Wednesday, January 23, 2008
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Click link below to download
Download Green Day - American Idiot [1].gp4
Download Green Day - Basketcase.gp3
Download Green Day - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams [1].gp4
Download Green Day - Macy_'s Day Parade (2).gp3
Download Green Day - Minority.gp4
Download Green Day - Poprocks & Coke.gp4
Download Green Day - Time Of Your Life.gp3
Download Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends [2].gp4
Green Day Guitar Pro Tabs
Click link below to download
Download Green Day - American Idiot [1].gp4
Download Green Day - Basketcase.gp3
Download Green Day - Boulevard Of Broken Dreams [1].gp4
Download Green Day - Macy_'s Day Parade (2).gp3
Download Green Day - Minority.gp4
Download Green Day - Poprocks & Coke.gp4
Download Green Day - Time Of Your Life.gp3
Download Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends [2].gp4
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
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I'm in Love.gp
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Thanks...Please give comment to the shout box.
Glay Guitar Pro Tabs
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I'm in Love.gp
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Thanks...Please give comment to the shout box.
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Foo Fighters Guitar Pro Tabs
Click Link Below to download the file then follow thie easy step.
If Want any song or other source please leave a message on shout box.TQ
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Hotel California for One guitar.gp
Hotel California.gp
Eagles Guitar ProTabs
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Hotel California for One guitar.gp
Hotel California.gp
Monday, January 14, 2008
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Butterfingers Guitar Pro tabs
Click Link Below to download the file then follow thier easy step.
Thanks You.
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Asian Kungfu Generation Guitar Pro Tabs
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Hope all friends can share with me in shout box if have any sharing.Tq :D
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A.C.A.B Guitar Pro Tabs
Downloading the ACAB guitar pro file by click link below,then follow the step to get the file:
Fight For Your Right.gp
Freedom and Justice.gp
Genggam.gp
Fight For Your Right.gp
Freedom and Justice.gp
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Enjoy it.for get more experience in guitar lesson.
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3 Door Down Guitar Pro Tabs
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Enjoy yourself.Tq :)
Sunday, January 13, 2008
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Choosing An Electric Guitar: Main Points To Consider
by: Peter Mack
Ask any guitarist, and they will you that nothing comes close to jamming with a guitar. In fact, no other instrument has influenced modern music so much as the guitar, and its ongoing popularity is reflect in its ubiquitous appearance in bands, radio stations and music videos throughout the world. Certainly one of the coolest instruments, the guitar is synonymous with contemporary pop and rock music. That said, no guitar is more symbolic of rock music than the electric guitar.
Whether you are an expert or a mere learner, getting a new electric guitar is a thrill. Perhaps you have only ever played an acoustic guitar, and want to branch out? Maybe you are simply learning guitar from scratch? Whatever your reasons, buying an electric guitar means you will be able to play searing riffs and haunting melodies like you have never experienced with any other instrument.
There are a number of things to decide upon when choosing an electric guitar.
The first decision you need to make is what body shape you want your guitar to be. To date, the most popular guitar shape is the solid-body Les Paul shape. You can also opt for the SG Style, which has a thinner double cut-away body. Other most common shapes are the Stratocaster and Telecaster.
Once you have chosen the shape of your guitar, you will need to decide what pick-up you want, either single or humbucker pick up. These refer to the copper wire that is wrapped around the bar magnets. As its name implies, the single pick-up it is composed of one copper wire wrapped in a single coil around a single bar magnet or several rod magnets. The humbucker pick-up, on the other hand, uses two coils which tends to increase the intensity of a guitar’s sounds.
Choosing the right bridge is another important step. You will need to decide between the stock tremolo, double-locking or Floyd Rose double locking system. Depending on the style, the strings may be positioned differently, looser or tighter, and more or less responsive to your touch.
These are just some of the things you will need to consider when you select your new electric guitar. The choice you ultimately make will vary depending on the sort of music you want to play, as well as your knowledge and level of experience. Your budget will also bear upon your decision, and for those with less money, secondhand guitars are always an option.
Seeking help from friends who play the electrical guitar, or staff at the music store is always invaluable. Once you have the right guitar, your playing will be more enjoyable... and the better for it.
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Greatest Underrated Guitar Players
by: Kenny Auyoung
Ask anybody who the greatest guitar players in the history of rock music are, and you’ll likely get the standard answers. The big three, Clapton, Beck and Page; certainly Eddie Van Halen; maybe Stevie Ray Vaughn. The metal-heads will cite Randy Rhodes and George Lynch. These are all valid answers, but if you would put forth names like Elliot Easton and Andy Summers, you might be likely to get a blank stare in return. Too often great guitarists are overlooked simply because they lack the flash of a star like Eddie Van Halen or because they are part of a group that simply has an overabundance of talent and they tend to be moved to the background. Take Andy Summers, guitarist for the Police. Everybody knows who Sting is, and there is no doubt that he is tremendously talented, as is drummer Stewart Copeland. As part of that unit, however, Summers was often overlooked. What is so amazing about Andy Summers is not only his command of the instrument, but his overwhelming versatility. From ska to punk to reggae to straight ahead rock and roll, nothing is outside of his ability. His style has been described as minimalist, but that minimalism is a plus, and he is to be credited for not falling prey to his critics and trying to overplay to compensate for a lack of complex layers of sound. Below, in no particular order, I’ve listed some of my favorite underappreciated players, and the reasons why I consider them to be great.
Elliot Easton (The Cars): Elliot Easton is probably the greatest reason for the success of The Cars. Without Easton’s accessible rock guitar cutting through the synth driven Cars sound, they never would have found the mainstream acceptance that they did. Imagine the spacey pair of Ric Ocasik and Greg Hawkes playing over an equally new-wave influenced guitarist and you have a style of music that would not appeal to people on a large scale. Easton’s Buddy Hollyesque sound, however, served to make The Cars commercially viable. “My Best Friend’s Girl” from their debut album is an excellent example of how Easton’s contribution was essential in creating hit records for The Cars.
Warren DiMartini (Ratt): What impresses me most about DiMartini is that fact that despite being known as a speed demon who is content to throw a startling flurry of notes at the listener, is that he knows the value of a rest. Too many metal artists try to play as fast as possible, and DiMartini can keep up with the best of them, but I’m more taken with the fact that on songs like “Lay it Down”, “Wanted Man” and “Round and Round”, it’s DiMartini’s artful use of pauses and mutings to lend depth and character to what would otherwise be just another ripping metal tune.
Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s/solo): The Go-Go’s will never be known for stunning musicianship, but Kathy Valentine’s reputation suffered from being thrown together with a group of girls who were far less proficient in their playing. Not to say that the Go-Go’s were not any good. Their style of music was based on catchy beats and fun lyrics, so being technically perfect was not a requirement. Unfortunately, the fact that this was an easily exploitable fault that the critics could grab a hold of, the band was unfairly criticized for being “a bunch of girls who could barely play their instruments.” If they had bothered to check, they would have found the Valentine was actually an experienced and talented guitarist, making the switch to bass to fill the spot with the Go-Go’s. Actually, a casual listen will show that Valentine’s bass playing stands out more that Charlotte Caffey’s or Jane Wiedlin’s guitar work. At times it’s almost melodic. Since the Go-Go’s Valentine has gone solo, along with a side project called the Delpines. I would strongly urge you to check out Valentine’s appealing mix of rock and punk on her “Light Years” album.
Slash (Guns ‘N’ Roses/Velvet Revolver): Guns ‘N’ Roses now Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan once claimed that Slash had “the fastest right hand I’ve ever seen.” While it may be argued that the left (fretting) hand is more important for a guitarist, after hearing Slash play, there can be no discounting the value of a fast right hand. “Sweet Child of Mine”, “Paradise City” and “Welcome to the Jungle” received more radio play, but to hear one of the best examples of Slash’s work, check out “Mr. Brownstone” on “Appetite for Destruction”.
Steve “Steamin” Clark (Def Leppard): It seems that all great artists have their demons and Steve Clark was no exception. Before alcohol claimed his life at too young an age, Steve Clark had built up a legacy of fine work that will live on. Steve’s gift was an ability to build spatial separation into his phrasing. It was almost as if he was playing in a huge empty amphitheater in which each note rang out perfectly and separately and yet, along with the complimentary work of bandmate Phil Colin, fit tightly together like pieces in a puzzle. The song “Love Bites” from the “Hysteria” album perfectly illustrates this point. Unlike previous member Pete Willis, Colin provided a perfect foil for Clark to play off of. Unfortunately, Def Leppard seemed to be associated more with the fact that drummer Rick Allen played with one arm, the result of a 1984 auto accident, taking some of the attention away from the fact that Clark’s playing made Def Leppard one of the finest pop metal bands of the 80’s.
Howard Leese (Heart): Fated to share the stage with two of the most beautiful and talented women of the rock era, Howard Leese continued to lend his creative talents to Heart long after its other founding members had departed. It was Nancy with her beautiful blond tresses that stole the spotlight, but it was Howard’s guitar that powered the group. Secure in the knowledge that he was a key component in Heart’s driving guitar based sound, he was never bitter about the fact that his name was only recognizable amongst true fans of the group. Listen to “Barracuda” or “Magic Man” or “Even it Up” and you are instantly struck by the inherent “coolness” of the opening riffs, and his mastery of harmonic overtones is second to none.
Mick Mars (Motley Crüe): Mostly thought of as a fair to middling heavy metal guitarist, Mick Mars phrasing is perfect for the Crüe’s sound. Chunky, dirty and staccato at times, it still manages to be melodic. Upstaged by Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee and their bad-boy images, Mick stays cool and aloof behind his powerful music. Despite the darkness inherent in some of their tunes, you cannot fail to be uplifted by Mick Mars’ musical skills.
Really there are so many worthy players that I could go on and on, but this is just a listing of those few that have bugging me for years. It’s true that people have their own tastes, and for some, these guys wouldn’t even make the top 10, but it makes me feel better to have my sentiments known. If I’m lucky there may be a few of you out there – just a few – who will say, “Man, I’ve been saying for years that he (or she) has never got enough credit.”
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Learn how to select, buy, string, tune and, of course, play the guitar in the privacy of your own home at your own pace
by: Greg Smith
Online Guitar Lessons – Learn how to select, buy, string, tune and, of course, play the guitar in the privacy of your own home at your own pace by learning from experienced guitarists online or through other digital media.
So, you want to be a Rock Star, huh?…what about a classic guitarist, or country guitarist, or maybe even a blues or jazz guitarist? Or, maybe you simply want to improve your skills of your favorite pastime…playing the guitar. Well, as you know or are probably discovering, one-on-one, in-person guitar lessons can be expensive, ranging anywhere from $25/hour to over $40/hour, and there is no guarantee that you will learn how to play the guitar or improve your current skills. Over time, learning the guitar using this traditional method of instruction can cost you thousands of dollars per year (Even at the low end of the price range, $25/hour for 2-hours/week for 50-weeks in a year – 2 weeks left out for vacation – your total cost for one year of lessons would be $2,500; even if you did only 1-hour/week, the cost would still be expensive at $1,250 for the year…and, again, that’s using the low-end of the price range).
But, you ask, what’s the alternative? How can I learn to play the guitar if I don’t get professional instruction? My answer is simple: “digital” or “online” guitar lessons provided by a professional guitarist with teaching experience.
So, what are “digital” or “online” guitar lessons? Simply put, they are the equivalent of one-on-one guitar lessons that are presented by an experienced guitar instructor and come in the pre-packaged form of a CD, DVD, video file, audio file, and/or web-access. Why would someone choose their guitar instruction to come in the form of a disk or web-site instead of in-person? Simple:
• Inexpensive
Most of these quality programs are offered at about $25-$50 while some may cost upwards of $200. However, compared to traditional in-person instruction as calculated previously, these programs, provided by experienced guitarists, would save you thousands per year.
• Money-Back Guarantee
Have you ever heard of a guitar instructor offering a money-back guarantee? Most, if not all, of these programs do!
• Experienced Instruction Whenever, Wherever and for However Long You Wish
No more wasting time and money commuting or trying to schedule your life around your instructor’s schedule. Now you can practice with a professional whenever, wherever and for however long you wish. You could get professional guitar instruction at 2am if you wanted.
• FREE Repeat Instruction
No more wasting money because you can’t seem to grasp a skill and you have to continue to ask your instructor during multiple lessons to spend time showing you how it is to be performed. With these "digital" or "online" guitar programs, you can get experienced instruction on whatever skill you need as many times as you need it...and it doesn't cost you any more money!
• FREE Ongoing Support
Most, if not all of these courses, offer continued online support for FREE after you purchase their program. What guitar instructor who offers in-person lessons would give you their phone number or even their email address so that you could ask them questions anytime you needed some support?
The disadvantages of using digital or “online guitar lessons” are:
• NONE
With a cost typically less than 1% of a year's worth of in-person guitar instruction; a money-back guarantee; experienced, professional instruction anytime, anywhere and for however long; no commuting; and ongoing support for FREE. What else can you ask for? Nothing, I think.
So, before you go looking for a “place of instruction” for learning how to play the guitar or improve your current abilities, you might want to review some of the “online instruction” being offered in the comfort of your own home at your own pace. These programs could very well get you playing like an experienced guitarist in no time while saving you a small fortune, literally thousands of dollars, each year. You can review some of these educational programs at Online Guitar Lessons at http://www.databaseofknowledge.com/music/online-guitar-lessons.php (simply cut-and-paste this link if it is not clickable or click on the associated link found in the "About the Author" box located below this article).
Wishing you an exciting and fulfilling experience in learning how to play the guitar or play the guitar better with online guitar lessons,
Greg Smith
Founder/President
The Database of Knowledge: The Source for Enhancing Our Lives
http://www.databaseofknowledge.com
Online Guitar Lessons: http://www.databaseofknowledge.com/music/online-guitar-lessons.php
president@databaseofknowledge.com
(c) Gregory Smith, Elysian Holdings, Inc. 2006
NOTE: You are welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including all links and the "about the author" info at the end), and you send a copy of your reprint to webmaster@databaseofknowledge.com.
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Guitar Lesson - Nailing Palm Mute Guitar in Metal
by: Mike Beatham
Whether it be death, black, thrash or alternative, heavy metal and the palm mute guitar technique go hand in hand to creating that rhythmic brutality we relish.
In metal music, the rhythm guitarist has a role to play in shaping the melody and the percussive aspects. Palm muting specifically in metal is about exploiting percussive qualities of the guitar under high gain and heavy distortion.
==The Basics of Palm Mute Tone==
The first thing to note is that you don't actually use the "palm" of your hand when palm muting (well, almost) - rather the meaty part of the edge of your hand below your pinky finger. When placed over the strings just in front of the bridge of your guitar and you strike the strings as usual, you get that muted punch.
The further your "palm" is positioned toward the neck, away from the bridge, the more percussive and less defined whatever note or chord you're playing will sound. If you're a fan of Meshuggah, you'll know they have a very distinct and dry palm mute sound which is created by palm muting further away from the bridge towards the guitar neck.
So first thing would be to establish the position of your "palm" based on the sound you're after.
==Different Styles of Palm Muting==
With all palm muting techniques it's important to keep your picking hand as stationary as possible, using it only as a pivoting point over the muted area. What I do, to ensure all 6 strings are muted (if you need all 6) is get the meaty hand edge in position as usual but also lay out my pinky finger just about parallel to the bridge. This ensures the meaty part of your hand is stretched out over as much of the stringed area as possible.
- The downstroke is the most commonly used palm mute technique in rock, punk and metal. It simply involves getting your "palm" in position and then downpicking as usual in quick, sharp stabs. Picking in this way will enhance the punch of the bass and the cut of the treble through your guitar's EQ settings.
- Constant Alternate picking is where you add an upstroke to the strumming pattern - up/down/up/down/etc. in a constant rhythmic motion. Players use this to effectively double the speed of the riff, where using only downstrokes would prove too much for the average person's endurance. Whilst palm muting, this creates a violent percussive effect. The more violent and wide your picking strokes, the more violent the sound.
- Machine gunning is a technique used excessively in thrash and death metal. Probably the most famous and satisfying use of it is in Metallica's One amidst the lyric "Darkness imprisoning me...". It usually involves rhythmic bursts of 3 strokes (up/down/up - up/down/up etc.) or 5 strokes (up/down/up/down/up - up/down/up/down/up etc.) played very quick and mixed with regular downstrokes and unmuted interruptions. Precision and an excellent sense of rhythm and timing is needed. Starting slow with a metronome and gradually building up your speed is the best way to accomplish the speed of metal's best rhythm guitarists.
==Using palm mute guitar playing dynamically==
Mixing palm muted phrases with occasional injections of unmuted phrases is what adds depth to rhythm guitar playing.
e.g.
P= palm muted chord/diad
U= unmuted chord/diad
P-----P-----P-----P------U-------P------U---U------P-----P-----P-----P------U-------P------U----U-
And of course, palm muting compliments the drums, so you can work with the bass drum or against it. Often, metal guitarists will "machine gun" in sync with double-bass drumming to emphasise the thunderous charge.
The best thing to do (and you probably do this anyway if you're a metal head) is listen to as many different genres of metal you can stay awake to. Death metal, for example, uses different dynamics to hardcore. Experiment and learn to utilise the chinese water torture of a metronome (even better, a drum machine or backing tracks).
Happy thrashing!
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Acoustic or Electric Guitar - Which Is Best For The Beginner
by: Al Tan
Having played the guitar for a number of years, I am often asked this question by eager learners - "Should I start learning with the acoustic or electric guitar?" In this article, I'll talk a bit about both so you can come to an informed decision.
First of all, let me get something straight. The actual notes and fretboards work the same for both, so if you start with either one, its always interchangeable, although the playing techniques might differ.
Most younger players would gravitate towards the electric guitar thanks to MTV and the "cool factor". The acoustic guitar seems to have a more "folksy" image to it. Both sound very different, with the acoustic relying purely on natural acoustic principles to generate the sound, using the body of the guitar as an "amplifier". The electric guitar on the other hand needs an electric amplifier to generate sound. There are of course hybrids, but that is not relevent in this article.
So, which is better for the beginner? I'll cover 3 aspects below - cost, convenience and playability.
Cost
Both are about the same, you can get really expensive custom built electric of acoustic guitars. However, the electric can start to get more expensive simply because of the tempting options and accessories like amplifiers, pre-amps, effects pedals, volume pedals, etc. The acoustic on the other hand might be simpler to start with. It plays right out of the box!
Convenience
Again the acoustic wins as you can take it almost everywhere without worrying about a power socket. There are personal practice gadgets available for the electric guitar which allows you to practice with headphones.
Playability
My personal preference here is the electric guitar. I find it easier to play, with the strings being softer and thus less effort to play.
Either way, they both should be respected and used for what they are and any good guitarist should be adept at both. For the beginner, I would prefer the acoustic as it helps a lot in ear training as you get accustomed to the vibrations of the body making the tuning of the strings are easier to detect.
My final piece of advice is to don't get too obsessed with your instrument while you're learning but focus on the music instead. Once you start to get better at it you'll know instinctively what sort of 'ax' you'll need. I've met my fair share of musicians who are so into the gear but have not improved in their skill much and on the other hand, have heard some amazing, soul-stirring music from blues masters that have played the same guitar all their life!
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Learn and Master the Guitar at Home
by: Al Tan
As a guitarist, I'm often asked this question - "What is the best way to improve my guitar playing given my limited time and budget?"
In this article, I'll explore how you can use a Guitar Learning Method on the the Internet to learn and master the guitar in the comfort of your own home. Compared to a personal tutor, learning the guitar online is a much more flexible and cost effective route.
You can take the lessons at your own pace and work it around your schedule, plus its far more affordable than a private guitar tutor.
So, what do you need to get started? Contrary to popular belief, you only need a few basic things to get started. Don't be caught up with all the hype around equipment, gadgets and learning aids.
First of all, you'll need a guitar. Bet you already knew that, but you don't have to wait for that perfect guitar to start, a basic acoustic guitar with fresh strings will do. Secondly, you'll need a PC with a decent set of speakers. Third, a private place to practice and learn is an added bonus. Finally, the most important thing you'll need is a whole lot of determination and tenacity. Guitar learning can be frustrating and you really need to keep at it to see results.
Now that you've got all that sorted out, get online and start learning! A good guitar training program should have step by step instructions with videos. You'll learn how to read notes and tab, form chords and recognize chord progressions by ear. Some programs will even provide you with custom software to help you develop a musical ear.
You'll be surprised at how much these excellent online music lessons will cost. Its a lot more affordable then you. Once you purchase it, it'll always be online for you to login and learn.
Be prepared to develop callous on your fingers and some pain on your wrists when you start. Some programs will also provide finger training exercises to help you strengthen your fingers (and you'll grow stronger skin on your fingers to compensate the callous).
The secret to learning the guitar successfully is persistence and practice. Don't rush the program and only move to the next lesson after you've mastered one. Many people give up when they don't seem to get anywhere in their playing, but remember that everyone needs to learn to crawl, then walk, then run! Get down your basics well and work on foundations like playing chords, developing a good sense of rhythm, the correct fingering techniques (bad habits will be hard to break later on), proper posture and handling of your guitar so you can enjoy playing long hours without hurting yourself.
I hope that this article will be useful to you on your musical journey. Remember to keep practicing and don't give up. If you read biographies of any great guitar players, you'll see a similar pattern: dedication to their craft and practice!
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A New Approach To Old Guitar Techniques
by: Miguel Comulada
Have you ever felt that you just cannot get ahead on your guitar technique? Like even though there is plenty more to learn, you just cannot seem to make any progress? I know the feeling. It happens to all of us and it is quite natural. It's called getting "stuck in a rut".
How can I get out of this? you may ask. Well, I have found over the years that the best way to snap out of it is to look back. Yep, that's what I do. I go back to some older licks and try to incorporate them into my playing in a different way. I preferably go back to those guitar licks that I consider to be "too easy", or just "boring" for my current playing level and therefore I don't even play them anymore.
See, sometimes it's better to just take what you already know and sort of reinvent it.
Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about.
A few weeks ago I was going through a practice session. I was trying to learn this monster lick by Eric Johnson. I have been trying to get this lick down for over a month, and it didn't seem to be working out. Frustration was mounting, and with that - of course - my motivation level was going way down. It was like my playing ability had reached a plateau. Everything that I played seemed boring and pointless. Except that lick, that lick sounded new and refreshing, but for the life of me I couldn't get it down.
I decided to just put that lick to the side and try something else. I realized that sometimes is just better to walk away from it and try it later rather than getting burned out and frustrated. What I like to do is go back to some of the techniques that I know I can dominate and just try to give them a different voice.
I found this tape that I had recorded back in 1993 - that right there shows you the importance of recording your guitar playing. I suggest that you do so at least every other practice session and just listen to yourself, but thats a different article all together. Back to the subject!
There was some stuff on that tape that I didn't even remember I knew, and let me tell you, these old licks that I had left behind came back with a vengeance. It wasn't very hard to get them back since they were way more simple than the stuff that I was currently trying to learn. But the fact that I had forgotten about them, made them seem new.
Try playing those old licks in different keys, maybe an octave lower or higher. Try to add a bend here, a trill there and that type of thing. You might find some hidden jewels that you had all along.
Now go play!
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How To Be Successful At Practicing The Guitar
by: Mike Hayes
Practice: to work on something repeatedly for the purpose of improvement.
That says a lot. It tells you what to do (work), how (repeatedly), and why (to improve).
Once you understand what "practice" is, you can proceed to learn how to use this new tool to your best advantage.
1. TUNE UP: It's important to play music at correct concert pitch.
2. WARM UP: Play through an easy piece, slowly. The idea here is to loosen up your muscles. Don't play anything that is hard or fast.
3. DIRECTION: Before you go any further, settle your mind upon what it is you wish to achieve today. At this point it's important to remember two things.
a. You are practicing to improve. this means getting results.
b. You learn the guitar, or grow into music, in the same way you grow into an adult - over a period of time. You may experience fast progress, or experience a slow gradual growth. There may even be times when you don't seem to progress at all.
However, if your practice program is directed towards results (whether they come fast or slow), you'll see them soon enough - providing you keep on working systematically at your study program. Don't be overly concerned about mistakes - if you keep looking for mistakes, you'll succeed in finding mistakes - and very little else.
4. TODAY'S PROBLEMS - YOUR CURRENT LESON: Here you confront new material that must be learnt. As you progress, this part of your practice schedule will change. That is to say, as you complete one assignment you will move on to the next. (Keep working with the thought in mind that you are practicing to improve).
5. REPEAT: In learnng the guitar there are three things you're doing.
a. Acquiring and storing information in your memory.
b. Developing muscles.
c. Developing muscular and mental co-ordination.
Usually you will be working on all three at the same time, although from time to time you will encounter information that uses only the first process.
You will make the best progress by repeating any new idea's over and over until it is properly internalized.
6. MAKE NOTES: Get out a piece of paper and write down your questions, problems, discoveries, things that seem to keep going wrong, things that seem to need extra work etc. If you make notes about the problem areas, you'll find answers to your questions, solve your problems, remember your discoveries, and save a lot of time.
8. WORK SLOW TO FAST: When learning is new, go slowly. As you improve. you will naturally play the assignment faster. Don't think about playing anything fast until you have properly worked it out.
9. RELAX: Stay as relaxed as you can. Steps five, seven and eight are especially helpful in doing this. You should also understand that when the material is new, you will naturally be more intense - you may even find your muscles tightening up. As you come to know the material you should be able to relax more, but you must think about it. Feel the muscles - try to make them relax. Remember too, that you can tense up just from an excess of concentration - so that's a good reason for taking regular breaks.
10. WORK ON THE PARTS: If you're having a problem with something, take it apart. With every few exceptions, you play the guitar with two hands. They both work together to produce one result. This means that the combination of the two moving together could be causing the problem. Work on developing right and left hand synchronization.
11. Review: At the end of your practice session, go over your lesson and give some extra attention where it's needed. This could also include past assignments that still need additional attention. Use a review as a way to wrap up you day's practice.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
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Stringing Me Up (With Guitar Strings)
by: Woody Bridges
Most musicians know that different guitar strings are better for playing different styles of music. For playing rock, lighter gauge strings are better because bending the strings can raise a note up 3 or 4 semi-tones and lighter gauge strings are easier to bend. However, jazz would be the other extreme. Jazz guitarists prefer strings that are of a heavier gauge because they rarely bend a string to raise a semi-tone but rather they pick the notes. Classical guitarists use nylon strings. Blue Grass guitarists most often use standard wound strings. Country guitarists usually use medium to light gauge strings.
The problem with buying sets of strings, no matter what genre music you play, is that prepackaged string sets don’t allow for personal preference and individual styles. As you become more accomplished, you will most likely find that you like certain gauge or type strings over others.
Several (more than a few) years ago I found that by using different gauge strings, I could bend the strings and play a different chord using the same chord position. For example, when making a simple F chord, I could also play a Bb by bending the strings.
Years ago I discovered that using a .009, .011, .016, .024, .032 and .038 were the gauges that gave me the added effects that best suited my style. I had to buy each string separately because prepackaged strings didn’t come in those gauges. Now Erie Ball has prepackaged sets of guitar strings that are pretty close and other string manufacturers do as well. There are Ernie Ball prepackaged sets of guitar strings that use the .009, .011, .016, .024, .032 and .042. Now I buy that set and a single .038. (I have a drawer full of .042’s if anybody needs them.) :-)
Personally, I prefer Ernie Ball because they seem to hold their brightness longer but you might prefer another brand. The best thing to do is just to experiment until you find the brand and the gauges that suit you best. You can buy Ernie Ball and other brands of strings at http://tinyurl.com/uabuf.
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How To Play Three Chord Songs On Guitar
by: Mike Hayes
Sooner or later you are going to take your guitar along to a casual sing-a-long type jam and hope that someone will start singing in the only key you know.
Or perhaps you'll be playing along, converting the chords you know, quite well until someone pulls the plug out by saying, "Do it in A flat". This is followed by an embarrasing five minutes while you struggle to find chord changes in this unfamiliar tonality.
It happens to everyone, so read through to the chart at the end of this article and let a little light in.
There are twelve major keys. Each one has a minor key closely associated with it - this is called the relative minor.
Each key (major or minor) has the same basic relationships.
Any melody or chord progression can be played in all twelve keys. this was not always so. Earlier European music systems utilized modes that did not have this quality.
The introduction of the piano around 1720 helped consolidate this "one Key relationship transposable to twelve different levels" as the system best suited to the needs of Central European musicians.
The name given to it is:-
The diatonic system or tonal system
The name simply refers to the fact that all notes and chords constantly resolve back to one Key point - the tonal centre or footnote of the scale.
There is a key for every note, but 99% of folk or song accompaniment on guitar takes place in six of these -
C, D, E, F, G or A.
In each of these keys there are three chords which will almost invaribly be used. In the Key of C the most likely chords you will encounter are :-
C F G7
In order, these chords are called in musical terminology -
C - the tonic, F - the subdominant, G7- the dominant
In the diatonic scale
C D E F G A B C
the TONIC is the chord built on the 1st degree (C)
the SUBDOMINANT is the chord built on the 4th degree (F)
the DOMINANT is the chord built on the 5th degree (G7)
A simple way to find the three principle chords of any Key is to begin counting a specific number up from the tonic of the Key chord.
e.g., In the key of C the tonic is the C chord.
Then by counting up four full notes from the tonic chord, C D, E then F you arrive at the subdominant of the C Key.
To find the dominant simply move up to the next scale note (G), or count five full notes up from the tonic chord.
C, D, E, F then G
Dominant chords are usually sevenths - so now you know the whereabouts of the three main chords in the Key of C.
Of course these three chords are not necessarily the only chords used in songs but merely serve as guidelines in finding all the chords of a tune. However thousands of folk songs and pop tunes are playable with these three.
Here is a chart of the 3 main chords in each Key.
Tonic (key) - Subdominant - Dominant
Tonic - C, Subdominant - F, Dominant - G7
Tonic - F, Subdominant - Bb, Dominant - C7
Tonic - Bb, Subdominant - Eb, Dominant - F7
Tonic - Eb, Subdominant - Ab, Dominant - Bb7
Tonic - Ab, Subdominant - Db, Dominant - Eb7
Tonic - Db, Subdominant - Gb, Dominant - Ab7
Tonic - Gb, Subdominant - Cb (or B), Dominant - Db7
Tonic - B, Subdominant - E , Dominant - F#7
Tonic - E, Subdominant - A, Dominant - B7
Tonic - A , Subdominant - D, Dominant - E7
Tonic - D, Subdominant - G, Dominant - A7
Tonic - G, Subdominant - C, Dominant - D7
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Want To Play Guitar Like The Pros? Part 1 - Chords
by: David Woodford
Many consider playing the guitar seems easy, and for others playing the guitar seems hard. A popular part of playing the guitar is chords. Whether it’s strumming them, plucking them or anything else you have to have a basic understanding of chords. All chords aren’t the same. Power chords are a good way to begin learning chords, and advancing to normal chords is usually the best way to master them.
The chords in guitar songs are almost always strummed. The only time when they are not strummed is when they are played separately, and in that situation the notes are usually plucked. If each note of the chord is picked individually, the composer might even decide to skip some notes. A lot of chords can begin from power chords, which are just 2 notes. Power chords are mostly used by the younger players with small hands. If the person cannot stretch there hands out for the whole chord, then they can just play two strings that will just produce the same sound. Although the chord and power chord produce the both sound, they are both very different. The power chord will always have at least 2 notes, but the power chord will not have more notes than the normal chord. For example, let’s say someone was playing the E minor chord. The E minor chord consists of the 2nd fret in both the 5th and 4th strings. That form is usually the most common form of the E chord, but it can also be considered a power chord. Power chords usually give the most basic sound possible. If you add more depth to the chord, it will become a normal chord. In order to do that, you have to add more notes that are part of the power chord. Let’s go back to the E chord example. The two notes are B and E. In order to do this, you have to know the fret board. To add more depth to this power chord, you must add more B and E notes to the chord. The 6th and first strings open are both E notes. By adding those notes, you now have 3 E notes, and 1 B note. To make it even, you would need to add 3 more B notes. The 2nd string open is also B, and so is the 4th fret of the 3rd string. To do this chord, the persons hand would have to stretch from the 2nd to 4th fret. For people with big hands, that would be considered easy. But for others, a power chord would seem like an easier option.
Learning the chords isn’t the only lesson that needs to be learned for chords. Switching to different chords is also a big part of playing them, especially if a song requires lots of different chords. A good way to practice the speed of switching chords is to rest your fingers in the position of the chords. Going back and forth, without playing the chords, will help you gain speed. This can be done while watching your favorite TV show, or outdoors just to relax. After a few minutes of switching, you can add more and more chords. Finally, when you can switch fast enough, you can start to play the chords. Start out slow, but every time you accomplish perfection with the speed, bump yourself a little bit faster. In the end, you will be able to play chords and switch chords a lot faster than you started out with. Improvement is the key!
Friday, January 11, 2008
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Ten Easy Rock Songs For Guitar Beginners
by: Eric Monsanto
When I started playing guitar, nobody taught me how to do it. It wasn’t easy at first. My fretting hand's fingertips were so painful that I couldn’t touch anything for days! But once I got the hang of it, I discovered it was one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever done. Over the years I would look back at those times and smile thinking how my life was changed the moment I picked up the guitar. It was actually my big sister’s guitar. However it turned out that I was more inclined to it that she was. She eventually turned over all the guitar playing duties to me. I thought of making a random list of easy guitar songs that beginners might want to try playing, just to get things started. It will cover different genres but the objective is to improve playing, one song at a time. These are the criteria I’ve used for the selection of the songs: a) Minimal number of chords –the less chords in a song, the easier it is to remember how to play it. b) Minimal barre chords – barre chords require us to use our fretting hand’s index finger to press all 6 strings in a particular fret. Less barre chords is better for beginners. c) Familiarity of the song – the songs are some of the most popular during their times. And since we’re talking about beginner songs here, the primary goal of this list is to give novice players some songs to STRUM the guitar along with. No point in doing any complicated stuff yet. We have to first establish the rhythm within the player. So here it goes, in no particular order:
1. “Horse With No Name” – America
Chords: Em, F#m7sus
2. “Leaving On A Jet Plane” – John Denver
Chords: G, C, D
3. ”No Rain” – Blind Melon
Chords: E, D, A, G
4. “Every Rose Has It’s Thorns” – Poison
Chords: G, C, D, Em
5. “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door” – Bob Dylan/ Guns N’ Roses
Chords: G, C, D, Am
6. “One” – U2
Chords: Am, D7, FM7, G
7. “Four Strong Winds” – Neil Young
Chords: C, Dm, G, F
8. “I Remember You” – Skid Row
Chords: G, C, D, Am, Em
9. “Come As You Are” - Nirvana
Chords: Em, D, G, Am, C
10. “Wonderful Tonight” – Eric Clapton
Chords: G, D, C, Em, Am
Finger placement:
C (x-3-2-0-1-0)
D (x-x-0-2-3-2)
D7 (x-x-0-2-1-2)
E (0-2-2-1-0-0)
Em (0-2-2-0-0-0)
A (x-0-2-2-2-0)
Am (x-0-2-2-1-0)
F (x-x-3-2-1-1)
FM7 (x-x-3-2-1-0)
F#m7sus (2-0-0-2-0-0)
G (3-2-0-0-0-3)
Legend:
D (x-x-0-2-3-2)
D - the chord name
x - E string will not be struck
x - A string will not be struck
0 - D string open
2 - Press G string on 2nd fret
3 - Press B string on 3rd fret
2 - Press e string on 2nd fret
There you go! Most of the songs have similar chords. That way, if we can recall chords from another some and incorporate that chord into another song then you get to practice applied knowledge. Ain't that grand!
Happy practicing!
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Recording The Guitar to a Computer
by: Brian Murphy
You want to record your guitar, make your own riffs, music, etc. You want to plug my guitar into my computer? How to connect the guitar to the computer the right and best way? What software? Which audio interface? What about my favorites guitar effects? What computer? Where to start? It can be overwhelming. The recording guitarist's computer setup should be something like this: * Guitar (*GTR with 13 pin connection recommended) * Microphone for recording Acoustic guitar, vocals etc. * Quality guitar cable * Audio Interface-Firewire (recommended) or USB * Guitar/midi interface * USB/Firewire cables * Computer (Mac recommended or PC) * Extra external/internal Hard Drive (recommended) * Audio recording/sequencer software * Plug-ins: effects- reverb, compressor, delay, chorus, etc o Dedicated guitar effects/amp simulation o Sampler/synths (for 13 pin guitarists or guitarist who can play keyboards) * Quality cables to speakers * Powered Speakers * Headphones (so you do not disturb the wife an kids at those late weekend sessions). Some recording setups: -Setting up your whole live rig and putting a microphone in front of the your cabinet, playing at loud volumes so you get the amp to sound right, push the speaker enough, putting your speaker in a closet, using a blanket to damping volume, etc. -You could use a load on you speaker and record direct. -Use a preamp that is compensated for direct recording as the front end. You can plug this into outboard effects or add plug-ins -You could record from your pedal board or any outboard multi-effects you might own. You probably end up with a direct type sound. Some multi-effects have amp simulation that might take the edge off the direct sound. With any of these scenarios you are committing yourself to the recorded track. If you record with effects, you can't change it later. You would have to re-record! And if you do not re-record on the same day or you have to come back and have to set up the rig again, hopefully the knobs setting were written down, place the speaker in the same place etc, etc.... If you get into the recording other instruments or mixing the song and you want to change the guitar sound, tone, effects, etc, -- you have to re-record! With a guitar with a 13 pin connection, either internally or a pickup installed on the body, you get 100% use of your software. You can record your guitar sound and get access to any software synths or samplers that come with the software or as a plug-in add-on. With a software computer base system, you can change almost everything after you have recorded--amps, effects, mics, mic placement and more. You do this with plug-ins. You can save all your presets, sounds, etc. You could have multi-guitar tracks with different settings all from recording one track. The flexibility is there! Yes, there are purists out there- "software can't sound like tubes". Well, the software is getting pretty close!!!! There is a lot of software out there. You do not have to spend a lot of money AND it is always improving. You buy a box. (i.e.hard disk recorders, and others mentioned above), you have bought a box. You usually can't upgrade without buying a new box. People use computers every day at work or home- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel Power Point, etc) Email, Internet. Use it to record your guitar and music!! Hopefully, this helps and you can check out more at http://www.guitarhelper.net Brian has 18 years experience in the Music Industry. He can be contacted at Brian@guitarhelper.net.
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Guitar Tuning with Natural Harmonics--Downbeating
by: Ek Lucktong
Downbeating describes the technique whereby natural harmonics are used in tuning guitars. This is a very effective way to tune guitars that can be more accurate than just tuning by ear. It is also a great way of fine tuning once your have approximated tuning with standard techniques. A prerequisite technique you must learn before you can use downbeating is hitting natural harmonics. Natural harmonics are produced by picking the string while lightly touching the string over the fret wire. You don’t need to push the string down against the fret wire. Natural harmonics sound like a ringing chimed tone. The easiest place to practice natural harmonics is the 12th fret, but you can produce a natural harmonic at nearly every fret. It is easier to hear them when your guitar is plugged into an amp and even easier when using the overdrive channel. Once you have mastered hitting natural harmonics downbeating is quite simple. You can use this technique to tune every string except the B string (the 2nd string). The reason for this is because the interval between the G and B string is 4 half steps rather 5 half steps like all of the other strings. Here’s how to do it. Start at the E and A string and work your way up. Simply hit the natural harmonic on the 5th fret on the lower string followed by the natural harmonic on the 7th fret of the higher string next to it. They should produce the exact same tone. For example, if you are tuning the E and A strings, hit the natural harmonic on the 5th fret of the E string followed by the natural harmonic on the 7th fret of the A string. You need to have both natural harmonic tones sounding together at the same time. If the strings are not in perfect tune together, what you will hear is the tone oscillate back and forth between the two strings. The faster the oscillation the further off tune the strings are. As you adjust the tuning peg you should hear the oscillation slow down until you only hear one non-oscillating tone. This is called downbeating. You may have to resound the harmonics a few times while you are adjusting the tuners. Once you hear only one non-oscillating tone the strings are in perfect tune with one another. Repeat the steps for all of the strings (except the B string) and you’ll find your guitar in perfect tune. This technique will work with any guitar acoustic or electric but is much easier to hear with an electric through the overdriven channel. Try this proven technique, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy the sound of your guitar in perfect tune. Visit www.2ndstringguitars.com for the best value in new and used guitars, factory 2nds, and refurbished instruments at cheap guitar prices. E. Lucktong
0
Want To Play Guitar Like The Pros? Part 1 - Chords
by: David Woodford
Many consider playing the guitar seems easy, and for others playing the guitar seems hard. A popular part of playing the guitar is chords. Whether it’s strumming them, plucking them or anything else you have to have a basic understanding of chords. All chords aren’t the same. Power chords are a good way to begin learning chords, and advancing to normal chords is usually the best way to master them. The chords in guitar songs are almost always strummed. The only time when they are not strummed is when they are played separately, and in that situation the notes are usually plucked. If each note of the chord is picked individually, the composer might even decide to skip some notes. A lot of chords can begin from power chords, which are just 2 notes. Power chords are mostly used by the younger players with small hands. If the person cannot stretch there hands out for the whole chord, then they can just play two strings that will just produce the same sound. Although the chord and power chord produce the both sound, they are both very different. The power chord will always have at least 2 notes, but the power chord will not have more notes than the normal chord. For example, let’s say someone was playing the E minor chord. The E minor chord consists of the 2nd fret in both the 5th and 4th strings. That form is usually the most common form of the E chord, but it can also be considered a power chord. Power chords usually give the most basic sound possible. If you add more depth to the chord, it will become a normal chord. In order to do that, you have to add more notes that are part of the power chord. Let’s go back to the E chord example. The two notes are B and E. In order to do this, you have to know the fret board. To add more depth to this power chord, you must add more B and E notes to the chord. The 6th and first strings open are both E notes. By adding those notes, you now have 3 E notes, and 1 B note. To make it even, you would need to add 3 more B notes. The 2nd string open is also B, and so is the 4th fret of the 3rd string. To do this chord, the persons hand would have to stretch from the 2nd to 4th fret. For people with big hands, that would be considered easy. But for others, a power chord would seem like an easier option. Learning the chords isn’t the only lesson that needs to be learned for chords. Switching to different chords is also a big part of playing them, especially if a song requires lots of different chords. A good way to practice the speed of switching chords is to rest your fingers in the position of the chords. Going back and forth, without playing the chords, will help you gain speed. This can be done while watching your favorite TV show, or outdoors just to relax. After a few minutes of switching, you can add more and more chords. Finally, when you can switch fast enough, you can start to play the chords. Start out slow, but every time you accomplish perfection with the speed, bump yourself a little bit faster. In the end, you will be able to play chords and switch chords a lot faster than you started out with. Improvement is the key!
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How To Tune Your Guitar By Ear
by: Mike Hayes
1. The very first thing you need to know is that learning to tune your guitar takes time. Some things on guitar can be learned in minutes, some in days, and others in weeks, but tuning will sometimes take even longer, because you have to train your ears. If results come slowly or don't seem to be making any progress, don't be discouraged, just keep working at it. 2. It will help you to know that the ear is a very skilled instrument for taking in sound. Your ear hears four things in each sound: Pitch, Duration, Volume and Tone Quality. Pitch is how high or low the sound is. Duration is how long it lasts. Volume is how loud it is. Tone quality is the "character" of the sound. If we were to play the same pitch, at the same volume, for the same length of time on piano, clarinet, flute, violin, guitar, doorbell, or car horn, your ear could tell one instrument (or car horn) from another because of the tone quality. That's because each instrument has a different "character" or "personality" of sound. You can prove you have this ability to tell one sound from another by listening to sounds without looking where they come from. The point I want to emphasize is that you already hear very well. Learning to tune your guitar is learning a new way of using your hearing. 3.The next thing to know is that when you are tuning your guitar you want to listen only to the pitch of the strings. The quality of the pitch will differ between two strings, and this may at first confuse your ear. You'll mistake the difference in quality as a difference in pitch. For example when playing the first string open and the second string at the fifth fret, you may notice that the first string may sound 'crisper', while the second string will sound a little "darker" in quality. The darker quality of the string at first can be misunderstood to sound lower in pitch. (You may use different words to explain how the strings sound to you, but the idea is that the tone quality of each string will sound different). If you understand that the ear hears a combination of pitch, volume, duration and quality all at the same time, it will help you to filter out the quality from the pitch and overcome the basic problem of tuning. 4. The steps involved in tuning your guitar: The first step is to tune one string to a note from another source. You could use another guitar (one that has already been tuned), a piano, or somebody that know how to tune could guide you along. A better source is a tuning fork. (It's better because you don't need anybody else around or any other instrument. If, for example you learn to tune to a piano, you're going to have a problem if ever you need to tune and there's no piano handy). A tuning fork is a U shaped piece of metal with a stem on it. The fork is designed to vibrate at a particular pitch. You can get one that gives you the pitch of the first string on the guitar. (Look for one that has the letter E and the number 329.6 stamped on the stem). To use the tuning fork you hold it by the stem, tap the U shaped fork against something solid, and place the stem (not the tip of the fork) on either the body, or the bridge of your guitar. (For electric guitars can place it on the pickup). You should hear the note which the vibrating fork produced. The note is the correct "source". You now adjust the first string to match the pitch of the tuning fork. You do this by finding the correct tuning gear for this string and then turning the gear slowly in one direction or the other. After about half a turn you should hear the string change pitch either up or down. This will tell you which way you have to turn the gear to tighten the string (to raise the pitch) and which way to loosen the string (to lower the pitch). Now compare the sound of the string with the sound of the tuning fork. If the string is lower than the tuning fork, tighten the string to raise the pitch. If the string is higher than the tuning fork, loosen the string to lower the pitch. Go slowly. Do not turn the gear rapidly. Turn about a quarter of a turn and then compare the string to the tuning fork again. (You'll have to strike them both again). You'll probably have to repeat this process several times. When the string sounds close to the fork make smaller turns. When you think the first string is in tune, use the following steps (one to five) to tune the rest of the strings. (Remember, you can only tune as well as your ears hear now. With practice, you can become a better tuner). The following steps repeat the process of matching one pitch with another. The difference is that instead of using a tuning fork you will listen to the string you have just tuned, and try to match the next string to this one. 1. Place the finger behind the fifth fret of the 6th string. This will give you the tone of the 5th sting. (A) 2. Place the finger behind the 5th fret of the 5th string to get the pitch of the 4th string. (D) 3. Place the finger behind the 5th fret of the 4th string to get the pitch of the 3rd string. (G) 4. Place the finger behind the FOURTH FRET of the 3rd string to get the pitch of the 2nd string. (B) 5. Place the finger behind the 5th fret of the 2nd string to get the pitch of the 1st string. (E)
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How to Pack a Guitar for Shipping
by: E. Lucktong
When packing a guitar for shipping one must take great care that it is properly secured to minimize any chances of it being damaged. The key is to pack the guitar properly within the box so that it can endure the external forces that can occur during shipping and handling. Here are some guidelines and tips to help you assure that your guitar will reach its destination unscathed. The safest way to ship guitars is to double box them. The inner box can be a hardshell case or a triangular shaped cardboard guitar box. The outer box should be a sturdy double-walled cardboard box. Finding a box big enough to ship a guitar can be a challenge because of the length of the instrument. Some cardboard box companies make specific ‘guitar boxes’ that are 50” x 20” x 8”. Ask your local music store, and they may willing to give you both a used triangular box and a suitable outer box from shipments they have received. Take note of the actual dimensions of the box: length, height, and width. These are very important to calculate shipping costs and in keeping with regulations of shipping package sizes. Remember that you can always cut a box down if you need to. First, prepare the guitar for shipping. Strings should be loosened to reduce strain on the neck. In hollow body archtops the bridge should be removed from the top if possible and secured elsewhere. Newspaper or other padding should be placed between the strings and the body of the guitar. Some suggest removing the strap button from the bottom of the guitar (especially in hollow bodies) to prevent damage when the box is in the upright position. Next place the guitar in the inner box (or case) and fill any spaces with packing material. Pay special attention to the neck joint of the guitar. This is the most common place damages occur. Make sure there is plenty of padding to support this area at the end of the neck. Once the inner box is secured place several inches of packing material at the end of the outer box. Stand the box upright and place the inner box (or case) into the outer box with the body end (not headstock end) of the guitar down. Now fill spaces around the inner box with packing material. Give the inner box a few good shakes during this step to make sure the packing material fills all the spaces. Top the box off with several inches of packing material for the end, cut any excess length of the box, tape it up, and you’re done. If you have packed the guitar properly you should be able to shake the package and not feel anything move around inside. A few words about packing material. There are a lot of choices here that will work fine. Newspaper, Styrofoam popcorn, and bubble wrap are most commonly used. One of the most effective packing materials I’ve seen used for guitar packing is gift wrapping paper. If you can get it for cheap it works really well. I hope that the tips given in this article will help you feel more confident about packing guitars for shipping. Visit www.2ndstringguitars.com for the best value in new and used guitars, factory 2nds, and refurbished instruments at cheap guitar prices. E. Lucktong
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Electric Guitar Buying Guide for the Beginner
by: Ek Lucktong
So, you’re looking to buy your first electric guitar for yourself, or perhaps a gift for a young budding musician. Buying your first guitar can seem like a daunting task. With so many different brands and models available today it can be difficult to decide which guitar to purchase. Here are some helpful tips to help you make the best choice. I can’t stress enough how important it is for new guitar players to start out with a good quality instrument that is easy to play. Electric guitars, in general, are easier to play than acoustic guitars because of their lighter gauge strings and lower playing action. They require much less hand strength to fret the strings and are much easier on beginner’s uncalloused fingers. A quality guitar will assure maximum comfort and ease-of-play while beginners are starting out. Otherwise, young players can easily get discouraged with an instrument that is hard to play and painful on their fingers. For consistency in quality I would recommend sticking with a well-known brand name guitar rather than a cheap knock-off or reproduction. Spend a little more money to invest in a quality instrument. Many of the bigger guitar brand names will offer affordable lines of guitars specifically targeting beginners. For example, the Fender guitar company offers their Squire line of guitars. The Gibson guitar company has their Epiphone guitar models. These guitars look and play like their more expensive counterparts but are much more affordable, often hundreds to thousands of dollars less. Other popular brands such as Ibanez, Jackson, BC Rich, Gretsch, and many others offer lower-end affordable models alongside their premiere models. Good brand name guitars will also hold their value should you ever want to sell them. Consider buying a used guitar. Unlike computers or electronics used and older guitars don’t become obsolete. You can find some fantastic deals on lightly used guitars that may have some light cosmetic signs of wear but will perform just as well as a new instrument. Some people even feel that a used guitar has been ‘worn in’ and will play even better than a new one. Most of these guitars will have already been set up properly and ready for play. Another advantage of buying used guitars is that you may find instruments that have been upgraded by their former owners: new pickups, strap locks, and custom graphics to name a few. Another great option in guitar value is to consider Factory 2nd and refurbished guitars. These guitars may have slight cosmetic blemishes or factory repairs that prevent them from being sold as new instrument. They usually sell for significant discounts from their new counterparts. Besides minor blemishes you are practically getting a brand new guitar. Seek the advice of someone you may know who plays guitar. Most experienced players will be familiar with the various brand names and can help guide you in your decision. Guitarists love to talk about guitars, and this is a great way to get some honest advice without the pressure of the salesman pitch. Follow these tips and you’re sure to find an affordable, great quality guitar that will provide you with reliable performance and music for years to come. Visit http://www.2ndstringguitars.com/ for the best value in new and used guitars, factory 2nds, and refurbished instruments at cheap guitar prices. E. Lucktong
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Preparing for Your First Beginner Guitar Lessons
by: Kirk Downing
Beginner Guitar Lessons - An Introduction The first essential requisite to taking a beginner guitar lesson is to possess your own guitar. How many guitarists do you think started learning the instrument by borrowing others' guitars? None, practically! The logic to this is simple - practice is an important part of the learning process, and having your own guitar makes practice an easy task. You do not necessarily have to buy yourself an expensive instrument; you can even buy a second hand one and graduate to a better guitar once you are familiar with how to play it. Once you have bought yourself a guitar, you can actually start taking beginner lessons. Beginner lessons are guitar classes taught to newcomers so they are familiar with the basics of the guitar and how to play it. The first thing you will be taught is not how to play the instrument, but what the different parts of the guitar are. All websites providing online beginner guitar lessons start their teachings from this point. This makes sense because it is not a good idea to learn a musical instrument without first knowing its various parts. Along with knowing each part of the guitar, you also have to learn the functions of each individual part. Knowing the different parts of the guitar and their functions familiarizes you with the instrument. Basic Steps to Beginner Guitar Lessons After teaching you the different parts of the guitar and their functions, the next thing beginner guitar lessons teach you are the names of the different strings on the guitar. The strings create the sounds on a guitar when you strike them. After you have learnt about the strings, the next step in a guitar tutorial for beginners is to learn the different ways you can play the guitar - standing, sitting, etc. - and the postures involved. While learning about the postures, you will also learn how to hold the guitar, and the correct positioning and grip for both your hands. Once you are through with these basics, the next thing that you can learn in beginner guitar lessons is actually how to use the guitar - how to form the different chords, how to hit the strings so you get the proper sound, etc. Beginner Guitar Lessons - Guitar Theory is not a Prerequisite! There is one school of thought that emphasizes the need to know guitar theory while taking beginner guitar lessons. The logic for this is simple: once you know the basic theory, it becomes easier to learn the chords. However, this is not a mandatory practice; in fact, many online guitar tutorials do away with the need for knowledge of guitar theory as a prerequisite for learning the chords and other complex things about the guitar. Basically, the need for guitar theory knowledge depends primarily on your level of interest in the instrument. If you are planning to take up playing the guitar full-time, it makes sense to know the theoretical aspects as well. However, if you are taking it up as just something you want to learn so you can play some of your favorite numbers, then it makes sense to just go ahead with the online tutorials alone and learn the different chords. Now that you have a solid game plan, it's time for you to get out there and start taking your own beginner guitar lessons!
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Simple Steps to Better Guitar Tone
by: Beth Miller
Great guitar tone is something that every guitarist wants. The quest for tone is one of the biggest reasons guitar players drop so much money on amplifiers and effects. If you've found yourself spending a lot of money lately on various 'sound tweaking' gadgets, take note: the solution to your sound problems just might be closer (and cheaper) than you think! Whether you want killer distortion or country-twang, the secret of great tone begins with a pure, clean signal. In other words, no matter how many effects you intend to use, you've got to make sure the basic, unadulterated “dry signal” coming through your amp sounds just as good as anything else. The reason for this is simple: every effect you add to that signal brings in a little bit of noise. So, you need to start with as clean a signal as possible so that the cumulative impact of noise and signal degradation from your effects is kept to a minimum. The first step here is as easy as proper maintenance of your guitar. Not only do you need to keep your strings fresh, and your neck in alignment, you also need to eliminate any sources of buzz or hum coming from faulty cords or poor electrical wiring in your pickups or input jack. The second step is to run the same maintenance check on your amplifier. Now, the fact is, some amps are just noisier than others. If you can find nothing physically wrong with your amp, it may just be that you need to do upgrades for better tone. For example, your amp's factory-installed speakers are probably not top-of-the-line. In the case of tube amps, especially, this can make a HUGE difference. Along similar lines, you might also consider upgrading your tubes and/or the transistors used in the pre-amp stage. Why? Because your amp's sound is greatly influenced by the way each of these components responds to the guitar signal. Cheap parts have a slower dynamic response, and can also add unwanted coloration to the signal. This is one reason why some amps will sound great at a lower volume, but start to break up and distort as soon as you turn things up. Last, but not least, take a look at the effects pedals you currently have in your arsenal. Maybe you've purchased 2 or 3 different distortion pedals, for example, in an elusive quest for that perfect 'crunch'? There's nothing wrong with owning multiple pedals for the same type of effect; but, if you still aren't getting the sound you desire, it could be that you need to add something very basic into the mix, like an EQ pedal. A good EQ pedal will allow you to shape which frequencies are emphasized. You can, for example, cut the mid-range for a heavier tone, or boost the highs so that your treble notes punch through. Try mixing and matching EQ and Volume pedals in different places along your effects chain in order to boost or limit the characteristics of other effects. You'll be amazed how many different sounds you can create with a little experimentation!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
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A Short History of the Electric Guitar
by: Paul Smith
Electric guitars are strongly associated with famous musicians of the twentieth century—and may be the iconic musical instrument of our time. Here’s a brief history of their rise in popular music. During the Big Band Era in the 20’s and 30’s, performers experimented with attaching microphones to acoustic guitars in order to amplify the sound. Most electric guitars were hollow-bodied acoustics with electric pickups. But the hollow space within the guitar produced vibrations that made harsh feedback when interacting with electric pickups. Manufacturers experimented with solid-body guitars to get rid of the feedback. One of the earlier solid-body guitars was an aluminium instrument known as the “Frying Pan” or “Pancake Guitar.” In 1940, Les Paul attempted a solid-body instrument called the “log guitar,” so called because it was a simple post equipped with neck, strings, and pickups. The electric guitar did not hit commercial success until the 1950’s, when Fender released its first solid-body model: the Esquire. The Esquire was followed by the Telecaster and finally, in 1954, the Stratocaster. The aggressive sound of the electric guitar became characteristic of rock and roll in the 60’s and 70’s. It was a high-profile instrument during this time, appearing on stage with dozens of famous bands and musicians. This created demand for affordable electric guitars. In the 60’s and 70’s, electric guitars were too expensive for ordinary buyers. But it wasn’t until the 1980’s that Japanese manufacturers stepped forward with affordable electric guitars that sounded good. This put pressure on American companies such as Gibson and Fender to provide their own affordable lines. Today, the electric guitar is one of the most prolific instruments in popular music. You can find it in a wide variety of genres, from metal to New Age.
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