Posts Tagged ‘Guitar Players’
The Air Guitar World Championship – This Is Awesome
Air guitar is the only way that many people will ever break into the music industry. It takes no skill. Anybody can do it. And you can do it anywhere because your instrument is always with you. Being able to play air guitar used to be a thing that nobody respected – until now. With the many championship contests in the country, the Air Guitar World Championship has now entered the fray. Playing the air guitar is no longer just something that the spastic-looking guy does when he is drunk. It is becoming a respected pastime.
Being able to play the air guitar is quickly becoming a popular pastime. There are competitions held where fellow air guitar players meet and compete against each other’s air guitar playing abilities. The competitions follow the form of elimination contests in that you can only move on by winning each of your matches. Regional winners move on to compete in the national finals. Their airfare and expenses are paid for in order to get to the venue for the competition. Winning the national finals will move the air guitarist to the world finals in Finland. This is the final stop. Money is not offered as a reward for winning, so it seems like a long way to go just to gain notoriety as the Air Guitar Champion of the World.
The rules are straightforward and self-explanatory. Each performer will play a song that they have chosen, and hopefully practiced, for sixty seconds. Then there is the compulsory round, which is where the judges pick a song for you, and you have to play their song for sixty seconds. The tricky part about the compulsory round is that the sixty seconds of the song can start from anywhere within the song. Therefore, you could be stuck playing the end of a song that you don’t even know. The rules say that you must play an invisible instrument, and that instrument must be a guitar (drums are not allowed). Also, air Roadies are allowed but they have to clear the stage before the performance can begin. There is a rule that prohibits back up bands, so if you were thinking of bringing your friends along for the ride, make sure that they stay in the audience and not on the stage. Performances are judged based on your technical ability, stage presence, and the “airness” of your performance.
Sometimes things like this cause one to be torn between art appreciation and craziness. Is there really a need for the Air Guitar World Championship? Should one just be thankful not to be entered in the competition or dating someone who is? However, one can also see how this art form, or expression, would be a fun, different, and exciting way to spend a weekend. Hey, at least you get to travel for free. The optimum way to enjoy something that involves pretend play as an adult, it would seem, is to tap into your inner child and – rock on!
Josh Scalf
http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/the-air-guitar-world-championship-this-is-awesome-139684.html
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You Can Learn to Play the Guitar
In high school, did you ever dream about starting your own rock band? Want to duplicate the soothing sounds of folk tunes for family and friends? Does your favorite musician work magic with a Gibson ES 335? Is Jimi Hendrix your idol? It doesn’t matter the reason why you want to play the guitar – a seed has been planted and now it is time to nurture the desire.
Where to begin? Playing guitar (whether for fun or professionally) takes patience and determination. By following a few tips, you can harness your passion or interest for the instrument. You will also find that fueling your creativity and developing this new form of expression will take time. Great guitar players do not blossom overnight.
Purchasing a Guitar
Before you start learning the ropes of guitar playing, you’re going to need an instrument to carry out your lessons. The type of music you wish to play will determine the kind of guitar you require. For example, an acoustic guitar is used to generate the sounds of country, ragtime or folk. The body of the guitar is large and hollow, creating a sound that many deem “natural.” Rock music often utilizes an electric guitar, which offers a rather distinctive amplified sound. Additional guitars to look into include the steel, solid body, archtop, resonator, bass and twelve-string guitar.
With the purchase of a guitar, there are other necessary pieces of basic equipment. A guitar pick is required to help play the chords of your instrument. The size of guitar pick is quite small, prompting easy breakage and it can also be easily misplaced. This is why beginners should have a good number of guitar picks on hand. When purchasing picks, the medium gauge varieties are suggested because they are less apt to break. You should also invest in a comfortable chair.
Getting Lessons
While some guitar players are able to naturally experiment with chords by ear and strum along with less guidance, others require the assistance of structured lessons. There are numerous ways to learn how to play the guitar. If you are able to afford a private tutor, you can take advantage of one-on-one instruction, which may speed up the learning process. Sometimes, beginners benefit from group learning, which provides a wealth of constructive criticism. The Internet also offers a way for beginners to privately learn online. Some websites offer a computer keyboard lesson on learning scales, which some beginners find quite easy.
Whichever approach you take in learning to play guitar, you should know that setting goals for yourself makes the process more rewarding. Achieving personal milestones further motivates your desire to find a common ground with the instrument and who knows how far your lessons will take you.
Recognizing why you want to play guitar in the first place will also help you to better accomplish your goals. Some people want to learn to play for fun, peaking with a performance in front of family and friends. Others would like to share their talents with a slightly larger crowd, probably visiting a few coffee shops or open-mic nights. Then there are the masses of learners who have bigger dreams of taking to a stage in front of thousands. No matter what the goal is, you can’t get there without loads of practice.
What You Will Learn
Guitar lessons usually start with building a basic foundation, such as how to properly hold the guitar and establishing correct posture when playing. There is a wide range of techniques involved in playing the guitar and after a few lessons, you may start to find your niche.
One of the most important things to focus on when playing a guitar is understanding and mastering the chords. There are books and charts to help you along this important part of the process. There are many different chords to familiarize yourself with and taking them one at a time will lead to better results.
Additional areas of guitar instruction may include learning how to properly hold a pick, memorizing scales, tackling music theory and selecting a music style. Instrument maintenance, such as tuning and caring for your guitar is also of importance.
Sticking With It
Staying motivated is one of the best things you can do when learning to play the guitar. It is easy to become frustrated with a new project and abandon it before truly experiencing any benefits. On some days, you may have to dig deep to reclaim your passion and dedication. Other days, you could be composing the next pop hit. Give the process a chance and remember that it takes time to get the hang of this instrument. The best thing you can do is continue to practice and soon, you will reap the rewards of hard work and focus.
Kevin Sinclair
http://www.articlesbase.com/article-writing-articles/you-can-learn-to-play-the-guitar-76993.html
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What Can a Classical Guitar Do for You?
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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Learning The Guitar Fretboard
I never cease to be amazed at the number of guitar players who
cannot name the notes on their fretboard. Little do they know that by
devoting a little time to unlocking the neck of their guitar they will
improve their playing, and enjoyment of the instrument, ten fold!!
During my time at the Guitar Institute in London, and Sandown
College Of Performing Arts in Liverpool, I met many guitarists who had
been playing for 10, 15 or even 20 years, and yet, unbelievably,
couldn’t show me where to find an A# on the 2nd string or a B natural
on the 5th string. My amazement prompted me to write the “Fretboard
Master” ebook.
The “Fretboard Master” ebook contains all you need to know in order
to become a master of the fretboard. What do we mean when we say master
of the fretboard? Well, it doesn’t mean that you will suddenly start
sounding like Steve Vai, Segovia or Jimi Hendrix! A fretboard master is
somebody who feels comfortable with their guitar, Somebody that can
find any note on any string within a second and somebody that can
transpose a piece of music on the spot. That is a fretboard master.
Many guitar players are usually only interested in learning hot
licks or funky chords. That is good, as long as they also take time out
to study the layout of the fretboard. The old saying “The proof is in
the pudding,” is so true when it comes to stating the importance of
fretboard mastery. Once you start familiarising yourself with the notes
on the neck of the guitar you will quickly discover how important it
is. It will be like somebody has switched on a big musical light that
shows you exactly what you have been missing. You will feel like a
better player, look like a better player, inevitably sound like a
better player and more importantly…..WILL BE a better player!!
Imagine learning a really cool chord progression, a red hot lick or
a head turning funky guitar riff. You have spent hours practising it
and you are now ready to unleash it on your band members. You play it,
and they are all amazed at your stunning technique. They shake your
hand, ruffle your hair, maybe even give you a shoulder lift around the
rehearsal room. You feel great! Then when the fuss dies down, the bass
player asks “Can you play that again in F#?” What? F#? You begin to
sweat, your palms itch, your head races. Where’s F#? you ask yourself.
Too late! The drummer drops you from the shoulder lift and you hit the
earth with a bang!! Ouch!! You blew it! You should have learnt your
fretboard.
Take a tip from me. Whether you are just starting out or have been
playing for a number of years, you need to learn you fretboard. There’s
no way round it. Do it today and who knows, maybe the next time you
learn a cool guitar lick your drummer want drop you on the floor!
The amazing “Fretboard Master” ebook and other great (some rare) guitar books can be found at WWW.Jack-Sky.Com
- visit us today! We are based on the banks of the River Mersey in the
great city of Liverpool. We are also proud to offer you the world’s
greatest chord book! Yes, you heard me correctly, the WORLD’s greatest
chord book. It contains 3 positions of every chord you need to know.
Our site is devoted to helping you become the best guitar player you
can possibly be. Check us out, we know you will not be disppointed.
Peter Jones
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/learning-the-guitar-fretboard-3042.html
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How to Seriously Improve your Guitar Playing
There are bedroom guitar players and there are live performers. There doesn’t seem to be anything in between. The minute you walk on to a stage (whether you get paid or not) you are a professional. You are in the business of entertaining and displaying your wares, so to speak. And if you really want to seriously get your guitar playing together it is the latter you need to strive for in my opinion. I am not suggesting you ‘turn pro’, you know attempt to do this thing full time, that is a whole other set of issues itself, but in order for your guitar playing to really get to where it needs to get to, you simply have to play in a live performance setting, preferably in a public forum. Ideally with other musicians you can interact with.
You can spend a lifetime reading books, studying your musical heroes, playing along to music minus one records, but none of this will ultimately give you the full picture. In order to be a true well rounded musician, you have to have real world experience. I’ll try to explain why…
When I was just starting out in the profession as a fresh untainted fish in the vast sea of the London music business, I had to get myself known in order to find work. So I set about to answer ads in music papers. Now, after studying classical guitar at the London College of Music, I came out of a 3 year course with a facility to sight-read. Or should I say the beginnings of sight-reading ability, as jazz and pop music written on paper is a whole other world, as I was about to find out. I remember having to sight-read a piece of jazz music with a dance band at an audition. There were about 10 guitar players going for this gig. I must have been about 23 years old. The musical director said “I kind of like what you did Chris but you didn’t really cut it mate! There are other guys here that have what I need”. Ouch!!! That hurt. But I was young. It was actually good to hear. So I went back to my music library, pulled out a ton of Violin Music and practiced reading in different positions on the fretboard. Not to mention learning how to grab chords on sight in different fret positions.
Another time, I went down to audition for the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, a band known to be extremely taxing musically, and a training ground for London session players. I sat in the guitar chair with my Gibson 335 on my lap, ready to play. The director called a chart, I placed it on the stand and he counted it off. He counted it off around 250 BPM. Frighteningly fast! Well, it was all I could do to get my eyes to follow the music, measure by measure, much less play the music that was written within those bars! I didn’t even touch my guitar that rehearsal. I simply placed it back in its case and went home. Ouch again! That was a hard knock! I gave myself exactly a year to get it together. I went back to my practicing with a vengeance. A year later I joined the band for about a year and a half.
Another for instance; about 13 years ago I was playing with a jazz singer in a trio situation with an eminent LA drummer and acoustic bassist. I hadn’t done much trio playing, if any at the time, but I was looking forward to playing. At the end of one of the songs I completely messed up the ending. In fact I would go further, I hadn’t really worked on any song endings. Didn’t really have that together at all. The drummer scowled at me, particularly because I threw him off, as I was not definite in how I wanted to end the song (because I didn’t know myself!). He was furious when I made him look bad. He said to me “Dude, you’ve got to dictate these endings, you’re the one playing the chords!”. He was right. I was crushed! I went home, sulked for a week (maybe two). Then I went back to my practice room. I was not to be defeated…..
These are the hard knocks you simply have to get in your music life to dictate what you need to work on to get your total musicianship together! You just cannot expect to perfect your instrument without real world experience. You can’t get that experience any other way. I can recount tons of times that this sort of thing has happened, and there are still things today that I learn on a weekly basis at live gigs, telling me what I need to work on. The difference today of course is that it’s me who is being critical of myself, rather than other bandmates and musical directors telling me I suck!
And the neccessity of performing live is true of any musical genre you choose. Interacting with other musicians is an art in itself. I know technically great players who can’t play with others. Does this make them great musicians? I’m not so sure. But they sure can get round the instrument. But if they were to do any amount of live ensemble playing they would have one or two knocks coming, and if they are smart they would work on those issues. Otherwise it’s back to solo guitar playing in the back of their local restaurant. (A noble and valid thing to do, let me also say).
There are many issues that come up in a real live playing situation that just don’t come up in a bedroom practice session. Time, time-feel, supportive ensemble playing, projection of sound and tone, and most of all a sense of energy and commitment within a performance that is extremely different, and is very difficult to even put into words frankly. You just need to experience it, and that experience will improve your playing tenfold.
So get out there and do some gigs. I know it is hard to make that happen sometimes, but if you cannot make it happen then start a rehearsal band with a few others and play through repertoire. Get together with other guitarists and play through tunes, take solos and take turns being supportive. As you improve, take the plunge and take yourself to the next level.
And by recommending you do all this I am by no means suggesting you put away your books, records and Jamie Abersold play alongs. Absolutely not. This is something of course you should continue to do. But it is only 50% of your musical makeup. I promise you, by performing live you will improve yourself as a guitar player, but most of all as a musician, and at the end of the day this is what we all need to aspire to.
Go to it and have fun!
Chris Standring
http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/how-to-seriously-improve-your-guitar-playing-132877.html
