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How do you play guitar chords with fingers, rather than with a pick?

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:36:46 +0000

I’ve been using a pick to play guitar chords, but I like the quieter sound of the fingers and thumb. How can I correctly use my fingers to play the chords?

I don’t think there’s any one "correct" way to do it, just do whatever sounds best to you.

I use the left side/top of my right thumb, much in the same way a pick would be used. I also like the quieter sound. Bob Dylan grows his thumbnail long and uses it as a pick, but I can’t seem to make that work for me.

Just experiment and practice, and you will find what works for you. Good luck!

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What is the best way to learn how to play guitar?

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 02:31:13 +0000

I have wanted to Learn To Play Guitar for years, and finally have an acoustic on which to learn. Now I am trying to determine what the best way to learn is. I have several friends who play that would be happy to teach me, but everyone I’ve met who plays has stated that they were self taught. Would it be best to have a friend teach me, or purchase some instructional books and/or videos? Unfortunately, formal lessons are not an option due to financial restrictions.

u fail at cloning lol
sarah can’t spell to save her life xx

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How do I play guitar standing up with my guitar hanging low?

admin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 10:58:14 +0000

I can play standing up with my guitar hanging at like chest height pretty well. However, I look gay. I try to bring it only low enough to look good, but I cant finger it right unless I tilt the neck up. When I do that, I cant palm mute and it feels akward if I do, and Im scraping the strings, like this:
v pick
\ string
Not exactly clear but u get the picture. If I try to rotate my hand, my wrist is strained. How do I play standing up with my guitar hanging low?

Obviously, you don’t. Sure, it LOOKS cool to stand there with your guitar hanging down around your crotch, but you can’t actually play it that way without running the risk of hurting yourself by rotating your wrists and hands into awkward strained positions.

So you have to decide whether you want to LOOK cool, or play well. Personally, I would vote for playing well, but YMMV.

You don’t have to have the guitar all the way up at chest height, though. Try putting the guitar down around waist level. Adjust the strap so that the guitar is in the same position and at the same height when you stand as it is when you sit, then you’ll be comfortable either way.

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What music books for guitar can teach you how to play without a teacher?

admin — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 08:41:11 +0000

What music books for guitar can teach you how to play without a teacher?I want to learn How To Play Guitar but i know some people who bought books and taught themselves what books should i get?By the way i havent touched a guitar before only thing ive touched is a piano an cello.

Esteban…

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Wouldn’t it be Great to be Able to Buy a Guitar That Felt Gig Ready Right Out of the Box?

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:05:17 +0000

Guitar purchase “off the rack” can be a mine field, consider “custom” versus “pre-fab” electric guitars.

I love guitars, and there’s nothing like a new electric guitar with a proper set up! I like the tone, the way it feels in my hands, and the way that I can make a guitar sound “right” for any kind of music that I play. Whether it’s jazz, blues, country, hard rock, R&B leads, guitar chords, or just working on guitar tabs, all it takes is a flip of a switch, some prep, a couple twists of the knobs, neck alignment and I’m right where I need to be. I’ve bought a lot of guitars over the years, and discovered that taking that beautiful new Strat or Tele guitar out of the box was always just the first step in finding the guitar that fit in my hands the way that I imagined that it would when it first caught my eye. After a close inspection I found that my new guitar wouldn’t be quite gig ready until I did all of the little subtle tweaks, repairs and modifications that would make it play just the way I wanted it to when I got it out onto the gig. I’d dress the frets, get the intonation just right, tweak the pick-ups, customize the configuration a bit, and before you know it, I’d be playing a guitar that felt like it was made to be in my hands. Playing music is always fun, but when I’m on the gig with a guitar that feels just right … it’s just pure guitar joy.

After a while I thought; “Wouldn’t it be great to be able to buy a guitar that felt gig ready right out of the box?” As wonderful as that idea may seem, in reality it’s almost impossible to pick up a guitar in a music store “off the rack” and have it play right. It just doesn’t happen. There are many things that need to be done to “prep” the guitar before it’s ready to play. At Haywire Custom Guitars (http://www.HaywireCustomGuitars.com) we recommend and perform all of the following in prep for a guitar purchase before it leaves the bench at the workshop. For our purposes here I will focus only on electric instruments for now. First, let me pose a question to the beginning through the advanced guitarist. What Is Guitar Intonation and why is it important? Do you know?

Intonation is the accuracy in which an electric guitar or bass can produce a fretted note and the most important issue with any instrument. Setting the intonation on a guitar is the act of adjusting the length of the strings (by moving the bridge saddles) to compensate for the thickness of the string and the stretching of a string due to pushing it down to the fret board to produce a note. To adjust the intonation of your guitar or bass guitar, you move the bridge saddles toward or away from the fret board until the 12th fret note and its harmonic are equal in pitch to the same open-string note, which are exactly one octave apart. Accurate intonation is critical to pitch quality. Pitch quality is essential to “in tune” playing. Poor pitch quality=”out of tune” notes which in turn = poor musical presentation. Wouldn’t you or the salesman want to present your musical talents in the best way possible? Of course, you do.

Now, it is not necessary for a guitar player to know this at all. It is essential however that the guitar possess this quality and maintain as close to perfect intonation as possible. Buying on looks alone can be very disappointing. If however, you like an instrument for the looks but realize that you will need to have it worked on to get it playable then that is a savvy notion. It’s best to speak to a luthier or guitar builder previous to any purchase. It’s akin to asking a mechanic which car he would recommend-before you walk into the show room. In this way you can benefit from his first hand knowledge and experience and not have to go it alone. After all he sees the ones that breakdown more often than you or the salesman do.

Below, I have outlined the essential adjustments to be performed prior to purchasing and playing a guitar under optimal circumstances.

1. 4-axis Alignment of the guitar neck. The guitar neck is checked and adjusted to insure that it is true and straight to insure proper alignment on all axis. This step insures proper action and allows for more accurate and easier guitar tuning, playing and set-up in the following steps.

2. Inspect and Lube the guitar tuning gears

Each tuning gear is adjusted so that there is no play in the mechanism. They are then lubricated to insure smooth and even movement to make your guitar tune accurately.

3. Potting the guitar pickups. Dip the pickups in hot wax to reduce squeal and unwanted guitar feedback.

4. Prep the guitar body. Upon installing the guitar electronic components, great care is taken to insure that all wires are properly routed, spaced, and grounded to insure years of trouble free service with your guitar.

5. Level and polish the frets. This insures that all of the guitar frets are level, eliminating any possibility of fret buzz due to unevenness.

6. Radius the guitar strings. Most guitar necks have a contour over the top of the neck called the “radius”. Adjust the strings to make sure the height of each string follows the contour of the guitar neck.

7. Adjusting the overall guitar string height and the action. Once the string contour and radius of the guitar strings is set, it’s time to adjust the overall height or “action” or distance of the strings from the top of the frets to the bottom of the guitar strings.

8. Set the guitar intonation. This step should be done twice. The intonation is normally set two times with a 24 hour period in between to allow the new guitar adjustments to properly re-seat.

If these steps are performed before playing your new guitar then, you won’t be disappointed. Your focus can then be on the music and not the problems of the instrument. If it is “set up” properly a player will not have to “get used to” it. Everything on it will feel natural and fall right into place and the music can flow.

In summary, Guitar purchase “off the rack” can be a real disappointment. A thoughtful purchase should include consideration in buying a “custom” or “Gig-Ready” Electric Guitar versus a “pre-fab” instrument built on a production line. Custom guitars are individually built for a specific customer and will have all of the above necessary operations performed. All the guitarist needs to do is-Play! Sincerely, Rick Mariner http://www.HaywireCustomGuitars.com

Rick Mariner – Owner and founder of Haywire Value Priced Custom Guitars (http://www.HaywireCustomGuitars.com) and a member of The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans (A.S.I.A.) as well as a guitar player. Rick holds a bachelors degree from University of Maryland and a Masters degree from George Washington University.

Rick developed an 8 – Point “Gig- Ready” guitar process that allows for Haywire Custom Guitars that are “GIG-READY”.

With many years of development and guitar set-up experience, we pride ourselves in helping to build you the “Just Right” Haywire guitar at prices well below market and “set up” to playing perfection.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Mariner

Rick Mariner

http://www.HaywireCustomGuitars.com

Rick Mariner
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/wouldnt-it-be-great-to-be-able-to-buy-a-guitar-that-felt-gig-ready-right-out-of-the-box-176947.html

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Beginner Guitar Lessons Online Made Easy!

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:51:29 +0000

Have you just bought a guitar or are you thinking of getting one, but you just do not have the first clue on how to strike a chord? If so, getting guitar lessons is definitely something you should consider.

It may be that you can even play a little bit already, but taking Guitar Lessons can still help to improve your playing abilities and your confidence.

The lessons that are available are categorized in nine different sections – – The basics – Technique – Chords – Scales – Tuning – Music Theory – Music Styles – Guitar Tech – Forming a band

The categories are broken down into individual lessons, offering you the chance to start from the very basics and work your way up to even being part of a band.

What You Need to Know About The Basics

So what should you expect to learn from the first lesson? Well, as with everything, it is important to start with the very basics and work your way up. It is a good idea to know your way around a guitar and you should expect to know all of this after your first lesson. You should also learn how to look after your guitar, tune it and also how to use the pick.

Generally, once you know the basics on how to look after the guitar, it is good to start off learning the basic chords before trying anything else. Many people find that the best way to start is by learning the G chord and working your way from there.

Obviously, before you start, you will need the basic equipment. Basic equipment includes a guitar, a guitar pick to play the chords, a comfortable chair and it is also wise to have a great deal of patience. Make sure that you buy quite a few guitar picks as they are small and they can be easy to lose or break. It may be an idea too, to buy medium gauge ones to start with because they are not too hard or too flimsy and they are good for beginners.

Now you know all about the guitar, it is now time to learn how to hold it correctly before you start to play anything. So grab your guitar and sit comfortably in your chair with out slouching, as it will bring on bad habits while playing the guitar. Your instructor will talk you through each step and, before you know it, you will be putting together your first sequence of chords.

Overall, to play a guitar the only thing you really need is passion. If it is something that you feel you want to succeed in, having guitar lessons will help you immensely. The more advanced a person becomes, the more tricks they can perform with their guitar that will help to bring confidence to their playing. Remember it is a good idea to keep practicing and it will soon pay off.

Munya Chinongoza
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/beginner-guitar-lessons-online-made-easy-69326.html

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Guitar Tutorials – Learning To Play Guitar The Fastest Way Possible

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:57:39 +0000

Before you begin learning from guitar tutorials, you must first own your own guitar. If you’re going to take guitar playing seriously, owning your own as opposed to borrowing someone else’s guitar is a must.

Why? Having your own guitar is first of all going to be your pride and joy, and second you become accustomed to it after a while – it becomes an extension of your own body. Thirdly, you’re going to be practicing on it every single day so why not buy your own guitar?

Here’s a tip for you – For your first guitar, make sure you buy one that’s a reasonable price, nothing too cheap, or too expensive. There are plenty of cheap $200 guitars that are all made in China and they sound absolutely horrible and are difficult to play.

A guitar that is well made will make you want to play more and will make your guitar learning experience much more enjoyable. Without going into too much detail, look for something around the $700 mark. As the saying goes..you really do get what you pay for!

Right, now that you’ve got a guitar you can start your journey of guitar learning. This will be a life-long process and it’s never-ending. Fret not ( pun intended ) though, it will be an extremely fun process!

Firstly, you will need to find some lessons for beginners. ” Where is the best place to start sourcing for guitar tutorials? ” I hear you ask.

The fastest way to get started is by looking for online Guitar Lessons. These are great as you can get started right away and you probably won’t have to read thick, boring manuals.

Most of the online lessons you find will be free, however you should pay for a decent guitar course because there will be much more value for your precious time spent learning.

The paid guitar courses will go into more depth in teaching and will usually get you learning guitar with a systematic approach.

Baby Steps For Beginner Guitar Lessons

Many of the online guitar lessons will start off teaching the most basic aspects of guitar playing. Some of which are:

- Showing you the right way to hold a guitar and the pick
- Knowing the different parts of the guitar, their names and functions
- How to change strings
- Guitar playing posture ( sitting and standing etc )

And the list goes on..

Other things that are taught are how to play chords, starting with the most basic forms to some more complex guitar chord forms that sound a lot nicer but will require you more time for your fingers to get used to.

Guitar Theory Is Not Required!

Some of the guitar courses will teach you some elementary music theory, some will teach you way too much theory ( boring you to tears ), and others will teach you almost zero theory.

From my own experience, I found that theory is not so important for a beginner but it can be helpful. One of the most common reasons why people give up playing guitar is simple – too much theory!

I found that you should take guitar theory on a “need to know” basis. As you progress in your learning, you will either naturally pick up some music theory in your head, or you will go out in search of answers.

This is the natural way of learning and probably the best. Either way, you will end up at the same destination in the end.

The most important thing is to get out there and start learning today! There is nothing holding you back and all the information you need for learning guitar is out there and easily accessible.

Just remember to find a course that teaches you systematically and don’t go pushing yourself too hard beyond your current abilities – it doesn’t do anything but make you form bad habits.

Amy Marie Chan
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/guitar-tutorials-learning-to-play-guitar-the-fastest-way-possible-970616.html

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How To Play The Electric Guitar – You Can Play Like A Rockstar Wtith This Method

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:52:40 +0000

So you want to know how to play the electric guitar and how to be a great lead player. Follow these 3 simple steps and you will be on your way.

1. Learn pentatonic scales. Pentatonic scales are the foundation to many improvised solos in most music styles. This will also help your fingers learn to move across strings, which will help you develop a more sophisticated style.

2. Start slow. Begin with something that you can play accurately and then increase the speed or the difficulty. Focus on how every note sounds. This is counter intuitive, but to play fast, you need to play slow. You need to show your fingers where and how to move to produce great sounds out of your electric instrument. This is commonly known as vertical growth.

3. Focus on vertical growth. It is better to learn one song from beginning to end rather than learning the first few bars of 10 songs. That way, learning more pieces of repertoire will become easier and faster. The focus needs to be on quality, rather than quantity.

4. Practice. This sounds boring but you will not be able to play electric guitar without spending time with your instrument. Always use a metronome. This will teach you to develop a good and reliable sense of rhythm. The more you have a guitar on your hands, the better you will get at it.

How to play the electric guitar is very simple if you apply good principles to every single practice session. You can find good lessons online or find a teacher that you feel comfortable with. Take it slow, and youll be playing great music in no time.

How To Play The Electric Guitar – Learn To Play Like Clapton Or Hendrix Fast

Dave Durham

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Finding Online Guitar Lessons

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:36:33 +0000

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.

Andrew Morris
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/finding-online-guitar-lessons-55333.html

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Learn Electric Guitar- Downloadable Course

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:36:26 +0000

Are you looking for a great system to help learn electric guitar? You can halt spending tons of money on those personal lessons that cost you an arm and a leg. These lessons leave you working at the speed of the instructor and can leave you having to schedule lessons based mostly on their time availability. Now there are lessons that can be downloaded to your personal computer. This implies you can stop learning on someone else’s schedule. This is great for everyone because you can take these lessons in the peace of your own home in your spare time. There is not a better way for you to find out how to play the Electric Guitar than this. You’ll be excessively shocked with how easy this is and the ability it has got to help you learn quickly and efficiently. This program is much different than any alternative routes you will have learned before.

Click here to download the course and learn electric guitar online!

This guy has put out this amazing guitar lesson that you can download and use. It is from a company that is trusted and is prize-winning. There is even a chance to take free Guitar Lessons right now. You will soon discover just the simple way to build strength as well are you agility that you will need to go beyond the newbie stage quickly . This will help you to be able to start playing like you’re a lead guitar strummer.
all that you need to start these lessons is your electric guitar, your personal computer, and an internet connection. Then it is as simple as downloading the lessons and getting started. You will be able to get instructions, lessons, and even instructions solely to mention a few of the added benefits. You can learn pop, blues, and even rock songs. These lessons are good whether or not you are advanced or just starting out. This is not to even mention that they video can teach your some famous songs while you learn, so you can start impressing your friends.
if you’re like others who’ve been having dreams about a technique to learn electric guitar then this might be what you were looking for. These lessons can cost you are plenty of money.

Learn Electric Guitar- Easy Course to Download

Mrs Forex

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