There are many exercises that you can do to strength your finger tips and develop solid calluses on your tips. The quicker you develop calluses the easier it is for you to play. The easier it is for you to play the long your practice (since it won’t hurt nearly as much). The longer you practice the better you will get at playing. It’s a great circle and it works really well but you need to work on part one very diligently.
Calluses on your left hand will develop to the point that your tips are hard and it even when you play for long periods of time you will have the protection of the tougher skin. So let’s work on those fingers for a bit.
The exercise is called the hammer and pull. Take index finger and place it on any fret on the 1st string (the thinnest), pluck just that string. While the string is vibrating take you middle finger and “hammer” it down on the next fret up on the same string. The string will change notes up one half step. Then while the string is still vibrating, “pull” the middle finger back off by pulling your finger down and off the string.
You will hear the string go back down to its original note and because you have “pulled” the string you are ready to do the same thing again since the string is still vibrating. Continue to hammer and pull until the vibrations gets to the point where the string is no longer active.
Do the same thing with the middle finger with the ring finger doing the hammering and pulling. Continue with the ring finger and the pinky. You can also do this exercise with the index finger to an open E string where you would hammer and pull between the open string and the 1st fret of the E string.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuning Your Guitar
So you have a guitar, that’s awesome. Now you have to tune it. Tuning the guitar is by far one of the most frustrating things that new students complain to me about all the time. There’s really no way to learn this other than doing it over and over again.
In my lessons with students I have spend full lessons untuning their guitar, handing it back to them and having them tune it again, and again and again. On occasion I thought the instrument might be thrown back at me, but I can safely say that most of my students got it after a while.
Although you can “self-tune”-which is the process of tuning your guitar to the E string no matter if it is right or not, is okay, you really should put some effort into getting the E string right. I recommend a guitar pitch pipe but if you have a piano that would work also.
The 6th string (the one closest to you/the heavest or lowest sounding string) is always your starting point. Using the pitch pipe or the E note below middle C on the piano, tune your guitar up or down so your E string sounds like that note. Humming the two sometimes help you get your bearings and eventually you will find it.
Next, put your finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string and pluck it, then pluck the open 5th string (open means no fingers) tune the 5th string to sound like the 6th string with a covered 5th fret. After you get that move your finger down to the 5th string covered 5th fret and do the same for the 4th string tuning it to meet the 5th strings sound.
Continue on the 4th string, again 4th string covered 5th fret will equal the open 3rd string. On the 3rd string you cover the 4th fret; it is the only string when you are not on the 5th fret. The 3rd string covered 4th fret equals the open 2nd string. The 2nd string covered 5th fret equals the open 1st string and you are done.
The trick to tuning the guitar is to then play a chord and identify the string that sounds off to tweak it. There will always be a string off; it’s just the nature of the sliding the strings do when they stretch and so forth. The real success in tuning is this step. And unfortunately, the only way to get go at this step is to do it over and over again until you know the sound well enough that you can find it and fix it.
In my lessons with students I have spend full lessons untuning their guitar, handing it back to them and having them tune it again, and again and again. On occasion I thought the instrument might be thrown back at me, but I can safely say that most of my students got it after a while.
Although you can “self-tune”-which is the process of tuning your guitar to the E string no matter if it is right or not, is okay, you really should put some effort into getting the E string right. I recommend a guitar pitch pipe but if you have a piano that would work also.
The 6th string (the one closest to you/the heavest or lowest sounding string) is always your starting point. Using the pitch pipe or the E note below middle C on the piano, tune your guitar up or down so your E string sounds like that note. Humming the two sometimes help you get your bearings and eventually you will find it.
Next, put your finger on the 5th fret of the 6th string and pluck it, then pluck the open 5th string (open means no fingers) tune the 5th string to sound like the 6th string with a covered 5th fret. After you get that move your finger down to the 5th string covered 5th fret and do the same for the 4th string tuning it to meet the 5th strings sound.
Continue on the 4th string, again 4th string covered 5th fret will equal the open 3rd string. On the 3rd string you cover the 4th fret; it is the only string when you are not on the 5th fret. The 3rd string covered 4th fret equals the open 2nd string. The 2nd string covered 5th fret equals the open 1st string and you are done.
The trick to tuning the guitar is to then play a chord and identify the string that sounds off to tweak it. There will always be a string off; it’s just the nature of the sliding the strings do when they stretch and so forth. The real success in tuning is this step. And unfortunately, the only way to get go at this step is to do it over and over again until you know the sound well enough that you can find it and fix it.
TheParts of the Guitar
Most guitars have a lot of parts in common and although the guitar itself might be different (number of strings, electric or acoustic) the basic parts of the guitar stay relatively the same. So let's start at the thin part of the guitar. Let’s see what we have.
The very head of the guitar is called the “Headstock”. Its primary purpose is to be the end of the guitar as well as the piece that has the tuners screwed onto.
The “Tuners” are the screw like mechanisms which have the strings wound around them and are used to tune the guitar. (Note: the proper stringing of the guitar is for the string to be wound on top of the tuner. So for a string that the tuner is on the left hand side you would come up the guitar, find the tuner, and wind the string counter clockwise to back it tighter, for strings on the right hand side you tune the strings clockwise to make the string tighter).
Connecting the headstock to the neck is the “nut”. This is a piece of plastic or wood that has grooves in it for the placement of the strings on the way up to the tuners.
Next is the “neck” the neck is the thin part of the guitar where all the action happens. It is where you do all your work. Depending on where you put your fingers on the neck you will make different sounds.
Next the neck overlaps the body. The body for acoustic and classical guitars is hollow with a sound hole right in the middle which helps resonate the sound. Electric guitar are solid, no sound hole with pickups in the middle where the hole would be to generate the electric sound when attached to an amp/speaker.
The strings are the primary part of the guitar which runs up and down the neck of the guitar. They are different lengths and thickness depending on the string name.
The bridge is the piece of plastic or wood about 3 or 4 inches from the sound hole. The bridge has holes for the strings to be anchored. Most strings have balls of steel at the end which when threaded through or into the bridge will be the starting point for the stringing process of the guitar.
The very head of the guitar is called the “Headstock”. Its primary purpose is to be the end of the guitar as well as the piece that has the tuners screwed onto.
The “Tuners” are the screw like mechanisms which have the strings wound around them and are used to tune the guitar. (Note: the proper stringing of the guitar is for the string to be wound on top of the tuner. So for a string that the tuner is on the left hand side you would come up the guitar, find the tuner, and wind the string counter clockwise to back it tighter, for strings on the right hand side you tune the strings clockwise to make the string tighter).
Connecting the headstock to the neck is the “nut”. This is a piece of plastic or wood that has grooves in it for the placement of the strings on the way up to the tuners.
Next is the “neck” the neck is the thin part of the guitar where all the action happens. It is where you do all your work. Depending on where you put your fingers on the neck you will make different sounds.
Next the neck overlaps the body. The body for acoustic and classical guitars is hollow with a sound hole right in the middle which helps resonate the sound. Electric guitar are solid, no sound hole with pickups in the middle where the hole would be to generate the electric sound when attached to an amp/speaker.
The strings are the primary part of the guitar which runs up and down the neck of the guitar. They are different lengths and thickness depending on the string name.
The bridge is the piece of plastic or wood about 3 or 4 inches from the sound hole. The bridge has holes for the strings to be anchored. Most strings have balls of steel at the end which when threaded through or into the bridge will be the starting point for the stringing process of the guitar.
Music and Sports
Have you ever noticed that every athlete you look at during practice has on the infamous ear buds and are apparently listening to their favorite music? Or when you walk into an arena and the crowd is getting seriously pumped up it’s because they are listening to some kind of music being pumped into the arena?
Music and sports have been joined at the hip for hundreds, thousands of years. In ancient times when the gladiators were about to come into the arena, what pumped up the crowd? It was the band of trumpeters next to the king playing the music of the time which foretold that the match was about to begin.
Music can be an adrenaline drip to an athlete. The athlete understands what music gets their heart racing a bit or their feet moving and picks the songs to play when they are looking for an extra edge when practicing, working out or preparing for their next match.
Just watch a basketball shoot around or football players in the weight room. And what about those introductions? Getting ready for a game, when being introduced to the crowd often times the athlete is allowed to pick the song they want played. You ever notice how pumped they get? Jumping, high fiving and flexing their muscles.
Music, athletics and adrenaline can be used very affectively to influence the performance of the individual athlete. The connection between the two will be on going as long as it continues to give an athlete any kind of edge.
Music and sports have been joined at the hip for hundreds, thousands of years. In ancient times when the gladiators were about to come into the arena, what pumped up the crowd? It was the band of trumpeters next to the king playing the music of the time which foretold that the match was about to begin.
Music can be an adrenaline drip to an athlete. The athlete understands what music gets their heart racing a bit or their feet moving and picks the songs to play when they are looking for an extra edge when practicing, working out or preparing for their next match.
Just watch a basketball shoot around or football players in the weight room. And what about those introductions? Getting ready for a game, when being introduced to the crowd often times the athlete is allowed to pick the song they want played. You ever notice how pumped they get? Jumping, high fiving and flexing their muscles.
Music, athletics and adrenaline can be used very affectively to influence the performance of the individual athlete. The connection between the two will be on going as long as it continues to give an athlete any kind of edge.
Mood Music
You hear about it all the time. Mood music. But where did the phrase come from and is there really any such thing as mood music. Science has proven time and time again that there is a concrete connection between the music you play and the impact it has on your mood.
For instance, therapists would tell a patient who listens to a lot of music to perhaps avoid the love song channel for a bit. Why? Because the music has an impact on the psyche of the patient and can cause depression.
When preparing for an important romantic dinner at home what do you look for? Low lights, candles and again, music. Music that will work for both parties. In some cases it might be slow love songs, in others it might be some jazz or some instrumental music.
You go to the gym and what do you listen to? The type of music that can pump you up and get your adrenaline going is what most people think of but it really is dependent on what you want to listen that will augment your work out.
Mood music is more than just a phrase. Understanding how to use music to either advance or change to the mood you are looking for in a huge advantage if you know how to do it well. Identify the type of music you need for the mood you are looking for and put together play lists of the best. This way when you need the pick me up, you’ll be all ready to go.
For instance, therapists would tell a patient who listens to a lot of music to perhaps avoid the love song channel for a bit. Why? Because the music has an impact on the psyche of the patient and can cause depression.
When preparing for an important romantic dinner at home what do you look for? Low lights, candles and again, music. Music that will work for both parties. In some cases it might be slow love songs, in others it might be some jazz or some instrumental music.
You go to the gym and what do you listen to? The type of music that can pump you up and get your adrenaline going is what most people think of but it really is dependent on what you want to listen that will augment your work out.
Mood music is more than just a phrase. Understanding how to use music to either advance or change to the mood you are looking for in a huge advantage if you know how to do it well. Identify the type of music you need for the mood you are looking for and put together play lists of the best. This way when you need the pick me up, you’ll be all ready to go.
An Exercise to Get Your Fingers Going
Time to start working those strings with some scale/note playing ..So let’s start with something easy.
First: Make sure your positioning of your hand is right. Your left hand should be place so that the thumb is solidly behind the neck of the guitar and the top of the thumb should not be hanging out over the top. Usually the thumb is a little more than half way up the neck.
Second: Your wrist should be dropped so that your fingers have enough leverage to hit the strings and notes like a hammer on a nail. A good solid bent wrist will give you a lot more leverage.
Third: Starting with the 6th string (the one closest to you- the lowest in sound-the E string) put your index finger on the first fret and play that string only. (For positioning, you finger should be right next to the fret bar between the first and second fret but not on the bar, still within the first fret).
Fourth: keeping that first finger down now put the middle finger in the second fret on that string and pluck it. Do this with the ring finger on the third fret and the pinky on the fourth fret.
Fifth: Now move down to the 5th string and do the same thing all over again. Do this same exercise on each string all the way down to the 1st string.
Sixth: Once you have completed that, slide the whole exercise down to start on the 2nd fret and start all over. Eventually you should take this exercise not only up and down the neck but also backwards (starting on the first string 4th fret and moving your way down all the way to the 6th string 1st fret)
First: Make sure your positioning of your hand is right. Your left hand should be place so that the thumb is solidly behind the neck of the guitar and the top of the thumb should not be hanging out over the top. Usually the thumb is a little more than half way up the neck.
Second: Your wrist should be dropped so that your fingers have enough leverage to hit the strings and notes like a hammer on a nail. A good solid bent wrist will give you a lot more leverage.
Third: Starting with the 6th string (the one closest to you- the lowest in sound-the E string) put your index finger on the first fret and play that string only. (For positioning, you finger should be right next to the fret bar between the first and second fret but not on the bar, still within the first fret).
Fourth: keeping that first finger down now put the middle finger in the second fret on that string and pluck it. Do this with the ring finger on the third fret and the pinky on the fourth fret.
Fifth: Now move down to the 5th string and do the same thing all over again. Do this same exercise on each string all the way down to the 1st string.
Sixth: Once you have completed that, slide the whole exercise down to start on the 2nd fret and start all over. Eventually you should take this exercise not only up and down the neck but also backwards (starting on the first string 4th fret and moving your way down all the way to the 6th string 1st fret)
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Fingerpicking basics
For a rhythm guitar player there are times that strummingwill ruin th softness or specific guitar section being played. Think for instance of the introduction and first few verses of "Stairway to Heaven". Can you imagine how different the song would sound if those first few minutes were strummed instead of fingerpicked?
Or how about "Tears in Heaven"? Same basic idea. There are some guitar accompanyments that only sund right if they are fingerpicked. When you fngerpick you use your thumb, plus index, middle and ring finger when fingerpicking. If you were to read a piece of music which specifically is written with fingerpicking notations these fingers migt be referred to as P-I-M-A (P=thumb, I=index, M=middle, A=ring).
In fingerpicking the thumb (P) covers all the bass strings. Strings number 6 through 4. Or looking down at the strings if you are holding the guitar, the first three strings. Otherwise known as the E-A-D strings. For the remaining three strings, each of the other fingers have a one string assignment. The index covers the 3rd string (G), the middle covers the 2nd string (B) and the ring finger covers the 1st string (E). Notice that there are two E strings on the guitar. They are an octave apart in sound.
When you continue to study guitar it will be important for you to pick up sheet music which gives you fingerpicking tablature if you truly want to play good fingerpicking songs but here are a few tips that are usually true. Almost always the pattern starts with a base note followed by a series of I-M-A notes and then the pattern is repeated. Often times the pattern equates to the timing of the song and you will notice that the base note is hit on the count of "1" repeatedly. So if you have a piece of muisc that is in 4/4time almost always the P finger is struck on count 1, I on count 2, MA on count 3 and I again on count 4.
More times than not you will be striking more than one string at a time when finger picking, as illustrated above. Fingerpicking uses a combination of patterns, finger strikes and chord structures (often up on the neck of the guitar) to give a piece of music a smooth body. However, this is the theory behind fingerpicking. Understanding it will be a good start.
Or how about "Tears in Heaven"? Same basic idea. There are some guitar accompanyments that only sund right if they are fingerpicked. When you fngerpick you use your thumb, plus index, middle and ring finger when fingerpicking. If you were to read a piece of music which specifically is written with fingerpicking notations these fingers migt be referred to as P-I-M-A (P=thumb, I=index, M=middle, A=ring).
In fingerpicking the thumb (P) covers all the bass strings. Strings number 6 through 4. Or looking down at the strings if you are holding the guitar, the first three strings. Otherwise known as the E-A-D strings. For the remaining three strings, each of the other fingers have a one string assignment. The index covers the 3rd string (G), the middle covers the 2nd string (B) and the ring finger covers the 1st string (E). Notice that there are two E strings on the guitar. They are an octave apart in sound.
When you continue to study guitar it will be important for you to pick up sheet music which gives you fingerpicking tablature if you truly want to play good fingerpicking songs but here are a few tips that are usually true. Almost always the pattern starts with a base note followed by a series of I-M-A notes and then the pattern is repeated. Often times the pattern equates to the timing of the song and you will notice that the base note is hit on the count of "1" repeatedly. So if you have a piece of muisc that is in 4/4time almost always the P finger is struck on count 1, I on count 2, MA on count 3 and I again on count 4.
More times than not you will be striking more than one string at a time when finger picking, as illustrated above. Fingerpicking uses a combination of patterns, finger strikes and chord structures (often up on the neck of the guitar) to give a piece of music a smooth body. However, this is the theory behind fingerpicking. Understanding it will be a good start.
Bar Chords
When you play guitar and are ready to advance to some of the more dfficult chords, you need to have the ability to play bar chords with your left hand.
So what is a bar chord? A bar chord is a chord where two or more strings are covered by one finger (usually the left index finger) to play more complex sounds.
Bar chords are especially used for chords (minor keys, flats or sharps) that are not considered major chords. On guitar the most popular chords that you play are G-C-D-Em-Bm-A-Am. All of which can be played without using a bar chord. Interestingly many songs use these root chords as its basic starting point. Of course after a while these would get boring.
All of the chords mentioned above are played in the first four frets of the guitar. When you add bar chords to your skill set you open up a whole world of additional sounds.
Bar chords can be as simple as a two stringed bar chord to a full bar chord where you cover all six strings. In that case it works almost like a temporary capo. Take an E chord. Add a bar behind it and slide it up the neck of the guitar. With a bar on the first fret it becomes an F, when you slide it up to the 2nd fret it becomes an F#, 3rd fret-G and so on and so forth.
Another common full bar is using the root of Am(minor). A full bar on the first fret following by an Am fingering equals an A#m, on the second fret a Bm, on the third fret a Cm. You can slide this chord all the way up the neck and the chord goes up a half step.
So what is a half step? A half step is like the notes on the piano from white to black in order from left to right. When you add bar chords and you understand the notes as illustrated below you can more easily understand where you need to slide your bar chord to get to the chord you are looking to play.
A-A#/Bb-B-C-C#/Db-D-D#/Eb-E-F-F#/Gb-G-G#/Ab
Bar chords are a major part of a rhythm guitar players skill set to be successful. There are tricks to use to play them successfully. First though, get use to to the concept of what they are.
So what is a bar chord? A bar chord is a chord where two or more strings are covered by one finger (usually the left index finger) to play more complex sounds.
Bar chords are especially used for chords (minor keys, flats or sharps) that are not considered major chords. On guitar the most popular chords that you play are G-C-D-Em-Bm-A-Am. All of which can be played without using a bar chord. Interestingly many songs use these root chords as its basic starting point. Of course after a while these would get boring.
All of the chords mentioned above are played in the first four frets of the guitar. When you add bar chords to your skill set you open up a whole world of additional sounds.
Bar chords can be as simple as a two stringed bar chord to a full bar chord where you cover all six strings. In that case it works almost like a temporary capo. Take an E chord. Add a bar behind it and slide it up the neck of the guitar. With a bar on the first fret it becomes an F, when you slide it up to the 2nd fret it becomes an F#, 3rd fret-G and so on and so forth.
Another common full bar is using the root of Am(minor). A full bar on the first fret following by an Am fingering equals an A#m, on the second fret a Bm, on the third fret a Cm. You can slide this chord all the way up the neck and the chord goes up a half step.
So what is a half step? A half step is like the notes on the piano from white to black in order from left to right. When you add bar chords and you understand the notes as illustrated below you can more easily understand where you need to slide your bar chord to get to the chord you are looking to play.
A-A#/Bb-B-C-C#/Db-D-D#/Eb-E-F-F#/Gb-G-G#/Ab
Bar chords are a major part of a rhythm guitar players skill set to be successful. There are tricks to use to play them successfully. First though, get use to to the concept of what they are.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
So You Want to Learn How to Play Guitar
You've decided that this is it. You want to learn how to play guitar, start aband, become rich and famous and got buy an island. Not so fast. Let's get you off on the right foot first and that gets you right back to the beginning of that great dream of yours. (I'm all in favor of great dreams).
Where do you start? Well you start by figuring out what style of guitar you think you want to learn: lead, bass, rhythm, classical...what is it that you see yourself doing. And then you go from there.
Let's stick with acoustic guitar..I know a bit about that one. You start off by getting a guitar. Well..you need one so don't laugh at that. And get a decent one. Full body, low string action to the fret board, not warped and of course not opening at any seams.
With rythem guitar you really will be well served to learn chord and chord progressions. Get yourself a good guitar chord book and if you are self-teaching, a good lesson book. Pay attention to the way things are explained and described. A couple hints for a newbie like you would include simple things like clip your fngernails at least on your left hand. Nails get in the way when first learning to hold down strings and you will have enough challenges without that too.
Strum with an up down motion of your right wrist. If you wake up after one day of strumming and it feels like your right arm worked out with weights or something, you are probably using too much arm and too little wrist.
Speaking of wrists, make sure your left on is dropped so you have the leverage to curl those fingertips over the strings. Think of your fingertips like a hammer hitting a mail, the more straight over the top you can go the clearer you probably will sound. And look at your fingers after you play where is the line from the sting? The more straight across the tip it is the bettrer you are doing with your finger posture.
And then start trying chord progressions. Learn a new chord every day. And make yourself at least TRY to find the chord without looking to see how much you remember. And of course, like I say all the time..practice, practice, practice.
I think this is a good enough start for you. Try that, I'll give you more to chew on later.
Where do you start? Well you start by figuring out what style of guitar you think you want to learn: lead, bass, rhythm, classical...what is it that you see yourself doing. And then you go from there.
Let's stick with acoustic guitar..I know a bit about that one. You start off by getting a guitar. Well..you need one so don't laugh at that. And get a decent one. Full body, low string action to the fret board, not warped and of course not opening at any seams.
With rythem guitar you really will be well served to learn chord and chord progressions. Get yourself a good guitar chord book and if you are self-teaching, a good lesson book. Pay attention to the way things are explained and described. A couple hints for a newbie like you would include simple things like clip your fngernails at least on your left hand. Nails get in the way when first learning to hold down strings and you will have enough challenges without that too.
Strum with an up down motion of your right wrist. If you wake up after one day of strumming and it feels like your right arm worked out with weights or something, you are probably using too much arm and too little wrist.
Speaking of wrists, make sure your left on is dropped so you have the leverage to curl those fingertips over the strings. Think of your fingertips like a hammer hitting a mail, the more straight over the top you can go the clearer you probably will sound. And look at your fingers after you play where is the line from the sting? The more straight across the tip it is the bettrer you are doing with your finger posture.
And then start trying chord progressions. Learn a new chord every day. And make yourself at least TRY to find the chord without looking to see how much you remember. And of course, like I say all the time..practice, practice, practice.
I think this is a good enough start for you. Try that, I'll give you more to chew on later.
Biggest Barrier to Learning to Play Guitar
I have been playing guitar for over thirty years. In that time I have taught many a child and grown up how to play. I teach rhythm guitar for those that want to accompany themselves singing. I never taught lead or bass, since I don't play either and don't necessarily have the skill sets for those types of playing styles. But I can strum. And I can play every chord out there. I have come to realize that the biggest barrier to learning how to play guitar is practice time.
You might say this is not a big "ah-ha" but it was for me. For the longest time I thought my students weren't succeeding because of their technical skills like how they position there wrists and fingers, the way they hold their pick and how they strummed, many using full arm instead of the wrist. But in the long run, it all came down to practice.
My students had different levels of interest in learning to play, that didn't help either. But I don't count that. Any kid being forced to play something they don't want to play is hardly ever going to succeed. If you don't want to play, why would you bother learning? I never understood that. But I digress.
Practice time was the key..is the key. Now I'm not talking abou two hours a day (heck on steel strings your fingers might bleed and then the student definitly won't want to play) Consistant practice. Even fifteen minutes a couple times a day will get you there. Practice, practice, practice.
It is up to the teacher to understand the practice habits of the student and then work their "homework" around it, not the other way around. I had students that promised me twenty minutes a day. I took the time, worked it into a structure that would give them a little bit of everything on alternating days and had great success. And, wonder of wonders, the better the student played the more time they managed to find time to practice. Funny how that works.
You might say this is not a big "ah-ha" but it was for me. For the longest time I thought my students weren't succeeding because of their technical skills like how they position there wrists and fingers, the way they hold their pick and how they strummed, many using full arm instead of the wrist. But in the long run, it all came down to practice.
My students had different levels of interest in learning to play, that didn't help either. But I don't count that. Any kid being forced to play something they don't want to play is hardly ever going to succeed. If you don't want to play, why would you bother learning? I never understood that. But I digress.
Practice time was the key..is the key. Now I'm not talking abou two hours a day (heck on steel strings your fingers might bleed and then the student definitly won't want to play) Consistant practice. Even fifteen minutes a couple times a day will get you there. Practice, practice, practice.
It is up to the teacher to understand the practice habits of the student and then work their "homework" around it, not the other way around. I had students that promised me twenty minutes a day. I took the time, worked it into a structure that would give them a little bit of everything on alternating days and had great success. And, wonder of wonders, the better the student played the more time they managed to find time to practice. Funny how that works.
Vocal Parts
Everyone knows that there is always a singer in the band. But when voice is the instrument that is being studied there are a number of voals that you can learn. For the purposes of this we can talk about the four voices in a chorus as well as some types of music that is studied.
Basically thinking, men have two voices that they fall into. When you are listening to four part harmone, you will hear a very low voice which the bass part. You can also hear a much higher mans voice which is a tenor. Often times the tenor sings in association with te womens higher voice which is the saprano. The bass voice tends to sing in association with the womens lower voice or the alto.
When you don;s have enough men or women that can sing particular parts the four voices can cover for each other so womens's voices can sing the part of tenor if need be even though it will sound a bit different.
Training your voice includes a lot of breathing training. The truly good voices know how to sing from the gut and when you are able to supportyour singing with good breathing you are usually able to expand your range as well.
Basically thinking, men have two voices that they fall into. When you are listening to four part harmone, you will hear a very low voice which the bass part. You can also hear a much higher mans voice which is a tenor. Often times the tenor sings in association with te womens higher voice which is the saprano. The bass voice tends to sing in association with the womens lower voice or the alto.
When you don;s have enough men or women that can sing particular parts the four voices can cover for each other so womens's voices can sing the part of tenor if need be even though it will sound a bit different.
Training your voice includes a lot of breathing training. The truly good voices know how to sing from the gut and when you are able to supportyour singing with good breathing you are usually able to expand your range as well.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
So What Does Music Smell Like?
You probably wonder what he heck it means to know what a piece or a style of music might smell like. there is some validity to the music and the impact on what it might smell like.
Conceptually what I orignally was referring to was the combination of smells with the right kind of music to find a soothing or relaxing place. Or perhaps the music and smell that might get you pumped up to go to your workout.
But some companies believe so much in music bringing smells to mind that they also are inventing devinces that will spray certain scnts out for certain pieces of music (maybe some ocean air for a Beach Boys songs?).
These devices would be like a paint mixer at your local hardware store. It would hold a certain number of base oil smells (five or six), and then any combination of these oils would be combined for what the device thinks should be the aroma for the song being played.
It's all very interesting and a little quirky but there is some validity in the connection between music and smell, in most cases people are looking for this particular combination in very specific circumstances, when they are trying to relax. Perhaps with the advance of science and more acceptance we will be able to use music and aroma to trigger other actions, behaaviors and feelings other than calmness.
Conceptually what I orignally was referring to was the combination of smells with the right kind of music to find a soothing or relaxing place. Or perhaps the music and smell that might get you pumped up to go to your workout.
But some companies believe so much in music bringing smells to mind that they also are inventing devinces that will spray certain scnts out for certain pieces of music (maybe some ocean air for a Beach Boys songs?).
These devices would be like a paint mixer at your local hardware store. It would hold a certain number of base oil smells (five or six), and then any combination of these oils would be combined for what the device thinks should be the aroma for the song being played.
It's all very interesting and a little quirky but there is some validity in the connection between music and smell, in most cases people are looking for this particular combination in very specific circumstances, when they are trying to relax. Perhaps with the advance of science and more acceptance we will be able to use music and aroma to trigger other actions, behaaviors and feelings other than calmness.
The Classical Guitar
The term classical guitar can be used to describe two different things. Hopefully both with go together but if not they are still definitions of the term. Classical guitar can refer to the type of music being played on an instrument (for instance an old Spanish flamingo can be played on any type of guitar but will still be considered classical guitar music).
Classical guitar can also refer to the type of guitar instrument used to play a certain type of music. Again, classical guitars can have any type of music played on them, although not all music will sound good on them and the primary type of music that is meant for a classical guitar is classical guitar music.
Classical guitars have a variety of bodies depending on the cost and the customization of the guitar but for the purposes of beginners the classical guitar has the same type of body as most acoustical guitars. The strings are made of a strong nylon and they tend to be a little further removed from the fret board than on other guitars. This, by the way, can be changed on better guitars since better guitars have bridges which move up or down.
Classical music is just that, old school classic instrumental songs which are played on a classical guitar usually by stringing a set of notes together (occasionally chords) and then plucking the strings with your fingers. In many books this is called finger picking but the two styles are often different. Plucking the strings sometimes involves plucking as in grabbing the string with two fingers and pulling it. Finger picking is an upward movement with your fingertips (except the thumb which is downward) and each finger covers one string (again except the thumb which covers the first three bass strings).
Classic guitar is beautiful sounding. Although a classical guitar can technically be used to play any type of music, any type of strumming will sound hallow or “dead”, classic guitars are not meant for hard-core strumming. Many guitar companies produce classical guitars; Yamaha and Martin both have reasonably priced nylon string guitars available for beginners.
Classical guitar can also refer to the type of guitar instrument used to play a certain type of music. Again, classical guitars can have any type of music played on them, although not all music will sound good on them and the primary type of music that is meant for a classical guitar is classical guitar music.
Classical guitars have a variety of bodies depending on the cost and the customization of the guitar but for the purposes of beginners the classical guitar has the same type of body as most acoustical guitars. The strings are made of a strong nylon and they tend to be a little further removed from the fret board than on other guitars. This, by the way, can be changed on better guitars since better guitars have bridges which move up or down.
Classical music is just that, old school classic instrumental songs which are played on a classical guitar usually by stringing a set of notes together (occasionally chords) and then plucking the strings with your fingers. In many books this is called finger picking but the two styles are often different. Plucking the strings sometimes involves plucking as in grabbing the string with two fingers and pulling it. Finger picking is an upward movement with your fingertips (except the thumb which is downward) and each finger covers one string (again except the thumb which covers the first three bass strings).
Classic guitar is beautiful sounding. Although a classical guitar can technically be used to play any type of music, any type of strumming will sound hallow or “dead”, classic guitars are not meant for hard-core strumming. Many guitar companies produce classical guitars; Yamaha and Martin both have reasonably priced nylon string guitars available for beginners.
Music and Psycology
There are some very interesting new theories out in the world of psychology which are now attempting to like your taste in music to your personality. We have long known that music is an extension of who you are, but these theories tend to believe that there is much more to how music interacts with your personality.
In this theory, you would study your personality such as your emotional being, the way you react, the way you tend to think and then based on who you are identified to be, you can develop a music play list which will fit the personality that you identified.
Music psychology has been around for many many centuries. In ancient times when a king or royalty was especially agitated, the minstrels would come in and play light music (like the lute or a harp) to try to calm the emotions of the leader. This psychological link between music and the psyche continues to be explored more and more by scientists and corporations.
There is a common belief that unlocking the personality and then developing the music which will partner with that personality is another step in the fields of both psychology and music therapy.
Understanding what pieces and types of music will trigger reactions in the personality can be an additional tool in the field of conflict management, stress management and performance management.
There are already companies out there that are linking these two together and offering personality tests which they will then take and build a music play list for the customer. This growing field has only just begun.
In this theory, you would study your personality such as your emotional being, the way you react, the way you tend to think and then based on who you are identified to be, you can develop a music play list which will fit the personality that you identified.
Music psychology has been around for many many centuries. In ancient times when a king or royalty was especially agitated, the minstrels would come in and play light music (like the lute or a harp) to try to calm the emotions of the leader. This psychological link between music and the psyche continues to be explored more and more by scientists and corporations.
There is a common belief that unlocking the personality and then developing the music which will partner with that personality is another step in the fields of both psychology and music therapy.
Understanding what pieces and types of music will trigger reactions in the personality can be an additional tool in the field of conflict management, stress management and performance management.
There are already companies out there that are linking these two together and offering personality tests which they will then take and build a music play list for the customer. This growing field has only just begun.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Playing Rhythm Guitar
Rhythm guitar is the act of keeping a strumming beat to support and back up a singer or another instrument. In most cases it is background to a more important part of the ensemble. It supports voice, keyboards or other instruments that have the "spotlight" for the piece.
Rhythm guitar can be played on either electric or acoustic guitars and is dependent on the piece of music. However, for most rhythm players the ability to put more variety into the piece comes more from acoustic guitar and not electric.
Electric guitar rhythm tends to be at the same volume and the same intensity. This is as a result of the guitar being hooked into an amp that is at a set volume. Acoustic guitar can be modified based on how hard you strum in terms of loudness or softness and it tends to sound better when applying some picking to the strings.
That being said, most bands use electric guitar with their songs and most soloist tend to use acoustic guitars with a "pick-up" which is an apparatus which allows the guitar to be played through a speaker so that it is a bit louder. Depending on the type of music, the venue or the preference of the player, either acoustic guitar or electric guitar can be used.
When you play rhythm the propensity of the player is to play chords, which are a series of notes played together to form a sound, verses scales or riffs, which are single notes played at a single time followed by more notes. (this is what lead guitar is except much faster than described here).
If you are interested in learning rhythm guitar start with chord books and learn your basic chords. That is a pretty good stating point for rhythm.
Rhythm guitar can be played on either electric or acoustic guitars and is dependent on the piece of music. However, for most rhythm players the ability to put more variety into the piece comes more from acoustic guitar and not electric.
Electric guitar rhythm tends to be at the same volume and the same intensity. This is as a result of the guitar being hooked into an amp that is at a set volume. Acoustic guitar can be modified based on how hard you strum in terms of loudness or softness and it tends to sound better when applying some picking to the strings.
That being said, most bands use electric guitar with their songs and most soloist tend to use acoustic guitars with a "pick-up" which is an apparatus which allows the guitar to be played through a speaker so that it is a bit louder. Depending on the type of music, the venue or the preference of the player, either acoustic guitar or electric guitar can be used.
When you play rhythm the propensity of the player is to play chords, which are a series of notes played together to form a sound, verses scales or riffs, which are single notes played at a single time followed by more notes. (this is what lead guitar is except much faster than described here).
If you are interested in learning rhythm guitar start with chord books and learn your basic chords. That is a pretty good stating point for rhythm.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Music DVD Collections
Over the years there has been an evolution which includes music. American's have migrated to the idea of taping everything. This has come to include music DVD's.
More and more artists are sharing their concerts through not only CD's but also taped DVD's which allow you to feel like you are right there at the concert. The pro about DVD's is that there is always a good seat. There are also usually many special effects that you will not see at the concert.
Some artists choose to make the DVD more complecated than others. For some DVD's you get the concert beginning to end with nothing else. For other artists you get the event plus perhaps a video at the end or back stage footage.
When looking for a musical artist DVD make sure you read the label. It will tell you what is covered in DVD itself. It will tell you if you get any interviews, special effects or bage stage access. The more access the DVD gives, the more entertaining the DVD can be.
Music DVD's also include compulations of multiple video's put together by one artist. For instance, the best of Madonna. In some cases the DVD's will be snippets of multiple concerts put together into one DVD. These tend to have many extras and commentary.
It's all up to what you want. But no matter whether you like just music or all the frills, there is a DVD that will suit you.
More and more artists are sharing their concerts through not only CD's but also taped DVD's which allow you to feel like you are right there at the concert. The pro about DVD's is that there is always a good seat. There are also usually many special effects that you will not see at the concert.
Some artists choose to make the DVD more complecated than others. For some DVD's you get the concert beginning to end with nothing else. For other artists you get the event plus perhaps a video at the end or back stage footage.
When looking for a musical artist DVD make sure you read the label. It will tell you what is covered in DVD itself. It will tell you if you get any interviews, special effects or bage stage access. The more access the DVD gives, the more entertaining the DVD can be.
Music DVD's also include compulations of multiple video's put together by one artist. For instance, the best of Madonna. In some cases the DVD's will be snippets of multiple concerts put together into one DVD. These tend to have many extras and commentary.
It's all up to what you want. But no matter whether you like just music or all the frills, there is a DVD that will suit you.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Why I like Affiliate Marketing
People ask me. Why do you feel so strongly about affiliate marketing and I go into my sales pitch. It's not really a "pitch" though it’s just facts. So what are the facts?
There is no other on line work that I know of that can make you affiliate type money with the level of effort you need to put into it to get started. In other words, it's not brain surgery and it doesn't take you a hundred hours a day to get it kicked off.
The cost to get into affiliate marketing can be minimal. You sign up to sell someone else's products and you can advertise them any way you want, some of those advertising methods are free, most of the affiliate sites are free so it's actually a very low cost of entry business. I'll get back to this one though; I have some thoughts to the contrary.
It can be done anytime, anywhere as long as you have your computer with you. Convenience is a very big selling point for me, I like to be able to do this at two in the morning (and I do) or not at all if I don't feel like it. I am the driver; I choose the when, how and where.
It pays pretty darn well. Find a good nitch product, find your audience and you can have a gold mine flowing into you. Affiliate marketing works and it does pay.
However, I truly believe that to do very well in affiliate marketing takes much more than posting a few ads and waiting for money to flow it. Been there, done that, earned zip. Nope, I do believe that to earn money you need to pursue the more advanced methods of getting your product out there.
In the case of affiliate marketing I do believe that you have to spend some to get some. But I do believe (heck I know for a fact) that if you do it well and invest in it right you will make money.
There are ways to learn the tricks and the way to do affiliate marketing right. You can go with trial and error and if you do I wish you well and I hope you make loads of money. However, if you really want to be successful I am going to advise you to find someone who has done it and learn from an expert.
Affiliate marketing is a great field to earn money from home. You can and will be successful if you put in the time, effort and perhaps a bit of money. But of all the on line jobs I have personally tried there are none that have worked better for me than affiliate marketing.
If you are interested in learning more about affiliate marketing click for an expert to guide you,
There is no other on line work that I know of that can make you affiliate type money with the level of effort you need to put into it to get started. In other words, it's not brain surgery and it doesn't take you a hundred hours a day to get it kicked off.
The cost to get into affiliate marketing can be minimal. You sign up to sell someone else's products and you can advertise them any way you want, some of those advertising methods are free, most of the affiliate sites are free so it's actually a very low cost of entry business. I'll get back to this one though; I have some thoughts to the contrary.
It can be done anytime, anywhere as long as you have your computer with you. Convenience is a very big selling point for me, I like to be able to do this at two in the morning (and I do) or not at all if I don't feel like it. I am the driver; I choose the when, how and where.
It pays pretty darn well. Find a good nitch product, find your audience and you can have a gold mine flowing into you. Affiliate marketing works and it does pay.
However, I truly believe that to do very well in affiliate marketing takes much more than posting a few ads and waiting for money to flow it. Been there, done that, earned zip. Nope, I do believe that to earn money you need to pursue the more advanced methods of getting your product out there.
In the case of affiliate marketing I do believe that you have to spend some to get some. But I do believe (heck I know for a fact) that if you do it well and invest in it right you will make money.
There are ways to learn the tricks and the way to do affiliate marketing right. You can go with trial and error and if you do I wish you well and I hope you make loads of money. However, if you really want to be successful I am going to advise you to find someone who has done it and learn from an expert.
Affiliate marketing is a great field to earn money from home. You can and will be successful if you put in the time, effort and perhaps a bit of money. But of all the on line jobs I have personally tried there are none that have worked better for me than affiliate marketing.
If you are interested in learning more about affiliate marketing click for an expert to guide you,
Great Harley Rides
One of the pleasures of owning a Harley is taking one out on the open road and seeing the country. Road trips are great fun and there are plenty of places that you can take your Harley to for sheer enjoyment. There are road trips and rides everywhere in the country and they are not very hard to find. Just think of a place you want to see and map it out, it’s very simple.
Take the east coast. There are plenty of trips just beckoning you. On Long Island in New York you can take your bike and ride all the way through Suffolk County down to the Hamptons or completely through to Montauk Point.
Or you can take a drive through Georgia up to Virginia where the view is breathtaking. There's a great ride just waiting for you if you ride through North Carolina near the Tennessee border through Asheville and drive the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Parkway (absolutely beautiful during the change of leaves in the fall).
In Florida you can take Highway One through all the Keys and end up in Key West, the ride along the water is very calming. In the west you can take a ride through Arizona up by Flagstaff, you can go from Flagstaff down through to Sedona and the awesome red rocks.
Of course every biker needs to take a ride to Sturgis at least once in their life. Make sure to see the Black Hills while you are there. The California coast always offers breathtaking water views, nice weather and a great ride.
America has plenty of great rides just waiting to be found. Through the plains to the mountains, the Finger Lakes or oceans, there is bound to be a great ride right around the next corner.
Take the east coast. There are plenty of trips just beckoning you. On Long Island in New York you can take your bike and ride all the way through Suffolk County down to the Hamptons or completely through to Montauk Point.
Or you can take a drive through Georgia up to Virginia where the view is breathtaking. There's a great ride just waiting for you if you ride through North Carolina near the Tennessee border through Asheville and drive the rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Parkway (absolutely beautiful during the change of leaves in the fall).
In Florida you can take Highway One through all the Keys and end up in Key West, the ride along the water is very calming. In the west you can take a ride through Arizona up by Flagstaff, you can go from Flagstaff down through to Sedona and the awesome red rocks.
Of course every biker needs to take a ride to Sturgis at least once in their life. Make sure to see the Black Hills while you are there. The California coast always offers breathtaking water views, nice weather and a great ride.
America has plenty of great rides just waiting to be found. Through the plains to the mountains, the Finger Lakes or oceans, there is bound to be a great ride right around the next corner.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Harley Hits the Road
Riding a Harley is one of the single best joys in this world. And if you own a motorcycle most either own a Harley or aspire to own a Harley. Oh, the places that bike can take you in a country as diverse as the United States. Dependent on where you live and how far you are willing to go there is a ride that would be considered "one of the best" very close by.
Take the eastern coast line. The trip up the Atlantic Shoreline from Georgia up through Virginia is breathtaking. Slowly meandering (or sometimes not so slowly), experiencing the soaring Blue Ridge Parkway (absolutely beautiful during the change of leaves in the fall), with stops along the Shenandoah National Park and of course the Outer Banks, makes this one of the most beautiful rides out there.
Then there is the return to the old- time, riding down old Route 66 in Arizona and Nevada. You can make a little stop in Laughlin where you can get some R&R and also enjoy the magnificent Colorado River, and on the way back toward Phoenix, experience Sedona, home of the red rock. It's one of the most impressive sights in the US and a great place to grab an ice cream cone.
The California roads offers so much, including Pashnit. The trip takes you through multiple US National parks, Big Sur highway and of course, the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The US is full of incredible road trips for your Harley, the above are just some of the best, but rest assured, there are more. By far my favorite is North Carolina in the fall but that's just me. I love the change of colors in the leaves and the mountains rising and falling. Plus it gives me a reason to go visti my Dad.
Happy Harleying!!!!
Take the eastern coast line. The trip up the Atlantic Shoreline from Georgia up through Virginia is breathtaking. Slowly meandering (or sometimes not so slowly), experiencing the soaring Blue Ridge Parkway (absolutely beautiful during the change of leaves in the fall), with stops along the Shenandoah National Park and of course the Outer Banks, makes this one of the most beautiful rides out there.
Then there is the return to the old- time, riding down old Route 66 in Arizona and Nevada. You can make a little stop in Laughlin where you can get some R&R and also enjoy the magnificent Colorado River, and on the way back toward Phoenix, experience Sedona, home of the red rock. It's one of the most impressive sights in the US and a great place to grab an ice cream cone.
The California roads offers so much, including Pashnit. The trip takes you through multiple US National parks, Big Sur highway and of course, the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The US is full of incredible road trips for your Harley, the above are just some of the best, but rest assured, there are more. By far my favorite is North Carolina in the fall but that's just me. I love the change of colors in the leaves and the mountains rising and falling. Plus it gives me a reason to go visti my Dad.
Happy Harleying!!!!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Writing Music and Songs
I was wondering to myself when she was introduced as the next American Idol judge "Kara who?" So I decded to fin out for myself. In case you were curious, his is what I found out. Number one I found out that for followers of the music world, Kara DioGuardi is very well known indeed.
Kara DioGuardi was born in 1970 in Ossening, New York. She was raised in New Rochelle, New York. She is of Italian/Albanian descent. Her educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Political Science at Duke University. (she'll need that for her battles with Simon!!). Her first job was selling advertisements for Billboard magazine.
But what Kara DioGuardi is known for in the music industry is her song writing prowess. Of her thousands of songs, more than two hundred of them have ended up on the charts being sung by some of the some popular singers of our time. Kara has co-written and co-produced songs for the likes of Celine Dion, Faith Hill and Nick Lackey along with dozens of others.
In her tenure as a writer she has received ten BMI Pop Awards as a writer. In addition, she won the 2007 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year. Kara DioGuardi has had songs on thirty nine albums and has sold over 100 million records. Of all the judges on American Idol she has had the most interaction and experience with song writing and identifying talent.
Kara DioGuardi has been helping American Idols long before she took her new gig. She has written songs for Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Bo Bice, Ruben Studdard and Kelly Clarkson. Kara DioGuardi is co-owner of Artwise Entertainment.
Kara DioGuardi was born in 1970 in Ossening, New York. She was raised in New Rochelle, New York. She is of Italian/Albanian descent. Her educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Political Science at Duke University. (she'll need that for her battles with Simon!!). Her first job was selling advertisements for Billboard magazine.
But what Kara DioGuardi is known for in the music industry is her song writing prowess. Of her thousands of songs, more than two hundred of them have ended up on the charts being sung by some of the some popular singers of our time. Kara has co-written and co-produced songs for the likes of Celine Dion, Faith Hill and Nick Lackey along with dozens of others.
In her tenure as a writer she has received ten BMI Pop Awards as a writer. In addition, she won the 2007 BMI Pop Songwriter of the Year. Kara DioGuardi has had songs on thirty nine albums and has sold over 100 million records. Of all the judges on American Idol she has had the most interaction and experience with song writing and identifying talent.
Kara DioGuardi has been helping American Idols long before she took her new gig. She has written songs for Carrie Underwood, Clay Aiken, Bo Bice, Ruben Studdard and Kelly Clarkson. Kara DioGuardi is co-owner of Artwise Entertainment.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Music and Fragrance-Smells Good
Ever wonder why a romantic evening seems to include music and candles. Or when you need that relazing bath you find some candles to light at the least and some music at the most. It is no coincidence that these two seem to go together like peanut butter and jelly.
A Japanese study proved the correlation between the two in a small but effective gtest group of males. In the study the areas measured were impacts of music and/or fragrance if exposed to one or the other included mood disturbance, tension, depression and anger.
Additionally vitality was an area that was measured. Interestingly all the negative emotions decreased with exposure to music or fragrance. Vitality increased but only if exposed to both music and fragrance.
Feelings of feeling relaxed had a very high increased response when exposed to both. Feeling of carefreeness and feeing fine increased significantly if exposed to either music or fragrance and both together.
In short, there is a reason you feel better when you have those candles and soft music. Something in your brain tells you to feel that way. Time to stock up on those candles and classic music cd's!!!
A Japanese study proved the correlation between the two in a small but effective gtest group of males. In the study the areas measured were impacts of music and/or fragrance if exposed to one or the other included mood disturbance, tension, depression and anger.
Additionally vitality was an area that was measured. Interestingly all the negative emotions decreased with exposure to music or fragrance. Vitality increased but only if exposed to both music and fragrance.
Feelings of feeling relaxed had a very high increased response when exposed to both. Feeling of carefreeness and feeing fine increased significantly if exposed to either music or fragrance and both together.
In short, there is a reason you feel better when you have those candles and soft music. Something in your brain tells you to feel that way. Time to stock up on those candles and classic music cd's!!!
How do I Learn Guitar?
There are many ways to learn guitar. You can hire a teacher, you can hook up with a friend, you can just wing it, or you can teach yourself using one of the many stellar self teach guitar books your can find.
If you have the money for a teacher, it would be my recommmended format for learning. But even if you use a teacher, there are plenty of books and pamphlets that you can use to enhance your learning expeience.
Chord books are good to have no matter who you are or how advanced you are. A good book will have a lot of advanced chords. I know I still use mine and I have been playing forever (well it seems like forever anyway.) Tabluture books (booksthat take songs nd show you how to fingerpick the guitar pieces.) are also great to have around.
And if you can't afford a teacher there are instructional books that take you from A to Z. No matter which path you take, start now. There is no greater feeling than when you start to master an instrument.
If you have the money for a teacher, it would be my recommmended format for learning. But even if you use a teacher, there are plenty of books and pamphlets that you can use to enhance your learning expeience.
Chord books are good to have no matter who you are or how advanced you are. A good book will have a lot of advanced chords. I know I still use mine and I have been playing forever (well it seems like forever anyway.) Tabluture books (booksthat take songs nd show you how to fingerpick the guitar pieces.) are also great to have around.
And if you can't afford a teacher there are instructional books that take you from A to Z. No matter which path you take, start now. There is no greater feeling than when you start to master an instrument.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Picking a Guitar
Picking a guitar is a very personal choice. The guitar you pick has to "fit" your body contour, has to be of a weight you are comfortable and has to have the utility that you are looking for.
Speaking about Acoustic guitars you first need to decide if you want a steel or nylon string guitar. Steel strings are the norm but nylon strings are good for beginners with no calluses as well as those who want to delve into classical guitar riffs.
The guitar should fit under your armpit comfortably. Too big and you won’t be able to see anything or reach for chords and notes, too small and it will feel like it’s lost.
The string action can be either high (away from the fret board) or low (close to the fret board). Closer to the fret board results in less pressure being applied to successfully play a note or chord and is one of the characteristics I personally consider most important.
Then there is cost. You don't have to pay an arm and a leg for a guitar. Find one that fits your specifications and your pocket book. Guaranteed they are out there. Happy strumming.
Speaking about Acoustic guitars you first need to decide if you want a steel or nylon string guitar. Steel strings are the norm but nylon strings are good for beginners with no calluses as well as those who want to delve into classical guitar riffs.
The guitar should fit under your armpit comfortably. Too big and you won’t be able to see anything or reach for chords and notes, too small and it will feel like it’s lost.
The string action can be either high (away from the fret board) or low (close to the fret board). Closer to the fret board results in less pressure being applied to successfully play a note or chord and is one of the characteristics I personally consider most important.
Then there is cost. You don't have to pay an arm and a leg for a guitar. Find one that fits your specifications and your pocket book. Guaranteed they are out there. Happy strumming.
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