Thursday, September 24, 2009

Amazing Vacations With Car Hire In Europe

Amazing Vacations With Car Hire In Europe



Car hire in Europe can be a unique and unforgettable way for Americans to become acquainted with the grandeur and history of Europe. If you are not familiar with the term "car hire," it simply means car rental or renting a car. Seeing ancient architecture, picturesque villas, vibrant vineyards, and majestic mountains from the cockpit of a convertible is an exhilarating experience. Here are some tips and advice for maximizing the fun of your car hire in Europe.

When planning your European vacation, consider a car hire in your destination country rather than transportation by train or bus. Make your reservations far in advance, print all travel and rental confirmations, and take them with you. Much of the "paperwork" can now be done online.

Bring your normal driver's license with you, and all your insurance information. Just like the car rental companies in your own country, the ones in Europe need proof that you are an eligible and responsible driver. Find out what other documentation, if any, you will need for a car hire in your European destination country.

Determine in advance what make and model of car you will be getting, and whether you can drive it! If you can't drive a stick shift or manual transmission car, this may limit your vehicle choices. Ask about the price, availability, and types of fuel. You may end up with a Dodge that runs on diesel rather than a Renault that runs on regular.

Always take the supplemental insurance offered by the car hire company. A car accident is stressful enough at home, with the police, the insurance company, and the other driver. Imagine what a nightmare an accident would be when you are 3,000 miles from home and don't even speak the language.

Finally, be prepared for surprises. If you're an American who has never traveled abroad, trying to drive in a country that drives on the opposite side of the road will probably present some difficulty. Likewise, traffic circles may throw you for a loop if they are new to you. And don't attempt the German Autobahn on your first day. Take some time to learn the local German driving customs, especially those concerning merging and passing other cars. And don't forget to load up on the supplemental insurance.

A car hire in Europe will be a challenging but fun vacation you will never forget. Do your research, learn the customs, and plan your route. It will be a drive in the country that will last a lifetime.

Learn the tips and traps of overseas car rental through the links below.

Learn more free tips, tricks, and traps about reserving a car hire abroad at http://www.FindCarsForHire.com by Doug Smith.


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Germany Travel Tips

Germany Travel Tips



Restaurants and Bars - You do not get water for free, you have to pay for it. If you order water you will get carbonated water. In most restaurants you can request tap water and they may or may not charge you but it is most likely straight from the sink. In some American fast food restaurants, (i.e. McDonalds) you must pay for ketchup as well. Be aware that the menus at most fast food restaurants in Germany are not exactly the same. You may also notice that a sandwich that you recognize from back home may taste a little different or it could be smaller. When you enter a restaurant you will not be seated, just walk right in and pick the table of your choice!- the tip should be much smaller than you would give in the States (this is because the waiters/waitresses get paid more than in the states) A tip of two or three EUR would be considered a good tip for very good service.

Supermarkets - If you shop for groceries in Germany you will notice the supermarkets have all of their large rolling carts outside in a designated area and they are locked to one another. In order to utilize a cart you must place one EUR in the cart itself, you will see the slot on the handle. Upon leaving the supermarket you latch the cart back to the other carts and pull the device out where you placed the coin, now you can retrieve your coin. When you have all of the groceries you want, proceed to the check-out counter. You will have to purchase plastic bags to put the groceries in or you can take one in yourself. If you decide to purchase one they are usually visible at the counter and normally only cost a few cents. If there is a long line do not put all of your groceries in the bag, put them back into the cart and bag them away from the line.

Closing hours - On Sunday everything is closed except for some restaurants, bars, gas stations and shops at the main train station and bigger airports. Some bigger stores are realizing that they can make much more money if they open on Sunday so they are doing just that, but I would not rely on it. During the week shops in bigger cities close at 8 PM at the latest. You may see shops in smaller cities closing even earlier.

Public Phones - Public phones are very rare in Germany. If you find one you will notice that they only take telephone cards. You can buy a telephone card in different shops like "T-Punkt", "Telekom", "Post", and "Vodafone" or you can go to an Internet cafe.

Miscellaneous - "Bad" in front of a towns name does not mean that the people or the city is bad for example, "Bad Homburg". Bad in front of a towns name normally means that the town is designated as a healthy location normally with very clean air and water.


Joshua Spaulding is an author providing a unique view to travellers. Joshua is an American Soldier stationed in Germany and offers outstanding Information on Germany and Germany Tourism


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Germany Attractions

Germany Attractions



To start I would like to say that most people are right, Germany is a GREAT place to visit. I heard on the radio the other day that over 4 million Americans visited Germany in 2005 and to be honest it did not surprise me at all. With so many beautiful things to see and experience who wouldn’t be interested?

Lets start off with the obvious attractions: Castles, German Beer and German Food.

Castles: Arguably the number one attraction of Germany. Castles are one of Germanys most historic prized possessions. With at least one Castle in every single decent sized town in Germany, you will always have a place to visit no matter where your travels in Germany take you. Most of these Castles have nice restaurants inside where you are given information on the historic value of the establishment, not to mention great food in my experience.

German Beer: Many say that German beer is the best in the world, because of this many German breweries are hesitant to give up their ‘tricks of the trade’ many saying ‘its in the water’. Whether this is true or not Germany definitely has a reputation for providing delicious preservative free beer. The German government actually mandates that only a few main ingredients are to be added to the beer and no preservatives can be added, BY LAW.

German Food: I am sure that you all have either heard about or tried some of the typical German dishes, i.e. Schnitzel, Wursts (German sausage) and Spatzle, but what you may not have tried are some of the ‘not so traditional’ but common dishes in Germany. If you are planning a trip to Germany I recommend going to any German restaurant and ordering the house special. Most restaurants, just like in the U.S., have a house special that is different from restaurant to restaurant and will usually be very delicious.


Joshua Spaulding continues to provide outstanding Information on Germany and information on Germany Tourism


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Using Your Cell Phone In Germany

Using Your Cell Phone In Germany



Is my cell phone Tri-Band? To find out if your phone is Tri-Band you need to contact your cell phone manufacturer, dealer or just refer to your user manual. Once you identify that your cell phone is Tri-Band you must find out if you need a separate SIM card. To find out if you need a separate SIM card for use in Germany once again you would need to speak with either the cell phone manufacturer or dealer. Most cell phones are able to send and receive text messages whether they are Tri-Band or not.

If you know that your phone will work in Germany you should find out how much you will have to pay to use it, it can be expensive if it is not a German phone. If you plan to stay in Germany for two weeks or more it may be in your best interest to just buy the cheapest cell-phone that runs off of pre-paid cards you can find. You should be able to find one for around 50 EUR at most phone shops, ie. Telekom, With a pre-paid phone you can use a normal long distance calling card by dialing 0800callatt and reach back home for a reasonable rate.

One good thing about cell-phone use in Germany is that you are not charged for incoming calls. If your friend back home has a good rate to call Germany, have him/her call you and you will not have to pay a penny.

In the very worse case scenario, if you have an emergency, you can contact the police at any time with any cell-phone, with or without a SIM card by just dialing 110. All phone service providers are configured to transmit the signal dialed from 110 even if your phone is not activated and/or does not have a card.


Joshua Spaulding continues to provide outstanding articles with a unique point of view as an American Soldier stationed in Germany. Joshua provides real Information on Germany and Germany Tourism


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Public Transportation In Germany

Public Transportation In Germany



Once you arrive in Germany, if you are American, you will notice that the German public transportation system is much more efficient and cost effective than that of America. There are many more options and for the most part, you can get anywhere any time. Keep in mind that you can purchase a train ticket from your current location to your destination and this ticket is valid for the train, bus and street car. ie. Take a train from Darmstadt to Hanau then use the same ticket for a bus from Hanau to Frankfurt.

Taxi Cab: Taxi cabs can be found around any airport or public location. If you walk up to a taxi parking area and there is a row of taxi cabs go to the front vehicle first. The price varies but can be expensive at times. The weekend taxi fees are generally more expensive than the fees on a weekday. If you can avoid using a taxi cab I would recommend it. If you are relatively pleased with the service provided by the cab driver a one or two EUR tip would be sufficient.

Street Cars (Trolley): Street cars were the first mode of public transportation in Germany. Street cars make frequent stops and have a map layout of each stop. Check the route and be sure the stop you want is close enough to your destination, if not you may want to take the U/S Bahn, a bus or a taxi. Street cars are relatively fast, about the same speed as a normal car in the city.

Train: The European rail system is set up to be a very cost effective and efficient means for international European travel. With a vast number of inner-city trains running constantly during the day, the German train system is just as effective. When entering a train station (Bahnhof) you will need to purchase a ticket from the machine. You can only buy a train ticket with EUR but you can use any denomination below 20 including coins or bills. Simply select your destination from the list shown, enter the destination number and push the ‘Einzelfahrt’ button. Your change will fall along with your ticket to the tray. If you are planning to travel by train from Frankfurt to Paris, for example, you may choose to use the ICE train. This train is designed to get you from point A to point B much faster than a normal train. ICE trains are a little more expensive but may be the smart way to travel if you are planning inter-country travel in Europe.

U/S-Bahn: The U or S Bahn would be the equivalent to the subway in the States. The U-Bahn covers city areas where as the S-Bahn covers city areas and up to 60 kilometers outside the city. Normally you will only find U/S Bahns in bigger cities. The U/S Bahn normally makes more stops than trolleys making them the smarter choice for inner city travel.

You can also purchase an all day ticket which is good for trolleys, buses and the U/S-Bahn by pressing the Tageskarte button instead of the Einzelfahrt button. It is possible to board the train or trolley without purchasing a ticket but you will be fined 60 EUR minimum and these checks do occur regularly. You can purchase train tickets online from the official homepage of Deutsche Bahn at http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en


Joshua Spaulding is an author providing a unique point of view as an American Soldier stationed in Germany. Joshua constantly provides outstanding Information on Germany and Germany Tourism


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Driving in Germany

Driving in Germany



I will start off with some ‘common sense’ information like your drivers license. Of course if you are not a German citizen your drivers license may not authorize you to drive in Germany. You will need to contact your local license branch (BMV) and find out the steps you need to take to receive an international drivers license. I have not personally done this because I have a European military drivers license but from what I have heard it is not too hard to do or terribly costly.

Next of course is having a car to drive when you arrive in Germany. This is pretty obvious. Coordinate with any INTERNATIONAL car rental service and they can have a car ready and waiting for you at your arrival city. Another option is to rent the car in Germany, which is a pretty easy process as well. Most service representatives speak English and will be happy to help you out.

Now you will need to know the ‘meat and potatoes’ of driving in Germany, the traffic laws. If you are an American, or have driven in the U.S., you will find that driving in Germany is not much different. Without telling you every single travel law written in Germany, I will try to shed some light on some of the major differences:

Traffic lights: When pulling up to a traffic light you will notice that unlike the U.S. traffic lights which go from green to yellow to red and then directly back to green, German traffic lights will go from red to yellow and then green. This is nothing to worry about. I guess they just want to make sure you have it in gear and your ready to take off. The second thing, but extremely more important, is the ‘right on red’ rule we have in the U.S. This rule DOES NOT EXIST in Germany. If you try to make a right turn when the traffic light is red you may find yourself in a lot of pain and in a major lawsuit.

Autobahn: If you are thinking that the autobahn is the paradise for people with a lead foot you may end up with a speeding ticket. Although there are some stretches of the autobahn that have no speed limit there is a recommended speed limit of 120 kilometers per hour that you should obey. Granted, most do exceed this speed recommendation but now you know you CAN be ticketed.

Accidents: If you are the first on the seen of an accident in which someone has been injured you are required by law to provide assistance. Whether you simply stop and call an ambulance (112) not (911), or you provide medical aid, you must do something to help the casualty.

Where is Ausfhart Germany? No Ausfhart is not a city that seems to pop up everywhere you go. Ausfhart is the German word for exit.

Joshua Spaulding continues to provide unique articles with a rare point of view as an American Soldier stationed in Germany. Joshua provides real Information on Germany and information on German Tourism


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Vocal Care Saves Vocal Wear

Vocal Care Saves Vocal Wear



Caring for your voice is a very important aspect of singing. No matter how much vocal training you do, if you damage your vocal cords your singing will not be all it can be. What follows is a number of things not to do to your voice and it is especially directed to those who are very serious about their singing or who wish to be professional singers.

While no one can eliminate yelling from his or her life completely, do it as little as possible. Yelling strains and hurts the vocal cords. Just think about the last time you went to a rock concert or a hockey game and came home with a hoarse voice at the end of the night. Would you be able to sing after that?

Stay away from smoke, because it burns the cilia that line your lungs. This can eventually cause you to be short of breath which will affect the quality of your singing. Nicotine is also a drug, which alters your metal state and may make it difficult for you to express the feeling the words in your songs are intended to convey. If you smoke, then you may want to consider looking for ways of stopping that addiction. It also means that you need to stay away from second hand smoke as much as possible.

In addition to the above, be mindful of the following. Do not let any doctor perform surgery on your vocal cords because you may never sing again. The way we regularly speak wears out our vocal cords, so on the day of a performance it is important to talk less than you normally would talk. Gargle with half a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt rather than just salt because salt is too abrasive. Stay away from a lot of dust. Do not sing your loudest for an extended period of time, do not sing out of your range, and do not do more than three performances (one hour or more in length) per week. Finally, stay away from the wrong singing techniques as they can ruin your voice.

Taking a day off per week is good to rest your voice. If you have a sore throat, then eat apples and/or pears or drink their juice.

This list is full of a lot of do not's and very few do's, and this may seem discouraging. Most of these things are generally beneficial to your health anyway and most are very simple to accomplish. The next time you run into any of these situations, just assess the importance of the situation relative to the possible effect it may have on your singing. For example, your oldest daughter is getting married and there will be smoking that night at the celebration. Do you skip the wedding? Probably not. If you are singing on the club scene it will be very difficult to stay away from second-hand smoke as well, but these gigs may be your bread and butter.

Take each situation as it arises and evaluate. Most importantly, listen to your instinct because it will never steer you wrong.


Gordon Lee has been singing as far back as he can remember. His vast experience and thirst to learn how to sing better has led him to create a free report on Learning How To Sing at http://www.learn-singing.com


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Guitar Playing Jargons To Master: Are They Really Worth Your Time?

Guitar Playing Jargons To Master: Are They Really Worth Your Time?



Since the inception of communication, man was able to communicate with others by using symbols and actions. As man continued to develop, his knowledge continued to grow at an exceptional rate, and his communication development improved as sounds and simple words evolved.

As time passed society gradually developed small communities where people of the same class or group could relate to each other. Today communication has been transposed to a newer dimension: people are creating new words to fit their group. This is probably the why many musicians have created, and use musical jargon. Guitar playing jargon evolved so that guitar players could communicate within the context of their music.

This jargon in particular has created an exclusive social milieu where the people who know how to play the guitar are the only ones who can understand it.
While many people are against it, the jargon used by the guitar players has in some way, protected the people. It enables musicians and artists to protect their intellectual rights from people who wish to take advantage of what they can provide.

The only problem with musical jargons like those used by the guitarists is that it becomes an exclusive form of communication that only those who understand it.
People who are not familiar with this type of communication, but are interested in learning how to play the guitar find it really hard to understand or learn.

Some people contend that learning how to play the guitar as well as learning how to understand jargon would be a nice if learned in tandem. Knowing these things, you could not only learn to play the instrument but be able to take part in a social group where each could understand the other.

Guitar-playing jargons have the propensity to create an atmosphere of superiority and expertise, where people who understand the lingo can actually have an advantage over others.

It might be hard for a beginner to learn and master the jargon, but the benefit would be that they would able to communicate with others who play guitar when using their musical jargon.

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Learn To Play Guitar Overnight

Learn To Play Guitar Overnight



Most music-oriented people always have the desire to learn how to play the guitar. Those who know how to play the instrument want to explore ways to improve their playing skills. Many people do not have the patience to dedicate themselves to learn how to play the guitar.

Some old methods may teach a person how to play the guitar but these older styles of teaching are not necessarily effective today. The new method uses guitar books and visual handouts that show the hand and finger position on the chords and on the strings. This may help those who want to learn by themselves and think that they do not need any help from an instructor.

For some reason, they always end up hiring an instructor. The biggest problem is that a person may find it hard to find a good one that can teach him. There are instances one will learn little or nothing from a “not-so-good teacher’s” influence: becoming discouraged will result in the student stopping his lessons. This might cause a total lack interest in learning to play the guitar.

For a person who wants to learn, he may check the internet where he can find new updated learning tools that will help him learn to play the guitar in just a short period of time. An overnight session may just be enough for a fast learner to understand the basics and learn to play the guitar. Here are premium lessons that will help a person learn to play the guitar overnight from an internet site:

1. Find the desired listed button. This will be an audio file that will let a person hear a quality sound that is played correctly. It will also help the person have an idea if the notes that he is executing matches those of the audio file on the listed button.

2. He may go to the main tutorial screen. The interactive part of the lessons may be found here. A guitar fret board is displayed and has a guide that will enable a person ton see the proper fingering of the chords. He will also see the correct way to change chords and strum at the same time.

3. It is always recommended to see the hand’s page that will explain every detail and will show visuals on how to execute the hands and fingers.

These online lessons found on the internet can help a person to play the guitar in an instant – relatively speaking. It will help a person save time and he may no longer need the assistance of an instructor. Most importantly, passion is needed to make the learning faster and easier.

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Tutorials For Guitar Playing

Tutorials For Guitar Playing



For beginners who want to learn to play the guitar, there are many ways to learn. There are books on the market provide guides as well as lessons for a person who wants to learn to play the guitar. The internet also offers an online lesson for people that do not have time to go to actual tutorial lessons.

Going to tutorial lessons, whether actual or online, would be the best way for a person to learn more and in a shorter period of time. Tutorials are a good way to learn because they have very good trainers and online instructors who can assist with guitar playing lessons.

It is more fun since a person can simply follow instructions with the help of the instructor. It is far more difficult to learn on his own because there is no one to guide and teach the proper ways of learning the chords and strumming the guitar.

Here are some reasons why tutorial classes are recommended:

1. Tutorial lessons are interactive. A beginner will realize that learning the guitar is so much fun. There are instances where there will be group sessions. Students are able to meet other new students whether in online classes or traditional classes. Playing the guitar with some new friends can be fun and enjoyable.

2. Although there is an instructor assisting the person, it is important not to forget that the student should be the one in control of his learning. Once he realizes that he is interested in the class, he will be more focused and determined to learn.

3. Tutorial lessons will help a person to be more organized. The proper way to learn to play the guitar is by starting with the basics before tackling the more complicated chords. Master all of the subtle things that the instructor will teach before going to a higher level.

4. Tutorials will teach you to give importance to the whole aspect of the guitar and its music as well as the other benefits the instrument provides.

5. A student should develop his talents by creating his own soloing techniques on the guitar. By learning the right executions he will be taught how to incorporate them his own knowledge of the guitar.

Tutorials can help a person but he must have the capacity to pay for the lessons and each session. This is the best approach to learn more about the guitar aside from just strumming and picking the basic patterns.

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Tips On How To Strum The Guitar Properly

Tips On How To Strum The Guitar Properly



A person may execute many strumming techniques on the guitar such as picking and chord inversions. There are different ways of strumming which are sometimes hard to learn and difficult to perform. However, there are a variety of ways a person can learn strumming especially for jazz or country music.

A person’s knowledge of strumming can develop aside from his usual strumming patterns if he learns more on chords and strumming techniques. This will help him master many strumming patterns that will enable him to be more creative in his guitar playing and surpass his old style of strumming. Here are some tips that will help a person to strum the guitar.

1. To be an expert on strumming, a person should first learn the basic steps and patterns as well as the proper way of down stroking and up stroking on the strings of the guitar. It is important that there is smooth execution and a balanced rhythm to the strumming.

2. He must keep a steady rhythm to his strumming; if he wants to have a slow pace on the strum he may do so as long as it is done smoothly and with precision. Sometimes the strokes tend to slow down or speed up if the chords are complicated or more difficult for beginners.

3. There are also strumming patterns that do not require a person to change the pace of his strum or oppose the down stroke or the up stroke. He must only do it with a nice and steady flow with a smooth flicking stroke all going in the same direction.

4. He must make sure that the rotation of his wrist is patterned to the motion of the guitar and his strumming. It does not matter which stroke he is doing or what kind of skill levels he has in his strumming. Remember not to let the wrist tighten while picking or strumming.

There are many variations of strumming and they depend on the skills a person may have on the guitar. The type of the guitar that the person is using will also influence the pattern of his strumming. For many who play the guitar, they see strumming as coming from the wrists and the fast or slow stroking during the strumming is regulated by it.

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Easy-To-Learn Guitar Playing Tips For Beginners

Easy-To-Learn Guitar Playing Tips For Beginners



Learning to play the guitar can easily be achieved by almost anyone who wants to try it.

Most newbies tend to quit excessively early. This is because most of them are not trying hard enough to learn the instrument and give up the instant they encounter difficulties.

Many of these newbies insist that they no longer have time to practice the guitar or that their fingers hurt. What they do not realize is that practice makes perfect, and the reason they find it difficult to learn to play the guitar is that they do not practice as much as necessary. They simply do not know what it takes to endure the lessons that have to be learned.

For those who do want to learn to play the guitar, here is a list of tips that you need to bear in mind:

1. Invest A Little

Learning to play a guitar is almost equal to using the best instrument possible. Naturally, people learn faster and easier if they have the right equipment for the activity.

For this reason, it is important to invest and buy a good, not necessarily the best, guitar. This is because good guitars have better strings that will trigger quality play and better sound. Good guitars provide comfort to those who have not yet experienced playing the guitar.

2. Practice Makes Perfect

It is important to practice every single day. It is the ONLY way for you to learn how to play the guitar and learn to play it well.

3. Self-Learning

For beginners, it may be better to learn to play the guitar by yourself. In this way you will not be pressured and acquaint yourself with yourself with your guitar in as little time possible.

This does not necessarily mean that you do not need an instructor. What is being pointed out here is that it would be better to teach yourself the basics of playing the guitar before you seek the help of an instructor.

The bottom line is to get started and once you are familiar with the guitar, then, it would be easier for you to listen to and understand the instructor. Indeed, learning how to play the guitar is as easy as 1-2-3. It just takes a combination of interest, determination, and grit to advance to the next level.

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The Easy Way To Play The Guitar

The Easy Way To Play The Guitar



Many people are interested in knowing how they can learn to play the guitar. First you must be dedicated to learning about the instrument before learning how to play it. Many times a person tends to be interested only during the first few days of lessons because the guitar can be harder to learn and play than perceived.

A person must have time to spend for his guitar lessons and realize that by practicing and learning the basic techniques slowly so he will know the process needed to play it and be good at it. Here are some tips for beginners on how to play the guitar:

1. A person must learn how to hold the guitar properly and correctly. A person is recognized as a guitar player based on how he holds the guitar. He must remember that when sitting the position must always be comfortable with his position and to sit leaning forward.

2. If the person is sitting on a chair, he must rest the body of the guitar on one of his legs where it is comfortable and easier to play. If the person is right-handed, it means that his right leg will be the one supporting the guitar, while those left-handed persons will rest the body on their left legs.

3. A person should focus in his fretting hand so he must place his hand where he has the nearest reach to the neck of the guitar especially when he is sitting. Remember to place the thumb of the fretting hand at the back of the neck of the guitar. The fingers should be in a curled position where they are placed above the strings of the guitar.

4. He should do different kinds of picking exercises to improve his picking ability. Do not worry about how fast you play as a beginner, what is important is to play smoothly and slowly and execute the correct notes with clarity and precision.

Playing the guitar can provide much fun for a person. Guitar playing can be easy as long as interest and dedication are maintained. A person can play the guitar easily and in many ways but is important that he is comfortable and enjoys what he is doing.

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Learn To Play The Guitar Fast

Learn To Play The Guitar Fast



There are many reasons why many people are very eager to learn to play a guitar. This musical instrument brings so much fun and joy to a person when he plays it. Learning the instrument can be time consuming if there are no available tools that can help a person to learn the right and easy way to play the instrument in a short period.

Traditional guitar lessons are not very much in demand now. Books and visuals are by far the least effective tools because they do not teach the subtle things a person may learn while he is in the learning process... It does not mean that these subtle things are complicated to execute, it is just that there are secrets that a person should unveil when learning the fast way a guitar should be played.

Some basic techniques should be developed smoothly and slowly. A person cannot take a shortcut in learning the fast way to play this instrument. It requires full commitment and concentration so that a person can catch the strategies and guidelines of how he can learn.

They believe that practicing fast can help them know the way to play the guitar fast. Here are some tips on how a person can learn fast and know the basic techniques as well.

1. A person should find a good instructor that will help him learn the basic ways of playing this musical instrument. A guitar teacher can also cut short the time a person will consume during the learning process.

2. A person must first focus on the basics. He must always remember all the techniques and strategies that will help him learn to play.

3. A person must keep in mind that his goal to learn fast is achieved by slow but sure practice.

4. A person must practice to flex and extend his fingers. This is an important key in learning the fast scales of the guitar.

Many sources will enable a person to learn fast to play the guitar. The most important thing that a person should remember is that he must put his heart and mind into what he wants to learn so that it will be easier for him to learn fast to play this instrument.

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Beginner’s Tips In Playing Bass

Beginner’s Tips In Playing Bass



Playing bass is plain and simple, just play the music from the heart, feel the piece and let the listeners enjoy the melody. Here are a few basic tips that could help beginners.

Make a decision about the bass sound to be played. Will it be like a real smooth bass player or just a machine going wild over the sound? It will depend on the rhythm you want to use.

It’s not against the rule to do some personal experiments. Move the track forwards or backwards to see which sounds better. A 2 or 3 millisecond in increments can be used in audio. When the bass is ahead, the drums can sound far behind but if the bass is left behind, the drums may sound “burning”.

Shorter notes sound better than the long ones if a bass part of the audio is “pitched”. Edit some notes taken from other parts of the song to fit them into a totally different phrase. The melody is still familiar but with a different cut because it was inserted on a different line.

Leave some space in the bass part of the song. Notice that famous bass players put emphasis on holes when they try to emphasize a feeling of pressure into the sound. It leaves the listener’s ear hanging in anticipation and then satisfying them just a few beats later.

Avoid making bass melodies that can cause difficulties when playing and playing will not be as enjoyable. Some parts of the bass can be very attention grabbing especially if the rhythm is extremely fast. The trick is keeping the frets static until the melody changes. Like playing drums, bass can be recurring as well, so manage to break lines and chords for some variety. It is not bad to go back to the first simple bass chords just to avoid having a “wreck” with the sound at the end.

The inspiration for playing to suit the bass chords depends on the way the song is played. Sounds with more bass melodies are best heard when the notes are kept higher. Never hesitate to edit notes so that they are comfortable to play. The best advice is to listen to the edited bass chords and be decisive on the good and/or the bad timing. Remember that too much of a good thing can turn out badly, the same with playing bass, when exaggerated, it could ruin the whole piece. A little highlighting on the initial beat of a song’s phrase can do the trick. Enjoy playing!

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Lead Guitar Playing Tips

Lead Guitar Playing Tips



Imagine a famous music band playing when suddenly the lead guitarist’s instrument shut off. See? Everything becomes a blur. That is because the lead guitar provides the main sound in a melody; it leads all the sound in music. The drummer, bass, and others are just accompaniment to the lead guitarist.

There are also basics used in playing the lead guitar. First, make sure that the pick brings out the highest tone. The tones differ with the kind of stroke done. Down strokes give out a fiddle tone that is considered the best since it is derived from simple strokes of the muscles. Notice that slow songs sound better because they use down strokes with over tones.

Timing is important as it gives life to the music played. An easy way the player to know whether or not his timing is bad is to record the piece and listen to it and identify where there is bad timing. It could be that the timing is not bad for the entire song; but it might occur in just one break - that is when there is a small interweave of beats right after a wrong push. Practice again to avoid the same mistake.

One belief is that lead guitar players are fast; and the faster the player is the better the audience thinks they are. But the truth is, if they can’t play smoothly it is useless and probably would end up sounding like tin can. The speed can also be dependent on the pick used. A white, thick, big nylon pick gives a nice lead sound, but this is hard to use if the player opts for speed.

The melody of the music must always be visualized prior to playing it. The lead guitarist should make the lead sound match the song and fit its rhythm. True artists call this as the “T” in lead guitar playing. The break should be taken into consideration as a whole and not with every single note played.

Try playing a gig with better musicians: this way your talent is enhanced since there is the pressure of keeping up with the better musicians. These musicians can teach you many techniques without even doing a “one on one” session; just by merely watching how they smoothly they play the music is enough for you to grasp the “T”.

Avoid playing licks. Concentrate and play smoothly and remember that the simpler the tone, the better. Choose an idol - it could be a fiddle, banjo, mandolin, saxophone, or piano player that you can listen to in order to pick up points and ideas of how to improvise. Listen to the real sound of the instrument and feel the beauty of the sound.

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Be A Better Guitar Player

Be A Better Guitar Player



Mastery in playing the guitar is categorized into three: technique, attitude, and tools. As many skills, guitar playing also comes with different techniques which differ from one person to another. This includes the approach that a person has when playing the guitar, be it for contemporary music or traditional. It is also dependent on the kind of guitar one uses. It could be an electric guitar, a classical guitar or an acoustic guitar, but the point is how the person practices and trains himself to teach the fingers the kind of music he wants to play.

Look at how a player on stage moves his body as he strums his guitar, unconsciously he is using his own body technique to come up with the sound he want to express. The way a player strums is also part of a technique, be it good or bad. There are those who play fast and there are those who play lightly. Practicing the chords is a sure guarantee of playing better guitar music.

The willingness to play the guitar and the belief that generates the effectiveness of playing it depends on the player’s attitude. Practice is the keyword in order to be a successful guitar player. It takes more than practicing just thirty minutes a day to become and accomplished player. If the player does not practice he will end up knowing little more about the instrument than you did when you started.

Pick out any famous guitar player or teacher and try to emulate him. Research and discover how he has become successful. Try to adapt the good things that have led him to success. Be organized and focused. Start by logging all of the practice sessions that you complete. Write down what went well and what went wrong and start practicing from three to five hours a day. Practice, rest, and then practice again.

A little discipline, regardless of whether you have an inborn talent or not for playing the guitar, can better your chances of becoming a good guitar player. Review past notes that you have taken; keep these notes on the table or where they are easily visible. Focus and visualize playing the chords. Then play them with the guitar and be aware of the mistakes that might make. Improve the reaction of the fingers by slowly pressing each fret for notes until you can play them comfortably at a manageable speed.

The main point is to be very serious about guitar playing. Be your own first judge before others have to. When you have accomplished all of these things, then it’s time to show off.

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Online Guitar Basic Lessons

Online Guitar Basic Lessons



When trying to learn to play any instrument, it is not necessary to master the scales as that may be difficult for you. What happens is that the person might become irate and end up hating the instrument you lose patience. The key to this is enjoyment. If the note is not sounding as good as you think it should, let go; and in time it can be mastered subconsciously.

The very first necessary part of learning how to play the guitar is to know its parts. Right-handed players use their right hand for strumming and the left for picking and holding the guitar’s neck. The body of the guitar must sit comfortably on the right thigh as if following the player’s own body. The frets are the pieces of metal that are located along the guitar’s neck. This is where the strings are attached and they are the main source of the instrument’s sound. The strings vibrate when strummed, but only true sound can come out if the strings are pressed on the fret board.

The music that comes out of the guitar is based on the western or modern scale of twelve tones. The scales are actually easy to remember because the letters A to G symbolize them. And like other musical instruments you also have the “natural”, “flat”, and the “sharp.” The tones are read as A, A#, B, B#, C, C#, etc. Believe it or not, music is like math; there is an equivalent sound for every sound wave that travels in the air.

As for the strings, there are six on ordinary guitars but as many as 12 strings on some. If the guitar is resting on the lap, the lowest part of it is placed on top of the thigh. Pressing the frets on the fret board creates different notes. There are many instances when two notes of the same scales may not sound the same because octaves are different.

Tuning the guitar is easy. One can listen to a piano or pitch pipe for matching notes; or for those who have keen ears, all they do is listen to the notes the string create. Press the E string on the fifth fret to tune A. The exact sound of the note can be achieved with the help of turning the string pegs. Except for tuning the G and B strings, the same procedure is done to tune other notes.

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Playing The Guitar Even When One Is Tone Deaf

Playing The Guitar Even When One Is Tone Deaf



Having a disability should not be hindrance nor keep a person from pursuing a goal. Though the task may be difficult, it is not impossible.

A good example is Beethoven. Though this composer could hear as a child, he gradually lost his hearing after many years of playing the piano. It did not stop this not stop him from creating many masterpieces that are still played and treasured today. The secret was being able to feel the vibrations each time the keys were depressed.

Being tone deaf means that a person is not able to distinguish various pitches. Though it does not occur often, a person who has this problem can still learn how to play a guitar.

Songs are made up of different notes and at various pitches. Since each note has a distinguishable tone, start by playing each note and listening to each one carefully. When the person has is able to distinguish the changes, he can start playing the song.

It takes visualization for this to happen he should look at the reflection in a mirror when striking each chord. Later, when he is confident, he can try playing it without any visual aid.

Making some improvements to the instrument will also assist the player. The inlay is one part of the guitar that needs to be modified. Usually, this comes in dots, diamond shapes and parallelograms. By adding lights to it, the person will know at what pitch is being played so that he can still know the tone of the music.

If the person is financially able he can have the guitar wired to a machine that will monitor the notes being strummed and comparing that with the notes of the song. By knowing where the mistakes are made when practicing on it, he will be able to correct them and play correctly.

Tone deafness is something that may have been inherited at birth or may happen to a person later in life. Even though a person may have this disability, it should not hinder anyone who has the desire to enjoy playing music. Remember that here are others who have experienced this difficulty and it did not stop them from singing or playing a musical instrument.

Learning how to play the guitar a bit slower than those who have normal hearing, you will be able to play just as well in a matter of time.

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Learning How To Play Guitar Does Not Mean Paying Cash Always

Learning How To Play Guitar Does Not Mean Paying Cash Always



Tired of getting tips on how to learn to play the guitar only to find out it is not free in the end? Some online lessons that come with a fee tend to be very boring and the student will end up dropping the course. Discouragement leads future artists to lose interest and just never want to try again. Well, here are more ways to learn how to play - just follow these ten easy steps.

1. Have jamming sessions with someone who can really play the guitar. It really does not matter what the other musician is playing - it can be drums, saxophone, piano, etc. as long as they are willing to play and learn as well.

2. Listen to other types of music. Don’t just concentrate on one particular type; there is no harm in listening and trying out metal music if the main interest is jazz, etc. This develops your sense of discovery and talent.

3. Take lessons online. There are hundreds of online sites dedicated to developing young artists who provide free guitar instructions. New ideas and tips will help an achiever grow.

4. Use different chords and scales when playing. Experiment by playing the same song in a different key, tempo, etc.

5. When listeners start noticing that the same key and type of music is being played over and over, start learning new styles. A classic piece or a country song is a nice change from the conventional songs.

6. Aside from the guitar, listen to other kinds of musical instruments. It does not necessarily mean listening to them live. Try some pop and listen to a few CDs like Miles Davis'. How about a new classic artist like MAXINE?

7. Record the Music that you listen to. Listen to it again and be a critic of that music before trying to play it. Never concentrate on the mistakes by fretting, use them as guides and try to perfect the piece the next time.

8. Be open to self-challenge. Pick out your most hated music material then study it and try to play it. There is nothing that makes you feel better than being able to play what you thought to be impossible.

9. It is not bad to give yourself a break once in a while. Do not listen to music for a day or two. Try a going to a movie or find a good book to read...

10. Practice, practice, and practice by heart. Practicing new strokes for only about 30 minutes a day will not be sufficient. Practicing for about 2 to 4 hours a day is effective enough.

Anyone wants to learn must always have patience and discipline – that’s what counts. Be creative and learn from your mistakes and have fun while playing.

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Tips In Playing Guitar Jazz

Tips In Playing Guitar Jazz



When a person knows the basics of playing the guitar, it is quite easy to play music from various genres. Many people start in one genre before moving on to another. A good example is Bach who composed classical music the traditional way then later improvised it creating something unique for the audience to appreciate.

Playing guitar jazz is also like that. It can be improvised and/or combined with other musical genres. By listening to the notes and a little practice, the people who hear it will simply love it.

The same thing can happen when playing the guitar. A person can start by learning a certain song the way is it commonly played; then when he understands the rhythm he can determine where slight changes can be made, how it can be refined and/or turned into a jazz rendition.

Jazz music is made up of 4 beats to a measure. This is called syncopation which is very different from classical music that is made up of half beats. By learning how to play each of these notes and with a lot of practice, you will be able to get used to the rhythm.

Jazz guitars are different from traditional guitars because the wood used is a lighter material and the strings are set much lower making it faster to play. For the person to play like other guitarists, it is advisable to buy the right guitar for the part.

Another way of learning how to play jazz is by listening to some of the greatest jazz musicians. Some of the best are Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong and David Benoit. By buying the albums and listening to how each of these people play and sing, you will get into the rhythm and be playing like the experts in a short time.

Since the music is quite different, practicing the various notes will help. One can start with a C note. This should be done repeatedly while the left hand is moving on the chromatic scale. For a better feel, the E flat can be added until one has reached the blue scale.

Learning how to play jazz music will take some time. The important thing to make it successful is being able to hear each part of the song. If a person is serious about switching genre’s, then he must devote a lot of time and effort to get it right.

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Learning To Strum The Guitar

Learning To Strum The Guitar



Learning how to play the guitar takes time even if it does not guarantee that the person will become a rock star. One can still do it by practicing often then harnessing his skill.

There are two ways for z person to start strumming the guitar. The first is doing it with the fingers and the other is doing it with a pick.

Practice starts by finding a place where you won’t be disturbed. Positioning does matter a lot so it’s best to put the guitar over the right knee (for a right handed person and vise versa if left handed) in order to play well.

There are some rules that you must remember when strumming. Of the 5 fingers, only 4 are used. The thumb touches and from to time adjusts to the three brass strings. The index, middle and ring fingers will handle the three treble strings. The pinkie is not used since it is the shortest finger and is not conducive to playing the guitar.

The guitarist can start by putting the right hand over the body of the guitar. The thumb should then touch the lowest string which is the low E.

At the same time, the left hand should touch the easy G chord and the index finger can go to the third fret at the top which is known as the high E string.

The right thumb will then stroke the 4th string then adjustments of the fingers can be made to hear it at different sounds and intervals.

If the person feels uncomfortable letting the fingers do the work, then he should start by using a flat pick. Some people have said that this is the easiest way to learn since a guitar has steel strings. By holding the pick with the thumb and ring finger then practicing it at different intervals, in time you will get the feel of playing the guitar.

Strumming is the best way to learn how to play a guitar. This can be done by buying a song book and reading the chords or learning them from friends.

When you are ready to move from drills to a playing a song, it is suggested that you have the music playing in the background.

Strumming is not only for beginners as some of the most skilled guitarists do this to warm up before practice or a gig. Everyone has to start somewhere and it starts by knowing the basics.

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Knowing The Parts Of A Guitar

Knowing The Parts Of A Guitar



The guitar is one invention that dates back more than 5000 years ago. Through the years, it has evolved into what people know today as a 6 string musical instrument for right handed players.

One of the things a person needs to know before learning how to play this instrument is the parts that make up the guitar.

The top of the guitar is called the headstock. If the person wants to adjust the pitch, it can be adjusted by twisting it and there will be a change of pitch when played.

The part of the guitar that holds the strings near the headstock is called the nut. This can be made of different materials such as bone, plastic, brass, graphite or ivory which may make one guitar sound different than another.

The fret serves as a guide that allows the user to make the sounds of various notes. This happens because each of the six strings is made of a different width.

The truss rod holds the strings at the top of the guitar. If the instrument sounds different, a slight adjustment can make it sound good again. Many musicians do this especially if they are just borrowing it for a gig.

The strings of the guitar are held by the truss rod and the bridge. The purpose or the bridge is to transfer the vibration of the strings to the soundboard so the sound can be amplified.

The regular guitar comes with 6 strings. The weight of each of these strings is in thousands of a diameter which produces the different sounds.

The inlay is a visual element on the guitar. It comes in many forms and the most common are parallelograms, diamond shapes and dots. This is located in between the frets that guide the person when playing and is quite similar to the different keys in the piano.

The neck of the guitar makes up the headstock, nut, frets, truss rod and the inlays.

The body of the guitar will determine the kind of sound that resounds when the instrument is being played and his depends on the type of wood used in making it.

Some people think that a certain item in the guitar is just there for aesthetic purposes. There is a purpose for each part and by understanding it, the individual will be able to distinguish a good guitar from a poor one and have a good time playing it.

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The Modern Way Of Playing The Guitar

The Modern Way Of Playing The Guitar



Parents always want their child to excel in life and studies have shown that letting the child learn to play an instrument helps in their development. The two most common instruments that parents let children learn are the piano and the guitar.

Learning how to play the guitar in years past and now isn’t that different. The first thing needed is to obtain one; if there is already an instrument available then learning can begin. If one needs to purchase one, then going to the music store with somebody who is familiar with guitars will really helping the selection

The most important thing to know before playing any musical instrument was learning how to read the notes, but today this is not considered to be enough. The person needs to listen as he is playing to know whether or not he is producing the correct notes.

In the past, an instructor had to be found before lessons could begin; but now a person can simply start by learning from friends and then practicing. After some time, the assistance of a professional can help advance your knowledge of playing the guitar.

There are also books that teach a person how to play the guitar. By reading and studying the latest techniques of the popular musicians, one will be able to learn a trick or two when playing.

The internet can also help improve one’s skill with the guitar. There are many websites available that give tips from a beginner’s stage to the more advanced lessons.

Instructional videos are also available. Some were produced by rock stars and each of these individuals have or use a different technique.

The best technique that can be used to check your progress is by playing the guitar at the same time as the same song is playing in the background. That way, if you are playing “off key”, adjustments can be made until it is perfected.

Technology and the publication of books have really helped change the way people can learn how to play the guitar. With the many options available, anyone who has the desire can start at any age and at any time. But learning the basics first before moving on to other things is essential.

Guitar playing should be fun. It is not just about learning how to play the instrument but enjoying it as well. Not everyone is born to do play it well. So if after some time, it’s really not working for you, then giving it up for another musical instrument might be the answer.

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Learn To Play The Guitar Online

Learn To Play The Guitar Online



There are many reasons why a person might like to learn to play the guitar online. There are many sites in the internet that help a person expand their knowledge about this great instrument. It has been proven that the traditional methods, which include using books and magazines, are not effective for a person who wants to learn to play without spending time memorizing the chords and learning through visual tools.

Nowadays, many people visit sites of the internet that provide techniques to learn fast to play the guitar with a complete tools and guidelines. Here are some features about learning how to play the guitar online:

1. A beginner may forget about textbooks and magazines because online learning will provide a beginner the exact guitar lessons and have audio visual images that allow a person to see and hear the tones he will follow.

2. A person will be provided with high quality tablature. Online lessons will teach a person how to read TAB. This will allow a person to easily pick up the guitar TAB, and read it faster than learning from textbooks or magazines.

3. Online lessons about the same as hiring a personal guitar instructor. There are techniques and methods a person may develop in his continuing learning about the guitar.

4. It will provide a person unlimited access to the guitar lesson. A person may choose when he wants to access his lessons.

5. Online lessons will help a person develop his own technique of playing the guitar. He will be able to execute soloing styles and he may apply these when playing.

6. A person may save more money because of the free access that an online guitar lesson offers. Hiring a personal instructor may be expensive especially if he is a slow learner.

7. A person will learn the correct way to use finger style techniques and realize that he will have more knowledge of picking and strumming.

8. A person may learn how to write his own songs and be creative with the notes of his composition.

Online lessons are especially created for people who are interested in learning to play the guitar with little or no effort because all of the needed tools and information are there with just one click.

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Learn To Play The Guitar

Learn To Play The Guitar



Many people are willing to learn to play the guitar. The music it brings to its listeners should be enough reason for a person to be interested in this great instrument. However, the problem is how he will start his lessons. There are many options available for a person who wants to learn to play the guitar. The important thing is that he must be willing and focused to learn the basics. Here are some tips for beginners who may be interested in learning:

1. As a beginner, a person must show interest in learning to play the guitar. He can enroll in tutorials or hire a personal instructor. It will cost him more but the quality of learning could give him satisfaction.

2. He needs to make sure that the instructor he hires has a full knowledge of what he is teaching. He must consider this fact because instructors pass on their influence and style to their students.

3. If a person depends on books and magazines, he must practice the important basics of alternate picking and strumming and be aware of how he holds the pick and executes his strumming.

4. He must memorize the position of the chord to the fret of the guitar. After he has mastered the basics, then it is time for him to execute them being able to follow the fingering tips and techniques.

5. It is important to have a repeated routine to practice the basics he has learned. Continuous practice is better to master his lessons. Make it a habit to create a new scale pattern for finger execution on a one-finger per fret positioning.

6. He may also access the Internet and check out sites that provide lessons on learning to play the guitar. Online lessons provide high quality images and sound files that can help a person learn the techniques and execution.

7. Learning online gives a person the capability of knowing more about guitar essentials and developing solid soloing techniques. He may also learn how to incorporate his knowledge so that after mastering the basics it is time for him to improvise with new chords.

Learn how to play the guitar. It is really fun and enjoyable if a person has the skills and knowledge to play the instrument and a great achievement.

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How To Find The Best Guitar

How To Find The Best Guitar



There are many types of guitars in the different music stores which are available for every one of all ages. If a person is interested in learning to play the guitar, it is important that he purchase his own guitar. The type of guitar depends upon what type of music he wants to play.

He may choose an electric guitar if he thinks rock music is awesome or he may buy an ordinary guitar if he wants to play acoustic. The ordinary may cost less than the electric guitar which also needs requires an amplifier.

If he prefers an electric guitar, here are some tips on how to choose the right one:

1. A person should be sure about his chosen music as choosing an electric guitar means that he will be in aligned with rock music. He may start small – just playing for his own enjoyment, but once he improves with his music he may want his own band that sings and creates their own rock music.

2. It may be tempting to want an expensive guitar that have names suck as Gibson, Les Paul, or the Fender Stratocaster. These guitar brands are very expensive: it is advisable to invest in a cheaper model especially you are still learning to play. More expensive equipment may be purchased later if he is interested in pursuing rock music.

3. He can look for brands like Onyx, Legend, or Orion in the meantime. These are less expensive than the brands mentioned above. As a beginner, one of these electric guitar brands may satisfy a person’s craving for rock music. When the time comes that he is a master of the instrument, then that would be the time to upgrade the equipment.

4. A person who does not have enough money to buy one of the cheaper brands even though he is really interested may be able to find a second hand guitar as an option. After all, he is just learning to play the guitar!

5. A buyer needs to keep in mind that acquiring an electric guitar also requires buying an amplifier. He can try to find stores that provide a wholesale package of the guitar with the amplifier.

It is recommended to assess your needs before buying a guitar. A person must know first what type of music he wants to play then buy an instrument to fill that need. The important thing is that he is happy with the guitar he purchased.

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The Best Technique To Hold A Guitar

The Best Technique To Hold A Guitar



It is important for a person to learn how to handle the guitar properly while learning to play. As a beginner, he must understand that it is not advisable for him to learn to play while he is standing. He must make himself comfortable with his position so that he will be able to execute correctly while playing his guitar. He must learn that the first technique to learn is how to hold the guitar before attempting to play it. Here are some guidelines you need to know to hold the guitar properly:

1. Find an armless chair where you can sit comfortably and place your back against the back of the chair. Remember not to repeat any mannerism such as slouching.

2. When holding the guitar remember to have contact from the chest and stomach with the back part of the guitar. Make sure that a parallel position of the lower neck of the guitar to the floor is maintained.

3. He should place his face near to the first string of the guitar- which is the thickest one. With the other hand, the sixth string, which is the thinnest one, should be vertically aligned with the floor.

4. A right-handed person holding the guitar will point the headstock to the left (this is the normal position); while the left-handed player will let the headstock point to the left.

5. A person who is left-handed must find a guitar especially designed for left-handed people as most guitars are designed for right-handed guitar players.

6. If a person is seated on a chair, he must make sure that the entire body of the guitar rests on his laps; holding the face of the guitar with the right hand while the left hand supports the bottom neck part.

7. Now that the left hand is ready on the frets, he must concentrate on the positioning of the fingers on the frets before executing the chords. The thumb will rest at the back of the fretting hand supporting the fingers on the front.

Holding the guitar properly is an important factor. If he holds the guitar in the proper way when playing, he will have the confidence to execute well.

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Tips On How To Choose A Guitar

Tips On How To Choose A Guitar



There are different types of guitars on the market for people who would like to learn how to play one. Guitars vary in their features and brands. Some have high tech designs while some are ordinary in appearance. The important thing a person must consider is the type of music he likes and wishes to play. Here are some tips on how a person can find the right guitar for him.

1. He must be sure of the type of music he wants to learn and play before buying a guitar so that it will be appropriate for the music that he likes.

2. If a person is interested in rock music, the guitar that will suit him best is the electric guitar. Electric guitars are generally very expensive depending on their brand. Wait to buy the expensive guitars like the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul until you are an experienced player.

3. You may want to choose an electric guitar that is made of solid wood because it brings a much better sound than those made of plywood. If budget is a problem, then consider those made of plywood as they are a lot cheaper.

4. You may try to find stores in newspapers or in the Internet, which offer great deals and discounts for guitars and other instruments. Be sure to compare the prices and determine the store that offers the best possible value.

5. If you still cannot afford even the lowest priced guitar, then look for good second hand guitars. This could be a possible option for you until you save enough to buy a brand new one.

6. If your interest is for classical acoustic music, look for the Spanish Classical Acoustic Guitar or the Steel String acoustic, which are specifically made for this kind of music.

7. When you finally choose the guitar that you think is best for you, don’t forget to test the instrument first especially if you prefer the electric guitar. You must plug the amplifier into the guitar to see if you like the sound.

There are many options for guitar players when choosing a guitar. One must remember that whatever type or brand he chooses, it is the fundamentals of learning to play the instrument that matters most.

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Tips On How To Play The Slide Guitar

Tips On How To Play The Slide Guitar



Making a slide requires good execution. This is a technique where a guitarist can create a loud wailing sound on the guitar. Here are some tips to make a perfect slide.

1. The tuning of the guitar must be replaced from its regular chord tuning of E-A-D-G-B-E to a more open tuning; with the chord alignment on the D major arranged as D-G-D-B-D. The change should be from the sixth string up to the first string.

2. He can make a slide by moving the fingers of his left hand. The execution should follow the correct positioning of the chords. A smooth and slow slide would be perfect to accurately play the new chords.

3. Make a gentle grip on the neck of the guitar and expose the end finger to have a feel on the strings. In this way, you can easily make the slide with simple finger movement.

4. To create a wailing sound, it is necessary that you must only cover the strings that are needed for the slide. Sometimes the guitar will produce an unwanted noise from the strings if the slide is not properly done, so be sure that strings are properly covered by the fingers.

5. Always remember to have a slide vertically aligned straight to the strings. This will allow you to exert effort when making a slide than the normal way of holding a guitar.

6. You can make a little movement along the strings with the fingers. It must be executed with smoothness and gentleness. A hard press or tight hold might create distracting noises on the fret.

7. You can execute a slide on the first and second string making E and B chords and a D-major key on the twelfth fret of the guitar.

8. Then execute the slide going toward the bottom from the D-major key, which is in the twelfth fret for a G-major key in the fifth fret. That would give a loud wailing sound because of the slide.

9. You can make a slide going back on the A-major key, which is in the seventh fret and then release your fingers removing the slide and make an open twelfth fret to create a D-major sound.

To have a perfect execution in sliding requires more practice. It is easy to learn sliding by practicing with an open tone because all of the strings will have similar chords when they are strummed. If the strings are set up with their regular tones, the player needs to make sure to cover the right strings when sliding.

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Learn To Tune A Guitar

Learn To Tune A Guitar



Learning to play the guitar is never difficult especially if the beginner has a passion for guitars. A part of the learning process is learning how to tune the guitar. Tuning the guitar may seem very difficult when in fact it is not. Here are some quick steps to learn how to tune the guitar:

1. The guitar player should first identify if the guitar is in or out of tune. A guitar is out of tune if the chords are played but the sounds do not seem right which means that it is time to tune the guitar.

2. The sixth string is usually the string that is always in tune because it is the largest string and does not go out of tune easily.

3. When tuning the fifth string, all a person has to do is place the finger on the sixth string on the fifth fret. He can then strike the sixth string. After that, he can strike the fifth string. If the sounds created were not the same, he can make the fifth string tighter or loosen it depending how low or high the pitch has become.

4. The person can do the same process on the fourth and third strings placing the higher string on the fifth fret and striking it. Then he can strike the lower string and if they do not create the same pitch, he can either loosen or tighten it.

5. When tuning the second string, he can place the finger at the third string on the fourth fret and either tighten or loosen the third string to match the sound of the second string.

6. Placing the finger on the second string and press on the fifth fret will be the method to tune the first string and then he can strike and follow by striking the first string open. He can either tighten or loosen the second string to match the sound of the first string.

7. To check to determine if the guitar is in tune, all he has to do is try a chord. If the guitar still does not sound in tune, he can do the process again until he is able to fine-tune the guitar.

This is the easiest method of tuning a guitar. There are also electric methods to tune a guitar, but this traditional method is the most efficient. Once a beginner is able to learn how to tune a guitar, learning to play it will never be that hard.

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Types Of Guitar

Types Of Guitar



Guitars are the most common instruments played by many music lovers of all ages. Even kids can easily learn to play the guitar. Choosing the right guitar is very easy. There are many types of guitars that can go along with any kind of music. All a guitar player needs to do is identify the kind of music he prefers to know which type of guitar is best for him.

The following are the most common types of guitars.

Classical Guitars

Classical guitars are the father of all guitars. They have been used for many genres and all kinds of music. Classical guitars come with nylon strings which give the guitar a unique and colorful sound. The sizes of classical guitars have been standard for many years. Classical guitars that are of the finest quality are made with spruce or cedar tops. The guitar is able to produce various sounds even with the use of fingernails.

Electric Guitars

Electric guitars are the next most common guitar especially in the 20th century. Electric guitars are known as the main attraction of rock music. These guitars have been famous since rock music was introduced and blend very well with jazz, pop and even blues music. The main difference between other guitars and electric guitars is that they are played with amplifiers because they are unable to produce sound without amplification.

Steel Guitars

Steel guitars acquired their name because they are literally made of steel. These types of guitars are played horizontally. A guitar player may place the guitar across his knees or legs or on a stand. The pedal steels of these guitars are the ones responsible for their unique sounds.

Bass Guitars

Bass guitars are similar to electric guitars. However, there are also variations in these guitars such as the acoustic bass guitars. Although bass guitars fall under the family of guitars, the sounds they produce are very distinctive and separate from any other guitar. The reason is that bass guitars usually have four strings unlike standard guitars that have six to twelve strings.

Many other guitars may be found on the market. There are also the archtop guitars, twelve strings guitars, solid body guitars and the resonator guitars. All these types of guitars produce different kinds of music that can satisfy the taste of many music lovers. All a person has to do is identify his taste for music to be able to decide which guitar is perfect for him and his music.

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Getting Acquainted With The Parts Of A Guitar

Getting Acquainted With The Parts Of A Guitar



Guitars have been used with so much diversity in many musical forms. The instrument is known by many as a classical solo instrument and the basic musical instrument in rock music.

Get acquainted with this magnificent instrument; know its parts:

1. Headstock.

This is found at the edge of the guitar’s neck. It is tailored with the instrument’s head for adjusting the pitch.

2. Tuners.

The tuners keep the strings of the guitar stretched beginning at the base down to the knobs. Tuners likewise allow the guitar player to alter or modify the pitch either flat or sharp, depending on the player’s choice of music.

3. Nut.

This is a tiny strip of hard medium or material which supports the strings at the intersection where the “headstock” meets up with the “fret board”. The strips can be made of plastic, bone, graphite, brass or any hard medium and indented to secure the stings in position. The nut acts as one of several endpoints assisting the tension of the string.

4. Fret Board.

Also known as the fingerboard, it is a lengthy wood plank inserted with frets of metal that composes the top of the guitar’s neck.

The fret board of a classical guitar is flat and is a little curved diagonally on an electric or acoustic guitar. The curve is calculated by the radius of the fret board that is the range of a “hypothetical circle” and which the surface of the fret board makes up a segment.

The smaller the radius of the fret board, the more that the curve is evident. When a string is pinched against the board, the string’s “vibrating length” is shortened thus creating a higher pitch sound or tone.

5. Frets.

These are strips made of metal, particularly nickel alloy set in alongside the fret board that are positioned in conjunction with the string’s length that mathematically divides it.

When the strings are pushed down from the rear of the frets, this cuts the string's length of vibration to emit different tones or pitches.

6. Neck.

The neck is composed of the guitar's fret board, frets, tuners, truss rod and headstock; all are fastened to a long extension made of wood. Usually, the wood that is used for the fret board will be of a different kind from that used on the remaining neck parts.

The firmness or stiffness of the guitar’s neck in accordance to its body is one determining factor of whether it is of good quality or not.

7. Body.

The acoustic guitar’s body is an echoing cavity projecting the vibrations through the guitar’s sound hole which enables the audio of the instrument to be clearly heard even with no amplification.

In acoustic guitars, its body is a big determining factor in the overall sound it produces. The soundboard or guitar top is a delicately engineered and crafted component that is usually made out of red cedar, spruce or mahogany.

This very thin slice of wood, generally measuring only 2 - 3 mm thick, supported by different kinds of internal brackets, is the most pronounced and important element in influencing sound quality.

Most of the sound is brought about by the guitar’s top vibration as the momentum of the vibrating cords are transmitted to it.

8. Pickups.

This is what really amplifies the cords sound. Most guitars have one to a maximum of three pickups. The kind of pickup is reasonably important, depending on a particular sound that you are aspiring for.

9. Pickguard.

Commonly called the scratch plate, is a plastic guard or any laminated medium which protects the guitar’s top finish.

The pickups as well as almost all electronics in other electric guitars are framed and inserted atop the “pickguard”. On “acoustic guitars” and several “electric guitars”, the pickguard is directly inserted to the top of the guitar, and on guitars having carved tops; the “pickguard” is raised.

10. Bridge.

On acoustic guitars, the key objective of the guitar’s bridge is to hand over or shift the string’s vibration to the “soundboard”, which then shudders the air within the guitar; thus increasing and strengthening the sound created by the cords or strings.

Go ahead, explore the parts of your guitar to better acquaint yourself with this wonderful instrument; test it too and see where it will take you. Enjoy!

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A Brief History Of The Guitar

A Brief History Of The Guitar



The guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments today. Most of the music that you hear on the radio uses guitars in many different ways: pop, rock, reggae, blues, ballads and everything else is influenced by the guitar.

The guitar, together with the drums and the piano compose the modern music scene equipment set. The playability of the guitar has made it one popular instrument. A guitar can be played by a learning child or an experienced guitar player. It’s not “picky” about its players.

Today, the electric type of guitar is most often used in musical production. The guitar has been enhanced with a very good accompaniment in the form of the effects box. Today, guitars can emulate the sounds of a piano, a violin, even the sounds of the human voice and is continuously widening its horizons.

With the functions and features of the modern electric guitar, one can’t help thinking about the beginnings of the instrument. Where did the guitar come from? This article tries to give a brief history of the wonderful musical instrument, which is the guitar.

The creation of the guitar cannot be traced to a single person. The guitar came about through the evolution of its predecessors. Its image has also undergone change throughout the centuries. Today, playing the guitar is a symbol of talent and musical prowess, but during the early times, the guitar was actually a symbol of being poor and it was refuted by most classical musicians.

Predecessors

There have been many guitar-like musical instruments in the ancient times, up to as many as 5,000 years ago. Instruments which look like the guitar were seen in statues which were recovered in archeological expeditions in the Iranian region of Susa. However, the very first documented mention of the instrument dates back to the fourteenth century. At that time the guitar-ancestor had three pairs of strings (usually referred to as double courses) and a single string with the highest tone.

Some say that the word “guitar” came from the word “qitara”. Qitara is an Arabic name for the different kinds of lutes during the early times.

Evolution

The guitar, as we know it, is said to originate in Spain. It is believed that the people of Malaga invented the instrument. The guitar evolved from having three pairs of strings to four pairs of strings and eventually six single strings.

The guitar began to become popular in the 16th century. It was played by the lower and middle classes as a counterpart for the vihuela which was played by the aristocrats. The vihuela was tuned like a lute but had a body similar to that of the guitar.

The guitar made a serious evolution during the 18th century: the double strings where replaced by single strings and a sixth string was added. In the 1800s, Antonio Torres de Jurado gave birth to the classical guitar. Basically, he increased the size of the body of the guitar. The guitar still struggled because it was considered as an instrument for the taverns - an instrument which could not be used for classical music. In Spain, where people hated the piano, the guitar found refuge. However, it was also tainted by the views that guitars were for gypsies and for no-good bums who asked for loose change in bars.

Electric Guitar

The modern electric guitar was invented in 1931. The electric guitar uses electronic “pick-ups” to enable it to produce sound. The pick-ups convert the vibrations from the strings into electric signals. The body of the electric guitar is semi-solid or solid, depending on the design. The structure of the guitar took a great leap when the electric guitar was born, no longer did its sound depend on the structure and construction of the body, but on the quality of the pick-ups and soundboard.

The sounds of the electric guitar can also be altered to be able to achieve a desired tone. The use of the guitar effects box has given the guitar a wide array of sounds. I is continuing to garner popularity in all fields of music, even in classical music.

The guitar is a very dynamic musical instrument. Through evolution, the guitar has made its mark on the modern music scene. From crude instruments with many variations, the guitar has become a real and much-sought after instrument.

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Caring For Your Guitar: Effects Of And Solving Humidity Problems

Caring For Your Guitar: Effects Of And Solving Humidity Problems



Understanding and being aware of facts about humidity is what meteorologists refer to as "relative humidity." This applies to the air’s ability to take in water or retain or to dry up objects that contain moisture that air surrounds.

The best or perfect level of humidity for a guitar changes from one musical instrument to another, subject to the humidity situations in the workshop or factory where the guitar was assembled.

The humidity at the time that the instrument was being assembled set up the primary dimensions of your guitar. This configuration of dimension is permanently sealed into the entire structure when it is being assembled. Therefore, when humidity changes, each component will expand or shrink unevenly and yet the dimensions of the guitar’s structure will remain uniformly constant.

The most frustrating problem in the care and maintenance of a guitar of high quality is the wood’s tendency to either expand or shrink with humidity changes. Damage brought about by humidity changes requires costly repairs because high quality guitars are made from solid wood. These guitars are expensive the sound is superior compared to the lower priced instruments. However, solid woods are very susceptible to changes in humidity because of their propensity to expand or shrink.

High humidity connotes a “waterlogged” sound from your guitar; it will lack projection and volume having a lifeless and damp tone. The guitar can also be damaged structurally by high humidity.

Usually "bloating" at the back is a problem, most specifically when the back of the guitar is made of extremely hard wood - particularly rosewood. This problem is brought about by the expansion of wood causing the glue on the brace’s edge to detach.

When a guitar is kept in the basement, a problem that may occur is wood deterioration triggered by the intense humidity

The problems brought about by extremely low humidity levels are even more severe. Excessive loss of moisture in the wood makes the sound of the guitar brittle and at some point stress on the wood due to uneven shrinkage results in cracks.

Here are ways to fight humidity:

1. Watch your guitar closely. Examine it every so often so you can watch out for signs of humidity damage. Observe its back; when there is a drop in the humidity it will sink a bit and you can notice this clearly. When humidity rises, backs grow an arch. If the back becomes very, very flat, introduce some moisture, such as placing a dish of water in your storage area.

2. Store your guitar in its case away from any heat, especially in winter. Keep the case lying flat on the floor and never let it lean or hang it on the wall.

3. During periods when the humidity is extremely high, keep your guitar in a room where there is an air-conditioning system as it dries out the air.

When outside conditions are not too hot, such as in spring or on a rainy day, keep your instrument in a warm room, but avoid the basement, as it tends to cool a great deal.

4. There are many available devices to handle extreme dryness. When low humidity occurs in your area during chilly or cold weather, the use of a furnace-mounted humidifier can be very effective as well as hassle-free.
There are also console humidifiers that have rotating belts that are very efficient and space saving which are ideal when your space is limited.

"Dampit," is a very effective product that is placed inside the guitar to absorb any moisture that is inside your guitar.

A guitar that has a good sound now can be a wonderful sounding guitar even ten years later when it cared for properly and carefully.

The sound of a guitar is created by the echoing of wood. When the wood matures the echoing quality will improve, increasing your guitar’s worth. This, plus the model, make, and style of a guitar that will no longer be produced could be of much more value (often many times your purchase price) in 15-50 years.

Just keep in mind that a good quality guitar is also an investment worth your trouble.

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How To Properly Hold The Guitar

How To Properly Hold The Guitar



A guitar can be an easy and fun instrument to play. Start by learning the correct method of handling the instrument. Here’s how:

Your Body And Posture:

You must be comfortably seated, resting your back adjacent to the backrest of your chair making sure that your legs are in front and feet flat on the ground. This position is now your "footing" or support that your guitar is going to rest upon.

Picking up the guitar, held it close to your chest or stomach ensuring that the back of the guitar’s body touches your chest and the neck’s bottom is parallel to the ground. The guitars thickest string must be directed close to the face and the thinnest string must be directed close to the ground.

Generally, a right-handed individual holds the guitar so that the “headstock” is pointing towards the left, while a left-handed individual holds the guitar so that the headstock is pointing to the right.

To play the guitar in a seated position, the guitar’s body should be resting on either one of your thighs. The instrument should be resting upon a leg that is farthest from “the headstock”; meaning, a right handed individual handling a guitar will naturally rest the instrument on his right leg, and a lefty will rest the instrument on his left leg.

Your Right Arm And Hand:

Using the correct hand position is crucial in guitar playing. You will face many problems should your hand be in an incorrect position; your hands will easily tire, it will be difficult for you to play particular chords and you could even hurt or injure your hand if you continue playing using the wrong hand position.

The right hand will be used to "strum" the guitar’s strings in order to produce the varying chord sounds. Rest your right hand and arm over your guitar. The bicep must rest on the topmost part of the guitar’s body and the hand must be properly placed directly on top of your guitar’s sound hole (where sound will be produced). Insure that your position is comfortable.

A left handed individual has two alternatives. The first is to purchase a guitar that is right-handed then re-string it (reversing the sequence of the guitar’s strings), and the other option is to purchase a guitar that is specially made for people who are left-handed.

Focus on your "fretting hand" or the hand that is near the guitar’s neck, when seated in proper guitar position. Your fretting hand’s thumb must be resting at the back of the guitar’s neck, having your fingers positioned in a slightly curled manner, balanced on top of the strings. Keeping these particular fingers with a slight curl at your knuckles is very important.

Your Fingers:

Your fingers of your left hand should be bent as well as and should be pressed down onto the guitar’s strings that are located on the “fret board”. The neck’s back should be curved, in order that the hand is molded into the neck’s shape.
Remember that it is alright for you to press or push the thumb at the back of the neck when creating your chords. This is common when one is “playing scales”. Test certain thumb positions so you will know which one you are most comfortable with.

Do not worry too much about the strings that the fingers of your left hand are pushing down at this time as you are just in the process of acquainting yourself with your instrument.

Never worry either, when you can not play a good tune at this early stage. There are still many things to be learned, many stages to go through, and practices to do before you to get the right tones and the right notes to play. You are just beginning, so be patient.

The important factor here, is that you can comfortably hold the guitar and be at ease with it. The rest of techniques still to be learned will just automatically flow, at your fingertips!

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