tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82849821800305435542023-11-15T20:17:39.207+07:00How to Playing GuitarHow to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-65390222634079827132009-02-16T14:34:00.001+07:002010-02-07T02:29:02.100+07:00A Quick How-To on Guitar Playing For Beginners By Mike DarwinWhat you will find here is a guide to guitar playing for beginners - for the absolute beginner, that is. This is for those poor souls who have been wanting to learn how to play that guitar since forever but just don't know where to start.<br /><br />• Learn guitar anatomy.<br /><br />Before you even pluck that first string, you have to know the parts of the guitar and where they are located. This would include: the head, tuners, nut, fret, neck, finger or fretboard, position markers, body, soundhole, saddle, and bridge. Practice holding the guitar while sitting and standing. Comfort is the utmost importance here but you also need to maintain your posture, so find that comfort zone.<br /><br />• Choose your pick.<br /><br />A pick is what you would use to strum the guitar and the choice of this depends entirely on your taste. However, for beginners, the standard sized pick would be a good start. Choose a pick that has a bit of texture to it so you can hold on to it better. Glossy picks may slide from you fingers, especially if you have sweaty hands.<br /><br />• Get the tuning right.<br /><br />After having that down to pat, we move on to tuning. Tuning is probably the most basic but yet most important part of guitar playing. The standard tuning is to the tune of E-A-D-G-E. As a novice, it is highly recommended that you buy yourself a guitar tuner instead of having to manually tune your guitar.<br /><br />• Learn your chords.<br /><br />Chords are notes to the tune as lyrics are to the song. These are the individual pieces of melody that when played together creates the tune. At this point, it is also best that you learn a few first. Chord diagrams are used to illustrate how you should play specific chords. A diagram has six strings and dots or numbers to represent the proper placement of your fingers. The numbers represent the following fingers: 1 for index, 2 for middle, 3 for ring, and 4 for pinky. A letter O represents Open and that means you play that sting without placing any finger on it. An X, on the other hand, means that you do not play the string at all.<br /><br />The key to master this skill, or any skill for the matter, is practice. Half an hour or so every day is enough. Master the basic chords and to play with them. Becoming a musical prodigy overnight is near impossible, but with a few weeks of solid practice, you will definitely be past that "guitar playing for beginners" phase and be well your way to playing true blue music.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-85477842555931871582009-02-16T14:33:00.000+07:002009-02-16T14:34:09.986+07:00Learn to Play Guitar Chords For Beginners By Cody JohnThe first and easiest skill to learn for a complete guitar beginner is to learn to play guitar chords. Once you have learned a set of 3 or 4 chords you can start playing simple songs. The right hand can be strumming the strings while you focus on your left hand and the fingering on the fretboard. The reason I recommend students learn on a steel string acoustic guitar is because it teaches you accuracy with your finger placement. Classical guitar is easier to play chords on because the fretboard is wider but you cannot hear the detail. Playing chords on an electric guitar hides all sorts of bad playing that will be revealed when you play and acoustic guitar.<br /><br />So learn to play chords on an acoustic guitar in the first place and you will be able to play any other type of guitar. There are a number of skills to playing chords on the guitar that you need to follow<br /><br />Do not press too hard on the strings<br /><br />You should press the strings on the fretboard just enough to sound the notes clearly but without making the notes sound out of tune. A quality guitar will barely need more than a touch to make the note sound but most beginners will not have this advantage so you need to fret carefully.<br /><br />Drop your left wrist<br /><br />To make your fingers vertical on the guitar fretboard you need to drop your left wrist. When you do this you will get clear sounding notes. Many beginners find it hard to avoid the back of a finger touching and dampening the next string. By having the correct position you will place the fingers in the best possible way to avoid these buzzing strings.<br /><br />Change chords with the minimum movement<br /><br />You must plan your chord changes so that your fingers move as little as possible from the first chord to the second. You should look at how your fingers move from the position of your first chord and how they move to the second chord with the minimum amount of movement. Professional guitarists study this technique all the time. This is why they seem to be playing fast and yet their fingers do not move very much.<br /><br />Practice with your eyes closed<br /><br />You might feel a bit daft doing this but you should try to play without ever looking at your hands. To learn this close your eyes and play. You will find that very quickly your left hand will learn the relative positions of the strings and fret. Once you have mastered this for the left hand you can start work on improving your right hand strumming and plucking.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-22970693960216425522009-02-16T14:32:00.000+07:002009-02-16T14:33:22.893+07:00Learn How to Play a Guitar - Three Methods of Learning to Play the Guitar By Brian BonsellYou have decided to learn how to play a guitar...excellent choice...now what?<br /><br />The first thing to consider is how you are going to learn. There are three highly popular methods, not each is equal to the other. You could teach yourself, hire an instructor, or learn online. Read below and I will review each of these options for you.<br /><br />The least expensive option is teach yourself, this is where the benefits end. This can be a very long task, it will take at the very minimum of a year to be comfortable playing the guitar and in that time you will most likely tech yourself bad habits that will hamper your continued growth.<br /><br />Many have succeeded in teaching themselves to play guitar, most will tell you they wish they had taken a different more efficient route.<br /><br />The most common method and most expensive method is to hire a private instructor. While being a very effective way to learn guitar it will be costly. On average, private instructors charge $30.00 per half hour and you are going to need 6 months of instruction before you can consider yourself a decent player.<br /><br />Let's do the math:<br />6 months is 24 weeks @ $30.00 a lesson and 1 lesson per week = $720.00.....OUCH<br /><br />The third option is to learn online. This method overcomes both major flaws in the previous 2 methods. Most online course are a one time very affordable fee for unlimited access to the course material. The fees for these programs are usually less than the cost of 2 months of private lessons. As these lessons are recorded with professionals you will not learn the bad habits that come with teaching yourself.<br /><br />As you can see, to learn how to play a guitar can happen in numerous ways. You must decide which option is going to work best for yourself. I personally prefer the online lessons as they allow me to work at my own pace and still afford to purchase the Gibson I saw in the window the other week.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-4340801826360063622009-02-16T14:31:00.000+07:002009-02-16T14:32:16.722+07:00Learn Guitar Notes - Tips on How to Easily Learn to Play the Guitar By Brian BonsellWhen trying to learn guitar notes one must figure out where to start. Interest in learning guitar has been drastically increased by the popularity of such games like rock band and guitar hero. As fun as these games are, they will not teach you how to play a real guitar. Below I have listed two huge tips that are not covered in the video games.<br /><br />One of the one of the biggest tips I would give is to build hand strength. This plays heavily into learning to play the guitar. You especially want to work the hand that plays the chords; it is not uncommon for ones fingers to bleed when they haven't worked them enough and they go for a long play session.<br /><br />Secondly, learn your chords and scales. As much as you could learn to play by ear you would be limiting your opportunities to play with others and limit the growth you can have. Quite often others will call out chords when playing in a group, if you don't know how to play by chord you will not be able to join in. Knowing your scales will allow you to more effectively play solos and will happen more often if you known them.<br /><br />To learn guitar notes you need to take into account the above two tips, practice, preserver and above all have fun. Whether you try to teach yourself, take expensive private lessons or use a more affordable online course you are in for a very rewarding hobby...and who knows...maybe we'll see you backstage.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-38421915391546522252009-02-16T14:29:00.000+07:002009-02-16T14:31:09.967+07:00How to Play Harmonica With the Guitar By Gyorgy HubaThis article will give you a start on learning how to play harmonica with the guitar. It's not difficult but it does have a knack that the guitar player must develop to play both instruments at the same time.<br /><br />It seems to be part of the education of a versatile acoustic guitarist to learn how to play the harmonica with the guitar. Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and others have made mixing the harmonica with the guitar a musical style all of its own. Instead of instrumental breaks played on the guitar during a song, harmonica solos are easy to compose and play after relatively little practice.<br /><br />To play harmonica with the guitar you will need a harmonica rack, sometimes known as a harp rack. Not all harmonicas fit into a rack - there are many different types - but your average ten hole harmonica will fit without problems.<br /><br />The rack goes around your neck and the harmonica snaps right into place with the low notes on the left hand side, just like a piano. To play the guitar and the harmonica at the same time just needs practice. Start by strumming the guitar slowly and evenly as you are getting used to wearing the harmonica and playing it while you strum. Instead of moving the harmonica across your mouth with your hands you have the harmonica in a fixed position and you move your head to get your mouth where you want it to be.<br /><br />As for buying a harmonica, a ten hole blues harp would be the one for most beginners to start off with. Practically all musical material is available to be played in the key of C, so your first harmonica should be a C. If you want a more bluesy feel in that key, use a G harmonica or play in the second position.<br /><br />The technique of playing the harmonica with the guitar involves relaxing while your body gets used to the feeling of having the rack around your neck and the harmonica in your mouth. Start playing the harmonica without the guitar at first so you can get the knack of breathing the music rather than sucking and blowing. Don't try second position playing at the beginning, just get the feel of the whole "breathing the music" thing.<br /><br />The harmonica is a very simple instrument to play but as you get more experienced with it, you will find the instrument, like all musical instruments, increases its demands on the player. So don't imagine that learning to play the harmonica with the guitar will be a walk in the park.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-54481945268187408082009-02-16T14:28:00.000+07:002009-02-16T14:29:41.569+07:00Learn Practical Guitar Playing Tips With Learn and Master Guitar By Jason C DiggsGuitar playing is an art and not everyone is a gifted guitarist. This article is devoted to all those guitar lovers who have at some point of their life or the other, experienced a deep desire to learn playing guitar. Well, guitar learning is not as difficult as people say it is. At least with the DVD series of the Learn and Master Guitar program, the challenging task of learning to play the guitar becomes much more easy and uncomplicated.<br /><br />This program has such a wide range of guitar concepts, techniques and styles to teach, that any person who follows this program is sure to learn the guitar quite fluently, confidently, flawlessly and with a reasonably high degree of versatility within a few months of starting with this program. This best part about this program is that apart from the rich knowledge that it provides through the video lessons, it also provides an unlimited amount of practical tips, which add a lot of life to your guitar playing skills, in addition to making guitar playing very effortless and simple for you.<br /><br />The instructor, Steve Krenz is a very experienced guitarist, an accomplished musician and a widely acclaimed guitar teacher. He seems to know what piece of advice or what tip to provide at the exact moment when it is needed. It is as if he can read you mind and can understand your requirement completely. Here are a few tips and suggestions from Steve, that are very simple and yet without them, you would be missing out on a lot of perfection and pleasure of playing the guitar.<br /><br />Guitar Tips and Guitar Tricks<br /><br />Very often, beginners complain that playing the guitar hurts their fingers. Steve suggests exercises for improving finger agility and strength in the initial part of this instructional program itself, so that nobody quits learning because of this problem. He clarifies that the problem can be solved through regular practice, which encourages callus building, when the finger tips press down hard on the strings. He also points out that barring a chord is very helpful for callus building and also improves finger strength and dexterity.<br /><br />In addition to introducing you to the world of chords, chord families, chord progressions, chord formulas, smooth chord transitions, chord substitution, advanced chords and altered chords, Steve also equips you with several tips pertaining to chords. He tells you to teach yourself as many different ways of playing a chord as possible, because it adds greater flexibility during cord changing and is also going to be useful when you try to compose your own music. According to him, you should carry the guitar with you and practice playing chords as frequently as possible, while watching TV or talking to a friend, as this will refrain you from looking at the guitar and playing each not. As you continue with this practice, your fingers will get used to playing fluently and with greater confidence, even if you do not look constantly look at the fretboard each time you strike a note.<br /><br />This program provides many such useful tips, which we can very well do without, but whose implementation can add an element of grace and perfection to your guitar playing skills. This program provides you with such a large variety of free guitar licks and songs that you can practice as often as you like. It helps polish your guitar playing skills and takes your guitar learning process to an entirely different level, wherein you know how to apply what you have learnt. Therefore, irrespective of whether you are a born guitarist or not, you can soon start playing the guitar like any of the professional guitarists.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-36669944260534192682009-02-16T14:27:00.000+07:002009-02-16T14:28:09.261+07:00Ten Tips to Effectively Use Your Guitar Practice Time By Priyankayog BhattGuitar is a musical instrument that when played relaxes your body and gives a feeling of elation. Lets find the effective ways of practicing guitar.<br /><br />1. Music is fun and should always be learned playfully. It should be felt while learning as well as while playing. To understand music you need to start learning it slowly. Playing an instrument involves complex movements and it simultaneously necessitates the brain to work.<br /><br />2. You can learn guitar from various books, CDs and DVDs or even through net. But as you grow along to reach the pinnacle of fame as a guitarist, you need to pay attention to your career, to your family, to health, society etc. At such times it is always better to take lessons from teachers. There would surely be someone who is monitoring you in case you are not able to do so.<br /><br />3. You should make a place for yourself so that nobody disturbs you at that time. The place where you practice needs to have all the necessary items ready.<br /><br />4. Make a schedule for yourself. Stick to that schedule. It will help you to practice regularly and also make others leave you alone at that time.<br /><br />5. You need to look into all matters like practice and do a little of reading.<br /><br />6. In case if you have decided to practice for 15 minutes stop your practice exactly after 15 minutes so that you can concentrate on other things. Different plans need adjustments. It is very important that you stick to the plan.<br /><br />7. See to it that you do not redo the things but cover all that is schedule for today or future. In case if you still get time then call it a bonus and do what you would feel like playing a lesson or even doing a bit of reading.<br /><br />8. Your practice session should not be all work and no play else you would be bored too soon. Anything that is practiced needs to be done with a fun and it should be done for all by you.<br /><br />9. When you practice your lessons do it with full concentration.<br /><br />10. Last but not least during your idle time when you are away from guitar practice playing it mentally.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-39339708876499419282009-02-16T14:26:00.000+07:002009-02-16T14:27:15.027+07:00The Guitar For Beginners - How to Start Playing Guitar By Cody JohnFirst things first - you need a guitar.<br /><br />But make sure you get the right guitar. You should start by learning on an acoustic guitar and any respectable music store will have a good beginners guitar for around £100. Better still borrow one from a friend while you get started then you can invest in a better guitar once you know that your guitar playing isn't a new year resolution fad. You should start with an acoustic guitar because you can hear the strings clearly and you will know when you are playing the chords well. With an electric guitar you can sound good without actually playing accurately. On a classical guitar the notes always sound dead and lifeless in the hands of a beginner.<br /><br />Secondly you need lessons<br /><br />Well to be precise you need to learn a few chords and strumming patterns. Then while you are doing this you should follow a beginners guitar course. Doing these 2 activities together will introduce you to the wonderful world of guitar playing. The great thing about learning to play the guitar is that no one can ever take it away from you. You can pick up any guitar and just play. If you have an ounce of creativity you will be writing songs and making your own music just because you can play the guitar. To get to this point should only take a few months.<br /><br />Thirdly - find someone else to practice with<br /><br />Learning with someone else will make you learn a lot faster. You will have different strengths to your partner and will both improve by being a little competitive in learning new chords. If you know someone who can play well you could ask them for some tips. There is always something new to learn.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-58808811071357189962009-02-16T14:25:00.000+07:002009-02-16T14:26:23.033+07:00Learning a Few Guitar Playing Techniques By Mike DarwinOne of the most interesting things to learn is guitar playing techniques. If you listen to people playing the guitar, you will notice that each person has their own style. It could be a series of combinations applied that give a particular sound that distinct melody and character. This is what sets apart somebody who knows how to play a guitar and somebody who lets the guitar interpret what the person feels and wants to be done. The passion and ingenuity give the distinct character of the artist playing the instrument and the same thing that makes it hard for others to emulate.<br /><br />If you are new to playing the guitar, it is best to learn the basics thoroughly. Diligent practice and focus on the basic guitar techniques will have a great effect on the quality of your music. If you have experience with other instruments, it uses the same basis for notes. Once you understand that then you could try learning the string bending technique. Do not think that it is easy to learn how to play the guitar; string bending requires a lot of practice to master. It is accomplished by using three fingers to bend a string, instead of just one that you place on the fret. Then it is just a method of moving pressure along the second and third fingers behind the finger on the fret you are trying to bend.<br /><br />The next technique is the hammer-on. This allows you to play several notes for every one note with the picking hand. It makes a melody by letting you hear the first note and then hear two or more notes combined with it through a quick transition. Hence, it is like a hammering action that you do on a single note. You can play several hammer-on's at once, in some cases you may even get to hear all three notes clearly - even though you only picked one. But you need to know how to do fretting first for you to accomplish this technique. From there, the basic hammer-on technique just needs practice to develop good coordination between both hands.<br /><br />The last basic technique is the pull-offs, this is more or less the opposite of a hammer-on. With this technique, you may also hear two or more notes for every one note picked. You can try and do this by plucking one string off the fingerboard while your other finger is placed on the fret. This makes the note that is playing on the string change to a longer vibrating sound of the same string.<br /><br />These are just a few guitar playing techniques, but mastering these will greatly improve your overall performance as a guitar player.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-44186375415649730342009-02-16T14:23:00.000+07:002009-02-16T14:24:23.252+07:00Choosing Used Guitar By Peter GitunduA simple old used guitar can come in handy at those stressing moments when all we need is comfort. Some of us playing guitar is our hobbies and this is the item that we just need. However, buying a new or used guitar is a personal choice you've to make but which ever the case talk to someone who knows about guitars.<br /><br />For some of us we may not afford a new guitar. However, we can check online or ask about used instruments and referrals to stores that sell them. Most importantly we need to know some few things before buying a used guitar.<br /><br />Firstly, there are laminated and solid wood guitars. Laminated ones lasts long and good for outings while solid wood have shorter life, retains its value and best for indoor use.<br /><br />Also to check is its neck. Is it wrapped or not? Looking down the neck of guitar or holding the first string on the first and twelfth fret can help you check this. Basically experienced performer /player will be of help checking it. Alternatively, to check if the neck is appropriately combined to the body, grab the neck and body then curl it to reverse direction to see if there's any play at the joint.<br /><br />For an electric guitar it's necessary you play to verify a good plugging system is installed. This will help you check the volume control, any popping and scratching sound or shorts in the connection. The most obvious thing is select a guitar that suits your style, In all honesty a classical guitar won't do heavy metal-type music.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-77759847450260026692009-02-16T14:21:00.000+07:002009-02-16T14:22:21.920+07:008 Things You Must Know to Be a Better Guitar Player By Priyankayog Bhatt1. You have to be extremely careful to stay tuned up in the right way. If you are out of tune, you will be easily identified by others. An electronic tuner is now easily available for little money which can help you to catch up the tunes.<br /><br />2. New strings are needed when your guitar is not staying in tune or when you are playing up the neck. If the guitar is out of tune with new strings get the intonation adjusted.<br /><br />3. Give as much attention as possible to what you should not as the things you have to do. The holes that have to be left will make you play better.<br /><br />4. Always take care not to over play the notes. The audience will always hear the sound that was nit required to be played. This unnecessary sounds will withheld you from further growth.<br /><br />5. Never take alcohol when you are playing guitar. The effect of alcohol will make you sound badly and look stupid. Some may think that they can perform better under the influence of alcohol but no one have ever succeeded in playing guitar under alcohol.<br /><br />6. Plan and study what you are going to play. Understand the context to play however it fits to the tune. You should identify the chord being played and the key to be used. The role of the chord for a particular key also should be understood.<br /><br />7. Play the guitar within your ability. People have different styles and talents. The length of the fingers and the flexibility will vary. If you are trying to play like someone who is playing better than you; you are doing the worst thing in the life.<br /><br />8. Allow the song to rule over the play. Some guitarists think they are indispensable and try to over do. The sound of the guitar will be projected affecting the show.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-21577321259874489422008-10-25T21:17:00.003+07:002008-12-31T10:28:29.824+07:00Basic Guitar Chords: How to Easily Master the Guitar Chords You Must KnowOne of the first challenges faced by the advancing guitar player is learning a core group of basic guitar chords . Why is it so important to learn these basic chords? Chords form the backbone of most rock and pop songs, and provide the harmonic accompaniment to the melody and instrumental solos.<br />Rhythm guitar based on basic chords provides many of the most memorable rock riffs… think AC/DC’s “Back in Black” or The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again”. What’s really amazing is that by learning no more than 10 to 15 basic guitar chords, you will be equipped to play thousands of rock and pop songs!<br />First let’s establish the definition of a chord. A chord is three or more different musical notes played together. In the case of the guitar, this means that at least three strings are strummed or plucked simultaneously to sound three or more notes. Since the guitar has six strings, the maximum numbers of notes in a guitar chord is six. All chords can be placed in one of three groups based on the musical structure of the chord: Major, Minor, or Seventh. Each of these chord groups has its own “sound” or “feel”. Major chords sound stable and complete. Minor chords can evoke a more somber or pensive mood, and Seventh chords are jazzy and somewhat incomplete sounding.<br />There is no standard list of “basic guitar chords” that every one agrees to. However, there is general agreement that there is a list of somewhere between 8 and 18 basic guitar chords (open string) that every guitarist must know cold. These chords are used in all musical styles from rock and pop to country, jazz, and classical. No matter where you are on your guitar-playing path, you should take the time to learn and master the basic chords. Getting these right will ensure you have the basic tools and skills to learn many songs and increase your playing enjoyment.<br />So what are the basic guitar chords? Our basic stable includes the major and minor chords from four common musical keys, A,G,C, and D. They are played as “open chords”, that is at least one string in the chord is not fretted (pressed down with a finger). Open chords are easier to learn and play than more advanced chords such as Barre chords, or complex chords further up the guitar neck. Our list of basic major and minor chords is:<br />A Major (or A), A Minor (or Am), C, D, Dm, E, Em, F, G<br />These chords can be best learned as chord “families” (by key) that can be combined into great-sounding chord sequences that make up lots of popular songs. Using this chord family approach is much more interesting and useful than just memorizing a bunch of chords in random order!<br />These chords grouped by chord family (key) are as follows:<br />A Family (Key of A): A, D, E D Family (Key of D): D, Em, G, A G Family (Key of G): G, Am, C, D, Em C Family (Key of C): C, Dm, Em, F, G<br />Tips for Learning the Basic Chords:<br />1. Pick a Chord Family and master it. This will give you quick success and let you play great sounding progressions right away.<br />2. Use a Guitar Chord Chart as a reference tool. A chord chart shows each chord as an easy to read “chord diagram” with exact finger positions. See this example of a chart of basic guitar chords .<br />3. Find the chords and lyrics for an easy song that is based on the chord family so you can apply your skills. Many great songs are based on only three chords!<br />4. Ensure each string sounds right. Take care to make sure that each string is sounding clearly, and that only the strings that should be played are played.<br />5. Practice, practice, practice! Every day, practice continually change from one chord to another until you can do it rapidly. Learn the chord families one at a time.<br />6. Master all the basic chords first. Only then move on to Barre chords and other more complex chords. First things first!<br />7. Expand with 7th chords. As a next step you can easily expand on your basic chord knowledge by adding 7th and minor 7th chords based on the nine basic major and minor chords.<br />8. Have fun using your new skills! Enjoy your musical ability by applying it to learning a small set of 5-10 songs you know really well and can confidently play at any time.<br />Copyright 2005 Peter Bussey of www.guitar-players-toolbox.com<br />This article can be reprinted freely online, as long as the entire article including the below resource box are included, with live hyperlinks.<br />Peter Bussey has been an avid guitar player for over 10 years, and is Editor of The Guitar Players Toolbox, a website dedicated to helping advancing guitar players improve with practical tools, tips, and information. Visit <a href="http://www.guitar-players-toolbox.com/" target="_new">http://www.guitar-players-toolbox.com</a> for a variety of free, practical resources such as guitar chords, guitar chord charts, song chords, and more.<br />var sc_project=3089435;<br />var sc_invisible=0;<br />var sc_partition=27;<br />var sc_security="0ee09f13";<br /><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/" target="_blank"></a><a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/"></a>How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-11688493864542423942008-10-25T20:51:00.007+07:002008-12-31T10:27:55.134+07:00How to Improve Your Alternate Picking TechniqueHow to Improve Your Alternate Picking Technique<br />Editor's note: Why is alternate picking important? Beginning guitar players have a tendency to strum or pick the guitar strings by using a series of either all downstrokes or all upstrokes.<br />window.google_render_ad();<br />Although this is OK when first learning, it is important to increase playing fluidity and efficiency by using a technique called alternate picking, which is the process of using a guitar pick to strike the strings using a pattern of alternating downward and upward motions, or downstrokes and upstrokes. This has the advantage of minimizing wasted motion and results in faster, smoother playing.<br />Below is an article written by Ben Edwards of Jamorama offering practical advice in improving this important skill:<br />Q: Ben, I'm having trouble "alternate picking". What can I do?<br />A: The main problem with alternate picking comes when you are picking a note in the opposite direction of the next string that you're going to play. For instance, if your last note was a downstroke on the G string, and your next note is an upstroke on the D string, then your pick has to travel a more complicated path than if you are picking up on G and down on D. What to do?<br />Some people just refuse to let their picking hand do the more difficult move, by trying to put a hammer on or a pull off to time the direction of the pick to a more favorable direction. Others might just be using the pick to start the string in motion, but are doing all hammer or pull offs other than the first note on a string.<br />But let's concentrate on what to do if you are using the versatile alternate picking method. Since we don't want to limit the note choices, or string choices, in any way, we have to just get good at dealing with the problem.<br />Practice going back and forth between two strings picking in the opposite direction just like the example: For example, in 2nd position, play a C on the 3rd string with a downstroke followed by an E on the 4th string with an upstroke. Repeat the C and E one more time.<br />Next, bring the C down to a B on the 3rd string with a downstroke, followed by the same E on the 4th with an upstroke. Repeat the B and E. Just to make a slightly musical pattern, do the same thing, but change the B down to an A, doing the same pattern. To make the pattern symmetrical, return the A back up to a B and play B,E,B,E, just like the second pattern.<br />window.google_render_ad();<br />It will take a lot less time to play this than to read about it, so try to muddle through this explanation to get to the actual notes, it's not hard to play this as long as you don't try to play it too fast.<br />As with all exercises, do it slowly and as accurately as possible at first. Doing this exercise addresses one of the most important points about practicing and improvements.<br />Editor's note: The above article was written and is copyrighted by Ben Edwards, developer of “Jamorama- The Ultimate Guitar Learning Kit”, and is used here with permission. Visit the Jamorama site to <a onclick="window.open('/cgi-bin/counter.pl?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjam.best-guitar-tools.com&referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guitar-players-toolbox.com%2Falternate-picking.html'); return false;" href="http://jam.best-guitar-tools.com/">learn how to play guitar and techniques such as alternate picking.</a>How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-49377187929587427492008-10-24T15:24:00.000+07:002008-10-24T15:26:09.902+07:00Beginning Guitar to Transform Your Little Tunes Into Beautiful SongsMusic is its many forms provides enjoyment for people and learning to play guitar is just one way that you can have this pleasure for yourself and others. Before you can actually play the guitar properly though, you will need to have beginning guitar lessons as well as a guitar! On the face of it, as an instrument the guitar doesn’t seem to have much to recommend it to someone who’s looking to buy this instrument. However, all this can change from the very first moment you begin your first guitar lessons. Beginning guitar players should not become discouraged even before they take their first lessons.<br /><br />These lessons are ones where you will have the opportunity of learning the theoretical aspect of guitar playing as well as being able to pluck at the strings to produce a pleasant sound.<br /><br />You will be able to find instructors who can give you beginning guitar lessons from your local community and also from your local newspapers. These are not the only ways that you can learn about beginning guitar lessons. There are numerous books and audio tapes and CDs which will also provide this facility to you.<br /><br />As with all of these beginning guitar books, CDs and lessons, the main fact that needs to be understood is that you should feel comfortable and confident of your ability to learn and play the guitar. Without this confidence you will not be able to understand the various instructions that you are given in your guitar lesson.<br /><br />For this reason if you are learning to play the guitar from an instructor you should be able to ask the instructor for advice and help if you feel that you are missing out on some point of the lesson.<br /><br />Since you can’t ask books or audio or DVD lessons for help you should be able to look or listen to the various steps and see where you fingers should be placed on the guitar and what chord each guitar string signifies.<br /><br />Also once you are comfortable holding the guitar and you have learned to identify the various chords in your beginning guitar lessons, you can then proceed to learn how to combine these basic chords together to produce a little song or a tune.<br /><br />As your beginning guitar lessons progress, you will gain the chance of trying out different styles of music. These different styles are well recognized sounds like that of jazz, rap, blues, rock ’n’ roll and many others.<br /><br />With so many interesting facets of guitar playing to try out it is not that surprising that people love listening to the sound of a guitar. Having beginning guitar lessons is one of the best ways you can learn to play guitar and transform your little tunes into beautiful songs.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-73100002274360803212008-10-24T15:21:00.000+07:002008-10-24T15:23:13.419+07:00Learn To Play Guitar OnlineWith the new modern guitar lessons you can learn to play guitar online. But is it better than taking the traditional guitar lessons? I have been playing for over 10 years and I think there has never been an easier method to learn and master guitar.<br /><br />Now there is no need to haul your guitar out to a music school across town to take your weekly lesson. Plus it was rather expensive. I started with blue book number 1 and learned the hard way. These days I hardly ever actually read music. I have learned to play by ear and tabs make learning a song really fast.<br /><br />So how are these online lessons? In the opinion of over 30 people we interviewed every one of them said they would rather take lessons online or download a guitar course and learn at home.<br /><br />At times it can be a pain sitting in front of the computer trying to play. But overall it sure beats the alternatives. We have watched new students with no experience playing the guitar begin playing popular songs in just a few weeks.<br /><br />You can learn at your own pace and repeat lessons until you master them. If you feel like taking your lesson at 3 in the morning, no problem. As long as your neighbors don’t mind. Or you can pick up a good set of headphones, if you are playing an electric guitar.<br /><br />Electric or acoustic? For beginners it is easier to learn and play an electric guitar. The necks are smaller and you will have to use less pressure. Once you learn you will be able to play either one. Another great thing about taking online guitar lessons is no one can hear how bad you sound. When I was learning I hated when someone listened to me play. Of course once you get better you will be playing for your friends and family.<br /><br />If you haven’t bought a guitar yet it is recommended that you get the best guitar you can afford to buy. Do not buy a cheap knock off. The action will be terrible, meaning the strings will be high and require a lot of pressure to get a clean sounding note. Most cheap guitars sound terrible and buzz. You are better off buying a decent used guitar if you can’t afford a brand new name brand.<br /><br />So get yourself a guitar if you don’t already have one, sing up and download your lessons and get to work. Guitar playing is one of the greatest hobbies. Once you get into your lessons you leave all your problems behind and escape into the world of music.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-50115879206870374752008-10-24T15:15:00.000+07:002008-10-24T15:18:57.742+07:00Your First Guitar By Kathy Unruh<p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Congratulations, you just bought you first guitar! Now that you've met the love of your life and made that big commitment, you're probably excited about building a good relationship with your new partner. But where do you begin? You've just come home from the music store with this beautiful, mysterious stranger, or perhaps even rescued an abandoned orphan from the flee market or pawn shop. Cradling it lovingly in your hands, you admire it's graceful form and captivating voice.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Before you lay several items that you acquired along with your purchase- a case, strap, picks, and of course, that book or video explaining "everything you need to know in 10 easy lessons." You stare at it blankly, wondering what lanquage it is.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">This is often the experience of a new guitar enthusiast. "Love at first sight" engenders high hopes of playing like a Rock Star overnight. Then reality begins to sink in and you reallize that it's going to require some effort and hard work to make this happen! But that doesn't mean it can't be fun. A positive attitude will go a long way in helping you meet your goals. In fact, setting some short-term and long-term goals is one of the first things you should do. Here are a few suggestions:</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">GET TO KNOW YOUR GUITAR</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">- Familiarize yourself with its various parts<br /> - memorize the name of each string and how they are numbered<br /> - Understand what type of guitar you have<br /> - Learn how to take proper care of your instrument</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">GET TO KNOW YOURSELF</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">- What type of music do you enjoy?<br /> - Do you like to sing?<br /> - Do you want to be in a band or play professionally someday?<br /> - Do you just want to play for your own personal enjoyment?</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">I often receive calls for help from individuals who are frustated because they are having trouble understanding the book or video that came with their purchase. If this is the case for you, consider taking some lessons from a private instructor. It can be a great way to get moving in the right direction. If you set up a weekly guitar lesson, then you will probably begin to establish a regular practice routine too. This is because you will feel a sense of obligation and accountability to your teacher. A guitar teacher can also watch your progress and offer helpful advise and critique so that you will be able to develop good technique. This is an invaluable asset which you will be unlikely to get from a book or video.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Local music stores often have someone who teaches right out of their store, or they may be able to provide you with a list of teachers in your area. If there is a college or university nearby, be sure to check the bulletin boards and school newspapers. you could also contact the Music Department to see if they know of any instructors who may be offering private or class lessons during after school hours.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:85%;">Most importantly, be sure to take the time to do a little "personal inventory" and get to know your instrument by answering the questions in this article. Then, you will be able to establish a good mental picture of where you are now and where you want to be in the future.</span></p>How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-54618452006860146332008-10-24T14:59:00.000+07:002008-10-24T15:04:40.496+07:00Learning GuitarMany of us think we would like to play guitar, but thinking about it and actually trying to do it are two very different things. You can choose a guitar to buy, but once you are holding this instrument in your hand it is difficult to know how to play it – or even how to hold it properly. The good news is that there are plenty of resources available to learn how to play guitar, and some don't even require that you leave the comfort of home to take advantage of them. There are many great websites that will teach you the basics of learning guitar so you can be strumming tunes before you ever even schedule your first private lesson.<br /><br />The Basics<br />The first step in learning guitar is to collect all of the necessary supplies. Of course, the guitar is the first component to this process, but you will also need a guitar pick and a willingness to learn this craft. Keep in mind that your fingers will get sore when you first begin, so take a break between sessions and know that the discomfort will go away the more you play. To make the first few lessons a little easier, keep your fingernails trimmed down to make it easier for you play the notes and strum the strings.<br /><br />The next step will be to learn some basic guitar terms, so that when you go online to take your lessons you will understand what the virtual instructor is talking about. Strings are strung across the guitar, and these are the elements you will use to get sounds out of your instrument. Frets are the small metal bars that divide the neck of the guitar into sections. When you go higher on the frets, you will go higher on the sounds.<br /><br />Finding an Online Tutor<br />Once you've got the basics down, you can begin to shop for a video tutor that will get you started playing your instrument. The easiest way to find instruction is on the Internet, although you can find instructional DVD's as well. Some of the websites you find will be free, while others will charge you for the instruction. You will need to decide for yourself whether you can find quality instruction without paying for it.<br /><br />Many of these websites will also offer you reviews of guitar products that will help you find the best equipment and software for your needs. When you do find the best online tutorial, make sure that you follow the process step by step to ensure that you don't miss any of the vital information in the early stages. Work at your own pace and make sure you completely master one lesson before you move onto the next. This will ensure your success in your guitar playing endeavor and help you make the most of your new hobby.<br /><br />Guitar playing can be a fun pastime if you take the time to learn how to do it properly. With the right equipment and a good online tutorial, you will be strumming tunes in no time at all.How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-85569938821375338562008-10-24T14:55:00.000+07:002008-10-24T14:56:15.502+07:00Instrumental Duets for Guitar by Ismail Mohd<div class="article_text">The guitar makes a great accompaniment instrument for instrumental duets with a melody instrument. If you are interested in playing with other musicians like this the collections below will give you a great repertoire for playing with flute, violin, or harmonica. Build your accompaniment skills and repertoire and you will always be in demand by instrumental players. <p> The guitar and the flute have been musical companions for a long time and in many parts of the world. They make excellent sounding duets that can be played in numerous styles.</p><p> * Celtic Music for Flute and Guitar, Allan Alexander and Jessica Walsh, ADG Productions</p><p> This is a collection of twenty folk pieces originating mainly from Scotland and Ireland. The songs span 400 years of folk music as well as five original pieces written by Allan and Jessica. The learning process is eased by an accompanying CD showing how the pieces should be played.</p><p> * World Music for Flute and Guitar, Allan Alexander and Jessica Walsh, ADG Productions</p><p> This musical journey takes you to the four corners of the globe. There is standard notation and tab for guitar and a separate pull-out performance part for the flute melodies. You can listen to examples of the pieces on the CD that accompanies the book.</p><p> * Flute and Guitar Duets for Any Occasion, Mark Hanson, Accent On Music</p><p> This is a varied collection of duets in classical, folk, Celtic and jazz styles. The music ranges from easy to challenging playing levels in standard and tab notation. The accompanying CD provides stereo recording with flute and guitar on separate channels so you can practice even when your partner isn't around. </p><p> The fiddle is another instrument that works well with the guitar. It has been widely used in many styles of folk music. The song books below give you several styles to try.</p><p> * The Latin American Fiddler, Edward Huws Jones, Boosey & Hawkes</p><p> The exotic blend of Latin-American music with its Spanish, African and indigenous influences is great fun to play. This intermediate level collection of violin songs includes chords that can be played by guitar or piano.</p><p> * Jazz, Blues and Ragtime (Violin Edition), Edward Huws Jones, Boosey & Hawkes </p><p> This collection of favourite jazz and blues songs is suitable for all playing levels. It includes easy violin parts and guitar chords, as well as more sophisticated string arrangements for more advanced players. Songs include ever popular hits such as The Entertainer, Take Five, Makin' Whoopee, House Of The Rising Sun.</p><p> * The Christmas Fiddler, Edward Huws Jones, Boosey & Hawkes</p><p> It's always a good idea to have a few Christmas songs to play. This collection includes seven hundred years of songs from the medieval Song of the Ass, through traditional carols such as Away In A Manger and O Little Town Of Bethlehem through to the modern Sleigh Ride.</p><p> The harmonica is an ever popular instrument that has often been associated with the guitar in folk, rock and blues. Give your rock guitar skills a workout with these titles. * Pop Rock Favourites For Harmonica, Bobby Joe Holman, Hal Leonard</p><p> Seventeen pop rock hits arranged for harmonica with guitar chords and tab. Pretty Woman, Blueberry Hill, Yakety Yak and Runaway are among the titles in this collection.</p><p> * Beatles Greatest Hits Harmonica Songbook, Hal Leonard</p><p> 27 Beatles songs arranged with melody line, harmonica notation, guitar chords and lyrics. Performance notes are given for each song. Favourite hits include Eleanor Rigby, Get Back, Help, Let It Be, Michelle.</p><p> * Blues Harmonica Collection, Hal Leonard</p><p> Practice the classic sound of blues guitar and harmonica with forty classic blues tunes from the likes of Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin' Wolf.</p><p> Instrumentalists with melody instruments will be delighted to have an accompaniment to play to. If you want to make yourself a useful and popular guitarist who's always in demand spend some time to learn an accompaniment repertoire. You'll have far more people wanting to play with you than the guy playing flashy guitar leads.</p></div>How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-73305033146367877612008-10-24T14:46:00.000+07:002008-10-24T14:50:20.265+07:00Learn How To Play Guitar Chords by Ricky SharplesHow do we begin to learn how to play guitar chords? By learning your I IV V chord progression in the first position. In the key of C that would be C F G chords. If you need help, just do a web search for "chord progressions" or the "Nashville number system". Learn these chords in all keys. I do not mean learn them all right now but take it as a medium to long term task. Take a look at some sheet music or tabs for songs that you want to learn and work on the keys that your songs are in. That way you will be able to put your hard work to some good use.<p> If you have been working on how to play guitar chords while staying in rhythm you have probably found the going a little slow. The next step is to go looking for shortcuts. Sorry there are no shortcuts to fast chord changes, just slow, meticulous practice until one day you notice your body can change chords all by itself. Some people call it muscle memory, others say that all acquisition of motor skills is the work of "the intelligence of the body". Whatever the explanation, too much analysis never helps. What does help is repeated practice.</p><p> Learning chord progressions will train and strengthen your fingers and give you some practice in strumming. What is most important in this is to practice carefully so you are not repeating a whole lot of mistakes. What is at work here is muscle memory and the more careful you are to get things right, the faster will be your progress. The end result will be that the chord progressions will come automatically to you. This will stay with you all your life.</p><p> Another exercise for developing physical dexterity is practicing scales. One point that needs so be made here is to learn scale shapes. Just as there is an assortment of guitar chords in first position, and a few basic shapes that can be moved up the fretboard, there are also scale patterns that can be moved to all positions. One thing to look out for is the point where fatigue sets in after a few runs up and down the scale. Accuracy and speed do not necessarily follow warming up the fingers. The answer to this is do not spend too much time on scales if you do not yet know your chords. Once you know some open chords you can play a few songs which is something to show for your initial efforts. Then you can settle down to working on scales. Improvement in playing scales simply comes with some weeks and months of practice.</p><p> Once you have some basic chords under your belt, get yourself some songs like some basic blues or a few Bob Dylan songs. Play along with some CDs or whatever is on the radio. Your aim is to build your confidence and musical skill early in your career as a guitar player. This progress will help you in the next stages of learning to play the guitar.</p>How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-72362242815599127122008-10-24T14:42:00.000+07:002008-10-24T14:43:42.743+07:00I Want to Learn to Play Guitar, What Do I Need to Know? By John Philips<div id="body"><p>Have you ever found yourself thinking "I want to learn to play guitar?" Well, you're not alone. Thousands start down the road to a very satisfying musical experience of guitar playing everyday. Here's what you need to know to be ahead of the pack.</p><p>Say I want to learn to play guitar. What is the best way to go about that? First off you have to decide which style you want to learn so you can get the proper guitar. Do you want to learn rock? Folk? Classical? Blues? Each style has its own type of guitar that is best for playing in that style.</p><p>Next you'll need to learn the basics of guitar playing. You need to learn how to tune a guitar, how to play chords, hold a pick, and different rhythms. You may be able to figure this out on your own, but I would suggest one or more of the methods mentioned next.</p><p>If you can afford a qualified teacher, this is probably the best route to take. A teacher can correct mistakes before they become bad habits, and a teacher can generally shorten the learning curve immensely.</p><p>If you can't afford a teacher, the next best thing is to get a hold of a method book or course either online or at a music store. Look for a method that contains material that you think you can handle. You may end up going through two or three before you find one that resonates with you. That's ok, everybody learns differently, and what works for one person may not work for you.</p><p>Once you get the basics down, I would stress that you get into some type of group setting, either a band, or youth group or something like that. When you play with others you'll find that your playing will improve quickly.</p><p>So if you find yourself thinking "I want to learn to play guitar, you have some deciding to do to figure out which way to turn.</p></div>How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8284982180030543554.post-69935008115044468522008-10-24T14:30:00.000+07:002008-10-24T14:36:48.521+07:00I Want to Learn How to Play Guitar - Where Do I Start? By John Philips<div id="body"><p>"I want to learn to play guitar" Did you ever say that to your parents, or have your children ever said that to you? Actually I'd be kind of surprised if you've never heard that sentiment before. People take up the guitar daily around the globe, and it's no wonder given the guitar's portability, and flexibility.</p><p>So say someone says to you, or you think to yourself, "I want to learn how to play the guitar", where do you start? What is involved in taking up the guitar? Let's take a look at a few simple things to keep in mind.</p><p>First off, you're gonna need a guitar. For rock music an electric guitar will be needed. There are plenty of decent guitars for a great price available, many come in bundle packages including an amplifier, book, tuner, and assorted other goodies. These are a good value if they are made by good name companies like Fender, Gibson, Epiphone, and others. Just plan on taking a day to go shopping at a music store. The clerks will be able to answer any question you may have, and can set you up with a good instrument.</p><p>For folk or acoustic playing, an acoustic guitar is necessary. Again, pretty good guitars are available for not too much money. Look for low cost quality instruments from Yamaha, Ovation, and Epiphone. A trip to the music store will answer questions you may have.</p><p>After a guitar is obtained, you'll want to look into lessons. There are a couple ways to go about this, one, you can find a teacher at a local music shop, or two, find a course online or offline to learn the basics. Good thing about a live teacher is the ability to correct mistakes before they become major trouble. Good thing about an instruction course is the significantly lower price. These are factors you are going to have to weigh to figure out which route to take.</p><p>Next time you hear "I want to learn how to play the guitar", keep these simple points in mind, and you'll have a bit of an idea of what is involved.</p></div>How to Playing Guitarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17426333777303723209noreply@blogger.com