Everything on guitar's
You've Got to start Somewhere Right?
First thing's first you've got to decide on what kind of guitar you want?
Well you are just beginning to learn the guitar you may wonder which is a better learning guitar, an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. It is best to consider a variety of things when making your decision.
Maybe one of the most important things to consider when picking a guitar is the type of music you want to play on it. If you like rock music and want to play like the great rock guitar heroes, you should obviously pick an electric guitar. However, if you enjoy acoustic music you should choose an acoustic guitar. It is important to consider these things because if you purchase a guitar that is not right for you, then you will not be motivated to play it on a regular basis.
What are you into?
Your personality may be a factor in choosing what guitar to start with or it might not matter at all. There are some people who want to see results right away but if they don't they get frustrated; lose interest and stop playing the guitar. If you think you are this type of person, consider an electric guitar. These are smaller than acoustic guitars and have smaller necks. It is much easier to press the strings so you will have the ability to play your guitar basics faster and easier. Even so, there are some buttons on an electric guitar that may make playing music more complicated.
Don't buy the most expensive guitar in store!
Be sure to consider your budget when purchasing your first guitar. Of course you do not want to pay a lot of money on your very first guitar. It is also unwise to pay a lot if you don't think you will continue to play it over time. Because of the expense, acoustic guitars are the preferred first instrument. An electric guitar is more expensive because you need to buy an amplifier and a guitar cable along with the guitar. If you still feel like you want to buy an electric guitar, check your local music store to see if they offer start-up guitar and amplifier packages at a price you can handle.
Something else to consider is purchasing a guitar stand. This is a wise investment because if you have your guitar on the stand at all times, you will probably find yourself practicing and playing on it a lot more. There are various guitars that are recommended for the beginning guitarist. If you have an electric guitar you may want to keep it plugged into the amplifier, that way when it's time to practice all you need to do is turn the amplifier on and get started.
If you want to sing along with your guitar and have the patience, you may want to purchase an acoustic guitar. There are a few acoustic guitars that are great for beginners.
The Guitars..
The Seagull S6 is an instrument made in Canada and is highly recommended by guitarists. The Seagull produces beautiful sound and has a lot of value. This guitar has a cedar top and mahogany on the sides and on the back. The price of the Seagull is about $350. This may be a little more than what you want to spend on a first guitar but it is a good investment. It is not easy to find the Seagull S6 but if you call around or search the internet you may be able to find one.
The Yamaha F310 is not as highly regarded as the Seagull but it is still a good instrument for a beginning guitarist. These guitars normally cost $250 or you can find them even cheaper if you look online. There are other Yamaha acoustic guitars available but they may cost a little more.
The Takamine G-340 is a beginner model that has a spruce top that is laminated. In general, it is not as good as some of the higher end models of the Takamine but you still get good value for your money.
The Fender CD110E is cheaper than other models of the fender. The CD110E has a nato back, sides and neck along with a spruce top. The cheaper model may not always have the best workmanship but the price makes it attractive to beginner guitarists.
The Epiphone DR-100 is a good starter guitar. The DR-100 has mahogany sides and back and a spruce top. You can buy this guitar cheaply. Most individuals consider this an instrument for beginners only so you may quickly want to buy a better guitar.
There are a number of good guitars available if you want to start with an electric guitar.
The Squier Fat Stratocaster is one of many Squier models available at a good and low price. You may need to be wary of the hardware and pickups but this really depends on how the guitar is made. This is a great beginner guitar. The appearance is appealing.
The Epiphone G-312 SG is not expensive and a decent choice for beginners. The G-312 SG is built with cheaper hardware and pickups of low quality. The body of the instrument is alder. The neck is mahogany and the fingerboard is rosewood. It is a good value according to experts.
The Yamaha Pacifica 112 has a rosewood fret board, maple neck and alder body along with two coil pick-ups. The guitar is well made and the craftsmanship is high. It is a great value and those who want to become serious guitarists may want to upgrade the electronics of this guitar.
The Danelectro 56-U2 is a low cost and cheap instrument but guitarists like its distinct look and sound. It is a guitar with a hollow body and feature dual stacked volume controls and lipstick pickups.
The Epiphone Les Paul Special II is modeled after one of the most famous guitars known, the Les Paul. This low cost guitar has a mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, and a laminated alder/maple body. The guitar is marketed toward those that are just beginning to learn the guitar.
Saturday, 25 July 2009
Electric Tuning!
If you have decided to play the electric..
There are many ways to tune an electric guitar. The easiest way is with a guitar tuner, if the intonation is set properly. Tuning a guitar trains your ear to the different sounds of each note.
Find a tuner that works with an electric guitar. Learn to tune your guitar with one note off a fixed source, or by ear. This will help train the ear for the pitch of each note and help with finger placement and the pressure to be applied to the string.
One way to tune is set out below:
- Start off with open A (this is the second largest or 5th string).
- Use a fixed source such as the piano, harmonica, tuning fork, even another guitar
- Now make the A string match the pitch or tone of the A source note by picking the A string and letting it ring
- Loosen the string below the tone and then tune while increasing the tension
- Loosening and then tightening works best and keeps the guitar in tune longer
Once the A string is tuned move to the D string.
- The D string is directly below the A string, it is the 4th string
- Sound D by placing your middle finger on the 5th fret on A
- This will give the D sound
- Hold the finger down and leave it to ring while adjusting D
Now move to the G string; this is directly under the D string and is the 3rd string.
- Sound G by placing your middle finger on the 5th fret on the D string
- Let the sound ring out by holding your finger down
- Adjust G by matching it to the sound
Then comes the B string or the 2nd string. This is directly under the G string.
- Place your middle finger on the 4th fret on the G string
- Hold your finger down to let it ring out
- Adjust the B string to match the sound
Next, the upper E string, the thinnest string and the one below the B string.
- Place your middle finger on the 5th fret of the B string; this gives the upper E note
- Let it ring out by holding your finger down
- Adjust the E string to match the sound
Finally, lower E, the largest string and also the first:
- Place your middle finger on the 5th fret of lower E
- This gives an open A sound
- Match the sound produced by the A string to the 5th fret note
- Adjust lower E accordingly
Take care while tuning, Dont worry you will get used to it.
Be aware that when you tighten a string to tune it it’s put under lots of tension. Normally, this is not a problem. However, if your guitar has rough parts that can snag a string. If you tune it incorrectly and over tighten the string, it will break. Since the string is under so much tension, it can cause a lot of damage. Don’t over tighten strings. If in doubt, tune down.
You need to do one string at a time. Strings have tension and a pulling effect on the guitar’s neck. The force that each string exerts on the neck causes it to bend slightly.
Once you have tuned your guitar, you will probably find that some strings have gone out of tune. You will need to repeat the above procedure until all the strings are in tune.
Good intonation means your guitar will stay in tune as you play different notes along the neck. The string may be perfectly in tune but, on the 10th fret, it might be ½ semitone out. This is bad intonation.
Bad intonation can be caused by a mismatch between the length of the string and the spacing of the frets. It can also be caused by a non-uniform string (that is, the thickness changes along the length). If you can’t fix the intonation, try changing your strings.
Intonation is easily adjusted on the electric guitar since the bridge consists of several adjustable parts. A flat note means the string is too long, whereas a sharp note means the string is too short. Adjust the string slightly by moving the appropriate bridge piece. You may have to repeat this several times on each string. It is time-consuming the first time you do it, but well worth your while.
Once you have tuned your guitar, you will probably find that some strings have gone out of tune. You will need to repeat the above procedure until all the strings are in tune.
Good intonation means your guitar will stay in tune as you play different notes along the neck. The string may be perfectly in tune but, on the 10th fret, it might be ½ semitone out. This is bad intonation.
Bad intonation can be caused by a mismatch between the length of the string and the spacing of the frets. It can also be caused by a non-uniform string (that is, the thickness changes along the length). If you can’t fix the intonation, try changing your strings.
Intonation is easily adjusted on the electric guitar since the bridge consists of several adjustable parts. A flat note means the string is too long, whereas a sharp note means the string is too short. Adjust the string slightly by moving the appropriate bridge piece. You may have to repeat this several times on each string. It is time-consuming the first time you do it, but well worth your while.
There are many ways to tune an electric guitar. The easiest way is with a guitar tuner, if the intonation is set properly. Tuning a guitar trains your ear to the different sounds of each note.
Find a tuner that works with an electric guitar. Learn to tune your guitar with one note off a fixed source, or by ear. This will help train the ear for the pitch of each note and help with finger placement and the pressure to be applied to the string.
One way to tune is set out below:
- Start off with open A (this is the second largest or 5th string).
- Use a fixed source such as the piano, harmonica, tuning fork, even another guitar
- Now make the A string match the pitch or tone of the A source note by picking the A string and letting it ring
- Loosen the string below the tone and then tune while increasing the tension
- Loosening and then tightening works best and keeps the guitar in tune longer
Once the A string is tuned move to the D string.
- The D string is directly below the A string, it is the 4th string
- Sound D by placing your middle finger on the 5th fret on A
- This will give the D sound
- Hold the finger down and leave it to ring while adjusting D
Now move to the G string; this is directly under the D string and is the 3rd string.
- Sound G by placing your middle finger on the 5th fret on the D string
- Let the sound ring out by holding your finger down
- Adjust G by matching it to the sound
Then comes the B string or the 2nd string. This is directly under the G string.
- Place your middle finger on the 4th fret on the G string
- Hold your finger down to let it ring out
- Adjust the B string to match the sound
Next, the upper E string, the thinnest string and the one below the B string.
- Place your middle finger on the 5th fret of the B string; this gives the upper E note
- Let it ring out by holding your finger down
- Adjust the E string to match the sound
Finally, lower E, the largest string and also the first:
- Place your middle finger on the 5th fret of lower E
- This gives an open A sound
- Match the sound produced by the A string to the 5th fret note
- Adjust lower E accordingly
Take care while tuning, Dont worry you will get used to it.
Be aware that when you tighten a string to tune it it’s put under lots of tension. Normally, this is not a problem. However, if your guitar has rough parts that can snag a string. If you tune it incorrectly and over tighten the string, it will break. Since the string is under so much tension, it can cause a lot of damage. Don’t over tighten strings. If in doubt, tune down.
You need to do one string at a time. Strings have tension and a pulling effect on the guitar’s neck. The force that each string exerts on the neck causes it to bend slightly.
Once you have tuned your guitar, you will probably find that some strings have gone out of tune. You will need to repeat the above procedure until all the strings are in tune.
Good intonation means your guitar will stay in tune as you play different notes along the neck. The string may be perfectly in tune but, on the 10th fret, it might be ½ semitone out. This is bad intonation.
Bad intonation can be caused by a mismatch between the length of the string and the spacing of the frets. It can also be caused by a non-uniform string (that is, the thickness changes along the length). If you can’t fix the intonation, try changing your strings.
Intonation is easily adjusted on the electric guitar since the bridge consists of several adjustable parts. A flat note means the string is too long, whereas a sharp note means the string is too short. Adjust the string slightly by moving the appropriate bridge piece. You may have to repeat this several times on each string. It is time-consuming the first time you do it, but well worth your while.
Once you have tuned your guitar, you will probably find that some strings have gone out of tune. You will need to repeat the above procedure until all the strings are in tune.
Good intonation means your guitar will stay in tune as you play different notes along the neck. The string may be perfectly in tune but, on the 10th fret, it might be ½ semitone out. This is bad intonation.
Bad intonation can be caused by a mismatch between the length of the string and the spacing of the frets. It can also be caused by a non-uniform string (that is, the thickness changes along the length). If you can’t fix the intonation, try changing your strings.
Intonation is easily adjusted on the electric guitar since the bridge consists of several adjustable parts. A flat note means the string is too long, whereas a sharp note means the string is too short. Adjust the string slightly by moving the appropriate bridge piece. You may have to repeat this several times on each string. It is time-consuming the first time you do it, but well worth your while.
Acoustic guitar Tuning!
If you have decided to play the acoustic Then you will need to know how to tune it.
No matter what your skill level of guitar playing is, it is always important to have a guitar that is in tune. This is especially important when playing an acoustic guitar, because each string's tone is so prominent. There are many different variations of tuning that can be achieved on the guitar, but in this article I am going to only cover Standard E tuning. This means that both your high E and low E string are tuned to the key of E, and all other strings are tuned accordingly.
Quick String Order Reference: E A D G B E
Step 1: Tune your low E string to E
Unless you have a perfect ear for pitch, which most of us don't, you'll need a keyboard, pitch pipe to achieve this. The more you tune your guitar by ear, the easier it will be to get close to an E note without using one of these devices.
Hit your open E string, and the either play the lowest E note on the piano, or use your pitch pipe to match the two tones. Once your E string matches a perfect E note, you can proceed in tuning your guitar by ear.
Step 2: Tune the A String
Press down on the 5Th fret on your low E string
Play the E string with your open A string
You want the A string to sound exactly like your fretted E string
Adjust the A string as necessary to achieve perfect tone
Step 3: Tune D String
Press down on the 5Th fret on your A string
Play the A string with your open D string
You want the D string to sound exactly like your fretted A string
Adjust the D string as necessary to achieve perfect tone
Step 4: Tune G String
Press down on the 5Th fret on your D string
Play the D string with your open G string
You want the G string to sound exactly like your fretted D string
Adjust the G string as necessary to achieve perfect tone
Step 4: Tune B String
Press down on the 4Th fret on your G string
Play the G string with your open B string
You want the B string to sound exactly like your fretted G string
Adjust the B string as necessary to achieve perfect tone
Step 4: Tune high E String
Press down on the 5Th fret on your B string
Play the B string with your open E string
You want the E string to sound exactly like your fretted B string
Adjust the E string as necessary to achieve perfect tone
Tips:
Use the tuning knobs at the top of your guitar to adjust string tone
Turn knobs slowly while hitting the strings you are currently tuning
Use harmonics to test your tuning. The harmonic on your low E string at the 5Th fret should match the harmonic of your A string on the 7Th fret, and so on.
Being able to tune your acoustic guitar by ear is a great skill to have, and it will ensure that you will always have a great sounding guitar
No matter what your skill level of guitar playing is, it is always important to have a guitar that is in tune. This is especially important when playing an acoustic guitar, because each string's tone is so prominent. There are many different variations of tuning that can be achieved on the guitar, but in this article I am going to only cover Standard E tuning. This means that both your high E and low E string are tuned to the key of E, and all other strings are tuned accordingly.
Quick String Order Reference: E A D G B E
Step 1: Tune your low E string to E
Unless you have a perfect ear for pitch, which most of us don't, you'll need a keyboard, pitch pipe to achieve this. The more you tune your guitar by ear, the easier it will be to get close to an E note without using one of these devices.
Hit your open E string, and the either play the lowest E note on the piano, or use your pitch pipe to match the two tones. Once your E string matches a perfect E note, you can proceed in tuning your guitar by ear.
Step 2: Tune the A String
Press down on the 5Th fret on your low E string
Play the E string with your open A string
You want the A string to sound exactly like your fretted E string
Adjust the A string as necessary to achieve perfect tone
Step 3: Tune D String
Press down on the 5Th fret on your A string
Play the A string with your open D string
You want the D string to sound exactly like your fretted A string
Adjust the D string as necessary to achieve perfect tone
Step 4: Tune G String
Press down on the 5Th fret on your D string
Play the D string with your open G string
You want the G string to sound exactly like your fretted D string
Adjust the G string as necessary to achieve perfect tone
Step 4: Tune B String
Press down on the 4Th fret on your G string
Play the G string with your open B string
You want the B string to sound exactly like your fretted G string
Adjust the B string as necessary to achieve perfect tone
Step 4: Tune high E String
Press down on the 5Th fret on your B string
Play the B string with your open E string
You want the E string to sound exactly like your fretted B string
Adjust the E string as necessary to achieve perfect tone
Tips:
Use the tuning knobs at the top of your guitar to adjust string tone
Turn knobs slowly while hitting the strings you are currently tuning
Use harmonics to test your tuning. The harmonic on your low E string at the 5Th fret should match the harmonic of your A string on the 7Th fret, and so on.
Being able to tune your acoustic guitar by ear is a great skill to have, and it will ensure that you will always have a great sounding guitar
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