Guitar Lessons

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Updated

07-Mar-10

GUITAR

In no particular order, here are just some of the things that we will cover (age adjusted of course).

· The guitar

· Strings (Gauge, Wound strings)

· Frets / Fret level (Intonation)

· Notes (open) / fretted notes

· Parts of the guitar: Neck, Body, Nut, End pin, Tuners, Bridge

· Pick-ups / controls (electric)

· Guitar Care / Maintenance

· Cleaning / Mfg Recommendations

· Storage, Heat / Humidity, Tension /Neck bow

· Holding the guitar

· Posture (Seated / Standing)

· Hands

· Finger numbering, Calluses / Fingernails

· Finger exercises, Hand positions

· Tuning

· Tuner / Tuning Fork / Piano

· Pitch: 5^th Fret, Harmonics

· Rudiments of Music

· Pitch / Frequency / Staff (Staves): Treble (G), Bass (F), Master

· Notes / Music Alphabet / Do Re Mi

· Accents (sharps / flats) / Time Signature /

· Rhythm / Beats per measure / Note per beat

· Scales

· Major (Ionian), Minor (Aeolian), Other modes

· Chord Theory /Strumming /Rhythm guitar

· Lead guitar / Soloing / Effect pedals (for electric guitar)

· Chord Progressions: Blues / 50’s Doo Wop / Others

· Flat picking / Finger picking

· Listening exercises / Christmas songs

GUITAR FAQ

Q: What’s the best kind of guitar?

A: The one that if it was lost or stolen, you would turn around and buy the exact one again. There are a lot of answers to that question. Instruments are a personal preference. Something that feels comfortable to play and sounds good to YOU. Often looks are important as well. There are many quality entry level guitars on the market today. Unfortunately, many of these guitars are not set up properly and can be frustrating to play. For a beginning student the guitar should be comfortable with an appealing sound and setup that doesn’t impede the learning process. An acoustic guitar is good because you don’t have to worry about an amplifier and they are available in a variety of sizes to accommodate smaller hands.

Q: What is the difference between an acoustic guitar and a classical guitar?

A: Technically, a classical guitar IS an acoustic guitar. Classical guitars, sometime call Spanish guitars, have nylon strings, a slightly smaller body, but a thicker, wider neck. The neck is usually not reinforced with a steel truss rod, it is thicker to provide more strength. The nylon strings provide a very beautiful sound. Some of the necks of the classical guitars are also wider, which allow for more room for accurate finger placement. A traditional acoustic guitar uses steel strings which require a stronger neck on the guitar. For this reason, the acoustic guitar will have a neck that is reinforced with a truss rod.

Q: What are some good brands?

A: There are more brands of guitars out these days and more showing up every day. Many are niche manufacturers that appeal to a small group of players. Unfortunately a well known brand doesn’t guarantee a good guitar. An unknown brand doesn’t mean it is a bad guitar. I hesitate to list any brands now because I have seen plenty of name brand guitars that were set up poorly and I have seen some guitars I never heard of that really played pretty well. Many top manufactures have entry level lines, that are similar but made with slightly different materials. Fender has it’s Squire line; G&L has the Tribute line; Gibson has their Epiphone line; Takamine has their Jasmine line, etc. The bulk of these entry level guitars are made overseas. The quality of these guitars is pretty good for the price.

Q: Some guitars look exactly alike, but one of them costs four times the price of the other. Why?

A: There are A LOT of ways to cut the cost of a guitar. Lower quality or less than premium wood (not all wood produces the same tones); using veneers (very thin wood) instead of solid pieces; lower quality strings; cheaper quality hardware (machine heads) or electronics (pick-ups); the saddle or nut are made of plastic instead of a harder material; parts of the guitar may not be finished (painted). This does not mean that all inexpensive guitars are bad guitars. Often the best way to improve an entry level guitar’s sound and feel is to change the strings to a quality brand. You DO NOT need to pay an a lot to get a good guitar, but you do need to be a savvy shopper. I encourage people to read quality reviews and do your research. Don’t believe everything the salesman or seller tells you, or at least check the facts.

Q: Can you get a good deal for a guitar on E Bay?

A: Yes you can BUT, as always, it depends. There are a lot of honest sellers on E Bay. And then there are the rest of them. Be sure to ask a lot of questions and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t fall in love with a guitar on E Bay as you will pay too much for it. Another source for used equipment is www.craigslist.com which lets you search local. I have purchased several guitars and other equipment this way. Check the links page for some of the local shops that sell used equipment. Competition Music on Lancaster Ave in Fort Worth has a large selection of used guitars and equipment. West End now carries some very nice consignments.

Q: Why so many brands?

A: Because there are so many variables. Body style, wood selection (both body and neck), pick-ups, fret style, finish, neck radius, etc. Some people build them just because they enjoy it. Leo Fender, the famed inventor of the Fender Stratocaster, wasn’t known for playing the guitar.

Q: Should I get an acoustic or an electric?

A: An acoustic guitar or box guitar uses the body of the guitar to resonate and amplify the sound of the guitar. The advantages are that they usually have a nice warm tone and you do not need an amplifier, which also makes it very portable. The main disadvantage (for beginners) is that the strings are usually a heavier gauge (larger diameter) which can be a little harder to play at first. Some mid range acoustics come with built in electronics (a pick up) so you can use an amplifier with your acoustic guitar. Electric guitars are usually solid body guitars that use electromagnetic pickups. While you can play an electric guitar without an amplifier, you do not get the true tones/sounds until it is plugged into an amplifier. The strings are usually a lighter gauge and the action (the distance between the strings and the neck) is lower. Some amplifiers have headphone jacks so you can play "quietly". You can learn to play the guitar using either an acoustic or electric.

Q: What size of guitar?

A: Guitars come in many sizes. It is important to get a guitar that is appropriately sized for the player for the next few years. While smaller guitars are comfortable, the neck may be too small for their hands making it difficult to get their fingers in the right place. Too large of a guitar can be just as difficult as it becomes harder to reach around the body (particularly acoustics) to play comfortably. Unfortunately there is no standard for sizes. You just have to try it to see if you like it.

Q: What about the guitars at Wal-Mart / Sam's / Target?

A: If you are buying a guitar for a beginner I would recommend some of the entry level brands such as Squire (owned by Fender), Jasmine (owned by Takamine) – these are available at the West End Guitar Store in Keller (www.westendkeller.com), Yamaha, Epiphone (owned by Gibson) or Ibanez. The bargain guitars you find at large stores tend to use very low grade materials which can result in strings that frequently fall out of tune, tuning machines with a low turn ratio making it difficult to tune, or fret boards that are not level resulting in buzzing strings. Now that does not mean the brands I mentioned will not have occasional flaws, but you have to set your expectations appropriately AND look the guitar over carefully. One main thing about these bargain guitars is that they use VERY CHEAP strings. They have to cut costs somewhere. The strings can be very difficult to tune and often will not stay in tune.

Q: What about set up?

A: Some guitars do not come adjusted properly from the factory. If you buy locally, ask the shop to set up the guitar if doesn’t seem right (adjust the bridge and nut, truss rod, intonation). It may cost a few bucks extra, but it will make playing the guitar much more enjoyable. Some items (such as a warped neck) cannot be adjusted without the services of a professional luthier in which case the repair may cost more than the guitar is worth. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and if you’re not getting the answers you want, move on! Some adjustments (such as with the truss rod) take some time to “settle in”. Keep in mind temperature and humidity changes can affect the set up and sounds of a guitar. If the seller tells you it “just needs to be adjusted”, have them do it! If they will not, walk away from it. Some necks are left in a warped position for so long that to try to correct with the truss rod may end up ruining the guitar.

Q: What about shopping online?

A: Some good deals can be found online, including free shipping. Consider a B stock or slightly blemished guitar (usually a minor defect in the finish) which will save you money. Some of the beginner kits are a good value. They may come with a case, a lesson book with a CD, guitar strap, cord, picks and possibly a stand or amplifier. I would recommend getting a hard shell case or a padded gig bag. The plain gig bags offer very little protection.

Q: What about used guitars?

A: Used guitars can be a very good value and you can find some that are in immaculate condition. I have found many decent deals on www.craigslist.com. As with anything used though, buyer beware. I have returned guitars that I purchased on E Bay because they were not “as advertised.”

Q: What about lesson books?

A: The only thing that has really changed with time is the medium being used for teaching. Newer books may have a CD or even a DVD with them which is nice. It is always good to have an audio reference. I have an electric bass instruction book from 1963 (which is OLDER than I) that has a ton of great information on music theory, although it does not cover some “newer” techniques on the electric bass such as slapping and popping. Good deals can be found at Half Priced Books as well as online at www.abebooks.com.