learn guitar: September 2010

Guitar Basics

xThe guitar is an instrument with ancient roots and is used in several different musical genres.
Guitars usually have six strings but you can find guitars with seven, ten or even twelve strings.
Guitars are typically the main instrument in music such as rock, blues, country, and forms of
pop. Guitars may also be used as a solo instrument. Traditional guitars are made of wood and
steel or nylon strings.

Guitars may be played either acoustically or may need to rely on an amplifier. There are various
types of guitars. First there is the acoustic guitar. In an acoustic guitar, the sound is created by
vibrating strings that are echoed in the hollow body of the guitar. It does not depend on anything
external to produce its sound.
xml

It depends on a wooden piece that is mounted on the front of the
guitar. The acoustic guitar is typically quieter than the instruments you would find in an
orchestra or band so it is usually externally amplified. There are a lot of acoustic guitars that

ave different pickups so the player can modify and amplify the sound of the instrument.
There are different types of acoustic guitars. They are steel string guitars, twelve string guitars,
arch top guitars, flamenco, and classical guitars. There is also the acoustic bass guitar.

The invention of the electric guitar has influenced much of the music of the twentieth century
and popular culture. An electric guitar relies on an amplifier that helps to manipulate the tone of
the instrument electronically. An electric guitar uses what you call pickups to change the
vibration of the strings into an electrical current, which is then amplified. The electrical signal
that emits from the guitar may be altered electronically before it passes into the amplifier. This
makes the final sound. Some electric guitars have the ability to sound like an acoustic guitar
with the flip of a switch.

Unlike the acoustic guitar, an electric guitar usually does not have a hollow body and the guitar
makes very little sound when you pluck the strings. When the strings are plucked an electric
current is generated. This current is then sent through a wire to an amplifier. The current
produced varies depending on how dense the string is and how much movement occurs (how you
are strumming the guitar).

The electric guitar was initially used in jazz music and is now used in many other genres of
music such as rock and roll, blues, country, new-age and modern classical music.
Some hybrids of electric and acoustic guitars are currently available. There are some very exotic
guitars available as well. There are guitars with two three or even four necks.

Other tags guitars,

learn guitar,learn guitar,learn guitar,learn guitar,learn guitar,learn guitar,

guitar lesson,guitar lesson,guitar lesson,guitar lesson,guitar lesson, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials, guitar tutorials

about guitars

The guitar is a plucked string instrument, played either with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number but sometimes more, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with either nylon or steel strings. Some modern guitars are made of polycarbonate materials. Guitars are made and repaired by luthiers. There are two primary families of guitars: acoustic and electric.xml

Conclusion

xml

Learning something is always difficult at first so do your best not to get frustrated if your fingers

hurt, the guitar goes out of tune, if your neighbors begin complaining or if you don’t sound great

right away. All guitar heroes had to begin where you are right now.

The difference between those that try and give up and good guitar players is that the one who

becomes the great guitar player keeps trying no matter what and fights through the rough

patches. Just remember that playing the guitar should be fun. Don’t give up, keep practicing and

enjoy yourself. Before you know it you will be the next guitar hero!xml

Earning Money with Your Guitar

Now that you’ve learn the basics of the guitar, how to play notes and chords, and how to

purchase the right guitar for you, why not try to earn a little money with your new hobby! There

a few ways to do this.

You can consider forming your own band. Look for people that are around your age that share

the same musical interests. If you go to a music seminar you can find potential band members.

You can also consider looking towards school music programs, music stores and music teachers

in the area to find potential band mates. You can put in an ad in your local paper but this could

be expensive. A better choice is to post a flyer in the music store in your neighborhood or just

talking to others. There are internet bulletin boards where you can advertise for band mates.

You can also consider giving lessons once you become an advanced guitar player. You can

advertise in music stores and in the local newspaper. You may want to print a flyer and include

your contact information, where you are, the hours you work and what you charge. You should

also indicate what level you teach and what music genre you teach.

If you love music and enjoy playing your guitar you might want to find a job working in a music

store. If you become employed in a music store, you will meet other musicians such as yourself

and you will gain knowledge about the guitar and various music styles. You may learn about

paying jobs for musicians. Another important thing is that your will meet musicians in your

town and learn from them.

A great perk that you receive when working in a music store is that you get an employee

discount on guitar gear. You will have access to new items and find out what in new and hot in

the world of guitarists. You can learn a lot from customers so you should listenxml

Buying a Guitar Online

Of course I would be absolutely remiss if I didn’t mention buying a guitar online. A number of

years ago, purchasing a guitar online site unseen was unheard of. However, the internet has

changed the way we do many things, including how guitars are bought. You can look at the E-

bay guitar auctions to see just how many guitars are being bought and sold every day.

Even so, guitarists should not dive in recklessly. We all know that there are possible

consequences if you buy online. There are a lot of hazards attached to buying a guitar online

from someone that you do not know. If you want to buy a guitar online be sure to check Dealer

Reviews archive. This site lets guitarists submit ratings and descriptions of certain instrument

retailers. You will find reviews of retailers such as Musician’s Friend and others. The most

current reviews of vendors are found on Eopinions.com. On this site you can enter the name of

the vendor you are thinking about buying from and do some research.

Shipping instruments can be a hassle as well. Those who handle your instrument will not always

use care and sometimes instruments arrive damaged. The damage could have been caused by

incorrect packaging or rough handling. You may want to get your instrument packed

professionally using a store like Mailbox Etc. if you are getting it shipped. When you use a

service like Maibox Etc., the buyer can contact the store before the guitar is shipped and get a

confirmation of the contents.

The most intimidating part of buying an instrument on the internet is that you will not get a

chance to play the guitar before you purchase it. Many people who have played guitars in music

stores know that quality varies a great deal from guitar to guitar. Any product made from wood

will have different degrees of quality. Because of this, you may get a guitar that does not have

the quality you want. In this case, most retailers online offer a return policy that will allow you

to send back a guitar you don’t want. You can return the guitar between 24 and 48 hours.

However, what retailers will not tell you is that by law, they are required to give you a 30 day

return policy.

Once you have weighed your options, and you still want to take a chance and buy your guitar

online, you will have to search for that perfect guitar. There are a number of sites that can help

you find certain guitars.

The Guitar Base Mall lets individuals search for certain guitars and provides contact information

for the person of store that is selling the instrument. On this site, there are many guitars being

sold by singular owners so you may find more problems than if you purchase the guitar from a

major retailer online.

There are numerous guitar retailers online. There are a lot that operate mainly as a music store in

a certain location and may take mail orders through the web. There are also those music stores

that are online only. A lot of these retailers are more experienced in selling and buying on the

internet so the purchasing process should go smoothly.

Three online websites you can look into are 1-800-Instuments, 8th Street Music, and Costello’s

Music. 1-800-Instruments combine a store and an e-zine that features review. It is based in

Australia but has international shipping. 8th Street Music offers keyboards, pro-audio gear and

other items for sale. This site features used and vintage guitars. The selection is limited though.

Costello’s Music doesn’t carry a lot of guitars but they offer such items as keyboards and drums.

They ship only in the within the United States.

Guitar Trader Online, Musician’s Friend, Music123.com, and Zzounds are other good sites to

buy a guitar. Guitar Trader Online offers a big selection of guitars and other equipment and

shipping in instantly calculated when you place an order.

Musician’s Friend has an extremely large collection of guitars and guitar equipment. This site is

one of the most popular music retailers on the internet. The site features internet deals and

weekly articles. Music123.com is a large online music retailer and sells different instruments.

There are many guitar brands for sale on the site at good prices. Zzounds is another site with a

large selection of guitar brands. This site has contests and free giveaways. They don’t offer

international shipping.

– Purchasing Your First Guitar

Now that you have an idea about what types of guitars are available to you. You are ready to go

into the music store and buy your first guitar. It is exciting to be purchasing your first guitar but

keep a few things in mind before heading out to the local music store.

First, be patient. You do not have to purchase the guitar immediately. Make a minimum of two

visits to the music store. Also, don’t let the salesman intimidate you. You are the customer and

you are the one in charge. You should also do some research before you buy your first guitar.

The internet offers a wealth of information about guitars. If you are armed with knowledge, you

can use that knowledge to your advantage. Also, remember to recruit help if you need it. If you

have a friend or family member that plays the guitar, take them with you to the music store and it

can help you choose the guitar that is right for you. If you don’t have anyone to come with you,

ask the employees at the store questions. Don’t be shy. You can get a decent deal on a guitar if

you have enough discipline.

If you are a new guitarist, trying out a guitar in the music store may be intimidating. There may

ver y well be other guitarists in the store who think they need to show off their skills. They have

a need to impress others with their great guitar licks and chords. This can be intimidating; of

course you’d like to be able to show off like this as well. However, stay focused. Your goal is to

find the best instrument for you for the least amount of money.

When you enter the store, look around until you find an instrument to your liking. The store

employees should give you a sturdy stool. They should also give you a pick but it is probably

best to bring one of your own. If you are trying out an electric guitar, it should be plugged into

an amplifier that is similar to the one you are going to use.

To hear the sound quality of a guitar, don’t be afraid to strum the strings hard. Listen to the

guitar’s sustain and listen for problems such as buzzing strings. If you cannot hear the guitar

well, ask to be put in another room or to be moved to a part of the store that is quieter. If you

come up against music store owners that frown on you tuning up the guitar or vigorously

strumming, politely hand the guitar back to the owner and take your business elsewhere. It is

important to know how a guitar sounds before spending your hard earned money on it.

You should also keep in mind that when trying out a guitar you don’t need to play something

complicated. Play something you are used to playing. Concentrate on how the guitar sounds and

feels. Do not pay attention to the people who may be listening to you. Play every fret on the

neck of the guitar and be sure that you don’t hear any buzzing. Be sure that if you are playing an

electric guitar try various pick-ups and listen for any pick up noise you don’t want.

Try out many different guitars in the music store. Ask a lot of questions and take notes on each

guitar you tr y out. You should jot down the make, model and price of the guitar. Find out what

kind of wood the guitar is made from. Make a note of anything you like or dislike about each

guitar you tr y. After trying out a few guitars head home and consider what you discovered that

day.

After you have played a number of guitars and found some that suit your taste. Research the

companies who make the guitar you are considering purchasing. There are websites available

that can help you familiarize yourself with the companies and their instruments. The majority of

guitar company websites provide specifications for each of their guitars. You may also find

additional information on the guitar you want to buy. Check the guitar company website for

warranty information as well. The websites will most likely have contact information so you can

e- mail or call them with any other questions.

Of course it goes without saying that a guitar company website will be biased so you will need to

discover what other guitarists think of various guitars. The web has many, many sites that have

user reviews of guitars. When looking at these reviews take note of the amount others have paid

for their instruments and seriously look at any criticisms. You should be careful of those who

give their own guitar a perfect ten. A lot of reviewers will not offer constructive criticism.

Look in your yellow pages to find music stores near you. Think about visiting each store and

tr ying the guitars they have for sale. Call the music stores and inquire to see if they carry the

type of guitar you are looking for. If they do have it in stock, have the store quote you a price.

Sometimes you may run into a store employee who does not want to give you a quote over the

phone. If you say that you are about to purchase a guitar somewhere else, they will most likely

change their mind. Note any differences in prices when calling music stores.

If after your initial research you are still not sure of what guitar is right for you, go to FretBoard,

an online bulletin board that helps guitarists. Someone should be able to assist you.

After you have acquired enough knowledge about the guitar you want to buy, make another trip

to the music store. Wait until the next day because your head will be clearer and you will have a

better perspective.

Once you return to the music store and know what guitar you want to purchase, you will want to

get the guitar at a good price. Many individuals assume that if a guitar costs $600, they will have

to buy it for that amount. This is not true. Those who own music stores make a profit on what

they sell in their store so they are able to drop the price of the item. You just have to get them to

do that.

You will have to be savvy if you want a bargain. The music store employees want you to spend

your money and you want to hold on to as much of your money as possible. As mentioned

earlier, you are the one that is in control. Since the music store wants your business there is

nothing wrong with making them earn it.

Keep a few things in mind when you go back to the music store. Like in any sales transaction,

do not let the salesperson know just how much you want the product their selling. Do not let the

sales person know just how badly you want a particular guitar. If they approach you and want to

assist you, just tell them that you have noticed some nice guitars as you have been shopping

around.

Before you get down to bargaining for the guitar you should ask if a guitar case is included. Ask

if the guitar case is softshell or hardshell. A softshell guitar case costs less than a hardshell

guitar case.

Try a few guitars when you return to the music store. If you feel like it, pretend you want to buy

a cheaper guitar than the one you are really interested in. If a salesperson sells you a cheap

guitar, they will get a small commission. Because of this, they will be more eager to give you a

bargain on a guitar that is more expensive.

Don’t make it seem that you are in a rush. Take your time and think about whether the guitar

you researched is really the guitar you want.

Remember to never pay the list price for the guitar you want. In general, list prices are inflated.

A lot of people find it difficult to bargain with a salesperson for a discount. It is not as difficult

as it may seem. You can start by asking for the entire price, including the guitar, tax and the

case. When they tell you, think for a moment and ask them what they can do to make the price a

little cheaper. Have in mind, a price that you want to pay. It may be a good idea to try and get a

15 percent discount. If you know of a store where you know they are offering a lower price on

the same guitar you want, let the salesperson know this. You may have to apply pressure to get

your bargain but you can get used to doing this.

If the guitar you want is on sale or if it is already a low priced instrument, it will be hard to

convince the salesperson to drop the price even more. If this is the case, you might want to ask if

they could throw in some guitar accessories at no charge or at a steep discount. This may

include items such as guitar strings, guitar polish, picks, or string winders. This may not be the

discount that you want but it will be good to know you bargained successfully.

xml

Before You Buy Your First Guitar

When 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.

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.

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 ver y 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 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

20 http://ebookdirectory.com

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.

Practice

Since you now know the basics on how to play the guitar, it is now your job to get better at

everything you have learned. To perfect your skills you should practice regularly. Practicing the

guitar can be aggravating and tiresome but if you get better at playing the instrument then you

will end up having more fun. You will begin enjoying practice more and more.

To improve your guitar playing, you will have to set aside time to practice. It is important to set

aside time every day to practice. Spend at least fifteen minutes a day practicing what you have

learned. This will help you a great deal. In the beginning you will have sore fingers but if you

play every day, your fingers will get tougher and after a time they will not hurt anymore.

There are a few things that you can do to get into the habit of practicing your guitar. Be sure to

put aside between fifteen and twenty minutes a day to practice. Practice in an environment that

is quiet and you can put your complete concentration on practicing your guitar. Be sure to

stretch your arms hands and fingers before you begin to play. If you are playing an electric

guitar remember to turn off the distortion so that you can clearly hear your mistakes. Know what

you are going to practice ahead of time because this makes your practice a whole lot easier.

Be sure your guitar is in tune. Be sure that you are sitting properly, holding the guitar properly

and using the pick in the right way. Then play the chromatic scales a couple of times. After that,

play the chords you have learned. Be sure that every note is correct. If the sound is not correct

discover why and try to fix the problem.

Practice your chords and try to switch chords. If you have a picture in your mind of how your

fingers are to be placed, this will assist you in switching chords fast.

Remember to be patient. Playing the guitar is difficult in the beginning and you may feel like

you want to give up and that there is no way you can learn to play. This couldn’t be further from

the truth. Everyone has problems when they learn an instrument for the first time. Just put in

daily practice and don’t concern yourself with how you did until you have another practice

session. Be sure to remember that playing the guitar should be enjoyable.

Websites that can help you with your practice are: GuitarNoise.com: The Art of Practice, ehow:

How to Practice Guitar, ezFolk.com: How to Practice, PlayJazzGuitar: Guitar Practicing or

Guitar Playing?, and AccessRock.com: Practice Guitar Rules xml