Drone strings aren't used by many guitar players, but it is a crucial tool for helping you practice and even perform! This video will cover all the basics of using drone strings, when to use them, and how to use this technique to the greatest effect.

I love drone strings because they add so much body to your playing. Depending on what key you're playing in, drone strings can make a huge difference. They can fill out your sound, give you a nice bass-y foundation, and make your playing much more musical.

One of the easiest ways to start experimenting with drone string playing is tune your low E string to a low D. Then, you can play an D minor scale on the middle D string. This can give you a load of melodic phrases.

You can apply this technique to any of your open strings. But there's one important thing to remember: drone strings don't have to be lower than the string your playing melody on. You can use an open G string and play the G minor or major scale on the A string.

My hope is that you walk away from this episode feeling a little more inspired to use drone strings. If you're a guitarist who plays by yourself, drone strings really add depth to your playing. It sounds, almost, as if there was another guitar player backing you up!

So go ahead and try to add some drone string playing to your guitar routine this week. It might just become your new favorite technique.

In addition to discussing drone strings, here's what else is packed into this episode…

• Cristina Vane