Sabtu, 19 Desember 2009

Learning The Guitar Online - The Facts

From absolute beginners to seasoned players, the internet has opened up a whole new media for those who wish to play the guitar. Many people today are utilizing the easy availability of online sites in order to learn to play the guitar.

The media of the streaming video has allowed people to learn from the comfort of their own front room, at any time of the day or night, whenever they like. Not only that, but it has blossomed into a huge industry - there are a massive amount of sites that you can visit that promise to teach you a very high standard of guitar tutorials. In this article, we will explore some of the advantages of the online tutorial, and some of the things that they can offer you if you are considering learning to play the guitar.

1) Its convenient

You really can learn wherever and whenever you want. Just as more and more everyday experiences are becoming more and more convenient (such as grocery shopping, for example), and learning the guitar is no different. We are lucky to live in such a time when the easy availability of goods and services is part of our social make-up.

Now you can learn for a few minutes at a time if you so wish, and even fit learning to play the guitar around other activities. Traditionally, guitar students would commute to an instructor's studio - taking into account the journey time and travel inconvenience it usually meant putting an evening or an afternoon aside for a lesson.

2) You get to choose your instructor

Instead of just taking lessons from someone who is closest to your home or more convenient for you to get to, this way you can take a look at their biographies, sample lessons and other relevant details. This is a huge advantage, as you will be learning from someone who best fits your particular needs. With the majority of online tutorial sites, you can select from a variety of instructors.

Taking lessons from two or three instructors will give you a good sense of balance and you may even learn better doing it this way - don't have to stick to just one instructor. Some of them are more hands on, whilst others favor a more visual approach, it's worth trying out different instructors to find one that best suits your learning style.

3) Flexibility

Rather than in a one-to-one situation where you often find that you can only learn what the instructor wants to teach you, you have the flexibility to choose what you learn. With an online program, you get to learn what you want to learn.

4) Affordability

The whole business premise of the online tutorial is that they can provide more lessons for less money. In order to learn to play the guitar, a lot of people don't want to spend a whole lot of money. The math is relatively simple: if 100 members of a particular site pay $10 each, then the site generates $1000. This revenue can then be used to film and produce even more lessons.

For a one-on-one instructor, you will realistically be expecting to pay something in the region of $40 per half hour lesson. Therefore, the value of the online tutorial becomes clear - you can get full membership to a lot of the sites for the same price (around $40), which will give you an almost endless amount of lessons.

The only significant downfall when it comes to online learning, is that there is no-one there to ask a question to when you get stuck. It can seem a little frustrating at times when you come across something that you don't understand. This, however, is a pretty small disadvantage when you consider all the benefits of learning to play the guitar online.

R&B Music – Huge and Popular

R&B music is huge and probably the most popular of all the music categories. Some would say that is because it covers so many sub categories of music. But, true music lovers will say it is because R&B captures people’s minds and bodies more than any other music. Rhythm and blues speaks to people more than any other music because it becomes part of the soul. Few people can listen to an R&B tune without clapping or singing along or breaking into dance. It affects almost everyone and if it doesn’t, you’re not breathing!

That infectious capability is the hallmark of R&B music. R&B was born out of the black experience in America. It quickly became the experience of everyone however as it gained popularity. The writers and artists were telling a story from their souls and they were seeking to get others to identify with their stories and feel and understand them. Of course, all the while they were having fun and taking a break from life. It certainly worked because R&B is not only popular in the US but all over the world. You would be hard pressed to find a place on earth that doesn’t know about or enjoy R&B music.

R&B music has meant different things over the decades for instance in the 1950 ‘ and 1960’s it was really more about soul music and the heavy gospel influences, in the ‘70’s it was more about funk and on into the 21st century it is really more about pop music. But, the one thing about R&B that remains timeless is its commitment to soul. No matter how you categorize R&B it has always had a discernible soul to it. An R&B song can bring back memories like no other type of music. A Marvin song or Smokey tune can bring back all sorts of pleasant thoughts and memories. Aretha Franklin’s powerful soulful voice has remained a stalwart fixture in R&B for close to six decades now.

R&B music is enduring too. A song made back in the ‘60’s is just as fresh today and will be found in any teenagers CD collection as well as their parents and grandparent’s! The cross generational appeal of R&B is better than any other music variety. It speaks to everyone and everyone listens. It is really cool when you think about the enduring legend of R&B and all of the other great musical varieties it has sparked. There are very few musicians in other categories who wouldn’t say their roots come from R&B. The masters of the last five decades have been the keystone for the artists of today. Modern R&B is chock full of older R&B influences. Rap and rock and roll are heavily influenced by R&B as it much of country music as well.

The Essentials of Buying a Used Guitar

Buying a guitar can be a sizable investment. Like other items, the better the guitar the higher the price. A cheap guitar, whether used or new, will probably disappoint you at some point in time. If the cost of a new guitar is simply out of your price range, try visiting the local pawn shops to see what they have to offer.

One thing to think about, however, if you are going to visit a pawn shop, is how knowledgeable the owner is about guitars. Does the pawn shop owner play guitar, or do they just deal in guitars for some quick cash? If you can find a pawn shop operated by an honest guitar player, you are truly in luck!

One particular place to always inspect when considering a used guitar is the spot where the heel of the neck joins the body of the guitar. A lot of tension is placed on the guitar from the strings and the weakest point is where the neck and body connect. Over time, the glue becomes loose and the neck separates from the body at the heel.

Sometimes, just leaving a guitar in a hot car trunk can soften the glue enough for this damage to take place. The bad news is that this repair is not a simple, easy job for a luthier (guitar repairman) to correct. So be sure to look carefully at this area before buying a guitar as many pawn shops do not offer any sort of guarantee for your purchase.

Look the guitar over for other signs of repairs, too. Anywhere the instrument is glued should be looked at carefully. Some acoustic and semi-hollow body guitars split around the edges of the body.

Another part to be aware of because it can wear out is the tuning machine. The tuning machines are what keeps the guitar in tune. If they are not tight or they wiggle you might want to look at another guitar. However, the tuning machine can usually be replaced without any great skill, but check on the prices for the tuning machines before you buy. You might even be able to use this as a bargaining tool to get a better price.

Brand name can indicate a high quality used instrument, but there are many well known guitar manufacturers that also produce low end guitars. So, do a little research about models. For instance, you might track down a certain model number and with some online research, find out that a guitar you thought to be only about ten years old might really be about 35 years old. Or you may find out that the name brand guitar is priced high at the pawn shop, but actually the guitar is a low end model that you could buy new for the same price.

Acoustic Guitar Dvd Lessons : The fastest way to start playing

Now, There are lots of free resources on the web to get you started such as websites like about.com and ehow.com that can help with chords and notes and such. It can be free, but that doesn't mean that it's quality information that will build you into a well rounded musician. Use your best judgment and you should be fine.

With these you can learn picking patterns that you can apply to any songs you learn. You will also be able to pick up tabs for bluegrass fiddle tunes you can learn to play on the guitar. You can sing the blues. SECOND rule: Get a GUITAR Blues accordion players just don't make it big you know? Ever heard of a blues cellist? Me neither. These days, the easiest way to do that, to start your blues guitar lessons, is to get acoustic guitar dvds lessons instead of hiring a teacher. There's probably a dozen or more other programs you can download that will show you the blues scales (or jazz scales, rock scales). They run about $20 to 50, depending on how in depth and how much you want to learn (still cheaper than hiring a tutor)

Here's a few suggestions from a wide range of artists and genres. "Big Yellow Taxi" by Joni Mitchell, "More Than Words" by Extreme, "Under The Bridge" by Red Hot Chilli Peppers, "Yellow Submarine" by The Beatles, "House Of The Rising Sun" by The Animals, "Wild Thing" by The Troggs and "Runaway" by The Corrs. These are songs that everybody in the world knows the words to, or at least they can fake it.

The guitarist could be heard playing the odd bass run but apart from that he was in the background. These are songs that everybody in the world knows the words to, or at least they can fake it. Some artists that are always popular at singalongs are James Taylor, Leonard Cohen and Greenday. Oh, and maybe Suzanne Vega. Billy Joel's "Piano Man" and "Captain Jack" are songs that get a crowd going but maybe you need some advanced skills for those, so get acoustic guitar lessons dvd

You can be as basic or as flashy as you like because the songs stand up by themselves with just basic accompaniment or you can use any of the classical guitar style arrangements that you can find in music shops. Practice doing alternate up and down strokes slowly and smoothly using a metronome to keep time. For bluegrass picking use a heavy gauge pick but as with everything, you should try different ones out till you find what's right for you. You will see and hear that a lot of bluegrass guitar playing consists of the guitarist playing bass notes and strumming in between.

Now, this is the point where practicing the guitar can be like a diet...it works for a little while, and yet you eventually fall back into the old habits that you are used to. Dieting is not what we want here. Look, you need to get yourself guitar for dummies dvds to show you the scales. They won't help your broken heart, they won't BUY you a guitar...but if you got those first two covered, then all you need to do is learn the scales right? Don't turn your guitar practice time into extended guitar solos. If you have a track of say, six minutes at your disposal, use it to practice licks and short solo breaks, the age of the twenty minute solo is long gone.

Jazz Improvisation Lessons: How To Get More Gigs Now

It goes with out saying that most cats wish they had more work, more gigs. The following are 4 extremely effective networking methods that you can put to work immediately. Obviously, your playing is the most important factor. The majority of your time and efforts should be focused on becoming the best player you can. Ability in and of itself will attract opportunity. But that not enough. Besides, having gigs is part of the learning process. Get your playing in shape and follow these simple methods for networking with musicians and soon your phone won’t stop ringing.

1 Go to Other People’s Gigs

One of the best ways to start getting more calls for gigs is to support other musicians. Whether they are your friends or acquaintances or even if you’ve never met them before, supporting their music comes with many benefits. People tend to help people who help them.

Decide ahead of time who you would like to perform with and potentially get called by. Once you have that list, follow their gigs and show up to support them. People tend to call people who they have recently seen. If you have already established a relationship with gigging musicians you can increase your own gigs rather quickly this way, just by being on the scene, being part of the hang.

2 Go on introduce yourself

The more musicians that know you and that know your playing the better, and the more gigs you’ll have. Again the key here is to be present on the scene. Chances are that at a jazz gig there will be other musicians in the audience. Get in the habit of meeting a new musician every time you attend a gig.

Now, here’s the thing. Network with the express purpose of meeting new people and developing relationships with them, not selling yourself to them. Selling yourself and talking only about yourself is a real turnoff to people that don’t know you. Don’t talk about how wonderful YOUR music is, or what a badass player YOU are. In fact, you will make a much better impression if you focus on them. Ask them questions about their music and what they’re up to. There’s nothing that people appreciate more than being listened to. Of course you want to tell them about what you do but try to focus more on them. Be sure to follow up with them as well. Email them and begin that relationship. You can write something simple like “Hey Man, Great to meet you the other night. See you on the scene.”

3 Be an Organizer

One great way to further your networking efforts is to organize sessions. Cats love to play sessions but many are simply too lazy or busy to take the time to set them up. Being the guy who organizes will have the effect of positioning you as a leader.

If you don’t have many gigs right now than fill your schedule with sessions. This also has the added benefit of being both necessary for and highly beneficial to your playing. But, be mindful of who you call for your sessions. They should be people with positive attitudes, who want to have productive sessions and whom you want to gig with. After awhile these sessions will begin to turn into gigs.

4 Stay on The Radar

Once you’ve built up a sizeable network of musicians it will be impossible to play sessions with all of them, or attend all of their gigs on a regular basis. They may simply be too busy to play sessions, or you may be. But you still need to stay on their minds.

Ask them to become your friend on facebook or another social networking site. Then keep them posted about what you’re up to. Let them know about your gigs and other projects.

Also, occasionally drop them a line, send them a text or give them a call simply to say Hi, and see what they’re up to. Stay in touch. The more genuinely interested in what they are doing the better.

4 Simple Steps To Successfully Learn Guitar

Many factors come into play when successfully learning to play the guitar. Whether you aspire to play professionally or you just want to learn for yourself, setting up the right conditions for learning and progress is absolutely essential. Let’s take a look at 4 simple steps to successfully learning to play the guitar.

1. Laying The Foundation and Understanding Chords

The first step to do anything successfully is to lay a strong foundation. Buildings collapse without a strong foundation. You wouldn’t run a marathon without training, would you? It’s no different with guitar. In order to build that foundation for successful guitar playing, the first thing you need to know is proper positioning. By this we mean sitting positions, holding positions, fret hand positions, and pick hand positions. Included in positioning is how to fret strings, how to hold the pick, positioning the guitar, etc. This may sound somewhat elementary, but the benefits of doing this correctly are numerous. You will be comfortable playing/practicing guitar; you will have minimal tension in your hands and arms. Overall, this makes guitar playing an enjoyable experience and pave the way for great playing.

The second part of the first step is understanding chords. At the most basic, chords are 3 or more notes played together. One note is the root note. The root note is the same as the chord. For example, the note A is the root note of the A chord. Certain chords sound better together than others, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves a bit. The main thing to take away is that chords are 3 or more notes played together, and they are the foundation of guitar music.

2. Tuning Your Guitar To Itself

This concept may sound confusing. Guitars need to be in tune to sound correct. There are 2 main ways to tune a guitar. You can use an electronic tuner, or you can tune your guitar to itself. Tuning the guitar to itself is a vital skill and will train your ear like no other exercise. The best part is that you start developing your ear for pitch early in your guitar playing. Believe it or not, your ear is your most valuable tool in guitar playing. Being able to recognize notes and chords by ear will give you the enviable skill of playing songs by ear.

3. Reading Guitar Tablature

Guitar tablature is a very common method of writing guitar music. It is much easier to understand than traditional music notation. Beginning guitarists are often in a state of information overload with new skills, sounds, etc. Tablature, or tab, is a way to combat the confusing nature of traditional written music. In guitar tab, there are six horizontal lines representing the 6 strings of the guitar. The numbers you will see represent the fret that should be played on that string. Also, chord diagrams are written in tabs. These chord diagrams spell out exactly which notes to play to play a certain chords. Understanding guitar tablature will make the process of successfully learning guitar simpler.

4. Chord Progressions

Once you have a working knowledge of guitar tab, you can use chord diagram tabs to learn specific chords. Chord progressions are nothing more than 2 or more chords played sequentially. For example, you may strum a D chord and then change to an A chord. This is a chord progression. Playing chord progressions will help you determine which chords go together-a benefit of your ear training from step 2. There is also a simple formula for determining which chords go together, and your ear will confirm this. Once you have three or four chords that appeal to you, or a few chords that you have mastered, practice playing them one after the other. This will enhance your chord knowledge and playing skill.

As you can see, each step builds on the previous. They also work in conjunction with each other. There are many avenues for more advanced guitar instruction, but learning these 4 simple steps will lay the best foundation possible for successfully learning to play. If any of these steps sound confusing or you’re not sure how to do certain things, check out the link in the “about the author” paragraph below. Each of these steps is explained much more thoroughly and in depth. There are lesson sections as well as audio and video checks so you can check your progress. Check out the free course and be on your way to playing like the pros.

Beginner in the Drummer’s World

Air drumming is good, but in order to really accomplish your ambitions of being a drummer you must enroll in drum lessons. Becoming worn-out and thwarted of just ideating the drums instead of really feeling and playing the thumping beats are hints that it’s high time to go to the next level of drum lessons.

It’s true! Anyone who wants to learn how to play drums can do it. Because all it needs is active learning and becoming a master of these casual beats and patterns. In reality, drumming is so easy. But lots of people are commonly restrained by the complicated beats the drum and drummer create. But in world, these beats are just versions of simple patterns.

But before you can fly away at the drum set, first thing’s first. One of the most fundamental lessons in drums and music is sheet reading. Yes, drums produce notes too and you will have to know how to read the sheet music in able to hit the right drum and create the right sound. There are different symbols which will be familiarized as time goes by, but sheet reading is the foundation which will enable you to play the drums.

The important focus of a newbie drum student is on how to count the beats and how to connect the subdivisions to each other. For new students, they are usually taught how to count by beating on a single drum. An easy 4/4 time is usually taught. A metronome can be used to help while tapping.

Knowing how to play with a single beat may be tedious and repetitive to some but becoming expert on these two skills is essential. As you progress, you can learn new beats, more complex moves and other drum techniques.

As they say, practice makes perfect. It might be hard to stay motivated by playing simple beats but with the drums, mastery of the two above mentioned skills is the key to becoming an excellent drummer. Students see it dull and try to push lessons, never mind that they have not mastered the fundamentals. Of course, once you determine that you are prepared for more, there are intermediate and higher lessons for more full-fledged drummers out there.

11 Damaging Mistakes Guitar Players Make and How To Avoid Them

Do you know how some guitar players practice most days of the week, work hard, and are passionate about their guitar playing, but they always struggle to be able to play guitar the way they want? They are frustrated because they don’t improve fast enough, begin doubting their guitar playing potential, or even feel discouraged or angry with themselves when thinking about how long it is taking them to become a better guitar player.

Can you relate to that? I sure can, I just described myself 15 years ago.

There are specific reasons why guitar players go through such frustration and disappointment. Here are 11 key mistakes guitar players make and repeat over and over again that you should definitely avoid.

1. Teaching Yourself To Play Guitar. Many people attempt to teach themselves how to play guitar. Yes, it’s true that some well known players were ‘somewhat’ self taught, but I do not suggest following that strategy even if your favorite player was self taught. If you are 100% sure that you can build powerfully effective learning and training systems on your own, that's great. However, if you are like most of us, doing it alone is the hardest, most time-consuming, stressful, and frustrating way to learn anything. This is a mistake that you should avoid. Some guitar players think it will impress others if they say, "I am a self taught guitar player". That statement might impress a few inexperienced people, but being self taught is not a 'badge of honor'. Would you rather impress others with your guitar playing or with an unimportant statement about your guitar playing? I'm not criticizing self taught guitar players, I'm only saying that there is no advantage to being self taug ht… and no, it is not true that being 'self taught' makes us more 'original'. In fact, the opposite is usually true.

2. Taking Guitar Lessons From Ineffective Guitar Teachers. Unfortunately, most electric guitar teachers receive ZERO training on how to teach guitar. What is worse is that the vast majority of teachers do little or nothing to improve their guitar teaching skills. Want some proof? Use google’s keyword tool . Type in this keyword phrase: ‘improve guitar teaching skills’, ‘guitar teaching skills’, or ‘guitar teaching training’ and you will find that less than 10 searches per month are done for these topics at google! Of course there are some highly effective electric guitar teachers around, but there are a whole lot more ineffective teachers. Here is a free resource on how to tell the difference between the good guitar teachers and the mediocre ones, free guide: how to find a guitar teacher: http://tomhess.net/HowToChooseAGuitarTeacher.aspx

3. Seeking New Guitar Information (tricks, tips, tab) Without A Proven Strategy To Reach Your Specific Musical Goals. We need information, advice, help and music to play, but without a proven strategic learning and training process that is specific to you, your skill level, your musical style and what you want to be able to do as a guitar player, information won’t get you where you want to go. It is better to first seek help in developing a customized strategy for you to become a better guitar player. After that strategy is in place, then it is time to deal with learning the right information.

4. Not Knowing Specifically What You Want To Be Able To Play. Most guitar players are not specific enough when they think about (or tell others about) what they want to be able to do with their guitar. To say, "I want to play whatever I wish to play” is too vague. How can you (or your guitar teacher) develop a specific and effective guitar training strategy unless the goals you have are specific? It's like saying you want to be a great athlete, how can you effectively train with such a vague goal? Sure there are things you can do to become faster, stronger, more flexible or whatever, but it's much easier if you first get specific such as, I want to train to be a gymnast, or a long distance runner, or a body builder. Yes you can still improve without a strategy, but it will take a lot longer and be much more frustrating. You can always change your goal later if you discover you want to do something else instead.

5. Not Enough Focus On Things That Matter Most To Making You A Better Guitar Player. Have you fallen into the trap of practicing guitar without focusing on the specific things that can quickly begin to improve your guitar playing? Many people really do not understand and apply this concept in enough detail…. for example, I have a student named Mark who used to take lessons from another teacher in the past. Mark was studying sweep picking arpeggios with his previous teacher, and was making some progress. However Mark did not understand what ‘specific’ things he needed to focus on first before attempting to master the sweep picking arpeggios he was practicing. This was holding him back and making him feel very frustrated. Mark’s previous teacher only knew how to ‘teach’ arpeggios and general sweep picking concepts. He did not really know how to “train” Mark with the specific things to focus on and how to overcome the challenges Mark was having. If you would like to see a small sample of this check out this short sweep picking video lesson: http://tomhess.net/3StringArpeggiosLessonFull.aspx.

6. Too Much Focus On Things That Are Not Core To Your Goals. In addition to not focusing on specific things, many guitar players focus on the ‘wrong things’. Some enthusiastic guitar players become temporarily obsessed with things which are distractions from other things that could be helping their guitar playing much more. Here is an example: I used to get so frustrated and angry when I could not play something perfectly, I’d lock myself in my guitar practice room and say, “I’m not coming out of this room until I master this damn lick if it takes me the next 19 hours! No breaks! No food! No human contact! I’m gonna nail this!” And I did master it. On the surface, it might seem like I was on the right track and practicing in a good way…. But in reality, I was spending my time only to stop being angry and frustrated. I was not investing my guitar practice time wisely by focusing on the things that mattered most to making a better guitar player. In other words, my perseverance was commendable, but my strategy to master important long-term goals was weak. I allowed myself to be distracted. I don’t make this same mistake anymore, and I urge you to also avoid it! Focus on the things that really matter for your guitar playing right now. If you are not sure how to do this, seek out a proven guitar teacher today.

7. Focusing On The Right Things, But in The Wrong Order. This is a common mistake that even many advanced guitar players make which causes a lot of wasted time and frustration. Imagine you want to improve your ability to create your own cool guitar solos. Let’s assume that you are advanced enough to truly understand all the primary and secondary elements of composing guitar solos (or you have a guitar teacher to help you). Each of the many elements need to be learned and/or practiced in order to easily create awesome solos that you like. Where should you begin? What should you focus on first, second, third? Which of these things should you practice simultaneously? There is always a specific order in which musical skills should be learned and mastered in order to EXPLODE your musical skills. Unfortunately, that order is totally different for every person, style of music, musical goal, skill set and knowledge, so giving an example here would be pointless. My advice, find the b est teacher you can and study with him/her in order to be able to do what you want to do with your guitar much faster and easier.

8. Not Isolating Problem Areas. Few guitar players are aware of the small things that hold them back in big ways. Because these little imperfections seem insignificant to us, we often ignore them. The truth is, small hinges open big doors. In the video mentioned above I explained how allowing your guitar pick to lose its momentum when you are ‘not picking’ a note on the guitar makes your playing slow and sloppy…. which will make you feel very frustrated. This is why I was sure to make a special point to help you avoid that mistake. Check out the small sample sweep picking video for more details: http://tomhess.net/3StringArpeggiosLessonFull.aspx .

9. Learning And Practicing Guitar In A Step By Step Linear Process. Does following a linear step by step approach to learning, practicing and mastering guitar seem like common sense good to you? Yes it does… And that is why guitar players who follow such a path are NOT great guitar players. I’m going to let you in an insider’s secret… The truth is, following a linear approach to learning guitar, practicing guitar, and mastering guitar is the NUMBER ONE REASON WHY “GOOD GUITAR PLAYERS” STRUGGLE TO BECOME “GREAT GUITAR PLAYERS”… I originally thought I would write an article on this one point alone, but I think you will learn this concept better in another short video I recorded while I was doing a recent guitar instructional clinic tour a few months ago. Check out this free sample from my clinic on how to practice guitar http://tomhess.net/LinearVsGeometricApproach.aspx .

10. Practicing Guitar In The Same Way Your Favorite Guitar Players Practice Guitar. Have you ever read about how your favorite guitar players practice guitar and then tried to repeat the same practice routine? Yes, I’ve made this mistake too! It seems natural to use a similar guitar practice schedule that our favorite guitar players are using. This is a mistake, because your current guitar skill level and knowledge of music is probably very different from your favorite player. His/her challenges and needs are likely not the same as yours.

Professional guitar players practice for different reasons than most amateur players do. For example, before recording a new album I will practice very differently compared to the period before going on tour. Once I’m actually on tour my practice routine changes drastically again. The rest of the year my practicing schedule changes yet again. This happens because in each case my challenges and goals are totally different. When my guitar students ask me, “Tom, how do you practice guitar?” I’m careful not to let my students assume that they should practice the same way that I do. Your practice schedule and strategy needs to be built around YOU and you only! If you need help building your own practice schedule, email me directly.

11. Learning From Too Many Different Sources Of Information. There will always be many learning opportunities and various paths to take, but it is critical that you do not get distracted into following a piece of advice from one person, then another piece of advice from another person and then follow more resources from somewhere else and so on and so on... while different people may have some good ideas to offer, the fact is, distraction is a big reason why many guitar players who are actively learning, don't really move forward quickly... these people are always busy following totally different resources, teachers, philosophies, instructional videos, free online guitar lessons, but all of this leads them to take one step forward, then 2 steps to the right, then one step forward, then 3 steps to the left, then one step backward, then two to the right, then 1 step forward and then another step to the left...

Master and Learn Guitar - Revealed: Introduction To 4 Kinds of Guitar Harmonics

Let’s take a look at 4 basic kinds of harmonics that will help you to master and learn guitar.

1. Open string harmonics
2. Pick harmonics
3. Tap harmonics
4. Thumb pick harmonics

1. Open string harmonics: By far the easiest kind of guitar harmonics that you can learn how to play are what are called open string harmonics. Open string harmonics are when you lightly place your finger over your guitar strings. You can play all of your guitar strings at once, or, you can play individual open string harmonics. The best open string harmonics are found on the 12th fret, seventh fret, and the fifth fret. There are other open strings harmonics all throughout the guitar, however, these three fret areas are by far the easiest to find and play on your guitar.

2. Pinch harmonics: Pinch harmonics are individually pinched notes on the guitar. You can choose either your open strings, or any note found throughout the guitar fretboard. With your right hand holding the guitar pick, you will take the tip of the guitar pick and pinch your guitar strings. This pinching action will produce a harmonic. For starters, practice your pinch harmonics on Strings 6, 5, and 4.

3. Tap harmonics: Tap harmonics are the hardest of all harmonic guitar styles to play. Played correctly and you will have a very sonically rich sounding guitar. The great thing with tap harmonics is that you can play individual notes or full fingered chords. With your left hand place your fingers on the note or chord that you want to play. With your right hand first finger you will be tapping individual notes or striking the guitar fretboard with all of your first finger like a long flat stretched out hammer. With your first finger you will be tapping an octave higher from where your left hand finger placement is located. For example, if the note you are playing is on the six string, third fret, you’re right first finger will strike the 15th fret, sixth string.

4. Thumb pick harmonics: Another single note harmonic style that you can utilize is a combination of your right thumb and first finger. Choose your single note or chord with your left hand. Next, place your right finger an octave higher lightly on top of the string, above the fret board. Use your right thumb as a pick. Pluck the note keeping your right hand fingering position. Thumb pick harmonics are an expansion of open string harmonic technique.

Sabtu, 05 Desember 2009

The Grizzly Bears Do It Again with Veckatimest

music...
Grizzly Bear have never been about hype. Their last full-length album, Yellow House, seemed to virtually come out of nowhere to wide acclaim from fans and critics alike. Yet, even on the heels of what many people considered to be the best record of 2006, they toured very modestly, playing bars so small that they could barely fit their equipment through the door, while helping bring exposure to friends such as Dirty Projectors.

Things have changed since then, and the four lads have seen themselves open up for top-tier acts such as Feist and Radiohead. Regardless, Grizzly Bear have remained humble, and it's not their fault that Veckatimest may in fact be the most hyped record of the year so far.

This album is better then anyone ever expected it to be. Veckatimest, takes the lush components we loved from Yellow House and brings them to new heights. Vocal harmonies from songs like "Two Weeks" and "While You Wait For The Others" are reminiscent of Yellow House favorites "Knife" and "Easier". If you were a fan of the Yellow House orchestral sound then you will certainly enjoy Veckatimest.

Their approach to song on this album has greatly changed since Yellow House. Meandering qualities were replaced with pop sensibility and almost every track can be a hit on their own. Although these songs would do well independently from the album that is not how they were meant to be heard. Grizzly Bear created the album as a cohesive unit that should be listened to from song one all the way to the last song on the album.

While there is no telling what exactly is next for Grizzly Bear, it's safe to say that the release of this record will solidify their rightfully earned place as one of the most forward thinking modern rock acts in the pool. Let's just hope we don't have to wait for another three years for their next masterpiece to bubble up to the surface.

Learn To Play Guitar Right From Home

music...
You can learn to play guitar right from the comfort of your own home. Once you learn how to play the guitar, you will also understand the concept of playing other musical instruments as well.

It is not difficult to learn to play the guitar. Like any other type of lesson, you have to take it one step at a time. The first thing that at home lessons will teach you is to get familiar with the guitar, understand how to tune the guitar and then learn the basic chords. A guitar is one of the easiest instruments to play. You can pick up a used guitar and get started with your at home lessons. With an electric guitar, you are putting out more money and also need an amplifier, but with an acoustic, it’s just you and the guitar.

By learning at home, you can see if you have a knack for this instrument and then move up to other guitars. You will get to know the sounds of the guitar as you play along with CD’s and DVD lessons in an at home program.

The most important concept you have to understand when you want to learn to play guitar, or any other instrument for that matter, is that you have to practice. Good musicians are those who have a passion for music and want to learn to play. The more you practice playing the guitar, the better you will become at mastering this instrument. If you really want to learn how to play the guitar, you can do so by using a learn at home lesson package.

Learn at home lesson packages cost a fraction of what you would expect to pay for guitar lessons at a local music shop. Instead of having to spend hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars with private lessons, you can have your own private lessons, right in the comfort of your own home, and get expert training. You only need to purchase a guitar and an at -home guitar package to learn to play guitar and you will be on your way to being a guitarist. Whether or not you are a good guitarist is up to you and the time you invest in lessons, practice and learning to master the instrument.

More info @ youlearntoplayguitar.com

Guitar Practice And Me

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If you are learning to play the guitar, or you are a seasoned player, then you will understand how integral to you becoming a better player the practice actually is. The realization of the importance of guitar practice comes to every student as they begin to play.

Despite this, many people find it increasingly difficult to fit the practice schedules into their everyday routines. In today’s society, where we are busier than ever, guitar practice can often be shunted to one side in place of more seemingly relevant pursuits. Even children find it difficult to fit practice time in amongst all their schooling and extra-curricular activities.

It may sound very over-simplified to say that you have to make guitar practice a priority if you want to improve as a player. Many people will argue that that is an impossible task with the amount of chores that need to be done in the majority of people’s busy and hectic lifestyles, but that is really the bottom line here.

The first step to prioritizing your guitar practice is to ask yourself how important it is to you. Consider it against all of the other things that you feel are ‘priorities’ in your life, and ask yourself how important it is to you that you practice in order to become a better player. Just by completing this relatively simple step you may find that there are things on your list of ‘priorities’ that don’t mean as much to you as your guitar practice, and yet you sacrifice the playing of a wonderful instrument in order to do them.

You may think that it is one of your priorities to get a bigger house. In your mind’s eye, you will have a specific goal in mind – a bigger living space – and therefore you are more driven to achieve that goal. The priority of this in your lifestyle becomes even more pronounced. When we prioritize something in our lives, the level of commitment that we are able to give to it often depends on the goals that we associate with it.

And guitar playing is no different. Think of the level or the standard that you are currently playing, and then think of the standard of which you would like to play. If you have a specific end result in mind, then it becomes a lot easier to fit your guitar practice into your time. To make it even more definitive, think of how you feel when you achieve a goal that you have set yourself, and keep this mind when you think about your goals for playing the guitar.

The long and short of it is, that if you practice on a regular basis, then you will find that the standard of your playing will increase exponentially. With this goal in mind, think again of how much of a priority your guitar practice actually means to you.

The best guitarists in the world all have one thing that they hold in common: they made practice a top priority. The guitar really is one of the most difficult instruments to learn to play well, and playing properly to a decent standard requires a high level of determination and commitment. Think of the times when you practice as necessary, almost like school or work.

One of the most important aspects of learning to play the guitar is that is has to be fun! It really is a great challenge – but it is also supposed to be enjoyable. If you look upon your guitar practice as recreation instead of a chore, you’ll find it’s much easier to allocate appropriate time to it.

Buying A New Guitar – A Guide

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If you have decided to buy your first guitar, then the overall choice that is available can often seem overwhelming! What should you be looking at when it comes to styles, colors, makes and models? You have probably asked yourself – which one is right for me, and how on earth do I choose?

If you are in the position of looking to buy a guitar, then the following questions are the ones that you really should be asking yourself. The sad fact of the matter is that many people they end up spending a lot more money than they need to, and many people end up with what they thought was a great deal that turns out to be complete rubbish.

What is the type of music that I am looking to play?

Examine your particular tastes and which type of music you are interested in learning. For those who have more of a tendency to rock and roll or jazz, then an electric guitar is probably going to be best for you. If you are looking to strum along to a more tuneful style, then you should be looking into getting an acoustic instrument. Whatever kind of music you like, the basic skills that come into playing the guitar are pretty much the same. The guitars, however, are different – they are built with a particular style in mind.

What is my level of expertise?

• For the beginner it’s a good idea to look at a classical or an electric guitar. These tend to be easier on the fingers to begin with, and thus easier to learn on.

• For the more experienced player it really comes down to what kind of music you want to play, as well as price and style. You should consider what you are trying to achieve – for example are you looking to improve your current style or expand your repertoire?

What is ‘tonal quality’?

Tonal quality, is, quite simply, the unique sound of the individual guitar. Does that sound suit you and your style of playing? Each guitar is different, so strum it and listen carefully to the noise that it makes.

What is the ‘action’’?

The action is the placement of the strings on the fretboard. The placement of the strings will affect the playability of the guitar – too high and the strings become more difficult to press down and therefore affect the tempo of your playing. On some guitars they are set high, on others you’ll find they are lower. Too low and there will be a lot of interference on the frets which causes a buzzing sound as you play.

Is the neck straight?

You should see more or less straight away whether the neck is straight or crooked. If there is even a slight bend in the neck it will hinder the intonation of the instrument, and at different points chords will sound different. It’s a really easy thing to check, but is still missed by a lot of people. All you need to do is hold the guitar and look along the edge.

Does the neck fit in my hand?

When a craftsman builds a guitar, they vary the shape and size of the neck to suit the variability of the players’ hands. It’s a really good tip to make sure that the neck fits snugly into your hand. Try and find one that feels like it was built for your particular size hand in mind. The thin necks are usually more suitable for smaller hands, but thicker necks tend to be stronger.

How much can you afford?

You shouldn’t really be thinking about spending a massive amount of money on a new guitar if you are a beginner. Look at exactly how much you have to spend, and then make sure you keep to it. Looking at models that you can’t afford is a waste of time and will only make you confused. Upgrading is easy when you have practiced for a while and you have a better idea of what style of music you want to play.

Getting it right, and getting it right from the very beginning is absolutely vital. Get it right, and you have a much better chance of succeeding in your musical quest. Buying a guitar based solely on what it looks like as it hangs in the shop is a recipe for disaster – you will get it home only to find that it does not even come close to fitting your needs. Relegation to the corner of the living room or the loft will probably ensue! Buying a guitar is like making an investment – an investment into your own musical future.

How Could Chickenfoot Possibly Not Rock!

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Representations of Rock, also known as: Hagar, Van Halen, Chili Peppers, and Satriani. What happens when you put these rock monsters in the same sandbox? Out pops Chickenfoot. Sammy Hagar is the mad scientist behind this idea. As if he wasn't busy enough playing guitar, writing music and singing vocals.

Although he did sing with Van Halen for a while, Hagar is primarily well known as a solo rocker. Chickenfoot is not his first grouping of super rockers. Hagar, Shon, Aaronson, and Shrieve, known as HSAS was brought together by him in the mid-eighties. Although these guys were from such greats as Santana and Foghat, Chickenfoot is far and away more exciting than that crew.

Hagar pilfered bassist Michael Anthony from Van Halen. From The Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer, Chad Smith jumped ship. And lastly his highness of the guitar, Joe Satriani. This first album spins out awesome rock talent tempered with an easy vivaciousness.

After all this time in the business these guys know how to stay light and have a good time. The excellent sound and danceable beat really work on "Sexy Little Thing" and "Oh Yeah". It makes you want to hop up and do some wigglin".

Chad Smith's extra large personality and his supercharged energy move his drumming into convulsive, eruptive power, according to Joe Satriani. The drums forcefully nail the muscular vocals and the wailing guitar tightly together.

Chickenfoot, released June 5, 2009, is musical attunement at its most powerful. This is not Chili Peppers, Van Halen or even a Satriani album. These rockers have blended their styles successfully. If you liked them separately then you will appreciate what they have made together.

Rabu, 11 November 2009

Mp3 And Its Advantages

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Few things in my life do I use more often and enjoy than my mp3 music player. Well, maybe its not all that great, but I do really love the idea of mp3 music players. I’m so tired of CDs I could just scream. Sure, they’re way better than the different forms of music storage mediums that came before, but that’s not saying a whole lot. There’s nothing more frustrating than putting on your favorite CD only to hear it skip like crazy during the best songs.

Even taking extremely good care of my CDs, they still somehow get scratched all the time. Furthermore, just trying to keep all my CDs organized is a major hassle. I think I’ve spent many hours putting CDs away in different folds and organizing the different CD cases, and while this used to be kind of fun back when I was in high school and didn’t own many albums, now that I’ve got a large collection it is a total drag. For these reasons alone, I’ve been a big fan of mp3 music players since they first started hitting markets several years ago.

The first mp3 music players were ridiculously expensive, but I just had to have one. Maybe I’m just a technology junkie, or maybe I had just finally had enough of CDs. I do remember the first mp3 music players came out shortly after I’d had my main CD holding folder filled with 90% of the music I’d collected over the years stolen. I’m sure that also had something to do with my decision to make the plunge and get an mp3 music player. I’d already spent a small fortune rebuilding my CD collection, so I guess I figured why not spend another small fortune, get an mp3 music player, and never have to worry about stolen or scratched CDs again?

While I haven’t been worrying much about stolen or scratched CDs since then, I have been worrying about crappy mp3 music players a lot. The first one I bought was such a piece of garbage compared to the newer ones, its not even funny. Fortunately, the mp3 music player I have now is pretty sweet. It’s made by Panasonic, works with my car and has all sorts of neat little features.

Of course, now that the mp3 music players have gotten good, Apple just had to come out with something better. Their iPods are in fact pretty nice, but they of course have their own spiffy music format that doesn’t work with other mp3 music players. Isn’t that just so typically Apple?

What Music Executives Accomplish

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If there's any profession in the world that's more maligned than music executive, it's probably along the lines of "Nigerian Spammer" or "Bail Bondsman". Let's shed some light on the subject. Music executives are like executives at any other company – they have to maintain a steady stream of product rollouts and keep customers attuned and regularly buying their core brands. In the case of music execs, those core brands are recording artists.

Most people don't buy Britney Spears' albums because they're published by Atlantic Records, they buy Britney's albums because they're by Britney, and the reason for that is because music executives learned how to package her singing talent, age, prior career as a Disney "good girl" and nascent sex appeal into a product that sold millions of albums.Music executives are the gateways of popular taste and are responsible to their shareholders for delivering profits. Unfortunately, those profits are coming under siege – and have been for more than a decade.



You see, the concept that you can sell music relies on the fact that making copies of music is expensive enough or difficult enough that people will pay money for a legitimate copy rather than make their own. On this basic principle, music companies have built an edifice of production gear, recording contracts and more…and the rise of the MP3 digital music format has kicked the underpinnings out from beneath them.They're now trying to put the genie back in the bottle, with Digital Rights Management and copy protection, their professional organization is trying to use copyright laws as a blunt club, and in general, they're building a lot of negative publicity for their industry.

There's a lot at stake, more so than those who make parody videos about music executives trying to preserve their multi-million dollar bonuses. One of them is making sure that artists are compensated for their work on an ongoing basis. You wouldn't do your job for free, yet most people seem to feel that music should just be freely downloadable off the internet with no compensation going to the artists.

In light of this, there's a growing movement towards online media stores, like Apple iTunes or Rhapsody, places where customers can buy songs individually, legally, in a convenient way. These have had a great deal of success, but the money they've taken in hasn't matched the declining revenue from CD sales, and that has the shareholders of music companies worried.

Guitars - From The Beginning

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Guitars are one of the most common instruments that music lovers choose to play. You can recreate sounds from your childhood or from the past after learning a few simple cords to strum. However, learning to play such an intricate instrument such as the guitar is the same with everything else; it takes a large amount of practice and determination. You have to be willing to practice on a daily basis in order to excel with the instrument. If you do not have the time to practice, then learning the basics of beginner guitar is probably not for you. But, if you take the time to go forth with the instrument, you will be amazed at how well you can be playing in such a short amount of time.

Your first step is to decide how you are going to learn to play the guitar. If you have had any previous musical experience, such as knowing how to read music, then the process with go much more smoothly. You can teach yourself with a beginner’s guitar book; however, if you have a person to help you it will be much easier. If you are not able to read music, many of the beginner books will show you how to do that as well.

While purchasing a guitar online might allow you to find a better deal, it is often a better choice to ask a local music store for suggestions, or your instructor. The strings on some of the guitars are very hard to hold down for beginners, and you cannot learn to play on these types of strings until you have built up enough calluses on your fingers.

Many beginner guitars have strings that are slightly more loose to help with the learning process. It might not be a wise choice to purchase a very expensive guitar your first time around. You need to make sure that the investment will be worth it, and you will not know this until you have mastered the art of the guitar. However, keep in mind that extremely cheap guitars are harder to keep tuned and often harder to play.

One thing that can help you excel is to listen to guitar solos in songs. Listening is usually the best type of learning. Many instructors also recommend this and they will usually have you choose a song that you want to learn and request that you listen to it over and over again. Choose wisely, because a very hard song is not always the best option. You have to go slowly and learn the basics first.

“Wonderwall” by Oasis is a great song that is simple for all beginners to learn. The song made the top 10 list in the U.S. and the hot top 100 in 1995 when it was first released. You can search online for the guitar tabs to the song on search engines such as Google. Neil Young’s song “Heart of Gold” is another easy song to learn. It made the Rolling Stone top 500 list, and it has a deep meaning. Overall, the song is easy and very popular for beginner guitarists. There are many sites online that allow you to download these songs for free so that you can listen to them.

The desire to learn the guitar is often not enough in order to learn. You also have to have determination and the ability to have patience when you are not able to get it right the first time. Try not to get frustrated, and know that your fingers will eventually toughen up enough for you to be able to play on any guitar. The first steps are the hardest, but after you learn, it is like riding a bicycle; you will never be able to forget.

Guitars - From The Beginning

music...
Guitars are one of the most common instruments that music lovers choose to play. You can recreate sounds from your childhood or from the past after learning a few simple cords to strum. However, learning to play such an intricate instrument such as the guitar is the same with everything else; it takes a large amount of practice and determination. You have to be willing to practice on a daily basis in order to excel with the instrument. If you do not have the time to practice, then learning the basics of beginner guitar is probably not for you. But, if you take the time to go forth with the instrument, you will be amazed at how well you can be playing in such a short amount of time.

Your first step is to decide how you are going to learn to play the guitar. If you have had any previous musical experience, such as knowing how to read music, then the process with go much more smoothly. You can teach yourself with a beginner’s guitar book; however, if you have a person to help you it will be much easier. If you are not able to read music, many of the beginner books will show you how to do that as well.

While purchasing a guitar online might allow you to find a better deal, it is often a better choice to ask a local music store for suggestions, or your instructor. The strings on some of the guitars are very hard to hold down for beginners, and you cannot learn to play on these types of strings until you have built up enough calluses on your fingers.

Many beginner guitars have strings that are slightly more loose to help with the learning process. It might not be a wise choice to purchase a very expensive guitar your first time around. You need to make sure that the investment will be worth it, and you will not know this until you have mastered the art of the guitar. However, keep in mind that extremely cheap guitars are harder to keep tuned and often harder to play.

One thing that can help you excel is to listen to guitar solos in songs. Listening is usually the best type of learning. Many instructors also recommend this and they will usually have you choose a song that you want to learn and request that you listen to it over and over again. Choose wisely, because a very hard song is not always the best option. You have to go slowly and learn the basics first.

“Wonderwall” by Oasis is a great song that is simple for all beginners to learn. The song made the top 10 list in the U.S. and the hot top 100 in 1995 when it was first released. You can search online for the guitar tabs to the song on search engines such as Google. Neil Young’s song “Heart of Gold” is another easy song to learn. It made the Rolling Stone top 500 list, and it has a deep meaning. Overall, the song is easy and very popular for beginner guitarists. There are many sites online that allow you to download these songs for free so that you can listen to them.

The desire to learn the guitar is often not enough in order to learn. You also have to have determination and the ability to have patience when you are not able to get it right the first time. Try not to get frustrated, and know that your fingers will eventually toughen up enough for you to be able to play on any guitar. The first steps are the hardest, but after you learn, it is like riding a bicycle; you will never be able to forget.

Music Lessons For Your Young

music...
If you are a parent of a young child, then now is the perfect time to introduce music. Some theories have even proven that if you play music to your baby while it is in the womb or when it is an infant then it will improve all types of things, such as their IQ and their motor skills. Before your child becomes impressionable through schooling and other children, you should introduce them to music while they still have such an open and fresh mind.

For this purpose, music lessons are an asset. It is an effective way to help your child learn to play any type of instrument, and you might find out that your child is very gifted when it comes to the art of music. Figuring out where to begin with music lessons is usually the hardest step for parents. They are unsure which instrument to purchase for their child and they are unsure as to which teacher to choose or who might be safe for their child.

It is first important to understand what happens in a typical lesson environment. The teacher, or experienced musician, helps share his or her expertise on the instrument with the student. During the lesson, the teacher observes the difficulties that the student might be having as well as noticing their strengths. The teacher will then introduce newer and harder concepts as the student progresses, which can only happen with practice and homework.

One factor to keep in mind if you are considering music lessons is that they do require much more commitment both on your part and your child as opposed to cub scouts or dance lessons. This is due to the fact that most of the learning is your child’s responsibility. It is up to them how advanced they become with the instrument, and it is based on how often they practice. One thing that many children forget is that they are supposed to practice at home, not just with their teacher. Without the practice, your child’s progress will not excel and you will end up paying more money than you expected for the teacher’s time.

You should also remember that this is supposed to be fun for a child. While practice does make perfect, never force your child to do something such as practice. While you should encourage it, forcing them only makes them dislike the instrument that much more. Their heart truly has to be in it in order for them to excel at the art. Usually, as your child gains confidence and starts to see how well they are doing with the instrument, then they will eventually become very passionate. Having them partake in music lessons not only gives them the confidence but it will help with their focus and concentration in school.

Usually, children at the age of 7 and up will be the best candidates for music lessons because they already have a desire to learn, have great listening skills, and a willingness to practice. Younger children also advance well in music lessons, but it is more common if they are in a group environment that is slightly more playful. Starting your children young in a music class will help them gain a passion for the art and prepare them for regular music lessons when they are a little older. You can also have your own music time at home if you have younger children. Encourage them to sing silly songs, make home-made musical instruments, or even buy them a kid sized instrument.

No matter what you decide to do, remember that music lessons will be a valuable investment towards your child’s future. You need to be prepared to commit to it just as they will so that you can make sure they attend the classes and are positive about practicing. With your guidance and patience, your child could be on their way to being the next musical genius.

Music Lessons For Your Young

music...
If you are a parent of a young child, then now is the perfect time to introduce music. Some theories have even proven that if you play music to your baby while it is in the womb or when it is an infant then it will improve all types of things, such as their IQ and their motor skills. Before your child becomes impressionable through schooling and other children, you should introduce them to music while they still have such an open and fresh mind.

For this purpose, music lessons are an asset. It is an effective way to help your child learn to play any type of instrument, and you might find out that your child is very gifted when it comes to the art of music. Figuring out where to begin with music lessons is usually the hardest step for parents. They are unsure which instrument to purchase for their child and they are unsure as to which teacher to choose or who might be safe for their child.

It is first important to understand what happens in a typical lesson environment. The teacher, or experienced musician, helps share his or her expertise on the instrument with the student. During the lesson, the teacher observes the difficulties that the student might be having as well as noticing their strengths. The teacher will then introduce newer and harder concepts as the student progresses, which can only happen with practice and homework.

One factor to keep in mind if you are considering music lessons is that they do require much more commitment both on your part and your child as opposed to cub scouts or dance lessons. This is due to the fact that most of the learning is your child’s responsibility. It is up to them how advanced they become with the instrument, and it is based on how often they practice. One thing that many children forget is that they are supposed to practice at home, not just with their teacher. Without the practice, your child’s progress will not excel and you will end up paying more money than you expected for the teacher’s time.

You should also remember that this is supposed to be fun for a child. While practice does make perfect, never force your child to do something such as practice. While you should encourage it, forcing them only makes them dislike the instrument that much more. Their heart truly has to be in it in order for them to excel at the art. Usually, as your child gains confidence and starts to see how well they are doing with the instrument, then they will eventually become very passionate. Having them partake in music lessons not only gives them the confidence but it will help with their focus and concentration in school.

Usually, children at the age of 7 and up will be the best candidates for music lessons because they already have a desire to learn, have great listening skills, and a willingness to practice. Younger children also advance well in music lessons, but it is more common if they are in a group environment that is slightly more playful. Starting your children young in a music class will help them gain a passion for the art and prepare them for regular music lessons when they are a little older. You can also have your own music time at home if you have younger children. Encourage them to sing silly songs, make home-made musical instruments, or even buy them a kid sized instrument.

No matter what you decide to do, remember that music lessons will be a valuable investment towards your child’s future. You need to be prepared to commit to it just as they will so that you can make sure they attend the classes and are positive about practicing. With your guidance and patience, your child could be on their way to being the next musical genius.

Music Lessons For Your Young

music...
If you are a parent of a young child, then now is the perfect time to introduce music. Some theories have even proven that if you play music to your baby while it is in the womb or when it is an infant then it will improve all types of things, such as their IQ and their motor skills. Before your child becomes impressionable through schooling and other children, you should introduce them to music while they still have such an open and fresh mind.

For this purpose, music lessons are an asset. It is an effective way to help your child learn to play any type of instrument, and you might find out that your child is very gifted when it comes to the art of music. Figuring out where to begin with music lessons is usually the hardest step for parents. They are unsure which instrument to purchase for their child and they are unsure as to which teacher to choose or who might be safe for their child.

It is first important to understand what happens in a typical lesson environment. The teacher, or experienced musician, helps share his or her expertise on the instrument with the student. During the lesson, the teacher observes the difficulties that the student might be having as well as noticing their strengths. The teacher will then introduce newer and harder concepts as the student progresses, which can only happen with practice and homework.

One factor to keep in mind if you are considering music lessons is that they do require much more commitment both on your part and your child as opposed to cub scouts or dance lessons. This is due to the fact that most of the learning is your child’s responsibility. It is up to them how advanced they become with the instrument, and it is based on how often they practice. One thing that many children forget is that they are supposed to practice at home, not just with their teacher. Without the practice, your child’s progress will not excel and you will end up paying more money than you expected for the teacher’s time.

You should also remember that this is supposed to be fun for a child. While practice does make perfect, never force your child to do something such as practice. While you should encourage it, forcing them only makes them dislike the instrument that much more. Their heart truly has to be in it in order for them to excel at the art. Usually, as your child gains confidence and starts to see how well they are doing with the instrument, then they will eventually become very passionate. Having them partake in music lessons not only gives them the confidence but it will help with their focus and concentration in school.

Usually, children at the age of 7 and up will be the best candidates for music lessons because they already have a desire to learn, have great listening skills, and a willingness to practice. Younger children also advance well in music lessons, but it is more common if they are in a group environment that is slightly more playful. Starting your children young in a music class will help them gain a passion for the art and prepare them for regular music lessons when they are a little older. You can also have your own music time at home if you have younger children. Encourage them to sing silly songs, make home-made musical instruments, or even buy them a kid sized instrument.

No matter what you decide to do, remember that music lessons will be a valuable investment towards your child’s future. You need to be prepared to commit to it just as they will so that you can make sure they attend the classes and are positive about practicing. With your guidance and patience, your child could be on their way to being the next musical genius.

The Care And Maintenance Of Your Guitar Strings

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Metal guitar strings are subjected to many conditions that shorten their life. The life of guitar strings can be extended with care and proper maintenance. This article will help you extend the life of your guitar strings.

Guitar strings can lose their tonal quality prematurely due to factors that include:

*Stretching

*Wear

*Corrosion

Stretching: Guitar strings naturally stretch during tuning and while playing the guitar. Over time strings slowly lose their elasticity and their tone quality. Guitar strings that are stretched no longer produce rich tone or harmonic overtones. As a result, the guitar becomes difficult to tune and the sound of the strings become dull and lifeless.

Wear: Guitar strings wear during the process of playing. This process comes from moving the metal strings against the metal frets on the fretboard. Of the two most common types of strings, wound and plain steel, wound strings are more susceptible to fret wear. Wound guitar strings tend to "flat-spot" more rapidly than plain steel strings. If left unchecked, the flat spots can create breaks in the windings of the strings. Flat spots and broken windings will decrease tonal quality and can also cause the strings to "buzz".

Corrosion: Metal guitar strings are subject to tarnish, rust and corrosion. Metal guitar strings are also subject to the body chemistry of the individual guitar player. Individuals with higher acid levels in their pH will get less life from their guitar strings due to an accelerated rate of string corrosion.

There are several things guitar players can do to get extended life from their guitar strings. Taking the time to follow these simple steps will ensure that you get the most from your strings and reduce the cost associated with premature string failure.

*Do not over-stretch your strings during the tuning process.

*Be careful not to crimp the strings at the tuner peg when replacing the guitar strings.

*Periodically, check the condition of the guitar bridge and bridge saddle to avoid breaking a string during the replacement process.

*Monitor the condition of your guitar frets and replace any frets that develop excessive wear or sharp edges.

*Always clean your guitar strings when you finish playing the guitar.

It is impossible to say how long a new set of guitar strings should last. The life of guitar strings depend on many factors and variables. It is possible to extend the life of guitar strings through proper care and maintenance. Be sure to take the time to care for your guitar strings and you will get the longest life from each set.

When the time comes to replace the strings, choose quality replacements and change the strings carefully.



A. Wielder is a host and instructor at Riff TV. Contact Al Wielder at Riff TV.com, your source for guitar tab, guitar lessons and free video guitar training.

music.com

music...
Whether you admit it or not, music imbeds our daily life, weaving its beauty and emotion through our thoughts, activities and memories. So if you're interested in music theory, music appreciation, Beethoven, Mozart, or other composers, artists and performers, we hope you'll spend some time with here and learn from these music articles of note for all ages and tastes.

When I first started studying the history of music, I did not realize what I was getting into. I had thought that music history was somewhat of a trivial pursuit. In fact, I only took my history of classical music class because I needed the credits. I did not realize how completely fascinating music history is. You see, in our culture many of us do not really learn to understand music. For much of the world, music is a language, but for us it is something that we consumed passively. When I began to learn about the history of Western music, however, it changed all that for me. I have had some experience playing musical instruments, but I have never mastered one enough to really understand what music is all about. This class showed me.

When most of us think about the history of music, we think of the history of rock music. We assume that the history is simple because the music is simple. In fact, neither is the case. The history of music, whether you're talking about classical music, rock music, jazz music, or any other kind, is always complicated. New chord structures are introduced bringing with them new ways of understanding the world. New rhythmic patterns are introduced, bringing with them new ways of understanding time. And music reflects all of it.

Even when the class was over, I could not stop learning about the history of music. It had whetted my appetite, and I wanted more. I got all the music history books that I could find. I even began to research forms of music that had not interested me before in the hopes of enhancing my musical knowledge further. Although I was in school studying toward something very different – a degree in engineering – I had thought about giving it up and going back to get a degree in musicology. That is how much I am fascinated by the subject.

If you have never taken a course in the history of music, you don't know what you are missing out on. The radio will never sound the same to you again. Everything will seem much more rich, much more luminous, and much more important. A new song can reflect a new way of being, and a new way of imagining life in the world. This is what learning about the history of music means to many of us.

Sabtu, 07 November 2009

play bass

music...
Why Learn to Play the Bass Guitar?


Music,Hobbies,Education
The main reason why people should learn to play the bass is because you should be different, what I mean by this is in a typical band the bass is the most overlooked instrument, the guitar being the most popular, followed by the drums.

So, why does no one pick the bass then? There are many reasons and everyone will have their own reason why. The two main reasons are: People think the bass guitar is too easy and the guitar is just way cooler to play.

The bass guitar is as hard as you make it, it can be an easy instrument to learn, but it is very hard to be able to master. There are so many bass players and basslines out there, all varying in difficulty. Compare these two basslines: "Blink 182 - First Date" and "Rancid - Maxwell Murder" Two very completely different approaches, the first song just follows the root note while the other song follows more of a scale and also contains a bass solo.

So, why actually play the bass? As the bass guitar is the least thought of instrument in a band it is easier to find a band that needs a bassist, for every bass player there will be around 10 guitar players, so with many more guitar players there are always bands that need a bassist.

If you know a friend who plays the guitar or even the drums then you could buy a bass and then you could jam together, either learning cover songs or making your own up. The drums and bass go very well together so playing with a drummer is always the best.

Have a listen to your favourite band, or song. The bassline may be way cooler than you thought. There are many songs out there that are based around the bassline and taking that away would make the song incomplete and less compelling to listen to. This point alone can get more people picking up the bass guitar to give it a try.

Bands need a bass player without one the song would sound very empty and incomplete and the bass helps to fill the gap between the drums and the guitar.

The bass falls into both categorise of being a hard instrument and being and easy one. If you want an easy instrument to start and learn then great, you can play very simple bass lines that sound great and everyone will recognize in a matter of days, in fact, with some people in a matter of a few hours to learn.

If you want a challenge then the bass can also offer that, there are many basslines out there that require years of practice to master and there is also new material and styles to learn.

Slap bass is a very unique style that is played on the bass guitar and no other instrument can get that unique sound. There are many funk bassists out there that have mastered this technique and have brought a whole new approach to playing the bass guitar.

I would encourage anyone that wishes to learn an instrument to try and learn the bass or at least look more in to it rather than crossing it of their list of instrument that they could learn to play.

For more information about learning how to play bass then visit play bass for free online bass lessons.

no titlle

music...
Making the Most out of Online Guitar Lessons


Entertainment,Music
Online guitar lessons are beneficial for any guitar player, but mostly for those beginners that have busy lives. Even though you are dying to learn to play guitar, there might be times when it is just too hard to squeeze in the time to sit down and learn. That is what is so great about online guitar lessons. Most guitar lessons for beginners walk you through the basics of the guitar, like how to hold it and how to read the tabs. Guitar lessons for beginners are typically slower and more detailed. This is helpful because it allows you to move at your own pace in learning how to play guitar.

When you are searching for online guitar lessons to take, you should search for ones that also provide more advanced lessons that you can work towards. As you progress from the guitar lessons for beginners into more advanced lessons, you will find that the guitar is easier to play than you thought, and you can begin to develop your own sense of style. There are many ways to take advantage of playing the guitar in your own style. It will give your music more personality and will help you to work on the guitar skills that will make your style stand out more. With online guitar lessons, it will be much easier to find out what type of style you are and what you will excel at.

cinta music

music...
Online Resources for a Motivated Guitar Teacher


Education,Music,Art and Culture
Do you want instant access to free guitar teacher resources online? Well, if you are a guitar teacher or at least a wannabe who wishes and plans to take guitar teaching to the next level, read on, change the way you teach and make it more creative, innovative and interesting. In here, you will get unique ideas and interactive classroom activities appropriate for guitar teaching. Coming up with these kinds of activities can really increase students’ levels of motivation and interest. Please feel free to check out my personal list:

Music Teachers’ Websites Find the most reliable websites or blogs that can provide you the resources and the ideas that you need to help you meet your academic objectives. In these pages, you will be able to read some posts related in your search for the latest and most effective strategies and most useful inputs.

By merely reading the posts online, you can contact with the first-hand users, your fellow music teachers, studio owners and the likes. These people probably experience the same things on their own, deal with the same problems and conflicts that you currently have, and can ultimately share their thoughts and ideas to you. With that, you may take their words and experiences into consideration but not totally influencing your decisions and techniques.

Music Teacher Software These online programs and applications, which are highly designed for music or even guitar teachers, can help you manage your schedule, organize your lessons, handle administrative tasks, and many others automatically and electronically without compromising quality, accuracy and efficiency of the results. Automatic updates on changes, upgrades and modifications are being sent to you on a regular basis; yet, you still have the full control over it – monitoring and managing all your music teaching needs.

Online forums and discussions An internet forum is an online discussion site that can also be referred as a message board. Originated as the contemporary equivalent of bulletin board and a technological evolution of the like, these online forums and discussions are web-based applications that are comprised of user-generated contents. People participating in an internet forum or online board may cultivate social bonds and interest groups for a topic may form from the discussions. Live chats and conferences may also be held in these media of communication.

E-book Library for Guitar Teachers I am sure you have heard about e-books (electronic books) that are usually in e-text forms, downloadable and readable through personal computers, laptops, notebooks and even cellular phones. Mostly in pdf format, e-books are electronically published, simultaneously produced and generally made available to a wide variety of readers. Though e-books focus on a limited topic or area, these online digital books are exclusively designed for a more specific audience. Like in our case, music or guitar teachers have their own sets or lists of available e-books online.

Jumat, 06 November 2009

music...
How To Compose Music - Creative Ideas

Starting a composition is a difficult task. Getting your inspirations, thinking creatively, applying your creative thoughts to your music and supplementing your ideas with additional composition are all difficult tasks to accomplish.

For starters, your current state of mind will greatly affect the music you write – whether you feel angry, joyful or sad chances are your musical composition will in some way reflect this mood.

Different times of day and different seasons affect your composing as well as current affairs and any stress’s you might have.

The variety of factors that can influence your composition periods are immense and hopefully these few pointers will demonstrate some methods of breaking out of the psychological restraints placed on you.

• Colours – If you are looking to compose a piece of music based around a certain mood find a relevant colour that matches for instance orange gives the impression of energy and drive. Eventually you will learn to bias your mood to suit the composition you are aiming for.
• Character – it is well known for actors to really get inside the character they are portraying through their acting. Understanding key emotions and various behaviours help the actors ‘ live ‘ as their proposed character. If you are creating a theme for a character (think darth vaders theme tune) you need to be demonstrating and describing that character through sound. If you follow the same process as an actor would you will eventually unravel hidden details that will help refine your composition, make it more realist and detailed and allow for it to be much more creative and expressive.
• Nature – a lot of creativity and inspiration can be got by observing nature. From birds communicating through a song like speech to the rustle of leaves in a summer breeze. Trying to emulate nature is an excellent way to begin a sound-scope – or incorporating nature into a character theme for example to express an angelic quality, singing like the birds (fast trills on piccolo or glissandos on the violin)
• Memories – another great source to tap into is your memories. A lot of emotion will go into compositions that are personal in some way to yourself. Spend a few minutes reflecting on your past – try to imagine the memory in great detail – sounds, smells, colours the weather – anything that will give you a good image and story to compose about.

These are just a few sources for inspiration – use your imagination – it has never ending possibilities!

With so many possibilities to compose about and now that your creativity is running, the next area to discuss is music theory.
The last thing that you want to happen is to have all these wonderfully creative ideas for your composition but being held back by the lack of musical knowledge.

A rugby player could develop his passing techniques and his scrum techniques but if he doesn’t know the rules of the game he won’t be able to perform during a game.

Although music composition and as a whole is not bound by any rules you still need the knowledge of writing music – in the same way as a poet needs a knowledge of his language to write a poem.

Some of the key areas you should know about and be constantly revising are:

• The Staff, Bar Lines, Clefs, Time Signatures.
• Note Values, Rests, Phrasing, Rhythm
• Articulation, Instrument Specific Techniques (pizz, con sord)
• Key Signatures, Circle of Fifths, Accidentals, Cadences
• Major, Minor, Diminished, Pentatonic, Diatonic Scales
• Modes
• Chords, Extensions, Inversions, Sequences, Arpeggios
• Instrument Ranges, Timbres of Each Instrument, Difficult Areas of an Instrument (The break on clarinet for instance or seventh position for trombones)

Of course it is not absolutely essential you know about all of this but it will mean that your creativity is weakened due to lack of a means to fully communicate.

Use music theory books – go through them and notate comments on the pages, take notes on to blank flash cards to memorize scales and extended chords, use past music theory exam papers to test and analyze your knowledge and then act on your weak areas, purchase a aural perception CD to recognize different cadences and the general sounds achieved from different combinations of notes and chords – there are many ways to learn all of this but find the way that you are comfortable with and stick to it.

Finally the last piece of advice in this article is to keep your composing active.

Aim to compose a short piece of music each day, maybe before you go to bed you can reflect on your day through a composition. Mix it up – compose for different orchestrations and different abilities.

Composing is challenging but by keeping active like this will greatly benefit you and your compositions – and you never know – you may accidentally stumble upon your masterpiece!



This article is free for reproduction providing that it maintains its original form and an active link to www.realmusicproduction.com is present. Edward Droscher is the founder of Real Music Production and works to develop music education systems privately and in schools as well as composing and arranging music for film, TV, and musical theatre. For more information or details on music composition please visit www.realmusicproduction.com/composition.php

Kamis, 05 November 2009

musik

music...
11 Damaging Mistakes Guitar Players Make and How To Avoid Them
by: Tom Hess

i


Do you know how some guitar players practice most days of the week, work hard, and are passionate about their guitar playing, but they always struggle to be able to play guitar the way they want? They are frustrated because they don’t improve fast enough, begin doubting their guitar playing potential, or even feel discouraged or angry with themselves when thinking about how long it is taking them to become a better guitar player.

Can you relate to that? I sure can, I just described myself 15 years ago.

There are specific reasons why guitar players go through such frustration and disappointment. Here are 11 key mistakes guitar players make and repeat over and over again that you should definitely avoid.

1. Teaching Yourself To Play Guitar. Many people attempt to teach themselves how to play guitar. Yes, it’s true that some well known players were ‘somewhat’ self taught, but I do not suggest following that strategy even if your favorite player was self taught. If you are 100% sure that you can build powerfully effective learning and training systems on your own, that's great. However, if you are like most of us, doing it alone is the hardest, most time-consuming, stressful, and frustrating way to learn anything. This is a mistake that you should avoid. Some guitar players think it will impress others if they say, "I am a self taught guitar player". That statement might impress a few inexperienced people, but being self taught is not a 'badge of honor'. Would you rather impress others with your guitar playing or with an unimportant statement about your guitar playing? I'm not criticizing self taught guitar players, I'm only saying that there is no advantage to being self taug ht… and no, it is not true that being 'self taught' makes us more 'original'. In fact, the opposite is usually true.

2. Taking Guitar Lessons From Ineffective Guitar Teachers. Unfortunately, most electric guitar teachers receive ZERO training on how to teach guitar. What is worse is that the vast majority of teachers do little or nothing to improve their guitar teaching skills. Want some proof? Use google’s keyword tool . Type in this keyword phrase: ‘improve guitar teaching skills’, ‘guitar teaching skills’, or ‘guitar teaching training’ and you will find that less than 10 searches per month are done for these topics at google! Of course there are some highly effective electric guitar teachers around, but there are a whole lot more ineffective teachers. Here is a free resource on how to tell the difference between the good guitar teachers and the mediocre ones, free guide: how to find a guitar teacher: http://tomhess.net/HowToChooseAGuitarTeacher.aspx

3. Seeking New Guitar Information (tricks, tips, tab) Without A Proven Strategy To Reach Your Specific Musical Goals. We need information, advice, help and music to play, but without a proven strategic learning and training process that is specific to you, your skill level, your musical style and what you want to be able to do as a guitar player, information won’t get you where you want to go. It is better to first seek help in developing a customized strategy for you to become a better guitar player. After that strategy is in place, then it is time to deal with learning the right information.

4. Not Knowing Specifically What You Want To Be Able To Play. Most guitar players are not specific enough when they think about (or tell others about) what they want to be able to do with their guitar. To say, "I want to play whatever I wish to play” is too vague. How can you (or your guitar teacher) develop a specific and effective guitar training strategy unless the goals you have are specific? It's like saying you want to be a great athlete, how can you effectively train with such a vague goal? Sure there are things you can do to become faster, stronger, more flexible or whatever, but it's much easier if you first get specific such as, I want to train to be a gymnast, or a long distance runner, or a body builder. Yes you can still improve without a strategy, but it will take a lot longer and be much more frustrating. You can always change your goal later if you discover you want to do something else instead.

5. Not Enough Focus On Things That Matter Most To Making You A Better Guitar Player. Have you fallen into the trap of practicing guitar without focusing on the specific things that can quickly begin to improve your guitar playing? Many people really do not understand and apply this concept in enough detail…. for example, I have a student named Mark who used to take lessons from another teacher in the past. Mark was studying sweep picking arpeggios with his previous teacher, and was making some progress. However Mark did not understand what ‘specific’ things he needed to focus on first before attempting to master the sweep picking arpeggios he was practicing. This was holding him back and making him feel very frustrated. Mark’s previous teacher only knew how to ‘teach’ arpeggios and general sweep picking concepts. He did not really know how to “train” Mark with the specific things to focus on and how to overcome the challenges Mark was having. If you would like to see a small sample of this check out this short sweep picking video lesson: http://tomhess.net/3StringArpeggiosLessonFull.aspx.

6. Too Much Focus On Things That Are Not Core To Your Goals. In addition to not focusing on specific things, many guitar players focus on the ‘wrong things’. Some enthusiastic guitar players become temporarily obsessed with things which are distractions from other things that could be helping their guitar playing much more. Here is an example: I used to get so frustrated and angry when I could not play something perfectly, I’d lock myself in my guitar practice room and say, “I’m not coming out of this room until I master this damn lick if it takes me the next 19 hours! No breaks! No food! No human contact! I’m gonna nail this!” And I did master it. On the surface, it might seem like I was on the right track and practicing in a good way…. But in reality, I was spending my time only to stop being angry and frustrated. I was not investing my guitar practice time wisely by focusing on the things that mattered most to making a better guitar player. In other words, my perseverance was commendable, but my strategy to master important long-term goals was weak. I allowed myself to be distracted. I don’t make this same mistake anymore, and I urge you to also avoid it! Focus on the things that really matter for your guitar playing right now. If you are not sure how to do this, seek out a proven guitar teacher today.

7. Focusing On The Right Things, But in The Wrong Order. This is a common mistake that even many advanced guitar players make which causes a lot of wasted time and frustration. Imagine you want to improve your ability to create your own cool guitar solos. Let’s assume that you are advanced enough to truly understand all the primary and secondary elements of composing guitar solos (or you have a guitar teacher to help you). Each of the many elements need to be learned and/or practiced in order to easily create awesome solos that you like. Where should you begin? What should you focus on first, second, third? Which of these things should you practice simultaneously? There is always a specific order in which musical skills should be learned and mastered in order to EXPLODE your musical skills. Unfortunately, that order is totally different for every person, style of music, musical goal, skill set and knowledge, so giving an example here would be pointless. My advice, find the b est teacher you can and study with him/her in order to be able to do what you want to do with your guitar much faster and easier.

8. Not Isolating Problem Areas. Few guitar players are aware of the small things that hold them back in big ways. Because these little imperfections seem insignificant to us, we often ignore them. The truth is, small hinges open big doors. In the video mentioned above I explained how allowing your guitar pick to lose its momentum when you are ‘not picking’ a note on the guitar makes your playing slow and sloppy…. which will make you feel very frustrated. This is why I was sure to make a special point to help you avoid that mistake. Check out the small sample sweep picking video for more details: http://tomhess.net/3StringArpeggiosLessonFull.aspx .

9. Learning And Practicing Guitar In A Step By Step Linear Process. Does following a linear step by step approach to learning, practicing and mastering guitar seem like common sense good to you? Yes it does… And that is why guitar players who follow such a path are NOT great guitar players. I’m going to let you in an insider’s secret… The truth is, following a linear approach to learning guitar, practicing guitar, and mastering guitar is the NUMBER ONE REASON WHY “GOOD GUITAR PLAYERS” STRUGGLE TO BECOME “GREAT GUITAR PLAYERS”… I originally thought I would write an article on this one point alone, but I think you will learn this concept better in another short video I recorded while I was doing a recent guitar instructional clinic tour a few months ago. Check out this free sample from my clinic on how to practice guitar http://tomhess.net/LinearVsGeometricApproach.aspx .

10. Practicing Guitar In The Same Way Your Favorite Guitar Players Practice Guitar. Have you ever read about how your favorite guitar players practice guitar and then tried to repeat the same practice routine? Yes, I’ve made this mistake too! It seems natural to use a similar guitar practice schedule that our favorite guitar players are using. This is a mistake, because your current guitar skill level and knowledge of music is probably very different from your favorite player. His/her challenges and needs are likely not the same as yours.

Professional guitar players practice for different reasons than most amateur players do. For example, before recording a new album I will practice very differently compared to the period before going on tour. Once I’m actually on tour my practice routine changes drastically again. The rest of the year my practicing schedule changes yet again. This happens because in each case my challenges and goals are totally different. When my guitar students ask me, “Tom, how do you practice guitar?” I’m careful not to let my students assume that they should practice the same way that I do. Your practice schedule and strategy needs to be built around YOU and you only! If you need help building your own practice schedule, email me directly.

11. Learning From Too Many Different Sources Of Information. There will always be many learning opportunities and various paths to take, but it is critical that you do not get distracted into following a piece of advice from one person, then another piece of advice from another person and then follow more resources from somewhere else and so on and so on... while different people may have some good ideas to offer, the fact is, distraction is a big reason why many guitar players who are actively learning, don't really move forward quickly... these people are always busy following totally different resources, teachers, philosophies, instructional videos, free online guitar lessons, but all of this leads them to take one step forward, then 2 steps to the right, then one step forward, then 3 steps to the left, then one step backward, then two to the right, then 1 step forward and then another step to the left...

An illustration of this is shown below. The first path is obviously the most direct way to arrive to your goals. The second path is the inefficient approach filled with many distractions that come from various pieces of advice from many sources:

http://tomhess.net/files/images/articles/11BigMistakes/StepsToGoals.jpg

Once you have an effective strategy to become the guitar player you want to be, ALWAYS stay focused on it (unless your goals radically change)!! The very best way to do this is to have ONE primary guitar teacher who helps you to become the musician you really want to be.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't take advice from other people too, but you should have one 'primary' source of information, training and coaching, and see the other advice as an additional resource, but do not become distracted by it.

Download this free guide on how to find the best guitar teacher with proven teaching strategies, proven training strategies and proven results so that you become the awesome guitar player you want to be and play the guitar the way you’ve always wanted to play.