Sheet Music or Tablature – Which is Best?

This is a question that is hotly contested among players of all levels. Some say that to play the guitar, you have to only read sheet music. Others say that to play the guitar, you can use only tablature. So which is best to learn and why? Let’s take a look at each one, and then you can decide for yourself.

Sheet music

Sheet music is the most comprehensive way to learn to play a SONG on the guitar or any instrument for that matter. This is because of the completeness of the piece of music. By that, I mean that all the features of the song are represented on the notation. Things like:

1. Note duration. Quarter (1 beat), half (2 beats) and whole notes (4 beats) are visually identifiable. The same with rests.

2. Key signature. Read the rest of this entry »

Learn Rhythm Guitar Today

Rhythm guitar
is as specialized as playing guitar solos. If you want to learn rhythm guitar you will need to become expert in a few key areas of guitar playing. Your basic job as a rhythm guitar player is to keep the song moving even if the bass player, lead guitarist and drummer have simultaneous heart attacks.

You will need to be able to play to a beat coming from outside yourself. Most people think that they can play okay without a metronome, but this is almost never true. You won’t have a drummer or bass player to jam with every moment of the day so your metronome will be there to keep you in time. You can buy a metronome but the free ones you can download from the internet will be quite enough to help you to learn rhythm guitar.

The next most available way to keep in time is to play along with some music. You can buy or download free backing tracks or play along with a group with simple rhythmic songs like AC/DC. AC/DC’s Malcolm Young is also a great guitarist to listen to and get pointers from. Another great guitar player with a strong rhythm sense is Read the rest of this entry »

Getting to Know Guitar Tabs

In the simplest terms, a guitar tab is a word that is used to describe a musical notation, which may contain either numbers or letters and explains to the musician where to place his/her fingers on the instrument. Guitar tabs consist of multiple lines and is often called a ‘staff notation.’ These lines, which are present in guitar tabs, each represent one of the guitar strings.staff notation,

New musicians often find guitar tabs to be especially baffling in that the strings are written backwards. The highest string is found at the top of the guitar tabs, which is often difficult to learn since most people would expect that guitar tabs would be written from top to bottom instead of the other way around.

In actuality, guitar tabs are written from the highest to lowest and the numbers on each line represent the guitar fret. In order to understand guitar tabs, all new guitarists need to learn string placement and how to correctly read frets.

Read the rest of this entry »

Guitar Lessons And You

Guitar lessons are a great way to learn all of the techniques that you need to become an accomplished musician. Whether you like to perform for your friends, play for yourself, or aspire to be a well-known musician who travels the world to play in front of audiences, you can get the knowledge that you need from a good class.

Of course, the real challenge is in finding a class that will actually provide you with the information that you need for your skill level and musical interests. There is quality information out there, but you need to be really careful while trying to find it. Many programs mean well, but they can actually cause frustration and technical setbacks. Simply put, you need lessons that are high quality and from a respectable source. Read the rest of this entry »

Knowing the Parts of a Guitar

The guitar is one invention that dates back more than 5000 years ago. Through the years, it has evolved into what people know today as a 6 string musical instrument for right handed players.

One of the things a person needs to know before learning how to play this instrument is the parts that make up the guitar.

The top of the guitar is called the headstock. If the person wants to adjust the pitch, it can be adjusted by twisting it and there will be a change of pitch when played.

The part of the guitar that holds the strings near the headstock is called the nut. This can be made of different materials such as bone, plastic, brass, graphite or ivory which may make one guitar sound different than another.

The fret serves as a guide that allows the user to make the sounds of various notes. This happens because each of the six strings is made of a different width.
Read the rest of this entry »

Tips on How to Take Good Care of the Guitar

Many guitar players only know how to play their instrument but there are times that they forget to clean and maintain their guitar’s appearance. It is essential to take good care of the guitar’s main parts; where the main components for creating tunes and sound are located. The frets and strings need to be maintained regularly to keep them from losing their tune and form. Here are some tips on how to take good care of the guitar.

1.    Polish and clean the fingerboard of the guitar at least every six months. A person may use a soft cloth and apply lemon oil on the bridge and the fingerboard of the guitar. This will keep them from drying out when they are not in use. Always handle the guitar with care when cleaning it.

2.    It is important to adjust the truss rod when you change  the string gauge of the guitar. The strings tension may vary if there is a constant change of the climate. The tension tends to tighten if the weather is cold and if the climate is humid, the strings tend to loosen.

3.    Adjust the saddle by using a little piece of cardboard that will raise the strings vertically or  remove the shims to lower its height.

4.    When the guitar is transported, it is important that the strings be loosened. It is essential to pack the peg-head portion of the case with a towel or a piece of clothing to protect the body of the guitar.
Read the rest of this entry »

How To Buy A Pawn Shop Guitar The Safe Way

There is something about pawn shops. In fact, some people recorded whole albums about them. As a man, I think it’s the smell. Seriously. Next time you walk past a pawn shop, walk in and take a big huge sniff. It’s the smell of a potential bargain, a possible rip off. Pawn shop hunting is the modern day civilized hunting expedition.

On a recent hunting trip I managed to trap a PRS SE Single Cut Soap bar Model. It’s an SE, so it’s a Korean model. I had a look online and it lists for about 700 pounds, so it’s still a bargain.

Basically, I was looking for a cheap guitar case at the pawn brokers because I’m one case short these days, and as I was leaving I saw it in the window. I came home, asked the better half if I can get guitar number seven and she said ok, because she knows how much I want a PRS, and [suck up mode] because she is the most lovely person in the world [/suck up mode].

I went back up to the pawn broker, and asked for a play. It was awful. Absolutely unplayable. He said he had it in there for a while and that it had been reduced because for some reason he can’t sell it. All the problem was is that the bass side of the bridge was WAAAYYY too low. I pulled out a ten cent coin, four turns of the bridge bolt, BINGO, perfect playability.

Yeah, the tone control will likely need replacing, but big whoop. It sounds beautiful, even with the dead strings on it. I even got him to throw in a case for $0. Bargain and a half.

How much I hear you all ask?
Read the rest of this entry »