Mega Music Talent

Posts Tagged ‘acoustic guitar’

If you have not done it before, and you’re planning to buy your first electric or acoustic guitar, chances are you are a little anxious about the selection and offers at the stores. Either if you look at some of the on-line music retailers as well as the off-line stores close to you, the amount of options and alternatives can sometimes be overwhelming if you are not sure of all the variables.

Let’s go over some basic rules that would help you make the right guitar decision:

Be patient. As they say, good things happen to those who wait. This cannot be more true. You don’t have to rush into making a purchase that same day you go to the store, or simply because you got a new offer in the email. Take your time and explore the alternatives before committing to any instrument.

Keep your cool. Be always in control of the situation. Don’t allow any salesman to intimidate you, even if you’re not certain of instrument’s specifications. Ask questions, don’t be afraid to ask what you don’t know, remember that as a customer, you’re entitled to get answers about the product you’re about to purchase. Read the rest of this entry »

So you’ve decided to purchase an acoustic guitar? Great! But now you’re probably wondering what kind of acoustic guitar you’re going to buy – there are just so many choices from different brands and price range.

Before we get to that though, you have to know what style of music you will be mainly trying to learn and play. Would it be more contemporary, or more towards classical? A classical guitar is a form of acoustic guitar as well but classical and acoustic guitars differ quite a bit.

Classical guitars are great for finger plucking and playing lead. This type of guitar comes equipped with nylon strings ( much like the line you use to catch fish with ), and because of this, it has a much softer and mellower tone which is more suited to classical music.

Acoustic rock guitars on the other hand have steel strings which deliver lots of volume and bright tones. They can be used to play most rock and folk music and are great all-round guitars. You will find that the neck of the acoustic guitar is generally thinner than the classical, which makes it easier for you to play chords as you can grip your hand more easily around a thin neck, than you can with a thick one.

Acoustic guitars are simply awesome for rhythm playing, and also lead guitar. However, because the strings are made of steel, they are a lot harder to play as a beginner. Steel strings are much harsher on the fingers than nylon strings are – you do get used to it though.

Classical guitars come in mostly the same shape and size. They have smaller sized bodies and wider fretboards for ease of left hand finger movement. They come in so many different brands and I suggest you go to a guitar store and pick up and have a play to listen.

Pick one with the sound quality that appeals to you the most. After all, you’re going to be the one listening to that guitar the most so you had better like it’s sound. Yamaha’s make pretty decent classical guitars in my opinion.

Acoustic guitars come with a larger body than the classical guitar. This helps with the resonance, and usually, the bigger the body the louder the volume! By the way, the largest of acoustic guitars are usually named ” dreadnoughts “. Again, try out the different guitars available at your local store.

The different types of woods used to make the guitar really affects the type of sound you get. Entry level guitars generally come with a spruce top. There are solid spruce tops and also two piece spruce tops. You will want to get the single piece as you do get a slightly better sound from it and it also is more durable.

The sides of the guitar come in a variety of woods as well. Rosewood, spruce and mahogany are the common ones. To keep things simple, it doesn’t matter what woods you choose, as long as the sound you get from the guitar appeals to you.

The last thing you will need to look out for are dents in the body, or chips. Also check the guitar fretboard and be sure that the neck’s wood is not warped. If it is, you will find it very difficult to play the guitar and make it sound good.

Author Bio: For more information on how to check for the straightness of a guitar neck and other guitar tips and tutorials, visit my Guitar Tutorials Now blog. Good luck and rock on!

In case you haven’t heard, Jaquie Gipson is close to finishing her 4th and long-awaited CD. I stopped in to see her earlier this week, and she let me listen to some of the tracks she’s been recording. Hang on, ’cause you’re going to like it.

If you haven’t seen and heard Jaquie play, you are missing out on one of life’s treasures. Jaquie Gipson is an acoustical guitarist / songwriter / finger tapper whose music is up there with the best names in the genre. She masterfully plays her instrument with an elegance that has been called poetry in motion by Taylor Guitars.

On her Images CD Jaquie demonstrates her range of musical versatility. From the flightful fancy of Hummingbird to the toe-tapping rhythms of Buffalo Song, you can’t help but be drawn into her music. Lizard Rock’s jazzy feel, the haunting cannon echoes of Gettysburg, and the soulful Native American sounds of Spirit Warrior further showcase her incredible talent. All the songs on Jaquie’s CDs are her original compositions.

Jaquie’s songs are about her real-life experiences, from Snowbound after a Colorado blizzard to Chicken Chase about a mean rooster on Hometown, her second CD released in 2000. In Visions, Jaquie uses an E-Bow to produce a decidedly eerie effect on this Native American-feeling song. Anyone who’s ever gone on a vision quest, or even wanted to go on one, will be deeply moved by Visions.

On her first CD Just Guitar, you can hear her gifted playing without the adornment of other instruments or vocal effects. It is, as the title suggests, Just Guitar. Jaquie uses open tunings on many of her songs. These tunings may be viewed on her website.

Jaquie has shared the stage with such wonderful musicians as Johnny Watson, Willson & Mckee, and Acoustic Eidelon. Every year since its inception in 1999, she has opened the Tinidaddio Blues Festival. Her music is played on National Public Radio, and she played on the main stage for the 2002 Winter NAMM show and on the Taylor Guitars Stage for the same show.

An excellent instructor, she has conducted many guitar workshops on college campuses and music stores, and taught guitar at Trinidad State Junior College. She currently teaches privately.

Many of the other finger-tapping, guitar-drumming instrumentalists we see and listen to sacrifice musicality and melody to technique, but not Jaquie. Her cohesive melodies make her music as beautiful to hear as her graceful playing is to watch.

Jaquie Gipson’s music is as genuine and unpretentious as she is. From Trinidad, Colorado, where she lives with her husband Keith, Jaquie has temporarily cleared her concert schedule to complete her latest CD. Watch her website (referenced in the author’s profile box below) for when she releases her CD and starts performing again. You won’t want to miss her.

You may also watch Jaquie play and hear snippets of songs from her previous three CDs on her website.

See you at Jaquie’s next concert!

Author Bio: Jeanie Hollon is an internet marketing coach. In her off-line life, she is a master electrician and has an electrical contracting business in Trinidad, Colorado. Jeanie is a fan of Jaquie Gipson and a personal friend. Find out more about Jaquie and hear her music at http://www.jaquiegipson.com

Classical guitar is a beautiful instrument that helps in transforming your feelings into music. You can express grief, melancholy, cheerfulness, distress, faith and love among other feelings as you strum through the various chords of the classical guitar. It is also known to some as the Spanish guitar.

The basic body and style of the classical guitar is similar to that of a normal acoustic guitar but does have its difference. The classical guitar generally has a wider fret board and utilizes nylon strings than other guitars. A notable playing style difference between the classical guitar and its relatives is that it is played by picking the strings rather than strumming.

A classical guitar lesson will not only teach you how to play the instrument but also let you deeply involved in it. If you want to learn how to play the classical guitar well, weekly classical guitar instruction under the guidance of a good instructor is the way to go. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, good classical guitar teachers and daily practice are great assets. Quality classical guitar lessons will save you time and frustration. And it will keep you from acquiring bad playing habits that will eventually hold you back.

The initial (first) phase of classical guitar lessons will focus mainly on the fundamental sitting position, how to hold your guitar, left-to-right and right-to-left hand motions, and the motion of thumb. These are essential to learning how to play the guitar flawlessly. Once you start learning how to hold the guitar and use it, then I will be convenient for you to go ahead with the second stage which brings more excitement.

The second phase will be focusing more on beats, notes, and sound of the guitar. Beats basically refers to of the sound that comes out when two different notes are played together. Depending on how you play it, beats can vary in speed. The notes are of primary importance as you will learn to get used to playing each and every note individually, simultaneously and finally together. After acquiring understanding of the basic notes, the phase three will start. It includes free stroke and the rest stroke and will throw light on understanding artificial harmonics.

Phase four of classical guitar learning is quite important as you will start to understand the difference and similarity between the pitch, dynamics, rhythm, and timbre. Each of these has to be understood in detail and practiced in order to achieve perfection in playing the classical guitar. Last but not the least, you will learn to understand and play the various scales including common scales and their application.

Regular classical guitar lessons will help you stay focused and motivated. Advanced classical guitar players, including concert performers, can learn an incredible amount by studying with other musicians too. Accomplished musicians, other than guitarists, are a gold mine of musical knowledge and inspiration.

Visit the guitar classroom for your online classical guitar lessons

Article Source: http://bb-articles.com