Good Reasons You Should Warm Up Prior To Playing Your GuitarGood Reasons You Should Warm Up Prior To Playing Your Guitar

Monday, December 14, 2009

You may not assume that playing a guitar is as hardcore as playing more physical sports, but it is. Can you imagine running a mile without stretching your leg muscles? Then you would understand playing continuously well without stretching your fingers is close to impossible. You probably don't think this, but playing a guitar can mean some serious hand and arm injury. And, of course, everyone's top priority is to avoid injury. Which is why you should remember to do a few warm ups before any gig or guitar session. Have you ever experienced that discomfort in your hands while playing your favorite song? Well that can turn into a serious injury if you keep at it like that. If that slight discomfort turns into an ache, well, that?s an important sign that you should stop. Just warm up next time so it doesn't happen again. Doing a few scales where you run up and down a few times is a good way to warm up. Try to loosen your muscles by doing scales and going faster gradually.Do chord transitions after that. Make a few minimal chord transitions and then work it out from there. Start slow and steadily speed up just like when you were doing scales. Keep a comfortable playing position when you're ready. Keep your hands where they can play comfortable and give them enough space for playing. If you find yourself feeling an ache with any other parts, no matter how easy to dismiss, change positions.You'll be able to avoid straining yourself while doing your gigs or playing for leisure. It is best to regularly warm up before playing, so remember that every time you pick up your guitar. Doing so will make you more comfortable and make playing safer for you.

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Using Discipline During Practice

Monday, August 31, 2009

You might think learning the guitar is as easy as 1, 2, 3. But if you do it the right way, it can be. Learning the guitar doesn't come after a day or even after a week. Dedication and practice were my keys. And when I say practice, I mean real practice, and not randomly playing a few notes and then forgetting about it until tomorrow. You can't call that real practice. A real kind of practice means playing everything you could and learning new things, too. I had to be resolute everyday, and show discipline and steadfastness just going through the basics.

Thos practice sessions you make will be really enjoyable of course. This is a great break from studying and working. But when you feel like it just isn't worth your time to practice the frustrating chords you still can't play from the other day, that is when determination kicks in. A learned guitarist needs discipline.

You need to keep two things in mind: your method of practice and the quality of practice.

Having at least an hour everyday might seem fun in the beginning, but you might start slacking off, so you have to just quicken your pace. If you really can't then how about just 30 minutes daily? This doesn't mean you need to sweat just practicing the whole time. This is only to allow you to get used to playing regularly. It would be ideal to set aside a small portion of your day to practice, nothing strictly formal or anything.

However, when it comes to the caliber of your practices, you're going to need to address a few things. You don't have to perfectly play a song when you're only just trying to learn it. Challening yourself is important, which is why you should keep moving on. Learn to do everything else, build your skill before going back to perfecting those songs. Moving on too fast is also something to be careful of. Keep in mind that we said that you're not required to play it perfectly, but you are required to play it well.

You should also consider splitting your practice sessions into different segments. Assigning the biggest part of the session to things you haven't quite figured out yet would be very helpful. While the rest of the time can be put into running through the things you've learned. Don't be too confident when practicing, you will be more inclined to slack off. You have to be certain that you have something to prove your skills before being too proud of them. Like doing a few complicated tab successions.

Never forget that practicing is not merely repetition. You should learn to use discipline and compete with yourself, know how to apply everything you learn. Until you know how to play the guitar by heart, do not stray from your agenda. You have to keep at this until you do not require references when you play. All of this will contribute to you becoming a great guitarist.


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How Do I Play Guitar

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

These days, cost-cutting is the new norm. The first few steps of cost-cutting can begin with your music. You don't have to buy a new guitar if you need one, especially when you've only just begun playing, how about a second hand guitar instead?

You might be the type of person who buys brand new guitars to get more bang for the buck. Despite this, you should know that you can save a great deal of money in buying models that have already been used.

The dilemma that you now have to solve is whether or not buying a used guitar was worth the cash spent on it. Purchasing a used guitar is not an easy task. Researching solves all kinds of problems if you need it. A lot of times, newbies who can't even haggle for a simple thing will find it even harder to haggle with sellers who vend them guitars at higher prices. Which is why, again, research will always save you some money when trying to invest in second hand guitars.

What happens now when you've found someone, whether through the classified or from a friend, who sells a used guitar you'd like to buy? You have to think on it for a bit before agreeing to anything, of course. Purchasing an old guitar is a serious matter when you're pinching pennies.

Don't hesitate ask the vendor as many questions as you can about the guitar. It would be wise on your part to ask for all the technical details and specs. If you've done your homework then you should already know all this. More often than not, it helps to compare prices and consumer reactions to the guitar models they buy. This puts you in an advantageous position when someone persuades you to buy his used guitar.

You must also be sure to ask how the guitar has been handled in the past. Asked if it has been handled carelessly or has suffered from any trauma so that you can address the necessary repairs. You would not want to suddenly find cracks on it in the future when you're already using it. Also check for the guitar's age. This is how you determine if it has been maintained properly. If all things fall into place, the guitar you are about to purchase is still in great condition.

Once you have the guitar in your hands, you must examine it in two ways. Take a few steps back and see if there are any obvious dents, then up close. If in its entirety you think it looks great, then that's a good sign. Don't worry about a few scratches. But even a tiny bit of rust means you should totally forget about buying that. It's a sign that the guitar has not been well-taken cared for and will not function well for a long time.

You must inspect the guitar to see if there are any scratches or cracks on its neck. Check it as if you had a gun in your hands.Be sure that it looks straight from that point of view. Look at the part where the neck and body merge down the bottom. Do you spot parts that have been glued on, or cracks that are sticking out? If you see any of these, that's a red flag. You must also examine the guitar's action. Examine the strings to see if they are all parallel to each other with the same amount of distance in between them. It is better if the strings are closer to each other, this makes them easier to press. If the board touches the string, that's a sign for you to reconsider your purchase.

Once the guitar passes all these tests, then you must actually play it.

Make sure each string makes the right pitch. Don't look out for the tune as that can be adjusted later, but you must be sure that each string plays the proper note in the proper place. If the intonation is incorrect, you might have to seek the services of a guitar technician. Usually, you can test for the intonation by playing a chord -- in this case, the E shape bar chord is most useful to play on every fret. Check if the pitch is consistent up until the bridge of the guitar.

If you want to purchase an electric guitar, you have to use an amp to test it's amplified sound as well. The rest of the guide is perfect for just that.

Crank up the volume and play the instrument. Switch from soft to loud volumes in order to inspect the tone switches. Make sure all the switches are functioning properly. Be wary of strange sounds coming from the guitar. You can test for odd sounds by playing a chord then switching on a few controls. If it does have any scratchy noises, then you are going to need to have it maintained on a regular basis for a few years. However, if it's fairly new, then don't even bother buying it.

Now, the testing does not end with just that; there is more. You must see for yourself how the same brand new model sounds, and compare it with the used guitar you are planning to buy. Ask someone for help at your local music store. If it doesnt sound right, then it is time to search for another vendor. Lack of experience in playing guitars should not be a hindrance for you! This is a matter of assuring the guitar's condition, and not a public spectacle.

Don't forget everything you've read here before making a decision on any guitar purchase. Feel free to bring someone else a long to help you determine what you should do as well. Buying a guitar is not as easy or cheap as buying a new pair of jeans or a new top, but the effort you put into it will benefit you in the future.

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Discover How to Learn Guitar Quickly!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Would you like to know how to learn guitar? It can be easy if you start out on the correct path.

You are going to need some resources first. You can consult a book or hire an experienced teacher. But if you prefer a more self-help approach, you can.

You can save some cash by using online reference videos or guitar courses. These things will help you on how to learn guitar.

Don't forget the most important thing you need before learning. Your guitar! Your guitar should be a thing of love. This is something that you put good money in. This is so you don't feel bad when you buy a guitar that you will maintain to keep it in good condition. You're going to see later.

If you are having problems trying to decide on what guitar to get, take after your idols. What about Jimi Hendrix's first guitar? How about Ozzy's first ever guitar?

If the guitar you are holding is something you enjoy playing, you'll have more fun when you study how to learn guitar.

You'll play better and quicker if you develop a style on how to learn guitar yourself. This will be easy when you know what style you can play best. Are you more inclined to play the blues, some jazz or even some Mexican guitar? The decision to start with a classical guitar, however, is entirely your decision.

When you've settled that, get yourself a good practice schedule. Would you prefer practicing everyday or just on certain times? Maximize the hours on how to learn guitar to gain discipline and hone your skills.

If you take this learning experience seriously then you should motivate yourself and practice everyday. You may search for "how to learn guitar" on google, but this normally doesn't give you anything of real help.

This is why you should exercise caution when choosing a site for your lessons. Being able to play your favorite songs on your guitar will help tell if you're done finding out how to learn guitar.

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