Author Archive for Matt Rushton

Don’t Buy An Electric Guitar Without Reading This Article First!

by Matt Rushton

When people come to see me play in my live band, they often ask me which electric guitar they should buy. The answer is the same everytime. I always tell them to pay more and get a professional quality electric guitar.

The problem that most people run into when buying an electric guitar is they arent willing to spend enough to get a quality instrument. The old adage you get what you pay for is certainly true when buying guitars. I can tell you from experience that if youre willing to pay a little more, youll get a much better guitar.

The biggest problem with cheap guitars is that they are uncomfortable to play. If youre learning on an instrument that isnt comfortable to play its not going to be very much fun. It takes more craftsmanship on the part of the builder to make a more comfortable guitar and thats one reason they cost more.

There are some decent beginner guitar packages out there which include the guitar, and amplifier and other accessories. This is a good way to get started but the quality of the guitars in these packages is usually quite low. I honestly feel like youre better off just laying down the extra cash right off the top for a quality guitar.

The difference between a professional quality guitars and poorly made guitars is really in the details. The way the neck, nut and bridge all work together will determine how low you can have the guitars string action. The lower the action the easier and more comfortable it will be to play. Quality guitars will have a good straight neck with smooth fret ends that don't snag on your hand.

Top of the line guitars will also have a better bridge on them. A good bridge will make your playing experience much easier. The bridge determines how well the guitar gets in tune and stays in tune. It's also one of the most important factors in determining string height.

Electric guitar pickups determine how the guitar sounds more than any other piece of the instrument. Cheaper pickups will hum and their sound will not be as clear and defined as the more expensive pickups. Professional grade guitars will always have better pickups that are matched to the guitar and each other.

Thats why I tell everyone that asks me about buying a guitar to get the absolute best that you can afford. If you buy a top of the line guitar its going to be easier to play and that will keep you playing longer. My personal top recommendation for a guitar is the Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster.

About the Author:

Matt Rushton is a working musician whose original band has opened for Sheryl Crow, Joan Jett, Barenaked Ladies and Quiet Riot. Matt also programs custom preset sound patches for the Fender Cyber-Twin SE amplifier. Matt is the writer of the website, Live Musician Central.

You’re A Good Singer And You Want To Start A Live Band

by Matt Rushton

Are you a guitar player, keyboard player, bass player, drummer or singer? If you are, then I'm sure you've thought about the possibility of playing in a live band. Playing in a live band is the next logical step to take after you've learned how to play your instrument.

How can you start your very own live band? It's as easy as meeting other musicians who are looking to join a live band of their very own. There are hundreds of musicians out there looking to play in a live band and all you have to do is find them.

What do you need to do to find other musicians looking to play in a live band? You should start by checking musician postings at your local music store. Pretty much every music store provides a bulletin board where musicians can post ads for free with the goal of finding other musicians that want to play music together.

Another important thing to do is to ask the music store for a list of music teachers who teach students to play on instruments you need to have in your band. The music teachers are a great resource for contacting students who are ready and want to play in a live band. You can build a good list of potential band members this way.

Once you have a list of musicians to contact it's time to start making phone calls. Make sure you're clear about the type of music you want to play. It's a good idea to have a list of songs you want to learn so you can make sure the musicians you contact are interested in playing the same music as you.

The next step in starting a live band is to get together with the other musicians and try playing some music. At first you just want to get together with one or two people at a time. Make sure you all have a song or two prepared to play and then simply try playing together. You'll be able to tell quickly if you are going to be able to play together or not. If you're not sure how many musicians you need, read my article about the typical live band lineup.

After you find a group of musicians who can play some complete songs together you'll have the start of your live band. Have a few easy goals to work on right from the start. An important and easy goal is to learn to play two new songs on your own before you get together again. The next time you get together you can work on playing all the songs from start to finish.

There are going to be a lot of things that will go into making your live band work and become successful. The most important thing to remember is to have a common goal and to work together to reach it. Having a goal of learning new songs every week will keep you focused and your band will just keep getting better!

About the Author:

Matt Rushton is a 27 year veteran of playing and working in a rock band. His bands have opened for Sheryl Crow, Barenaked Ladies, Joan Jett and Quiet Riot. His website Live Musician Central shares his experiences about playing in a rock band. You can learn about keeping your rock band going, resolving rock band problems, marketing your rock band and what equipment you will need to outfit your rock band.

You’ve Learned How To Play The Guitar, Now It’s Time To Start A Live Band

by Matt Rushton

Have you just learned to play guitar, keyboard, bass, drums or learned to sing? If you have, then I'm sure you've considered the possibility of starting or joining a live band. Starting or joining a live band is the next step to take once you've learned and become good at playing your instrument.

How do you go about starting your own live band? It's as easy as locating other players that would like to join a live band they could call their own. There are many fine musicians who want to play music in a live band. All you have to do is seek them out.

How do you locate other musicians and players that want to play in a live band? The easiest and most important place to check is your local music store. Almost all music stores have a posting board where musicians can put up free ads to find other musicians to play with.

After you have a contact list of musicians it's time to get on the phone and start calling. Be sure you have a good idea of the type of music you want to play. You should also have a list of songs you want to play in your band so you can make sure the musicians you contact want to play the same music as you.

The next thing to do to start your live band is to get together with the other musicians and try making some music together. At the start, you only want to get together with one or two people at a time. You'll want to make sure the other musicians know some of the same songs as you. When you get together, just try playing through the songs you all know. It should be easy to tell if you will be able to make music together or not. If you're not sure how many musicians you need, read my article about the typical live band lineup.

When you finally get a group of musicians that can play a complete song from start to finish you'll have the foundation of your live band. It's very important to set some easy goals right from the start. An excellent goal to have is learning 2 new songs before you get together to practice again. Then at your next band practice, you can work on playing all the songs you know from start to finish.

About the Author: