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Archive for February 2010

Vintage Guild Electric Guitars

February 26, 2010

In modern times, Electric Guitars are most often associated with genres such as rock and roll, blues rock, and jazz. Vintage Guild Electric GuitarsHowever, this instrument has its origins in the big band music of the 1930s and 1940s. As the jazz orchestras of those days grew and their brass sections increased proportionally, the need for an amplified guitar became more and more pronounced. Adolph Rickenbacher, George Beauchamp, and Paul Barth, all of who eventually founded the Electro String Company, are usually credited with the production of the first Electric Guitars around 1931. Whoever did it first, the eventual result was a guitar that used pickups to convert the vibrations of its steel strings into an electrical current, which was made louder with an instrument amplifier and speaker.

As mentioned, an electric guitar’s strings are always steel. This is, however, one of the few features shared by all the various types. Electric guitars come in a variety of models, including solid body, hollow body, wood, metal, one- six-, seven-, eight-, nine-, and twelve-string, and even double neck models.

The first of these, the solid body type, is the most common. They are generally made of some kind of lacquered wood, which can be anything from maple, to koa, to ebony. The average solid body electric guitar has six strings, and the vibrations of this type of guitar are produced by the strings alone. This is notable in comparison to the hollow body electric guitar. Although the two types work similarly, the body of the hollow body guitar vibrates along with the strings, which means that the pickups convert both string and body vibrations into an electrical signal. A semi-hollow body guitar is a combination of the solid and the hollow types, and it is generally held to strike a balance between the attributes of the two. Then there are the metal body electric guitars. The bodies of these models are chambered (due to weight considerations), but they are designed to be played as though made of solid wood. Finally, the electric guitar can sport anywhere from one to twelve strings, which makes for, as one might imagine, a plethora of sounds and potential musical applications.

Play EXISTING riffs and patterns with speed and accuracy click here

While there are any number of electric guitar manufacturers in the world, some are certainly more famous than others. Fender and Gibson, for example, established their reputations in the 1950s as makers of high-quality mass-produced guitars, and they remain some of the most well-known products available. Other reputable companies include BC Rich, ESP, and Peavey.

The electric guitar has gained a certain notoriety over the years, thanks to its association with a number of high-profile artists, among them Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, and the irrepressible Keith Richards. Interestingly, there has been a movement over the past few decades towards the use of the electrical guitar in contemporary classical music. However, such compositions are by no means common, and the genres of rock and jazz remain the primary territory of the electric guitar.

Play EXISTING riffs and patterns with speed and accuracy click here

Casey Gentles

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Posted in electric guitars

Finger Picking Guitar

February 26, 2010

Using finger picking techniques to play guitar makes your music more interesting and varied. Flat picking does not give the guitar player the chance to pick several notes at the same time, to play in octaves or explore the possibilities of the finger style technique known as Travis picking. A skilled finger picker can create the illusion of the sound of more than one guitar being played. Playing the guitar finger picking style is said to have originated with ragtime music. This was part of the early blues music era and was very popular played on the piano. It was not long before guitar players were using their fingers to pick out melodies in imitation of the ragtime pianists.

When you use finger picking guitar playing technique you can use the flesh of your fingertips to pluck the strings, or you can grow the nails slightly longer on your right hand to give a sharper sound which is similar to that of flat picking. You also have the option of fitting a thumbpick and/or fingerpicks on your picking hand. This is the best option if you are playing an electric guitar or a steel string acoustic because steel strings can be hard on the nails.

Travis Picking was developed by a country guitarist named Merle Travis. It is a simple technique that sounds more technically demanding than it really is. As a general rule the thumb plays the bass strings which are the fifth and sixth strings using an alternating bass pattern. The index finger plays the third string, the ring finger the second string and the third finger plays the first string. Or you can simplify your playing by using the index finger or the index and ring fingers to play the melody notes. Assigning strings to particular fingers is just a way of starting off your finger picking in a disciplined way rather than a hard and fast rule. You will find as your technique and your confidence progress that you will want to use chords where your bass notes might be on the fourth and third strings so you will be varying your technique accordingly.

To get the hang of Travis picking just fret an A minor chord and start picking an alternating bass on the fifth and fourth strings.

Here is your chord . . .

E -0———————————

B -1———————————

G -2———————————

D -2———————————

A -0———————————

E -0———————————

. . . and here is your picking pattern on the fifth and fourth strings:

1 2 3 4

D ——2———-2

A -0———-0—–

Now you can use your index finger or the middle and ring fingers to throw in random notes that fit in with your alternating bass pattern. To start you off, here is your alternating bass with a few notes thrown in. Just use your index finger to pick the melody notes on the first and second strings. Note that you start this pattern with a “pinch” where you play your bass and melody notes simultaneously.

1 2 + 3 + 4 +

E -0——————–0

B ———1—–1——-

G ———————–

D ——2————2—

A -0———-0———-

E ———————–

As you begin to see what can be done with finger picking guitar techniques, you will also see that your playing of single note runs will be slower than if you were using your plectrum. This limitation on speed of playing can be overcome by working on your thumb picking. The thumb can be quite fast if you use the “rest stroke”. This is technique used in flamenco and classical guitar where the thumb picks a note and comes to rest on the string below it. The resulting note will be much stronger than if you simply used free stroke where your thumb moves outward from the string. As you become more familiar with finger picking you will develop the confidence to use pull-offs and hammer-ons to augment your finger picking.

Ricky Sharples

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Posted in bass guitar

How To Play A Electric Guitar In 4 Easy Steps

February 26, 2010

The electric guitar is a key part in any rock or metal band. If you want to know how to play a electric guitar like John Petrucci or Jimi Hendrix there are some things that you will need before you can begin playing. Unlike an acoustic guitar, you will need some supplies and do some setup procedures first. With an acoustic you can just begin strumming and everything will sound fine. But with a electric guitar you need an amp and other equipment or it won’t sound right. There’s 4 easy steps listed below.

Step 1. Get the guitar and equipment
The first thing you’ll need to do is buy a electric guitar if you don’t already have one. I would recommend going to a local guitar shop for your first purchase. This way you can test different guitars and get advice from the people working there. You should test out at least 10 guitars to find something that matches the tone you’re looking for. You will also need an amp to power the guitar and you can test these out in the store as well. There are two kinds of amps, a combo amp and a standalone amp. Make sure you get a combo. The last thing you’ll need to purchase seperately is a 1/4 inch patch cord to connect the guitar to the amp.

Step 2. Set everything up
After you’ve purchased the equipment you’ll need to get everything plugged in and connected. You’ll need to plug the amp into a wall socket, so make sure you find a place where the amp will be free from clutter or other obstacles. Then you take your patch cord and plug one end into the amp and the other end into the guitar. Make sure you get a long enough cord in case you want to play the guitar away from your amp. The amp should come with instructions on how to set up and play a electric guitar in case you need more assistance.

Step 3. Make adjustments and tune guitar
Depending on what kind of amp and what guitar you purchased there will be knob settings that will need to be adjusted to get the right sound. Your amp will come with a volume and gain knob, and maybe other features like disortion and reverb. Just make sure you have the volume and gain on zero when you plug in the guitar to avoid unexpected loud noise. On your guitar, you’ll have a volume control and a couple tone controls. You can play with these until you get the sound you want.

Step 4. Find a good learning course
Learning how to play a electric guitar on your own can be a difficult task. There are some good courses that can be found on the internet that will teach you everything in a step by step fashion. To become a good guitar player you’ll need to be coached by someone with experience who can show you how to play correctly and effectively. Even the little things like how to sit properly, or how to hold the guitar correctly can have a huge impact on your success. I would recommend Jamorama as the course to get started with. They have beginner and intermediate lessons, and provide free lessons here. To see a review and get a free ebook on beginner guitar playing, try here.

Jeremy Arteago

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Posted in acoustic guitar

Finger Picking Guitar

February 25, 2010

Using finger picking techniques to play guitar makes your music more interesting and varied. Flat picking does not give the guitar player the chance to pick several notes at the same time, to play in octaves or explore the possibilities of the finger style technique known as Travis picking. A skilled finger picker can create the illusion of the sound of more than one guitar being played. Playing the guitar finger picking style is said to have originated with ragtime music. This was part of the early blues music era and was very popular played on the piano. It was not long before guitar players were using their fingers to pick out melodies in imitation of the ragtime pianists.

When you use finger picking guitar playing technique you can use the flesh of your fingertips to pluck the strings, or you can grow the nails slightly longer on your right hand to give a sharper sound which is similar to that of flat picking. You also have the option of fitting a thumbpick and/or fingerpicks on your picking hand. This is the best option if you are playing an electric guitar or a steel string acoustic because steel strings can be hard on the nails.

Travis Picking was developed by a country guitarist named Merle Travis. It is a simple technique that sounds more technically demanding than it really is. As a general rule the thumb plays the bass strings which are the fifth and sixth strings using an alternating bass pattern. The index finger plays the third string, the ring finger the second string and the third finger plays the first string. Or you can simplify your playing by using the index finger or the index and ring fingers to play the melody notes. Assigning strings to particular fingers is just a way of starting off your finger picking in a disciplined way rather than a hard and fast rule. You will find as your technique and your confidence progress that you will want to use chords where your bass notes might be on the fourth and third strings so you will be varying your technique accordingly.

To get the hang of Travis picking just fret an A minor chord and start picking an alternating bass on the fifth and fourth strings.

Here is your chord . . .

E -0———————————

B -1———————————

G -2———————————

D -2———————————

A -0———————————

E -0———————————

. . . and here is your picking pattern on the fifth and fourth strings:

1 2 3 4

D ——2———-2

A -0———-0—–

Now you can use your index finger or the middle and ring fingers to throw in random notes that fit in with your alternating bass pattern. To start you off, here is your alternating bass with a few notes thrown in. Just use your index finger to pick the melody notes on the first and second strings. Note that you start this pattern with a “pinch” where you play your bass and melody notes simultaneously.

1 2 + 3 + 4 +

E -0——————–0

B ———1—–1——-

G ———————–

D ——2————2—

A -0———-0———-

E ———————–

As you begin to see what can be done with finger picking guitar techniques, you will also see that your playing of single note runs will be slower than if you were using your plectrum. This limitation on speed of playing can be overcome by working on your thumb picking. The thumb can be quite fast if you use the “rest stroke”. This is technique used in flamenco and classical guitar where the thumb picks a note and comes to rest on the string below it. The resulting note will be much stronger than if you simply used free stroke where your thumb moves outward from the string. As you become more familiar with finger picking you will develop the confidence to use pull-offs and hammer-ons to augment your finger picking.

Ricky Sharples

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Posted in bass guitar

Essential electric guitar presented by lessons for guitar

February 25, 2010

When we wonder what guitar tab we need to get to begin to make up our repertoire, we usually think only about songs we like. We know that our choice in music does not suck in the slightest but if we are going to be playing our guitar and singing for audiences we need to get used to the idea that our taste in music will not match what our listeners want to hear. We may even take a look at popular choices in songs and get the uncomfortable feeling that we might have to play songs that we do not like. One thing guitar players are famous for is standing on their principles and not compromising on what they are going to play. The other thing they are famous for is giving the audience what they want. So a mixture of these two attitudes is probably going to form in your psyche as you peruse your list of guitar tabs on the internet. While we are on the subject of lists of guitar tabs remember to pay a visit to your local music store or online merchant for ready-made collections of easy guitar tabs. You can find titles like “Popular Songs for acoustic guitar” or “CMT\’s 100 Greatest Songs of Country Music”.

One fact that has emerged from field tests conducted by buskers, night club performers and covers bands is that you should look for your repertoire in the songs of years gone by. Oldies are goodies. Another thing you should think about is whether or not you are an audience participation kind of performer. If you are still wondering about it one second after the thought enters your head, then you probably aren\’t. So stay away from songs that require you to yell, “Everybody now!!” or “Just the girls this time!”. Likewise if you play solo acoustic guitar and have a voice like Johnny Cash you might want to stay away from Led Zeppelin\’s “Whole Lotta Love”. But do not walk away from songs you enjoy just because they might not seem immediately doable.Remember Jose Feliciano\’s “Light My Fire” and Eric Clapton\’s unplugged “Layla”.

Of course what songs you choose is not going to matter much if you do not pay attention to how you sing and play the guitar. People pay to see performers who are better at something than they are. Which is where playing material that you like comes in. If you are playing a song that you consider to be a crowd pleaser but you personally think is a load of stomach chunks you give attention to the part the audience likes. You already know what that is. That is why you do not bellow, “Hello darkness my old friend” or shirk on the enthusiasm when you sing the line, “Welcome to the Hotel California”.

Okay so what we get out of all this is first, there are songs that crowds of people like and second, you can sing and play these songs in a way that highlights your particular talents. Now for a basic list of songs that have been known to please a crowd or two over a period of years:

Wild World by Cat Stevens

Imagine – by John Lennon

Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin

Catch the Wind by Donovan

Can\’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley

Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks

Angie by the Rolling Stones

Everybody Hurts by REM

50 ways to leave your lover by Paul Simon

The 59th Street Bridge Song by Simon And Garfunkel

American Pie by Don Maclean

Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell

California Dreamin\’ by The Mamas and Papas

Knockin\’ on Heaven\’s Door by Bob Dylan

Mrs Robinson by Simon And Garfunkel

You\’re so vain by Carly Simon

Blowin\’ In The Wind by Bob Dylan

Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison

I Walk The Line by Johnny Cash

Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton

Gloria by Van Morrison (or Them)

Hotel California by The Eagles

Behind Blue Eyes by The Who

White Room by Cream

Sex And Candy by Marcy Playground

Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers

What Its Like by Everlast

Alison by Elvis Costello

Life By The Drop by Stevie Ray Vaughn

Melissa by Allman Brothers

Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones

Seagull by Bad Company

Mediterranean Sundance by Al DiMeola and Paco De Lucia

Classical Gas by Mason Williams

This list could be much, much longer, but you probably already see songs here that you would never play in a million years so all I can say now is I hope this guide to essential guitar tab has been helpful.

Solution Finders

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Posted in acoustic guitar

All About Guitars

Archive for February 2010

Vintage Guild Electric Guitars

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Finger Picking Guitar

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How To Play A Electric Guitar In 4 Easy Steps

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Finger Picking Guitar

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Essential electric guitar presented by lessons for guitar

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