Monday 13 October 2008

Lead Guitar - Electric or Acoustic?

Lead guitar is not dependent on the type of guitar being played, but on how that guitar is played. Often when people think of playing lead guitar, they think of playing an electric guitar. In reality, lead guitar can be electric or acoustic.

In the most basic terms, music consists of harmony, melody and rhythm. The rhythm is the pulse of the song, often referred to as the beat, and is usually played by drums, bass guitar, and rhythm guitar. Harmony is the use of matching simultaneous chords within a musical composition.

The third major component of music is the melody. Melody is the part of the music that you remember and can later identify. Melody is often the lyrics of a song, with verse and chorus being two separate melodies. It is what gives a piece of music its character.

In terms of guitar playing, lead guitar is the guitar playing the melody. A lead guitarist must be able to use riffs and fills to move the melody along, as well as playing a guitar solo if it is required in the song. While doing all of that, the lead guitarist must also be able to play in the same key at the same tempo as the rest of the band.

Whether lead guitar is played on an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar depends on the music being played. Currently popular acoustical, or unplugged, sets require musicians to play acoustical instruments. In that case, the lead guitar would be played using an acoustic guitar.

Lead guitar does not always sound the same, even if the same musician is playing the same song twice. For example, electric guitars allow for distortion and effects that acoustic guitars do not have, so the transition from electric to acoustic may require changing the melody to suit the instrument. In addition, the riffs, fills, and solos used by the guitarist may change each time if the guitarist prefers to be creative during live performances.

Contrary to popular belief, lead guitar is not a type of guitar, but a position within a band and within a song. The lead guitarist carries a great deal of responsibility in carrying the melody while staying in tune and in time with the rest of the band. Learning to play lead guitar correctly requires time and practice, but it is the instrument most listeners will remember having heard.

About The Author
My name is Derek Cockrum, and I have been an instructor and professional guitarist for the past 11 years. I established "Guitar Lesson Reviews" to help you, (the beginner and advanced guitarist), discover the top acoustic and electric guitar lessons program available that will teach you how to really take your guitar playing skills to the next level. I have personally reviewed and tested almost every advanced and beginner guitar lessons program out there and have listed my top 3 recommended programs. If you're seriously ready to learn to play guitar like your favorite guitarist, you owe it to yourself to check out "Guitar Lesson Reviews" to find an easy guitar lessons program that offers Acoustic and Electric Guitar Lessons to train you how to play guitar like it was meant to be played. Learn what these Advanced, and Beginner Guitar Lessons can do for you and your guitar playing.

To Your Success,
Derek Cockrum
"Guitar Lesson Reviews"

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