Below is the lesson for “Dream State” by Stephen Cox.
Helpful Tips
This fingerstyle piece has a whimsical melody that harkens to the magic of classic Disney songs. This arrangement offers up a few challenging aspects that make it ideal for the intermediate player. One of which is that it has you playing throughout a large span of the neck (frets 0-10). Now what’s specifically challenging about this, is that you’re not moving short distances (i.e. fret 3 to 5), but rather jumping large distances (i.e. fret 3 to 10).
Another challenging aspect in this piece is the use of dynamics via a crescendo [gradual volume increase until peak], as well as, tempo alterations via a ritardando [gradual slow down] and fermata [prolonged note sustain]. These concepts help to add stylistic coloring to your playing.
Part 1 – Performance & Free Lesson