THE WORLD OF GUITARS

During the '60s, the guitar amp greatly evolved to where it is today when guitarists of that era experimented with deliberately overloading their amp to create Distortion. There also used to be a time when no self respecting audio engineer would even consider recording an electric guitar without getting the best guitar amp he can lay hold of, crank up the volume and place a rugged dynamic mic (sometimes a padded condenser mic is also used) close to the speaker grille in order to get a great guitar cut. You need to buy a great guitar amp.

Signal Amplification StageThe signal amplification stage is the 'business' stage of any guitar amp. Asmall guitar amp will be just fine if you are playing the guitar in a jazz group. Iput a wall of gobos (sound deadening device) in between them and I hit go while recording both the guitar amp and vocal mic from each room.

Input StageThe input stage of the guitar amp accepts the input signal either from the guitar pre-amp or directly from the guitar itself. The power of a guitar amplifier is measured in watts (abbreviated W). When getting an electric guitar amp, make sure to test the amp at the store.
Aparticular Marshall guitar amp cabinet will produce recognizable sounds. Musical instruments dealers also sell other accessories like guitar amps, keyboard controllers, computer music hardware, stands and footstools, cables and cable accessories, speakers, straps and strap locks, microphone accessories, studio furniture, racks and cases, acoustic foam, headphones and headphone amps, covers, power supplies and batteries, music books, and more. They are usually the one you take for live applications as they are robust and are less sensible to ambient noise, which also can be good in the studio to record a drum kit or a guitar amplifier.
EffectsThe last major element to consider when buying a guitar amplifier is the built in effects it includes. Tube guitar amplifierThe first amps to become available were tube amps. So, buy a guitar amp (as good as you can afford) and get such tools to model the other ones that you love but can only wish for.

A Jazz Guitar AmplifierWhilst it could be said that there is "no jazz amp" there are a number of considerations for the jazz guitarist when selecting an amplifier. Modern electronics are often used to produce a broader range of tones than found in most tube based guitar amplifiers. It is the 'business' of any amplifier (be it voice or guitar amp) to faithfully amplify the incoming signal.

There are many types of guitar amplifiers ranging from the smallest which is normally 10 watts up to 500 watts. If you wish to find out more about the technical side of guitar amps, there are several good books that cover the topic pretty thoroughly. Another desirable feature of guitar amplifiers, particularly for beginners, is a CD input.

PowerWhen reading about a guitar amplifier, the first thing that is always listed is the power rating. Output StageThis is the final stage of all guitar amps. Guitar amps have character.
Musical instruments stores also sell recording equipment, DJ equipment, and live sound equipment, along with the other accessories like guitar amps, keyboard controllers, computer music hardware, stands and footstools, cables and cable accessories, speakers, straps and strap locks, microphone accessories, studio furniture, racks and cases, acoustic foam, headphones and headphone amps, covers, power supplies and batteries, and more. It is very important that there is proper matching between the available input signal impedance and specified guitar amplifier's input signal impedance. Nowadays, there are many guitar amps, which have a pre-amplification stage incorporated into them.

An electric guitar has electromagnetic pickups transforming the vibrations from the strings into currents that in an guitar amplifier becomes sounds. That said, you can"t possibly buy every guitar amp cabinet out there just because you want to take advantage of their various sound colors. The M-Audio has been working on producing the upgrades and improvements on the feedbacks and has recently made a new version 2 firmware in which the M-Audio Blackbox has 40 amp models as well as the capability of producing emulations for most of the guitar amps.

12:10 AM
Categories: Types Of Guitar Amplifiers. Author: Professional

If you love rock music, and have always wanted to be able to play some of your favourite songs on the guitar, but maybe you've thought it was too difficult to get started, then here are 5 steps to help get you going.

Step 1 - Choose Your Guitar & Amp
Of course, you can learn to play the guitar using any type of guitar, acoustic (classical / folk) or electric. However, if you particularly want to start playing rock guitar, then an electric guitar is probably the best choice. The main reason for this is that guitarists in most rock bands use electric guitars, so from the start it's going to sound more like the music you want to play (after all, you're not looking to play 'Greensleeves', but more 'Green Day').
Another reason, which some people may debate, but I think that it's just easier on the fingers to start learning on an electric guitar, and that's less likely to put you off when you're just beginning.
As for the amplifier or 'amp', to start off, you don't need a huge stack, or a particularly powerful amp. A small practise amp (e.g. 10-20 Watts) can be sufficient to begin with. Most of these will have at least 2 different modes - 'clean' and 'distortion' (or this second one may be called 'drive').
The distortion mode is really the one you want to use, as this is used to some degree by many rock bands, and is the definitive 'rock guitar' sound. Even if at this point you don't know how to play anything, just plug the guitar in, select the distortion channel, and strum the open strings - chances are it sounds 'rock like' already!
Many music stores sell starter packages which include an electric guitar, practise amp and case, which can be great value when starting out.

Step 2 - Tune It!
An out of tune instrument can make even the best guitarist sound awful. Get into the habit of always tuning the guitar before you start playing or practising. There are many different ways of tuning the guitar, but the most common one is called 'Standard Tuning', and this is the one used by most rock guitarists.
On this diagram of the guitar neck:
E ------------- (highest-sounding)B ----------X--G --------X----D ----------X--A ----------X--E ----------X-- (lowest-sounding)the lowest-sounding strings are shown at the bottom, and the highest-sounding at the top. The diagram shows the names of the notes for each string in Standard Tuning. Don't worry if you don't know the names of the notes, or can't read music. The most important thing to begin with, is just to tune the guitar strings relative to each other. Let's say we'll tune relative to the highest E string (top one in the diagram). Play the B string on the 5th fret (X in the diagram) and at the same time play the open E string. In Standard tuning, these should be the same note, so if they don't sound the same, adjust the B string tuning until they match. Then carry on with the other pairs of strings.
In each case you play the 5th fret on the lower string, against the sound of the open upper string. The only exception is the G string, where you play the 4th fret note - see the X's in the diagram.


Step 3 - The Power Chord
Okay, now the guitar is in tune (at least with itself), so you can start learning some rock chords.
Most people start off by learning the open shape chords (C, D, G chords, etc), then move on to barre and other more complicated chord patterns. This is a perfectly acceptable way to learn, but to play most songs, you usually need at least 3 different chords, and the most frustrating thing is trying to switch your fingers from one chord shape to another. With some practise, this becomes quick and easy, but there is another way to approach it, which only involves learning one pattern.
That pattern is the 'Power Chord' pattern, and this can be used to play a large proportion of rock songs out there. Let's look at the G power chord pattern:
E ------------- (highest-sounding)B -------------G -------------D ---------5X--A ---------4X--E -----1X------ (lowest-sounding)
In this diagram, the X's show where to put your fingers (of your left hand usually) on the fretboard, and the number shows which finger to use where.
So in this case, the first finger will go on the lowest string at the 3rd fret, then the 4th finger at the 5th fret, then finally the 5th finger at the 5th fret.
When forming this pattern, try to make each finger rest just behind the fret marker, and not be right in the middle, as this makes the notes sound more clearly (with less 'buzzing'). Try strumming the bottom 3 strings with your right hand, while holding down this pattern on the fretboard with your left. That is a G power chord. If your guitar strings are in tune as in step 2, and you have a distortion sound, then that should really sound like a rock chord.


Step 4 - Shift It Around
Now for the best bit - to play some songs right away you can use this same pattern, but play different chords with it. So, keeping your fingers in this pattern (1st, 4th and 5th fingers), try sliding it down 2 frets to play an F chord:
E ------------- (highest-sounding)B -------------G -------------D -----5X------A -----4X------E -1X---------- (lowest-sounding)
it's the same 'L' shape pattern as in Step 3, but you've just shifted it further down the fretboard. This is now an F power chord.
And now for another chord:
E ------------- (highest-sounding)B -------------G ---------5X--D ---------4X--A -----1X------E ------------- (lowest-sounding)
In this one, we've taken the original power chord from Step 3, and just shifted it across to start on the next string. This is now a C power chord. When strumming this one, try not to sound the bottom E string.
In all cases here, the pattern stays exactly the same, we've just changed which fret the 1st finger starts at, and on which string (E or A). Since the frets on the guitar aren't evenly spaced, you'll have to adjust your fingers slightly when moving it up or down.
This diagram shows where you have to start with your 1st finger to play different power chords:
E --------------- (highest-sounding)B ---------------G ---------------D ---------------A -Bb-B-CC#-DEb-EE --FF#-GG#-ABb-B (lowest-sounding)
so, for example, if you wanted to play a D chord rather than a C as we did above, then just start with your 1st finger on the A string at the 5th fret.
With this chart, and the chords to your favourite rock song, you can use the one pattern to play it!


Step 5 - Practise!
It will still take some practise so that you can form the pattern shown above, and move it around easily between frets. However, for now, there's only one pattern to learn, and you can concentrate on making the notes sound clearly by holding them down firmly behind the frets with your left hand on the fretboard, and trying to strum only the strings you're holding down.
Once you've got the hang of this shape, and can play it easily at different frets, then you should be able to play a few different songs. From there, the sky is the limit, there are many more techniques and things to learn as you progress with your guitar playing.

12:09 AM
Categories: Start Playing Rock Guitar - 5 Easy Steps. Author: Professional

If you want to learn how to play the guitar then there are lots of e-products and books in the marketplace that will assist you in any learn how to play the guitar quest. However there are several issues you will need to consider before you even begin to learn to play the guitar. What Guitar to choose? Well, what do you want to do with a guitar? If you want to play electric lead guitar then that's a long road of learning and practice. Basic chord shapes would be the best starting point for any prospective guitar player. Lead guitar is a lonely place whereas the chords are quickly learnt to 'sing-along' songs. (I am told it attracts the opposite/same sex if you can bash out American pie and the like. Ok I admit that you can get free drinks too. That's 6 chords to success!) If you really want to be a lead guitarist then it will not hurt to start with chords. I will move on in future articles to an easy method for learning the position of each note on the guitar fret board. It's a simple system which is easily remembered and applied. If you are serious about wanting to learn to play the guitar I would suggest an initial spend of between $180 and $250. An acoustic guitar would be my advice on a first purchase but keep the price low so that if you do get so annoyed that you smash said guitar on the nearest effigy of John Lennon it will not hurt your pocket too much. Take advice from a shop if you are an absolute beginner. Get something basic with reasonable craftsmanship so that when you do learn how to play the guitar and want to purchase something better you can trade your old guitar in exchange. Either way if you want to learn how to play guitar then the secret is to stay cheap and cheerful. You will also need a decent guitar tuner as a must purchase. Wanting to learn how to play the guitar is one thing but keeping it in tune is another. Spend no more than $40, remember it's a basic tuner you need, not a cool device that tells the time in Singapore. Go for steel strings as the nylon ones are Spanish/classical guitar fodder. The guitar should be pre-tuned for you as a beginner and the sales person will hopefully be helpful if you just explain that you want to learn to play the guitar using basic chords. Get them to show you how to tune the guitar with a tuner and buy a very light plectrum (strumming pick). In relation to second hand guitar purchases, my advice would be to only buy these from a shop. The reason for this is that an old guitar can warp and have damage which is not obvious until played properly. At least with a guitar/music shop the guitar should have been tested or checked and in any case you should get a full refund if there is a problem with it. I learnt this lesson the hard way and wasted money on guitar junk. Learn how to Play the Guitar. Take your guitar home and using a learn how to play the guitar book with basic chords [any will do] begin with the following chords: 'A' 'D' 'E'. A reasonable version of every rock and roll song written can be played with these three chords. Make sure the book you choose starts with these and before moving on make sure you can play at least one guitar song. If you don't follow this order, you will more than likely give up and "your learn to play the guitar dream" will come to an end and yet another cheap guitar will hit the e-bay listings. So until next time remember, like everything

12:08 AM
Categories: Guitar for the Absolute Beginner. Author: Professional

There are bedroom guitar players and there are live performers. There doesn't seem to be anything in between. The minute you walk on to a stage (whether you get paid or not) you are a professional. You are in the business of entertaining and displaying your wares, so to speak. And if you really want to seriously get your guitar playing together it is the latter you need to strive for in my opinion. I am not suggesting you 'turn pro', you know attempt to do this thing full time, that is a whole other set of issues itself, but in order for your guitar playing to really get to where it needs to get to, you simply have to play in a live performance setting, preferably in a public forum. Ideally with other musicians you can interact with.


You can spend a lifetime reading books, studying your musical heroes, playing along to music minus one records, but none of this will ultimately give you the full picture. In order to be a true well rounded musician, you have to have real world experience. I'll try to explain why...
When I was just starting out in the profession as a fresh untainted fish in the vast sea of the London music business, I had to get myself known in order to find work. So I set about to answer ads in music papers. Now, after studying classical guitar at the London College of Music, I came out of a 3 year course with a facility to sight-read. Or should I say the beginnings of sight-reading ability, as jazz and pop music written on paper is a whole other world, as I was about to find out. I remember having to sight-read a piece of jazz music with a dance band at an audition. There were about 10 guitar players going for this gig. I must have been about 23 years old. The musical director said "I kind of like what you did Chris but you didn't really cut it mate! There are other guys here that have what I need". Ouch!!! That hurt. But I was young. It was actually good to hear. So I went back to my music library, pulled out a ton of violin music and practiced reading in different positions on the fretboard. Not to mention learning how to grab chords on sight in different fret positions.

Another time, I went down to audition for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, a band known to be extremely taxing musically, and a training ground for London session players. I sat in the guitar chair with my Gibson 335 on my lap, ready to play. The director called a chart, I placed it on the stand and he counted it off. He counted it off around 250 BPM. Frighteningly fast! Well, it was all I could do to get my eyes to follow the music, measure by measure, much less play the music that was written within those bars! I didn't even touch my guitar that rehearsal. I simply placed it back in its case and went home. Ouch again! That was a hard knock! I gave myself exactly a year to get it together. I went back to my practicing with a vengeance. A year later I joined the band for about a year and a half.

Another for instance; about 13 years ago I was playing with a jazz singer in a trio situation with an eminent LA drummer and acoustic bassist. I hadn't done much trio playing, if any at the time, but I was looking forward to playing. At the end of one of the songs I completely messed up the ending. In fact I would go further, I hadn't really worked on any song endings. Didn't really have that together at all. The drummer scowled at me, particularly because I threw him off, as I was not definite in how I wanted to end the song (because I didn't know myself!). He was furious when I made him look bad. He said to me "Dude, you've got to dictate these endings, you're the one playing the chords!". He was right. I was crushed! I went home, sulked for a week (maybe two). Then I went back to my practice room. I was not to be defeated.....
These are the hard knocks you simply have to get in your music life to dictate what you need to work on to get your total musicianship together! You just cannot expect to perfect your instrument without real world experience. You can't get that experience any other way. I can recount tons of times that this sort of thing has happened, and there are still things today that I learn on a weekly basis at live gigs, telling me what I need to work on. The difference today of course is that it's me who is being critical of myself, rather than other bandmates and musical directors telling me I suck!

And the neccessity of performing live is true of any musical genre you choose. Interacting with other musicians is an art in itself. I know technically great players who can't play with others. Does this make them great musicians? I'm not so sure. But they sure can get round the instrument. But if they were to do any amount of live ensemble playing they would have one or two knocks coming, and if they are smart they would work on those issues. Otherwise it's back to solo guitar playing in the back of their local restaurant. (A noble and valid thing to do, let me also say).

There are many issues that come up in a real live playing situation that just don't come up in a bedroom practice session. Time, time-feel, supportive ensemble playing, projection of sound and tone, and most of all a sense of energy and commitment within a performance that is extremely different, and is very difficult to even put into words frankly. You just need to experience it, and that experience will improve your playing tenfold.

So get out there and do some gigs. I know it is hard to make that happen sometimes, but if you cannot make it happen then start a rehearsal band with a few others and play through repertoire. Get together with other guitarists and play through tunes, take solos and take turns being supportive. As you improve, take the plunge and take yourself to the next level.
And by recommending you do all this I am by no means suggesting you put away your books, records and Jamie Abersold play alongs. Absolutely not. This is something of course you should continue to do. But it is only 50% of your musical makeup. I promise you, by performing live you will improve yourself as a guitar player, but most of all as a musician, and at the end of the day this is what we all need to aspire to.

12:06 AM
Categories: How To Seriously Improve Your Guitar Playing. Author: Professional

A guitar is an amazing instrument. Sometimes hard to play but with easy nice sounding guitar chord secrets everywhere. Let's explore some easy but nice guitar chords.

Our first guitar chord will be Dmaj7. It is played in this way for example:
Dmaj: 0/4 2/3 2/2 2/1
An explanation of the notation. The first number indicates which fret to press down. The number after the slash which string. 2/3 means, press down the second fret on the third string.
If you lift up your fingers from this chord you will get a very easy guitar chord to play indeed! We can call it an Em7. It will look this way:
Em7: 0/4 0/3 0/2 0/1
This little chord progression makes a nice little intro to a song in D-major. If we write down a little guitar chord sequense it might look like this:
Dmaj7 / / / Em7 / / / Dmaj7 / / / Em7 / / /
We will now spice the second chord a bit by playing a Gm6. It looks like this:
Gm6: 0/4 3/3 3/2 0/1
We can use this guitar chord in an intro with the same function as the one above:
Dmaj7 / / / Gm6 / / / Dmaj7 / / / Gm6 / / /
Let's introduce a new guitar chord. We can call this chord D11:
D11: 0/4 5/3 5/2 5/1
As you maybe already have figured out you can slide the Dmaj7 chord up a few frets and you will get this chord. We will now create a progression with these three guitar chords:
Dmaj7 / / / D11 / / / Gm6 / / / Gm6 / / /
The next guitar chord is easy to play too. It is a G-minor chord. It is actually the same chord shape as the guitar chord Dmaj7 but on the third fret. It looks like this:
Gm: 0/0 3/3 3/2 3/1
Now we will create a guitar chord progression with these four chords together:
Dmaj7 / / / D11 / / / Gm / / / Gm6 / / /
The art of sliding chords to new frets is an exciting and easy way to find new guitar chords and sounds to use in your playing.
We will end this article on easy guitar chords in D by experimenting a bit with the D-major chord. Here is the most common D-major chord:
D: 0/4 2/3 3/2 2/1
By sliding this guitar chord up three frets up you will get the Dm7 chord or D-minor seventh. It looks like this:
Dm7: 0/4 5/3 6/2 5/1
Slide it up two frets from this position and you will get a G-major chord. It looks like this:
G: 0/4 7/3 8/2 7/1
The last guitar chord to explore will be A-major with D bass, notated A/D. Here it is:
A/D: 0/4 9/3 10/2 9/1
Let's make an impressive intro with these four chords but with the same chord shape by sliding the D-major chord up:
D / / / Dm7 / / / G / / / A/D / / /


The guitar really is an amazing instrument. Many more chords can be changed in similar ways to create new interesting sounds that will enrich your playing!

12:04 AM
Categories: Guitar Chord Lesson. Author: Professional

One of the most frustrating aspects of playing guitar is when you reach the point where you are not improving.

Whether you are a novice or a seasoned musician, we all face the same problem and ask the question, "Why am I not at the level I want to be and how can I get there?"
To add insult to injury, we see our guitar heroes in magazines and on TV everyday and it seems as if they are constantly inventing new tricks and improving their skills.
When we read about them in Guitar World to try to emulate their skills and learn their tricks only to leave more confused. Becoming the ultimate guitarist is far harder than it looks.
So what is the key to success?
While there is no one answer that can solve everyone's problem, there are a number of concepts and theories that can help you break through the barrier that keeps you from reaching your full potential.

The one thing that you need to realize is that you don't need to be a genius to become a great guitarist. The two key things you need to have in your possession are interest and commitment.
You'll never meet a great guitarist who isn't passionate about music. They didn't get to the level that they are at by being apathetic and lazy. They took the initiative to go out and try to learn something new.

The guitarist who dares to challenge himself takes the risk of failing. This is where many musicians lose their battle with low self-esteem and quit.
It's not that they didn't take the risk, rather, that they failed and couldn't pick themselves up again. If you realize that failure is a part of growth and that it takes many jam sessions to get some tricks down, you have just acquired the first skill you will need to become the ultimate guitarist.

I have compiled a list of concepts that I believe every guitarist should try out. Unlike other articles you will read, these short and simple steps ask you to do, rather that simply read. Thoughts and attitude are important but in the end it's what you do that counts to your audience.

Let's get started with the top ten things you can do to obtain maximum results as a guitarist.
Top 10 tips for success...
Learn something new - Educating yourself is the first step to becoming a better guitarist. Whether you choose to believe it or not, there's always something new to learn and master. If you are currently studying music in a conservatory, at school, or in college, you will find that learning will come more easier to you. If not, I highly recommend that you get in a program. While I believe in teaching yourself, I also know from first hand experience that motivation and encouragement from a teacher is priceless. Once you conquer the subject that you were learning, push yourself to learn something that you're not quite comfortable with. Learning within your comfort zone often results with you running around in circles.
Make your time count - Practicing does not make perfect, it makes permanent. That makes the time you spend playing your guitar all the more important. Don't waste your time fiddling around on your guitar. Dig in and learn something that will aid you on your quest for musical success. Set goals and work towards achieving them. Whether it's technique, tricks, or a new song, you can become better just by using your time more wisely.

Listen to more music - The more music that you are exposed to, the better guitarist you will become. Listen to the bands that you enjoy most and draw inspiration from them. Take note of what the musicians are doing in their songs and make a list of the techniques you want to learn. This can be the motivating force that gets you to play your guitar more often.

Surround yourself with excellence - When you play your guitar with people who are better guitarists, you not only learn from them but feel motivated to push yourself to keep up. At first this idea seems obscure. Why would you expose yourself to that kind of stress? Let's face it, if there's one thing that will make you get motivated quickly it's the fact that people are counting on you. Don't play with musicians who are arrogant and rude. Embarrassment doesn't foster self-esteem and will only get you down. The people you want to learn from are patient and understanding. Eventually you will find yourself at their level. It happens faster than you might think.

Ask yourself what will you do when you obtain the skills you want - What do you want to do with what you learn? Perhaps you want to make a CD or join a band and play at some local venues. Start planning for it now and use what you currently have. This ties into setting goals but is not to be underestimated. Knowing how you want to use your talent is important. Create a vision and use goals to act on it. Whether you want to play for others, or to the wall in your bedroom, the choice is yours.

Teach someone how to play guitar - To teach is to learn. If the only chord you know how to play is a G chord, show someone that. Why? Because it reaffirms what you know and solidifies your knowledge. I can tell you from personal experience that I have learned more through teaching than I ever learned through being taught. It forces you out of your comfort zone and when questions are asked, you need to know the answer. I'm a firm believer that anyone can teach someone something if they want to. Give it a shot and see the results for yourself.

Believe in your ability - Yes, I know how cliché this sounds. However, you need to hear it. You can do anything you put your mind to and if you choose to play guitar well, chubby fingers or not, you can! Don't listen to what others say and be true to yourself. This can be hard seeing as we live in a critical society that doesn't realize how much words can hurt. Keep at it and surround yourself with supportive people. More of a life lesson than a guitar lesson, but as far as I'm concerned music is intertwined with daily living.

You are incomparable - In case you haven't picked up the hint yet, you are the ultimate guitarist. There is no one like you and there will never be anyone who even comes remotely close to being like you. Integrate who you are into your music and you will never have a shortage of material. Your music will soon form into your own tone and style.

Learn what worked for others - Whether you research your favorite guitarist or talk to your guitar teacher, ask others what worked for them. I don't claim to know all the answers but when everyone puts their heads together, some really neat ideas start to flow. Networking allows you to give and receive at the same time.

Crush your weakness - We all know where we lack the most in the guitar realm. For me it's in technique and finger picking, for others it's something different. Whatever it is, don't ignore it while enjoying your recent victory. Keep attacking your weak points and you'll soon see improvement. The secret is that you never stop seeing problems and you continually get better over time. You'll never be stuck without something to do. Take out a sheet of paper and write them down. Then find the resources you need to help you destroy them. It's not unlike a war, but in the end you always win. Don't Believe The Popular Myths
You may be surprised to hear that a lot of the common advice distributed amongst guitarists couldn't be farther from the truth. There are myths and tokens of advice that get passed along and guitarists like yourself use them. Try as hard as you like, but you'll end up realizing that what meets you at the end of the road is failure.

To avoid that, let's look at some of the most common myths floating around:
All good players can play all styles: While great in theory, it doesn't work out in practice. Throughout the history of this newsletter, I have consistently pushed trying various genres of music and becoming a more cultured guitarist. However, no where will you ever hear me, or any other teacher, say that you should be able to master all of them.

The fact is that it takes a lifetime to master one style. Some take up two genres that mix well together, such as blues and rock, but those genres are the exceptions. You will never hear a neoclassical shred guitarist play country. Many jazz musicians take decades to perfect their craft and even then they still see areas that need improvement.

If you want to be a great guitarist, take the genre and style that you're passionate about and focus on it. Don't get distracted with other music. Your guitar heroes are heroes because they mastered a genre. Very few will ever play outside of their specialty and that's just the reality.
You either have "it" or you don't: Let's face it, some understand music more easily than others. That doesn't mean that you can't be as good as them. Everyone can play guitar, it just depends on the effort and time you want to put in.

There are dozens of specialties within music and no one knows all of them from the time they are born. Perfect pitch is developed, as is technique and originality. Look at where you started from as opposed to where you are now. Would you say that you are just as original as you were when you first picked up the guitar? I know I'm not.
While things may come easier to others, remember that we all have our own struggles within music and that we are in it together.
To sound good, you need the best gear - The best gear is nice, and yes, you do sound better. However, it's unnecessary for those who aren't interested in professional music or are just starting out.
Beginners love to see the rack of guitars at their local music store and say, "I want the $2000 one." That was me for years but the truth is that a guitar of that caliber is useless to someone who can't play it. Learn on something modest and work your way up.
Not only will the experience be more rewarding, it's also nicer on the instrument and your self-confidence. In the end, the guitar is only as good as the person who plays it.
I have heard crappy guitars sound half-decent when played by someone who knew what they were doing. The same applies to you. For those who can afford $5000 guitars, my advice is go for it.
For the rest of us, I say save your money and work towards being the ultimate guitarist. Think about it, if you sound good on a crummy guitar, how much better will you sound on something that can really produce a good tone?
You need to be the most talented to succeed- All too often, as mentioned above, we tend to compare ourselves to others. The ultimate guitarist is you meeting your goals and making progress.
There will always be others who sound better in certain areas but who cares? Be the person you want to be and music will be far more enjoyable. Success is measured on a personal level, not n how many CD's you sell.
The famous musicians in today's society often find themselves wishing they weren't so pressured by record labels. They want to be in your shoes where they have the choice to do what they want to do. Enjoy yourself and the rest will fall into place.

12:02 AM
Categories: 10 Easy Ways To Improve Your Guitar Playing. Author: Professional

Guitar tabs or guitar tablatures are of utmost importance to those who play guitar. Guitar tabs are one of the important components for learning new tunes. Usually the guitar tabs come with the lyrics of the song for which the guitar tab is played, and sometimes the interlude or prelude lead part of the music is given through these guitar tabs.

Depending on the nature of the guitar, i.e. a rhythm guitar, a classical guitar, a bass guitar, a twelve string guitar and so on, the guitar tabs vary as these guitars and their arrangements and frets vary in shape, size and purpose. However, a guitar tab is a system of notations, letters, symbols and other visual representations - instead of the traditional musical notation.

The sole purpose of a guitar tab is to give the direction to the player as to how to play a musical piece through a diagram of strings of the guitar. Guitar tabs or a tablature nonetheless consists of a diagram of strings of the guitar with finger positions indicated by numbers corresponding to the appropriate frets and sometimes with the numerical representations of the fingers.

Free guitar tabs are very important for those who are young enthusiasts and are keen on learning the new tunes and technicalities of guitar and especially those songs which have extensive guitar uses, both plucking and other types of fingering as well as lead parts. The Web is the biggest resource for gathering these free guitar tablatures and is much conducive than those costly books at the nearby music stations and book stalls. Free guitar tablatures are those available on the Internet that give oneself the freedom to explore and choose the song or the music he wants the guitar tablatures for.

12:01 AM
Categories: guitar tabs. Author: Professional

If you are seeking to learn how to play the guitar most guitar products currently on the market are very good. They have the right tools to make anyone who has fingers a good guitar player. What can be worrying about some of these guitar courses are the claims that are made by the publishers. You need to be wary of being scammed by these so called guitar experts. The guitar takes time and effort to master and you will need to have the time to practice and stick with it. I would suggest using one of the many e-programmes which adorn the internet choosing carefully anything. A good guide should show you the options and ask why you want to play the guitar and what type of guitar if you do. There are many types of guitar and it is easy to get sidelined into a guitar which isn't what you want. You need to identify what type of music you want to play as this will also guide you in the right direction.

Acoustic Guitar An acoustic guitar is a great place to start with guitar chords though I wouldn't part with more than $150 for one until you know the guitar is for you. Guitar chords are great for singing to and provide the rythum to many contemporary songs. The acoustic is a folk music favourite and is used by some blues players to get that boomy earthy resonance. Country music wouldn't be country without the acoustic guitars with their steel construct and huge sound boxes. Lead Guitar A lead electric guitar is a completely different beast and will require an amplifier and a power source. If it's a lead guitar you want I would again not pay much more than I would for an acoustic guitar to start. I would suggest a starter pack where you get everything IE guitar amp, guitar tuner, plectrums, guitar leads etc. With the lead guitar you will need to learn scales together with the position of each note on the guitar fret board (neck part). So if it's the lead guitar for you go for a course that takes you through scale progression and scale exercises. An alternative to this is learning what is called guitar tablature or tab. This is a simplified guide of scales and amounts to the same of learning and practice. Instead of naming the notes it uses a 1, 2, 3 code showing a basic picture of a guitar fret board etc. Most rock and roll songs, heavy rock and contemporary music uses lead guitar. Also the lead electric guitar is mainstream for jazz and blues. Spanish/Classical Guitar

Spanish guitar and classical guitar playing is something you can go to college and learn. I strongly suggest that you enrol in a full time or part time course or pay a private tutor if this is where you want to go with the guitar. Spanish and classical guitar is very beautiful though if you like rock n' roll you would probably rather die than be subjected to it. Conclusion
The main thing to consider is - how much time have you got? It takes time to learn to play the guitar. Will your guitar be another e-bay statistic or is your quest to learn the guitar going to make you the next Stevie Vy?

12:00 AM
Categories: Guitar Lessons. Author: Professional

Nowadays, there are a slew of websites offering guitar lesson online. Some free and some are paid. With people nowadays so busy with their lives, it is a easy way to earn how to play a guitar right from the comfort of their own homes and at their own pace.

Let s face it, not everyone has the time to take guitar lessons at a guitar school or from a guitar teacher. Plus, taking guitar lessons is not cheap. It can cost several thousands dollars to learn how to play a guitar. By buying an online guitar course, it is more affordable.
Problem is which online guitar lessons should you learn or buy from? There are literally dozens of such courses online and it can be confusing to the beginner which is the best?

Here are some tips to help you choose which guitar lesson online is suitable for you.

1. Method Of Instruction
Most online guitar courses are offered as a book or manual with some music sheets and so well. More recently, online guitar lessons are conducted using video, audios and online animations. Personally, I prefer videos as it is a lot easier to watch and learn someone play a guitar than through a book. Some even offer email consultation and accompanying software to enable you to learn better.

2. Peer Reviews
Before buying any online guitar course, I always try to get reviews from other people who have used it. One way is to visit guitar forums. You can post a question on who has brought the guitar course you are thinking of buying and their opinions or search the threads. Maybe someone else already has brought it and you can get an idea whether the course is suitable for you.

3. Guarantee
Does the online guitar course offer a guarantee? You would not want to waste your money on some guitar course that does not work for you and have no way to refund. Most reputable online guitar courses will offer a 30 day or 60 day money back guarantee.
Taking guitar lesson online is affordable and easy and you can do it at your own pace. I highly recommend anyone who wants to learn how to play a guitar and does not have a lot of time to try guitar lesson online.

11:49 PM
Categories: Guitar Lessons. Author: Professional

When I began guitar lessons over forty years ago there were few choices for learning to play the guitar. You either bought a book and taught yourself or you called the local music store to set up lessons with a randomly selected live teacher.

I was only eight years old when I met my first guitar instructor and I remember it like it was yesterday. He was a part time lounge guitarist that always smelled like cigarette smoke and definitely didn't enjoy teaching kids. He was impatient, grouchy and didn't hesitate to yell at me when I nervously chewed on my guitar pick. I didn't understand him, I didn't enjoy the lessons and soon wanted to quit. Fortunately my mother understood the problem and talked me into continuing with a different teacher.

I was luckier with my second teacher, Miss Mosier. She was a twenty-something hippy that loved kids as much as she loved to teach. I actually began to look forward to my lessons. When she introduced a little finger picking exercise that lead to playing an old Bluegrass song called Buck Dancers Choice, I was hooked. Finally, I was actually learning to play guitar and having fun!

Today, due to inexpensive video technology, there are many options that take the guess work out of learning to play guitar. Now it is possible to bring world class instructors into your home to teach guitar for less money and often in less time then it takes to learn from a randomly selected local instructor.

Here are 10 tips for selecting a guitar lesson program:

1. The Medium: find a dvd based or online guitar lesson program that offers both video and audio lessons with a book as a reference guide. This combination should work well whether your primary learning style is reading, listening, watching or a combination of all three.

2. Good Production Values: the video lessons should be thoughtfully organized. There should be lots of close ups of both of the instructors hands as they demonstrate each lesson. The audio needs to be clear so that each note and chord can be distinctly heard.

3. Skill Level: If you are a rank beginner make sure that the guitar lesson program states that it is geared for beginners. A beginning guitar program should teach the parts of the guitar, re-stringing and tuning as well as the fundamentals of scales, chords, keys, reading tabs and playing songs. If you are interested in a specialized program like Blues Guitar Lessons check to see what level of skills are required before you begin.

4. The Instructor: ideally should have experience as recording studio musician as well as touring with a band. A college degree in education and lots of hands-on teaching experience are equally important.

5. Music Theory Instruction: should be peppered through out the guitar course. A basic understanding of how scales, keys and chords work can free you from the limitations of just memorizing songs. This can provide the musical tools necessary for writing songs and improvising solos over just about any kind of music.

6. Guided Practice Sessions: this means that the video instructor first teaches you a system for practicing the guitar then plays along with you to help establish good habits. Much enjoyment and progress can be lost due to poor practice routines. In fact, I would be willing to bet that a high percentage of the people that quit do so because of a poor understanding of good practice fundamentals. Only one guitar lesson course that I am aware of gets this exactly right.

7. Jam Tracks: these are usually short recorded songs or rhythm tracks that provide a way for a guitar student to practice playing with a band. Jam Tracks can be invaluable for learning to play rhythm guitar parts in synch with other musicians or while improvising solos.

8. Individual Pacing: a guitar lesson program should provide an environment where the student can learn at a pace that is ideal for their individual learning style.

9. Fun: that's exactly right, a guitar lesson program should be fun. If it isn't fun early in the program it will be hard to stay motivated long enough to develop even basic guitar skills.

10. Price: expect to pay about $130 to $200 for a top-notch, dvd based, guitar lesson program that is aimed at rank beginners through intermediate acoustic and electric guitar students. There are many lesson programs available in the $30 to $60 range that have some of the important benefits mentioned above but I have found most of them to be somewhat incomplete and inconvenient.

For detailed guitar lesson reviews go to a website like CompareGuitarLessons.com.

While a great, organized, video guitar lesson program taught by a top instructor can be critical to learning to play the guitar there are also a few other essentials:
- Start out with the highest quality guitar you can afford. Too often cheap beginner guitars won't stay in tune, are hard to play and just don't sound very good. A guitar that is priced in the $200 to $500 range will be much more satisfying to play. Why make learning guitar harder than necessary?

- Expect that playing the guitar will feel awkward at first but that slowly it will become easier and smoother. Don't quit. Practice frequently in short bursts of 10 to 20 minutes. When your hands are sore or you start to become frustrated take a break.
- Learn how to practice like a professional: this is a significant weakness of many, if not most, guitar lesson programs. Rarely is there enough emphasis on learning how to practice effectively. A good practice routine should have a definite structure and purpose with fun activities at the end as a motivator. Practice sessions that are generally short, frequent and fun usually stimulate rapid learning. For more information on this topic read an article called "Learn To Play Guitar Twice As Fast In Only Half The Time" at CompareGuitarLessons.com.

11:48 PM
Categories: Guitar Lessons. Author: Professional

For many years, there have been debates about whether it is possible to learn how to play acoustic guitar from a book as well as you could from a teacher. Books provide text and pictures and can be a great learning resource, but without a teacher is it hard to know if your technique is correct down to the small details. The Internet has changed the world in many ways by allowing the free exchange of ideas, information, and perhaps most importantly, multimedia. Using the Internet as a learning tool you can view videos of someone playing the guitar and compare your own technique to theirs. This allows you to go far beyond the information in guitar books by giving you a complete moving picture of what you are trying to do yourself.
As good as the Internet is as a learning tool, there are still advantages and disadvantages of having a guitar teacher. An acoustic guitar teacher can watch you play and determine your specific needs better than you can yourself. So while you may think that a certain exercise or song will help you improve, in reality you might be skipping needed steps and learning bad habits. When learning the acoustic guitar it is easy to develop bad habits that you do not notice until it is too late. A teacher can help you identify your bad habits early so they are easier to fix. An expert eye can see and hear things a beginner cannot. You might think you are doing the same thing the guitar player in the online movie is doing, but you may actually have certain aspects of the technique wrong.

A teacher can also help keep you on track and help determine the best technique for your hands. If you have very long fingers and the guitar player doing the online movie you are using has short fingers, it will be hard for you to determine the best position for your thumb on the back of the neck, and the angles your fingers should be at during certain chords and scales. A teacher can help you find the right technique for your hands. Many teachers are good at keeping students interested and feeling like they are making progress. Many guitar players quit practicing because they are having trouble learning online and do not know what they are doing wrong.

However, there are many reasons that learning to play the acoustic guitar online works great for many people. Having a teacher usually means you get a thirty-minute lesson each week, and you have to fit the lesson into your schedule. This means that some people are too busy to even take private lessons, and other people end up forgetting what their teacher told them by the day after the lesson. Online guitar lessons allow you to take your lesson any time you wish, so anyone can fit it into their schedule. If you need to review the information you can simply sign on any time. The online lessons do not care how often you review the movie or information. Calling your private guitar teacher and asking him to come back the next day to review what he taught you is a little less reasonable. Online guitar lessons are also much less expensive, so anyone can afford them.

Many people think they cannot learn to play the acoustic guitar because they are too busy for lessons, or their schedule changes too much from week to week, or they cannot afford a private teacher. Online guitar lessons are perfect for these people and are also a great additional source of information for anyone that is currently taking private guitar lessons

11:48 PM
Categories: acoustic guitar, Acoustic Guitar Online. Author: Professional

You don t have to pay for Christian sheet music. It is available on the web for free. People can download Christian sheet music in gif format. Christian sheet music sites offer various types of sheet music, such as keyboard music, piano music and guitar music.

Let s check out the piano music first. Online Christian sheet music stores offer piano music. You can download Christian sheet music from those sites. Thanks to those sites, you can enhance your Christian sheet music collection. Some sites offer rare Christian sheet music samples that you won t find anywhere else. Christian sheet music sites have an extensive database of some great Christian sheet music.

Another vital aspect of Christian sheet music is guitar music. People taking an interest in this type of Christian sheet music can download guitar music notations from the web. Thanks to Christian sheet music sites, popular Christian Music titles such as Worship Together or Integrity Hosanna have become extremely popular. But, while downloading your favorite Christian sheet music, you have to be careful. It s always advisable to download Christian sheet music from renowned sites in order to prevent downloading viruses along with the music titles. Christian sheet music sites add new music titles all the time. So, you will get all the new Christian sheet music albums from them. The demand for Christian sheet music is always going up. The Internet has become the best place to buy Christian sheet music titles.

Add to that previews and customer reviews. You can check out the latest Christian sheet music albums before purchasing them. Some of the best-selling Christian sheet music titles are Run the Earth Watch the Sky, Songs for Praise & Worship, and Only Hope. Christian sheet music has opened up a new vista for Christian Music lovers. Christian sheet music is in vogue.

11:47 PM
Categories: acoustic guitar. Author: Professional

Now is as good a time as any to develop a Guitar Practice Schedule. Let's face it, if we want to be better guitar players, then we need to play! Notice that the key word here is play, not work. But, if you're anything like me, then you know how easy it is to let other demands on your time get in the way of practicing your guitar. Time management is always a challenge, but I find it helps when I write things down and can visualize my priorities.

Today I would like to help you develop a practice schedule so you'll be able to reach some of your goals as a guitar player.Every guitarist's practice schedule will differ due to personal lifestyle, job & home demands, hobbies, social life, etc. Being a beginner, intermediate or advanced guitar player will also effect how and what you practice.

As a beginner, your main goal is to develop the calluses, strength and coordination skills needed to play the guitar. Practicing 15-20 minutes a day should be enough time to accomplish this. Once you gain some proficiency on the guitar you can adjust your practice schedule according to your particular needs and desires.

It's a good idea to set aside a specific time each day when you will be able to focus on playing your guitar. Mark down this time on a calendar and keep it some place where you can see it as a reminder of your committment. Tell your family about it too. Let them know that their support is important and will help you reach your goals.

Next, take a sheet of paper and create a basic outline of what you will need to work on each day. Make sure you incorporate chords, various guitar techniques, plus tab and/or note reading skills into your practice schedule, as these are the common areas that every guitarist can use to develop their skills.

Here is an example of what your Guitar Practice Schedule might look like:

MONDAY
Reading Music - Use standard notation &/or tablature to learn a song, or play a single line melody.
Goal : To improve sight reading skills in order to learn new songs and guitar techniques.

TUESDAY
Chords - Practice strumming various chords progressions and songs in different keys.
Goal: To change easily & smoothly between chords. Long term goal being to learn the fundamental chords for all 12 keys.

WEDNESDAY
Performing - Memorize a song you have learned. Play it in front of someone, or record yourself.
Goal: To gain confidence and get feedback in order to improve guitar playing abilities.

THURSDAY
Theory & Technique - study scales &/or chord structure. Incorporate slides, hammers, pull-offs, arpeggios, finger-picking and other techniques.
Goal: To increase understanding of music and improve finger dexterity on the guitar.

FRIDAY
Fretboard - Memorize &/or review the notes on the fretboard.
Goal: To improve fretboard awareness in order to facilitate a broader range of playing options.

SATURDAY
Review - Take time to go over any trouble spots. Concentrate on one specific area. Write down any thoughts or steps needed to improve performance &/or understanding.
Goal: To play the guitar in such a way that it produces music with a clean, clear, quality sound.

SUNDAY
Free Time - Take time off or experiment. Play around with different sounds using your ear. Make up a chord, song or melody line. Create a repertoire so you can play the pieces you enjoy. Have some fun.
Goal: To become a creative guitarist and musician.

11:46 PM
Categories: Guitar Lessons. Author: Professional

Bass guitars have been around as long as ordinary guitars. A bass instrument is always required in a band to provide the depth of sound required to make listening full and pleasurable whether it is a brass band, where they would use the E or B flat bass or a modern pop group that would use electric bass guitars.The electric guitar as we know it has been evolving since the 1930's and became increasingly popular in the 1950's. Traditionally, in the pop bands of the 1950's, the double bass or slap bass was used. As the development of amplifiers progressed and bands became loader it was hard for the acoustic bass to be heard and amplifying them by way of a microphone was awkward and cumbersome. Electric bass guitars were therefore developed and become popular using the same technology as electric guitars with electric pick-ups.

Additionally, transporting a large double bass was not an easy affair; that was remedied with electric bass guitars which, still bigger than electric guitars are considerably smaller than the acoustic double bass.The Construction of Bass GuitarsGiven the deeper sound required from bass guitars, their construction, whilst similar to ordinary electric guitars, differ mainly by their size. Generally 4 or perhaps 5 bass strings are used which are generally tuned one whole octave below the normal guitar and therefore somewhat thicker which enables them to produce those lush, deep and low tones. The necks and scale length on bass guitars are also longer.Given the way modern bass guitars are constructed they are more easily mass produced and their price therefore will be considerably cheaper than a quality slap bass guitar. With the modern styling including contoured bodies and bevelled edges, they are more comfortable to hold and play for longer periods.Bass guitars continue to be developed for different styles of music and sound - the headless and almost bodiless Steinberger is extremely light weight and fits nicely with bass players playing a funky style of music. The rich tones of the Fender Precision range of bass guitars fit well in a jazz environment but are also flexible enough to be used for country music as well as modern pop music.

The range of bass guitars is massive and your choice will depend on the style of music you intend to play and of course how deep your pockets are! Just like any instrument, you have a choice from relatively cheap mass produced bass guitars to the beautiful hand made models with superior woods and very high quality craftsmanship.

10:59 PM
Categories: bass guitars. Author: Professional

The guitar is the most known and popular musical instrument. It s an instrument that is played for almost all kinds of music, like rock music, country music, lounge music, pop music and contemporary classical music.

An acoustic guitar is hollow with a sound hole (a round hole in the face). An electric acoustic guitar is made up of wood and has six strings which produce a rhythmic, sweet, musical, yet loud sound. The difference between an acoustic electric guitar and an electric guitar is that a normal electric guitar can only be played when it is plugged in, where as an acoustic electric guitar doesn t have to be.

Plugging in an electric acoustic guitar gives it an awesome sound. The electric guitars have a lot of knobs to deal with, whereas the acoustic electric guitars can be used as a normal guitar or an electric guitar. The strings of electric guitars are soft, and much easier to press. If asked to recommend what type of guitar is the best buy, then the acoustic electric guitar will definitely take a higher edge in recommendation as it can be used two ways: as a normal acoustic guitar to play it normally and as an electric guitar to be played when plugged in an electric socket.
The sound produced by an acoustic electric guitar when not plugged in is the same as a normal acoustic guitar, and when plugged in it sounds like a good electric guitar. The two-in-one purpose makes it the best buy if you are passionate about the guitar and want to have both types.

10:58 PM
Categories: acoustic guitar, Guitar Lessons. Author: Professional

So. You've decided that you'd like to learn how to play the guitar, huh? Great decision! In this article, I'll cover the basic things you'll need to get before you're ready to start taking guitar lessons.

The first thing you'll need is pretty obvious: a guitar! You should really give some serious consideration to what you want in a guitar before you buy one, though.

There are three major classifications of guitars: acoustic, classical, and electric. Acoustic is pretty much the most versatile, but it may not be what you want.

An acoustic guitar is a steel stringed guitar with a hollow wooden body. As it's name suggests, it can be played acoustically, meaning that you don't need an amp to play it. You can use an amp with an acoustic guitar, though. Some come with pickups already installed inside the guitar - you just plug in a " sound cord and go. These are called acoustic-electric guitars. If you choose a guitar without this feature, you can buy a soundhole pickup for your guitar for about $60, which allows you to plug your acoustic guitar into an amp.

A Classical guitar is similar to an acoustic guitar, except it has nylon strings and is designed somewhat differently. As it's name suggests, a classical guitar is ideal for playing classical guitar. You might also want a classical guitar for fnger-picking or Spanish music.

An electrical guitar is usually a plastic solid body guitar with thin steel strings. It requires an amp to play it. Electrical guitars have a unique sound, and are often used with effects pedals to distort or change the sound of the guitar. Electric guitars are central to rock music, as well as being integral to many other types of modern music.

Once you get your guitar, you'll still need a few other items. If you're playing an acoustic or electric guitar, you'll want some picks. I'd suggest you start with Medium picks for most music. You should also buy a capo, which is used for changing the key of your guitar. Be sure that it fits your guitar properly before you buy it though.
With these items, you should be ready for your first guitar lesson.

10:58 PM
Categories: Guitar Lessons. Author: Professional

I ve been playing acoustic guitar for several years now, but it was just recently that I finally purchased an acoustic electric guitar. At the beginning of my guitar-playing days, I was just playing for fun, and so I didn t really need an acoustic electric guitar. Essentially, a normal acoustic and an electric acoustic guitar are almost exactly the same, except for one very significant difference: the electric one contains a built-in pickup. This means that you do not need to insert an additional pickup to the guitar to amplify it. You merely plug it in, and you're ready to play.

When you are just playing by yourself, you have no need for an acoustic electric guitar. Because unless you're playing with a band, amplifying is probably not your biggest need. Normal acoustic guitars generate enough volume on their own, and don t require the amplification level an acoustic electric guitar amplification produces.

An acoustic electric guitar does have several advantages over a normal acoustic with an added pickup. To start with, when playing the electric guitar the pickup is always with you. There is no need to drag it around, and no concern about the pickup falling out. In addition, acoustic electric guitars are likely to include superior quality pickups, and these pickups will be well mounted. Pickups added for a non-electric acoustic guitar are difficult to position to get a great quality of sound.

One of the best features of a new acoustic electric guitar, though, is the built-in controls included with it. There is really no easy way to control the volume of a normal acoustic guitar that s been amplified. But an acoustic electric guitar has volume controls built into the guitar itself. This is such a great feature. If your guitar volume level doesn t sound the best to you, then rather than going over to the amp and tinkering with it, you can instead adjust the volume on the side of your guitar. If you are playing a gig, this can be a big timesaver (not to mention it looks more professional to the audience).

An acoustic electric guitar can help evoke the confidence and desire one needs to play the guitar with other people. Although it takes more than a great guitar to play well, having an acoustic electric guitar represents a big step in that direction.

10:55 PM
Categories: Author: Professional

I ve been playing acoustic guitar for several years now, but it was just recently that I finally purchased an acoustic electric guitar. At the beginning of my guitar-playing days, I was just playing for fun, and so I didn t really need an acoustic electric guitar. Essentially, a normal acoustic and an electric acoustic guitar are almost exactly the same, except for one very significant difference: the electric one contains a built-in pickup. This means that you do not need to insert an additional pickup to the guitar to amplify it. You merely plug it in, and you're ready to play.

When you are just playing by yourself, you have no need for an acoustic electric guitar. Because unless you're playing with a band, amplifying is probably not your biggest need. Normal acoustic guitars generate enough volume on their own, and don t require the amplification level an acoustic electric guitar amplification produces.

An acoustic electric guitar does have several advantages over a normal acoustic with an added pickup. To start with, when playing the electric guitar the pickup is always with you. There is no need to drag it around, and no concern about the pickup falling out. In addition, acoustic electric guitars are likely to include superior quality pickups, and these pickups will be well mounted. Pickups added for a non-electric acoustic guitar are difficult to position to get a great quality of sound.

One of the best features of a new acoustic electric guitar, though, is the built-in controls included with it. There is really no easy way to control the volume of a normal acoustic guitar that s been amplified. But an acoustic electric guitar has volume controls built into the guitar itself. This is such a great feature. If your guitar volume level doesn t sound the best to you, then rather than going over to the amp and tinkering with it, you can instead adjust the volume on the side of your guitar. If you are playing a gig, this can be a big timesaver (not to mention it looks more professional to the audience).

An acoustic electric guitar can help evoke the confidence and desire one needs to play the guitar with other people. Although it takes more than a great guitar to play well, having an acoustic electric guitar represents a big step in that direction.

10:55 PM
Categories: acoustic guitar, The Rewards of Playing an Acoustic Electric Guitar. Author: Professional

9:54 PM
Categories: 7 Quick Steps to Tune Your Acoustic Guitar, acoustic guitar. Author: Professional