Category: Guitar Stuff
Guitar Frets. What difference does shape and size make?
“My guitar is only 2 years old and already needs a re-fret”. I have heard this complaint many times. Why do some guitar frets last longer than others? There are many variables. Some fret wire is softer than others, some players are heavy handed. Some cases put excessive pressure on the frets. Some people drop […]
How To Promote Your Music Online
If you’re a musician, and interested in promoting your music online, then you should read this. Most people think that advertising is just about getting their name out there. They often spend a lot of money trying to promote themselves, without actually seeing any measurable results. They’re basically just throwing something at the wall and […]
Practicing Guitar With Backing Tracks
The Benefits of Practicing Guitar with Backing Tracks The process of learning guitar has tremendously transformed in the last couple of years. In the 90s we had the famous audio tapes and VHS instructional materials. Anyone who was learning how to play the guitar back then knows how hard it was. Even though some like […]
Guitar Maintenance 101: 5 Ways to Keep It Like New
While working at the local Acoustic Music shop here in Salt Lake City I often sell guitars to first-timers. These people, who’ve never picked up a guitar before in their whole lives, have made the exciting decision to learn to play it. Then something interesting happens at the checkout counter. They get this stupefied look […]
How to Practice Guitar More Effectively
I’ve been teaching guitar for almost 10 years. Over this period of time I’ve taught hundreds, maybe even thousands of students. Different walks of life, different skills, but the same goal – to improve as guitar players. ‘If you want to instantly improve … start examining how you practice and thinking about how to practice guitar more effectively.’ […]
What Your Picking Technique Says About You
Have you ever wondered why right-handed guitarists fret the notes with their left hand, and left-handed guitarists do it with their right? Surely, that should be the other way around?! Unless … that somehow isn’t the most important hand for guitar playing! I mean, you may think your fretting hand is playing the notes, but […]
Why Guitar Is the Best Musical Instrument
The other day I was sitting in the living room with my Nepalese host family here in Kathmandu, waiting out this interminable petrol crisis we’re currently experiencing, trying to ward off ennui with a few songs and some half-baked explanations as to why, of all the instruments that I’ve learned to play, guitar is the […]
It’s Not About You: 10 Tips for the Working Guitarist to Stay Working
These days it’s increasingly hard firstly to find a gig, and secondly to keep it. Over many years as a working guitarist in Europe and the US, my one consistent thought has been, It’s not about you! (Unless, of course, you are a highly successful solo artist, and even then it’s something worth thinking about!) […]
Less Obvious Gig Bag Essentials
‘… the minimalist attitude is vulnerable to mishap and can lead down the dark and dismal road to disaster …’ So you’ve got your first gig! Well done. But what the hell should you bring? There are the more obvious items: your guitar (duh), a pick or two (or five), a set list, a ¼ […]
The A6 Chord
The A6 Chord Right then……we don’t usually dive into too much theory, but we should explain what a 6th chord is, why it is called a 6th and as usual, provide some example songs that use these chords. Much the same as usual then, but with a tad more theory. If this is what you […]
Hey There Delilah. The Plain White T’s
Hey There Delilah. This is a tremendously popular song to learn, so we decided to include it in this edition as part of an instruction of how to learn a complete song, using basic finger picking. Something we have not ventured into before. And to make it really interesting, we have recorded a backing track […]
The E7 Chord
The E7 Chord “Issue 6 and we’re only on E7”, I here you wail. “Nothing more interesting?” Well there is, but in the past we have demo’d more unusual chords and thought it would be good to showcase a more common chord that can be used effectively in loads of positions on the neck; and it is both […]
5 Buying Tips for the Budget Conscious Player
Everyone knows rock stars get the best of everything, including the latest (and most expensive) guitars, amps, and pedals. But you don’t have to be a pro to upgrade your equipment. Check out these five buying tips to get better gear for less $, and you’ll be well on your way to sounding like one. 1. […]
