Guitar Planet

Aspen Nightlife – The Club Scene

2011-01-13T09:56:00.000+08:00

After a day on the slopes in Aspen, Colorado, you are probably ready to do some partying. The Aspen club scene starts hopping shortly before the slopes close. Many of the clubs have planned events – and some are just free-for-alls with music and dancing all night long. No matter what kind of music you are into, you will find it in Aspen.

Most of the lodges and hotels in Aspen have bars or clubs. Some have multiple bars, clubs, or lounges – so start your search for Aspen nighttime entertainment at your lodge or hotel. You can usually find a friendly game of pool in almost any bar before the music and dancing begin.

The easiest way to find the type of music and dancing that is most enjoyable to you is to pick up a copy of Aspen Magazine’s Traveler’s Guide. This guide will provide you with a list of Aspen hotspots, and let you know what you can expect at each club or bar. If you will be drinking, make sure that you don’t drive your car. Walk or take advantage of the public transportation or taxi services in the Aspen area.

If You're Collecting, Ebay Selling is for You!

2011-01-11T08:13:00.001+08:00

If you or someone you know is interested in collecting, Ebay selling is something you need to get familiar with! Ebay is a huge Internet site that allows people to sell or buy at auction almost anything you can think of. There are very few restrictions on what you can buy or sell. Are you fond of antique guitars? Electric guitars? Acoustic guitars? Whatever you are collecting, Ebay selling will probably have what you want.

Ebay is essential to know about if you are enthusiastic about your collecting. For instance, if you collect a particular type of antique or vintage guitar, you can search Ebay for exactly the piece you need. In addition to finding the exact item you are looking for, there is a possibility you'll get it for a great price as well. That tangerine colored pitcher might be yours for a song. You just have to look.

Collecting is one thing, but what about when the collector gets more items than he or she can store? What if they inadvertently collected duplicates of the same item. Or what if you just have stuff you don't want anymore? That's where Ebay selling can help. You can list your item on Ebay, and another collector can find it and make a bid. Ebay is a great way to recycle unwanted used items and make a few dollars as well as helping you with your collecting. Ebay selling is not hard to learn, either.

For just about every item you can name including guitar, someone somewhere collects it, and they are probably searching Ebay for what they want. So whatever you are collecting, Ebay selling can help you generate the money needed to add items to your own collection while getting rid of things you don't need. In addition, you can be gratified to know that the item you didn't want, like the bikes your kids have outgrown, or your vintage clock, was exactly what some other collector was seeking.

Just like collecting, Ebay selling can get almost addictive. It's a fun hobby that many people are discovering. So where do you go if there's something special you are collecting? Ebay! Selling, you'll find, is almost as fun as collecting, so be sure to try it, too. Remember, too, that Ebay can not only help you complete your collections. It can also be a source for the things you need for other hobbies, interests, and needs in your life.

Funk Guitar Lesson 1 by Marty Schwartz

2010-11-09T14:22:00.003+08:00

I found a link to a cool funk guitar lesson for free at YouTube. So if you in a process of learning some funk stuff, check this video out.

Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide

2010-07-31T11:39:00.002+08:00

There are a lot of things to consider when shopping for an acoustic guitar. Among those are obviously price, the skill level of the guitarist, and the type of music that will be played. Additionally, you will want to consider specific features to the guitar itself, among those are the wood used in construction, the type of neck, the size of the guitar, and whether the guitar has on-board electronics. For the purposes of this guide, we will look at each of these items in the paragraphs to follow.

Price

Obviously price is a huge factor. Nearly everyone has a budget when shopping for a new guitar so knowing the price range you have to work with will help you narrow down some of the brands you will be considering. Obviously if your price range is between $100 and $500, you will not be looking at Gibson or Taylor as one of the brands you should consider. Acoustic guitars can range from under $100 to literally tens of thousands of dollars, so there's a lot of range to work with.

Brands By Price Range

While some brands manufacture guitars in all price ranges, typically you will find certain brands dominating certain price points. Also, you will see that the same manufacturer may have strategically defined different brands to address different price point ranges.

In the low price ranges you will see brands like Epiphone, Rogue, Oscar Schmidt, First Act, Johnson, etc.

The the mid-range, you will see brands like Fender, Dean, Yamaha, Gretsch, Seagull, and others.

Near the top end of the range, you will see brands such as Taylor, Guild, Gibson, and others dominating the ranks. Often, these guitars are made of superior woods and also include nicely appointed trims such as abalone and mother-of-pearl inlays.

Skill Level

Unless you have unlimited funds, it really doesn't make sense to buy an expensive guitar for a beginner. On the flip side, an accomplished player is probably going to cherish something a little finer.Other than that, buying an acoustic guitar is relatively independent of the skill level of the player.

Type of Music

Acoustic guitars are very capable of playing all types of music from classical to hard rock to country to SKA. If you are shopping for an acoustic guitar for yourself or for a loved one, you really needn't be too concerned about the type of music the player enjoys. Acoustic guitars can pretty much handle it all.

Construction

As you might expect, the type of wood used in the construction of the guitar has a major impact in tonal characteristics and quality. Often, different woods or materials are used in the top, back, sides, and neck which can also affect the sonic signature of the guitar. Sitka spruce is commonly used for the soundboard, which is the top panel of the guitar. Sitka Spruce has a loud, hearty tone that is good for many different playing conditions. Maple tends to give an acoustic guitar a flatter sound, but can make a difference when the guitar is being amplified. Alder is another common wood used in acoustic guitar construction and provides a strong middle frequencies response pattern, not too high, not too low. Mahogany is sometimes used in the tops of these guitars to give the tone a solid resonant tone with a stronger response in the upper register. Some other less popular woods are Koa, Brazilian Rosewood, Indian Rosewood, Red Spruce, Poplar, Basswood, and Ebony.

Size

There are a couple different sizes and primary shapes of acoustic guitars. The most popular are the Classic, the Dreadnought, and Jumbo varieties. Classic, as you might imagine is used as the basis for classical guitars, but the dreadnought and jumbo are most popular for the standard models. The primary differences, in our opinion, are that the dreadnought is slightly smaller than a Jumbo, and has a stronger bass response. The Jumbo, obviously larger, has a louder projection. The scenario you or the guitarist will be using the instrument in may determine which you go for. For instance, we prefer a Jumbo when playing a larger hall or outdoors where projection is key.

Electronics

Electronics, or a piezo pickup, will help you to amplify your guitar. If you have a need to play the guitar at louder volume levels than can be achieved with the guitar alone then this option is going to be important to you. There are amplifiers out there specifically designed for acoustic guitars and the on-board pickups will also allow you to plug your guitar into a PA system or live sound rig.

In Summary

In summary, there are a variety of acoustic guitar sizes, woods used in construction, amplifiable characteristics, and trims. There are also several brands throughout the different price ranges. Before you go shopping for an acoustic guitar, spend a little time making a list of the major points to consider from the tips we gave above. This will help you to determine a range that makes sense for you. Also, we highly recommend clicking on some of the links you see on this page and familiarizing yourself with the prices and features that are available. Also, read as many reviews as you can. Certain brands will really stand out as consistent performers, but it's up to you to educate yourself before plunking down your hard earned dollars on a beautiful new instrument. Best of luck.

Source

David Ellefson Rock Shop

2009-03-18T18:16:00.000+08:00

Former Megadeth and current F5 bassist David Ellefson has launched the David Ellefson Rock Shop - an ongoing YouTube video series that he hosts himself. Check out Episode 1 below.

Metallica Madness

2009-03-15T20:19:00.000+08:00

Starting Wednesday, March 18, there will be a three-day 'Metallica Madness' tournament at the Best Buy store in Austin, Texas during the South by Southwest music festival.

"High scorers on each of the three days (one drummer and one guitarist plus a couple of runners-up to make the 'elite eight') will then move on to compete Friday night at a special 'Guitar Hero: Metallica' release party at Stubb's, also in Austin, Texas.

"Friday night's shindig will include live music, a DJ, and we'll be hangin' there checking out your gameplay."

Click here for more info.

Acoustic Guitar Lesson - Sing And Play Guitar

2009-03-05T19:09:00.002+08:00

Check out video below to learn some tips on how to sing and play a guitar.

Broken Powerchords

2009-03-02T20:28:00.002+08:00

Today I would like to share with you some tips from Beast Shredder. So here goes..

I would like to tell all you metal guitar players something:

I experimented with power chords someday and then I came across a math metal band, called Dillinger Escape Plan. They played very strange accords:

|-----|
|-----|
|-----|
|--7--|
|--6--|
|--5--|

First thing I thought was, what the heck is that?

Only a few weeks later, when I was writing a song with my band, I realized that those chords can have a very good sound if you can use them right, so I decided to share the newly obtained knowledge.

At first, if we look at Power chords, we can see that they are simply a combination of 2 tones: the tonic and the quint. Therefore the 5.

A5
|-----|
|-----|
|-----|
|--7--|
|--7--|
|--5--|

That is simply an A power chord, it consists out of a A and a E, the tonic and the quint. If we now play a short riff that I thought of for this lesson:

E E E S S S S S E S E
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|--7--7--7--------------5-7--|
|--7--7--7--------5-6-7------|
|--5--5--5--5-7-8------------|

The riff sounds pretty happy, doesn't it? Notice that there already is a D# in the scale. That is important, because the "Broken Power Chord" is nothing else than playing a D# instead of a E in the A power chord. So it is actually just a A5b chord.
The quint goes a half step down. So now I figured, maybe this riff sounds just a little bit more "metal" if we replace the A5 with a A5b. Now play the second riff:

E E E S S S S S E S E
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|----------------------------|
|--7--7--7--------------5-7--|
|--6--6--6--------5-6-7------|
|--5--5--5--5-7-8------------|

Yes. You're right. The only difference is the chord, the riff is still the same.
But NOW, the riff sounds a lot spookier. And that is EXACTLY what many metal bands need. If someone is interested in what the riff sounded like in the song that I wrote, I can tab it out:

E E E E E E E E
|-----------------|
|-----------------|
|-----------------|4x
|-----------------|
|-----------------|
|-0-2-3-4-3-2-0-2-|

Q Q Q Q
|---------|
|---------|
|---------|
|-3-3-3-3-|
|-2-2-2-2-|
|-1-1-1-1-|

And just repeat that a lot... The speed is pretty darn high, something around 210... I hope that this lesson will bring you to a new level of metal.

G7th Performance Capo

2009-02-27T16:30:00.002+08:00

Winner of Guitarist magazine's "Gold Award" in the UK, and an Acoustic Guitar magazine bronze award in the US (after only 2 months on sale), the G7th Performance capo is a completely new approach to capo design. It has none of the disadvantages of conventional capos, but instead offers enhanced performance and is simple to use. Not only that, it looks and feels great! Designer Nick Campling explains...

"I've struggled to find a capo I can live with for the best part of 30 years. They all either pulled my guitar out of tune, were fiddly to adjust, or they got in the way of my hand. Some just didn't work! The G7th Performance Capo is a result of combining my product design skills with my needs as a guitarist."

Source : G7th

Guitar Clean Up Tips

2009-02-25T16:19:00.001+08:00

by : Roberto Sedycias

The demand of guitar in every music sphere has made it one of the most sought after musical instruments. As guitar is an expensive musical instrument, it only makes sense to take proper care so that you can continue playing it for years to come. Here are a few tips discussed in the following on how to clean this amazing musical instrument so that its longevity can be increased.

Dust is the main form of debris that is collected on the surface of guitar. Don't let dust cover on your guitar for dust buildup that can actually affect your guitar's performance. A very simple approach to keep your guitar clean is by regular dusting. You can wipe off your guitar with a clean and soft cloth. You can either opt for any of your old but clean cloth or you can purchase special cloths that are available in music stores.

If you are a bit fancy about your cleaning, then you can choose many products available in the market that are designed for cleaning guitars. Guitar cleaners, fancy cleaners, liquid solvent and even solutions especially meant for cleaning the fretboard of guitars are available. If your guitar has a matte finish surface, it is suggested to use a water-based guitar cleaner as the creamy polished cleaners have a tendency to be slightly abrasive.

Often sticky residues from tape or stickers are left on guitars, which are a bit tough to remove. Use only mineral spirits or any other lighter fluid such as naphtha to remove the stains on your guitar. These solvent won`t harm the finish of your guitar. You just have to damp cloth with the solvent and wipe off the tape and stickers of your guitar. It might be surprising, but if you clean and dry your hands before you start playing on your guitar, it will significantly lengthen the life of your strings.

Like cleaning, polishing is equally important. A polish from a good brand not only gives your guitar an excellent shine, it also preserves the wood of your guitar. However, you should always choose a polish that is designed specifically for guitars as any general polish might ruin the smooth finish on guitars. But be careful of covering only the major surfaces of your guitar. Areas such as bridge or tuners or even the neck region of the guitar should not be polished.

Another major area which needs regular cleaning is the fingerboard of a guitar which includes the strings and the fret wire. These areas are prone to high-temperature and humidity and also of acidity by the constant touch of the player's hands. The lower-end manufactured guitars especially suffer from this fret buzzing problem.

Though some simple adjustments raising the string action can correct the problem for some time, but this is not a permanent solution. If the surface of the fingerboard is not much damaged, a simple application of lemon oil can prevent the wood from further cracking. It is suggested to use a piece of extra fine grade steel wool to clean the fingerboard of your guitar. Don't wet the steel wool; just rub it in up and down motion of the fingerboard area without catching the ends. The frets will be shiny only after a few motions.

Last but not the least is how and where you store your guitar. A guitar-case is a must and it should not be stored in too humid, warm or even too cold surroundings. Also make sure it does not get bumped around. An interior closet is the best place to store guitar.

The History of the Electric Guitar

2009-02-22T12:07:00.001+08:00

by: Bob Martin

In The Beginning

The guitar’s soft melodic tone made it difficult for people to hear it when being played alongside other instruments. So during the 1930’s an inventive individual decided to change that and invented the first electric guitar. Little did he know, or have imagined way back then how the invention of the electric guitar would significantly affect the course of 20th century music.

Like most new things, the electric guitar had its critics but it quickly won people over because of its ability to allow musicians to play much more creatively and express their own individual styles.

The First Pickup

In 1924 an inventive engineer working for the Gibson guitar company named Lloyd Loar, designed the first magnetic pickup. Using a magnet, he converted guitar string vibrations into electrical signals, which then were amplified through a speaker system. This first pickup was crude, but it was a great beginning.

The First Electric Guitar

In 1931 the Electro String Company was founded by Paul Barth, George Beauchamp and Adolph Rickenbacker, and developed the first electric guitars marketed to the general public. They made their guitars from cast aluminum and were played on a person’s lap using a steel slide much like today's steel guitar. Because of their unusual material, they were affectionately called “Frying Pans.”

The early success of the frying pans prompted the Gibson guitar company to build their first electric guitar, the ES-150 which is a legend today.

The First Solid-Body Electric Guitar

Electric guitars were quickly becoming popular, even though there was a major problem with their construction. Their bodies would vibrate due to the amplified sounds coming through the speakers they were played into, causing what we know as feed-back. The obvious remedy was to build a guitar made with a solid body which wouldn’t vibrate so easily.

As with most innovations, there is controversy over who invented the first solid –body electric guitar. Guitar legend Les Paul in the 1940’s developed his affectionately called “The Log” solid-body guitar by attaching a Gibson neck to a solid piece of wood…a railroad tie, hence the name “Log.”

Around this same time, guitarist Merle Travis and engineer Paul Bigsby developed a solid-body electric guitar that resembled the solid-body guitars that we’re so familiar with today.

The First Mass Produced Electric Guitar

Leo Fender in 1950 was the first to mass produce an electric guitar which was originally called the Fender Broadcaster. This guitar was quickly re-named to the infamous Telecaster because the name “Broadcaster” was already being used by another company. Leo followed this up in 1954 with the most renowned guitar of all time…the Stratocaster.

Leo’s success led other guitar manufacturers into developing their own mass-produced electric guitars. Most notable was the teaming-up of the Gibson guitar company with Les Paul to create the famous Gibson Les Paul electric guitar.

More Affordable Electric Guitars

During the 1960’s and 1970’s famous brand name electric guitars were too expensive for the average person to buy. Less pricey imitations quickly came to market but they were sub-standard in sound and playability. The Japanese, in the 1980’s started manufacturing electric guitars of similar quality to the more expensive American made models, but with much more affordable pricing. This prompted Fender and other leading guitar manufacturers into producing less expensive versions of their classic models. This resulted in electric guitars now being more affordable and accessible to more people.

Today, the Gibson and Fender guitar companies are still producing some of the most well-known and best made electric guitars on the market. But it’s getting crowded with other high quality brands such as BC Rich, ESP and Peavey. Innovative designs, shapes and materials are being incorporated with new technologies to produce better sounding electric guitars.

Modern guitars have built-in software allowing them to sound like other types of guitars. Some are even fitted with pickups that synthesize the sound of different instruments or record the notes in musical notation.

The electric guitar has come a long way with an interesting and inventive past and many in the industry say it has an even brighter future.

Bass Guitar

2009-02-16T20:25:00.002+08:00

Have you always wanted to learn how to play bass guitar? If so, Scott Morris have created this special lesson as an easy introduction learning how to play the bass. What most total beginner's don't know is that the bass guitar is related to the 6 string guitar.

The names of the largest or thickest 4 strings on the 6 string guitar are the same as the 4 strings on the bass guitar. The names of the notes are also the same on the fretboard of both instruments.

The most common guitar chords for a rock guitarist to play are known as "Barre Chords". However, barre chords can often be difficult to play when first learning how to play and getting your fingers to cooperate.

The most common guitar chords that exist, that many chose to play in substitute of a guitar barre chord, are known as 5th chords, or "power chords".

Why is this important to you if you're interested in learning how to play the bass guitar?

The answer is, that if you know how to follow along witha guitar player who is playing a song using guitar power chords, then even if you're a total beginner, chances are that you can pick up the bass and with just a bit of practice, easily start to jam along and enjoy playing the bass guitar.

When a guitarists use power chords to play a song, they use only 2 fingers. The name of the chords they play during a song, are determined by the first note played in the guitar power chord.

That note is called the "root note"

The root note is the first note played, that determines the name of the guitar power chord. For an example, if the guitar power chord begins with an F note (which is found on the largest string at the first fret) .... then the guitar chord is named F power chord.

How To Relate This To Bass Guitar Notes

This is quite simple. For this demonstration, there will be 2 examples. 1 for the guitar and one for the bass guitar.

Both examples are taught using "tablature"

If you're new to learning how to read tablature, here's a basic explanation.

The lines shown represent the strings on each instrument. The numbers on the lines, represent which frets to play. The line shown on top represents the smallest string, high E. The line shown on bottom represents the largest string, Low E.

This example teaches A pentatonic minor scale for guitar.

A C D E G A
e.---------------------------------------------------------
b.---------------------------------------------------------
g.---------------------------------------------------------
d.---------------5--7--------------------------------------
a.--------5--7---------------------------------------------
E.--5--8---------------------------------------------------

This example teaches A pentatonic minor scale for bass guitar.

A C D E G A
g.---------------------------------------------------------
d.---------------5--7--------------------------------------
a.--------5--7---------------------------------------------
E.--5--8---------------------------------------------------

This scale is played the same way, using the same notes on both instruments.

This same theory can also be applied when playing songs. And what it basically amounts to is, that if you are playing the bass guitar, you could follow the guitar player by watching where his or her first finger is at while they are playing guitar power chords.

Andy McKee - Guitar - Drifting

2009-02-12T12:14:00.001+08:00

This is probably one of the most amazing things I've seen in a while. Just amazing! Love it dude.

Ear Training - Important Step In Becoming A Better Musician

2009-02-10T13:06:00.001+08:00

What do we mean when we say that someone "has a good ear?" Actually, the term can mean several things. When someone has a good ear, they can accomplish at least one of the following:

1- They can identify, usually by note name, the various pitches that they hear, and sing those pitches in tune.
2- They can identify chords by name.
3- They can identify instruments or combinations of instruments within a musical work.

Having a good ear is something that most musicians strive for. Having a bad ear means that you can't recognize or label the music you are hearing - an important skill for performers and composers.

Ear training is absolutely the important step in becoming a better musician, songwriter, composer, and/or singer. Why is it so important to improving one's musical abilities? Because music is a hearing art. You can only play, write, and sing as well as you can hear.

How does one go about training their ears? Well there are many courses available both off line and online. The online courses usually have all of the same material as the offline courses only they tend to be much less expensive. Another advantage to the online choice is that the materials can be downloaded instantly so if you are an impatient person you can get started immediately.

When a musician improves their ears, they will also improve their playing. If a musician can't hear what they are trying to play then they won't be able to play it. It's very important that you be able to hear music in your head. With the right training you will be able to develop this skill, even if it seems very unlikely right now.

Developing Your Own "Sound"

2009-02-08T13:54:00.002+08:00

When you first begin learning any instrument it is important to develop a clear picture of what you want to sound like. What I mean by this is having an idea in your head of what your kind of style you want to be playing. Also you can save yourself a lot of time if your playing has a clearly focused goal. For example there is no need to learn ‘Stairway to Heaven’ if your dream is to become a Country and Western guitarist.

Though I believe developing a clear picture of what you sound like is important you should never take that to mean being close minded of other styles and their techniques. I think it is important to try to develop an individual sound, but you should spend at least a portion of your time at least listening to other types of music.

In your musical life you will probably change styles at some point this is relatively natural and it is a sign that you are developing as a musician and as a guitarist. When I first started playing I played Folk music and Beatles songs these days I play mostly Hard Rock. So though I believe you should have an idea about what you want to sound like be open minded about changing.

What do I want sound like?

This can be very difficult or very easy depending on the individual in question. Some people are inspired to play the guitar by an individual or a band: for these people their chosen style will generally mimic their favorite player. Also if you’re fond of a particular style you can learn the songs and techniques that fit that style.

For people who don’t particularly want to sound like anyone has a bit more work to do in finding and defining there style. The best way to do this is listen to a lot of music and try and play as many different styles as you can and see what you find the most enjoyable and rewarding for you.

Finding a sound that suits you can take some time. For some people this could be years for others it could be a split second decision that comes from hearing a particular player.

For others it may take some serious listening to a lot of different music to decide what they want to sound like.

How do I sound like I want to sound like?

Once you have decided on your style then it is time to learn how to play like that. The best way to do that is learn songs that are classics in the genre you want to emulate. This means learning a few of the most popular songs from the style you like and becoming familiar with the techniques used in these kinds of songs. It is a good idea to learn songs by a few different bands instead of just one. This is so you get exposed to a few different guitarists playing style.

Related to this is using the right kind of guitar for the style you want to play. You don’t need to be too worried about playing the exact same axe as your favorite player. However you should have a guitar that is common amongst players of the genre you are trying to emulate.

Can I make songs in my ‘style’?

I am a firm believer in the idea that it is never to soon to start writing your own songs. Even if you can only write the most basic songs I still think it is worth trying. You should try and add elements from the songs you have learn. You may find yourself writing stuff that is quite derivative initially, but that’s ok. Just keep working on your playing and trying to get the sound that you imagine in your head into your hands and played on the guitar. Don’t get frustrated if you have trouble some players spend their entire life trying to get the sound they want. Writing your own music is very rewarding and will give you another direction in your musical life.

Tablature

2009-02-06T15:20:00.002+08:00

Intro
E|----------------------------------------------------------0-00--|
B|--------0----------------0----------------0---------------0-00--|
D|----4-----4-----------4----4----------4-----4-----------4-------|
G|--2---2-----2-------2---2----2------2---2-----2-------2---------|
A|4-------------4---------------4--4---------------4--------------|
E|-----------------5----------------------------------5-----------|

Pre Verse
E|-------------0--------------------------------0----------------------|
B|-------------0--------------------------------0----------------------|
D|6-666-66--22-2--6-666-66--22-----6-666-66--22-2--6-666-66--99--------|
G|6-666-66--22-2--6-666-66--22-----6-666-66--22-2--6-666-66--99-99-88--|
A|4-444-44--00-0--4-444-44--00-2---4-444-44--00-0--4-444-44--77-99-88--|
E|-----------------------------0--------------------------------77-66--|

Verse
E|----------------------------------00-------------00----00-----------0----44--|
B|------77-----77-------------------00-------------00----00-----------0----44--|
D|------44-----44-----66-----66-----88-----88------99----99-------8--------44--|
G|---6--66-----66-----55-----55-----66-----99------77----77-----6----------66--|
A|----------7--77--6--66--6--66--4--44-----99---5--55--5-55---4------------66--|
E|--------------------------------------7--77---------------------------4--44--|

Guitar tab is a method of diagramming the fretboard of a guitar for the purpose of showing how songs, riffs, scales, and other musical portions are played.

Guitar tab, also known as tablature, is really a method guitar players have invented for sharing music without having to learn to read music in the traditional sense. Knowing how to read guitar tablature is an important part of learning how to play the guitar, especially if you wish to emulate the style of your favorite performer.

Learning how to read guitar tablature will help the most if you have already heard the song or riff. It is not a very good way to learn a new song, because there are no indicators about timing. Basically it is just a diagram of fingering. It looks similar to a traditional staff, but the similarity ends there. Instead of 5 lines, guitar tab has 6 lines, which correspond to the six strings of a guitar.

When you are learning how to read guitar tab, you will notice numbers on the lines. Those numbers do not refer to your fingers, but to the fret your finger needs to be on. However, you should read all the information given with any guitar tablature, because sometimes the notations refer to different things. Guitar tab is not a standardized method of writing music and varies with styles and guitarists.

One of the biggest drawbacks with guitar tab is that it doesn't give you much input about the timing of the notes, and for this reason, you really should know the song. In fact, if you are learning how to read guitar tab, you should read the tablature while listening to the song or riff.

Unlike beginning books for teaching yourself to play guitar, guitar tab will not tell you which finger to use on a string. If you are a very new beginner, you may want to know the basics of chords and such before venturing into learning how to read guitar tablature. The website "Guitar Tab Universe" gives tabs for many familiar songs. Feel free to check it out.

Rhythm Guitar

2009-02-04T20:14:00.001+08:00

Although the two main types of guitar that you will hear about being described are either acoustic guitar or electric guitar, there can often be mentioned a third type, known as rhythm guitar, In actual fact, rhythm guitar is not so much a make or style of instrument, as clearly electric and acoustic are, but is a type of playing style. Rhythm guitar is a performance method which uses the guitar as not only an accompanying instrument to a vocal performance, but also as a way of keeping the rhythm of the music constant, in much the same way as drums are used to keep the rhythm or pace of a piece of music constant.

It is important to maintain a steady rhythm in music not only to keep the piece flowing smoothly, but also to assist those who are accompanying the performance either as musicians or singers. The guitar is ideally suited to such a role, since the natural strumming or the guitar strings creates a natural rhythm. Rhythm guitar is simply a playing style which accentuates this rhythmic strumming so that it is the chordal accompaniment of the guitar which is its most noted characteristic, rather than more subtle plucking or picking. However, a guitar can be played in such a way that it combines both of these methods, with the rhythmic strumming comprising the main voice whilst occasional plucks or picks of the strings helps to create subtle variations which keep the performance varied and interesting.

This requires slightly more skill and knowledge, but the basic rhythmic strumming is a straightforward and helpful way to use the guitar for any beginner, once the basic chords have become familiar enough to allow switching without breaking the pace of the performance.

In most popular music today the electric guitar has become the most dominant instrument as far as rhythm is concerned, excepting the drums of course. However, acoustic guitar has certainly not lost its popularity, and remains a firm favourite as far as rhythm is concerned within such music genres as country, western, folk music and bluegrass.

The rhythm guitar is most usually used to create a beat or pulse which helps the other instruments or singers to keep the timing of the piece accurate. In many modern pop bands or rock bands this same beat or pulse will be carried by both a bass guitar and the drum kit. An electric keyboard or piano may also be used to help maintain the beat, and it may be that the roles vary throughout the piece, with the drums taking the dominant position within the rhythm section, then passing it back to guitar before the keyboard has a turn. The guitar is often the instrument used to combine the rhythm of the music with any significant chord changes, with other instruments playing their melodies, and supported in chord changes by the rhythm guitar pulsing or beating through the chords.

The usual way of playing rhythm guitar, especially if using an electric guitar, is to play what is known as triads, which are chords consisting of three notes, these being the root, third and fifth notes of the chord. In some case four notes are used, with the introduction of either the sixth, seventh or ninth notes to the basic triad.

Lead Guitar

2009-02-02T21:44:00.000+08:00

To learn lead guitar is in large part knowing where you need to start. As you learn lead guitar, the importance of working to master scales and patterns can not be stressed enough. There is a system available for fretboard training called it is called fretboard logic. This system will delete years of practice and lessons off you, and assist you in mastering the fret board with little effort very quickly. Shred guitar, a style of lead guitar that utilizes a few forms of picking and motion that develops a very fast style of playing. As you learn lead guitar, it is necessary to master left and right hand coordination. Left hand right hand coordination is accomplished utilizing variations of techniques and exercises specifically designed to maximize your speed along with your coordination. If you want to learn lead guitar, it is a necessity even with an outstanding coach and or teacher, that you also have a system that involves a systematic measurable approach with specific drills that you are able to practice on a continual daily basis that will measure your advancements as you learn lead guitar.

You must also learn concepts such as, picking strategies, how guitar speed really works, and the various types of motion. Also as you learn lead guitar, you absolutely must learn to focus on simple but highly effective drills. Focus on different types of phrasing and fingering (e.g., patterns, scales, chromatic, etc.) Another form of practice to utilize as you lead guitar is to practice along with a wide array of other musicians. I have found one of the best forms for this is by utilizing what is known as jam trax, or backing tracks. Jam tracks are no more than recorded tracks of other artists playing noted rhythm tracks which allow you as the lead guitarist to jam along with them. When you purchase the backing or jam tracks, they will usually give you the musical key that each backing track on the cd is in, you then simply practice playing lead guitar over the backing tracks. This is really a much more effective way of learning guitar than by struggling with the inherent hassles of trying to play with other musicians.

Guitar Clean-up Tips

2009-02-01T15:16:00.001+08:00

by: Roberto Sedycias

Guitar, a dynamic musical instrument, is played in almost all kind of music; be it pop music, rock music, lounge music, country music or even contemporary classical music. The modern music can`t be imaginable without guitar.

The demand of guitar in every music sphere has made it one of the most sought after musical instruments. As guitar is an expensive musical instrument, it only makes sense to take proper care so that you can continue playing it for years to come. Here are a few tips discussed in the following on how to clean this amazing musical instrument so that its longevity can be increased.

Dust is the main form of debris that is collected on the surface of guitar. Don`t let dust cover on your guitar for dust buildup that can actually affect your guitar`s performance. A very simple approach to keep your guitar clean is by regular dusting. You can wipe off your guitar with a clean and soft cloth. You can either opt for any of your old but clean cloth or you can purchase special cloths that are available in music stores.

If you are a bit fancy about your cleaning, then you can choose many products available in the market that are designed for cleaning guitars. Guitar cleaners, fancy cleaners, liquid solvent and even solutions especially meant for cleaning the fretboard of guitars are available. If your guitar has a matte finish surface, it is suggested to use a water-based guitar cleaner as the creamy polished cleaners have a tendency to be slightly abrasive.

Often sticky residues from tape or stickers are left on guitars, which are a bit tough to remove. Use only mineral spirits or any other lighter fluid such as naphtha to remove the stains on your guitar. These solvent won`t harm the finish of your guitar. You just have to damp cloth with the solvent and wipe off the tape and stickers of your guitar. It might be surprising, but if you clean and dry your hands before you start playing on your guitar, it will significantly lengthen the life of your strings.

Like cleaning, polishing is equally important. A polish from a good brand not only gives your guitar an excellent shine, it also preserves the wood of your guitar. However, you should always choose a polish that is designed specifically for guitars as any general polish might ruin the smooth finish on guitars. But be careful of covering only the major surfaces of your guitar. Areas such as bridge or tuners or even the neck region of the guitar should not be polished.

Another major area which needs regular cleaning is the fingerboard of a guitar which includes the strings and the fret wire. These areas are prone to high-temperature and humidity and also of acidity by the constant touch of the player`s hands. The lower-end manufactured guitars especially suffer from this fret buzzing problem.

Though some simple adjustments raising the string action can correct the problem for some time, but this is not a permanent solution. If the surface of the fingerboard is not much damaged, a simple application of lemon oil can prevent the wood from further cracking. It is suggested to use a piece of extra fine grade steel wool to clean the fingerboard of your guitar. Don`t wet the steel wool; just rub it in up and down motion of the fingerboard area without catching the ends. The frets will be shiny only after a few motions.

Last but not the least is how and where you store your guitar. A guitar-case is a must and it should not be stored in too humidFree Reprint Articles, warm or even too cold surroundings. Also make sure it does not get bumped around. An interior closet is the best place to store guitar.

What is Power Chords?

2009-01-27T14:51:00.005+08:00

A power chord is a chord containing your root note and the fifth above it. To demonstrate the basic structure of power chords put your first finger on the third fret of the sixth string and your middle finger on the fifth string at the fifth fret. So with this example your root note is G and the fifth is, of course, D.

If you want to add more texture you can add the third to the chord plus, or instead of, the octave above your root note. Once you get the hang of power chords you can add and take away the fifths, thirds and octaves according to your whim.

Practicing power chords can give you some less tiring practice on bar chords but don't decide to go ahead and play ONLY power chords. That would be silly. You need to be constantly on the lookout for ways to vary your playing to make your audience sit up and take notice. Playing nothing but power chords would get boring after a while - for you and your audience.

If you want to get the feel of power chords, get hold of a copy of "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks. This was the very first song that was actually composed around power chords and if it wasn't for this song there might not have been heavy metal guitar playing.

There are charts showing power chords that you can download for free on the net but it is best to just keep in mind "root, fifth, octave" and do your own discovery of how to play power chords.

An interesting variation on playing power chords is the use of chords that consist of two strings played at the same fret. You can try this by barring the first two strings and sliding it up and down the fretboard or making your bar and using the third finger of your left hand to play a tune while the second string provides the harmony or discord, depending on your point of view.

How To Tune The Guitar?

2009-01-26T23:37:00.004+08:00

Do you know how to tune your guitar? Today I would like to share with you some basic steps to learn how to tune the guitar:

1- The guitar player should first identify if the guitar is in or out of tune. A guitar is out of tune if the chords are played but the sounds do not seem right which means that it is time to tune the guitar.

2- The sixth string is usually the string that is always in tune because it is the largest string and does not go out of tune easily.

3- When tuning the fifth string, all a person has to do is place the finger on the sixth string on the fifth fret. He can then strike the sixth string. After that, he can strike the fifth string. If the sounds created were not the same, he can make the fifth string tighter or loosen it depending how low or high the pitch has become.

4- The person can do the same process on the fourth and third strings placing the higher string on the fifth fret and striking it. Then he can strike the lower string and if they do not create the same pitch, he can either loosen or tighten it.

5- When tuning the second string, he can place the finger at the third string on the fourth fret and either tighten or loosen the third string to match the sound of the second string.

6- Placing the finger on the second string and press on the fifth fret will be the method to tune the first string and then he can strike and follow by striking the first string open. He can either tighten or loosen the second string to match the sound of the first string.

7- To check to determine if the guitar is in tune, all he has to do is try a chord. If the guitar still does not sound in tune, he can do the process again until he is able to fine-tune the guitar.

This is the easiest method of tuning a guitar. There are also electric methods to tune a guitar, but this traditional method is the most efficient. Once a beginner is able to learn how to tune a guitar, learning to play it will never be that hard.

What Guitar To Buy?

2009-01-26T23:27:00.002+08:00

by: KRISTAPS BALTINS

Many of beginner level guitar players has hesitated over the choice of their first instrument. The truth is, there isn’t one correct choice for all of us. Guitars are as individual as we are, so your choice of instrument must be careful and wise.

First of all, you should think about how much money can you spend on guitar. I suggest to spare at least 150- 200 dollars, if you want to get a decent instrument. There are a lot of good instruments in this price range to choose from. Now you must choose what kind of guitar do you want to buy. There are electric guitars and acoustic guitars. If you want just to strum along the songs and have no serious intention of learning guitar, I suggest you of buying an acoustic guitar. That doesn’t mean that person with serious intention of mastering guitar shouldn’t buy an acoustic as their first instrument, however I think that electric guitar will better serve your purposes. That is because when your guitar skills will raise you will understand that acoustic guitar has some limits. For example, acoustic guitar’s neck is shorter than electric guitar’s neck, so it will be hard for you to play higher notes, especially when you are soloing.

Once you’ve decided what kind of guitar you want to buy, let’s think of accessories for your guitar. One of the most important accessories is a case or a gigbag. Case or gigbag is a very useful accessories, because you can your guitar in it between the lessons, an you can also carry your guitar around in it, in that way protecting your guitar from damages. You should also restring your guitar as soon as you get it, because the guitar has probably been it the store for months and the string quality isn’t very good. You should also carry an extra set of strings, so you can change a string if the one that's on guitar breaks. If you’re want to buy an electric guitar, you should also consider buying an amplifier and cables. There are many decent practice amps out there, so choose wisely. And last, but definitely not least accessories you should buy are picks. Pick is hold between your thumb and index fingers, and is used to pick strings. There are a wide variety of picks, but you should choose the one you feel most comfortable with. And make sure you buy at least a couple of them, because they tend to lose theirselves.

Jamiroquai - (Don't) Give Hate A Chance

2007-04-05T10:42:00.001+08:00

What is a CAPO?

2007-03-15T23:06:00.000+08:00

What is a capo? The "capo" is a tool that is used by musicians of all playing abilities. Guitar capos are usually made of metal or rubber that fit across all six strings of the fretboard. The capo simply raises the pitch of each string by reducing its length. A guitar capo can also be described as a "movable nut." The guitar nut is the piece(usually made of plastic or bone) that the strings rest on just before reaching the tuners. The use of a capo is similar to taking the nut and moving it up and down the fretboard. A capo can be used in most positions below the 12th fret of the guitar neck.

Why use a capo?
The capo is most commonly used for the purpose of adjusting the guitar for vocal pitches. For example, if a song that is in the key of "D" is too low for your voice, try placing the capo on the 1st fret. If it is still too low, keep going up until it is comfortable. If the capo is placed on the 2nd fret, and you were to play a first position "D" shaped chord, the actual chord would be in the key of "E."

The capo is not only used for helping vocalists; it can help the guitarist as well. The capo can help new guitarists that haven't become fluent in playing different keys. For example, most beginning guitarists typically learn songs that are in the key of either "D" or "G." We'll use "G" for the example. Let's say you learn a song in the key of "G." If you run across the same song that has been written for the key of "A," you may not yet know how to transpose the song by changing chord positions. The solution is very simple. Place the guitar capo on the second fret and play the song using the "G-shaped" chords just as you did in the previous version. Voila!!! You've just played the song in the key of "A." Move the capo down to the first fret, and the same song will be in the key of "G" sharp or "A" flat. This principle works the same for all keys. Just remember to start with the normal key of the song and count up to the desired key to determine capo placement. If you aren't familiar with the notes used in music or how to find them on the neck of your guitar, take a look at our Guitar Theory lesson called, "The Fundamentals of Music Theory." This lesson very simply explains the way Music Theory is applied to the guitar.

One final word of caution; while using a capo will help a beginner, it shouldn't be used as a crutch forever. Learn to play in every key and you'll be glad you did. Then, you'll simply be using a capo because you like the way it sounds on a particular song, not as a crutch because you can't play in that key.

Guitar tips - Strings ( Change Them Often )

2007-03-13T11:56:00.000+08:00

One of the easiest ways to make your guitar sound better is to put on new strings! Strings have gotten so reasonable in price these days, but which strings should you get? I mean the choices are endless!

There are some common guidelines that most guitarists who have been playing for awhile are aware of. But if you are just getting started, be sure to refer to the list of do's and don'ts at the bottom of the page.

When buying strings there are only a few questions you have to ask yourself in order to determine the answers to the above questions:

1. How often do I plan to change my strings?
2. What's most important to me- tone quality or ease of playing?
3. What kind of sound do I want, bright, warm, etc..

On to the answers:

How often you should change your strings depends on how often you play your guitar. Professionals tend to change their strings every few days depending on how many gigs they have that week. If you pick your guitar up every day and play a little bit and then put it down you can get away with maybe once every week. If you only pick it up once or twice a week, you can probably get away with changing them every month or two.
If you are an aspiring blues or jazz player, you're probably going to be more interested in a thicker, or fatter tone from your strings. The only way to get that is to buy a heavier guage string, like those that start with a .012 1st string. Stevie Ray Vaughan used a really heavy guage string and tuned his guitar lower than the standard tuning. Doing that gave him that really fat sound but relieved some of the extra tension that results from using a heavier guage string. One word of advice- If you currently use a light guage string and want to try a heavier guage, be sure to take your guitar to a reputable repair person to reset the action and intonation to better suit the heavier guage strings.
Strings are made from steel, brass, nickel, etc.. String manufacturers are constantly working on finding materials and methods that improve the sound and performance of their strings. For a little help clarifying "what's what" in the string world click here. For a special lesson on how to change the strings on an acoustic guitar click here.

Do's and Don't's:

Do wash your hands prior to playing. Every time if possible.
Do clean each individual string with a soft clean cloth after playing.
Don't overly "pre-stretch" your strings when changing them. Some people do this because when you first change them, guitar strings will continue to stretch until they settle in, making it hard to keep your guitar in tune at first. Which leads us to the next do...
Do change your strings well ahead of a performance or practice time so they have plenty of time to settle in prior to playing.

Hybrid Technics Number 1, Guitar Fusion

2007-03-04T03:13:00.001+08:00

nice work

Some Tips To Learning Classical Guitar Music

2007-03-01T12:55:00.000+08:00

By Evert Du Toit

Do you have an interest in classic guitar music? Maybe you have heard a master play and now want to learn the same skills yourself or maybe like many people you have an old guitar in the house that you have always wanted to learn to play.

Classical music has been around for many years, dating as far back as the 16th century. To hear and see a master at work playing classical guitar music, it might be intimidating to a beginner, but that does not mean you cannot learn. You need to start somewhere and you can work at your own pace, but it is important to take some action. Nothing happens if you do not take action.

A good place to start might be start searching on the internet for websites dedicated to guitar music. You will be able to find several websites where you can get lots of background information, free tips and even some guides to start you off in your endeavor. You can also find detailed instruction courses, which includes textbooks, audio files with sample songs, and even video that shows you exactly what to do. But you might want to stick to the free resources available until you are certain you want to spend the time and money necessary to become really skillful playing classical guitar music.

Reading classical music can be a challenge, since unlike regular sheet music, you will see lots of special notations around the notes and staves that might confuse you at first. If you bought a good music book, it should have an explanation of the special symbols and what you need to do to play them.

Classical music has been around for hundreds of years, and that is great news for you when it comes to looking for sheet music. A lot of this kind of music is no longer subject to copyright and has passed into the public domain, which simply means that you should be able to find it for very cheap and even free. Once again the internet can be a great resource for this.

Believe it or not, but your fingernails will play an essential role in your playing classical guitar music. It is suggested that you grow out the fingernails on your strumming hand. Your nails play a huge role in the tone and volume and helps with speed and accuracy. Also, since the nail is an extension of the finger, it makes it easier to reach the strings and make picking much easier.

If you are looking for a new hobby, taking up guitar is a great choice, and a lot of help is available at your fingertips on the internet. But remember learning to play any musical instrument takes practice and dedication

Guitar types

2007-02-26T23:36:00.000+08:00

There are different types of guitars. There are acoustic guitars, electric acoustic guitars, semi-hollow guitars, electric guitars, twelve string guitars, four string bass guitars, five string bass guitars, the list goes on.

- Acoustic guitars: They are those guitars that produce big enough sound for a very small audience without any form of amplification. They are popularly used in country music and classical music. They come in different shapes and sizes. However, they all have the following in common: A hollow body, a sound hole, a bridge, a neck and a tuning machine.

- Electric acoustic guitars: These are basically acoustic guitars with special amplification. The amplification is such that you can't achieve with a regular acoustic guitar mic'ed without having feedback problems. This one comes with a special pick up that amplifies the sound without compromising the acoustic character of the guitar. The very good ones are usually very expensive.

- Electric Bass guitars: These are special guitars that are built to produce those deep notes. They are specially built to handle the stress and strain of the pull by those big strings. They are mostly built with solid bodies. Although there are a few that have semi-hollow bodies.

They are usually the longest of all guitars (their necks). The standard electric bass guitar is the four-string bass guitar. However, five string bass guitars are also becoming very popular. There are also six string bass guitars

- Electric guitars: These do not produce loud volumes without amplification. In fact, you'll hardly hear it even with the slightest background noise. They usually have solid bodies, usually have longer necks than their acoustic counterparts and also have in-built pick ups for sound amplification. They are very popular in pop and rock music

Tips To Buy A Guitar

2007-02-25T11:23:00.000+08:00

There are a number of questions to ask yourself when looking to buy a Guitar. Is this guitar for a beginner or a more advanced guitar player?

If you are looking for a beginner guitar you may want to start with a less expensive starter guitar. Many music / guitar stores and even some department stores carry starter guitars or starter guitar kits. These starter guitars are usually foreign made guitars that are less expensive. This being said, expect a lower quality guitar that may not stay in tune or work as well as a better made guitar. But, the upside of buying a starter guitar or starter guitar kit is that you don't spend a lot on something your not sure a beginner will stay with in the future. Expect to pay around $100 and up for a starter guitar or kit. Some examples may include Fender Squire, OLP, Epiphone, Austin, and Ibanez. All these brands and more carry guitars at the starter level for a beginner.

What type of guitar sound am I looking for?

There are a number of guitars on the market today that offer some different options and sounds. Think about the guitar players and music that you may want to learn or emulate. This may help you decide what type of guitar you may want to purchase. For the most part the bands listed below may used the following types of guitars:

- Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn (SRV), Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) - Have used Fender Stratocasters with single coil pickups on some of their material
- Led Zeppelin (Jimmy Page) , Guns N Roses (Slash), Tool - Have Used Gibson Les Paul's with Humbucker Pickups in the past
- Eddie Van Halen - Has used modified Stratocasters in the past with Humbucker pickups, also has his own Signature Peavey Wolfgang Guitars (Now Discontinued), and now works with Fender and Charvel Guitar Companies
- Bruce Springsteen and Prince - Fender Telecasters
- Korn and Joe Satriani - Ibanez
- Days of the New (Travis Meeks) - Takamine Acoustics

These are just some examples of what some of these guitarists have played in the past. Of course they may play other guitars as well, but what is listed tends to be what they are known to play. Also, think about the type of pickup sound you may want. Single coil pickups tend to have a thinner sound, while humbucker pickups do well with heavier and more distortion type amps or sounds. Other guitars have both Single Coils and Humbuckers. They may be configured in a HSS (Hum, Single, Single) format or a HSM (Hum, Single, Hum) Format. There is usually a switch that lets you use the pickup of choice or a combination of pickups.

What is the best fret size to look for in a guitar? What's the best Neck Size to Look for as well?

Fret size is a matter of preference to most guitarists. Generally, a beginner would enjoy smaller frets because it's easier to learn and finger guitar chords. More experience players may lean towards bigger fret sizes for a few reasons. Bigger frets allow you to bend your notes more easily, and feel better to some guitarists. Smaller frets may fret out as they call it when bending a note. Basically it means you can only go so far when bending a note with smaller frets. Again, guitar neck size is also a matter of preference to the guitarist. The thicker or more meaty the neck is, the harder it may be for a beginner to finger chords or play notes. Some people lead towards thicker guitar necks as they mature in their music careers. It's a matter of feel and preference. Guitar necks can range from Thin, Thick, C Shape, V Shape, Boat Shape, and more. Check the guitars description on the neck when looking to buy a guitar and play the guitar to see if the guitar feels right to you.

What type of accessories will I need?

If you are a beginning guitarist a starter kit should get you what you need to play an electric guitar. When buying an electric guitar you will need some or all of these options:
- Guitar
- Cord (this hooks up the guitar to the amp)
- Strap (Hooks onto the guitar and Goes over the shoulder of the guitarist)
- Strings (Most guitars come with strings but you should buy some extra packs because of course strings can and will break. Ask what gauge of strings are on the guitar, You may need lighter gauge strings for a less experienced guitarists. Try 8's or 9's for more bend on the strings for beginners. 10's or higher for more experience guitarists who want a heavier string sound)
- Amp ( Guitar Amplifiers come in many sizes and wattage's. Starter amps come in smaller wattages For Ex: 10W o 15 W. While, if you will be playing shows with your amp you may need 100W amp or higher to fill the room with sound. It just depends on the need)
- Picks (Guitar picks come in different thicknesses as well. An acoustic player or starter may want a thinner pick. You will need a thicker pick for larger stings especially on bass guitars)
- Tuner (It's a good idea to pick up a guitar tuner. Most run on batteries and make it a lot easier for a beginner to tune their guitar)
- Case or Gig Bag (This protects the guitar in transportation)

- Guitar Stand

Above are a few questions to ask when thinking about purchasing a guitar. Cheers~

Blues Slide Guitar Cam strikes again

2007-02-20T00:11:00.001+08:00

Very nice guitar work!

Tablature

2007-02-17T23:38:00.000+08:00

Tablature?

Tablature is a method of musical notation for fretted string instruments. It resembles conventional written music notation but instead of dots on a 5 line stave, each line and space of which denotes a specific note, it shows fret numbers on a 6 line stave each line of which represents one string on the guitar (6 lines representing 6 strings). The numbers placed on each string represent the fret number which the fingers of the left-hand (for right-handed guitarists (if you are left-handed please reverse these directions)) press the string against whilst it is being played. As with conventional music the tablature is read from left to right.

In the tablature example given above, reading from left to right, we firstly see that the guitar is tuned from the sixth string (the thickest bass string) to the first string (the thinnest treble string) EADGBE - these notes making up what is known as Standard Tuning. We then see that the first note we play is fretted at the first fret on the first string; this is followed by playing the second string fretted at the first fret; then the third string fretted at the second fret and then the fourth string fretted at the third fret. (Review that again slowly until you are sure you understand what is going on). That completes the first bar/measure of the two bars/measures shown.

The second bar/measure starts by playing two notes together in a pinch - the first and sixth strings are fretted at the first fret and the right-hand thumb plays the sixth string at the same time as a right-hand finger plays the first string. This is followed by three further thumb and finger pinches - all whilst holding on the chord of 'F'.

The tablature shown above has stems coming from the numbers which indicate timing (i.e. how long each note has to last relative to the other notes). Take Care: not all tablature has these and with many variants of tablature unless you have someone who already knows the tune and can play it for you, or you have a recording of the tune to listen to, you will find it difficult getting the correct timing to make the tune sound as it should. Using software such as TablEdit eliminates this problem as not only does it put in the 'note' stems to indicate the timing but it can also play back the tablature on a computer to let you hear how the tune should sound.

Why Guitars Are Better Than Women

2007-02-17T23:20:00.000+08:00

Guitar vs Women

Guitars don't get pregnant.
You can play your Guitar any time of the month.
Guitars don't have parents.
Guitars don't whine... unless you want them to.
You can share your Guitar with your friends.
Guitars don't care how many other Guitars you've played
Guitars don't care how many other Guitars you have.
Guitars don't care if you look at other Guitars.
Guitars don't care if you buy Guitar magazines.
You'll never hear, "Surprise, you are going to proud father of a new Guitar" unless you go out to buy one yourself.
If your Guitar is flat you can fix it.
Your Guitar doesn't care if you never listen to it.
Your Guitar won't care if you leave up the toilet seat.
You don't have to be jealous of the guy who works on your Guitar.
If you say bad things to your Guitar, you don't have to apologize before you play it again.
You can play your Guitar as long as you want and it won't get sore.
You can stop playing your Guitar as soon as you want and it won't get frustrated.
Your parents won't remain in touch with your old Guitar after you dump it.
Guitars don't get headaches.
Guitars don't insult you if you're a bad player.
Your Guitar never wants a night out with the other Guitars.
Guitars don't care if you're late.
You don't have to take a shower before you play your Guitar.
If your Guitar doesn't look good you can refinish it or get new parts.
You can play your Guitar the first time you meet it, without having to take it to dinner, see a movie, or meet its mother.
The only protection you have to wear when playing your Guitar is a decent thumb pick.
When in mixed company, you can talk about what a great time you had the last time you played your Guitar.

Parts of A Guitar ( Illustration )

2007-02-17T23:16:00.000+08:00

Guitar Maintenance - Dunlop System 65 Guitar Maintenance Kit

2007-02-17T15:56:00.000+08:00

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

System 65 Guitar Maintenance Kit contains one each of every one of Dunlop's guitar care products, along with instructions, microfine fret polishing cloth, and two 100% cotton cloths. Perfect for gift giving!

This remarkable polish was specially formulated after the consultation of chemists, players, techs, luthiers, and musicians. Dunlop Formula No. 65 Polish and Cleaner has been created to provide optimum cleaning, exceptional shine and incredible protection. It is safe and easy to use. Dunlop Formula No.65 is made without harsh chemicals or ingredients. The results — the difference between acceptable and exceptional.

Guitar Tuner

2007-02-15T14:09:00.000+08:00

Guitar Tuner - Using is Guitar Tuner or Auto Guitar Tuner is the most popular way to tune an electric guitar or acoustic guitar. Most are battery operated and perform a variety of tuning functions. The most simple guitar tuners will tune your guitar to a basic E tuning (E,A,D,G,B,E). Most guitar tuners will say 440hz on them as well. This is just a hz meter reading and it's fine that it says this for E Tuning. Some guitar tuners have an input to plug your electric guitar into or a built in mic to pickup you acoustic guitar sound. Plug your guitar into the input and your display should show you a meter that picks up your guitar string sound when you pluck a string. Your low E String is string number 6, the A String is number 5 and so on until you reach string 1 which is your high E string. Now, pluck the first string (Low E) and you should see your meter moving. You should turn your guitar tuning peg until the meter reaches the middle of the meter or 0 mark. It may take some trial and error to figure it out, but it's overall pretty simple. Now pluck your A String (Number 5 on the tuner). Tune this string until it also reached the 0 reading or middle of the meter. The closer you are to the middle or zero the more perfect tune your guitar will be in. Pluck your D String and tune to the middle meter reading. Now continue with each string until you have tuned all six strings of your guitar. Browse some Different Brands of Guitar Tuners Here.
Guitar Tuning Modes - There are different keys or modes to tune your guitar as well. Some guitar players may tune to Eb (E flat). For example, some early Van Halen songs are tuned to Eb (E Flat). There are also open tuning modes as well. Some guitar tuners have functions to let you tune to these different keys as well. Just pick the mode you would like on the auto guitar tuner and tune each string to the middle 0 meter reading and you should be fine.
Drop D Tuning - Many hard rock songs now a days are tuned to Drop D Tuning. This is actually not that hard to do. Basically, you should tune your guitar normally, for example to a standard E Tuning as described in the first paragraph. Use you guitar tuner to do this. Once your in your Standard Tuning now your will need to Drop your Low E String to a D tuning. In order to do this place your index finger on the second string on the 5th fret and play this note. This is the note D. Now, play your Low E Sting while holding the D note on the second string. Tune the Low E String down one step to match the D Note your playing on the 5th fret second string. Once the notes match you are now in drop D tuning. Some songs that utilize this tuning are the Foo Fighters song Everlong, and Unchained by Van Halen. Also, if your guitar has a floyd rose tremelo system you may be able to add a device called the D Tuna. This was invented by Eddie Van Halen himself. Basically, it is attached to your trem fairly easily. Once it is attached, you can drop to Drop D Tuning by pulling the mechanism. It's a nice device to be able to drop D tune on the fly. There is also a fine tuning part of the Drop D Tuna that uses a tiny hex wrench to fine tune to drop D. Very nice feature. Most EVH Peavey Wolfgang guitars came equipped with the Drop D Tuna.
Tuning a Floyd Rose Tremelo or Trem - Most Floyd Rose tremelos have fine tuning knobs on them so that you can fine tune while your guitar strings which are locked at the neck. The stings are locked so that your guitar doesn't go out of tune when you use the Floyd rose Trem and whammy bar. You should tune your guitar normally, lock the nut at the neck, then fine tune using your floyd rose fine tuning knobs. Make sure you knobs are sort of in the mid position when your manually tuning. That way once your locked at the neck you have some room to turn the knobs and fine tune your guitar. Once the guitar is locked at the neck position try fine tuning with these knobs to get in tune.
Tuning Guitar By Ear - More experienced guitarist can tune there guitar by ear. By listening to a song some can figure out that a song is in E or Eb tuning. For example, Back in Black by AC/DC is in E. So, tune your low E string to a specific song you know. Then you can tune the rest of your strings by pressing and playing the note on the seventh fret (Note E in Standard E tuning). Match the notes and tune the second string while playing the low E sting and the note E depressed on the seventh fret. Just be careful that you don't go to far and tune to a higher note than you would like. Keep doing this for each string until finished. Note, the B string can be a little tricky in this method so you may have to play a D Chord to get this one. This tuning method is more for experienced guitarists and may not work for you right away. This is just a way that I used to tune my guitar, please don't feel that this method is the schooled musician way to tune a guitar. It's usually best to use a guitar tuner.
Tuning By Ear - Harmonics - There is also a way to tune using harmonics. Once you know where you want your Low E string to be tuned, try playing the harmonics on the 5th fret of the low E string and the 7th fret of the A string. Harmonics are played by barely touch the string at the fret. The harmonics on the 5th fret of the low E string and the 7th fret of the A strings should match notes. So you can try to tune your A string by matching the harmonic that your playing on the Low E. Again, just and idea for you, don't feel that this way is totally correct. Just another way to find out if your in tune. Also, your harmonic on the B string doesn't always match up. So keep this in mind. This is for more advanced players as well.

How to Tune Guitar Links

Guitar Tuners - Browse Guitar and Bass Tuners Available at Amazon
Guitar Site - Links and ways to tune your guitar
About .com - step by step guitar tuning
Alternate tunings for your guitar - Shows your how to open tune your guitar
Various tunings for guitar
More Guitar Tunings
Cyberfret - guitar tuning
Guitar Notes - tuning and alternate tuning
Guitars For Sale - Browse Our Guitars for Sale through our Amazon Store

Johnny B. Goode Video Lesson

2007-02-15T13:55:00.000+08:00

Interesting stuff!! Play it..

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grEw17llbXs

New "Button Guitars" for the Youngins

2007-02-15T13:53:00.000+08:00

Press Releases

Tiger Electronics and Gibson Guitar have introduced the Power Tour Electric Guitar, a new product that combines Tiger’s tween insight and innovation with Gibson’s legendary guitar experience. With the Power Tour Electric Guitar, available at retailers this fall, "music-loving tweens can learn to pound out power chords, shred leads and rock right out of the box!"

Power Tour Electric Guitar:

With the Power Tour Electric Guitar, music enthusiasts can choose to learn how to play the twelve pre-loaded songs or plug in an MP3 player (not included) and jam along to their favorite rockin’ tunes.

To learn the twelve onboard songs, aspiring rock legends first select a song – choices include six classic rock anthems such as Wild Thing, Smoke on the Water and Breaking the Law, as well as several rock originals like Basic Strumming Blues. Once a song is selected, tweens simply follow along to the lights - the Power Tour Electric Guitar will ‘light’ the way to where fingers should be placed so tweens can play at their own speed, hitting the right notes at the right time.

Turn It On, Turn It Up, Rock Out! The POWER TOUR Electric Guitar (ages 10 years and up) will be available fall 2007 for the approximate retail price of $69.99. Four “AA” batteries are required but not included.

Also available this fall, turn things up a notch with the Power Tour Amp.

The History of the Guitar

2007-02-14T23:34:00.000+08:00

The guitar is a plucked stringed musical instrument that probably originated in Spain early in the 16th century, deriving from the guitarra latina, a late-medieval instrument with a waisted body and four strings. The early guitar was narrower and deeper than the modern guitar, with a less pronounced waist. It was closely related to the vihuela, the guitar-shaped instrument played in Spain in place of the lute.

The guitar originally had four courses of strings, three double, the top course single, that ran from a violin-like pegbox to a tension bridge glued to the soundboard, or belly; the bridge thus sustained the direct pull of the strings. In the belly was a circular sound hole, often ornamented with a carved wooden rose. The 16th-century guitar was tuned c-f-a-d', the tuning of the centre four courses of the lute and of the vihuela.

From the 16th to the 19th century several changes occurred in the instrument. A fifth course of strings was added before 1600; by the late 18th century a sixth course was added. Before 1800 the double courses were replaced by single strings tuned E-A-d-g-b-e', still the standard tuning.

The violin-type pegbox was replaced about 1600 by a flat, slightly reflexed head with rear tuning pegs; in the 19th century, metal screws were substituted for the tuning pegs. The early tied-on gut frets were replaced by built-on ivory or metal frets in the 18th century. The fingerboard was originally flush with and ended at the belly, and several metal or ivory frets were placed directly on the belly. In the 19th century the fingerboard was raised slightly above the level of the belly and was extended across it to the edge of the sound hole. In the 19th century the guitar's body also underwent changes that resulted in increased sonority. It became broader and shallower, with an extremely thin soundboard. Internally, the transverse bars reinforcing the soundboard were replaced by radial bars that fanned out below the sound hole. The neck, formerly set into a wood block, was formed into a brace, or shoe, that projected a short distance inside the body and was glued to the back; this gave extra stability against the pull of the strings.

The 19th-century innovations were largely the work of Antonio Torres. The instrument that resulted was the classical guitar, which is strung with three gut and three metal-spun silk strings. Nylon or other plastic was later used in place of gut.

Among variant forms of the guitar are the 12-stringed, or double-course, guitar, and the Mexican jarana and the South American charango, both small five-course guitars. Lyre-shaped guitars were fashionable in 19th-century drawing rooms. Other forms of the guitar include the metal-strung guitar played with a plectrum in folk and popular music; the cello guitar, with a violin-type bridge and tailpiece; the Hawaiian, or steel, guitar, in which the strings are stopped by the pressure of a metal bar, producing a sweet, gliding tone; and the electric guitar, in which the tone depends not on body resonance but on electronic amplification.

The guitar grew in popularity during the 17th century as the lute and vihuela declined. It remained an amateur's instrument from the 17th to early 19th century. A few virtuoso guitarists, however, became known in Europe, among them Gaspar Sanz (fl. 1674), Robert de Visée (c. 1650-1725), Fernando Sor (1778-1839), and Joseph Kaspar Mertz (1806-56). Modern classical-guitar technique owes much to the Spaniard Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909), whose transcriptions of works by Bach, Mozart, and other composers formed the basis of the concert repertory.

In the 20th century, Andrés Segovia gave the guitar further prominence as a concert instrument, and composers such as Heitor Villa-Lobos and Manuel de Falla wrote serious works for it; others (e.g., Pierre Boulez) scored for the guitar in chamber ensembles.

The guitar is widely played in the folk and popular music of many countries. In jazz ensembles it is part of the rhythm section and is occasionally played as a solo instrument. In popular music the guitar is usually amplified, and ensembles frequently include more than one instrument, a "lead" guitar for solos, another for rhythm, and a "bass" guitar to play bass lines.