Mastering Guitar Course

Ryan Cameron's Mastering Guitar is currently going for half price. Here is a sample of what you get with it:

The Mastering Guitar course includes 3 high quality ebooks, each with photos and professionally transcribed notation, so you will have no problem following along. The course also includes over 400 audio files and over 300 exercises... That's more than 2 times what any other course offers!

Discover how to read music notation and tablature with the help of 'The Guitarist's Guide To Reading Music Notation'.

Learn all the core guitar playing essentials such as, hammer ons, pull offs, palm muting, string deadening, slides, a variety of bends, and lots more!

Learn hundreds of open chords and barre chords with the aid of my revolutionary software, 'Guitar Chords Pro'!

Master the art of fingerpicking, as well as playing with a pick. Plus a neat little trick that allows you to combine the two!

Understand the theory behind 'Modes' and how to use them effectively in your songwriting and soloing.

Discover a variety of scales including, Major, Minor, and Pentatonic. You will have true freedom to play all over the fretboard!

Learn all about the building blocks of chords called 'Intervals'. After doing so you will have the knowledge to create every chord imaginable!

You'd spend hundreds of dollars on books and tapes buying this stuff at your local music shop. Check it out here and save a bundle:

MASTERING GUITAR

Holiday Gift Cards For Guitarists

If you don't know what to get a guitarist for Christmas, how about a gift card? Music 123 has special gift cards available for the holidays. Check it out:

Gibson Les Paul Special with Humbuckers

Christmas is coming and many a wish is for a new guitar. Whether it's for a friend, relative, or yourself, you can't go wrong with a Gibson Les Paul Special. It's basically a stripped down Les Paul Standard with the same killer sound. So what's the difference? The price. Less than half a standard and it still says Gibson on it and sounds killer just the same.





Epiphone Les Paul Special II Electric Guitar Wine Red

Electric Guitar Packages - The All In One Solution

By: Charlie Cory

Electric guitar packages are typically an all in one answer to
the problem of getting someone started with an electric guitar.

Is it the best way to go for a beginner though?

In my opinion, probably not. Playing a new musical instrument is
not only a labour of love, it is a war against embarrassment.
Playing any instrument for the first time could be a painful
experience for any unwilling audience and an affront on your ego!

So as far as a guitar is concerned, a good acoustic guitar would
be my personal preference to learn an instrument.

Having said that, there is no denying that an electric guitar is
a sexy instrument, and some people will not be denied. Perhaps
you have already tried an acoustic guitar, and the call of rock
and roll fame and fortune is too much for you?

Well if that is the case, then there are electric guitar
packages that can fit the bill that won't break the bank.
Remember that you will not be buying a classic Fender or Gibson
guitar (unless you are completely loaded), but you can still buy
a high quality instrument which will stand you in good stead for
many years to come.

A standard package will comprise a guitar itself, a case, and
amplifier and the appropriate leads to connect the guitar to the
amplifier. I think it unlikely that you will be able to play any
stadiums with this rig, but hey, you have got to start somewhere?

All you really need from your electric guitar package is an
instrument with a decent, playable action (the height of the
strings above the fret board), and an amplifier that will give
you a good tone at low volume. At it the guitar looks really
cool as well, then that is just a bonus!

The kit may or may not come with a tuner. You will need one
whatever happens. I have always used pitch pipes, and great
though automatic tuners are, you cannot beat the training given
by tuning the guitar with just a pipe and your ears. Learn how
to do it properly; you will appreciate it in the end.

About the author:
Charlie Cory is an Internet entrepreneur, who happens to love
guitars too! Writing is a business, writing about guitars is
just plain fun.

Have some idea of what to look for in a guitar is one thing, but
honing down the choice is another. Take a look at these Electric Guitar Packages to see if one of
them fits the bill?

Guitar Lessons - Amplifier Buyer's Guide

By: Pete Williamson

SELECTING THE BEST TYPE OF AMPLIFIER FOR YOU

So, you've got your eye on an electric guitar, or an acoustic
with a pick-up. Then you're going to need an amplifier! But
there's such a huge range, it can be daunting to even know where
to start looking. Well, there's some key questions that can help
guide you...

How good does the sound of my amp need to be?

Well, are you aiming to form a band and play some gigs, or just
be able to hear your electric guitar in your bedroom? If you're
a bedroom player, then any old amp will do to get you started.
It'll come down to your personal preference as to how much you
invest. If you want to get out and play live, then you might
need to think about a quality amp - like a Marshall, Fender or
other top brand. In the Pro Guitar Tips course, we devote a
whole chapter to 'How to Get a Great Tone', to help you decide
between a solid state or valve amplifier. It could actually take
over a whole blog, it's such a personal choice too. But as
someone starting out, the next question you need to ask yourself
is:

How loud do I need to play?

As loud as %&*^ing possible, I hear you say! Well, to simplify
things a bit, amplifiers come in all different volume sizes.
It's fair to say the bigger the amp, the louder the sound. Amp
power is rated by watts, with really loud amps ranging from
50-200 watts. If you're just looking for a bedroom practice amp,
then around 10 watts will do you nicely. If you want to be able
play with a live drummer and still hear the sound of your
guitar, then you'll probably need 30+ watts of amp power.

How am I going to transport the amp?

I know a lot of guitarists who think they need the biggest amp.
But I don't know a lot of guitarists who do stadium sized shows!
Bigger doesn't necessarily make you play any better! Remember,
the bigger your amp, the harder it's going to be to transport to
rehearsals and gigs - at least until you get your own road crew!
You don't want to put too much stress on your back just trying
to lift the thing. Use common sense! Most gigs you'll play will
use PA systems, where a microphone is placed in front of the
amp, which is re-amplified to be mixed with rest of the band to
heard by the audience.

How much money should I spend on an amp?

If you've got a limited budget, then I recommend spending the
bulk of it on your guitar. A better guitar will be easier to
play and will deliver rewards when it comes to sound quality.
You can always upgrade your gear, but it's great to start with
something with longevity. Exactly how much to spend on an amp
comes back to your intended use, and personal preference. As
usual, the more you spend the better the amp will sound. (The
next figures are a rough price range guide in US and Australian
dollars.)

Beginner: US $100-200 AUD $150-300 Intermediate: US $250-500 AUD
$300-700 Professional: US $500-3000+ AUD $700-4000+

The combination of equipment is really important to your overall
sound. A great amp with an average sounding guitar (and/or
guitar player!) is still going to sound average. Trust your ears
to tell you what sounds good, and practice hard!



About the author:
Pete Williamson is a professional guitarist for 2 x times number
one artist Pete Murray and hard rock band Mammal. Pete no longer
gives private lessons, but you can check out his 200+ guitar
lesson online course at Guitar
Lessons, where you can also sign up for a free guitar
lessons eNews.

Great Blues Guitar Blog

If you're interested in the blues/rock era and would like to explore where all those guitar gods got their inspiration, you need to check out this blog: http://squeezemylemon.blogspot.com/

The name of the blog comes from that infamous line in the middle of Led Zeppelin's "Lemon Song" on Led Zep II. Zep, like most of their contemporaries, were heavily influenced by the blues. The "Squeeze" blog has a ton of stuff about the bluesmasters and some really cool links to some obscure videos. Check it out.

The Best Gifts for Guitarists in 2006: Guitar Effects

By: William McRea

Are you looking for a great gift for the guitarist in your life?
They already have a guitar and amplifier so getting them another
is out of the question. And most guitarists seem to buy the
accessories that they need as they go along. Have you considered
purchasing guitar effects in the form of pedals or effects units?

With the guitar, the sound is generated using electrical
signals. When you take the signal and process it in certain
ways, this changes the sound. When you use a special device such
as a pedal or an effects unit, the signal is processed by the
device and the changed sound comes out through your speakers.

Do you want some advice on purchasing the best gifts for
guitarists in the form of guitar effects? Here is some advice
that will help you make a purchase.

Purchasing Pedals

Effects pedals either come with a series of options but the one
thing that is consistent is that you use your foot to make any
changes to the settings. Some, like the Line 6 PODSX Live Pedal,
have 11 channels each with a different sound. Others are just a
single pedal and you press it to turn the effect on or off.

When purchasing pedals, it is a good idea to do your research
and choose products that are highly regarded. Look at reviews,
compare prices, and ask the guitarist which effects they tend to
like. Here are some ideas for pedals:

o Line 6 PODSX Live Pedal with 11 Channels o Ibanez TS808
Vintage Tube Screamer Reissue o Line 6 DL-4 Delay Modeler Pedal
o Dunlop Original Crybaby Wah Pedal

Effects Processors

Effects Processors also take the signal and alter it. But, they
have different functions and uses than a pedal. Some are
designed to hook up to your computer and others hook up to your
computer. The type of effects processor you choose will depend
on your individual tastes and needs. Here are some good choices
for gift giving:

o Yamaha Magicstomp II Guitar Effects Processor o Boss RC-20XL
Loop Station o Boss GT-8 Guitar Effects Processor o ToneWorks
AX1500G Guitar Floor Effects Processor

Great Gifts

Effects processors make great gifts because they help a
guitarist expand and enrich their sound. You can use effects to
help enhance your creativity. You can also use them to convey a
certain emotion in a song you are writing. If you are unsure of
which pedal or processor to purchase, finding one that has a
variety of sounds is a good bet because then they can
experiment.

About the author:
Guitar Warehouse is the source for guitars, bass and drum
kits.Buy a Guitar,
at Guitar Warehouse

Good Guitar Technique Will Allow You To Play Anything!

By: Chris Thomas

There are many philosophies when it comes to practicing guitar.
Some people don't practice at all, others practice for 10+ hours
per day! Steve Vai's legendary 10-hour guitar workout comes to
mind. But consider this...who do you think is the better guitar
player? The person who hardly practices, or the person who
practices on a regular basis? Of course it's the person who
practices regularly!

I'm a strong advocate of practicing on a regular basis because
with good guitar technique, you can play anything! If you think
about it, it makes perfect sense. If you can alternate pick most
any any lick or picking pattern, then any time you're trying to
learn something new you'll be able to pick it up much more
quickly then if you don't have good technique.

Obviously you want to practice things that you have difficulty
playing, or create your own exercises that are similar to those
things you struggle with. By focusing your practice time on
these things, you will improve much quicker. Then in the future
when you encounter things you previously used to struggle with,
you'll breeze right through it!

Think about it...if all you practice are power chords, you just
really limit yourself as to what you can potentially play. By
focusing on certain techniques, you'll be able to do so much
more. But you can still play power chords if you choose. I don't
know, maybe some people are happy only playing power chords, but
I digress...

Now I'm not saying that you should go out and start practicing
for 10+ hours per day. I never practiced for more then 3-4 hours
per day. I think that what you practice is more important then
how long you practice. Of course it's ultimately up to you. This
is just how I view the guitar.

About the author:
Chris Thomas writes articles and does reviews of the top online guitar
lessons

Guitar Scales- An Important Exercise To Learn

By: Gabriel Adams

Do you know your guitar scales? If you're learning to play
guitar, scales are an important exercise for you to learn.
Scales are often neglected on the guitar, for some reason. But
you would be hard pressed to find a good pianist who didn't have
at least some level of proficiency at scales. The same should be
true for guitarists.

The benefits of learning guitar scales

Learning to play scales on your guitar can have many benefits.
One of the benefits is that you learn the notes of each
particular scale, and become comfortable playing those notes.
When you play a song in that key, you will already be used to
playing each of the notes and will know where they are.

Playing guitar scales also has great technical benefits. Playing
scales can help you increase your dexterity, precision, and
speed of your playing. If you play scales each time you
practice, over time you'll notice your playing skills increasing
from this simple exercise.

Learning and playing guitar scales

There are dozens of different scales, but you'll want to start
out with a few common ones. The most common scales for guitar
are probably C, G, D, & A. I'd suggest that you start with major
scales, as they are generally easiest and more commonly used.
Later you can go on to minor scales plus other scales.

When you first start learning a scale, play it slow enough that
you can play each note correctly and cleanly. As you get better,
you can speed it up. However, never play them fast enough that
you lose control. When you play a scale, each note should be
perfect - clean, and in steady rhythm, tone, and volume. As a
teacher of mine once said, "Make your scales like a pear
necklace - each note, perfect, round, and beautiful!" Follow
this advice and watch your playing improve!

About the author:
Andrew Koblick's Guitar Improvement DVDs include... Amazing Guitar-
Improve Fast & the Ultimate Blues Primer
- Play the Blues Plus check out our Free Guitar
Newsletter.

How Do Different Types Of Guitar Strings Effect Your Sound?

By: Chris Thomas

There are so many different brands of guitar strings out there,
and within the brands there are many different gauges and types.
This can be overwhelming for beginners, so I want to briefly
discuss different types of strings and associated sizes and why
you want to carefully consider the types of strings you would
want to use.

First of all let's briefly discuss nylon strings. These strings
are used on classical guitars and are conducive for
fingerpicking. If you own a classical guitar or are considering
purchasing one, these are the strings you will use.

Now if you're playing a standard electric or acoustic 6-string
guitar, you're going to want steel strings. Some of the more
popular brands are D'Addario, Dean Markley, Ernie Ball, Elixer,
GHS, and Fender. Try the same size of each brand and you will
begin to notice differences. I remember trying D'Addario, Dean
Markley, and Ernie Ball .009s and I was partial to D'Addarios
because it seemed like my pick would get caught on the strings
to o easily. So definately experiment with different strings to
find out which you prefer.

As for the different sizes, they come in sizes ranging anywhere
from sets of .008's to .013's. Now, you may wonder what this
means. Well the .008-.013 range describes the thickness in
inches of the high E string. So when someone says 8's, 9's 10's,
they're typically referring to a set of guitar strings with the
high E string of that thickness. The remaining strings are also
thicker or thinner depending on the thickness of the high E
string, although you can buy individual strings to suit your
personal tastes.

What thickness should you choose? I prefer D'Arddario 9s for my
electric and Elixer 10s for my acoustic. For me, anything
thicker then 10s give my fingers a tough time. But also know
that the thicker strings will have a much better tone. As a
beginner, I wouldn't recommend set thicker then 9s for starters
until you build up some left hand strength. I don't recommend 8s
at all as they tend to break too easily.

If you're going to be playing dropped tunings, then you should
consider thick strings in the .012-.013 range (Ernie Ball Not
Even Slinky Strings are great). This will allow you to tune down
and still have tight strings that don't flap around. The thinner
strings will usually be too slack when you're tuned down.

About the author:
Chris Thomas writes articles and does reviews of the top online
guitar
lessons for his site Guitar Lesson Comparisons.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Guitar Players

Here's a great article. We sometimes overlook the simple things.

By: Tony Williams

1.Change the strings regularly - there is perhaps no more
important aspect of playing a musical instrument than that of
maintaining it properly. Guitar strings wear out with regular
use and even more quickly become coated in grease and dead skin.
So it is imperative that you wipe the strings after playing and
also change the strings as often as needed.

But how often do strings need changing? Well, if you only play
your guitar a couple of times a month then you will probably get
away with a couple of sets of strings per year. But if you play
in a band a couple of times a week or more then you should renew
the strings at least once a week. And forget the old wives tale
about boiling strings, that is for fools and practical jokers;
fit new strings every time.

2.Play what is required, not what you like - Just because
you have mastered that tricky right hand tapping technique does
not mean that you should try to use it at every opportunity.
Instead, concentrate on what feels and sounds right for the
piece you are working on. It might not be as self satisfying to
play five notes where you could have squeezed in fifty, but it
can often be far more effective - and remember that you will
always get the chance to impress your mates on another song.

3.Practice effectively - Do you have a regular practice
schedule? If not, then you should develop one! Your guitar
practice should include different techniques, slow playing, fast
playing, rhythmic playing, etc. Don't just play what you enjoy
playing during solo practice sessions, but instead remember to
devote some time to the stuff you find difficult.

4.Play with the band, not over them - Never turn your amp
up to eleven and expect the rest of the band to join you. Not
only is it a recipe for tinnitus and premature deafness, but it
will quickly get you replaced by a more considerate guitarist.
An effective guitar player will be listening to the whole band,
not just him/herself, and if the guitar sounds too loud the
effective guitar player will turn the volume down to a level
that matches the rest of the band! if you think you might be
guilty of this then try listening objectively to the whole band
next time you play and ask yourself if it sounds well balanced.

5.Be original - Don't just copy your guitar heroes. Of
course it is natural and essential to actively learn the chops
of your favourite players, but don't just copy them verbatim;
instead you should try to mix and match the techniques you have
learned to develop your own original licks.

6.Keep an open mind and ear - Just because your favourite
player uses a Marshall stack or a Mesa Boogie combo, and plays a
Fender Stratocaster or a Gibson Les Paul doesn't mean that you
have to do the same. All of the best player's sounds are unique
and exclusive, and it goes far beyond the equipment used. Think
of the different sounds produced by for example Jimi Hendrix,
Hank Marvin and Eric Clapton - they are all Strat players but
all sound different and apart from each other.

7.Enjoy yourself - the fact is that successful guitar
players actually enjoy what they do; think of Eddie Van Halen
leaping around the stage with a wide smile on his face. I'm
willing to bet that the reason he became such a great player in
the first place is because he actually loves what he is doing.
So when the time comes, go out and enjoy it!

About the author:
Tony Williams is a musician, writer, and self-confessed
eBay fanatic. He is also the editor and webmaster of MuZiCk, the irreverent rock music
lexicon, and Rich
Pickings, your online guitar advisory service.

Learning Guitar Scales For Exciting Riffs

If you're an aspiring guitarist, you love those riffs played by your favorite guitar players. Taking some time to learn to play scales will help you acquire the skills needed to come up with your own improvised runs and riffs. If you think it sounds complicated, it's really not. It just takes time and practice and not giving up.

Scales can be played in 5 different "positions." When you've learned the positions for the type of scale (major, minor, pentatonic, chromatic, etc.) you want to learn, you will be able to play that scale in any key, depending on where you start on the fretboard. Ultimately you will learn the name of the note of every string on every fret, but you have to start somewhere. The keys of E and A are used often in blues and other pop music styles. E makes a great starting key, since the open sixth string is an E.

You will need a scale chart to see where your fingers need to go to make the notes of the scale. These are widely available in free online guitar lessons. These charts will show the root note in a different color so that you can keep track of them. The root note for the key of E is E. You've probably noticed that if a song does not end on a root note, you somehow don't feel like it has finished.

Here's a verbal description of how to play a basic E minor pentatonic scale in the first position. Your first note is the open sixth string. The second note will be at the third fret of the sixth string - this is a G. Now go to the open fifth string, an A. Next go to the second fret of the fifth string - a B. The next note is the open fourth string, a D. Now go to the second fret of the fourth string, and pluck an E. If you were reading a scale chart, this note would be in a different color because you're back to a root. But you're not done yet!

The next note is the open third string - a G. Now play the note at the second fret of the third string - an A. The next note is the open second string - a B. Then you play the third fret of the second string, which is a D. The open first string is another E, and would be noted again as a root on a scale chart. You can finger the third fret of this string for another G, and then reverse the whole process, going down the scale back to the original open sixth E string.

Practice this scale until you get proficient at it and you are on the way to being able to create your own improvised licks in the key of E.

Finding Online Guitar Lessons

By: Andrew Morris

Since the early 80's I have been searching for better guitar
lessons. I was not one of those who could listen to a record
once and repeat the licks note-for-note. I took a few lessons
locally, but couldn't find a teacher that clicked. This
frustration led me to order cassette-tape lessons by mail. Since
this was well before online lessons, I often waited weeks for
delivery. Little did I know that online lessons were coming our
way.

Today, many types of guitar lessons are available online. These
include beginner's lessons in mp3 format, instruction videos,
and tab transcriptions of your favorite licks. Tablature, or
"tab", is a transcription method that tells you exactly when and
where to fret and pick. You don't have to read music to read
tablature.

Online guitar lessons are very convenient, and learning this way
can also be cheaper and more effective. If you travel like I do,
you can learn new songs on the road rather than watching TV!

Here is a roundup of some sites that I have used to find online
guitar lessons:

Video Lessons: Guitar Tricks

Guitar Tricks features a library of lessons that you can access
anytime and anywhere to improve your ability. They currently
charge $5/month subscription fee, but offer free lessons (150)
to start. Their roster includes 48 instructors from all over the
world.

Mp3 Lessons: Fender Players Club

This excellent site is devoted to helping you get started on the
guitar. Yes, barre chords are easier on an electric guitar!
Sample beginner's lessons include:

Chords in the open position - Learn the most basic chords and
practice switching between them; practice tips, how to read the
diagrams, and more.

Chords - Once you're used to playing the basic chords, it's time
to start learning some other ones. Included is a chart with a
whole bunch of chords.

Barre chords - When you have some strength in your fretting
hand, tackle the barre chords. They're tough, but don't give up.

Tablature

If you like doing things the "old-fashioned" way, two news
groups are sources for guitar tablature:

rec.music.makers.guitar.tablature alt.guitar.tab

Tablature Web Sites: Guitar Notes

This site claims to be the largest collection of guitar music on
the net. You can browse through their artist index or use their
search engine to look through over 150,000 songs.

Unfortunately, the mother of all tablature sites, OLGA (On-line
Guitar Archive)is currently offline while attempting to resolve
legal issues with the archive. I hope they get this worked out
shortly as this site is a valuable resource.

In closing, whether you're just getting started or are looking
to advance your ability, online guitar lessons can be a fun and
effective way to take learn guitar.

About the author:
Andrew Morris is a guitar player and author living in Austin,
Texas. He is often amazed and perplexed at the sounds an
acoustic guitar makes in the right hands. Find out more about
the world of online guitar lessons at Online Guitar
Lesson.

Tips On Buying An Electric Guitar

By: Phil Morris

The electric guitar is the cornerstone of an exhilarating
musical experience. A good guitar will enhance the musical
experience. If you love all kinds of music then your electric
guitar should be able to play all the genres of music well. But
if you want to play a specific type of music like jazz or rock,
choose an electric guitar that allows you to play only that
type. If you are interested in purchasing an electric guitar,
here are some useful tips to make your purchasing easier. It
will give you a good idea about the things you should look for
while buying the electric guitar.

Before purchasing the electric guitar, consider the following
points:

· Decide on your budget: A good electric guitar can cost
anywhere from $99 to more than $20,000. Hence you need to fix
your budget before you start visiting the shop or going online
to buy the product. Since the price range of the good electric
guitar is high, once you fix your budget, it makes your task
easier.

· Choose the sound you want: One of the vital aspects of buying
an electric guitar is choosing the right sound you want. Some
guitars are better capable of switching from blues to jazz to
rock without anyone noticing a change. Others are meant for one
type of music, so you cannot change the sound immediately.
Before purchasing, listen to the guitar sounds of your choice.
Consult a music expert to determine the type of guitar used in
the recording. He will be able to help you determine the type of
guitar that will help you achieve the same result as in the
recording. Besides, you should be aware of the type of music you
want to play to help you in the selection process.

· Get the feel of the electric guitar: If the guitar doesn't
excite you when you hold it, it is not the right choice for you.
Look around in other shops both online as well as in the market
before settling on the perfect guitar for you.

About the author:
Click for great bass
guitars advice or recommended guitars advice. For
great general interest information go to www.hiffel.info.

Acoustic or Electric Guitar - Which Is Best For The Beginner

By: Al Tan

Having played the guitar for a number of years, I am often asked
this question by eager learners - "Should I start learning with
the acoustic or electric guitar?" In this article, I'll talk a
bit about both so you can come to an informed decision.

First of all, let me get something straight. The actual notes
and fretboards work the same for both, so if you start with
either one, its always interchangeable, although the playing
techniques might differ.

Most younger players would gravitate towards the electric guitar
thanks to MTV and the "cool factor". The acoustic guitar seems
to have a more "folksy" image to it. Both sound very different,
with the acoustic relying purely on natural acoustic principles
to generate the sound, using the body of the guitar as an
"amplifier". The electric guitar on the other hand needs an
electric amplifier to generate sound. There are of course
hybrids, but that is not relevent in this article.

So, which is better for the beginner? I'll cover 3 aspects below
- cost, convenience and playability.

Cost Both are about the same, you can get really expensive
custom built electric of acoustic guitars. However, the electric
can start to get more expensive simply because of the tempting
options and accessories like amplifiers, pre-amps, effects
pedals, volume pedals, etc. The acoustic on the other hand might
be simpler to start with. It plays right out of the box!

Convenience Again the acoustic wins as you can take it almost
everywhere without worrying about a power socket. There are
personal practice gadgets available for the electric guitar
which allows you to practice with headphones.

Playability My personal preference here is the electric guitar.
I find it easier to play, with the strings being softer and thus
less effort to play.



Either way, they both should be respected and used for what they
are and any good guitarist should be adept at both. For the
beginner, I would prefer the acoustic as it helps a lot in ear
training as you get accustomed to the vibrations of the body
making the tuning of the strings are easier to detect.

My final piece of advice is to don't get too obsessed with your
instrument while you're learning but focus on the music instead.
Once you start to get better at it you'll know instinctively
what sort of 'ax' you'll need. I've met my fair share of
musicians who are so into the gear but have not improved in
their skill much and on the other hand, have heard some amazing,
soul-stirring music from blues masters that have played the same
guitar all their life!

About the author:
Al Tan tries to be a guitarist when he's not building websites.
One of the best resource to learn guitar online that he's come
across which has step-by-step guitar lessons on video is
http://www.niknax.com/jamorama.html. For acoustic guitar, try
http://www.niknax.com/acousticguitar.html

Choosing An Electric Guitar: Main Points To Consider

By: Peter Mack

Ask any guitarist, and they will you that nothing comes close to
jamming with a guitar. In fact, no other instrument has
influenced modern music so much as the guitar, and its ongoing
popularity is reflect in its ubiquitous appearance in bands,
radio stations and music videos throughout the world. Certainly
one of the coolest instruments, the guitar is synonymous with
contemporary pop and rock music. That said, no guitar is more
symbolic of rock music than the electric guitar.

Whether you are an expert or a mere learner, getting a new
electric guitar is a thrill. Perhaps you have only ever played
an acoustic guitar, and want to branch out? Maybe you are simply
learning guitar from scratch? Whatever your reasons, buying an
electric guitar means you will be able to play searing riffs and
haunting melodies like you have never experienced with any other
instrument.

There are a number of things to decide upon when choosing an
electric guitar.

The first decision you need to make is what body shape you want
your guitar to be. To date, the most popular guitar shape is the
solid-body Les Paul shape. You can also opt for the SG Style,
which has a thinner double cut-away body. Other most common
shapes are the Stratocaster and Telecaster.

Once you have chosen the shape of your guitar, you will need to
decide what pick-up you want, either single or humbucker pick
up. These refer to the copper wire that is wrapped around the
bar magnets. As its name implies, the single pick-up it is
composed of one copper wire wrapped in a single coil around a
single bar magnet or several rod magnets. The humbucker pick-up,
on the other hand, uses two coils which tends to increase the
intensity of a guitar's sounds.

Choosing the right bridge is another important step. You will
need to decide between the stock tremolo, double-locking or
Floyd Rose double locking system. Depending on the style, the
strings may be positioned differently, looser or tighter, and
more or less responsive to your touch.

These are just some of the things you will need to consider when
you select your new electric guitar. The choice you ultimately
make will vary depending on the sort of music you want to play,
as well as your knowledge and level of experience. Your budget
will also bear upon your decision, and for those with less
money, secondhand guitars are always an option.

Seeking help from friends who play the electrical guitar, or
staff at the music store is always invaluable. Once you have the
right guitar, your playing will be more enjoyable... and the
better for it.

About the author:
Peter Mack writes for electricguitarshow
a website of
electric guitar articles and

Tips on How to Play the Slide Guitar

Making a slide requires good execution. This is a technique where a guitarist can create a loud wailing sound on the guitar. Here are some tips to make a perfect slide.

1. The tuning of the guitar must be replaced from its regular chord tuning of E-A-D-G-B-E to a more open tuning; with the chord alignment on the D major arranged as D-G-D-B-D. The change should be from the sixth string up to the first string.

2. He can make a slide by moving the fingers of his left hand. The execution should follow the correct positioning of the chords. A smooth and slow slide would be perfect to accurately play the new chords.

3. Make a gentle grip on the neck of the guitar and expose the end finger to have a feel on the strings. In this way, you can easily make the slide with simple finger movement.

4. To create a wailing sound, it is necessary that you must only cover the strings that are needed for the slide. Sometimes the guitar will produce an unwanted noise from the strings if the slide is not properly done, so be sure that strings are properly covered by the fingers.

5. Always remember to have a slide vertically aligned straight to the strings. This will allow you to exert effort when making a slide than the normal way of holding a guitar.

6. You can make a little movement along the strings with the fingers. It must be executed with smoothness and gentleness. A hard press or tight hold might create distracting noises on the fret.

7. You can execute a slide on the first and second string making E and B chords and a D-major key on the twelfth fret of the guitar.

8. Then execute the slide going toward the bottom from the D-major key, which is in the twelfth fret for a G-major key in the fifth fret. That would give a loud wailing sound because of the slide.

9. You can make a slide going back on the A-major key, which is in the seventh fret and then release your fingers removing the slide and make an open twelfth fret to create a D-major sound.

To have a perfect execution in sliding requires more practice. It is easy to learn sliding by practicing with an open tone because all of the strings will have similar chords when they are strummed. If the strings are set up with their regular tones, the player needs to make sure to cover the right strings when sliding.

Gibson Guitars are Timeless

By: Max Cane

Gibson guitars have been around for decades, and this is partly
attributed to the fact that they emit a great sound. Gibson
guitars are also very durable, meaning that guitars from 50 and
60 years ago are still playing like they are brand new. These
two factors alone have gone a long way in ensuring that Gibson
guitars still have a place in today's music industry.

Used Gibson guitars are one of the best buys in the world of
music. They offer a quality sound, and can be had at a great
price if you know what type of model to purchase. Buying used
Gibson guitars has also turned into a hobby for a lot of people.
Gibson guitars, in particular the sunburst Gibson guitars, have
become a popular collectors item over the past couple of years.
Even though the sunburst has become popular, it seems that most
collectors prefer the Gibson Les Paul guitars. They have been
around since the early 1950's, and are still very popular in
today's day and age. Even though the Les Paul is still being
produced, the older versions are just as popular. A piece of art
like the Gibson Les Paul 57 Gold Top or an original 1960 Les
Paul are true collector items.

Over the years Gibson guitars have changed a lot. If you are a
collector you will be able to easily identify the changes. But
for the average person, it can sometimes be difficult to
determine what year a guitar is from. If you are trying to
determine the make, model, and year of your piece you may want
to go online, or stop into a guitar store for some professional
assistance. This will allow you to get a top notch appraisal
from somebody that is experienced in the industry.

Overall, Gibson guitars are timeless pieces of music history. If
you are looking for a great guitar to play, or just to collect,
you should consider purchasing a Gibson guitar. It's more than
just a buy, it's an investment!



About the author:
For more information about Gibson guitars, other guitars, and
equipment please visit www.guitarheadz.com, the
complete guide for anything you want to know about guitars and
related gear.

Learn Guitar on DVD

Learning How To Play The Guitar Could Be Quicker and Easier
Using Tutorial DVD's

By: Gary Wilkinson

When you pick up your guitar you want to start to be able to
play your favourite songs as soon as you can. Let's face it -
learning to play the guitar should be fun and not boring or
frustrating.

Nowadays there are so many methods to teach you how to play the
guitar and you should find the one that works best for you. If
you find it boring learning from a book and you can't afford a
private guitar tutor, then I recommend that you learn how to
play the guitar with a professional guitar DVD.

Where Do You Get A Guitar Tutorial DVD?

The good news is that there are many DVDs available on the
market today that can teach you how to play the guitar. Many of
them are created by real guitar pros of all ages. You can find
these DVD's in music stores or you can order them from a virtual
music shops on the Internet or ebay.

Before you buy though make sure that you choose a learning
program that works for you. If you're purchasing it online, a
great tip is to look for reviews and feedback from other buyers.
My advice is that it is better to choose a learn guitar easy DVD
that has a 90-day money back guarantee so that you can send it
back if you are not satisfied. Most professional online tutors
will have this option proudly displayed on their websites. If
you are buying it from a music store, then the staff will
usually be very helpful and can recommend you one that suits
your current level.

Are There Benefits To Learn To Play The Guitar Using These
DVD's?

If you are like me and find it easier to sit and watch a tutor
in action rather than just reading from a book then you will
indeed benefit from a guitar tutorial DVD. Some DVDs are
excellent and really will make it easier to learn how to play
the guitar quickly and easily.

The good news is that they are not very expensive and most of
them offer a no quibble money back guarantee if you find they
don't meet your learning needs (such as being too advanced or
too basic). A big bonus is that you get to practice in your own
home, as often as you want, without wasting time on travelling
to guitar classes and you can keep watching a certain part of
the DVD over and over again so that the information really sinks
in without having to be embarrassed by asking a tutor to repeat
the exercise.

I don't like to make the learning curve any harder than it is
already and try to make life easier for myself so I find
learning how to play the guitar DVD's definitely make the
learning process fun and entertaining. It is usually more
successful in keeping you focused and interested than learning
from a theory book, which can be heavy and hard going. Guitar
DVD's show you exactly how to play and demonstrations on how you
should sound like which is a big, big plus!

Are There Any Disadvantages To Using How To Play The Guitar
DVD's?

On the whole I would say not. They are usually very good value
for money and will help you to be able to play the guitar much
more quickly than if you were trying to learn to play by
yourself.

However, while you can learn how to play the guitar quickly and
easily on DVD, some would argue that it cannot compete with a
private teacher. For example a DVD provides a standard teaching
program and is not customized to suit your individual learning
style. It is more generic for a large audience whereas a teacher
can design the method he/she uses to meet your learning needs
and requirements.

Another thing to consider is that although it shows it how you
should play, a guitar tutorial DVD cannot tell you when you're
making a mistake and how to correct it. A guitar teacher can
only really provide this kind of constructive feedback. A guitar
tutor can be truly inspirational and offer positive feedback
when you're progressing which will keep you motivated and
dedicated to continue playing your guitar, but a guitar 'how-to'
DVD won't know if what you're playing is good or bad.

So there you have it. If you can afford it, I'd recommend a
private tutor as it is probably the most recommended learning
strategy by all of the experts but a guitar tutorial on DVD can
is definitely an acceptable compromise for people like me who
get bored with theory books, but don't have the time and money
to pay a professional guitar teacher.

Whichever method you choose, make sure that you enjoy it. Make
it fun and continue to practise as often as you can and I
promise that you will learn to play the guitar much more quickly
than you first imagined.

Let me know how you get on.

Best wishes

The Guitar Pro

About the author:
I have a very popular web site jam packed with lot's of tips and
resources to help you learn how to play the guitar and I am
giving away my best selling book, "How To Play The Guitar Like A
Pro" completely FREE. Visit my web site to get your free copy:
http://www.learntheguitartoday.com

Tips for Guitar Performance

Have you advanced in your guitar playing to the point that you're performing for others? Maybe you're interested in playing at a local open mic event, or are ready to do a solo for a school or church concert. Or maybe you're part of a band that has jammed and practiced and is getting itchy to do some real entertaining. Whatever the case, there are some things to remember when you start performing for a group.

First, make sure you have practiced the songs you want to do until you know them inside and out. Nervousness will creep in and you will forget what you thought you had embedded in your soul! Get those songs nailed down as well as you can. Drill yourself on those chord changes and tricky rhythms until they are second nature. Rehearse any lyrics you might sing over and over. Don't bomb out just because you have failed to put the practice time in.

That said, be aware that technical difficulties can ruin an otherwise stellar performance. There is nothing unprofessional about taking a minute to check the microphones and monitor to make sure things are going to work for your particular brand of music. If you get started pouring your soul into a song, but the people can't hear you, or worse, you can't hear your own voice, it's going to throw your confidence for a loop.

A third consideration, touched on in the paragraph above, is to plan to pour your soul into your performance. When people come to hear someone make music, they want to feel the excitement the musician feels about the music. It's an intimate experience for the musician, and the audience wants to get in on it. If you are too concerned about the impression you are making on the audience, you will not be attending to the music like you need to.

Here's another consideration. Is the place you are performing noisy? Is it filled with people talking, laughing, and doing their own thing? Maybe you're in an active night spot, or performing for people at a fair. These people have other interests going on as well as your performance. The best thing you can do is lose yourself in your music. Don't worry about trying to drown out the noise. In fact, sometimes if you quiet down and have your own personal music party going, the crowd will quiet down to see what's going on on the stage.

The bottom line in performing is that how you look or impress the audience is not nearly as important as how you sound. Remember, too, that you don't have to prove anything to the audience in most cases. They are not sitting in judgment on you, but rather are hoping you do great. They'll likely feel sorry for you if you flub a bit and will cheer if you pull it off. So don't look at those folks as someone to impress, but someone on your side.

Acoustic Vs. Electric Guitars: Which Guitar Is The Best To Start

Acoustic Vs. Electric Guitars: Which Guitar Is The Best To Start
Learning With?

By: Darren Armentrout

One of the most common questions I get from new guitarists is,
"should I begin on the acoustic or electric?" To be honest,
there really is no right or wrong answer. But let's look at some
of the differences to help us decide.

First, the biggest question is what kind of music do you like?
If you want to learn to play like Metallica or Greenday, then
it's obvious you need to get an electric guitar. If you want to
play like James Taylor or Dave Matthews, then an acoustic would
be the best route to go.

Parents, if you are helping your child decide what is best for
them, be sure to ask them what kind of music they want to learn.
Also, ask them if they know which kind of guitar they would like
and why. Asking these questions has always helped me figure out
which guitar would be a better fit for my students. Sometimes,
people just want to play the guitar because it's "cool"-- or
because they want to be a rock star. Or, maybe a friend is
learning to play drums and they want to start a band together.
In these cases I normally would recommend an electric.
Motivation is the key here. Sometimes simply buying the wrong
kind of guitar, can make a child lose interest in playing and
then you are out the time and money. I've seen many parents,
even with the best intentions, have a child start on acoustic
when the child really wanted an electric and it normally ends
the same way-- disinterest.

So, besides appearance, what are some of the important things to
consider? Generally, you can play the same things on either
guitar, and the basics are the same. The guitar is tuned the
same and all the scales and chords you learn will be the same
for either. However, the sound is different. What sounds good on
one may sound weak, out of place, or downright silly on the
other. When a lot of people think of guitar, they think of the
guy who comes to the front of a stage in the middle of a song
and plays a screaming solo. If this is the kind of playing
you're looking to learn, then you need an electric. If you're
wanting to learn to strum chords, kind of like the Beatles, then
get an acoustic. Electrics tend to be played louder, more
aggressively and have a raunchier dirty kind of sound. Acoustics
tend to have a fuller, more natural sound and have a little more
laid back kind of a feel.

The main advantage of an electric guitar when beginning to play
is the string gauge. Electric guitars usually have strings that
are much thinner than the strings of their hollow bodied
brothers. This means that it's a little bit easier to push the
strings down on electric. The strings are thinner, though, and
may feel a little sharper than the thicker acoustic strings.
But, guitarists who start on electric and then pick up the
acoustic sometimes find they have to develop their hand strength
a little before they can get comfortable on the acoustic. One
disadvantage of the electric, is that it is noisier. The pickups
of an electric are much less forgiving of mistakes than an
acoustic is. Because an electric is sensitive to every little
nuance of touch, finger placement and pressure, tiny mistakes
beginners make will ring more clearly on an electric than on an
acoustic. Another disadvantage of the electric guitar is it's a
little more expensive to get everything you need to start on it.
Not only do you have to buy the guitar but you have to buy an
amp and a guitar cable to go with it. On average it will cost
$40-$80 more to start on an electric than an acoustic of similar
quality.

The main advantage of an acoustic is it's portability. The
acoustic can go almost anywhere and be played anywhere. So you
can practice or perform wherever you'd like-- whether at home,
on a trip, or around the campfire. There is no extra equipment
required, just pick it up and play. Another advantage of the
acoustic is the volume. I have never been asked to stop playing
my acoustic because of noise-- even when in the dorms at college
or playing in my apartment at two in the morning. I have been
asked on several occasions to turn down my amp or to stop
playing all together by a frustrated roommate or neighbor.
However, if your main concern with an electric is noise, most
amps have a headphone jack you can use to keep others happy.
Getting a clean sound is a little easier on an acoustic than an
electric. But, guitarists who start off on acoustics and then
switch to electrics may find the required precision to control
the noise a little difficult to handle at first. Another
disadvantage of an acoustic is it's a bit quiet when playing in
a band unamplified. So playing with a band (especially drums)
may require extra equipment to be heard.

So there you have it, the main differences between starting on
the acoustic guitar or starting on an electric guitar. What
choice you make depends on:

The look you want: Are you going for the rock star look? The
sound: Do you prefer the pure natural sound or the crunchy
distorted sound? The tradeoff: Ease of pressing strings down, or
more forgiving of mistakes? Price? Portability?

In the end, most guitarists who stick with playing a year or
two, soon pick up the other kind of guitar as well. So, what you
start on depends on what is most important to you.

About the author:
For more guitar related articles by this author, answers to
common guitar related questions, and free blank tablature and
blank guitar charts visit www.fishmanmusic.c
om Darren Armentrout has been playing guitar for 13 years,
earned a Bachelors in music, and has been teaching guitar for
over 5 years.

Choosing The Right Guitar For You

By: Jakob Culver

There are many different types of people in the world, and
because of this there are many different guitars. There are
different types of music and depending on what kind of music you
are looking to play you will need to have the right guitar.

An acoustic guitar is much less
expensive than an electric guitar. It also requires less
equipment because for an acoustic it's optional.

If you are interested in an electric guitar, here are some
things to consider so that you may get the right one for you.

Be sure that you are interested in playing the sort of music
you are choosing an electric for. Electric is usually meant to
be used for rock music. Remember you can start small.

Don't go for the big name brand first. Pick a cheaper brand to
practice and learn on. This will also help if you should decide
you don't want to play after all. Then you wouldn't have spent
too much on something you don't use.

Once you have learned then you should look into more expensive
equipment. Then you will know for sure that this is something
you enjoy and you can know that you deserve the equipment.

Second hand guitars are also an option open to you. You can
find second hand guitars in many places. Think of ebay, the
newspaper, or pawnshops. Some guitar stores will also have
second guitars sometimes.

About the author:
http://musicentertainment
web.com is a music entertainment information portal founded
by Jakob Culver.

To find out more information about this topic and more visit the
website:

http://musicentertainment
web.com

Tips For Beginner Guitar Lessons

By: Morgan Hamilton

Does this sound familiar? A guitar case lying around in your
house doing nothing but gather dust. Chances are that despite
your best intentions, you have one and probably never learned
how to play, or started taking beginner guitar lessons and soon
lost your enthusiasm, or something else got in the way. Taking
beginner guitar lessons in the traditional manner sometimes just
doesn't work all that well when you're busy with little things
like life. However, if you have a computer, and who doesn't
these days, you can easily find many online sites that offer
beginner guitar lessons gratis, for free, or you can buy guitar
lesson packages with DVDs and instructional manuals that can be
sent to your home if you would prefer. Have no fear if you can't
read music; beginners are also taught how to read tablature,
which is easier to learn to read than music. Trust me, it really
is.



No matter if you choose to start your beginner guitar lessons on
the computer or with the traditional educational material, you
start out with the raw basics about guitars and accessories,
like picks and tuners, strings, bridges, etc. Students are
taught how to correctly hold a guitar and pick, and how to tune
it so that it sounds good! Sure this may sound really simple,
but there are people who feel really awkward at first, and are
helped a great deal from a few pointers. Another great bonus to
taking beginner guitar lessons in the comfort of your own home,
is that the embarrassment factor is almost completely
eliminated! Lessons are usually rather easy to understand and
are available to you to play over and over until you have
mastered that level. You know the saying, practice makes
perfect. Beginner guitar lessons include basic scales and chord
formations also; it is kind of important to have some basic
music theory behind you because you will always benefit by
looking back to it for basic guidance, even after you are an
accomplished musician!

A fantastic method to get started or brush up on the basics,
beginner guitar lessons let you begin where you feel
comfortable, and move alond at a pace that is comfortable to
you. Beginner guitar lessons are readily available to you online
and there are many quality sites to choose from. Some can be
downloaded, or you can have beginner guitar lessons delivered to
your doorstep, whichever you decide. The whole idea behind it is
to get you playing, whether it be the first time, or to get you
back in the saddle again! Guitar is actually one of the easiest
instruments to learn how to play, contrary to what you may have
heard, and fits in real well with just about all types of music.
You certainly don't have to run out and buy a brand new guitar,
unless of course you want to! For beginner guitar lessons, you
just need anything with six strings and that can be tuned and
strummed. After just a few lessons you'll be amazing your family
and friends with your incredible talent! Where is that music
contract... bring it on.

About the author:
Morgan Hamilton offers his findings and insights regarding the
world of Fine Arts. You can get interesting and informative
information here at Beginner Guitar Lessons

Learn How To Play Guitar - 4 Tips To Improve Your Guitar Playing

Here's another good article by Tim Lee. There's some good tips
that will improve your playing a lot. Enjoy.

By: Tim Lee

Playing guitar as a hobby or professionally can be very
fulfilling. It is a great outlet for one's creativity and
passion, and is the perfect expression of one's self. Whether
you are a beginner guitar player or not, you could use the
following tips and instructions to improve your guitar playing.

1) Good posture is Truly Underrated

While you can play guitar in almost any position, good position
is integral to getting the most out of your guitar. Without good
posture you could put yourself in greater risk for straining
muscles - not to mention that wrong posture is truly awkward and
uncomfortable to the player. You could even acquire or
exacerbate back pain playing in the wrong position.

In a sitting position, sit up straight and cradle the guitar
with your legs. Armless chairs are better for this sort of
playing. If you are a classical player you might want to
purchase a foot rest to elevate your left leg (if you are
right-handed).

While standing, make sure you have good footing, with feet
properly spaced. Keep the guitar high on your chest. If you have
a guitar strap then you could avoid getting fatigued while
playing your guitar.

2) Hold Your Pick the Right Way

If you are a pick player, one common mistake you can avoid is to
hold your pick the right way. The proper way to hold a pick is
to grip is firmly but not too tightly.

If you hold your pick to firmly, you could get your arm tired
real easily. If you hold it too loose you could easily lose your
pick during a very vigorous strumming session. The best place to
hold your pick is somewhere in its middle.

Choosing the right pick is also another important choice you
will have to make. If you are a beginner, you may want to use
soft picks for strumming. They are also easier on the arms and
do not need to be gripped too tightly. However, most flabby
picks do not perform well when used to pluck individual strings,
bass strings, or when flat picking.

3) Practice your arpeggios

After giving strumming a thorough work out, try working on
arpeggios as they could seriously improve you playing style and
will open you up to new guitar skills. Some players start with
arpeggios before jumping into serious lead playing or
complicated playing.

It also gives your playing much more variety than would be
available if you stuck to simpler chord playing. And as
mentioned, arpeggios are the gateway to higher level playing
skills.

4) D Chord Secrets Revealed

The D-sus chord is a beautiful flourish when used to lead back
to the D-chord. It is easily done by adding your pinkie finger
to the chord at the third fret. Practice how this chord is used
and you will find that it easily integrates into most
contemporary songs.

You could also use this with other chords. You may refer to most
chord charts to find out how these chords are done.

Conclusion

In the end practice is still the best way to get better at
guitar playing. However, you can avoid wasting your time during
practice by learning to practice smarter instead of just more.
The tips mentioned above will help you get started on this road.

About the author:
To learn how to play guitar using the easiest to follow method,
please visit http://www.Guitar-
Playing-Tips.info/

Best Beginner Guitar

Hands down the best beginner guitar in the market is the Epiphone Les Paul Standard. This is built to the same specs as the Gibson Les Paul as Epiphone is a subsidiary of Gibson. You get the same fat les paul tone for a fraction of the price. You won't get frustrated playing it either as you would on some cheap guitar models. Check it out.



Epiphone Les Paul Standard Plus-Top Electric Guitar Electric Guitar Heritage Cherry Sunburst

How To Play Lead Guitar

Here's some good tips if you're working on lead guitar.

By: Masni Rizal Mansor

Many newbies are fascinated by the way lead guitarists are
blazing through a solo and keep wondering how they can do that.
They just can't understand how these people figure out which
notes can would sound right before playing them. The following
article is aimed to show some perspective on how to learn lead
guitar and begin to make up your own guitar solos.

The Blues Scale

What many beginner guitarists who want to learn lead guitar do
not know that improvising doesn't mean just playing random notes
and hoping they will sound great together. Before you can learn
lead guitar, you should know that professional guitar players
usually draw their solos from a scale, which they are using as a
template for improvisation. The blues scale, despite the name,
is actually a scale used very often in all guitar solo styles.

How to Use It?

Try practicing this scale forwards and backwards, while using
alternate picking and make sure you play each note evenly and
cleanly. After you got this right, try to play each note two
times before you get to the next one. Make up different ways to
play the blues scale to challenge your playing skills. Play the
blues scale so that the root begins on the letter name of the
scale you are trying to play. For example, if you want to play a
C blues scale, you've got to find the note C on the fretboard
and start the scale from that note.

Improvising

Once you've become familiar with the blues scale, you might want
to take up some theory lessons and learn more on the different
positions of pentatonic and blues scales. However, you can get
to play a lot of great stuff just by using the single position
explained above, so start practicing on making up your own solos
before you memorize tons of scale positions.

Once you've managed to learn lead guitar basics, you can start
improvising. The concept is fairly simple: all you have to do is
string together some licks from the blues scale that sound good
together. However, when you try to do it, you'll realize it's
actually more difficult than it sounds. You might want to get
some soloing lessons for beginner guitarists that want to learn
lead guitar. Accesrock.com provides some good lessons.

After you did some practicing, you should visit the Home for all
Guitar Lovers website that shows several guitar licks. You can
try to memorize some of these and use them in your own solos.
Don't get frustrated if you play rather badly at first; if you
like what you're doing, it will get better over time.

About the author:


Masni Rizal Mansor provide tips and review on acoustic guitar, electric guitar.

Adjusting The Guitar Nut

This is one of those sticky adjustments on your guitar that is a pain to get just right. Check this out:

An Alternative Way To Adjust Your Guitar Nut

By: Andrew Preston

Most new guitars arrive from the factory with the nut just
barely playable. Older guitars may have the nut filed or worn
down so much that fret buzz cannot be eliminated by neck or
string height adjustment. If you have a new guitar, or you are
replacing the nut with a new one, here is an alternative method
to file and adjust the nut material to make your guitar play
like the professionals guitars play.

Before adjusting anything, make sure your guitar is strung up
correctly and that your neck is straight and not bowed or
warped. If your neck is bowed you first need to adjust the truss
rod. If your neck is warped it will require a more extensive
repair. For the lowest possible action or to avoid fret buzz all
across your finger board it may be necessary to have your frets
leveled and crowned first.

You will need a set of nut files (available from Stewart
MacDonald), and a good set of feeler gauges as well. Different
grades of sandpaper are very useful too.

Fret each string individually, starting with the High E, between
the second and third fret, use your feeler gauge to check the
amount of space between the bottom of the string and the first
fret. You should have approximately .005" of space between each
one, with the string barely touching the second fret. If this
measurement is close or dead on then move on to the next string
right up to the Low E string. You may want to record the gap on
a scrap piece of paper as you move across the fret board, to see
the nut slot's height in relation to the fret board as you do so.

For most players a string height (also known in guitar slang as
"action") of 3/64" of an inch is considered normal. Some players
choose a higher sting height such as 4/64" of an inch while
players which tend to have a light touch and want the fastest
action possible strive to lower the action as close as possible
to 2/64" which in many case's is very hard to setup and maintain
without fret buzzing somewhere on the finger board.

Of course, you can use the traditional method to set your string
height in relation to the nut, by using multiple feeler gauges
below the nut, and filing down to the factory depth and width.
However, I have found this method to provide a better and more
consistent feel while playing near the nut.

About the author:
Andrew Preston is a professional guitar session player and
dabbles in part time guitar repair. Your can see more
information at Guitar
Savant

Four Ways To Learn Guitar

There's some good advice for beginners in today's guest article. Everybody learns a little different so find a way that's most comfortable for you.

By: Masni Rizal Mansor

With the increasing popularity of rock music during the last few
decades, playing the guitar has become very appealing for many
people. While there are many teenagers out there who dream of
becoming rock superstars, there are also many people that want
to learn how to play the guitar just for the sake of it.
However, many of them don't find the best way to learn guitar
and after a few unsuccessful attempts, they finally give up.

Different people have different learning needs. In addition, we
also have different resources, different jobs, different errands
to run and different schedules. If you're not at the level you
want, maybe it's because you haven't found the best way to learn
guitar yet. There are several ways to learn how to play the
guitar. Listed below are only a few of them.

Theory Books

There are thousands of theory books on the market that teach you
how to play the guitar. Some of them are even very good and can
provide you with all the information you need. Books are an
inexpensive and comfortable strategy to learn how to play the
guitar. Unfortunately, experience shows that for many of us they
just don't work. However, if you are a very patient person, a
theory book might be the best way to learn guitar.

Video Lessons

Video guitar lessons are available on DVDs and video tapes in
almost any music store, as well as on virtual shops. In
addition, there are also some video lessons available online.
Some of them are even free. Video lessons are more dynamic and
have a better chance of keeping you focused. They have the
advantage of allowing you to practice at home whenever you find
the time to do it. However, the inconvenience is that you can't
benefit from the personalized attention and useful feedback a
teacher could provide.

Private Lessons

If you are willing to dedicate a lot of time as well as some
money to this, private lessons are definitely the best way to
learn guitar. A good teacher can design a customized teaching
program to suit your learning style and provide you with
individualized attention and positive feedback to get you
motivated. In addition, he/she can also spot and correct your
mistakes very fast.

Learning by Ear

Learning the guitar by ear can be very fun, especially if you
have some sort of musical bone in your body, and that bone is
humming with lots of vibration, you might find that this is the
best way to learn guitar for you. With the modern slowing down
technology, it is much easier now than it used to be for our
parents' generation.

You should always keep in mind that playing the guitar should be
fun. If you find it difficult or stressing, your learning
strategy might have a lot to do with it. Sometimes you need to
try several learning methods before finding the one that works
best for you. However, if you really want to play the guitar
like a pro and have enough time and money, taking up private
lessons is probably the best way to go.

About the author:


Masni Rizal Mansor provide tips and review on guitar chords, how to play a
guitar.

Get 5 Guitar Playing Tips to Help You Play Better Guitar

By: Jake Hanson

In this helpful article, you will get guitar playing tips
designed to help you improve your playing skills. So let's get
started...

1) The first guitar playing tip is to use good posture while
playing the guitar

You should sit up straight in an armless chair. If the chair has
arms, you will not be able to hold the guitar properly for
playing. Sit up straight to protect your back.

If you get a backache after a bit of playing, you will realize
how having good posture while playing the guitar is so important.

2) The next guitar playing tip is to hold the pick firmly but
not too firmly.

If you do not grip the pick firmly enough, you may lose it
during a vigorous bout of strumming! But if you grip it too
tightly, you may find your whole arm getting tired. Middle of
the road is the best guitar playing tip I can give you where
pick grip is concerned.

3) Choosing the right pick is another guitar tip that is
important.

Picks come in finger and flat styles. Most guitarists use a flat
one. They also come in three different levels of flexibility.

Several professional guitarists have given me the advice of
getting the softest, flabbiest pick I can find for learning to
keep up with fast strumming. It's easier on the arm. Flabby
picks are harder to use, however, if you are trying to pick out
individual strings, as in adding a bass line, or flat-picking.

After some practice with a soft pick, you will probably want to
move on to a firmer one. A final guitar playing tip about picks
is that the firmest picks make the richest sounds.

4) Here is a guitar playing tip - learn to play arpeggios.

It's fun, great for old folk songs, and sounds beautiful! You
won't be able to use a pick, though. Finger the chord. Now, pick
the bass note of the chord with your thumb. You can use a thumb
pick for this, however, it works just fine to use your thumb.
You will grow a little callus there which will make it easier.

Now use your index finger to pluck the third string. Next, pluck
the second string with your middle finger. And then pluck the
top string with your ring finger. You've picked four notes.

If you repeat the sequence, giving each note the timing of an
eighth note, you will fill a measure of a song written in
four/four time. This guitar playing tip will make people sit up
and take notice, but it does require practice, and calluses, to
play this way. Try playing the strings in different order, and
alternate bass strings.

5) A final guitar playing tip involves the chord D.

While playing the D chord, try adding your pinkie finger to the
chord at the third fret. This new chord is often called
"D-suspended" or "D-sus." Then play D again. Now try lifting
your middle finger so that the top string of the chord is open.
And back to D again.

You can do the same thing with the A-chord, but have to do the
change on the second string. Up one fret to the third makes
A-sus, and you can also lift that finger to go down a step on
that second string. C-suspended requires you to go up a half
step on the fourth string. G-suspended requires you to do it on
the fifth string. Learning suspended chords is a guitar playing
tip you'll find yourself using when you play contemporary songs.

I hope you've found these guitar playing tips helpful. It's
important to remember that the best way to improve your guitar
playing skills is to practice, practice, practice. Good luck!



About the author:
Article by Jake Hanson. Please visit his guitar
lesson site to get an online free guitar lesson course that details how to play guitar with
amazing free chord and tab lessons.

How to Read Guitar Tab - Free Guitar Tablature Sites

By: Jake Hanson

Guitar tab is a method of diagramming the fretboard of a
guitar for the purpose of showing how songs, riffs, scales, and
other musical portions are played.

Guitar tab, also known as tablature, is really a method
guitar players have invented for sharing music without having to
learn to read music in the traditional sense. Knowing how to
read guitar tablature is an important part of learning how to
play the guitar, especially if you wish to emulate the style of
your favorite performer.

Learning how to read guitar tablature will help the most if you
have already heard the song or riff. It is not a very good way
to learn a new song, because there are no indicators about
timing. Basically it is just a diagram of fingering. It looks
similar to a traditional staff, but the similarity ends there.
Instead of 5 lines, guitar tab has 6 lines, which correspond to
the six strings of a guitar.

When you are learning how to read guitar tab, you will notice
numbers on the lines. Those numbers do not refer to your
fingers, but to the fret your finger needs to be on. However,
you should read all the information given with any guitar
tablature, because sometimes the notations refer to different
things. Guitar tab is not a standardized method of writing music
and varies with styles and guitarists.

One of the biggest drawbacks with guitar tab is that it doesn't
give you much input about the timing of the notes, and for this
reason, you really should know the song. In fact, if you are
learning how to read guitar tab, you should read the tablature
while listening to the song or riff.

Unlike beginning books for teaching yourself to play guitar,
guitar tab will not tell you which finger to use on a string. If
you are a very new beginner, you may want to know the basics of
chords and such before venturing into learning how to read
guitar tablature.

The website "Guitar Tab Universe" (www.guitartabs.cc)
gives tabs for many familiar songs. In fact, it advertises
itself as the Internet's largest collection of guitar and bass
tabs. One warning - you'll have to scroll through a lot of band
names to get to the artist you want, and some of those names are
obscene. If obscenities bug you, try a different site.

Christian.totaltabs.com gives you access to tabs or chords for
631 songs by 111 contemporary Christian bands and artists.
Cowboylyrics.com provides you with tabs, lyrics, and/or guitar
chords for many country songs.

In general, if you are searching for online guitar tabs, you
need to specify the type of music you desire or you will
probably get a lot of listings for rock tabs. Fortunately, you
are sure to find just the songs to use to teach yourself how to
read guitar tab.



About the author:
Article by Jake Hanson. Please visit his guitar
lesson site to get an online free guitar lesson course that details how to play guitar with
amazing free chord and tab lessons.

The Beatles and Epiphone Guitars

By: Shanzuguitars

The Beatles may well be arguably the worlds biggest ever band.
Musically from the early 1960's to the end of their career they
covered an array of different music styles from the jangly pop
of their early days to the psychedelia of their latter albums.
To cover all these different sounds they needed a broad range of
instruments.

Throughout their career they used a variety of guitars and you
can see many photographs of the Beatles with Rickenbacker's
(325's in particular) various Gretch, Fender and Hofner. However
they are also linked with Epiphone Guitars and often choose
Epiphone guitars over all other guitars for recordings and live
performances.

The first Beatle to own an Epiphone guitar was Paul McCartney
who bought his first, an Epiphone Casino,during 1964. Influenced
by the sound of this guitar John and George bought theirs soon
after. The Epiphone Casino is a hollow-body double cutaway
electric guitar. Although available in a variety of colors,
George Harrison stripped his down to bare wood saying that he
liked the sound of the guitar being able to breathe.

John Lennon favored the Epiphone E230TD Casino and used a
variety of these guitars from 1966 onwards. Lennon painted this
guitar and it appeared during the White Album sessions and in
the Film "Let it Be". During that film Lennon can be seen
playing his Casino while rehearsing new material. Lennon's
Casino also features during the celebrated performance on the
London roof top of their office building. Lennon is synonymous
with the Casino, so much so that Epiphone recently re-released a
John Lennon signature Casino. This faithful reproduction is of
the guitar as John originally purchased it with the vintage
sunburst finish and stock hardware.

The Beatles also used Epiphone's acoustic guitars. Paul
McCartney favored the Epiphone Texan acoustic guitar and it was
used to record the epic track Yesterday. McCartney still uses
Texan's to this day.

Clearly the Beatles have been one of the (if not the) biggest
influences in popular music over the last 50 years. Their sound
was distinct and this was bought about both by their playing and
their selection of instruments. Thier Epiphone guitars
contributed to their sound and a number of guitars have become
iconic in their association with arguably the worlds biggest
band.

About the author:
ShanzuGuitars.com is
a reference site for guitarists everywhere. The site features
guitar news, resources, guitar gear reviews, online lessons and
free tools.

The Gibson Explorer Guitar

By: ShanzuGuitars

With its angular body, and sharp headstock the Gibson Explorer
is instantly recognisable.

First released by Gibson in 1958 (along with the equally famous
Flying V guitar) the Explorer was a radical departure from its
more famous sibling the Gibson Les Paul.

The original Explorer - the X-Plorer (or the Futura as it was
initially named) came equipped with twin humbucker pickups, two
tone controls and a 3 way pickup switch. The angular headstock
featured the tuning keys on the top of the headstock rather than
the traditional Gibson three each side. With its looks the
guitar was radically different from others in the marketplace.

The design of the Explorer was so years ahead of it's time that
initial sales were low and the guitar was quickly discontinued.
Needless to say those early models are now highly sought after
collector's items.

In the Mid 1970's, prompted by the success of other
manufacturers tributes to the Explorer, Gibson reissued the
guitar - sales were strong and the instrument quickly became a
mainstay for many artists.

The Explorer is a particularly versatile guitar and produces a
wide variety of tones. With the pickup selector in the middle
position, it produces sounds reminiscent of a Les Paul. Select
the bridge position and you have a solid rock tone, finally the
neck pickup has a warm and subtle jazzy tone. The Explorer's
large body produces a lot of its tone and although heavy the
guitar is full of character and its trademark Gibson bite makes
it ideally suited to rock music.

Today, many famous artists can be seen using the Explorer. One
of the most well known Explorer users is U2's The Edge. His
Explorer (picked up on a shopping trip in New York is the early
days of the group) created much of the bands early sound and the
guitar is still used on tour and in the studio today.

There are many other famous users of the Explorer such as James
Hetfield, Eric Clapton, Dave Grohl to name but a few.

These days Gibson has many editions of the Explorer and its
future is secure. With its trademark looks and versatile sound
the Gibson Explorer can comfortably take its place in the guitar
hall of fame.

For more information on the Explorer check out The Gibson Guitar
companies homepage Gibson.com

About the author:
ShanzuGuitars.com.
The site offers the latest guitar news, resources, tools and
tips for budding guitarists everywhere

Free Lesson On Basic Guitar Chords

By: Craig Gaiden

Understanding Guitar Chords, the Key Element to Mastering the
Guitar

Don't get discouraged if you're trying to learn the guitar.
Follow the steps below and soon you'll be playing your favorite
songs by learning basic guitar chords. Once you get a feel for
the basic chords, you can go deeper and learn how chords are
made of major and minor guitar scales.

Popular Songs Sometimes Only Have Three Chords

Have you ever heard "Wild Thing" or "Louie Louie" and wondered
what chords make up these songs? Maybe you haven't, but at any
rate you might be interested to know that these songs along with
"Twist and Shout" and "Hang on Snoopy" are all built from three
major chords. They are the A, D, and E chords.

What Exactly is a Chord?

What is a chord? A chord is two or more notes played together. A
common type of chord is called a triad, which is three notes
played at the same time. With the guitar, you can make chords by
strumming, as a minimum, three strings simultaneously to send
out three notes or more. It's simple to see that with the guitar
having only six strings that the max number of notes in a guitar
chord is going to be six.

Basic Chord Types

Now it is important to understand that there are many different
variations of chords. Three of the most common types of chords
are major, minor, and sevenths. The way in which you use these
chords will determine the type of music or mood that you will
make. For example, if you need some solemn and meditative
chords, use minor chords. If you want a really solid and stable
sound, then you will want to be using major chords. If you want
a jazzier yet somewhat incomplete sounding chord, you would want
to go with seventh chords.

Commonly Used Chords

Just as you would need to know several basic phrases in the case
of learning another language, so you will need to learn around
6-16 chords fluently in order to really have a grip on playing
the guitar. Some of the most common chords are listed below.

A, G, C, D, E, F, Am, Em, and Dm chords (note: the lowercase "m"
next to the letter means that it is a minor chord.)

Get Out your Guitar and Strum Some Chords

Now that we understand the need to learn chords, let's look at
what steps there are to help you learn chords.

1. Get a chart of guitar chords and look at where the fingering
is for each chord.

2. Start by simply choosing at least two of the basic chords and
work on the transition between the two.

3. Make sure that it sounds good. The fact is that if it sounds
good you are probably doing it right. (HINT: If it doesn't sound
good to you, press down on the strings firmer with your fingers.)

4. Now learn to enjoy playing guitar chords by choosing a few of
your favorite songs that have these basic guitar chords and play
them until you can sing along. (FYI: Beatles have a great
selection of well known songs that use basic guitar chords as
the foundation.)

5. Play daily! You must remember that although its hard at
first, you are going to make progress and it will become easier
to play the guitar by consistently playing it.

6. Practice! Remember guitar practice makes perfect guitar music!

So you've made it this far and you're hungry for more guitar
lessons, why don't you check out guitar tabs for beginners Now
it's Your Turn to Learn the Guitar At any rate, the only way to
know that the guitar is for you and your friends is to give it a
try. Good luck and maybe this can be one of those things that
you can look back on and say, "I am sure glad I learned to play
the guitar"

About the author:
Craig is the owner of a guitar lesson site. He is
an avid guitarist and article writer. His site will help anyone
learn guitar. Visit
Craig's site for free guitar lessons: http://www.grabguitars.com

Guitar Multi FX - Friend or Foe?

By: Tony Williams

Killer Guitar Sounds? Maybe...

Guitar multi FX units are undoubtedly one of the best
value-for-money tools available to today's guitar player. Even a
cheap multi FX unit found on eBay will house some great sounding
effects to brighten up or add interest to even the most mediocre
guitarist's playing.

With so many different guitar sound effects available in the
typical multi FX unit it is a great temptation to try and use as
many as possible. However, that temptation could also destroy
your credibility as a player and leave your audience nonplussed.
In fact, when it comes to guitar multi FX, that old cliché less
is more can very often be absolutely true!

The solution? You need to get your basic sounds right and stick
with them before adding any extra 'sparkle'.

So what is meant by 'basic sounds'? Well there are really only
three and they are:

* Clean - You know how this sounds; crisp chords and sparkling
arpeggios.

* Mild Distortion / Overdrive - This can vary from slight
breaking up of a clean sound to a satisfying crunchy distortion.
* Heavy Distortion / Fuzz - The all-out blistering solo sound,
think Gibson Les Paul through a Marshall stack turned all the
way up to eleven!

(A little tip about distortion - don't be tempted to use too
much! What sounds great plugged into a small practice amp or
headphones in your back bedroom will often sound like undefined
mush when it is cranked up to gig volume.)

Anything on top of your basic sound, whether it be chorus,
flange, delay, or whatever, should be considered as extra that
is added to compliment and enhance. The basic sound should not
be sacrificed or altered in any way.

Listen to some of your favourite guitar players and try to work
out how many different combinations of sound effect they are
using - I guarantee that however many there are (and it's
probably fewer than you think) they will be sitting on top of a
great basic sound.

So in conclusion; enjoy your guitar multi FX and make the most
of the variety of different sound effects available, but don't
sacrifice your guitar sound for the sake of guitar sound
effects.

About the author:
Tony Williams is a musician, writer, and self-confessed eBay
fanatic. He is the editor and webmaster of Rich Pickings, the online
guitar advisory service, you can find it at: www.rich-pickings.com

Learn To Play The Guitar By Ear

By: Christopher Buckley

All professional musicians, whether they're playing jazz, rock,
bluegrass and country music, have spent their first years of
practicing bent over a half speed record player. You might be
wondering what does this have to do with trying to learn to play
the guitar by ear. As you will learn from this article, it
actually has a lot to do with it.

Slowing Things Down

In order to learn to play the guitar by ear you have to begin
with learning the melodies, chords and leads from a recording.
To be able to do this, you've got to slow them down a bit. Some
exceptionally gifted people with really good ears are able to
learn to play some slow songs just by listening to them at a
normal speed. However, even those folks have problems with
learning faster melodies and need to slow things down.

Most of us can't even figure out slow songs just by listening to
them at a normal speed. While most of us can match a note with
our guitar or voice if it's the only thing we're hearing, we
tend to get confused when lots of notes are played together. If
you slow the music down, we can separate the notes and play them
piece by piece until we learn the whole song.

Slowdown Technology

Years ago, the slowing down process was done using half speed
tape recorders. However, as you slowed the music down, the pitch
dropped. By the time you got to half speed, the pitch had
already dropped a lot. Anyway, for most of us, half speed is
still to fast. You will probably need a 1/10 speed in order to
figure out certain pieces.

Fortunately, nowadays everything has been made easier with the
aid of digital slowdown technology. You can now slow the melody
down as much as you want, without having the pitch dropping.

Do You Really Have to Put So Much Work Into It?

You're probably thinking that spending so much time on figuring
out each note yourself must be awfully hard. Why not just buy a
book and get over this part?

Of course, you can buy a book, but, as it usually happens with
all music theory books, it will probably be gathering dust on
your bookshelf forever. If you really want to learn to play the
guitar by ear, you will have to get involved in the process and
figure out the notes from a melody yourself.

While figuring out note by note on your own is the best way to
go, consulting a transcription book from time to time while
you're trying to figure out the music is also good. Some
beginner guitar players who want to learn to play the guitar by
ear learn from a transcription book first and then play along
with the original recording at a slower pace to get the rhythm.

You should learn to play the guitar by ear just because this way
you get the most fun. Playing the guitar should be fun and this
is why you should have started to learn it in the first place.
However, the more you time you invest into the learning process
by getting involved in practical activities, the faster the
progress.

About the author:
Christopher Buckley is owner of one of the internet's largest
guitar learning resources. To find out more about learning to play the
guitar by ear, visit Learn Guitar Blog