Teaching Guitar in the 21st Century

Could I be teaching guitar without a computer? I could but I don't! The computer is part of most people lives today with Facebook, Google, Twitter, iTunes and more. It is big part of my teaching business. My uses for the computer include research, developing teacher materials, transcribing, marketing, sales, website, email, and recording.

I research online what other teachers are teaching and how they teach it. I see the good and the bad. This helps me improve my teaching ability. I also shop for books for students and myself to use for lessons. Google books is great for this. You can get "a look inside" of book you are shopping for. You can also see some reviews.

A guitar teacher not using a computer is not being competitive. The ability to produce clean and professional handouts and materials with software greatly improves student's and parents perception of the teacher. I have built a nice folder of files for my students ranging from open chords, notes on the guitar to advanced chords and polyrhythm. I do not have to write things in each lesson. It is already done. I have the printed out or can email them to the student.

I use software for transcribing. I have software that will slowdown MP3's to make it easier and more accurately to transcribe. I save these slowdown versions for students so they can practice songs slowly and gradually speed up to the proper tempo. This is important. The software will also change pitch, which comes in handy with bands that tune down. I can raise the pitch to regular tuning or in the case of drop C or B tunings, to drop D. I do not have to retune my whole guitar. I use another software to write out the songs or solos I am learning. I do this for my students and myself. I also encourage my students to do the same.

I use recording software to record custom backing tracks and exercises for my students. The backing tracks are used for learning to solo with different techniques. When a student learns to play a song, they can record with the backing into the computer during a lesson. Recording songs, techniques, and exercises with a video camera into the computer also helps students practice and review what was done in the lesson.

Other use of the computer for the guitar teacher is a website. A guitar teacher needs a website. When someone is looking for a local teacher, most of them go to Google and do a search. Having a website is necessary to get students. Teachers can develop a website online at various hosting companies. I did this for a while but I was getting annoyed and impatience with having to go online to change or add anything to the site. I eventually bought website software so I have more control and quicker updates to the site. Potential students contact me via phone or email from information posted on my website. Potential students contact me via phone or email from information posted on my website. Current students can go to the site and do ear training, watch videos and more.

I feel without the use of the computer for various aspects of my teaching business, I would have less students and less money.

Hopefully, this helps.

Brian has over 18 years Music industry experience and a guitar player for over 30 years. Brian currently teaches in Rockland County, NY. He can be contacted at guitarhelper@guitarhelper.net.

http://www.guitarhelper.net/

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The S6 Original Guitar From Seagull

Seagull may not end up being the very brand of guitar that people think of first however they do make tremendous acoustic guitars. And thinking about it thats all that actually matters, I've seen several guitarists claiming the same too, the Seagull S6 Original is amongst the best acoustic guitars for any novice for under $500.

Currently being a guitar that's rated among the finest acoustic guitars for beginners you would expect an awesome instrument and with the Seagull S6 you will not be disappointed. The guitar generates a melodious, warm sound that for the reasonably low price is surprisingly good. Genuinely producing better sound in comparison to that of several guitars that are made by larger brand names priced twice as much. However though it doesn't truly equal the top names in guitars.

I understand that this is a matter of judgment, but I absolutely love the style of such a instrument. I reckon the color on the topside of the body is exceedingly attractive and I really like the finish. The back of the instrument is also a very nice brown and also the pattern of the wood appears to be really good. Also at the back of the machine heads you will come across engraved Seagull's, I'm exceedingly fulfilled with all the small niceties. You're able to probably tell that I am personally very excited with the looks of the instrument and cannot think of anything about this acoustic guitar I'd change.

The Seagull S6 Original Acoustic Guitar is not devoid of some drawbacks however. Many owners have reported that the cedar top being made from soft wood causes it to be susceptible to dents and scratches, nonetheless any guitar (or anything for that matter) will get bumps and scratches just because of use, as long as it sounds an equal. As a good pair of shoes, they get better the more you make use of them and the more worn they get. The missing front strap button it is an additional downside for some players. Except these you will come across no other noticeable weaknesses within the Seagull S6 Beginners guitar making it a brilliant choice for a novice guitar.

It is intended to last and if you are a newcomer that desires to stay away from needing to upgrade in a years time then the S6 is a great selection as it will last you as long as you need it to. This is probably because Seagull doesn't outsource the production over seas. This guitar is made in Seagull's native land of Canada.

All in all, I really like this guitar as it sounds tremendous, looks fantastic, and is not overpriced. I highly recommend it very highly for any guitarist searching for a high class acoustic guitar.

I think that his is a fantastic guitar for the price and the quality. Take a another look at http://seagulls6original.com/

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Essentials of Guitar Parts

Understanding how to play your guitar has been revolutionized with the Web. It really is incredibly easy just before to understand on-line using items like Jamorama, which covers each of the bases. Via reading music along with tabs to playing by simply hearing, Jamorama is really a comprehensive instructional advantage for your start participant in addition to advanced beginner participants.

But before you are free to everything that stuff and start your current acoustic guitar training, you have to educate yourself on the aspects of the guitar. That's where I appear in. Here i will discuss the various from the guitar with regards to a right handed person. In case you are a lefty, only switch a guitar above and also turn back guitar strings.

Thus, you might be holding the guitar on your knee. The body will be regenerating through your correct side. From your bottom part with the physique proceeding on the neck of the guitar, the parts in the guitar are generally:

1. The tailpiece. This particular retains one particular end from the guitar strings. In most cases metal, occasionally features a whammy tavern that come with the idea which is either bolted or perhaps stuck on the system.

2. The body. This really is which pretty shaded, shaped component which is just below your current proper hand. Here is the greatest part of the tool as well as controls the noise of the particular instrument. Usually made of some form of solid wood nevertheless at times many other materials are utilized.

3. The actual decide on ups or even sound hole. By using an electric guitar, you will have a solid opening within the strings within body. By using an electric guitar, there will be between one particular as well as 3 digital pick-ups there (zero hole). Those two have a similar function, which is to move sound and earn everything you enjoy perceptible.

4. The neck. That is sticking out in your quit right now there and is a couple of? toes long. Necks are made from various kinds of components. Most typical are rosewood along with basswood. Top quality instruments may use mahogany the following.

5. The particular frets. These are the basic tiny steel cafes working across the guitar neck. The particular better these are to the system, the closer these are with each other. These kinds of make different hues probable and your fingertips will likely be put only to their rear.

6. The nut. This is where the particular guitar neck joins the headstock. It is a difficult nylon and contains lines in which behave as instructions to the guitar strings.

7. The actual headstock along with tuning keys. This is the uppermost section of the electric guitar and possesses your focusing keys attached with the idea. Your guitar strings will be used from the tailpiece and after that threaded with the intonation recommendations and ripped tight being tuned. The actual intonation secrets might be anything from plastic material to be able to precious metal.

These elements are explained much more thoroughly throughout Jamorama, the internet electric guitar study course that is certainly taking the World wide web by hurricane. You won't find out these aspects of a guitar however more to do with exactly what his or her objective is actually and how to use them in order to adjust the sound.

Want to know more about Fender guitar parts? Learn the basics of electric, bass and acoustic guitar parts by visiting GuitarAction.org now.

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Things You Need For Your Guitar Lessons

So, you decided to take guitar lessons. There are certain items you will definitely need. Let's look at them.

First off you will need guitar. Usually with school programs, the student or parent can rent a instrument from the local music store. With guitar though, most stores do not rent guitars. You might get lucky if you try your local music store. In the end you will probably have to purchase a guitar.

Now in the past, most beginning students learned on acoustic guitar which is fine but you can also start on the electric. Usually the acoustic guitar was less of an investment but now the quality of inexpensive imported electric guitars is good. It also depends on the style of music you want to play. If you are into singer/songwriter style, pop or country, you might go acoustic. If you want to get into metal, rock, etc. go with the electric. I feel the electric guitar is more fun in the beginning and might keep the interest high. Electric strings are closer tot he fingerboard making it easier to press the string and achieve a sound.The strings on a nylon (classical) guitars are softer on the fingers but the guitar has a wider fingerboard. A steel string acoustic guitar might be the hardest but will build strength.

If you go with the electric guitar, you will need small practice amp

Beginner electric guitars come in packages with an amp and accessories. This will get you started. The cable you get to connect the guitar the amp is low quality. Invest in a better cable.

Purchasing a gig bag (soft cover) or case is a good idea. Again, in the guitar packages you should get some type of gig bag. You can do buy an acoustic guitar not in a package, this gives you the option of getting a better bag and accessories.

You will need a tuner. The tuners in the packages usually aren't that great so invest in a decent tuner. You should get one that has a metronome also built-in. A tuner will last a life-time if you take care of them and do not lose them. I've been playing for over 30 years and had only 2 tuner and 2 metronome. I will be purchasing a tuner/metronome to replace my current tuner and metronome. Right now I have two units. I want the convenience of one unit.

Picks will come in the packages. If not, pick up some. They come in different shapes and thickness. I suggest the regular triangle size with either a medium to heavy thickness. You could also try a light pick.

A capo might be necessary if you are playing pop and some rock stuff.

Make sure you have extra strings. Strings do break.

One of the best inventions, I think, is the peg winder. It makes restringing the guitar so much faster. They are inexpensive. I recommend ones with a built-in string cutter that are little more money but again it is nice to have one tool instead of two.

Definitely a music stand for practicing. A guitar stand is a good idea because if the guitar is out on the stand you will be more incline to pick it up and practice and play more.

Get a Teacher. There are plenty of beginning books out there. There are also many online lessons. Eventually you will need a personal teacher. You are human and we are all different. A good guitar teacher can give you the personal attention and guidance you will need to progress that no book, DVD or online video can offer you. Having a weekly guitar lesson also motivates you to get things done.

You need time to practice. You have to schedule practice into your weekly time.

Kids have other activities. Adults are busy with family, work, etc. You have to be diligent with the practice time.

You will need nice, quiet place to practice. You should use a room that is away from distractions. Not the couch in front of the TV. Have a music stand in the room.

Lastly, you need desire, passion, dedication and patience to learn the guitar and music in general. Don't expect to be playing fill songs for awhile. Improvement is done in "baby steps". The more correct practicing you do the faster you will progress.

Hopefully, this helps.

Brian has over 18 years Music industry experience and a guitar player for over 30 years.

He can be contacted at guitarhelper@guitarhelper.net.
http://www.guitarhelper.net/

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Easy Ways to Care for Your Guitar

You've picked out your favorite guitar from the shop. You've brought it home and given it a name. We all have names for our guitars, right? Now you want to learn how to keep your baby in good condition forever.

Think of your guitar like white wine, conditioned properly it'll taste better in 20 years. Follow these tips below and you'll find that the wood aging process will help your guitar sound better than when you purchased it.

Guitar Maintenance 101

The Strings

Taking care of the guitar strings is important. It'll keep your guitar sounding great for months and save you money from purchasing new strings. That being said you should replace your strings before recording music, before live performances (except if you are touring then maybe every few concerts) and anytime when the sound of your guitar seems dull.

To maintain your stings be sure to wipe them down with a cloth after playing. This will remove any oil and debris that has gotten onto the string while playing. There are conditioners you can use but they aren't necessary.

It's also a good idea to wipe down the back of the neck of the guitar at this time.

The fretboard

Maintaining the fretboard can be tricky but your best plan of attack is to clean it when replacing the strings. For this a thorough scrubbing is needed to get the junk out from the crevasses between the frets and the wood surface. Use a damp cloth for this job but be sure to dry out the wood. For this task I recommend a conditioner. It'll help the wood keep the moisture it needs and can provide an extra layer of protection from dirt and grime.

The body of the guitar

This is the easiest part. A simple wipe down of the surface should do you. Every few months it's also a good idea to use a conditioner here as well.

Hardware

On the electric guitar you'll have more to do here then on the acoustic guitar. This first thing for you to do is to make sure all screws, nuts and bolts are tightened. Careful not to over-tighten as this can damage sensitive parts. Your second task is to polish the metallic parts. A wipe with a damp cloth should be enough but you can get metal polish as well. Be sure to test an area first.

Storage

This last maintenance tip is probably the most important but one that many of beginning music students are unaware of. Storage of a guitar can make or brake it's sound. This is because wood is quite sensitive to changes in weather. These tips work well for anyone but are most important for those who live in Northern climates such as Canada because of the extreme weather changes.

Just like white wine in the summer you'll want to keep your guitar in a cool and dry place. Leaving it in the sun is a bad idea. So is leaving it in your car.

The winter is almost the opposite. Keep it in a warm place that is shielded from the elements. You also want to keep the humidity at a consistent level. A good option for this is a sound hole humidifier.

Well, there you have it guitar maintenance 101. You are now ready to rock.

Jordan Stevens continues to inspire people to play music and perform at their best. His music can be heard on the Internet, in short films and on corporate phone systems. He is the Chief Noisemaker at CJSmusic and in his spare time he loves to swim with the fishes in the sea.

If you'd like to learn how to create a brand that will stand out and be heard, check out cjsmusic.ca

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Blues Guitar Lessons

What is Blues?

Blues is a musical genre or musical form originated from work songs, spirituals and field hollers of African American community. The blues musical form is present in all types of Music including jazz, rock & roll and rhythms. Blues musical genre can be played in different instruments like Guitar, Saxophone, Drums, Trumpet and Trombone. Blues is exemplified using different chord progressions, of which the 12 bar Blues chord progressions are very common.

Want Blues Guitar Lessons?

Are you interested in playing blues musical form on your Guitar? Then you have to learn and practice the blues guitar in between lessons. The guitar lessons are available to play different styles of blues like Chicago blues, slow blues, funky blues, jazz blues, boogaloo and much more. You can learn all these styles with various chords and progressions by going through the lessons mentioned below:

Blues Guitar Beginner Lessons

If you are a beginner in learning, then start with beginner lessons including rhythm, minor rhythm, shuffle rhythm, scales, intro licks and basic licks. When you are done with these lessons, begin with blues solos lessons. Then you can proceed with intermediate lessons including two chord licks, low string solo and swing solo.

Blues Guitar Lead Lessons

When you have learnt beginner guitar, you can proceed with the lead lessons to master in blues. The lead lessons include blues licks and solos, classic blues licks, classic double stop licks, bends, movable blues, Jody's shuffle and much more. You have to also concentrate on lessons related to blues rhythm, blues turnaround and acoustic.

Learn all guitar lessons with full care and master them. No doubt that you will soon become a best Guitarist like B.B. King, Leadbelly and Eric Clapton.

It is advisable that you practice the guitar daily to become the guitar player that you have always dreamed of. If you can only practice for five minutes of guitar each day this is far better than practicing for thirty five minutes every single week! It all comes down to hands on time with your guitar, the more you practice in between your guitar lessons the better.

It is not essential to own the custome Les Paul or Strat guitar in order to get the sound of your dream guitar player, the attitude of the player is far more important. Listen to what your teacher says during your blues guitar lessons for the best chance of success.

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How A Good Guitar Teacher Will Help New And Experienced Guitarists

Learning to play guitar just like learning any music instrument can be difficult, you will hear lots of people give advice about regular practice and how spending just 20 minutes a day will make a huge difference. Practicing guitar regularly will of course help you to progress but it is also important to know what to practice. It's no good just sitting and playing something you know over and over again, it's also no good endlessly trying to play something that your skills haven't developed enough for. Practicing something you already know will make you better at it but it will also become very boring and practicing to play something that your guitar skills are simply not ready for will make you extremely frustrated.

So how does someone who wants to learn to play guitar decide just what they should spend their practice sessions playing, this is where a guitar teacher comes in, having a good guitar teacher to keep you focussed on developing the right skills at the right pace is essential, we have all heard of great guitar players who were self taught such as Hillel Slovak from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers & Jimi Hendrix who learnt his style just by experimenting, believe me these are the exception, most guitar players do have a tutor at some stage to help them develop their playing skills.

A guitar teacher is much more than just someone who will to show you all the chords and how to play them well. A good guitar instructor can act as a mentor, someone who will push you to excel & perfect your skills to be better than even you could have thought. They can teach you to open your mind to different sounds and tones and allow to find your own path to making music.

Having a guitar teacher from the outset will help you to learn in a structured way, concentrating on refining key areas of your play and structuring your learning will make sure you are learning the right things at the right time, when you first start to play it is also important to have a guitar teacher who can explain things clearly to you and help you to understand where to focus on to improve your guitar playing, these are the things you will be practicing outside of your lessons to help you progress in to a competent guitar player.

A guitar teacher will also be there to help you over those difficult periods that every musician comes across when we feel like we have hit a wall and can't seem to learn a certain technique, your guitar tutor will help you get past these hurdles and encourage you to stay focussed. Before you know it the wall is past and you find you can competently play the guitar lick or difficult chord you thought seemed impossible.

I have been playing guitar now for over three years, when I first started playing I thought I would be able to teach myself but quickly realised that their were only certain things that I could learn without the guidance of a good guitar teacher. My first guitar teacher didn't work out for me so I moved on to my current one who I have been with for three years and I am still learning and being taught new guitar techniques that improve my playing. If you are a beginner setting out to learn to play guitar a teacher will be invaluable, if you are a more experienced player who is looking to develop their playing skills further a guitar teacher will undoubtedly speed up the learning process.

Steve Spinks is a guitar player based in Brighton, Sussex. Steve has been playing guitar for three years and strives to become a better guitarist.
Guitar Lessons Brighton

Guitar Teacher Brighton

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Best Guitar Amplifier for College

When you're going to college, you need an amp that will let you rock out without raising the ire of your roommate or neighbors. Luckily, there are plenty of impressive amps that both sound good at lower volumes and can hang with a band if necessary. We've compiled a list of five, but there are certainly more out there if you look.

We already covered some good beginner amps elsewhere. Any of those would suffice as dorm room amps if you're on a really tight budget. However, there are some little amps out there that sound every bit as good as the big expensive amps. Every amp on this list is driven by tubes, as opposed to the solid-state amps on the beginner list. Without going into too much detail here, tube amps are generally considered the superior type of amplification. The difference in sound his hard to explain, but you'll likely be able to hear it if you ever sit down and compare tube amps to solid-state amps side-by-side.

Marshall Class 5

Only five watts, you say? You'll be surprised by the wallop packed by this little combo amp from Marshall. The tone is sweet, the overdrive is crunchy, and this amp can certainly compete with a drummer in a small venue or practice setting. It even has a headphone jack for silent practice sessions.

VHT Special 6

At six watts, this boutique VHT amp isn't much more powerful than the Marshall, but again, looks can be deceiving. These amps are hand-wired and made in small quantities, yet the price doesn't reflect that level high level of craftsmanship. The point-to-point wiring system used to build these amps also means they're easy to modify, which manufacturer VHT seems to encourage.

Orange Tiny Terror

The Orange Tiny Terror is renowned for its signature Orange distortion and is the most popular tube amp in Orange's line. Its fans love its no-frills design (only 3 knobs, no extraneous effects) and the amount of sound it can put out despite its size. Overdrive the tubes in this amp and you'll be rewarded with classic British crunch for far less money than the price of a stack. It also offers the option of switching from 15 to 7 watts, to make achieving the crunchy sound that much easier at low volumes.

Fender Blues Junior

These little 15-watt amps are, according to Fender, the best-selling tube amps in the world. They boast the styling and sound of the bigger Fender Hot Rod amp series, but they come with the added benefits of being cheaper and smaller. It doesn't get much better than the signature American tube sound of a Fender Blues Junior.

Bugera V-22

Weighing in at 22 watts, the Bugera is the biggest amp on this list. It comes with classy vintage-inspired styling features, including a cool blue jewel light, and also has a smooth-sounding digital reverb. These amps are built in China by Behringer, a well-known sound equipment manufacturer.

In conclusion, a good amp for college is an amp that is compact and offers great tone. However, students may not even be able to afford these amps. If you're really hurting for cash, any of these best beginner amps would do the job just as well for a good college amp.

Cheap Guitarists.com offers news, articles, reviews, and sales for the budget minded guitarist. For newbies, we also provide information on the best beginner's guitars.

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Four Effective Ways To Learn Guitar

Be it for the influence of rock music and dreams of becoming a rock superstar or just to fill in those leisurely hours, playing the guitar has become very appealing for many people the world over. The guitar itself is quite an easy instrument to learn but what can be an easy task for some can also be a tedious task for others. Luckily there are various way to learn the guitar and surely you can find one that suites you the best. Listed below are 4 of the most effective ways.

1. Learning by Ear

Learning the guitar by ear can be very fun and effective, especially if you are an intuitive person. Learning by ear is not as hard as it use to be several years ago. With the modern slowing down recordings technology today, anybody can learn to play by ears with a bit of effort.

2. Learning From Guitar Instructional Books

Books use to be the best choice for study in the past before we have the internet. However, there's been great development in guitar instructional book today that you can find thousands of quality guitar instructional books on the market. They range from the complete beginner to the advance player and in any musical style. There's also books that comes with audio CD and this will surely help you understand the material presented in the book easier and faster.

3. Video Guitar Lessons

Video guitar lessons are great especially if you need coaching but want to learn at your own pace. They are available on DVDs in any music store as well as online. Some of the online video guitar lessons are even free and you can learn straight from your browser without the need of a DVD player. Video lessons can be more dynamic and you'll have a better chance to stay focus with the lessons as you'll be inspired with the visual experience. Perhaps the only downside of video lessons is that you can't communicate with your instructor for any difficulties that you might encounter.

4. Private Lessons With A Guitar Teacher

If you can allocate a time for a private guitar class, finding a guitar teacher is another great option. It may cost you a bit of investment but you can benefit from the personalized attention and useful feedback that a teacher could provide. When you're dealing with a real person like a guitar teacher, he or she can customize a teaching program to best suite your needs. You will always have someone to correct your mistake on the spot before it turn into a bad playing habit plus, you'll be surprise of how a bit of motivation from a good guitar teacher can keep you focus with your goal to be good with the instrument.

Playing the guitar is a fun and rewarding experience. It does take effort, time and patient before you can rip the reward but with these learning options that are available to you, there is no reason for you not to succeed.

Eddie Kisah is a guitar teacher and the webmaster for his website edguitar.com. Visit his website for free guitar lessons at http://www.edguitar.com/.

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Selecting A Decent Electric Bass Guitar: 3 Handy Guidelines To Help You Put Up Better Decisions

Are you gonna purchase your very first electric bass guitar to satisfy your burning desire? And you want to play it like a professional bass guitarist and show your friends stuff you can do and how great it is?

OK, I know. But wait for a moment friend, you're moving too fast! Do you know how to pin-point on the right electric bass guitar that suits you? It's the first step that you should pay close attention to before anything else.

Picking a great electric bass guitar is very important. People often rush it and that's why they have to pay a fair price (both in terms of money and time). With a great electric guitar, you will improve your performance quick, whereas with a poor one, it's very hard because you chose the incorrect step right at the beginning.

That's why I think you should spend 5 minutes reading my short guideline. With the next 3 tips I have for you, you will understand how to pick a decent bass guitar and begin your journey as soon as possible. So, let's begin!

Tip #1: Specify clearly what is your main purpose with your guitar

That means you should have a clear purpose of what you're going to do with it. So, you're going to practice electric rock, or punk, or just traditional rock? In fact, there are more music genres out there but you get the point.

Because manufacturers today offer different models for a variety genres of music. Your guitar can be 4, 5 or 6-string, and it could have many add-on gears! Therefore, the first thing to do is to define your genre and the way you're going to do with it.

Tip #2: High price does not always accompany with quality

What does it mean?

It means you don't have to spend thousands of dollars on your gears and think that the higher the price, the better the guitar. And it doesn't mean that at a much lower price tag, you can't afford any decent bass guitar!

The fact is reverse! And to be honest with you, this is where the majority of people waste their time and money! Again, if you can clearly define your musical genres, it could be easier to pick a reasonable priced guitar that fits you. Don't buy an expensive one without even know what to do with it!

Tip #3: If you want to buy anything, try to buy it via the Internet

This will be the biggest budget-saving tip I can give you.

Although I think you may know it already, but have you ever considered it? Online shops have their advantages. They don't have to pay expensive monthly fees for employees, fancy office, storage, etc. That results in a huge discount if you purchase from them.

In comparison with traditional offline shops, you will find this way of shopping more beneficial! And there's another benefit from buying online. That is you can sit at home browsing hundreds of thousands of goods instead of running around the town shopping. It saves you time!

That's great, isn't it?

There you have it, 3 portable tips to help you choose the guitar of your own. If you can pick up the correct one, you will find it easier to improve your performance and go pro in no time!

Now if you care about a little personal recommendation from me, I will give you. If you're still looking around for a good electric bass guitar, I highly recommend the Silvertone Bass Amp Package! Yes, it's a full package of bass gears. All you will ever need in one place.

Curious why I recommend it? Then take a break and read my review about the Silvertone LB11 Bass & Amp Package. It will provide you with much more useful information before choosing your first electric bass guitar!

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How to Motivate Yourself When Learning to Play Guitar

If you are learning to play guitar, or if you already began to learn guitar chords, chances are that you have felt bored and frustrated; perhaps you have felt that playing the guitar is not for you, you find it more complicated than you thought it would be... anyway, you are not alone. You are not the first one or the last one getting that feeling, it happened to most guitar players when they began.

The reason I know that happens is because I have felt like that too, and I still feel like that every now and then when I'm trying to learn a new song; the only difference now is that I know that it can be done and that in the end is a small victory for me, now I know that if others were able to do it, I'm more than capable to do it as well.

The hardest step is to begin, learning the basics and the fundamentals of the guitar, this is usually the part when most people quit, and the truth is that it can get tricky at first; it is only after you learn the chords that you can start playing songs and having fun with your guitar.

Let me give you a few tips that have helped me in the past and still help me whenever I want to try something different in the guitar:

1. Visualize yourself playing your favorite songs. If you are learning a new song or if you are learning the basics of the guitar and you feel that you are going nowhere, visualize yourself playing that song that inspired you to start playing guitar in the first place, this will be like putting gas on your tank and you'll probably get the feeling you once felt; this is a great way to motivate yourself

2. Remember why you wanted to learn guitar. This one is a lot like visualizing yourself playing your favorite songs; when you get that feeling that you don't want to continue, start thinking why you wanted to start playing guitar, maybe to impress someone, to be famous, perhaps you want to start a career as a musician or just because you want to play the songs of your favorite band, either way think about it and this will make you feel good about what you are fighting for.

3. Do not overwhelm yourself. Too much practice can lead into frustration as well. I think that playing an hour a day is a great way to improve really fast, but if you are feeling bored after half an hour, what you can do is make a shorter practice session, try to practice for fifteen minutes a day and eventually you will feel the need to practice more and you'll see that time flies when you are having fun with your guitar.

4. Give yourself a pad on the back after practice. After you've done your homework, give yourself a little reward, if you like chocolates, have a chocolate or anything you like, but only after you've finished your practice, this is great to keep yourself motivated.

Learning guitar is a great experience, try to practice every day to see results and the best advice I can give you is to find a guitar course, stick to it and you'll be amazed with the results you'll see. Good luck and have a great day.

George Balibrera is an experienced guitarist with over 12 years playing guitar. Starting to Play Guitar Can be fun and exciting when you have the proper method to learn. Buy Jamorama at the best price and start learning guitar right away or improve your skills as a musician. Remember, practice is the key. To your success.

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Frets Bridges and Hardware - What You Need To Know Before You Learn How To Play Notes On Guitar

I know you are anxious to learn how to play notes on guitar, but there are a few mechanical details that you need to learn so that you can make the guitar function properly.

Frets are the raised strips of metal on the neck of your guitar. When used properly, frets shorten the length of the string. The shorter the string is, the higher it will play. In order to make a fret useful in this way, the fingertip is placed directly next to the fret on the side towards the tuning head. Do not place the finger directly on top of a fret. The fingertip is snug against the fret while the knuckles are pointed up and away from the fret. A firmness is needed to press down and will definitely cause some pain onto the uninitiated finger. Press firmly down and then lift off to look at your fingertip. If you see a solid line or crease run across the fingertip, then you have placed it correctly. If the line covers only a portion of the fingertip then you have missed the mark. Once you get the knack of placing the finger correctly, pluck the string that you are fretting and see if the tone is clear. Now you are ready to learn how to play notes on guitar. Learn to count frets. In the future, you will be hearing things like "put your finger on the 5th fret. There are usually dots placed on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th frets. These are guides to help you get there quickly. The 12th fret has two dots. The 12th fret is known for producing an octave. When a note is played on the 12th fret it will have the same name as the open string that it's being played on.
The bridge is where the strings are held tightly in place to the body of the guitar. When you learn how to put on a guitar string, you will see that the strings are threaded through a hole and slotted across a piece of metal that can have adjustments made by the turning of screws. The strings can be raised or lowered here by the slightest degree. If a string is lowered too far, it will start to "buzz out". This will inhibit the string from vibrating and create a nasty buzzing sound. Do not fool around with the bridge. Learn from a professional how to put on guitar strings so you don't knock anything out from the original setting...
Tuning Hardware is something you can and must tinker with. There are six tuning pegs on the headstock that can tighten or loosen. The first big mistake is to turn too fast and too much. Tuning it can easily break a string if you tune it too high. Observe each peg and the way the string wraps around it. When you learn how to put on a guitar string, you are going to have to wrap it the same way. Find a peg and the string that's attached to it. Practice plucking the string and then turn the peg just a little either way. You are not tuning it yet; you are just getting a feel for it. Now try to turn it back to where it was. Don't forget to pluck it and listen to it first. Don't just turn the peg without plucking the string first and listening.

Learning about the hardware of your guitar may get you to understand a little bit about how the guitar functions. Pay close attention to how the strings are wrapped around the tuning peg. Someday you will be required to learn how to put on guitar strings. Then you will need to tune it. Once you can tune, you will be ready to learn how to play notes on guitar.

Gene Petty

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Guitar Strings - Understanding Their Differences

Deciding which guitar strings to use for your particular guitar can be a bit confusing if you don't know what you're looking for. To begin with, there are many different brands to choose from... Martin, Ernie Ball, LaBella, Augustine, Fender, D'Addario, Elixir, GHS, Guild... and the list goes on.

In addition to this, there are various designs, types, gauges and materials used in the manufacture of guitar strings. So, where do you begin?

The first thing you need to know is what type of guitar you have.

When you walk into a music shop you'll typically see a wide selection of guitar strings displayed along the wall. They are usually divided into two distinct groups, or types...

Types:

1. Nylon Strings - designed for Classical and "Flamenco" guitars.

2. Steel Strings - designed for Acoustic and Electric guitars.

Materials:

The materials used in the making of guitar strings are selected on the basis of their intended use...

Classical and Flamenco guitars are plucked with the fingers and originally used "cat gut" for strings. Now they have 3 treble strings which are made of clear mono-filament nylon, and 3 bass strings which have a nylon multi-filament core. The bass strings are commonly wrapped with a silver-plated copper, bronze, or some similar alloy.

Acoustic and Electric guitar strings have a steel core because they are commonly (but not exclusively) strummed or played with a pick.
Acoustic Guitars - have strings that are commonly wrapped with bronze, or brass.Electric Guitars - have strings that are usually wrapped with a nickel-plated steel, nickel/iron, stainless steel, or other alloy (copper,bronze, zinc).

Bronze and brass strings have a bright, bell like tone. Phosphor bronze are very bright and have a quick response. However, I have noticed that they tend to lose their bright tone rather quickly.

Gauges:

When you pick up a box of steel strings at the music store you'll see that they are identified as either...

Light
Medium
Heavy

This designation refers to how thick the strings are in diameter. The specs for each string are usually provided on the back of the box.

When deciding on the gauge of strings to buy you will want to consider three basic things...

1. Volume
2. Tone
3. Playability
Light - are easy to play, but the tonal quality may suffer, resulting in poor volume and/or string buzz.Heavy - produce more volume, but the string tension makes playability difficult, especially if you are a beginner.Medium - fall somewhere in-between, so you might say they provide a "happy medium" for a lot of people. =)

My suggestion is to steer clear of extra-light gauge strings. They are weird to play and don't produce a good sound- at least, that has been my experience.

Nylon strings have two main designations...
Normal Tension - easy to play, decent volume and tone. Hard Tension - harder to play, better tone and volume overall.

The regular Light-Gauge steel strings and Normal Tension nylon are a good choice for beginners in my opinion, but I recommend sticking with a "name brand" you recognize to insure better quality, sound performance and to guard against breaking, unraveling, etc.

The string brands I am currently using right now are...
Elixir - on my steel string acoustic guitars.D'Addario - on my nylon string classical guitarsFender - on my electric guitars.

When it comes to strings the saying is true that... you generally do get what you pay for.

Design:

There are 3 basic designs for steel strings...

1. Round-wound - these produce a broad tonal response and sustain. They are bright sounding with rich harmonies.

2. Flat-wound - are designed to reduce finger noise. They have a very smooth feel, but have a duller "mid-range" sound and less sustain.

3. Ground-wound - These strings are the "middle of the road" and attempt to incorporate the features of both the Round-wound and Flat-wound designs.

Keep these things in mind the next time you are preparing to get new strings for your guitar and perhaps it will help make your decision a little easier!

Kathy Unruh is the webmaster of ABC Learn Guitar.com. She has over over 20 years experience as a guitar teacher and is currently offering lessons online for students of all ages.

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Guitar Learning Tips For Beginners

The guitar is easily the most popular musical instrument in the world. Thousands of people start learning guitar with the best of intentions, only to give up when they discover it's harder than it looks. If you want to learn guitar and be one of the success stories, then follow these simple beginner tips:

1: Buy a cheap, good quality guitar. It may seem obvious, but you will need to own your own guitar if you truly want to learn to play. Only by having exclusive access to your own instrument will you be able to improve quickly. You don't need to spend a lot however. A reasonably priced beginner's guitar shouldn't cost more than USD$100. Try looking online for basic guitars then compare that price to your local music store. This will give you more bargaining power when it comes time to make a purchase.

2: Start with nylon strings. Guitars either have metal strings or nylon strings. The former sound better eventually, though cause more pain when you're starting out. It's much better to toughen your finger tips up gradually with a nylon string guitar and change over when you feel ready. In the beginning your chords won't sound so great as to be able to tell the difference anyways!

3: Learn your basic chords from online video. The internet is the best source of good quality, yet free "how-to" information. Video sites such as YouTube are a great place to find free guitar lessons. Simply search for terms like "beginner guitar chords" and you'll be on your way. Remember also to look for sites besides YouTube, since many of these are dedicated "how-to" sites and have a wide array of quality video not necessarily found elsewhere.

4: Practice strumming to a metronome or jam track. When you start out playing guitar you will focus all your attention on forming the correct chords and making them sound clear. As you progress, you'll move your focus to your strumming hand. It's a good idea to learn to strum in time from the outset. A metronome is a good basic tool, though there are also many simple "jam tracks" you can find online to play along to. These are more interesting and give you the feeling of playing in a band.

5: Invest in a quality beginner's learning package. Quality e-learning courses are readily available online and improving all the time. Beginner's packages shouldn't cost more than USD$50. A good one should contain video, e-books, jam tracks, easy to follow step-by-step instructions and typically some extra bonuses too.

Don't be afraid to purchase a product and take them up on their money back guarantee if it's not to your liking. Reputable online businesses stick by their claims and will return your money if you're dissatisfied. If you understand this, then you won't be so hesitant to make the investment.

6: Find someone to play with. The final thing you should do to ensure your guitar learning success is to find a friend to play with. Preferably someone better than you who is willing to show you a few things. Playing by yourself is fun, though it's only when you team up with a real live person that you get the extra boost of motivation to continue.

If you follow these six beginner guitar learning tips and you will be well on the way to success.

Visit http://www.stresslessguitar.com// for all the best guitar learning, tricks and insider info.

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Guitar Mistakes - 3 Mistakes Made By Beginner Guitar Players

There are three mistakes that beginning guitar players make that totally destroys their ability for advancing quickly in the mastery of their instrument. If they can avoid these three mistakes, they will see a big changes in how fast they progress as a guitar player.

The three big mistakes are:

Not practicing every day.Not knowing what to practice.Not having a good teacher or mentor to guide the way.

1. Not practicing the guitar every day is a big mistake that many beginning guitar players make. Many new guitar players think that they need to practice for one hour every day. That is not true. Of course, it would be great if they could practice one hour each and every day, but in reality, the time is just not available. Most peoples' lives are just too busy to have that much free time to dedicate to one activity. A more practical approach is for them to find a couple of fifteen minutes blocks of time throughout the day when they can practice. Perhaps while waiting for the dryer to finish drying the clothes, there might be a fifteen minute chunk of time. While cooking dinner, waiting for the pasta water to boil, there's another chunk of time. Here's a good time waster, commercials while watching TV. Use that time to practice guitar. Even better, get rid of the TV and practice guitar. There really is a lot of chunks of time that can be carved out of the daily schedule for some guitar practice. To be successful at this approach though the new guitarist must use some planning and forethought.

Leave the guitar out and readily accessible.Have an idea of what to practice.

2. Not knowing what to practice. The new guitar player needs to know what the material is to practice when they pick up the guitar. Are they working on certain scale fingerings? Are they working on rhythm guitar and different chord changes? Are they working on various blues licks, or a certain song? Not knowing what to practice leads to endless "noodling" on the guitar, and no real practical advancement.

3. The guitar is a hard instrument to play. There are a bunch of technical things about the guitar and music to be learned, and a lot of practical things to be learned that are best learned by being physically shown what to do, and hearing the results. That is where a good teacher becomes invaluable to the guitar student. Whether the teacher is a "live" instructor teaching through some type of formal in-person lessons, a simple DVD video lesson package, or an internet subscription course, a good teacher is necessary for quick advancement on the guitar.

If the new guitar player can avoid these three mistakes, they should be able to progress rapidly and be playing the guitar in a short period of time.

For a link to 10 free beginners guitar lessons or to read more about learning to play the guitar, please click here: http://www.lurnguitar.com/.

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Tips on How to Effectively Practice Guitar

Don't know what or how to practice guitar? Don't worry. There are easy tips to get started with your guitar practice and I can share it to you if you like. But first, you should have prepared the things you need to play guitar. You can read my previous article to learn what are the things you needed. If you're all set, then you can check the guidelines below.

Know what you want

Everything starts from an idea and you better know what you are getting into before even attempting to practice. You want to visualize what you want to learn for the coming week or for the following months. You might want to go deeper with scales, assuming that you already get a good idea with playing chords. You can learn whatever. The thing is, you just need to know what it is first. That's the first step and some prefer this as planning, it's pretty much the same for me.

Figuring your time

You then have to figure how much time you'll devote to this process. If you are willing to give 3 hours of real guitar practice then that's great. You can also give at least an hour a day or even few minutes a day or a week. It doesn't mean that you give 3 hours of practice, the more skilled you will become. It's about how you manage your time and what kind of "guitar practice" you have inserted into that time allowance. So a fine, specific and complete practice fit in an hour can be better than a disorganized, non-focused 3-hour exercise. Go figure.

Set the schedule and be religious to it

Now you probably have a time allotted for each day, and so you will then need to set a schedule. See, if you have in mind a special skill you want to achieve or a guitar piece perhaps, you should include that 60 percent of your time for practice. For example, you want to learn the piece, "Flight of the Bumble Bee", you will have to give around 40 minutes training that is relevant to that piece, that is if you plan to have an hour a day. Remember that the 60 percent is considered as the meat of the practice. Only do the relevant things and forget about the other things.

The other forty percent is divided into other exercise that are crucial. These are finger and picking exercise. Chromatic scale training is great for hitting finger exercise and picking training at the same time. You can also do other scale forms or dedicated finger and dedicated picking exercises as well.

By the way, it's up to you how much time you give for warm up and cool down stretching. It's highly recommended though for you to avoid injuries.

Of course, you need to be religious with your exercise program. You don't want to end up failing or not progressing at all after a month. Set a strict time. A time where you are not usually disturbed by someone or with your other schedules like school and work. For students, it would be best to have practices on the afternoon or after you're done with your homework. For working people, it will depend on your schedules. No matter what, you should accomplish your practice daily or as you plan it to be. Sticking to the plan will guarantee success. This is also why I prefer having shorter but effective guitar practice schedule. This way, the practice doesn't bore you and it doesn't take much of your day.

Good luck in your guitar training and practice! Don't forget to stay positive and always work on things no matter what.

Learn how to play the guitar and check some more tips regarding the instrument and music in general in my website. Playing guitar has never been as easy. You can do it!

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The 5 Best Guitar Effects

Once upon a time a person would buy a guitar and be strumming away on the bus on the way home. These were obviously acoustic guitars and did not require any electricity in order to work. Although acoustic guitars are still popular most people go for an electric guitar.

The classic electric guitar sound is changing and people want more form their instrument. They are looking for a unique sound, their stamp on the guitar world. A good way to get your unique sound is with an effect unit. Guitar effect peddles and units are available in all sorts of shapes, sizes and budgets and you should shop around and check the facilities of each unit before you buy but below are listed 5 of the most popular guitar effects.

1. Distortion: Distortion is usually something that audiophiles try to avoid but in the case of guitars it is often an essential effect. Distortion will give your guitar a gritty sound, the classic electric guitar sound that is often heard in rock tracks. A fuzz pedal is a form of distortion.

2. Dynamics: Examples of dynamic effects are compressors and noise gates. Dynamic effects modify the volume of your sound and were one of the first guitar effects to be used by modern musicians. Dynamic effects can be used to create some really wacky, unique sounds.

3. Filter: A filter will control which frequencies reach your amp from your guitar. You may cut the bass or the treble to get your desired sound. They are simple devices but they will help you create you unique sound and help you stand out from the crowd.

4. Modulation: In radio modulation is what they do to a set frequency in order to transmit information. In guitar modulation effects means guitar heaven. You can twist and transform your guitar sound into practically any noise you want. Really spectacular effects can be created using modulation.

5. Delay/echo: As the name suggests the delay and echo effects provide an echo or delay to your guitar. An echo will give your guitar a much bigger feel and will make your guitar sound like it is being played in an auditorium rather than in your bedroom. But beware, you should use echo sparingly as too much can make your guitar sound cheap and make your track sound terrible.

These effects are available on most guitar effects units but not all units are equal.

The Zoom Guitar Effects unit is one of the best available guitar effects units on the market and contains all the above effects and much much more.

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The Best Way To Learn Blues Guitar - Musical Notation Or Tablature?

In the sixties, Stephan Grossman amongst others produced a kind of musical notation for guitar that was particular to those times. Many of the important blues men were gone by that time, but a noteworthy few were still around, like Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin' Hopkins and Reverend Gary Davis. It was Grossman's encounter with the singing reverend that was the spark that started the quest for old style blues picking. Many students in those years yearned to learn and pick the old acoustic blues in the original old style, just like the blues masters. Blues guitar tabs were the foundation of this revival.

Blues songs have a traditional root, and many variations have been created using an original piece. Listen to Robert Johnson's 'Sweet Home Chicago', for example. It was originally named 'Kokomo Blues' and was authored by Scrapper Blackwell. As well as the countless permutations around a theme, new pieces were produced in many different finger picking styles peculiar to a particular region. Within those regional styles you can likewise see considerable differences between artists, so producing a great variety of blues guitar music.

Of course, in the past, blues men 'borrow' each others material and also transformed traditional music to their own individual style which added to the richness of this music. How could this material be transcribed in a manner that guitarists in future years can learn to play in the same way? We can listen to the records, but there's so much music it's not enough.

Many years ago, musical notation was much the same for all instruments, and consisted of a stave, notes and some indication of the tempo. If we wanted to stick with this standard musical notation, then we have to know how to understand it - this is not particularly easy! Actually, all we have to do is to know where the fingers of each hand should go. If there was some way of knowing this, and listen to the recorded originals, it would be a huge fast track to learning the old finger picking techniques. As a matter of fact, Stephan created a form of notation known as 'tablature', which speeds up the learning process.

The strings of the guitar are represented by 6 lines, and a number could be written on one of those lines. This means that the string should be picked on the fret indicated by that number. A line extending upwards from the side of the number indicates that we should pick with a finger, and a line extending downwards indicates a thumb stroke. The chords can also be shown over the tablature as well. Other symbols can also be used, which help in defining the timing, slide or kind of stroke.The method is simple and very simple to understand. Even if it seems a little clumsy when first used, most people are reading it within a few of weeks.

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Solutions To The 4 Things People Find Hardest When Learning Guitar

Learning the guitar can sometimes feel like a major uphill struggle. Different people struggle with different things, after all everybody is different. Just what do people struggle with when learning to play guitar? What are the three things that people find the most difficult when starting out?

Learning The Chords. There is no way around it, chords are a major part of playing the guitar. They are important for virtually every song and once they are mastered you can play literally anything. So why do people struggle to learn the basic chords? It is the simple case that they are not intuitive. Chords require you to learn the positions of all your fingers at the same time and in some very unintuitive positions. It simply isn't something that comes naturally for most people.

Injured finger tips. OK, strictly speaking this isn't a skill that needs to be learned but it is something that all new comers will suffer from. If you have never picked up a guitar before it is difficult to appreciate the stress that is put on your finger tips. It hurts! You may get blisters, you may get cuts but eventually, over time your finger tips will become immune to such injuries. You will find that the tips of your fingers will become hardened and you will lose a lot of the feeling in them.

Timing. Just as in comedy, in music timing is everything. A sense of rhythm is essential and some people claim to have one naturally. Some people do but anybody can learn to keep a rhythm going it just takes practice. A good drummer in a band will keep the rhythm of the track together but if you are practicing on your own then tapping your foot can help. If all else fails and you really can't keep a rhythm going then you may need to get a metronome as a temporary measure to help you.

Switching between chords. If learning the chords was difficult then switching between them can be near on impossible! Most tracks will contain more than one chord and will involve quick switches between them. This is what makes the difference between a good guitar player and a great guitar player. You need to be able to smoothly link the two chords whilst keeping the correct rhythm. It is difficult at first and the only thing that can improve the situation is practice and lots of it! Once you know all the chords off the top of your head you should have no problem quickly shifting between them.

Other than hours of practice, the only real thing that can make your guitar sound better is your equipment.

The Fender Frontman is simply the best amplifier on the market for beginners and pro's alike.

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Learn Guitar Strumming and Chords Using a Method Book

When it comes to learning anything new it's always a benefit to have a teacher or a good book or method that would include audios or videos. If you want to learn guitar strumming and chords it's the same.

Start With Easy

When you are learning to play chords and guitar strumming patterns you want to begin with the easiest ones first. This will build your confidence and give you an "I can do it" attitude.

With the guitar, the easiest chords to begin with are Em and A7. The easiest rhythm is down - down - down - down.

Truthfully, guitar is a relatively easy instrument to learn. You can learn a dozen chords and a few ways to strum and have a lifetime of fun.

However if you learn a couple of dozen chords and barre chord positions and a dozen more strum patterns you will be able to play millions of songs. This is not an exaggeration at all.

Find a Good Method Book to Learn From

If you have the right method book you can triple how quickly you can learn guitar strumming. With the right method, as you go through each lesson, each step will build on the last and it will get progressively more challenging but because you are building up to that challenge you'll always be ready to meet it.

The best way to learn guitar is with chord diagrams and photos and diagrams of the strumming motion and an audio track to listen to.

Practice Your Chords and Strum Patterns Over And Over

When you practice the guitar, practice your chords and practice your strumming over and over again. The objective is to get so comfortable that you don't have to think about it any more.

At first, think about what you are doing. When you play a chord pick each note individually. Each note should be clear. You may have to tweak the position of your fingertips. Eventually you'll find that "sweet spot." Keep practicing. Our brains are marvellous. After numerous repetitions your fingers will just go there.

Guitar strumming is the same thing. At first you'll likely stop strumming momentarily as you go from one chord to the next. As you get better, force yourself to keep the strumming going and get your hand playing the chord to keep up with the strumming.

Have Fun

After all it's called playing the guitar.

If you are having trouble getting something to sound right ask another guitar player or go to your local music store and ask them. Guitar players really like showing each other stuff and helping newer players.

And finally let me emphasize that when you see a good player playing and he or she makes it look so easy, don't assume that it was easy for them. We all had challenges learning. It didn't necessarily come easy but it certainly came with practice!

Just keep at it. I've never met anyone who really wanted to learn to play not be able to learn. After all there are guitar players who have no arms and they play with their toes. (Check out YouTube)

We humans are truly amazing creatures. It's amazing what we can do when we set are minds to it. That is why I can sincerely say to you, if you want to learn guitar strumming and chords - You Can Do It!

If you would like to learn guitar strumming and chords faster than you thought possible please check out my website at http://guitar-strumming-patterns.com/. While there, please download my FREE eBook "Guitar - How to Get Started" and the email mini course "7 Useful Beginner Guitar Tips." They're filled with lots of useful knowledge, advice and tips.

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