Expert: Dan’L Terry
Bio: Dan’L Terry is a nationally award-winning artist/designer. His art has been exhibited in national juried shows and museums, on the covers of books and magazines, and in feature films.
Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

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For most players, the realm of classical guitars is one that they’d just as soon avoid. The scale length is different, the neck is wider, and they’re harder to play, so why bother?

Why? Because the world of the classical guitar is definitely one worth exploring and one that will reap incredible rewards the more you explore it. A well-executed classical passage within a rock song can give an air of class and distinction to the music, not to mention adding a great break in the middle of the song. Playing classical guitar, even if you use it traditionally (playing simple fingerpicker parts, strumming and single-note lines) can help your playing take a giant leap

forward.

Classical guitars are very, very similar in their construction to traditional acoustic guitars. The body is smaller, but the bracing methods and wood types are similar. The necks are wider to accommodate your fingers, the nylon strings give the classical guitar its distinctive tone, but most players with average-size hands find that this transition isn’t as difficult as they first may have pictured it.

What can a Classical guitar do for you?

Well, give it a try and you’ll find out a whole new world.

Guitars from Spain
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/what-can-a-classical-guitar-do-for-you-85892.html

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Many Beatles fans are unaware of the great impact British folk-singer and guitarist Donovan (Donovan Philips Leitch) had on the Beatles and their music in 1968.

Donovan was a friend of the Beatles, and when the group traveled to Rishikesh in India to study Transcendental Meditation in February 1968, Donovan came along. There were several other westerners present at the Rishikesh camp too, including Mike Love of the Beach Boys.

Many of the songs that would later feature on the Beatles’ 1968 album entitled The Beatles – also known as The White Album because of its white cover – emerged during the group’s stay in India.

One reason for this was the fact that Donovan was there. Between the mediation classes, he taught John, Paul and George a special finger-picking guitar style which can be traced on many of the songs on The White Album.

Take Paul McCartney’s Blackbird, for example. It was written in India, and it’s a prime example of how Donovan’s guitar-technique was applied by the Beatles. Listen how elegantly Paul picks the strings and how the guitar pattern supports the lead vocal brilliantly.

acoustic guitars had arguably not sounded quite as sophisticated as that on previous Beatles recordings, perhaps with a few exceptions, such as Paul’s I’ve Just Seen A Face from 1965 and Lennon’s Girl from 1966. The Beatles had often used the acoustic to play rhythm guitar – which of course worked brilliantly – but the Donovan finger-picking style added yet another dimension their music.

Another of Paul’s songs, Mother Nature’s Son, also took shape in India. Also here Donovan’s influence is obvious. The lyrics, meanwhile, are said to have been influenced by a lecture given by meditation guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, a central figure at the camp.

Paul was of course not the only Beatle who was inspired by Donovan’s guitar technique. Just listen to the songs Julia and Dear Prudence, both penned by John Lennon. Dear Prudence is actually about a specific incident that occurred at the Rishikesh meditation camp. The song is really about Prudence Farrow, sister of actress Mia Farrow, who also stayed at Rishikesh. Prudence, however, preferred to meditate in solitude in her chalet. In the end Lennon and George Harrison had to convince her to come out and join the others: Dear Prudence, won’t you come out and play?

Other songs written or inspired by the stay in India were Lennon’s The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill and Sexy Sadie, plus McCartney’s Why Don’t We Do It In The Road and Wild Honey Pie.

Sexy Sadie was originally called Maharishi after Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the meditation guru. After having stayed in India for a while, Lennon lost trust in Maharishi, apparently because of a rumor that the guru had made sexual advances to a female member of the course. The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill was about college graduate named Richard Cooke III who visited the Rishikesh community because his mother Nancy was staying there. They did indeed go tiger hunting, just like the song suggests.

Paul McCartney later said he got the idea to Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? in India, where he had seen two monkeys copulating in the road. Wild Honey Pie was a sing along that also emerged in Rishikesh.

The first Beatle to leave India was Ringo, who returned to London in early March. McCartney soon followed, while Lennon and Harrison left in April.

You can read about all the songs the Beatles released on my website: http://www.thebeatlesonline.com

Andreas
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/the-beatles-donovan-and-india-82915.html

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Picking out what you want for your very first guitar is a difficult
and tricky choice. You probably do not know a lot about guitars to
begin with, and with the thousands of selections available, it is easy
to be confused.

The first decision involves choosing between either an
electric or acoustic guitar. Once you have made that choice, the next
thing you have to do is to determine the budget that you are
comfortable with. If you are really serious about learning, it is
recommended that you avoid buying a cheap and low-quality instrument,
as such guitars tend to impede your learning. When it comes to
upgrading, you will also find that getting a good price for your guitar
will be difficult.

Typically, acoustic guitars have six strings, are hollow and have a
sound hole. Electric guitars are not hollow, and require a guitar
amplifier. However, electric guitars may be easier for beginners,
because the strings are easier to press down, and do not cause your
fingers to get sore as easily as compared to playing on an acoustic
guitar.

One of the most important factors that you have to consider,
when choosing between an acoustic or an electric, is what kind of music
will you be playing. If you like to learn how to strum your favourite
songs, an acoustic guitar may be better. If you are a great fan of rock
music, then you might like to start off with an electric guitar. This
is important, because if you start off with the wrong kind of guitar,
you will find it much more difficult to find the motivation to play
regularly.

Alvin Poh
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/choosing-your-first-guitar-a-beginners-guide-3040.html

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acoustic guitars are some of the most beautiful instruments and can produce tantalizing music when learned to play properly. Most people who purchase guitars buy them with the intention to learn how to play them, but very few go on to become masters of the instrument. If you’re serious about learning how to play one, you should first learn how to buy one. Serious musicians just don’t buy their instruments from any music store – they learn what the best brands are, evaluate the sound qualities of each, and try the instruments before making an investment.

When buying a guitar, take an experienced player with you if possible. This way, your “personal guide” can evaluate the selection of guitars available and help you pick one that’s appropriate for your level of music education (you can always upgrade later as your skills improve). Without your own personal guide, you can ask for help from the store clerk. Music store clerks are hired based upon their knowledge of musical instruments. If you get help from a clerk, explain your skill level and price range.

Having a wide selection to choose from, try out different guitars by strumming them with a pick and wearing strap. If you’re not sure how to use a pick or wear a strap, the store clerk can help you do both. While you strum and pick each string of the guitar, you want to listen for a good quality sound. If you hear buzzing or any sounds coming from the guitar that you did not intend to make, look for a different one. A good guitar sound is pure and hollow. And if you have your “personal guide” with you, he or she can help you gauge the sound quality of each.

In addition to buying a guitar, browse through the selection of beginning guitar lessons books if available. Most music stores offer lesson books or even classes for those who want to learn to play their new purchases.

Tamara Williams
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/guide-to-buying-a-guitar-10017.html

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You rarely, if ever, come across a guy or a girl who hasn’t heard of guitar, let alone see it or play it. Not a surprise, if you knew the history which has thrown up countless styles of this stringed instrument. It runs for over 5000 years, pictures and figurines are reclaimed from Iranian sites that depict playing instruments similar to guitars.

But why could it retain its popularity for so long a time? It is not mysterious to answer this question, at all. Guitars acclimate perfectly well with classical styles as it does with popular and rock styles, play it as a solo instrument or use as an accompaniment, it is fine. It is also fine to choose guitars with six, eight, ten or even 12 strings, as you like. In a nut shell, guitar is a great escape when you are lonely and depressed.

Types of Guitars
There are just two types to divide guitars.

1.Acoustic type: These classic guitars are fondly known as Hawaiian guitars too. They don’t need outside inputs to amplify the acoustics but can do so themselves, even though they are now a day available fitted with electric gadgets to power the amplification needs. What still beckons is the loudness which is absent.

2.Electric type: Electric guitars pickup mechanical vibrations of strings for amplification by first picking them up via radio or electric signals and then amplifying. The built-in electronic part of the guitar uses semiconductor chips to manage the whole thing unlike the vacuum diodes and valves of the yester era. If you are interested, the electric guitars score over their poor country cousins, the classic acoustic guitars, in many ways such as tapping, hammer-on, legato and pull-offs to name a few.

There are countless sub varieties that combine the plusses of both or otherwise simply stand out. There are hybrid guitars that combine acoustic and electric guitars. Don’t be surprised to see double necked or a 5.1 surround guitar too.

Guitar and the Beginner
Don’t worry if you are challenged for time these days. You can easily find a guitar lesson designed especially for the beginners over the internet. Although this calls for greater dedication and passion as opposed to being taught by a musician, you have the comfort of making your time table, beginning where you want to, and the complete absence of that embarrassed feel in the beginning when you produce some funny noises plucking your strings.

Saddle up again guitar is all about spicing up life.

Namsing Then
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/guitar-sucks-you-in-so-tune-up-your-life-78685.html

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You can learn to play guitar on most any old instrument. This does not have to be the very best instrument out there. As you advance on your instrument you will naturally want to get a better guitar. Although the list of quality guitars is very long you tend to see the pros playing the same popular guitar brands over and over again. You will see Fender and Gibson guitars being played in nearly any style of music. On the acoustic guitar scene Martin guitars and instruments made by Guild are quite popular. This article will look at a few of the more popular brands of guitars you might see your heroes playing.

Almost anyone you can think of at one time or another has played Fender guitars. Leo Fender was way ahead of his time with the modern designs he put into his guitars. Go to any country music show even today and you will more than likely spot a Fender Telecaster guitar being played on stage. Fender guitars come in many different price ranges so most anyone can afford to own a Fender.

A lot of the all time great rockers play the Gibson brand of guitar. Almost everyone has played the Gibson Les Paul from Les Paul himself to Eric Clapton. The tone of the Gibson Les Paul has a large support group in love with the famous Les Paul growl. Many of these guitars are worth quite a lot of money.

Ask most any serious guitarist which guitar is the king of the all of the acoustic guitars and most likely you will get the answer of the Martin guitar. This brand of guitar has been made in the US since 1833. Spend the day at a major bluegrass festival and you will find performer after performer playing Martin guitars. These guitars are sought after because of the fantastic tone they have.

Although Guild guitars may not be as popular as some brands, they are fine quality guitars that are a joy to play. The jumbo models and the 12 string models are highly sought after guitars. Fender bought out the Guild Company in 1995 and continued to manufacture the Guild brand of guitar.

There are many more really good popular guitar brands available. Searching out that perfect instrument is half the fun of playing. Your style of playing will have a lot to do with what type of guitar you choose. Do your homework and pick out the right type of guitar for you. This may or not be the guitar your hero plays.

Douglas Taylor
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/popular-guitar-brands-your-guitar-heroes-may-play-123037.html

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