All About Guitars

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Not that long ago, the only way to learn to play guitar was by taking private lessons or just teaching yourself by plucking away at it long enough.  Thanks to the internet, though, that isn’t the case anymore.  There are many online materials that can teach you how to play guitar even if you’re a beginner and have never had lessons before.  In fact, you can even teach yourself.

First of all, obviously, you’ll need a guitar.  You can get a used one on eBay, through a pawn shop, or even a music studio that sells guitars.  If you think you’ll be making a long term commitment to playing the guitar, you may want to invest in a new one.  Amazon.com is also a good resource for finding both used and new guitars, since there are many product reviews that will tell you which ones are best for beginners.

Next, you need to decide on what type of lessons will be best for you.  If you want a real online instructor to consult with, that’s one thing; you’re probably best off looking for private instruction in that case.  If you want to teach yourself, there are plenty of ebooks and online courses you can take.  Just make sure the one you choose has good, clear instructions, and preferably videos and audio files to back up the written material.  After all, learning an instrument is all about proper technique, and of course the sound you produce.

Lastly, think about how much communication you want with a real instructor.  Many online courses offer email support, forums, or FAQs.  If you’re just learning how to play guitar as a beginner and haven’t had lessons before, you may want a course that includes dedicated support from real instructors.

There are plenty of resources out there to get started learning guitar.  Remember, your progress will ultimately be up to you and how much time you spend practicing every day.

Shane
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/how-to-play-guitar-beginner-lessons-online-1238929.html

Betsy (my domestic partner) and I were just talking about the difference between how things feel when you’re in the “gold zone” and how they feel when you’re not.

Julia Cameron calls it the “Vein of Gold,” and wrote a great book about it. Athletes call it “the zone.”

Let’s call it the “Gold Zone.”

She was reminding me of the months right before I got serious about internet marketing.

I had been a working musician since I was 15. I went “on the road” the first time when I was 17. I was gone for three months, and it was hard on me and hard on my family when I had to come back from being “on the road” to finish high-school. I took several detours, but for the most part, I was a musician for over thirty years.

In spite of some success, I never really “made it” as a musician.

I got really, really close a few times… but something would always go wrong.

For example- in 2003, I played an extended tour of Europe. We went to Sweden, Holland, France, and England. I played from Bogner Regis in the far south of England all the way up to the Isle of Aaron in Northern Scotland. It was a wonderful tour, and the people seemed to like my music.

The scenery was breathtaking- from Moose in Sweden to the Holy Isle in Scotland to the coffee shops in Amsterdam to the street performers in London…

Everything was wonderful except… things kept going wrong. My band-mates made the decision to stay completely amphibious for the whole tour. Blame it on Amsterdam. The big festival in Sweden got no promotion, and nobody came. That’s a long way to drive to play for twenty people.

And then I got robbed at Waverley Abbey, outside of London. Lost both guitars and all the money. And my passport.

I was clearly not in the “gold zone.”

After I finally got home- and believe me, with no money and no passport, getting home was tricky- I took some time off to think things through.

I had started researching the internet marketing game, and met some of the players. It was interesting… but there were a lot of unknowns. There were also some very steep (but relatively short) learning curves involved.

So, while I was thinking, my agents booked another tour- this time to Germany.

That was the tour when all hell broke loose.

Betsy was alone with the boys, both of whom woke up one morning and decided to start acting like the teenagers they were. It was like fishing at the old pond, where the most dangerous thing you’d had to deal with was a catfish, and suddenly a fifty-foot alligator jumps in the boat.

And I was over 3,000 miles away.

After that tour, I really did some thinking.

I either had to move to Europe and play music, or do something else. Moving to Europe, at that time, just wasn’t going to work… and, more importantly, it just didn’t feel right. Betsy and the boys also had strong opinions about that.

Worse, every time I strapped on my guitar, I felt like the “rock-star police” were going to arrest me. For impersonating a musician. I never once felt authentic as a musician.

This is odd- I was an award-winning songwriter, with a recording contract, zealous agents, and a publishing deal.

I was a fraud.

I know some “real” musicians. I have a guitar-player friend who has several gold records on his wall. He tours with a band that has had #1 singles. When he’s home, he sits in his studio and plays guitar. For fun.

I once heard an interview with YoYo Ma, and it really touched me. He talked about the most wonderful moments of his life. Those moments are when he takes his million dollar+ cello out of its case and sits alone, just loving the sound and touch of his instrument.

My guitars stay in their cases between tours. That was a clue.

Ever since I discovered internet marketing, I’ve been in the “Gold Zone.” It was like finally seeing the “Pull” sign on a door I had been trying to push open for decades.

Duh.

It was crystal-clear to me.

I “got it” at the first internet marketing seminar I attended.

The people who were successful were the ones who made products and sold them.

The people who were not successful were the ones who did something else- or did nothing.

I had a lot of help. I’ve immersed myself in internet marketing, read scores of books, and sought out the company of successful internet marketers. I threw myself at learning curves, and bounded right up them.

I had a blast. I quickly made a pile of money. I found my “Gold Zone.”

Have you found your “Gold Zone,” yet?

It’s easy- especially in the internet marketing world. You can make a good, even a GREAT, living by solving other people’s problems. It pays well, and it’s karmically good for you. You can pick almost any subject- cooking, driving, relationships, ebook authoring, etc… anything but how to get rich online (please- unless you have become rich online), and build a portable empire by solving problems in that niche.

I have a saying, which will eventually be turned into a book- “Every problem is a product.”

My most popular book- which I give away- is “The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Internet Wealth.” It was easy to write. I just identified the five essential problems that “Absolute Beginners” to internet marketing have and gave the solutions.

Thousands and thousands of people now have copies of that book. That’s good for them, because the book really does line out all the problems and solutions that a new internet marketer needs to know about.

It’s good for me. I used that book to build a large and responsive list. I also get the psychic benefits of helping a lot of people- I like that.

So, I make money and I help others. Perfect niche.

How can you tell if you’re in your “Gold Zone?” Things get real easy.

One of the things I stress to my coaching clients is, “if this is hard for you, you’re doing it wrong.”

If you find yourself getting bogged down and disinterested in your topic- you’ve picked the wrong topic. Quickly choose another one. If your subscribers consistently choose to not buy your products, quickly change your strategy. In the online world, you can make dramatic changes instantly.

Life is too short to bang your head against the door marked “pull.” You can push and push and bang and hit and throw bombs and cry and just generally exhaust yourself… and the door will stay closed.

I would say that the most important thing you can do to improve your life is find your “Gold Zone.” Find your passion, and then find people to pay you for doing what you love.

Quit banging on the door and just open it.

Pat O’bryan
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/the-gold-zone-126756.html

The American public has always loved its music and its cars, and they even love those cars of people who created the music they love. The Henry Ford Museum will cater to the whim of the public who have been longing for those famous vehicles which famous stars used in the past.

The exhibit dubbed as the Rock Stars’ Cars and guitars will take place in June 9 of this year at the Henry Ford Museum located in Dearborn, Michigan. The exhibit will showcase eighteen cars which are as legendary as the people who once drove them. The soul of rock and roll will be bared to the public with the unveiling of the cars which includes the rides of Elvis Presley and John Lennon among others.

Aside from cars, the exhibit will also feature a wide variety of guitars that were once used by rock and roll superstars.

The exhibit will showcase cars, guitars, and motorcycles on loan from other museums and private individuals. The Petersen Automotive Museum, the Hard Rock Café, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum Inc. are the natural homes of the cars and guitars to be shown at the exhibit on the ninth of June. Christian Overland, the Vice President of Museums and Collections for The Henry Ford Museum, has this to say about the exhibit: “Rock & roll and custom-car culture are important expressions of American freedom and individualism. This exhibition presents an opportunity to see some of the iconic cars of rock & roll and understand the artistic expressions of the stars.”

Among the eighteen cars to be showcased at the event is the 1965 Rolls Royce Phantom V owned by the immortal Beatles member John Lennon. True to the age where Lennon grew up, the car is pained in a psychedelic floral motif. This will surely have people silently singing “Imagine”.

Another legendary car which will make an appearance at the exhibit is the 1949 Cadillac custom designed by blues rock band ZZ Top frontman Billy Gibbons. The car is dubbed as the “CadZZilla” and is one of the most recognized hot rods in the rock world.

Another legendary car that will be showcased at the aforementioned event is the 1971 De Tomaso Pantera formerly owned by Elvis Presley. The popularity of the car is attributed to a bullet hole shot into the car by the King himself.

Another vehicle that will make an appearance at the event is the 1932 Ford Coupe “Silver Sapphire” which became famous when it appeared on the cover of another rock and roll icon – the Beach Boys’ album. The Silver Sapphire was featured in the cover of the “Little Deuce Coupe” album of the popular rock and roll band.

Another 1932 vehicle from Ford also made it to the exhibit. The Ford model in question is the 1932 Ford Hi-Boy Phaeton hot rod. The hot rod became popular when it was used by hard rock band Van Halen on the music video for their song “Hot for Teacher”. At the end of the music video, Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth smoked the tires of the car as he sped away from the school.

These vehicles have become a part of the auto industry in the fact that they have generated interest on cars during their tenure as the ride of the rich and famous. All these cars have been known for their performance and the use of aftermarket parts, although it is highly improbable that a Nissan cold air intake system was used on any of those cars.

RyanThomas
http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/rock-stars-cars-to-appear-at-henry-ford-museum-116530.html

Sure, getting a guitar pack for a beginner is certainly more than acceptable. The goal in the beginning is to just get started. But for experienced guitar players, purchasing a new guitar is a delicate process. They know what sound they like. They know how they like the strings and neck to feel. They will want a guitar that they feel bonded to.

So, what do you do if you want to purchase a guitar for Christmas for the experienced guitar player? It may seem like a daunting task, but if you keep in mind that there are certain brands and styles that experienced guitar players desire, this could make things a lot easier for you.

Here is some more information about purchasing a guitar as a Christmas gift for the experienced guitar player.

Custom guitars

Several guitar companies offer custom guitars. In fact, a custom guitar is a great way to personalize the guitar. However, if you choose to go the custom guitar route, you may want to consult with the guitarist. With all the different types of woods and body styles out there, it will be almost impossible to guess which guitar will make them happy. Brands to check out for custom guitars include Fender and Parker.

Exclusive Brands

Certain brands, such as Fender, Gibson, and Parker have multiple styles that appeal to the experienced guitar player. So what does a guitar player with a lot of experience desire in a guitar? That completely depends on personal preferences, the style of music they play, etc. One that that remains consistent is that these players require an instrument that is well made and sounds good. These brands deliver.

How to Choose

The best way to choose the right guitar is to involve the guitar player as much as possible. If they favor Parker guitars and you get them a Gibson, then they would not be happy with the purchase no matter how good the Gibson is supposed to be. You will also do your own research. Read product reviews, talk to other guitar players, and test some of the guitars. Or if you do not play, go with the guitar player you are buying the gift for and watch them test the guitars out. The only way to really tell if a guitar will work is by testing it. Every guitar made play differently even when they are the exact same model and brand. To know which guitar is exceptional requires a experienced touch.

William McRea
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/buying-a-guitar-for-christmas-for-the-experienced-guitarist-62987.html

Cheap electric guitars are a great solution for any beginner or cost conscious shredder. My first urge to learn how to play the guitar came when I was 12 years old. I confidently asked my mother to buy me an electric guitar, but she was put off by the high priced major brands. My heart was set on learning to play, so she found a cheap electric guitar on sale at our local toy store.

It was absolutely a beginner guitar. The amplifier was built into the body of it. My first guitar teacher found it hilarious, never actually seeing one like that before.

I learned all the basics of playing on that guitar. I spent hours alone in my room with it, and had the blisters on my fingers to prove it. I showed my mom that the guitar wasn’t something I was going to get bored with after a week and earned the right to plug it into a real amp; a decision her eardrums soon came to regret.

Cheap electric guitars aren’t just for beginners. I know a number of seasoned veteran players that are always finding great deals on cheap electric guitars that provide them with the quality they demand.

Let’s face it – instruments are expensive. High quality electric guitars will easily cost over $1,000; and that’s not even including a decent amp. A passion for guitar playing can easily burn a hole in your wallet, so finding a cheap electric guitar is a worth the effort.

If you’re just starting to learn how to play guitar, the thought of running out and buying the best gear is easy to get excited about. But use caution; spending a lot of money on top notch guitar equipment could be a mistake for a beginner. The early stages of learning to play can be frustrating. When guitar gods like Eddie Van Halen or Jimmy Page make it look easy while you’re having trouble laying down a bar chord, you’ll soon be tempted to perform the classic “guitar smash”.

Unfortunately many people get too frustrated with their beginning lessons and give up on learning to play too soon. I strongly recommend your first electric guitar purchase to be a cheap electric guitar for that reason.

You can learn to play on a cheap electric guitar just as well as you would if you bought an expensive one. A cheap guitar may even be better suited for learning. The reason for this is that typically cheap electric guitars require you to apply more pressure with your fingers to get the right sound output. This will strengthen your fingers quicker, giving you an edge over someone learning on a premium model. When you do make your first expensive guitar purchase, the built up strength will pay off when you can play better than the average player.

 

Mike Danick
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/cheap-electric-guitars-for-the-beginner-or-frugal-shredder-748923.html