper man is not that he can fly and wear red underwear, the point lays on a true and sincere heart”.
To be frank, as a “professional” carpenter, I have never seen so many projects explaining how to do wood working .I find so many items, such as wooden desk, bed, cattage, small comb and so on, that I nearly doubt that the world is carved through wood. Still, according to the instruction, anyone could be guided hand by hand. The method is so easy and simple that I couldn’t believe my eyes.
Ok, just do it!
During three days and nights work, I make a little wooden horse according to the instruction of Wood Working 4 Home. Also, This wooden horse has some special meaning. When jessica and I met on six years old, she had her eyes on my wooden horse and kicked me off it. It may indicate my future.
Then, I paint it with spice red color, make a bow-tie on its neck, and put it in front of her door. One day passes by, there is no message. After that, I make flower vase, classical cashet, and a folding screen…
When I decide that if I should build up a wooden cottage, I receive jessica’s phonecall: if you don’t appear in front of me 5 minutes later, I will kick you out off your house like 20 years ago!
Wow, I really want to be a supper man at this moment!
Hi, guys, give you the Wood Working 4 Home, then you will build up a happy home! Download Click here

Rocking The World With Band Tee Shirts

Rock music got its start in the 50’s and has progressed ever since to become the most popular music format in the world. You can celebrate your love of the music with band tee shirts that display not just your love of rock but your love of particular bands and artists.

Band Tee shirts are a newer phenomenon than the music they promote. The idea for creating them was actually inspired by past uses of the comfortable cotton shirt. Back in the late 1940’s, one printer began using the shirts to market political slogans for candidates and this use became popular. It also led to similar uses for the shirts, including promoting celebrities and movies, such as James Dean in Rebel without a Cause.

During the 1960’s, the T-shirt itself became a popular piece of attire for younger generations. The shirts sometimes included slogans or depictions of people the “hippies” admired. Some were also tie-dyed. All of this movement and popularity eventually led to innovative independent bands printing their own marketing shirts and selling them at live shows. Thus band tee shirts were born.

But band tee shirts didn’t really take off until punk music exploded on the scene in the 1970’s. Because the fans of punk music prided themselves of being outside mainstream culture, they used the shirts baring logos such as “God Save the Queen” to promote the Sex Pistols to separate themselves clearly from the rest of the culture. Later, the fans of heavy metal and other sub-genres outside the mainstream followed suit and started proudly wearing the shirts of their favorite bands to show their support for the act.

Until the last 15 or 20 years, the only way to really purchase band tee shirts was to attend the act’s live show. You could pick up an affordable shirt and use it to promote the act just by wearing it in public. Plus, you’d immediately be associated with the band.

Later, the shirts were mass manufactured and started being available in music stores and through catalogs. Even someone living in a small town without easy access to the stadiums or clubs where their favorite acts performed could own one of these amazing shirts for their favorite artists.

Today, getting your hands on great band tee shirts is easier than ever. The shirts are available through online stores which provide a wider selection of styles, sizes, and bands to choose from. Plus, the lower overhead costs of running a web site make the shirts more affordable than what you would pay at the over-priced shows at most stadiums, too.

If you’re interested in band tee shirts, then you probably love music. The shirts are intended to show off that love to the rest of the world. Don’t be shy about your adoration for top acts, modern bands, or even classic performers. Wear the shirt and show off your passion.

Band Tee shirts, as well as other high quality vintage tees, are available for music lovers and others who want to stand out from the crowd at toxichazard.com

Choosing from the Available Rocking Chairs Can Be Exciting for Everybody

Having some variety  of seating in your child’s space is crucial.  It is necessary to have someplace to sit  down to comfortably read, play with toys, view television,  or even talk. However, kids tend to get excited about furniture that is not only useful, but appealing  to their senses, also. Fortunately, there are plenty  of styles of rocking chairs available to suit both  you and the child you are purchasing for. Think  about the most well-liked types on the market.

You just might  be a traditionalist, meaning that a basic wooden  rocking chair could suit you. If your child does not  appear to have a favorite either way, and you would  like the chair to match any decoration, this type might  be fine. On the other hand, most children want to have  a say in all furniture that is placed in their room,  particularly if they will use it a lot. If this  is the case, you will likely find that the rocking  chairs you both look at will be in your child’s favorite  color. Popular shades on the market now  are pink and blue. However, the range gets even more creative  than simply varied shades.

Most  children have a few favored characters,  shows, or films that they obsess  over. They typically want everything to reflect  that, and this goes for rocking chairs, as well.  Many providers of children’s furniture sell rocking  chairs that feature the classic favorites, like  Raggedy Ann. However, some chairs have themes that  are even more ageless. Popular themes  on rocking chairs include firefighters, princesses,  pirates, animals, athletics, cowboys, automobiles, ballerinas,  trains, police officers, flowers, and several more.  Most children can discover something that best suits them  from such a selection.

If you wish  to both get original and stay traditional,  why not look for chairs in the silhouette of  horses? This style has been around for years, and can  be a fun way to make sure children actually use the chair.  Horses are usually a favorite amongst kids  of any age, and this way, the seat can double as a toy. Most  reputable stores that sell rocking chairs  feature at least a few rocking horses to pick from, whether  they are simple or uniquely decorated in myriad  colors.

If your child is not satisfied  with adorned rocking chairs, interactive  chairs could be of more interest. For example,  the music lover will like using the chair to try  out musical skills, whether that includes drumming with the  attached drumsticks or playing the attached xylophone.  You can choose based on the instrument most likely to be of  interest to your kid. Other creative chairs include art supplies or games that allow kids to learn while  having fun. Finally, one unique type of chair  is just for time-outs, and some also include a timer so that you both can record how much time  has been spent in the seat at one time. Your child  might not enjoy helping you pick out this one, but such a chair is can  make time-out, and the reason for it, a bit more memorable.

Rocking Chairs can serve  more purpose than just as children’s furniture.  Thus, putting some consideration into selecting the right one is crucial. In addition,  this kind of furniture can certainly be fun for  kids to help pick out, particularly when it  is decorated or distinctive.

SensoryEdge is your one stop shop for kids furniture for homes & schools, educational toys, Rocking Chairs, waiting room toys and classroom rugs. We feature quality products at affordable prices.

Rocking Horse Basic Guideline

We have created this Rocking Horse buyer’s guide to assist consumers so they can make an educated buying decisions and choose a toy horse that is age appropriate, affordable and made of high quality components. When you purchase, you will want it to last for a long time. The rocking horse will always have a place in a child’s heart, in fact it is one of the most asked for toys during the holiday season. Parents and Grandparents alike want to give a gift of a rocker to a child. Having a horse that rocks in a child’s room creates a timeless reminder of days gone by, as these rockers can become an heirloom toy that will last for years and years. Give the gift that will be cherished for years to come, the wooden horse that rocks is a classic gift for new babies and toddlers. High quality designs are sure to withstand years of children playing and riding on the horse.

1. Start with a targeted age. Determine the age range you looking for. Example would be, ages 2 to 4, or ages 5 and up. It is important to consider toys which are age appropriate so the child can play safe. Most manufacturer’s have a recommended age listed in the product description page. If the age is not listed then contact the store owner for additional information.

2. How big should the rocking horse be? Take a look at the dimensions and compare them to the height of the child. Take into consideration the seat height and the overall height of the horse. Rocking horses are available in sizes small, medium and large. Another consideration is the recommended weight limit. Make sure you know what that limit is as this will vary by style, design, and manufacturer. As always please pay attention to the product description so can easily compare different models.

3. Select from a variety of material. There are many choices and designs in rocking horses. You might want to consider a handcrafted, beautiful wooden rocking horse or hand-crafted plush rocker. Then, there are plastic horses which are very durable. Whether built from wood, covered with plush fabrics or made from plastic, rocking horse features will vary. If you are looking for a classic, long lasting, heirloom quality toys then you should take a look at wooden rocking horses. Wooden rocking horse should have a smooth finish and edges should be rounded. They can be hand painted or they may have a natural finish. Wood Rockers may be varnished so make sure it is a non-toxic finish.

A plush rocking horse designed for young toddlers makes for a great first rocker. They are cuddly, soft, and usually the covering’s are removable and washable. Plastic rockers are perfect because they can easily be washed and can withstand just about anything a child can dish out. Look for plastic rockers made with a heavy-gauge, wide-stance frames and features that include a full-length spring covers for added protection. Most spring horses have bases so make sure it is a wide base for stability along with a durable steel tubular frame.

4. Interactive Rocking Horses. There are many different interactive toys on the market which may include sound effects. Many of these horses are motion activated and some even feature added activities. Interactive rocking horses often come with batteries. With textures, sounds, music and activities an interactive toys might be just what you are looking for.

As with any toddler toys, adult supervision is required so please remember to never leave a child alone on a rocking horse.

Dianna, is always offering safety and education tips to parents and caregivers. She focused on parents, and wants them to properly teach children to play safe on equipment. She is also the Founder of Best Price Toys, a leading children’s playground store, and educational toys website were the focus is on outdoor play and exercise for children.
You can visit her store to learn more about Swing Sets and Swing Set safety for Kids.

Hard Rockers Kiss Still Rocking On

The American band Kiss was formed in New York around 1973. Now over the past 34 years Kiss have sold over 19 million records in the U.S. alone and a whopping 80 million records worldwide. They have even been awarded with 22 gold records since their formation, even though the group has a history of different band members.


Kiss is well known for their live performances, having gimmicks like fire breathing, smoking guitars, blood spitting, pyrotechnics, and other extraordinary on stage antics. Because of their entertaining performances and unique sound, it`s no surprise Kiss has quickly developed a fan base worldwide.


The original members of Kiss were Gene Simmons, a schoolteacher and bass player, and Paul Stanley, a singer and guitarist who were both members of a band called Wicked Lester.


When Simmons and Stanley decided to leave Wicked Lester, they brought with them their bad boy image and formed the band Kiss with a horror style of presentation. This image later became the reason for being dubbed as one of the greatest rock and roll bands in the world of popular music.


Kiss became a complete band after recruiting Paul Ace Frehley (vocals and lead guitar) and Peter Criss (vocals and drums) through a newspaper advertisement that Stanley and Simmons set out.


The band Kiss produced a series of successful albums throughout the 1970s. With their donning, elaborate face make ups and black leather outfits, the Kiss band instantly became a hit and even adopted each of their own personas and stage names Stanley The Star Child, Simmons The Demon, Criss The Cat and Frehley The Space Man.


In 1974, Kiss` self titled debut album and Hotter Than Hell came out, which were both filled with crushing, raw music that would later become classic Kiss songs like Hotter than Hell, Strutter and Cold Gin. However, the band`s commercial stardom began with their 1975 album Dressed to Kill, which gave Kiss their signature tune Rock and Roll All Nite.


Around 1976 and with their release of Destroyer, Kiss was dubbed as the greatest rock n` roll band in America due to its Top 10 hits and its growing Kiss Army. The group, then, released Love Gun and Rock and Roll Over, which both became Platinum.


Unfortunately, because of creative differences and substance abuse, Frehley and Criss were both out of the band by 1982. As a result, the band`s commercial fortune and fan base also decreased during this time.


Without the make up, Kiss made a major comeback in 1983 and enjoyed a successful resurgence all through the early 1990s. Kiss` original lineup reunited in 1996, with their world renowned make ups on and performed in 210 cities for the Kiss Alive Worldwide Tour, which attended by over two million Kiss fanatics worldwide.


After the tour, Criss was replaced by Eric Singer and Frehley by Tommy Thayer, after both deciding to leave Kiss for good. The band still performs with Simmons and Stanley the only constant band members.


To this day with their evolving music, elaborate live acts, outlandish costumes and millions of fans and worldwide, Kiss remains as one of the greatest rock and roll bands in the world.

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Start Playing Rock Guitar – 5 Easy Steps To Get You Rocking Out

If you love rock music, and have always wanted to be able to play some of your favorite songs on the guitar, but maybe you’ve found it difficult to get started, then here are 5 steps to help get you get going.

Step 1 – Choose Your Guitar & Amp

Of course, you can learn to play the guitar using any type of guitar, acoustic (classical/folk) or electric.

However, if you particularly want to start playing rock guitar, then an electric guitar is probably the best choice. The main reason for this is that guitarists in most rock bands use electric guitars, so from the start it’s going to sound more like the music you want to play (after all, you’re not looking to play ‘Greensleeves’, but more ‘Green Day’).

Another reason, which some people may debate, but I think that it’s just easier on the fingers to start learning on an electric guitar, and that’s less likely to put you off when you’re just beginning.

As for the amplifier or ‘amp’, to start off, you don’t need a huge stack, or a particularly powerful amp. A small practice amp (e.g. 10-20 Watts) can be sufficient to begin with. Most of these will have at least 2 different modes – ‘clean’ and ‘distortion’ (or this second one may be called ‘drive’). The distortion mode is really the one you want to use, as this is used to some degree by many rock bands, and is the definitive ‘rock guitar’ sound. Even if at this point you don’t know how to play anything, just plug the guitar in, select the distortion channel, and strum the open strings – chances are it sounds ‘rock like’ already!

Many music stores sell starter packages which include an electric guitar, practice amp and case, which can be great value when starting out.

Step 2 – Tune It!

An out of tune instrument can make even the best guitarist sound awful. Get into the habit of always tuning the guitar before you start playing or practicing. There are many different ways of tuning the guitar, but the most common one is called ‘Standard Tuning’, and this is the one used by most rock guitarists.

On this diagram of the guitar neck:

E -||–|–|–|–|–|– (highest-sounding)
B -||–|–|–|–|-X|–
G -||–|–|–|-X|–|–
D -||–|–|–|–|-X|–
A -||–|–|–|–|-X|–
E -||–|–|–|–|-X|– (lowest-sounding)

The lowest-sounding strings are shown at the bottom, and the highest-sounding at the top. The diagram shows the names of the notes for each string in Standard Tuning. Don’t worry if you don’t know the names of the notes, or can’t read music. The most important thing to begin with, is just to tune the guitar strings relative to each other. Let’s say we’ll tune relative to the highest E string (top one in the diagram).

Play the B string on the 5th fret (X in the diagram) and at the same time play the open E string. In Standard tuning, these should be the same note, so if they don’t sound the same, adjust the B string tuning until they match. Then carry on with the other pairs of strings. In each case you play the 5th fret on the lower string, against the sound of the open upper string. The only exception is the G string, where you play the 4th fret note – see the X’s in the diagram.

Step 3 – The Power Chord

Okay, now the guitar is in tune (at least with itself), so you can start learning some rock chords. Most people start off by learning the open shape chords (C, D, G chords, etc), then move on to barre and other more complicated chord patterns. This is a perfectly acceptable way to learn, but to play most songs, you usually need at least 3 different chords, and the most frustrating thing is trying to switch your fingers from one chord shape to another. With some practice, this becomes quick and easy, but there is another way to approach it, which only involves learning one pattern.

That pattern is the ‘Power Chord’ pattern, and this can be used to play a large proportion of rock songs out there. Let’s look at the G power chord pattern:

E -||–|–|–|–|–|– (highest-sounding)
B -||–|–|–|–|–|–
G -||–|–|–|–|–|–
D -||–|–|–|–|5X|–
A -||–|–|–|–|4X|–
E -||–|–|1X|–|–|– (lowest-sounding)

In this diagram, the X’s show where to put your fingers (of your left hand usually) on the fretboard, and the number shows which finger to use where. So in this case, the first finger will go on the lowest string at the 3rd fret, then the 4th finger at the 5th fret, then finally the 5th finger at the 5th fret.

When forming this pattern, try to make each finger rest just behind the fret marker, and not be right in the middle, as this makes the notes sound more clearly (with less ‘buzzing’). Try strumming the bottom 3 strings with your right hand, while holding down this pattern on the fretboard with your left. That is a G power chord. If your guitar strings are in tune as in step 2, and you have a distortion sound, then that should really sound like a rock chord.

Step 4 – Shift It Around

Now for the best bit – to play some songs right away you can use this same pattern, but play different chords with it. So, keeping your fingers in this pattern (1st, 4th and 5th fingers), try sliding it down 2 frets to play an F chord:

E -||–|–|–|–|–|– (highest-sounding)
B -||–|–|–|–|–|–
G -||–|–|–|–|–|–
D -||–|–|5X|–|–|–
A -||–|–|4X|–|–|–
E -||1X|–|–|–|–|– (lowest-sounding)

it’s the same ‘L’ shape pattern as in Step 3, but you’ve just shifted it further down the fretboard. This is now an F power chord.

And now for another chord:

E -||–|–|–|–|–|– (highest-sounding)
B -||–|–|–|–|–|–
G -||–|–|–|–|5X|–
D -||–|–|–|–|4X|–
A -||–|–|1X|–|–|–
E -||–|–|–|–|–|– (lowest-sounding)

In this one, we’ve taken the original power chord from Step 3, and just shifted it across to start on the next string. This is now a C power chord. When strumming this one, try not to sound the bottom E string.

In all cases here, the pattern stays exactly the same, we’ve just changed which fret the 1st finger starts at, and on which string (E or A). Since the frets on the guitar aren’t evenly spaced, you’ll have to adjust your fingers slightly when moving it up or down.

This diagram shows where you have to start with your 1st finger to play different power chords:

E -||–|–|–|–|–|–|– (highest-sounding)
B -||–|–|–|–|–|–|–
G -||–|–|–|–|–|–|–
D -||–|–|–|–|–|–|–
A -||Bb|-B|-C|C#|-D|Eb|-E
E -||-F|F#|-G|G#|-A|Bb|-B (lowest-sounding)

so, for example, if you wanted to play a D chord rather than a C as we did above, then just start with your 1st finger on the A string at the 5th fret.

With this chart, and the chords to your favorite rock song, you can use the one pattern to play it all the way through!

Step 5 – Practice!

It will still take some practice so that you can form the pattern shown above, and move it around easily between frets. However, for now, there’s only one pattern to learn, and you can concentrate on making the notes sound clearly by holding them down firmly behind the frets with your left hand on the fretboard, and trying to strum only the strings you’re holding down.

Once you’ve got the hang of this shape, and can play it easily at different frets, then you should be able to play a few different rock songs. From there, the sky is the limit, there are many more techniques and things to learn as you progress with your guitar playing.

I know that this technique works well, as recently my 11-year old son came to me, and wanted to learn to play a song on the guitar called ‘Teenage Kicks’. He hadn’t really played guitar at all until then. I showed him the power chord shapes here, and within half an hour, he was playing the basics of this song, much to his delight!

Chris Davies is a guitarist with many years experience. To see a version of this article with accompanying pictures, and also see reviews on the best online guitar lessons and get FREE sample lessons from them, visit this site now: http://www.TheGuitarLessonReview.com/