Top Guitar Playing Tips

Is Jamorama the Right Choice for Learning the Guitar?

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 20:52:47 +0000

When you search the web for some good online guitar lessons, Jamorama is a name that often pops up in the search results. The official website says that the e-learning package is designed for people who want to improve their skills as a guitar player. It also claims that the course contains a wide range of content that can be helpful for both beginners and advanced players. So, is their claim true? Is the course any good? Is it affordable? In this review, you will find the answers to all these questions and more.

The Jamorama Product

Jamorama is a step by step e-learning course that helps you learn to play the guitar. You can read ebooks, listen to audio tracks, and watch instructional videos to learn the a-to-z of playing the guitar. The company offers three types of courses – Standard, Deluxe, and Hardcopy.

See the full article at at www.newjamorama.com

Why Choose Online Guitar Lessons

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:33:15 +0000

Choosing online guitar lessons rather than the traditional learning environment is a good idea for many reasons. First of all is convenience. If you’re like most people, you have a full-time job and dozens of other responsibilities. Taking lessons in a traditional setting might be impossible.

The internet is always open, so to speak. You can take lessons any time of the day or night and learn at your own pace.

Cost is a big consideration for most people. Traditionally, teachers charge by the hour. The more experienced they are, the more they charge. Some charge as much as $60 per hour. Excellent internet programs are available for less than it would cost for a single hour with an experienced teacher.

Another consideration is style. Typically, a teacher will be familiar with only one genre.
You might want to learn how to play heavy metal. A classical guitarist would be unable to provide that kind of instruction.

Some of the better internet-based programs provide video lessons from different teachers schooled in all genres. You have the ability to learn classic, rock, metal or any other style in the privacy of your own home. Guitar Superstars is an example of one of the better internet programs.

Next, there is the question of how fast you want to learn. It is in a teacher’s best interest to provide lessons at a slow and steady pace since he or she gets paid by the hour. It could take a year to learn a single riff.

It makes more sense to invest a speed learning system. In as little as five minutes, you could be playing. If you continue to learn and practice for a year, you could be performing professionally.

It should be pretty obvious that online guitar lessons are the best choice in terms of convenience, cost, flexibility and speed. Now, you have to decide which internet program is the best.

The number one internet system is Guitar Superstars according to independent reviewers. Some guitarists say that it is the only system worth following. What makes it so special?
The system works for everyone regardless of their skill level. It takes you through the basic steps of learning chords and scales. From there, you learn how to play riffs and classic solos.

Instead of providing just a single set of videos, the system provides access to an online database that is updated regularly to keep everything interesting. Other online guitar lessons might last for an hour or two. This is a professional system that lasts for as long as you want to learn.

Playing the Guitar: Learning from the Pros, DVD Style

Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:17:48 +0000

The guitar is a wonderful instrument and it is easy to learn how to play it. Several people just learn how to play the guitar by doing three simple steps. One, they bought (or borrowed) a guitar; Two, they memorized the chords; the last is that they buy a lyric magazine, pick a song, and strum the guitar. This all sounds so simple but in reality it is not. Unless you know your music, you might end up sounding like a fool and end up embarrassing yourself in front of many people.

Learning how to play a guitar by watching professional guitar players do it on a DVD is really beneficial for beginners and even those who have been playing for a long time. Watching a DVD provides many advantages such as doing this in the privacy of your own home. You can also pace yourself and learn more in a shorter amount of time, back up anytime if you forgot anything, or pause. Using a DVD as a tool, you will not have to go to the hassle of looking for a private tutor and/or spend a lot of money for guitar lessons.

Watching someone else play guitar is the easiest way to learn how to do it. whether that someone is your friend, a private tutor, an artist or someone in a DVD, it is advisable to learn by watching how they do it.

Professional guitar players help other people by showing the simple steps in learning how to play a guitar in a DVD.

The first step they usually show in the video is learning how to tune the guitar. This is particularly helpful for beginners as they usually do not know how to it. This is usually done by playing EADGBE (low to high) and listening to ascertain if there is a problem with the sound. Another thing they will teach will be steps on how to replace a string and tune it again.

The next step is learning different kinds of fretting techniques and chord shortcuts to help in learning the easiest ways of plucking and strumming of the guitar. There will also be different instructions on how to create chord accompaniment when composing a new song.

These DVDs usually are packed with information and is usually focused on only one subject (facet) of guitar playing so a student can learn more about that particular part of playing the guitar.

Tips on How to Take Good Care of the Guitar

Mon, 24 May 2010 19:14:12 +0000

Many guitar players only know how to play their instrument but there are times that they forget to clean and maintain their guitar’s appearance. It is essential to take good care of the guitar’s main parts; where the main components for creating tunes and sound are located. The frets and strings need to be maintained regularly to keep them from loosing their tune and form. Here are some tips on how to take good care of the guitar.

1. Polish and clean the fingerboard of the guitar at least every six months. A person may use a soft cloth and apply lemon oil on the bridge and the fingerboard of the guitar. This will keep them from drying out when they are not in use. Always handle the guitar with care when cleaning it.

2. It is important to adjust the truss rod when he changes the string gauge of the guitar. The strings tension may vary if there is a constant change of the climate. The tension tends to tighten if the weather is cold and if the climate is humid, the strings tend to loosen.

3. He may adjust the saddle by using a little piece of cardboard that will raise the strings vertically or he may remove the shims to lower its height.

4. When the guitar is transported, it is important that the strings be loosened. It is essential to pack the peg-head portion of the case with towel or a piece of clothing to protect the body of the guitar.

5. The frets should be polished or he may use a fret dressing that will remove any cloth or lint (from packing materials) remaining on the frets; this may vary with the type of cloth the owner uses to pack his guitar.

6. He needs to make sure to snug the tuners twice a year. Tuners tend to loosen automatically because they are made of wood or metal that creates contraction at different rates. He must be careful not to over tighten the knot to avoid any cracking on the peg-head.

7. He must remember not to carry the guitar with the luggage. There are airlines that allow a person to carry a guitar along with him on the plane. He should not forget to call before going to the airport to confirm that they will allow him to “carry on” his guitar.

Taking good care of the instrument is essential to maintain its features. A person must always realize that he should not only know how to play the instrument but should also know how to take good care of his guitar as well.

Tips on How to Strum the Guitar Properly

Wed, 19 May 2010 14:44:47 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Easy Way to Play the Guitar

Wed, 19 May 2010 14:42:38 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Electric Bass Guitars Playing Techniques

Sun, 16 May 2010 21:00:12 +0000

Some people are not just content on playing their electric bass guitars. There are many techniques on how you can play your electric bass guitar. They are the following.

Sitting and Standing

Most electric bass players would play while standing up, especially those in a band. But sitting down is also accepted especially if you are playing for folk or jazz music. But whenever it is standing or sitting, bottom line is you should be comfortable with your position.

When handling your bass guitar, the ideal position would be that the bass strings cross between your belt and belly button with a slight upward angle. This would allow you to play you guitar, maximum level, even if you are sitting down or standing up. To be totally comfortable, make sure that your left hand can move from the bottom to the top of the neck and your right hand can reach all the strings. If you feel your hands are strained, adjust the height or the angle.

Fingerstyle

Fingerstyle technique is something which is rarely done nowadays. This is considered to be the oldest bass-playing technique. Picks are more commonly used to emulate or copy the fingerstyle tone. But there is nothing wrong with learning how to do both.

There are many patterns when learning how to use the fingerstyle. You can research some patterns and learn them, you can practice with one pattern and then try moving to another pattern effortlessly. There are a lot of websites that offer fingerstyle lessons. But when you are practicing and learning on your own, use a metronome since this would help you maintain time and beat. This would also help you speed up your fingerstyle picking.

Using the pick

The use of pick has been garnering much popularity, a borrowed technique from electric and acoustic guitar players. Guitarists would use pick for different reasons, some because it is easier to use, it can increase the speed of the fingers or they just like using it. Pick using can be used for different genres like rock, jazz and other styles.

There are different styles or techniques of picking, it can be alternating or sweeping downstrokes and upstrokes. There is a hybrid of alternate and sweep which is called the economy picking. Economic picking actually intends to minimize the movement of the right hand and avoid the motion of jumping over a string before you can pick it.

Slap Bass

The slap bass style became popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It would create a popping bass sound which has been one of the signature sounds of funk music. In this technique the string is pulled away from the body that when it is released it slaps on the neck creating a distinctive sound.

When a slap bass is performed during concerts and shows, it makes the bassist look really good. Which is why a lot of people are interested in mastering this technique. There are some critics of this technique too. They would quote that his can ruin the musicality of the song.

Tapping

Tapping is something very popular in European rock and in fusion or metal genre. With tapping, all you need to do is tap the strings to the frets. This would sound a note, but it is important to amplify your electric bass guitar first or you would be unable to hear the music. Hand tapping no longer involves one hand, there is the two hand tapping which is something that Van Halen uses.

Learn to Play the Guitar Fast

Sun, 16 May 2010 14:24:23 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Be a Better Guitar Player

Fri, 14 May 2010 18:05:29 +0000

Mastery in playing the guitar is categorized into three: technique, attitude, and tools. As many skills, guitar playing also comes with different techniques which differ from one person to another. This includes the approach that a person has when playing the guitar, be it for contemporary music or traditional. It is also dependent on the kind of guitar one uses. It could be an electric guitar, a classical guitar or an acoustic guitar, but the point is how the person practices and trains himself to teach the fingers the kind of music he wants to play. Look at how a player on stage moves his body as he strums his guitar, unconsciously he is using his own body technique to come up with the sound he want to express. The way a player strums is also part of a technique, be it good or bad. There are those who play fast and there are those who play lightly. Practicing the chords is a sure guarantee of playing better guitar music.

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

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

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

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

Learn to Play Guitar Overnight

Fri, 14 May 2010 18:02:09 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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