Guitar lesson: Why So Much Advice On Guitar Playing?

A friend told me once, I would like to give you a piece of advice: “Don’t listen to advice!” May I give you some advice on how to relate to all learn to play guitar advising on the net.

I stand amazed when I see all fitness equipment being advertised on TV and I wonder, how is possible that ads on fitness incessantly is showed on TV and expensive equipment is sold? Is it the same people who buy these expensive things or is it new fresh buyers all the time?

Is it something wrong with the fitness training equipment? I don’t think so. Is it something wrong with all advice on guitar playing on the net or in books? I don’t think so.

See it this way; We are susceptible to advice or advertising because we are searching for something. Sometimes we are searching for something that doesn’t exist.

I think that we sometimes are searching for a quick solution to a problem. Sometimes there is a quick solution and sometimes you just have to work on a problem over an extended period of time. The guitar book you bought is probably a good book. You just have to work on the guitar lessons until you master them. One at a time with concentration.

Sometimes we are in reality seeking for the motivation to do something, like exercising our body or learning to play guitar. A new book on guitar playing or a new piece of training equipment might motivate us for a while but sooner or later our motivation will decrease if it is built upon new things only.

People are different and learn things in different ways. Some people can easily set their own goals and also work on achieving these goals over a long period of time. Others need a lot of help in order to organize themselves. Maybe they need a tutor and ordinary lessons to help them progress as guitarists.

What advice will I give you founded on the previous thoughts?

It is okay to buy training equipment if you like it. It is okay to buy a lot of learn to play guitar books and DVD’s if you feel good about it and can afford it. You might also help the market to flourish and so on.

The important question is; What do you want to accomplish? Is your main interest to test new guitar educational books and DVD’s or do you want to progress as a guitarist?

If you reflect over these questions and are honest with yourself you will find out your ultimate goal. If you want to progress as a guitarist and want to try out if you can do it all by yourself you can make this test on yourself:

Look through your guitar books or DVD’s and choose one exercise or lesson you want to work on. Give yourself a decent homework and decide on a deadline. Follow the advice in your books. Congratulations, if you can work this way! It will save you much time and money not having to pay a guitar teacher.

However, I strongly suggest that you every now and then visit a good guitar teacher to advise you! An experienced guitar teacher will spot your weaknesses in seconds and will encourage you to climb upwards as a guitar player.

As a final thought I just want to suggest that maybe the cheapest training equipment is yourself and the most overlooked fitness exercise is doing push-ups because we give up on it so easily.

If you start doing one push-up everyday for a week and the next week two you will after a year be able to do 52 push-ups everyday. Don’t believe me, but try it if you like! After all, it is only a piece of advice…

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One and Other-Plinth Telephone System & Guitar Playing


Plinth Telephone System on the Fourth Plinth (One and Other) performance art in Trafalgar Square, London.

This plinther ran lengths of string with polystyrene cups at each end from the plinth to the audience in the square.

Obviously doesn’t know much about the science of sound. You need two tin cans tied to a length of string and no obstruction bewteen them. The string was wound around the pole and through the net. Schoolkid error. Then the string became a trip hazard, so a work experience trainee from the One and Other team was delegated to gather it.

Then she played guitar which we couldn’t hear.

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You Need Stronger Fingers for Guitar Playing

Guitar playing is one of the most popular ways to personally play and enjoy music. The appeal of the guitar is mostly due to its presence in practically all popular and rock music recordings. Furthermore, it is an instrument that is very portable and versatile enough for many kinds of songs and occasions, and is practical as an accompaniment to vocalists or other instruments.

Playing the guitar requires more than the requisite musical ability, dedication and practice. A guitar player’s fingers must be dexterous and agile to allow quick single string or chord changes in rhythm or solo musical performances. Those fingers also need to be tough and strong to be able to press the strings enough during quick changes to produce clean tones.

All beginners will remember the first time they played the guitar for an extended period. Our fingertips are originally soft at the very end, with thin skin protecting them. First we feel pain after pressing down on the strings too hard when playing the fretboard, especially all of the fingers except for the thumb. If the aspiring musician hasn’t given up by then and continues to practice playing the blisters will eventually dry up and leave calluses on the fingertips. These calluses will protect the fingertips from the pain of playing for a little while but eventually the pain builds up again as the calluses keep building you end up with thick rough fingertips on a guitarist’s left (or fret) hand. Graduating to full chords, the entire 1st and 2nd fingers, which form bar chords across the strings, will also go through the process of pain, blisters and calluses. This process toughens up the fingertips, and makes it easy to press on the strings to produce the needed musical tone on the guitar.

The most effective way to strengthen the fingers and improve dexterity is to practice scales and chords on the guitar itself. Chords and scales will help the beginner become familiar with the different chord progressions and musical configuration of the fretboard – it will help the student master the instrument. Knowing and playing chords and scales will embed the musical secrets of the guitar to the player and make it easier to read, learn and perform music, and to create or write your own music for the guitar. As an added bonus, all that practice will greatly improve the strength and agility of the fingers. With the dual advantage of musical training and strength and endurance improvement, a guitarist can develop the ability to perform several full pieces or songs necessary for a long performance event.

However, there is a danger of over-training. Tendonitis is a common affliction of over-exercising and is prevalent in professional athletes and musicians alike. Tendonitis is caused by a repetitive action of a limited set of muscles, causing inflammation and possible damage to tendons and joints. Because certain athletes and musicians tend to use a focused set of muscles in their activities, they share a certain propensity to this injury. But this can be easily avoided. Many persons over-train when they choose to ignore pain during practice and instead continue to perform the activity which directly leads to tendonitis. For guitarists, once you feel pain in your wrist or the tender part of your hands, stop. You should incorporate 5-15 minutes of rest between sets of scales or chord practices. Put the guitar down and shake your hand for a few seconds. If you are not tired but still feel pain, change the practice method: if you are doing scales, switch to slow strumming with full chords.. Changing the set of muscles you exert can help avoid injury and increase the strength of your fingers.

Finally, like an athlete, a guitarist should take care of his body with exercise. Following are two stretching exercises that will improve the flexibility and strength of your fingers:

1. Stand straight with your arms at your sides and hands facing forward. Stretch your fingers down and outward as far as you can and count to ten. Relax and rest for a few seconds and do three repetitions.

2. With the same posture, hold the four fingers of your left hand (except the thumb) with your right and push them towards the back of the hand. Hold the stretch for ten seconds then relax and continue by doing three repetitions.

Remember, strength and agility is achieved by practice, proper rest, and stretching exercises. Now play on!

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Guitar Music Lessons – 4 Killer Tips That Will Improve Your Guitar Playing

This 4 killer tips will definitely improve your guitar playing.

1. Warm-up first before you plays anything

Never dive into a blistering speed practice session without doing a few minutes of warm-up first, even if you think you don’t need it or it sounds ugly. This is because your fingers and hands are still stiff and you are forcing them to move at a certain speed that will end up hurting yourself. You need to loosen up your joints and tendons first. Take it slow and play some chromatic fingering scale pattern then gradually increase your speed.

2. Work on your weakness

This is probably one of the most problems of undisciplined guitarist. Once they found their comfort zone they always use them over and over again and play their favorite passage. Try to develop something new technique that will add to your style.

Make it a habit that every time you pickup your guitar, be sure to work first on your weakness and try to improve something. Maybe you have some difficulties with the movements between your pinkie and ring finger. Create an exercise all over the fretboard that will train those weak fingers then try to build strength that makes them comfortable and effortlessly movable on the entire fretboard.

Whatever your weakness is, work on them first then apply it and sooner or later you’ll find that it’s really worth.

3. Learn new scales

Instead of always playing your favorite scale learn new scales and modes or even exotic scales. Don’t limit yourself into the same old scale pattern and don’t stick yourself into a single box. Try to connect the notes into three to four octaves and learn it in all keys. You can also try a single string scale, two string scales, or three string scale run up and down the neck.

4. Create melodies and riffs

Instead of playing your regular scale pattern in ascending and descending order try to make some melodies. For example, pick three notes over the scale and play it twice in triplets and then move over into the next notes. You can also use hammer on and pull off. Be creative and learn new rhythmic pattern within the scale. The three low strings E, A and D are great for creating heavy riffs. Combining it with an open string and power chords will definitely kill. This will make the scale more interesting and it will greatly add motivation to your playing.

Discover the fastest way to learn Electric Guitar Lesson.

James Malone from the metal band, Arsis, talks about singing and playing guitar. He gives performance advice as well as examples of how to sing over complex music. For more James Malone lessons visit : www.jamplay.com and signup for full access.
Video Rating: 3 / 5

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Learn To Play Acoustic Guitar – Play the Guitar, Fast, Easy and Efficiently

Not everybody is gifted with the art of music. Some can sing with it or dance with it but only a few chosen ones can actually play a specific musical instrument. It would take all of your endearing overflowing patience and precious, precious time to create one piece of melody and make it whole. This is one predicament most beginners have when learning to play something.

This article would be discussing how to play one musical instrument that is pretty considered as the most popular among other instruments for the reason that it is one of the cheapest and handy instruments you can drag along anytime, anywhere you want – the guitar.

Several professional guitarists admit that they have to give it their all to perfectly master the art of playing the guitar. It took them a lot of determination and patience to learn which is the finest key to learning, not only a guitar but any other instrument alike.

But if you’re still having second thoughts, and yet you really, really want to learn, erase the negativity and begin as early as possible. What better time to start than now.

Below are some of the basic steps on how to ease your way through guitar playing.

Step 1. Decide on what type of guitar to play with. There are basically two types – acoustic and electric. To differentiate, an acoustic is more preferred than the electric although the electric is easier to manipulate. Either way, never start your lesson without having a guitar. It’s like going to school without your books.

Step 2. Be equipped with the right references and materials that you can single-handedly use. Though having someone around is better than being alone. If you’re lucky enough to pull someone along the way of learning, be sure he or she knows something about guitars. Let him or her tune your guitar or teach you how to properly tune a guitar. He or she could also perform some examples and comment on your work.

But if you are alone in this fight, try purchasing manuals or if you have an internet connection in your home, try searching the net for websites that offer free tutorial and instructions. There are numerous sites that can teach you step by step on how to execute a chord.

Step 3. Memorize the important basic chords. Not just mentally, but physically. It is not only important that your mind remembers each note and fret but it is also essential that your fingers and hands create proper communication in between notes to maintain equilibrium and efficiency.

If you’re starting to develop blisters on the tips of your fingers, that would be an advantage for blisters, in time, can form calluses that can make your fingers numb and can make you play better without the pain of pressing on the strings.

Step 4. Practice. Make it a daily habit. If possible, be attached to it. Never leave your guitar just lying around and idle. Always play with it. Be addicted. Never give up on your endearment for you will reap what you sow, don’t give up just yet. Focus. Hard times are for beginners.

Not unless you have the power to master playing the guitar for only a day, practice is always a better way to enhance your skills.

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Where Can I Learn Guitar Playing?

Playing a guitar is a fun entertainment. Other than it is a great hobby to spend your free time, guitar playing could also help you to relax yourself with the melody. This musical instrument had gained its popularity ever since string instrument been introduced in the earlier days.

There are many ways you could learn to play guitar. The most common is you learn from your family members or friends. If mum or dad had their old guitar stored in the garage, take it out and ask them to teach you a few basic chords. Keep on practice them and follow by a few simple songs. You will find yourself enjoy the progress very much.

Another place to learn playing guitar is by attending guitar class at music schools or music centers. Professional teacher will guide you with the basics theory and fundamental skills. They are also able to observe your common mistake made while strumming the guitar and give you guidelines to rectify it.

If you are independent kid and would like to self learn guitar playing, you can always get yourself some guitar book or VCD software from book store. Many people learn guitar playing by this method and they are able to play songs after few months of efforts. Also, if you are an internet savvy person, video from Youtube could be your learning materials too. Nowadays there are many guitarist upload their coaching video on youtube for free. Just take some times to do a search for beginner’s guidelines.

As you can see there are so many ways to learn guitar playing, you should no longer have excuse not to pick up this fun music instrument. So start to learn guitar playing today and have fun. It is always the best feeling grabbing a guitar on hand and jamming for hours non stop.

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One and Other-Plinth Telephone System & Guitar Playing


Plinth Telephone System on the Fourth Plinth (One and Other) performance art in Trafalgar Square, London.

This plinther ran lengths of string with polystyrene cups at each end from the plinth to the audience in the square.

Obviously doesn’t know much about the science of sound. You need two tin cans tied to a length of string and no obstruction bewteen them. The string was wound around the pole and through the net. Schoolkid error. Then the string became a trip hazard, so a work experience trainee from the One and Other team was delegated to gather it.

Then she played guitar which we couldn’t hear.

One and Other-Plinth Telephone System & Guitar Playing


Plinth Telephone System on the Fourth Plinth (One and Other) performance art in Trafalgar Square, London.

This plinther ran lengths of string with polystyrene cups at each end from the plinth to the audience in the square.

Obviously doesn’t know much about the science of sound. You need two tin cans tied to a length of string and no obstruction bewteen them. The string was wound around the pole and through the net. Schoolkid error. Then the string became a trip hazard, so a work experience trainee from the One and Other team was delegated to gather it.

Then she played guitar which we couldn’t hear.

Technorati Tags: Guitar, OtherPlinth, Playing, System, Telephone

Question by cinimuun: what is a good video camera for filming guitar playing on youtube?
i wanna get a camcorder so i can film myself playing guitar and i want it to capture the sound well. ill probly be using it for other things aswell. whats a good video camera for the money

Best answer:

Answer by J I H
JVC Everio

What do you think? Answer below!

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