Tuesday, August 11, 2009

How to Buy a Guitar

Buy Guitar

When you buy a guitar, the best place to learn the guitar for free is on the internet. Whether you are a beginner or professional, Weather you are a guitar trader or are looking for a how to in regards to guitar amps or guitar effects, its all free on the internet. Currently, the keywords "buy guitar" receives 2800 search quries per month. In entering the "buy guitar" you may fing detailed articles outlining the process of buying a new guitar to shopping results that give you the lowest prices on all guitars, free Shipping, as well as top acoustic and electric guitars brands and best buys.

To buy a guitar, follow these steps:

#1 Know your budget. As a beginner, try to keep your budget low. Around $200-$300 for any guitar. Used guitars are great as well, so check your local pawn shops and used dealers. Just because the guitar is expensive does not mean it is a good guitar, but also beware of guitars that are under $150, as some may be cheaply made.

#2 Research on the internet. Find someone close to you that has played guitar for a while. Ask them what brands and types of guitars to look for and which to avoid. For example, Fender, Martin and Gibson are very well-known high quality brands.

#3 Know if you are going to play an acoustic guitar or an electric guitar. It depends on the style you play.

#4 Go into the guitar stores and play a few guitars. Have your guitar-playing friend go with you to several shops and stores to help you. As a beginner, your ear may not recognize subtle tone qualities that your friend will pick up and help you.

#5 Ask the salesman. Get a pick and a strap from the sales representative and ask him to show you guitars at the higher end of your price range.

#6 Have the clerk tune the guitar to the concert pitch or standard tuning. This will allow you to better compare this guitar with others.

#7 Get giggy with the one you love. Try several guitars sitting and standing. If they don't seem natural to you, even slightly, they might be wrong for you. Try several guitars until you find one that feels good in your hands and on your body.

#8 Place your index finger directly behind the first fret on the fattest string (E6). The fret is the raised metal "line". Pluck the string with a decent amount of force. Listen for buzzes, pops, or odd noises. Check behind each fret on each string using a hard pressure. If you notice even the slightest bit of "non musical" noise, ask the salesman to adjust and re-tune the guitar. Check the guitar again, if the problem persists, don't get that guitar.



Monday, August 10, 2009

5 Essential Guitar Tips You Cannot Ignore by Roberto Sedycia

5 Essential Guitar Tips You Cannot Ignore by Roberto Sedycias

There is a wide variety of musical instruments available these days. These instruments can generate sounds to express almost every mood. If you are a music lover then to own some of the musical instruments will be a great deal. Explore the different sounds from them. Music can make you get rid of blues, make you happy and energize you from deep down within.

In order to make a wise decision, start from such a musical instrument which comes handy and is affordable. One of the best examples of an instrument possessing such qualities is guitar. It is not only easy to learn but it comes in the budget as well.

No wonder you can not become a maestro in a fortnight, but with just a little concentration and dedication guitar can be learned. A guitar will even last long if taken good care of it. While purchasing one, some of the things should be kept in mind. Below is listed some points to take care of your guitar and make most out of it.

1. When purchasing your first guitar, it is advised that you buy a classical guitar. This has nylon strings which will be easy on fingers than any other electric acoustic guitar. It is also very delicate but quite.

2. It needs to be maintained and taken care as your own child. Don`t hit the guitar with anything as this will not only change the tuning but can make your guitar life small. For this reason get a hard shell case so that while you transport your guitar it remains saved in that case. There are many `gig bags` available but they doesn`t ensure the safety and guitar tunings nut can be moved when ever it get bumped.

3. If you use a gig bad for it, punctures and cracks can happen. You will always have to carry your instrument with you whenever you want to play it and due to any impact it can get punctures and cracks on it. Whereas if you use a hard shell for your guitar, that guitar will bear all the impacts leaving guitar safe and sound and sounding good as before.

4. Next important thing to buy is a guitar stand. Though many of you might not feel its requirement but it is equally important as a hard shell case for your guitar. Your instrument should always rest on its stand when it not being played by anyone. People tend to rest their guitars against the wall, which is not advisable as it may make the neck of guitar warped resulting in uneasy play of guitar. You will have to apply more force to play your instrument and hurting your fingers all the more.

5. This instrument has strings attached to it and it is essential to tune the guitar for correct sound to flow. Tuning devices are available for the tuning purpose of your guitar. It should be purchased as your guitar, while transporting or carrying can get bumps and the tune nuts may move. As a beginner it may be hard for you to tune it, but there are many tuners which are easy in using. There is a saying, `a guitar player is only as good as the sound and quality of the guitar he is playing` and it is true in every way. So, tuning device is also required. Attract your audience by singing a song while you play a guitar.

Guitar is one of the best choices when you consider some facts like: price, space, time to learn, carrying etc.


About the Author

Guitar is one such instrument which comes affordable, easy to learn and touches the soul of its listeners.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Making Money With Music And Video

Here is a simple way to make money producing your own music online.
Revver.com allows you to upload your own music videos or the videos of others on the Revver network. Just join,create and upload. Revver does the monetizing.
If you are a musician or use any of the consumer digital video editing software, you can create something like this: http://revver.com/video/407334/media-playeway-organism/ and be paid every time someone clicks on the ad at the end of the clip. Revver is one of the few video share sites that offer to pay you money for your videos.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Riff of the week.

This is a good resource for learning guitar riffs.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Improvising

Improvising is the single most important skill in creating original music.
It extends across the board in fields of interest from sports to technology to rocket science. Shouldn't it therefore make sense to learn it and learn it well.
Take a look at the Seattle grunge scene. Started by a bunch of no talent individuals that just wanted to scream about all the er..important problems they were facing at the time. If they didn't improvise their way beyond the portals of death, they became sophisticated Matellicas worthy of giging side by side with real musicians of a classical nature. Perhaps a little demonstration on video may help with the point. But wait a minute, What will i wear? How manny people will their be attending? If I make a mistake. will anyone notice? ...and if so, will I be crucified? Music Improvisation along with any other kind of improvisation can be a way of breaking limiting social thought barriers, the thing that all good music does. If you don't have a musical instrument,start improvising by clapping your hands to your favorite tune. Get the people around to clap their hands and follow you. Congratulations, by improvising, you have become the leader in your own band.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Perfect Pitch

Apparently having perfect pitch has nothing to do with musical talent and more to do with
recognizing sound frequencies. When all of the individual tones of the western music scale are recognizes in the same way that you recognize the people that you are always around, you have perfect pitch. Can it be taught? Well the thing is, you teach yourself by the same method that you teach yourself to recognize things. When you close your eyes, can you tell the difference between the sound of a car going by and the sound of a jet flying over? The faculty that allows you to differentiate between the two is the same faculty that you for perfect pitch. In other words, you already have perfect pitch.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Learn Guirar on your own or pay for it.

Hire a Guitar Teacher or Learn on your Own? by Ralph Serpe

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So you are looking to further your learning as an acoustic guitarist but not sure what to do next? There is a vast array of options available to you and things can get rather confusing. You basically have two options when learning how to play acoustic guitar: Hire a guitar teacher or Learn on your own. This topic is open for debate. Honestly, I feel it really depends on you and your particular needs as an individual. We will explore both options in this article, so that you will be able to make a better decision.

LEARNING ON YOUR OWN

Learning on your own can be broken down into two simple categories: You can either learn for free or you can invest in a home study course.

Learn For Free

Learning for free is definitely a possibility. With the Internet at your fingertips, anything is possible these days. There are a handful of excellent free guitar websites that offer lessons and other great resources for those of us on a tight budget. However, some of these free sites and resources may be difficult to locate and not all of them are created by professionals. So you may find, after some time, that the free route may not be enough or may prove to be too frustrating.

One huge advantage to the free learning, besides being cost effective, is that it gives you the option to test the waters before you invest any money into private lessons or home study courses. Guitar playing is not for everyone. You may find after playing for a short while that your heart isn't into it. In order to become a good guitar player you must be passionate about playing, have patience and dedication. Without those qualities, I am afraid you won't get very far.

Home Study Courses

With the right home study course, learning how to play guitar is very possible, assuming you are dedicated to working hard and practicing. With the right course, you will not only save money (when compared to hiring a private instructor), but you will also be able to learn at your own pace. You also have the option to access the same information whenever you want and for as many times as you want. That is probably the biggest advantage to this option. We learn best by repetition. Sometimes we have to hear or watch something over and over again before it sinks in. With a home study course, you simply pop a cd or dvd in and watch or listen whenever you feel the need. With an instructor you don't have that option.

There are several excellent home study courses available that can be just as effective or better than hiring a private instructor. Courses can cost anywhere from $30 to as much as a few hundred dollars, depending on the quality and content of the home study course.

HIRING AN PRIVATE INSTRUCTOR

First and foremost, this option can get costly. Private guitar lessons, on average, can cost about $15 - $30 for a half hour lesson, and $20 to as much as $75 for an hour lesson, depending on the teachers experience and reputation.

One big advantage to a private instructor is the direct feedback they can provide . One of the most common problems a beginner faces is developing bad habits. A good instructor will help you recognize your bad playing habits and help you correct them on the spot.

Finding a "good" teacher can be a difficult task and you should choose one carefully if you decide to go that route. Even the most talented guitarists, that have been playing for decades, can make terrible instructors, so your criteria for choosing a teacher should not be based on experience alone. You need to find a person that actually "enjoys" teaching and isn't just doing it for a paycheck.

The first thing I would do is to come up with a list of possible instructors in your area.

You can do this by:

Asking Your Friends and Family

A great place to start when searching for a guitar teacher is to simply ask your friends, family or co-workers. You may have a close personal friend, relative or co-worker that has already taken lessons and will be able to recommend a good instructor.

The Internet

The Internet is a great resource for finding possible instructors. You can simply do a search on Google for guitar teachers in your local area. You could also visit guitar discussion groups online and ask around there.

Yellow Pages or other Publications

Grab a yellow pages, newspaper or other publication and search for local guitar instructors that way.

Once you compile your list, you need to make certain you are getting the best possible instruction for your money, so be prepared to ask your instructor a few questions. Ask him or her how long they have been teaching, the teaching qualifications he or she has, the number of students he or she currently teaches and ask for the phone number or contact information of a few of his or her students. From the answers you receive, you should be able to determine which instructor is right for you.

So the choice is now yours. Only you can determine which option is right for you. Some of us simply cannot afford to hire a teacher, so the choice is rather simple. Others are simply unable to learn on their own and need the guidance and encouragement that a teacher can provide.

I wish you luck!

About the Author

Ralph Serpe is Webmaster and Founder of http://www.learn-acoustic-guitar.com. Visit us today for more free acoustic guitar lessons.

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