All About Guitars

Archive for November, 2009

Learning to play the guitar can be a fun and rewarding pursuit. Whether it’s your dream to become the next guitar legend or you simply want to play campfire songs, it’s important to start out right. This means learning the guitar, its chords and so on. Taking shortcuts while learning might net you a song or two you can play, but it won’t give you a foundation to build on. Here’s where video guitar lessons can come in handy for students of all levels.

It might seem a little odd to take lessons from a filmed person online or on a VHS tape or DVD, but the truth is this type of learning works very well for a lot of students. Video guitar lessons offer a lot of perks regular classes don’t. Let’s look at them:

* Step by step instructions. A good video guitar lesson will begin with the basics and work all the way up to more expert techniques. This means there’s no short cutting around the important things, such as guitar parts, care and so on. These instructions will be offered in a natural order and can really benefit the beginner and even a novice by teaching the fundamentals first.

* On demand. This is perhaps one of the biggest draws to video guitar lessons. Rather than having to wait for an appointed hour each week to take lessons, those who choose to go the video route can learn on their schedules when they want and as much as they want. The “teacher” is always available.

* Repeat performances. Since video guitar lessons don’t involve a person whose time needs to be booked, lessons that need repeating can be repeated at no additional cost. If a particular lesson is tricky, a video student can replay it over and over again until the repetition pays off. And, since repetition and patience are the key virtues in learning an instrument, this is a real bonus.

* Visual aids. Some people can learn guitar simply by hearing and then trying it themselves. For the rest of us, however, it’s nice to be able to see where fingers need to go, how the instrument is held and so on. Video lessons, just like live ones, offer these visual cues to help people along the way to guitar mastery.

* Variety. Video guitar lessons are offered by all kinds of teachers. This means the style of play can be varied greatly, which is great for students who want to learn more than one way to do things or more than one style of play.

* Cost effectiveness. In person lessons can be very costly over time. And while video guitar lessons require an initial investment, once they’re paid for, they’re paid for. This means no matter how many times a lesson needs to be repeated for comfort level, there’s no extra charge.

* Overcoming “stage fright.” Some people simply are afraid to take lessons in person because they “sound bad.” By having a video teacher, this fear is eliminated. There’s no one to offer up opinions.

While it’s true that nothing can replace face-to-face lessons when feedback is needed, video guitar lessons can really help anyone learn the basics and beyond. The visual cues they offer, combined with the other perks make them a great way to learn a guitar. Remember, however, that a guitar is a pretty complicated instrument and it will take time and practice to truly master its playing.

Ray La Foy
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/video-guitar-lessons-have-their-advantages-87491.html

There are those rare artists among us who are destined to mature, to blossom and to grow.

Through some kind of metamorphosis as is the case in Cady McClain’s ever evolving transformation. It is as though her gifts and abilities continue to fine tune themselves and this allows Cady to constantly improve as an artist and a person.

This marvel occurs every time Cady looks within herself as she finds different ways to reach out to us us and touch us all with her wonder and beauty of her self, her music and her acting.

Cady McClain describes herself as a woman who is ‘curvy,’ ’soft’ and a ‘great ‘dancer.’ Cady admits that people have also told her that she looks a little like Jody Foster but with curves.

She was voted one of Daytime’s soap operas, ‘most beautiful women.’ Cady also thinks of herself as an actor, writer and musician.

Her father was of Irish and Mexican descent who left her when she was 12. Her mother is of Swiss and German descent who ”gave me my creativity since she was an artist and taught me all about art,” she says.

Cady was born in Burbank California and raised in Laguna Nagel, California. She also spends time in New York City especially now since she currently stars as Dixie on ‘All My Children.’ This is a recurring role for her and she has now been back on the daytime show for the past six months.

Even when she was 9 years old, Cady McClain had the look to sell most products. She began her career as one of the ’stick on us’ Band Aid kids and quickly learned that she could get almost anything she wanted from those who would pick or use her to sell their products.

”There was a price, however,’’she says, ”I was a product and not just a little kid anymore” and Cady soon learned how to sell herself.

As a young teenager growing up in the ’80’s Cady was working regularly and she was getting checks in the amount of $5-10,000 each.

”Which to me was a lot of money. I used that money to help my family.” Cady says.(her mom was ill and Cady was very supportive to the person she loved the most in the world back then.)

Cady’s acting ability steadily improved and in no time she was awarded with two Emmy’s. One for her role as ”Dixie, the little girl in ”All my Children, back in the 90’s.

She also received an Emmy as Rosanna Cabot, the rich, beautiful bitch in, ”As the World Turns,” in 2003.

”Dreams come true by listening to the little voices from within and believing in yourself,” Cady says. When her mother passed away when she was 25 ”I found my inner strength due to having to live with death because my mother was ill for a long period of time.”

Cady has been writing music since her early twenties and through the support of friends and loved ones continues to write music that Cady hopes will soon inspire us all.

Since ‘93 Cady has been performing in clubs in New Orleans and recently was involved in assisting artists who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina so they could earn a little money by playing in New York clubs and venues.

”Writing songs are like writing a poem,” Cady says, ‘’songs are rhythmic stories, some songs are like prayers. I tell truths inside of riddles,” she reveals.

She is most inspired and influenced by the music, she admits of Grammy winner, Shawn Covin, who has been an early influence and whose music she just adores.

Cady has recently teamed up with, Emily Lazar who is best known for her outstanding mastering, editing and studio work. Emily has also worked with David Bowie, Lou Reed, and Madonna.

Emily is now an admirer of Cady’s and she has assisted her on Cady’s first CD, entitled ‘Blue Glitter Fish’ which is a compilation of Cady’s own songs. This CD has eleven songs on it including a hidden track at the end.

George Walker Petit who she met through friends is now her producer and has worked closely with her on her new CD. He says, ”her music is heart wrenchingly beautiful.”

The songs on her CD include ”Silence,” which is a love song, and ”My Guitar” which is a heavy rock song, and ‘Dreamer,’ which is a dark dance tune which could be used in a seedy bar or strip club.

‘It is about a guy who can’t move forward and or a song about those of us who go to places to lick our wounds, and I feel for people like that,” Cady says.

Her new album, Blue Glitter Fish also has her favorite, ‘Africa,’ which is a song which is evocative of the mystery that is Africa. ‘We all have our Africa’s inside of us which include the mysterious, dark and unexplored.”

Larry Flick from Sirius Satellite Radio is a big fan of Cady’s musical talents and he just interviewed her on his radio show and played some of her latest songs to the delight of Cady and already she has caught the attention of many more new music fans who were listening to her music and interview.

One cannot wonder at the beauty and essence of this remarkable and talented woman, especially when she says things like, ”I have learned to forgive and I have learned to appreciate all that is beauty and the humbling quality of love and being in love and making creative and harmonious music.”

Mark Greenstein
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/the-journey-of-cady-mcclain-soap-diva-83829.html

All people love music. Good music soothes the soul, calms the heart, and fills the ears. Indeed, it is difficult to imagine a world without music.

If you are a musician, a recording artist, a member of a band, a businessman engaged in the music industry, or merely a music lover, it would be a cool to have a music room in your house. This could be a spare room, a cozy corner, or even a specifically constructed room where you could practice your musical skills, hang out and practice with the band, or just relax and unwind while listening to the soft strums of a guitar.

If you are planning to have a music room, here are some ideas to make it more conducive to its purpose.

1. A music room is usually a place for relaxation. Therefore, you should put chairs, tables, or couches for people to relax while listening. Even a single very comfortable chair, a recliner, or a love seat would suffice.

2. Preferably, your music room should have an outside view, and that outside view should be a pleasant one. For example, through your music room’s window, you may see the city skyline, a garden, or the beachfront.

3. Add some wall decors. For instance, musical metal wall art of your choice may be metal notes that are cut or photo-etched from sheet metal or brass. You may also want to put posters of your favorite singers or musical groups. Do not just stick the posters on the wall; it is usually better to frame it.

4. You can also add other decorations such as lava lamps, flowers, and plants. Lamp shades and blooms usually brighten up any room, and it would be very good to have one in your music room. Choose blooms and light accessories with bright colors. Just make sure that vases and lampshades and such do not stand in the way; a swing of a guitar or the thrusting of a violin bow can knock them off from their perch.

5. The way you arrange the furniture in your music room plays a big part of its composition. For example, if you are using your music room as a place where you can sit and relax while you are playing your guitar, then avoid clutter and put your recliner or seat near a window. If you are using the room as a practice venue, place all large instruments, amplifiers, speakers, and other equipment against the room’s walls, leaving the center clear for you and other members to practice. In case your members are carrying portable instruments such as guitars, make sure to have enough space to swing the instruments around.

6. Aside from music metal wall art, sculptures, and posters, you can also use your own instruments or paraphernalia as decorations-guitars, jackets, album covers, the list is endless.

7. Lighting also plays a big part in setting the mood in your music room. For example, if you are in a rock band, a red light would give your room a “dangerous” feeling, very conducive for a rock theme. However, if you are the one who likes classical or instrumental music, install pin lights and soft lighting.

Alyssa Davis
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/music-room-ideas-710543.html

Do you want to learn to play a guitar like a professional?  Do you want to learn to play a guitar but don’t know what steps to take?  Have you played the guitar in the past and gave it up because it became too frustrating to learn?  I was one of those people too.  I paid music instructors, bought so many online videos, and still couldn’t play a single tune.  The average music instructor charges $30.00 or more for an hour of a lesson.  However, I am going to tell you about a guitar package that will save you hundreds of dollars for the price of one guitar lesson.  The name is Jamorama and I will supply you with a Jamorama review.

Boy, did I wish I was introduced to Jamorama earlier!  Jamorama provides all of the guitar learning information that you will ever need from right at home from your computer.  The creator of Jamorama is a professional guitarist and teacher named Ben Edwards.  What he does is try to make guitar playing learning fun and at the same time, provide you with essential tools to have you playing the guitar in no time.  He designed over 140 video lessons using easy-to-follow video instructions that show you how to play the guitar step by step.  This is the most stream-lined guitar learning tool out there and unfortunately, I have tried many!

Jamorama offers 4 FREE bonuses:

1. Guitearit- a fun game style learning tool that will train you to recognize and play music by ear.

2. Jayde Musica – a fun way to learn to read music (a very important thing to know for any musician).

3. Guitar Tuner Pro – software that shows you step-by-step how to correctly tune your guitar and keep your guitar sounding great.

4. Jamorama Metronome – a metronome that can be set between 40 and 20 beats per minute. This tool is important for keeping tempo and timing.

Two additional free bonus ebooks titled “Advanced Learning Techniques for Guitar” are added to this package. The second book in the series, “How to Tune Your Guitar”, teaches you about the problems associated with tuning a guitar. This book will also teach you how to tune a guitar by ear, and do it effectively.

The Jamorama package is one that is not only packed with programs and features, it truly teaches people who want to learn to play a guitar.  Ben also teaches you how to use your ear to play virtually any guitar song that you hear. I am the last person that thought I would be able to play my favorite song by ear and I now surprise myself and peers!  I actually play guitar like a professional now!  The goal of Jamorama is to give you everything you need to be playing like a pro in a very short amount of time and I definitely recommend this product to anyone who want to learn to play a guitar. Click here for more information about Jamorama.

Tamara Jones
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/want-to-learn-to-play-a-guitar-check-out-jamorama-688660.html

Your guitar won’t play in tune because of faulty intonation. You’ve tried sacrificing your favorite effects pedal to the guitar gods and donating gig money to orphanages, but nothing seems to help. You were ready to take up the Theremin until you found articles like this one that describe practical ways to fix intonation. Part One of this article explained how to fix certain factors that corrupt the intonation of guitars and basses, such as faulty nut slots or excessive neck relief. Part Two will discuss how to fix a few more issues that cause flawed intonation. For a review on how to properly set intonation, refer to the Xylem article "Guitar and Bass Repair: Beyond Basic Tuning – Intonation, What is it and How Does it Work?".

High Nut

Please follow this link to view the figures for this article.

If the first several frets of your instrument play sharp, regardless of intonation settings and tuning, the nut may be too high. The taller the nut the more the strings stretch when fretted. The more the strings stretch, the sharper the pitch. To check if your nut is too high, tune your instrument to pitch and make sure the neck relief is set properly (Articles #1-3). Next, fret the lowest string at the third fret. If you can fit more than one business card between the bottom of the string and the top of the first fret, the nut is too high.

A high nut must be removed and the extra height sanded away. To remove the nut, place a wood block against the side facing the fretboard (Figure 1). Gently tap the opposite end of the block of wood with a hammer to knock the nut free. Most instruments should have only a small amount of glue holding the nut on so it may be removed this way without causing any damage. If the nut does not come off after a few gentle taps, consider asking a luthier or repair tech to remove the nut.

Once the nut is free, mark it to indicate how much material should be removed, keeping in mind that removing 1/8" is a lot. While sanding, make sure the bottom of the nut remains flat and square to the side that touches the fretboard by checking it with a square frequently. Sanding the nut with a jig like the one depicted in Figure 2 will help it stay flat and square (make sure your jig forms a perfect right angle). Start with a coarse grit sandpaper between 100 and 150. The final sanding should be done with a grit between 320 and 600. Sand away material in small increments and check the height of the nut occasionally with the third fret method described above. If you sand away too much material you may have to replace the nut.

Once the nut is the proper height, clean up any excess glue where the nut was seated on the neck with a chisel, file or sandpaper wrapped around a small square block (if you don’t have much experience with a chisel, stick with the file or sandpaper). Make sure the nut’s seat stays square and flat. Place a small drop of hide glue or white glue on the nut’s seat. Place the nut in its seat and tune the instrument to pitch (the strings will act as a clamp). Make sure that the nut doesn’t wander while tensioning the strings. Wipe away excess glue with a moist paper towel and allow it to dry for about 12 hours before playing the instrument. You’ve just improved both the intonation and the action at the lower frets!

Maxed-Out Compensation and Instruments with Fixed Saddles

Some instruments’ saddles may be adjusted all the way back or forward but they still do not intonate correctly. Other instruments with incorrect intonation have fixed saddles so their compensation cannot be adjusted easily. The intonation of these instruments may be improved or corrected in one of the following ways, depending on action, relief and string tension.

In general, a guitar or bass with high action, excessive relief or lower-tension strings will require more compensation, as all these conditions require the strings to stretch further when fretted. Instruments with the saddles adjusted all the way back (or a fixed saddle) and sharp intonation may have their action lowered, relief reduced or higher-tension strings installed in an effort to correct their intonation. Conversely, instruments with saddles adjusted all the way forward (or a fixed saddle) and flat intonation may have their action raised, relief increased or lower-tension strings installed to improve or correct their intonation. If you are not familiar with adjusting action or relief on your own, consider taking your instrument to a luthier for these adjustments.

As always, thanks for reading. See you in a month!

Copyright © Anthony Olinger, Xylem Handmade Basses and guitars 2009.

Anthony Olinger
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/guitar-and-bass-repair-perfect-the-tuning-of-your-instrument-intonation-troubleshooting-part-2-723729.html