25 Oct 2007 | Current mood: 
creative | Top
Every guitarist has this problem. With all the things we must do just to meet our obligations, it seems that practice time is always last on the list of things to get done. I wanted to share some of the ways that I have found to create time for practice as well as some tips to make that valuable time produce the maximum benefit.
Get the important, must-do things done. These are the basics like school, a job, chores and such. If you can do this, you will have a clear head for practice. Otherwise it may be difficult to concentrate and experience what you are doing on the guitar in a meaningful way.
This would be a place where you can be alone and work uninterrupted. Always practice here. Have your metronome, CD player for Jam CDs, music stand, a comfortable chair and a clock in clear view. Use a headphone amp setup if you must.
Planning your practice sessions is an important part of you taking control of your learning outcomes. Incorporating routine into our lives makes it a much more fun and enjoyable experience when you are prepared for what lay ahead of you on a daily basis. This also adds discipline and consistency to our lives and gives you that winning edge.
If you are having problems remembering scale or chord fingerings, you might try a simple, proven way to get them all off the paper and into your head. If you will work on any scale or chord fingerings for 21 consecutive days you will find that they become part of your playing permanently. The 21-day practice method has worked countless times with my students and also with my own playing. You will not be disappointed in this method.
Chord and scale fingerings are a necessary part of any guitarist's knowledge, but it is very important to apply the new stuff you are working on as soon as possible to your playing. Use CDs to jam along with, Loops or recorded backing tracks to create a better way to try out your new skills.
5 Oct 2007 | Current mood: energetic | Top
If you want to learn to play lead guitar then you already know it is a combination of theory, technique, and natural talent. Everyone wants to be the very best lead guitarist that they can be. But we have to address the very basics in music at first. Most budding guitarists don't think about the really important things that will set you apart from other guitarists.
There are six important tips that you will want to remember:
Technique, of course, is one of the key elements you must address when you learn any instrument but especially the guitar. It is really important to get a good teacher to teach you technique skills and to help you to perfect them. Many famous, and not so famous lead guitarists will tell you they never stop learning, never stop practicing and never stop perfecting their style. Performing with a guitar is an expression of your talent, you need to practice and perfect your craft.
Most people don't realize that when you first start out learning it is helpful to practice sitting down. This gives you much more control over your instrument and allows you to concentrate on the actual music you are practicing. This might be difficult for some but whether you decide to sit or to remain standing you must always remember to have both feet flat on the ground and to sit with your back straight. This will help you to avoid back strain or injury.
When you are learning you will soon realize that one of the most important things you will learn is how to position your hands. If you start from the beginning with the correct hand positions you will find it much easier later to move through the different chords and scales with ease. It also lets you react quickly if one of your fellow musicians has a problem and makes a mistake. At first it will seem very difficult especially if you have been using incorrect hand positions in the past. Stick with it, practice hand positions regularly, it will pay off in the end when you sound professional.
Attitude, and by this we don't mean having a bad attitude. This is a very important thing to pay attention to. Attitude affects your body language and overall demeanour, and it is important to keep a positive mind. Attitude and body language go together to give you the confidence you will need to perform as a lead guitarist. Watch successful lead guitarists and see how they always look so much more confident than their back-up guitarist. That's attitude!
h3>DisciplineWhen you first learn to play lead guitar it is important to be self-disciplined. Your initial enthusiasm makes it easier to be able to spend time trying new music and techniques. As you improve, you will settle into to a level that gradually gets better and better. It takes discipline to maintain a level of practice that will constantly improve your skills. Discipline is what separates an average guitarist from a brilliant one. One good tip is to write out a program and set a schedule with small goals along the way to keep you motivated and on track.
Leadership skills are important to have if you want to be the one playing the lead. You will be the one people look to for guidance, you will be responsible for all the musicians in the group. You need to be able to pay attention to what everyone is playing and be able to cover mistakes that may happen during a song. This may take a while to get really good at, but you should always be training yourself. Try to listen while you are playing and you will improve. This skill will grow if you start right from the beginning when you first learn to play lead guitar.
2 Oct 2007 | Current mood: Optermistic | Top
Guitars are mostly wood so they are susceptible to the environment around them. The best temperature for your guitar is room temperature. Sudden changes in temperature can cause the finish to crack or more seriously, the wood itself.
When the humidity is very low or when the guitar is close to an air vent or heater, the wood can dry out and crack. When the humidity is consistently too damp the wood can swell and cause the soundboard to reshape.
You can purchase guitar case humidifiers at your music store. Kyser also makes a guitar humidifier that will also act as a de-humidifer.
One of the best ways to protect your guitar is to store it in its case. A quality case will protect the guitar from bumps and bangs. It will protect it from changes in temperature and you can use it along with a guitar humidifier to help stabilize the moisture content of the guitar.
Cases are built using several materials and have a wide selection of prices ranging from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars.
A basic, inexpensive canvas bag doesn't offer much protection from bumps or the weather, however a good quality padded canvas gig bag offers fair protection as well as a light-weight way to carry the guitar. You can get gig bags to fit most guitar sizes. Most are also fitted with shoulder and back-pack straps.
Hardshell cases begin with "chipboard"models. They are essentially pressed cardboard with a stitched vinyl exterior and a glued felt-like material in the interior. They will offer a safe place to store your guitar in the home or for transporting the guitar in non-extreme weather conditions.
The most common guitar hardshell case is plywood covered in leatherette. The interiors of these cases are normally covered with a lush looking furry-type of material or a thick velour or velvet. These cases provide adequate protection under most circumstances for bumps and temperature changes.
If you have a guitar with an uncommon shape such as a Flying V, you will probably need to order the case from the manufacturer unless it's included with the guitar purchase.
Molded cases such as an SKB(TM) have a plastic outer shell with aluminum tongue and groove edges. The inner shell is a form-fitting material such as Styrofoam(TM) covered with lush velour. These cases cradle your guitar and offer good protection from the elements and bumps.
The TRIC(TM) case looks like Styrofoam(TM) but it is in fact a material similar to what is used in dashboards. Its protection from the elements is excellent. According to the manufacturer, if you were to leave your guitar in the boot of your car on a hot summers day, this case would provide the best protection. Having said this, the best temperature for your guitar is room temperature.
Aluminum and road cases are also available for the professional musicians who fly or are touring.
To wipe the fingerprints and other marks off of your guitar, it is best to use a soft polishing cloth such as a microfiber cloth and guitar polish. The guitar polish will not only remove any grime but it will also condition the wood and buff to a lustrous shine. There are other products designed specifically cleaning your fretboard and strings.
Many people like to leave their guitar out on a guitar stand so that it is handy to pick up and play. Generally this is will not cause a problem. However, there are a few things to avoid.
It is always best to move your guitar in its case to keep it protected from the weather and from bumps or mishaps.
When you are storing your guitar for an extended time, loosen each string about one tone, place the humidifier in the case and store it vertically in a closet in a main living area of the home.
The general rule is, if it's comfortable for you, it's comfortable for the guitar. If you should wear a coat to keep you warm, the guitar needs a case to keep it warm. If your lips are dry due to the humidity level, then the guitar also needs additional moisture such as a humidifier.
However, don't become paranoid. The guitar is not as fragile as it looks!
Protect your investment. Keep your guitar sounding and looking its best by making sure to maintain stable humidity levels and exercising caution when drastic temperature changes are encountered.
Finally, have your guitar regularly serviced with string changes so that any problems that may pop up in future do not turn into costly repairs.
12 Aug 2007 | Current mood: working | Top
Many budding guitarists start by trying to play their favourite songs. Many of these have accelerated rhythms that set unrealistic expectations for first-timers. It is important to start your guitar education with short, simple, and slower songs. Remember, you need to crawl before you walk!
This may seem like an obvious piece of advice, but you would be surprised to find that few people follow it. Many people assume they can make strides in their guitar proficiency by picking up their guitar at any spare moment they have. While this may work for some, the majority of guitar students need to set some sort of schedule for practicing. You don't need to change your lifestyle, but you should set aside at least a half-hour to an hour per day to practice. Following a schedule not only brings regularity to your lessons, but it also eliminates distractions that interrupt your concentration.
You could be the best guitar player in the world, but if you can't keep a rhythm then you will never play with anyone else but yourself. Playing in a band or even just accompanying vocal tracks means that you must keep pace with the music around you. The role of the guitarists is to feed into the energy of the song and not have the song work itself around the guitar. Be sure to invest in a metronome and drum tracks which will help you monitor your rhythms and develop better timing.
Always remember that no one was born a guitarist. It is a learned skill that takes time to master. Some people will adapt more easily to the finger movements and hand commands required when playing. Hopefully you will be one of them, but you could also be someone who needs more time to develop. The thing to keep in mind is that guitar is supposed to be fun. If you find yourself discouraged, than it may be time to take a break. Take a couple of days off and come back to the things you were doing well. Once you have built up confidence again you can proceed to the next lesson.
You wouldn't really want a plumber to teach you rocket science, so it is an unwise expectation to learn guitar solely by yourself. There are thousands of great resources for guitar lessons, and choosing the right one depends solely upon your individual musical taste and preferences. Regular lessons with an experienced guitar tutor promotes productivity and works best for the serious musician. This will provide you with a reliable resource to refer back to, if and when you get stumped.
Good Luck!!
Rock On!!
10 Aug 2007 | Current mood: cheerful | Top
Does the thought of playing your guitar in public give you the willies?
Stage fright is a common experience among musicians. Your hands begin to sweat, your face gets flush and your stomach feels those tiny little butterflies tickling your insides. But, as a musician, you might as well face the music and realize that sooner or later someone is going to ask you to play something for them. It may be for just one person you know, or perhaps several 100 people you don't know. Whatever the situation, you can almost guarantee it will happen someday.
But before you begin to panic, let's see if we can analyse the reason why musicians experience stage fright in the first place. I was curious to see if this word was in the dictionary so, I decided to look it up.
Here is what I found:
"extreme nervousness felt by an inexperienced speaker or performer before an audience."
That's a pretty good definition if it weren't for the fact that even the most experienced people get stage fright sometimes. However, it does seem to take the edge off when you are exposed to being in front of an audience on a regular basis. It is the inconsistency, or irregularity of being in front of an audience that is often a factor in causing someone to experience stage fright.
Another factor that can create a feeling of stage fright is being unprepared. One of the hardest things to do is to perform something on the spur of the moment. You're handed a guitar and asked to play something when you haven't even had a chance to warm up your chops first! Trying to jump into a piece cold can be a very challenging endeavour. Your mind races through everything you thought you knew and had memorized only to draw a blank. You stumble around on the guitar and begin to feel embarrassed because everyone is waiting to see what you can do. The tension begins to mount because you can't seem to produce anything worthwhile. Eventually everyone loses interest and begins talking about something else.
This kind of situation is a real drag and can lead to discouragement. But if it happens (or has happened) to you, don't give up. It's an important part of the learning process! You must persevere in order to "break on through to the other side.
Playing in front of other guitarists that are better, or perceived to be better than you are, can be a cause for stage fright also. If you ever take part in a "Master" guitar class, or a guitar workshop, you will most likely be required to perform in front of your peers. In a Master class the guitar student is usually asked to perform on stage in front of the Master guitarist and the other guitar students taking the class. After the performance, the other guitar students are invited to critic you. If you did well, you might be selected, along with several other guitar students, to perform in a public concert at the end of the program. Talk about pressure!
So what can you do to help overcome stage fright? Here are some ideas:
So, enjoy the process of growth and discovery. The outcome will take care of itself quite naturally. Just let it happen. As you do, you may be surprised to find that it has become a very beautiful experience!
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