Hammond Music

Posts Tagged ‘learning to play guitar’

Although the words are similar, the word capo in this instance doesn’t mean a trigger-happy Mafia leader, although the word did originate from its Italian counterpart “capo tasto”, which literally means: head of finger board. Alternatively, the capo is an innocent contraption or implement fastened to a stringed instrument such as a guitar in order to elevate its pitch.

Although available in various brands, the most prevalent types are the elastic capos, which are the most affordable and most widely used by guitarists, the nylon capos, and the steel string capos.

Although capo’s look a little odd and a bit technical for the non-guitar player, a capo is very simple to attach onto a guitar. It is put on any one of the frets of a guitar neck. A fret is a little ridge on the finger board of a stringed instrument. They are usually placed in equal intervals apart from each other on the handle of the guitar that sticks out from the main body.

To employ the capo, simply affix the apparatus to any of the frets and affirm that the clamp is able to hold down all of the strings. Check for any type of pulling of the guitar strings because it might make the guitar to sound off-key.

A particular type of capo, the third hand capo, is a device that can smoothly secure all the guitar strings in place. You can use these third hand capos to play chords that could be out of reach for your fingers, or play in different keys.

If you have tried to sing along when you’re learning to play guitar then you know that there are some songs which are either too high or low pitched for you to play and it’s difficult to reach the proper pitch. Capos will help you to adjust the guitar’s pitch, putting it within your range.

Everyone of every skill level uses capos on their guitars, and people who are just starting out can also use them to play more easily. Although convenient for their use, capo’s can also be a disturbance to some players due to the fact that they can sometimes hinder proper hand movements during normal use.

Although capo’s can be used with all stringed instruments, they are most commonly used on guitars. There exists both acoustic and electric guitars, but no matter which one you have, you’ll play it the same way.

Even though most guitars sport 6 strings, there are also guitars that have 12 strings, regardless, the method of playing the instrument by strumming or plucking remains the same. A pick is utilized on occasion, though, to perform the plucking or strumming. The guitar is held steady with the left hand so that you can play a note or a chord with your right.

It is imperative for a guitar player to have the following elements: 

1. More Strings – You should always be prepared for a string to snap, as it can happen at any time, so be sure to have spares. You should also change your guitar strings every two months or so even if they’re not broken.
However, if you play your guitar more frequently than the typical guitar player, you should attempt to replace strings more often than once every two months for the health of your guitar.

2. Picks – You can go through these fairly quickly, so get a lot of them. Guitar players who only carry one pick and lose it will most times pick up an alternative such as a piece of hard plastic, although a professional pick is always the better choice.

3. Capo-the capo is a rather critical tool for guitar players because it enables them to play a higher pitch if a tune avers to be too high or too low. You don’t want to end up frustrating yourself, so do yourself a favor and go out and invest some money in a good capo.

Guitar instructors counsel their pupils, particularly beginners, to utilize an electric guitar tuner in order for them to concentrate on learning how to play the guitar. Just like basic tuners, capo’s are essential to all guitar players because they can easily fix those strums that may sound odd with regular strumming.

If possible, try to buy the most reliable capo that you can find, even if it’s more pricey than the other ones. Obviously, the first step in any of this is to get a guitar if you don’t already have one.

The following are some guidelines to buying and maintaining the guitar that is right for you:

Make sure that you get a guitar that is well within your price range, as you obviously want to afford it.

You must find the guitar you pick to be comfortable and easy to play for you. Most experts say that guitars with their strings closer to their fret boards are easier to play.

When you’re just starting out with guitars, you’ll also want to get capos and other such accessories.

You should also keep your guitar rust-free by washing your hands and making sure they’re completely dry prior to playing it. Keep in mind that the guitar strings are susceptible to rusting, so maintain them.

Changes in weather and humidity can also effect the guitar, so get a good, secure care for it.

if you’re keen to get better at playing guitar then check out this Learn and Master Guitar review by the Green Guitar Guy.

Learning to play an instrument like piano, keyboard, guitar, or drums. Let’s go

A few points on what to expect when getting going learning about music and any instrument.  The basics are important – too quickly. Trust me -been there-done that.

Instruments come in all sizes and shapes. Some have strings that are pucked. Some have keys to press. Some you hit with sticks. But not to worry, most instruments are ready to play when first turned on. You will learn more details as you go along. When all else fails, read the instruction book-if there is one.

Understanding the instrument is important..It’s OK to skip the history lesson, and most of the ‘how it works’ details.

If you want to play skip the printed music, it’s still beneficial to understand the fundamentals of reading music.  Knowing what and where a given note is, both on the instrument and on the printed music is important.

There’s a lot that’s helpful to learn before actually playing any music. The instrument layout and the note sounds that it makes have relationships that our brains can easily learn.  Not to worry. A very important basic skill is learning the note’s names and locations. It’s very simple to learn where they are on the instrument. However, being able to name the printed notes instantly is NOT as simple because of the bass and treble clefs. The design and naming of the notes on the printed music has evolved over time. And probably won’t change much anytime soon.  So – just learn it.

In case you didn’t know, the name of a note on the printed music depends on whether it is in the treble clef (right hand – but not always) or bass clef (left hand – usually). Sound confusing? It is, until it gets explained to you – then it all makes perfect sense. You can’t change it.

If you are anything like me, until you get fairly good at reading the note names, you will be using all sorts of mental games, etc. to figure this out. Trying to do this while playing a piece is frustrating. I’m still working on it.

All these topics are discussed in more detail on my Learning to Play blog

Several excellent learn to play courses are available online to teach you enough to start enjoying your new instrument.

For details, reviews, customer testimonials, and recommendations about courses for learning to play an instrument, go to this learn to play product side by side comparison page.

A lot of folks want to play guitar because they think it would be interesting to learn to play some of their favorite songs. There are many ways to learn guitar these days, but is there a best way to get started with playing the guitar?

I too had this same motivation when I started learning to play guitar several years ago.  Back then, I wanted to be able to play some guitar songs and show off to my girlfriend.  So I asked around and found a good guitar teacher who could give me private guitar lessons.  This was okay in the beginning, and I learned the guitar basics in my first month.  However, private lessons are quite expensive and after my first month of lessons I decided private lessons were too expensive for me.  Plus, it was such an annoyance to keep my appointments twice a week and drive over to his house for lessons. 

I still wanted to play guitar though, so I decided to start teaching myself on my own, using the best guitar resources found online. After practicing for awhile, I began to master the basic guitar chords and I could also start to recognize them by ear.  Most popular songs are made up of the same 3 or 4 basic chords that you learn from the beginning.  Once, I got the fundamentals down, soon I was able to piece together songs in my head until it became completely natural for me.

It is amazing to see how many guitar playing tutorials there are on the internet these days.  The best part is that a lot of these great guitar tutorial sites are completely free.  You can find step by step videos that show you all the cool Guitar Tricks right on Youtube.  If you have questions, then just find one of the many guitar forums and you will find several experts able to answer your questions.  All these guitar teaching resources make learning to play your favorite guitar songs easy and convenient.  Playing the guitar is such a fun hobby, and it never gets old impressing your your friends and family with your guitar playing ability.

When it comes to learning to play the guitar, probably the most difficult task you will face is often the first: buying one to begin with. If you don’t know anyone who can play in order to ask for advice, or you are simply not completely clued up on the genre, then it can be a very difficult task.

The shop assistant is often a factor when it comes to buying their first guitar for many people. They make the mistake of getting a nice economical purchase which, when got home, turns out to be completely useless for the needs that you had in mind. The advice can often turn out to be misinformed, and driven by a desire to make a sale rather than getting the best instrument for you.

If you are in this situation, and are looking seriously into the possibility of buying a guitar in order to learn, then there are a few things that you should be considering before you depart with your hard-earned cash. The following are all questions that you really need to know the answers to before you step foot into a guitar shop.

1. What style of music do you want to play?

You will know what you want to play, and what you want to learn. Make sure you keep this in mind so that you don’t get pressured into buying something that will not be suitable for your needs. It may sound quite obvious to say that an electric guitar is more suited to rock music whereas an acoustic guitar is better for strumming and singing along. However, many people make this mistake.

2. How much can you afford?

Your first guitar should be seen as an investment – an investment in your own musical future. Bear this in mind when you set yourself a budget for what you want to spend. If this is your first guitar, and you’ve never played before, then do you really want to spend thousands of dollars on a top-end instrument? In reality, you should be looking at paying somewhere in the region of $250-$300 (US) for a decent electric guitar, and around $150 (US) for an acoustic.

When you decided on the style of music that you want to play, and the budget that you can afford, then it’s time to make the decision on which guitar you buy. Bear in mind your answers to the questions above, and consider the following. This is often a fraught step, and will take a little time to get it right, but the time is well invested to make sure that you get the right instrument.

· Try before you buy. At this stage, it is even a good idea to try some guitars that are outside of your budget – that way you will get a sense of the differences in sound and playability that exist. If you were buying a new car, you wouldn’t buy it without first taking it for a test drive, right? Buying a guitar is no different – try as many guitars as you want. You will soon see the differences that exist from one guitar to the next.

· Pay special attention to the playability of the frets. Take a look at each fret, and play a note on each. Look at the condition of the frets – are they worn out? Do they show signs of excessive usage? You may find that there is a small buzzing sound – if this is the case, then it means that the action of the guitar is not set properly. It could even point to a case of poor workmanship on the instrument.

· Many people buy guitars online, and it can be a quick and easy way to purchase your first guitar. Make sure that you fully check out the reviews of that particular guitar, and look at the user reviews as well to get a better idea of whether this guitar is right for you. The advantages of this are that it will often arrive straight to your door, and it can be cheaper than a high street store.

· Try and find one that fits like a glove and plays a sound that you personally find pleasing! Do this and there is a much higher chance of you staying with that guitar for a longer time. Make sure you select a guitar that you like and that you feel comfortable with.

Playing the guitar can be a wonderful pastime, full of reward and great fun. Don’t get pressured into spending more than you can afford, as this will only produce resentment on your part, and you are therefore much less likely to continue. If you are a beginner, and are trying to learn to play a guitar for the first time, then you should seriously consider all of the above before you even start.

Copyright 2009 Liam Gibson (Pro Guitarist)

A lot of people want to play guitar because they think it would be interesting to learn to play some of their favorite songs. There are many ways to learn guitar these days, but what is the most best way to get started so you can start playing as soon as possible?

I too had this same goal when I started learning to play guitar about five years ago.  At the time, I wanted to be able to play some guitar songs and impress all of my friends.  So I did some research and found a decent guitar teacher who could give me guitar lessons at his house.  This worked out okay at first, and I learned the guitar basics in my first month.  However, private lessons cost quite a bit of money and after my first month of classes I decided I wouldn’t be able to afford it anymore.  Plus, it was such an inconvenience to keep my appointments twice a week and drive over to his house for lessons. 

I still wanted to learn guitar though, so I decided to start learning on my own, using resources found online. After just a little bit of practice, I was able to play the basic guitar chords and I was able to recognize them by ear.  Most popular songs are made up of the same 3 or 4 basic chords that you learn from the beginning.  Once, I got the fundamentals down, soon I was able to piece together songs in my head until it became completely natural for me.

It is completely awesome to discover how many guitar playing resources that are available online.  The fantastic thing is that a lot of these great guitar playing sites are absolutely free.  You can find how to videos that show you all the cool Guitar Tricks right on Youtube.  If you have questions, then join one of the many guitar forums and you will find several experts able to answer your questions.  Once you’ve taken the time to find these resources, learning to play your favorite guitar songs easy and convenient.  Playing the guitar is such a fun hobby, and it never gets old impressing your your friends and family with your guitar playing ability.