Learning any trade under an instructor or tutor is both desirable and recommended. A mentor can pass along valuable life lessons as well as practical and technical training. Having someone to show you the ropes is an advantage some others won’t have. Many go it alone and form bad habits that sometimes can’t be broken. You certainly don’t want to form one of these bad habits that would keep you from reaching your potential. An instructor is carefully watching to make sure your form and position is good and many other details like fingering and fretboard position. Your teacher is overseeing while you learn to play guitar. It’s more than just learning the latest boyband song or hip rock tune. It’s a balanced diet of theory, fretboard exercise, and good music.
Guitar Stores: A Musician's Best Friend
- May 8, 2017
- Guitar
Who doesn’t like spending time at a guitar shop? There’s nothing quite like dozens of beautiful guitars of all shapes and colors hanging on the wall. Amps ready to plug into and fun representatives ready to assist you in your quest for the perfect guitar, amp, pedals, and, most of all, tone. Never do business with a music store that won’t let you play the merchandise. Who wants to buy a guitar you can’t play a while or an amp you can’t crank up for a minute to see what she can do? Also, if you mail order, you can’t hear it or play it. It’s risky business ordering online and waiting to see if it’s what you really wanted. Sure, you can return it, but what a hassle.
Blues Guitar 101: What's the Difference?
- May 3, 2017
- Guitar 101
Blues is a sound as much as it is a style. You can give two different guitar players the same amp and guitar and ask them to play the same song. Both may take a stab at say, “Stormy Monday” by B.B. King, but may interpret the blues very differently. One might pretty it up with jazzy chords while the other guitarist keeps it basic but have more soul cry in the licks. Most would say the soul cry player is a real blues man. If you get it too pretty, you tend to overplay or lose something in the delivery. “Slow down and take your time son,” said one great blues guitarist. Blues Guitar 101 is making it talk or say something. The guitar has to weep and moan the blues. That’s the difference. Let’s try to break it down.
Used Guitars: Should I Play Them or Not?
- May 2, 2017
- Guitar
New versus used guitars is a great topic. In this post, we’ll look at the pros and cons of playing a used guitar. Who doesn’t like walking into a music shop and walking out with a brand new guitar? The smell of the case and the wood is intoxicating. No scratches and no wear. You feel like you got a great deal and you’re inspired to play. Hopefully, the music shop set it up for you and made sure it was ready to go. Some new guitars come off the wall in terrible playing condition. The strings can get old and rusty while sitting in the shop, so you should get a free set of strings and some other goodies. Otherwise it’s like buying a used guitar but paying the new guitar price. Should you look for good used guitars?
Guitar Effects: How Can I Find That Killer Sound?
- May 1, 2017
- Guitar Accessories
That killer sound is the quest of all serious guitarists. Did you ever wonder why there’s so many pedal or stomp box companies? Either it’s very lucrative or it simply means we’re still looking for the right sound. If we had found it, we’d be satisfied with only a few pedals and a couple of different amps and guitars. Tone is the name of the game here. Great tone starts with great hands, but, after that, the order is guitar, amp, then pedals. If you have a crappy guitar or amp, no pedal is going to save you. A killer tube amp like a Fender Deluxe will give you a sweet clean tone until you reach a certain volume, but then it starts to break up. For some, it breaks up too soon.
