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Playing the Guitar – 9 Simple Rules for the Beginner Guitarist

admin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 23:07:07 +0000

Wild Electric Guitarist

Playing the guitar is a joy and, as with the learning of any musical instrument, one can spend a lifetime perfecting a technique. However, with regular practice and enough commitment, most people are able to achieve pleasing results quite quickly.

The beginner guitarist should start by adhering to a few simple rules.

1. Don't start lesson 2 until you have mastered lesson 1. You’ll be excited and want to rush to play tunes you know but, take a little time at the beginning to learn the basics and your progress will be that much faster.

2. Don't let your left thumb sneak over the neck of the guitar. This changes your playing position- and not in a good way. Your thumb should always be positioned in the middle of the back of the neck, whether you are playing at the top or the bottom of the fret board.

3. When playing a simple melody, first read or tap the rhythm through. Next try to name the pitch of the notes. Then play the melody using first your index finger (i), then your middle finger (m), then a combination of the two.

4. Sit up straight. Your posture has an effect on the sound you produce and your stamina. Correct posture will allow you to play comfortably for much longer.

5. Record yourself so you can see how you are progressing. Is your rhythm steady? Is each note clear and free of buzzes or rattles? You may have to look at the pressure you are applying with your left hand. Are your fingers positioned accurately between the frets of your guitar?

6. Try to grow the fingernails of your right hand and keep the nails on your left hand short.

7. Practice every day. This will help to toughen your fingertips.

8. Regarding your left hand, your fingertips should make contact with the fret board at right angles. The tips of your fingers should be fretting the string, not the flat of the finger.

9. If reading notation for the first time, resist the temptation to write the letter names on the notes. Learn one position on the stave (the 5 lines music is written on) each day. For example, the note that straddles (half above and half below) the bottom line is E.

Playing the guitar will give you years of enjoyment and, by following these simple steps you will graduate from beginner to skilled guitarist before you know it.

Photograph by Lorri37

Playing the Guitar – 9 Simple Rules for the Beginner Guitarist is a post from: Fat Finger Music Electric Guitar Blog, click to read more.

6 Methods of Tuning a Guitar

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:56:45 +0000

Tuning Pegs

Your guitar will need tuning on a regular basis. To do this, you need to know the names of the strings and how they should sound. When you are playing the guitar, the upper most string (6th), plays the lowest note. This can lead to confusion when instructions refer to the 'top' string. Generally 'top' and 'bottom' refer to the pitch (high and low) of the string rather than its position.

Starting with the 6th (bottom) string, the tuning is:

E A D G B E

6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st

BASS TREBLE

There are various ways to tune:-

1. Using a pitch pipe. A six note pitch pipe will give you the notes you need for tuning, although this is not as easy as it sounds since the timbre of the two instruments can make the matching of pitch difficult for the beginner.

2. Using a piano.

3. Online Guitar Tuner

4. Tuning Fork

5. Electronic tuner.

6. Relative tuning also referred to as open E tuning. This involves tuning the 6th string to E from a known source such as a pitch pipe, a piano or a tuning fork, and then using this as a basis for tuning the other strings by:-

a) Fretting or stopping the 6th string at the 5th fret. (A fret is the space between fret bars on the finger board of the guitar so the first space is the first fret). Play the note. This should give you an A, which is the note to which you should tune the 5th string using the tuning pegs, until the two notes seem to be of he same pitch.

b) Stop the 5th string at the 5th fret. This gives you a D, which is the note you need to tune the 4th string to.

c) Play the 4th string, fretting it at the 5th fret. This gives you a G, which is the note to which you should tune the 3rd string.

d) Careful! Play the 3rd string at the 4th fret. This gives you a B, which is the note you need for the 2nd string.

e) Play the 2nd string at the 5th fret. This gives you an E, which is the note you need to tune the 1st string to.

This sort of thing does get easier with practice. If you now play the 1st and 6th strings, they should sound good together as they are both tuned to E, two octaves apart.

If you are happy with the tuning, it is a good idea to record the pitch of each string for future reference.

Tuning Electric and Acoustic Guitar

Photograph by ind{yeah}

6 Methods of Tuning a Guitar is a post from: Fat Finger Music Electric Guitar Blog, click to read more.

Learn to Play the Guitar: Which Learning Method is Right for You?

admin — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:17:13 +0000

There is an assortment of methods for learning to play the guitar and you need to choose the method that will work best for you.

1. Traditional

Generally starts off by teaching the basics of notation (reading music). Learning to read and play simple melodies progresses to bass string accompaniments and simple duets using a limited selection of notes, which is what you need as a beginner. The advantage of this method is that it is always taught in tandem with learning to read music; the best way to learn to read music is by doing it in conjunction with learning an instrument. Also, reading and understanding notation will transfer to any subsequent musical instrument.

2. Folk

This method leans towards a chordal approach, that is, learning to play a collection of notes together (a chord) and using various strumming patterns to accompany a song. Sometimes this approach may include some notation reading, but it is generally aimed at the student who does not want to learn how to read music.
Personally, I feel that such an approach is missing an opportunity to learn and understand notation. A traditional approach will lead naturally to learning chords anyway. You can always teach yourself chords from a chord dictionary if you want to combine two approaches.

3. Tablature

This method teaches through a pictorial representation of the strings showing where to put your fingers.

1 --0----------------------------
2 --1----------------------------
3 --0----------------------------
4 --2----------------------------
5 --3----------------------------
6 -------------------------------

This picture means you fret:

the 2nd string at the 1st fret
the 4th string at the 2nd fret and
the 5th string at the third fret
1st and 3rd strings are left open or unfretted.

This is, perhaps, too complex a method for the beginner to grasp. It can be used to enhance the playing of a more experienced guitar player.

Guitar Lessons

When learning to play any musical instrument, it is always a good idea to at least start off by having some lessons from an experienced tutor, if only to avoid getting into bad habits. A good teacher will advise about style, technique, notation, posture, phrasing and guitar care. As you progress you may need to find a teacher attuned to your own particular needs and tastes, but at the beginning of the learning experience, the aims will be the same, to get the basics of the instrument sorted out and to achieve results that are pleasing.

Learn to Play the Guitar: Which Learning Method is Right for You? is a post from: Fat Finger Music Electric Guitar Blog, click to read more.

A Fender Guitar for the Music Legend In You

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:34:38 +0000

Fender Electric Guitars

Serious musicians cannot bear the thought of adding an average instrument to their musical arsenal. Rock gods may have started their careers with second-rate guitars, but following their rise to stardom, it becomes necessary to use a guitar brand that has been revered by the music industry for its innovative construction and sound. Fender has become synonymous with quality guitars which continue to enthrall hardcore musicians and fledgling enthusiasts alike.

Fender was founded by Leo Fender in 1946. It was Fender who built the first mass produced solid-body Spanish style electric guitar, which was known as the Telecaster. It was followed by a solid-body electric bass, known as the Precision Bass (P-Bass). Fender went on to produce the iconic Stratocaster. Though mass-produced, the guitars maintained their high-quality standards, causing many musicians from different genre to take notice. Whether it was rock, jazz, country, or funk, there was always a Fender guitar available to do the job.

The core of Fender’s instrument line, consisting of the Telecaster, Stratocaster, Precision Bass, and Jazz Bass, continues to attract musicians and collectors and have remained in production, virtually unchanged, since the 1950s. Fender recognized the need for varying types of guitars for the more discerning musicians and has expanded their classical guitar line. Quality sound combined with sound construction and ease of use has made Fender a cultural icon. The guitars are considered to be “design classics” and have formed the blueprint of Fender’s success. It is no surprise that many other companies have tried to draw up a similar blueprint, with limited success.

It is remarkable how Fender have grown from such humble beginnings to become a world renowned maker of classical and electric guitars. Numerous Rock and Jazz legends have made Fender their guitar of choice. What has endeared the guitar enthusiast to the make is the simple, yet effective design which has revolutionized how guitars and stringed instruments are made. As long as there is a need for quality guitars, Fender will remain in business.

Photograph by: Fender Electric Guitars by Martin Taylor

A Fender Guitar for the Music Legend In You is a post from: Fat Finger Music Electric Guitar Blog, click to read more.

Aria Pro

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 06:26:09 +0000

Which is a better guitar?

An Aria Pro 2 JS Series guitar or an Epiphone AJ100NA acoustic guitar?
Whats better for beginners?
Whats better quality?

If you have the opportunity to sit down with the guitars i highly suggest it, if your a beginner dont worry the fact that you know nothing about it doesnt matter you should just be able to feel in your fingers what one feels better, quality is top secret no one knows the quality of their stuff for sure. i started playing bass awhile ago and had the opportunity to buy a zon bass for very cheap and this is apperently cream of the crop but was sold on a cort bass which was 200 dollars, for some reason the action and feel of this cort bass was amazing and has helped me along my learning path with great results