How To Tune A Guitar

A perfect guitarist is someone who not only plays good guitar but who also takes care of the instrument just like his child. It includes cleaning and polishing the guitar regularly, changing the strings, storing it in its suitable place and moreover, most importantly, it is necessary to know how to tune a guitar properly. Tuning is essential in order to keep the guitar sounding well. Therefore, not only the established guitarist but also the beginners should get acquainted with every prospects of tuning.

Discussing about how to tune a guitar, the first point to be mentioned is the perfect meaning of tuning. Normally a guitar has six strings, each of which is of different size and posses different note value. Tuning a guitar means adjusting the pitch of each of these strings so that they play the correct note. This basically is done by tightening and loosening each of the tuning pegs (as tightening raises the pitch of the strings and loosening lowers it).

Talking about, how to tune a guitar, the next point follows is the type of tuning. Mainly the process that is followed to tune a six-string guitar is the standard tuning. The pattern of the strings is like this:

- E is the 6th string and the lowest sounding one.

- A is the 5th string.

- D is the 4th string.

- G is the 3rd string.

- B is the 2nd string.

- E' is the 1st one and the highest sounding string.

Other than standard tuning, the guitar tuning option also includes alternate guitar tuning. The guitar can be tuned to Drop D, Open C, Open G, , Open E or Admiral, Half step down, and Full step down. But the most popular one for both Electric and Acoustic guitar is the standard tuning and a perfect answer to the question how to tune a guitar.

However, it should be noted that in a perfect tune, the 1st and the 6th strings open must produce the same note, of course at different pitches. Therefore, following the standard tuning, lets see how to tune a guitar methodically:

E String Tuning - To tune the sixth string, the tuning peg has to be slowly adjusted after playing the pitch. And it is necessary to tune up by increasing the string tension. Until and unless the sixth string is tuned to E, the other strings cannot be tuned.

A String Tuning - To tune the fifth string, the first thing to be done is to placing the index finger of the left hand just behind the 5th fret of the 6th string and slowly playing the 6th string at the 5th fret with the right hand. Next is to adjust the 5th string tuning peg gently until both the notes are same.

D string tuning - Same as the last one, the tuning of the 3rd string can be done by putting the first finger of the left hand behind the 5th fret on the A string, which is the D note. Then gently tuning the 4th string i.e. the D note to the last one is the only thing to follow.

G string Tuning - Just like the last one, the tuning of the G - string needs placing the first finger of the left hand behind the 5th fret on the D string, which is the G note. Then a gentle tuning of the G-string to that note is all to be done.

B String Tuning - The tuning needs the first finger of the left hand to be placed behind the 4th fret and the rest is same as the earlier one, i.e. to adjust to the last one.

E' String Tuning - The tuning needs the first finger of the left hand to be placed behind the 5th fret on the B String, which is the E'note. Rest is to adjust E string to that of the last string.

Now that you have learnt how to tune a guitar, get tuning.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=201160&ca=Entertainme

How To Practice Guitar

To begin to understand how to practice the guitar for maximum benefit you must first understand what practicing is. To practice the guitar is not the same as sitting down and playing the guitar. While replaying things you already have mastered has its place later on in the practicing regime, practice is truly learning some new material to further build whatever skills you have already.

However, what if you are a new beginner to the world of playing the guitar? Where do you start if you know nothing? There are several basics that all new players must develop before they can move on to learning and perfecting sounds or songs. They are:

-Toughening your fingers. The strings on a guitar can be very sharp and can cause pain to tender fingers that have never been exposed to the pressure needed to apply to a guitar string. So working your fingers into a calloused state where the playing of anything is no longer painful is essential to beginning guitar players.

-Start to work your fingers and build your knowledge base of the guitar by starting with learning individual notes. Once the basic notes are understood, you can move on to more complicated combinations and new sounds.

-Having learned the individual notes will lead you directly into learning the chords and structures used when playing the guitar in a more advanced way. Chords tend to be the starting block for most songs out there and thus must be learned for application in differing musics.

-Developing your sense of beat or rhythm is of course essential to anyone who strives to learn a musical instrument. You have to be able to mark a beat and carry it steadily as tempos change and a song progresses.

-Learning your frets goes hand-in-hand with this and is important to chord learning as well as to song learning. You need to understand your instrument to best use it to your benefit to produce the music you desire to play.

-And of course there are different strumming methods to be learned so as to be able to effectively use them as they are called for in any formalized music. As tempos and beats speed up and slow down, different strumming methods are required and you must learn them in preparation for when they will be called into use.

Once you have begun to learn the basics in using a guitar to make music, it is often advised that a beginner look into getting a tutor. In doing this, you expose yourself to someone who is much more efficient when it comes to using the guitar and who has developed a philosophy of the music he or she creates. This is why it is important to learn a lot about a tutor you may want to hire before you begin to actually work with him or her as you want to make sure that their philosophy is as close to your own as possible, thus creating the most conducive learning environment for yourself. Philosophy is crucial in your approach to making music on the guitar and must work as well for you as it does for your tutor.

Once you have hired a tutor you are comfortable with, you will most likely be exposed to learning to read music. This may seem daunting at first but it will help you immensely as you continue your pursuit of learning the guitar as you progress to more difficult pieces and more advanced playing situations. Also, you will probably be exposed to learning the theories behind playing the guitar and behind playing music in general, all of which will only add to your ability to play more effectively as you begin to understand music more completely.

You will also be presented with a practice plan and it is important to realize that setting goals for a single session is not as productive as setting your plan for a week. Practice times are not to be etched in stone and a definite number of hours and minutes is only detrimental to the learning process. You must be dedicated enough to put in appropriate amount of time but also you must feel the music as you play, and not be distracted by clock-watching.

It is important to remember that while you may have a tutor you are paying to guide you on your exploration with the guitar, it is still necessary for you to find time to experiment and explore different ways to play. Once you have learned a few easy songs, repeating them as is does little to expand your learning . . . but trying them in a different key or improvising with them to add new sounds to the original song does, and you should find time to experiment with your growing knowledge base in your practice sessions.

Listening to a variety of different styles of music is important as you begin to play music yourself. It allows you to see a variety of ways the information you are learning is being used by professionals and semi-professionals around the world. This can also inspire you to try something new in your experimentations that perhaps you never would have contemplated before if you had not listened to differing styles of music. Soon you will begin to be able to pick out changes in chords, musical patterns, tempo, and strumming styles and recognize where they began and where they ended up.

It is also so very important to always remember as you begin your desire to practice and learn the guitar for the maximum benefit that the art of learning the guitar is not a race. Everyone will learn at their own pace, and it is not a dead-heat to the finish line. Take your time and learn every step of the way to your satisfaction and the music you end up producing will be the most satisfying sounds you ever heard emitted from the guitar you are so patiently learning to play. Practice is important if you want to learn anything but especially so in the guitar as it is much more complex an instrument to master than others.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=100307&ca=Entertainm

Master Guitar Solos Quickly Using Guitar Backing Tracks

Come along with us as we dive in to how you can master guitar solos by using backing tracks for guitarists. We will examine how using guitar backing tracks can be a huge asset in developing your skills as well as helping you to master lead guitar playing.

A lot of guitar players spend their time trying to find the secret, or the trick to mastering their skills and being able to play really awesome guitar solos. Serious guitarists will spend hours practicing, honing their skills, and searching and scouring the Internet for any tips that might help them achieve the perfection they strive for in their solos. There is hope for these individuals, in the form of guitar backing tracks.

Backing tracks for guitarists are a crucial tool that can be very beneficial in achieving mastery of the ever elusive lead guitar solo. Guitar backing tracks can help you to become a well-rounded guitarist and help to put into practice your musical knowledge.

One of the biggest benefits of using guitar backing tracks to master guitar solos is how they help you learn scales. Doing endless practice drills to learn your scales can sometimes be excruciatingly boring and dull, but when you practice along to backing tracks for guitarists, it's like playing live with a rocking band. This will help you to not only memorize the scales, but to understand how they actually work into the structure of a song as well.

Another factor that is extremely important in learning to master guitar solos is the fine art of improvisation. To be able to improvise effectively you must be aware of, and familiar with, the music you're soloing over. Not to say you have to know the song inside-out, but you have to be able to identify the structure of the progression (what chords are being played) in order to to select what scales would compliment these chords. Then, to take it one step further, decide what notes in these scales on which to focus.

Backing tracks for guitarists provide the student with a live band to practice improvisions and to back them up while they piece together a blazing hot solo right there on the spot. This also allows you to place a solo anywhere in the song, or to improvise for the full length of the guitar backing tracks.

These backing tracks make improvisation practice a whole lot more productive and fun. These backing tracks for guitarists are available from retailers such as Planet of Rock.

Another important part of mastering guitar solos is playing with clarity and great tone. There are a lot of different factors that play into achieving a smooth, great-sounding tone during your solo, but one of the greatest factors is how well you actually play.

Guitar backing tracks can help you to achieve great tone by helping you to hone your own ability to play well and by greatly improving the clarity with which you play. Hearing another guitar behind you, and how well it sounds and how clear it is can be very beneficial to helping you achieve a greater depth of clarity in your own playing.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=230034&ca=Entertainment

How And Why You Should Tune Your Guitar

Wouldn't it be nice if you were able to buy something, use it at your own leisure, and then just be able to put it away without having to worry about it. Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but things just don't work that way. Lets say you buy a vehicle. You're going to have to maintain it to some degree whether it be oil changes, tune ups,or whatever. If you purchase a dog, it will need to be fed and housebroken, and when you own a guitar, there are things that need to be done so that you don't look like a fool when your jamming your favorite riffs. You will soon realize that you must tune your guitar on a regular basis. As much as we would like to skip this step, my professional opinion would be not to.

There is a standard, as there always seems to be, involved in a guitar tuning and it is conveniently labeled the standard guitar tuning method. The standard involves tuning the strings from the thickest to the thinnest. The order should be E, A, D, G, B, E. This method is the easiest methods because it is the easiest for tuning the most amounts of scales and chords. The way to start this method is with the E string. The E string is the thickest, and the least likely to fall short of tuning. The A string is the next string that you should tune. The way to adjust the A string is to place your finger on the fret, pick the fifth and sixth strings while adjusting the fifth string tuning peg until the two notes sound the same. The D string comes next in line. The way to find the proper D string note is to find the A string that is located just behind the fifth fret. You then turn the fourth string to that note. Tune your G string to the note that rings when you put the first finger on your left hand just behind the fifth fret. The B string should sound like when your first finger of your left hand is placed behind the forth fret. You should recognize that the tuning of the B string is the only one in the method that uses the fourth fret and not the fifth. Last is the E string which is where you place the first finger of, you guessed it, your left hand behind the fifth fret on the B string.

There are other ways you can tune your guitar, but they can get more complicated. You can use an online guitar tuner. You can customize these tuners or you can use the standard method in order to hear how the note is supposed to sound. There are many sites that you can visit in order to find an online tuner, but when you find a site that you like, you should bookmark it in your favorites so that you can easily find it the next time.

If you don't have a keen ear attuned to different pitches, you might want to invest in an electric tuner. With this device you can look at a tuning monitor to see how off-tune each string on your guitar is. Then, by following the needle on the display, you can tune each string on your guitar according to the reading being given. Even if you do have a trained ear, electric tuners can come in handy if you're trying to tune your equipment just before a gig. Noises and other distractions can keep your ear from creating just the right sound on your guitar strings.

Other methods for tuning a guitar aren't as easy as the ones already described. Piano tones can be used to tune the strings on your guitar. However, if your ear is not trained to tuning this way, it probably won't help much, plus you need access to a piano. You can also tune your guitar by using octaves or harmonies, but these methods are typically for musicians who have been tuning their strings for many, many years. If you're just a beginner, it is best to go with the easier methods that do not require as much skill and

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=145077&ca=Entertainment

Guitar Playing Tutorial

Learning to play guitar from the internet has a lot of advantages. By just navigating a webpage, you can already access tons of information, chords, ultimate guitar tips and tutorial videos on guitar playing. You can even find online guitar tuner and chord finder sites where people can download and print guitar chords.

One of the good things about online guitar lesson is that it's mostly being offered for free or would only cost you a few bucks for the entire course. Free ebooks on learning to play guitar are readily available in the internet. It's a good option since hiring the service of a private guitar tutor is far more expensive than opting for an internet guitar tutorial.

Online guitar lesson is also interactive so the person can have an enjoyable learning experience. There are some ultimate guitar sites that provide tools such as interactive chord dictionary and chart that is very helpful for beginners who want to memorize the chords faster and effectively. Other courses also come with downloadable software and multimedia tutorials complete with step-by-step instructions on the how to play guitar, along with its fundamentals and other methods. Not only that, interestingly, you can also learn to learn the techniques and styles in guitar playing from your favorite musicians or bands like Bryan Adams and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Cool, isn't it?

These are some features of online guitar tutorial which you can not encounter with having a private tutor. Since everything is accessed, read or watched online, you can be assured that the information you get is more updated. Most ultimate guitar tutorial websites add new content on a regular basis.

tart learning to play guitar now! Download this free ebook from http://freeguitarguide.googlepages.com/ on how to play guitar overnight. Visit the page for more tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Edward

How To Pick A Guitar

When you play a guitar, you will have to know how to pick a guitar and these are some of them.

There is the standard style of picking a guitar. The standard style is holding the pick between the flat of the thumb and the side of the index finger with your fingers either anchored on or draped across the pick guard.

This style does have some disadvantages. You will find that pressing the thumb against the side of the finger to be an uncomfortable position. You will also find that if you don’t press hard enough, the pick will become unsteady when you pick the string. You will find that the pick will catch on the strings.

There is a variation of the standard style where the remaining fingers are in a loose or tight fist. There should be no contact between the hand and the guitar except through the pick. The advantage of this standard style variation is that you should have less baggage to swing around. This is because the mass of the fingers are closer to the axis of the wrist.

The main disadvantage of this variation is that even in the greatest of players, they were inconsistent in the accuracy of their playing. They kept on losing on losing their point of reference of fingers that were touching the pick guard.

Another variation of the standard style is that the palm rests flat on the bridge, either behind or in front, depending whether the strings need muting or not. You can have other fingers open or closed.

This standard style variation is perfect for electric guitar players who usually deal with feedback that they don’t want.

The problem with this variation is that you have to play with a side to side motion rather than at the wrist. This will eventually lead to having a locked wrist and you will not be able to play faster.

There is another variation of standard style. When you play using this variation, you have the thumb side of your palm raised with the opposite side of your palm resting on the bridge. The only difference between this variation and the regular standard style is the hand location.

Another variation of the standard style is called circle picking. You hold the pick the same way as the standard style. You move by flexing the first joint of the thumb, with the index finger extending at its second joint. You slide the pick along the string before crossing it, turning counterclockwise on down strokes and clockwise on upstrokes. This essentially means that you are making a circular motion to play the strings and the reason that it is called circle picking.

The main advantage is that you can play several strings with no arm or wrist motion at all. The tones sound nice when using this style. It is a fun way to play if you don’t mind looking weird.

The main problem with this picking style is that your feel will suffer. You will constantly have to will yourself to control your timing. It is hard to do large strokes like strumming. You will find eventually that the extra motion of the thumb and index finger are inefficient and limit speed.

George Benson has a unique picking style. When you want to use the pick like George Benson, you put the pick between the tip of the thumb and the flat of the index finger. The middle finger should rest against the index finger. The first joint of the thumb should be locked in a fully open position. You should the first and second joints of the index finger arched and locked. You should find that the pick is 90 degrees counterclockwise from the standard style.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=100305&ca=Entertainment

Choosing The Right Guitar

When you decide to learn to play guitar, choosing the right guitar is a very important choice you have to make. There are quite a few different types of guitars out there, and they all have distinct sounds to them. If you just choose any guitar you can find when you learn to play guitar, you may get discouraged when it doesn’t sound like you expected it to sound. The types of music that you want to play will decide what kind of guitar that you should pick. That poses a problem, because when you first learn to play guitar, you rarely know what type of music that you will be playing or even if you’re going to be playing it long enough to make it worth your investment. Luckily guitars are not that expensive compared to other instruments.

The different types of guitars are acoustic, electric, classical, flamenco, semi-acoustic, 12-string, and bass guitar. Even though there are a few different types of guitars, there are two main types which are acoustic guitars and electric guitars. It seems to be the consensus that when you first learn to play guitar, you should start with an acoustic guitar. You can play them pretty much any place and they are much cheaper than electric guitars. If you buy an acoustic guitar, don’t buy a cheaply made one. It won’t be fun to play and it won’t sound very good, which means you probably won’t play it and it’ll end up in your garage somewhere.

You don’t have to pay a whole lot of money either. You can get a quality cheap “no-name” guitar for under a couple hundred dollars. You shouldn’t buy a guitar because of the name brand. You have to make sure the quality of wood is good. Most guitar players will tell you to stay away from plywood. Make sure it feels good and that it is well-made. You should also play it or let someone else play it before you buy it to make sure it sounds good.

If you choose to get an electric guitar, you will also need to buy an amplifier and effects, which could get very expensive. If you want to play the harder and louder music like rock and roll and you have some extra money on your hands, than go for it. When you first learn to play guitar, the extra noise that the electric guitar brings could annoy you in the beginning.

So when choosing you guitar, keep in mind the type for music that you will be playing. If you don’t know yet or if money is tight, you should invest in a quality acoustic guitar. Remember, not to choose a cheaply made guitar or you’ll probably give up sooner or later because it won’t feel or sound good to you. Make good decisions now and you’ll be a successful guitar player in no time at all.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=83766&ca=Entertainment

What To Look For In A Guitar Humidifier

Dry winter weather or enviornments can cause serious damage to acoustic guitars, in the form of cracks in the wood. This damage may require expensive repairs or reduce the sound quality of your fine instrument.

One way to supply additional humidity to your guitar is through a device known as a guitar humidifier. These devices are designed to release humidity inside the guitar through the sound-hole. Sound-hole humidifiers all utilize some type of water reservoir with an absorbent medium such as a sponge, water absorbent floral foam or absorbent polymer. The medium is then surrounded by some type of cover which holds the water absorbent medium in place and restricts the flow of water evaporation from the medium. To get inside your guitar, they slip between your guitar strings and are held in place there. Depending upon the brand of humidifier you purchase, it may or may not touch the wood inside your guitar. Dampit is designed to lie inside your guitar, while Planet Waves and Oasis are completely suspended from the strings.

Water holding capacity and the restrictiveness of the outer cover are the greatest factors in determining how often you will need to refill the device. Needless to say, you can’t stick a quart container of water inside your guitar, but there are several humidifiers that will hold an ounce (30 cc’s) or more such as Oasis or Planet Waves. If your guitar needs several cc’s per day of water vapor, a humidifier that holds only 5-10 cc’s will need to be refilled every few days.

Planet Waves and Dampit utilize holes in the outside membrane to release water vapor. Oasis uses a fabric which allows the water vapor, but not the water, to pass through the material to keep your guitar humidified. One downside to evaporation holes is the risk of water leakage. Very careful handling can minimize, but not eliminate this risk. Oasis is a water-tight, sealed unit which eliminates the risk of water leakage.

When to refill your humidifier is one of the great mysteries which have been solved by Oasis. Since Oasis is a flexible sealed container, is shrinks as the water inside of it evaporates through the fabric. When Oasis begins to look like a prune, you need to refill it.

All of the sound-hole humidifiers work. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. As with any new product you purchase, please read the directions carefully before use.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=25718&ca=Entertainment

The Concept of Guitar Tabs

Guitar tabs, the instruments that help convert alphabetic characters into sounds, are easy to use and helpful to beginners who may have difficulties in learning music. They help the learner to understand where a finger should be placed to generate the desired note.

The concept of guitar tab

Guitar tabs represent rhythm and duration of each note and are based upon a diagrammatic representation of strings and frets of instruments. They are indicated by horizontal lines, numbered 1 to 6, each of which represents one of the strings of a guitar. The top line represents the guitar string with the highest pitch and the lowest line stands for the lowest pitched string. A bass guitar tab will therefore have 4 lines. The guitar tab is to be differentiated from the keyboard tab - which represents the keys of the instrument, and the recorder tab, which guides you on whether or not to leave the finger holes open.

In the past, standard notation was used to generate music but the practice has mainly been abandoned as some trained musicians prefer the use of guitar tabs to generate certain tones of folk and rock music. While standard notation is still used among amateurs, aficionados and folk idioms, commercially produced music totally abandons the practice.

The electric guitar has popularized guitar tabs as it is necessary to use them properly to produce rock music. Today, guitar tabs are standardized and there are many songbooks and magazines that will guide you on how to make various settings for the tabs.

Peter Gitundu Researches And Reports On Guitar. For More Information on Guitar Tabs, Visit His Site at GUITAR TABS You Can Also Post Your Views About Guitar Tabs At GUITAR TABS

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Gitundu

To Learn The Guitar You Must First Learn Guitar Chords

Learning an instrument – and guitar specifically – can be a wonderful experience that fills you with the joy of achievement. Whether you want to master the guitar or just learn a few songs well, the process of learning guitar requires practice, along with the mastering of several techniques. Included in these techniques is the requirement to learn guitar chords. Such chords are your bridge to music.

In order to learn guitar chords you must first know the sound that each vibration on each guitar string makes. At this point you must also understand how finger placement will change the vibration on each guitar string. To learn guitar chords in this manner, practice and repetition are key to success. You will soon understand how different guitar chords come together to form a song. If you know the chords, you’ll know the song – it’s that simple.

When we reference guitar chords there are several different definitions depending on the type of music you wish to play. One such chord is the bar chord referring to those chords that are struck when the finger of one hand holds down all the strings on the fret of the guitar – the part at the end of the neck – while the other fingers cause vibration in one or two of the strings.

There are many ways in which to learn guitar chords. Aside from a guitar instructor who can show you proper technique and motivate you to practice, there are a variety of books, CDs, and DVDs that will allow you to teach yourself in the privacy of your own home.

Guitar tabs are especially helpful to learn guitar chords. Tabs – or tablature – refer to modified sheet music made for those who do not read notes. They are especially important, however, for beginners as they break down each song by showing visually the position your fingers must be in for each chord of the song. From this point, practice will help you learn the song without the use of guitar tabs.

If you do read notes, then the use of sheet music can be instrumental in your quest to learn guitar chords. Take advantage of all that is offered through modern technology in order to learn the best that you can. Before long, guitar chords will turn into full songs that you and those you love can enjoy for a lifetime.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=145994&ca=Education

Get Your Guitar Lessons in One Click!

Guitar lessons are what you will actually need to jump start a great career in guitar music. Self-help books may be suggested but they cannot guarantee actual expertise, and no one will be able to assess your progress from time to time. More so, a self-initiated drive must be mustered for an online lesson, just because if you get lazy in a while, you may not be able to finish the lessons that could change your guitar playing forever.

Guitar lessons online can be a great alternative to learning the best guitar tricks, and it saves you the effort in finding a teacher around your community for days. What's better, is that you can take your lessons at your convenient time. There are a variety of guitar lessons online that can be suited to your needs as a beginner. They come with different features that will teach you some worthwhile guitar skills.

These guitar lessons, are however, not free. They can cost you as much as it will cost you with a real guitar instructor, and some sites can be scams if you are not wary of them. Scams include paying for the lessons beforehand, without getting actual lessons that are worth taking after all, or worse, you get none at all after payment.

There are some free guitar lessons online written or taught by the worlds greatest guitarists that can also start you with your guitar dreams. All you need to do is decide on the best alternatives which will benefit you the most.

If you're really looking to find the perfect guitar lessons online, why don't you get your free e-book at http://freeguitarguide.googlepages.com/ and perfect your guitar playing overnight!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ellen_Tayana

How to Learn Guitar Theory on the Fretboard

All guitar players may have different ways of thinking about music theory initially, but they all end up applying musical concepts to the guitar fretboard in a similar manner. This is because the fretboard is a grid and learning it properly requires mapping out chords and scales in the forms of shapes and patterns. So the end result is the same. Today's guitarists can focus on this end result without dwelling too much on the details of written notation or traditional theory. This guitar specific application of music theory, which focuses on the guitar fretboard, is called guitar theory.

Guitar players make many attempts to learn more about how music works. They study notation, learn about the circle of fifths, memorize step formulas for certain scales, and the list goes on and on. What good does all this do in terms of affecting how guitarists play? Not much. There's more to it. Without following through to the guitar fretboard new musical information is useless.

Traditional thought has corrupted the teaching of guitar for too long. Guitar players shouldn't base their studies on methods created for other instruments, like the piano or orchestra instruments. Good musicians prepare themselves to understand and play their instruments specifically. Modern guitar players need to focus on mapping out guitar scales, chords and progressions on the fretboard and this is precisely what guitar theory will teach.

Guitar theory will focus on properly visualizing shapes, patterns and how they connect on the fretboard. Good guitar players understand how musical components relate to each other by the way these pieces fit together. Taking a hands-on approach to learning guitar theory can save players from much frustration and literally add years to their musical development.

Play Until Your Fingers Bleed! Mr. Desi Serna Author of Fretboard Theory http://www.Guitar-Music-Theory.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Desi_Serna

Buying A Bass Guitar – Parts Of A Bass Guitar You Should Know About

Buying a Bass Guitar – Parts of a Bass Guitar You Should Know About

So you feel that you are ready for buying a bass guitar, but your not quite sure where to start? Well before you just walk into a guitar store and buy the first bass guitar they give you, it would be wise to gather up a little knowledge about the different variations you will likely encounter.

Here are some important terms and features that would be a good idea to get familiar with before you choose your first bass.

Scale Length

The scale length is measured in inches and refers to to vibrating length of the bass strings. The longer the neck is on the bass will mean that the scale length will be longer. A bassist with small hands will want to look for a smaller scale, because large scale bass guitars have more distance between each fret, and this will make it difficult for them to stretch their fret hand far enough.

Most Common Scale Lengths For Electric Bass

Xtra Long: 35+ in.
Long (Standard): 34 in.
Medium: 32 in.
Short: 30 in.

Check The Nut Width

The nut is usually a whit colored plastic component with grooves that guide the strings to the tunning pegs. The nut width is simply the width of the neck at the nut. Again, a wider nut will only give the small hand people a disadvantage.

Four String, Five String...?

The very first bass was a four string bass and for many decades, it stayed that way. Today, a bass guitar is available in 4, 5, 6, all the way to 12 string. The four and five string bass are the two most common configurations, but it will depend on what style of music you play. The difference between the four and five string bass is that the five string adds a lower string. Here are the tuning for each:

Four String Tuning:

E(top)-A-D-G(bottom)

Five String Tuning:

B(top)-E-A-D-G(bottom)

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=146090&ca=Entertainment

Learn And Master Guitar - Steps To Guitar Success

Beginner? Buy a Used Guitar

If you are a beginner in the guitar world, then it is very important that you start off with a used guitar. Not only are they cheaper, but you reduce the chances of messing a new guitar due to the many hours of practice that you will put in.

Make sure that you find a quality guitar that has a used price. If you can find a brand new guitar at used price then buy it! Just avoid spending tons of money on a beginner’s guitar that you can possibly break in a matter of days.

Two Guitar Categories

There are two types of guitars, Acoustic and Electric. It is definitely best if you start off practicing with a simple acoustic guitar. Not only is this better because you will be able to play anywhere, whenever you want to, but you will also get a better feel on how to tune your instrument.

Electric Guitars as we all know are the loud type. They use “pick-ups” in order to convert the vibration of the steel strings into electrical current. This vibration is then converted and makes a sound through an electric amplifier. This type of guitar is used with many different types of music, no only rock

Remember That There Is No Age Limit

There is no age limit when it comes to learning the guitar. Whether you are six or sixty, you can start playing the guitar today! Make sure that you start practicing everyday, and remember to patient as well. The number one cause of failure while learning the guitar is a lack of faith and persistence.

Remember that anyone has the capability to learn how to play the guitar. The best way is to find a guitar professional in your community to give you step-by-step lessons. By doing this, you will ultimately achieve guitar success.

Are You A Beginner And Want To Learn The Guitar With Ease?
Do You Want To Play By Ear? Or Have the Ability To Ready Sheet Music?

Read Free Here: Jamorama - Easy Guitar Lessons

Larry Gordo has been observing & playing guitars for 10 years and has even seen the worst guitar beginners turn into extraordinary talents.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Larry_Gordo

Playing Bass Guitar Made Easy With Bass Guitar Tabs

You need a manual to operate a new appliance. You need to read the rules before you play a new board game. Learning to play the bass guitar is no different. You’ll have a manual like no other – the tablature.

Guitar Tablature

Learning to play the bass guitar is made easy with guitar tablature. Anybody who has a guitar and is willing to spend some time learning the rudiments can get along fine. If you are new to guitar lessons, do not be confused about tabs and tablature. They mean the exact, same thing in guitar lingo.

Bass guitar tabs or other guitar tablature provide visual interpretation of the guitar’s fret board so formal training is not necessary to understand guitar tabs. Bass guitar tabs are also easy to read and interpret; hence, application is faster and easier. Bass guitar tabs are musical notations that look like a written music document. Instead of the usual dots spread on a 5 line stave to show a specific note, the frets are numbered on a six line stave. The line represents a guitar’s string. Therefore, the six lines are the six strings of the guitar. Bass guitar tabs are also read from left to right.

If you have a four-stringed bass guitar, the bass guitar tabs will show four horizontal lines representing the four strings. The topmost string is the G string, followed by the D string, the A string, and lastly, the E string. If you see two numbers (one above the other) on one string, it indicates that the string is to be played simultaneously.

Wake up those fingers

If you are reading bass guitar tabs, you will notice that you won’t be determining the position of the fret board where you have to play the note. The bass guitar notes can be played in various left hand positions and on diverse strings. Bass guitar tabs are also easy to understand because the notations are clear. Instead of learning how to study the pitch, you are learning where to place your fingers.

Playing the bass guitar is taxing. It requires speed, and with all the slapping and sliding, the fingers should be exercised regularly to perform well. In addition, your fingers should be able to take the impossible chords and switch chords with ease and agility. Practicing the hand is basic in bass guitar playing. You have to achieve speed without losing accuracy with each pluck. You also have to get used to the sensation of holding the guitar without using your left hand. As you go along, you will discover that you won’t be depending on your left hand to prop the guitar. Master this, and play all bass guitar tabs with ease.

Apart from the bass guitar tabs and acquiring fingering speed, bass guitarists have to learn the tapping, slapping, and popping techniques. These techniques support the song context, making the notes more appealing and distinctive.

Get those bass guitar tabs

The Internet has made it possible for almost everyone to get guitar tabs. They can choose the songs they want to play, or even entire albums of their favorite rock bands. Bass guitar tabs can be downloaded anytime. E-books and CDs on all guitar tabs and playing styles are also available for a minimal fee. Joining guitar forums can also boost your knowledge about bass guitars – tabs and all. Indeed, master the manual and you’ll master the instrument.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=182832&ca=Entertainment

Guitar Players: Why Not Guitar Synth?

Guitar Synthesizers have been around for years. I remember seeing a picture of Pete Townsend of The Who back in the early/mid-seventies with an ARP.

Since then it has come a long way and still needs tweaking but it is usable.

The technology is there. Use it. If you do not, you are missing a lot.

Checkout Pat Metheny and others.

You can't just plug your guitar's output into a box and get great synth sounds. You need a 13-pin connection. This is achieved by using a specially designed hex pickup that attaches to your guitar (Roland, Axon) or use a guitar that has it built -in already. The guitar option also comes in two versions-Hex pickups or piezo. The hex pickup is the same as the external pickups. The piezo version has piezo transducers in the bridge. The piezo built -in version is better, more accurate. It will also gives you an acoustic sound via the piezo transducers. This is a great option to have because you can have an acoustic sound through an amp without bringing an extra guitar to the gig or rehearsal and you can combine this sound with the electric tones and synth sounds. This is huge sound on stage!

Coming from the pickup is a 13-pin din cable that plugs into a converter box. Again, Roland and Axon are the main companies with Axon being on the cutting edge for midi conversion

Depending on the box, you can get some with sounds, without sounds or USB connection for computer recording.

Once you have this setup, you would have to tweak the settings in the box to how you play. Each guitar player is different. Each guitar is different. One guitar player could use different techniques (finger picking, hard picking, very soft picking, tapping, etc). Sensitivity, tuning, feel/picking are some of the settings to look at.

Imagine recording a guitar track, then adding piano, bass, drums, strings, sax and more right from the guitar. Using a 13-pin guitar to access synth or samples sounds opens a whole world for expression, composing, recording, inspiration and more. It allows you to control software sounds in your computer that you already have but can't use unless you play keyboard. A lot of guitar players do not want to play keyboard! You can input notes into tab or notation. Play it back and print it out. A great tool for teaching!

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=156909&ca=Entertainment

Choosing a Vintage Guitar

The Vintage Guitar has been in the market for the past 25 years and it covers a large family of brand-name guitars - Alembic Guitars, Aria Guitars, Armstrong Guitars, B.C. Rich guitars, Benedetto Vintage Guitars and many more.

The Alembic Vintage Guitar has been popular with both performers and audiences. Created by Ron and Susan Wickersham in 1969, the Alembic Vintage guitar went on to become famous and by 1972 improvements were being made on the product and resulted in the making of a bass guitar for Jack Cassady of Jefferson Airplane. The Alembic Vintage guitar is, however, hard to obtain today. Another famous maker of vintage guitars is Aria. Since the 1970s, Aria have been famous for classy, high quality and innovative guitars and have produced famous models such as XX, ZZ and U-1. Another famous maker of vintage guitars is Carvin, a firm started in 1946 and which by 1970 had started to make custom-made guitars. These guitars are easy to find and can be purchased at many music shops.

For jazz musicians, there is the Benedetto Vintage Guitar. These guitars are handmade and they have been noted as making sound impact on the musician as well as music. Introduced in 1968, the Benedetto Vintage Guitar became famous with the listeners who enjoyed the harmonic sounds that it produced. This guitar is appreciated by both beginners and seasoned musicians and is one of most eminent Archtop-guitar types.There are many different things that you can access from the internet for learning Guitars. Guitar tab plays important role in playing Guitar.

Peter Gitundu Researches And Reports On Guitar. For More Information on Vintage Guitar, Visit His Site at VINTAGE GUITAR. You Can Also Post Your Views About Vintage Guitar At VINTAGE GUITAR.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Gitundu

Let The Guitar Become A Natural Extension Of Your Hands - Start Learning Acoustic Guitar Today

Learning how to play acoustic guitar is one of your dreams? If so, there are a few basic methods you can try that will definitely get you on the right track to learn acoustic guitar fast. The acoustic guitar is a very unique product. The sound they produce play an important part in any group or band.

The first thing you need to know is that playing the guitar is quite simple. However, and this is true foe a lot of new things, you need to apply the right techniques right from the start so that you can make quick progress. For instance, you need to make sure you respect the correct amount of fingers on the strings. This is actually one of the most common causes of poor sound quality.

Guitar players very often practice chords and finger placement- Even when they are not with their guitar. They practice their finger placement to be really efficient when playing the guitar. They often do it in front of the TV.

Learning how to read guitar tabs is also an essential component of learning how to play acoustic guitar. In any guitar book you can access guitar tabs. You can also lookup a particular song on the internet and look for the corresponding tabs. Reading guitar tabs is simple. 5 lines put horizontally represent the five strings of the guitar. The vertical lines are for the frets and the numbers are placement indicators for your fingers on the strings.

You will find that once you get used to the basics, you get more comfortable and can move on to more complicated pieces of music. Learning how to play the acoustic guitar is a fascinating journey. Undertaking that journey brings you closer to who are, as a musician, as playing the guitar is the most natural thing you can ever do.

You want to play acoustic guitar fast? Find out new tips about how to play acoustic guitar easily and start learning today!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sophia_Munoz

Teach Yourself How to Play Guitar - The Best Way to Do It

It was not long ago that if you wanted to teach yourself how to play guitar, you would have had to spend hours pouring over books and charts without feedback to tell you whether you were getting it right. Now, there are other options for the independent learner.

If you want to teach yourself how to play guitar you may want to consider online guitar lessons. It can be the best and easiest way for you to learn on your own. By doing online guitar lessons you can take yourself through the lessons from beginner to expert. Guitar lessons online vary, but most of the better lessons offer step by step instructions that will teach you how to hold your guitar, where to place your fingers, how to read music and then actually playing guitar. It makes learning fun, easy and anyone can do it.

Unlike piano, you do not have to start with "Mary had a Little Lamb". There are some great songs that require only a couple of chords. With some of the great guitar lessons online you can be playing your favorite songs in a short time.

Of course, before you start to teach yourself how to play guitar, you have to have the right guitar for the music you want to play. You can learn to play on an electric guitar, but you can learn to play rock with an acoustic, too. Ask a knowledgeable salesperson to help you find the right guitar for your musical choice if you don't already have one.

The only way to truly teach yourself to play guitar is through practice and taking things one step at a time. That is one of the reasons why online guitar lessons are so great. You can practise at your own time and can learn at your own pace. Dedicate yourself to learning the guitar and you will succeed.

To find out more information on teaching yourself how to play guitar and if you would like to learn how you can play songs on the guitar in less then a week check out http://www.easilyplayguitar.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenn_Bell

Guitar Solo Techniques

If you have seen guitar groups and have often wondered what roles the guitars play, the answer is one plays the bass lines of the songs, another carries the rhythm and the other is the lead guitarist who plays the solos. Guitar solos were an integral part of jazz and blues but we generally think of rock and roll as being the breeding ground of virtuoso electric guitar players. Your average guitar solo is made up of groups of notes called "licks" and "riffs". Licks are patterns of notes that can be the basis for a solo in any key, and a riff is a short melody which is repeated throughout a song.

In the early days of rock and roll there were guitar instrumentals played by groups who did little or no singing. The Ventures and The Del-Tones, led by Dick Dale in the USA and The Shadows in England had many hit records and inspired many teenage boys to become guitar players. Unfortunately the music industry preferred to sell records that featured vocalists so now instrumentals rarely find their way into the charts.

The guitar instrumental groups of the nineteen sixties were pioneers of electric guitar music. Dick Dale was largely responsible for the use of reverb in rock and roll music and Hank Marvin of The Shadows was constantly experimenting with guitars and effects. Other guitarists who have made the guitar a feature of their music are Eric Clapton, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Mark Knopfler.

If you know a little bit about playing guitar solos it is possible that you will want to show off all your knowledge every time you take a solo. It is just the way some people are. If you have the urge to show off listen and watch some solos by Mark Knopfler. With all those Dire Straits numbers, less is more. Even Sultans Of Swing with its two solos, there is no pyrotechnics, just simple elegance.

Take a look at the way you structure your guitar solos. Do they have a beginning, a middle and an end or are they all climax? Loudness and intensity have their places but if you are still learning how to play the guitar, you need to expand your skills and interests. If you love to grab the guitar and improvise a solo, try to improvise a quiet solo. Kill your inner Angus Young, you do not need him for this experiment. Listen to Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, the climax comes at the end. The rest of the piece gets your attention then the fireworks hammer you.

Speaking of hammer-ons, have you thoroughly grounded yourself in the basic guitar solo techniques. Most people have their favorite ways of playing and tend to neglect the techniques they do not enjoy practicing. Go through in your head the techniques you have learnt: scales, hammer-ons, pull-offs, tapping the fretboard, string skipping, upstrokes, downstrokes, using the index finger to augment your picking. You cannot be excellent at ALL of them.

By: Ricky Sharples

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Learn to Play Lead Guitar With the Jamorama Download Guitar Course

Have you ever wanted to play lead guitar like the pros? Using the Jamorama instant download guitar course helps you learn lead guitar and is a fundamental stepping stone to teach you to play smooth lead lines and creative improvisation.

So what is lead guitar and how does Jamorama actually help?

Firstly lead guitar is the ability to play Melody's and instrumental lead breaks in a song by using and understanding scales, double stops and various specialized left handed techniques such as hammer on's, pull off's and slides.

To get an idea of what some of these ideas and techniques can take you, think of slash's solo of sweet child 'o' mine or perhaps Clapton's 2 minute lead breaks on "crossroads" and you will begin to understand just how exciting and satisfying playing lead guitar can be. Not only does playing lead guitar sound great but you also get to be in the limelight (which to be honest is what you really deserve)

Jamorama lead guitar Is a perfect start for beginning lead guitarists. Jamorama takes you from the very fundamentals of naming the strings and basic strumming to some very advanced key/chord relationships and modal ideas.

In my opinion as a guitar teacher this is one of the best lead guitar learning methods on the market today.considering the amount of in depth information and tutoring you receive versus the price you pay Jamorama simply cannot be beaten.

For a full review of the jamorama download lead guitar course and other resources on lead guitar click the link below.

Http://www.OnlineGuitarGuide.com

Dave Barnett is a Gutarist and singer who has been writing pop songs for the last ten years, He is also a music teacher and has been involved in various musical groups.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Barnett

Guitar Lessons - Guitar Vibrato

Playing a guitar without vibrato is like eating Mexican food without salsa. Vibrato is one of the most definitive techniques in defining your musical style, your own personal unique sound. No two players have the same vibrato sound. Some play slow and wide while others play narrow and fast, and that’s the beauty behind spending a lot of time learning different vibrato techniques. It’s like eating different salsa’s every time you go to your favorite taco stand. Enough talk about food, lets talk technique.

Vibrato is sometimes confused with tremolo. Basically it is just a technique of vibrating the string sharp and flat around a root note. For example if you are playing the 7th fret on the 3rd string with your 3rd finger on your fret hand you can just push the note up slightly and them pull it down slightly. Do this in quick succession so the over riding effect is a “wobbly” tone around the root note you are playing. Use your hand, wrist, and arm to make the movements. Never just wiggle a finger. Some people use a technique of pulling the string down towards the floor and then releasing back up.

Try this in a variety of speeds and levels of bending during your vibrato. The trick is to be consistent and smooth with your motion. If you are playing a slow blues riff then you may want to slow down and make a wide circular motion with the string, or if you are playing a fast rock lick you may just ad a fast narrow vibrato to accent the final note in a run.

It is possible to add vibrato using any finger you play with, but it is most commonly done with the first and third finger on the fret hand. Using your first finger is a bit trickier. I usually use my first finger for fast vibratos similar to BB Kings style. I will literally lift my other finger far off the fret board, press down and just “vibrate” the string as fast and as open as possible. That’s funny the work vibrato is a lot like vibrate, because that’s actually what you are doing vibrating the string.

When you combine vibrato with string bending, harmonics and legato techniques you begin to discover the musician inside of you. Playing guitar is about discovering your inner flow of creativity and having the techniques to be able to express them. Vibrato is one of the more personal and effective techniques. As with all aspect of playing guitar you need to experiment with these techniques, and most of all have fun!

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=27032&ca=Entertainment

Guitar Basics - Tuning And Playing A Guitar

Playing Guitar - How Easy Is It?

There is more to playing guitar than just learning the basic chords and strumming along to your favorite tune. If you have the talent, determination, and ability, you can make playing guitar a very profitable career option. However, that path can accommodate just a few of the most dedicated souls. Therefore, for most of us, playing a guitar remains a great hobby, at best.

Regardless of whether you are thinking of playing guitar professionally or as a hobby, it is best to undergo the complete learning experience - not just about the different chords and grips. Let us take a look at a critical aspect of playing the guitar - tuning it.

Playing Guitar - The Importance of Tuning

A very important aspect of learning how to play the guitar is to know how to tune it. A guitar usually goes out of tune ever so often, owing to a number of external factors - the quality of the guitar, the weather, etc. An out of tune guitar will never produce the exact sound required.

Visualize this: Your friends have gathered at your home for the evening. They know you are learning the guitar, and want you to give a small demo of some of the stuff you have learned. You are eager to show off your knowledge and newly acquired skill to your friends. You pick up the guitar and sure enough, it is totally out of tune. You have no clue how to tune it. What do you tell your friends?

Did you know?

A variety of different tuning methods are used today. The most common by far is known as "Standard Tuning" (EADGBE)

Things to Know About Tuning Before You Start Playing Guitar

Playing guitar so you produce the right sound depends, to a large extent, on how well you tune your guitar. There are several different ways to accomplish this task. Universally, tuning the guitar involves using another source of sound at the same pitch as the reference pitch. The sound you reference your guitar to is usually the E note. The E note of your guitar should sound exactly the same as the in-tune reference sound source.

Initially, playing guitar can seem a much easier task than tuning it; the best option available would be to get a hold of a friend who plays the guitar to tune it for you. If this option is not viable, an even easier option for tuning is to use a reference source that produces a fixed sound for each note, and does not go out of tune. You could use a pitch pipe or, even better, an electronic tuner or a synthesizer/piano, both of which are sources that produce fixed sounds for each note that do not go out of tune.

You can start playing guitar comfortably once you have tuned it. The next step, after you have learned how to tune the guitar, is to learn the different chords. Any tutorial will start off with the simple chords or beginner chords, as they are called, and go on to more complex chords.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=172506&ca=Entertainment

The Difference Between A Lead Guitar And A Rhythm Guitar

Lead guitar and Rhythm guitar. You’ve heard about both, but aren’t quite sure of the difference between the two. That’s understandable, as most beginners (myself included when I was at that stage) are confused by all of the different terms used to describe guitar related things. In this lesson, we’ll go over both the Lead and Rhythm guitar.

The Lead guitar

To put it simply, the Lead guitarist in a band is the one who plays melodies, single notes (and not as many chords), riffs and solos.

Lead guitarists are responsible for providing the most noticeable guitar sound of the song. As a result, lead guitarists must master several more techniques than rhythm guitarists must. These techniques include the basics such as hammer-ons, pull-offs, bends and slides, plus more advanced techniques like arpeggios and trills.

Lead guitarists are, essentially, in the spotlight. They have to be very skilled, as if they mess up, it’ll be pretty noticeable to those listening. They also must be able to improvise—they must be able to come up with catchy riffs, solid solos and good melodies. It takes a lot of practice and knowledge to become a skilled Lead guitarist.

The Rhythm guitar

You’re probably thinking by now that the Rhythm guitar is much easier to play than the Lead guitar is. That isn’t an accurate statement, though. Rhythm guitarists, too, must master several things that Lead guitarists really don’t have to.

Rhythm guitarists are responsible for the timing (rhythm) of the music. They must play the chords that hold the music together. Without a good Rhythm guitarist, the music as a whole suffers no matter how good the Lead guitarist is.

Rhythm guitarists must master the ability to switch quickly and efficiently between chords. They must also be able to strum well and must master the basic hammer-on, pull-off, slide, and bend techniques. Rhythm guitarists must also make sure that what they are playing is in sync with what the drummer and bassist are playing

While Rhythm guitarists play an integral role in the music, they are often overlooked. This is because the Lead guitarist’s playing (which is usually amped louder so that it can be heard over the drums and Rhythm guitar) often overshadows what the Rhythm guitarist does.

Which should I learn to play?

The most skilled guitarists, in my opinion, are those who have the ability to play both Lead and Rhythm guitar. For that reason, it is worth mastering both styles of guitar. That is to say, it is a terrific idea to master not just the techniques associated with Lead guitar(all the basics plus trills, arpeggios and other advanced techniques) but also those associated with Rhythm guitar(the basics plus quick chord switching, good strumming and good timing). Those guitarists who have mastered both techniques are highly skilled musicians.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=121270&ca=Entertainment

Learn to Play the Guitar Online

Learn to play the guitar online fast and impress your friends and family. Can it be done? Are you considering possibly taking online guitar lessons? Maybe you're wondering if online guitar lessons can work for you. In this article we are going to talk about the pros and cons of learning how to play the guitar online.

One of the best things about taking traditional guitar lessons, meaning face-to-face with a guitar instructor, is the real-time feedback that a professional guitar instructor can offer to you. Technology has come a long ways over the past five years or so. So can online guitar lesson websites really take the place of a traditional guitar teacher?

The answer is yes and no. Some of the websites on the Internet today are simply amazing. There are literally thousands upon thousands of fantastic guitar lessons available at your fingertips today. And for the most part, they only cost a fraction of what you would expect to pay for traditional guitar lessons.

And while you don't get the up close and personal attention that you would get from traditional guitar lessons, if you access to an unbelievable amount of information that makes learning the guitar faster and easier than it ever has been before.

Online guitar lessons are definitely an amazing thing. Guitar players now have access to so many things that just weren't possible only a few years ago. The main problem that most guitar players are going to have when seeking out online guitar lessons is making sure that they choose a lessons site is going to meet their needs and skill level.

So how do you know which lessons site is right for you? It really depends on a lot of factors. Your skill level, the type of music that you want to play, and many other factors all come into play when trying to choose the best online guitar lessons website.

That's why we've created http://easilyplayguitar.com/guitarreview/ - You can read all about the most popular online guitar lesson websites and find the one that best suits you and your specific situation. We review and compare all of the top online guitar lesson websites from across the Internet. If you want to learn to play the guitar online you must check out http://easilyplayguitar.com/guitarreview/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenn_Bell

Guitar Lesson – How To Change Guitar Strings

At some point, all guitarists need to learn how to change the strings on their guitar. Sometimes you'll be forced to change one when a string snaps. But usually, you'll simply want to change them, as strings lose their brightness and wear out.

The amount of time you leave between change strings varies depending on several factors. If you play your guitar regularly, then you might like to change your strings once a week or once a month.

Most Professional guitarists tend to change their strings before each gig. But in the end, it all comes down to a matter of personal preference. Something to bear in mind if you're using your guitar for a gig, is that your strings need a few hours of play to break in properly. During this time, your strings will go out of tune as they stretch so you'll have to retune.

Anyway, here's what you do:
Remove the old strings by detuning the machine heads until the tension becomes loose enough to allow you to pull each string away from the headstock.

Another quick way to remove the old strings is to snip them using a pair of wire cutters. Be very careful if you do it this way, and make sure they are loose, since the bare ends of the strings can be sharp and easily flap around. Bare guitar strings are amongst the many things you DO NOT want to catch in your eye.

How you go about installing your new strings will usually depend on the type of guitar you have, as many guitars have slightly different methods. However, the strings are usually held in place at one end by fixtures behind or on the bridge, and at the other by turning the machine head on the headstock.

Here's a small insider tip guitarists have been using for years to get more life from your steel strings once you've removed them: Boil them.

Dropping a set of strings into a pan of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes will remove a lot of the grimy build up and bring a new life back to what would otherwise be lifeless strings.

It won't last for very long, and you can't get away with doing it too many times, but it can be an effective temporary measure.

I wouldn't suggest you rely on this technique too much, strings aren't too expensive - and using new strings saves you a lot of hassle.

Regardless of what kind of guitar you have, your strings need to be stretched after you've put them on. When you first tune your guitar, put your hand under each string around the pickup area, pull the string a few centimeters away from the fretboard, then release it. If the pitch has dropped, retune and repeat the process. Keep doing this until all the strings stay in tune.

On most electric guitars the strings are either secured at the bridge end by an independent tailpiece (like most Gibson guitars), or passed through the body of the instrument from the back into an all-in-one bridge unit (like most fender style guitars).

At one end of every steel string, you will find a tiny disc of metal around which one end of the string is wrapped. This is called the ball end.

Take the opposite end of the string and thread it through the fixture at the bridge.

Pull the string through until the ball end stops you from pulling the string any further.

Most electric and steel-string guitars use a similar system for securing strings at the machine head. The capstan to which the string is attached stands out vertically from the headstock. Strings can be passed through a hole in the side of the capstan.

The end is then passed around and under, trapping it in place when the machine head is tightened. Some capstans have vertical slots instead of holes. To use these, cut the string to length, and insert into the tip of the capstan. Then bend the string to one side and wind it around.

This leaves the string endings neat and tidy.
Here's what you do next: Slowly turn the machine head for each string, increasing the tension until the string becomes suitably tight.

To save yourself time and energy, you can use a cheap plastic string winder, which simply fits over the machine head allowing you to crank it along more quickly.

Published At: www.Isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=55660&ca=Entertainment