Archive for the 'Learn Guitar' Category

Acoustic Guitar Tabs - What Are They?

Published
by
Mark Thompson
on June 10, 2008
in Learn Guitar
. 0 Comments
by Mark Thompson

Guitar music has its own special musical notation. Rather than a guitarist using the standard musical notations which other musicians use i.e., staffs, notes, note values, ledger lines, key signatures and time signatures. Guitar players will use a much simpler operational type of musical notation, known as the tab. The advantage to using acoustic guitar tabs is that you can learn to play guitar without needing to learn to read music in the normal sense. Tabs (tablatures) are not only used by guitarists but by other people who play any kind of stringed instrument.

When you start to learn how to read these tabs, you will see in front of you a diagram with various different lines, numbers and dots on it. The lines on the diagram represent the strings on the guitar the top one being string number one and the bottom line being string number six. As for the numbers that appear on the diagram these represent the frets which are found on the neck or fingerboard of the guitar and which is where you fingers will need to be placed in order for the right note to be produced. Yet if you see a Zero (0) on the line this then tells you that you need to leave this string open (no finger placed on it), where as the letter “X” informs you that the sound that this particular string produces needs to be muffled.

However, if you are not sure by what we mean when we say fret, this is a located between two of the metal bars that are found on the fingerboard (neck) of the guitar. In most cases, a good quality acoustic guitar will have between 21 and 24 frets on the neck of it. It is the dots on the diagram that clearly indicates to you the position in which your finger(s) should be placed on the neck of the guitar.

When you look at an acoustic guitar tab and the numbers are placed one after the other, on the same line it is these numbers, which show you that fret to use on a particular string, and then you pluck only that string. In addition, because the numbers are noted one after the other this further tells you that you play one note at a time.

But if you find yourself in a situation when reading the diagram that you need to place each finger on to a separate string and on the same fret this is indicating that you then need to play these notes at the same time. The easiest and most effective way of doing this is by strumming on the strings rather than plucking them all at the same time.

But as well as the tabs mentioned above there are other types that you will have to learn about including hammer on, bends, slides and pull offs if you want to be read acoustic guitar tabs. The letter “H” denotes the Hammer On. Whilst Pull Offs are denoted by the letter “P” and Bends by the letter “B” as for slides these are denoted by a slash “/”. So for example, you may see a notation for a Hammer On, which reads 7h9 on the diagram in front of you.

Once you have learnt the basics of reading tabs, carry out a search online for easy acoustic guitar tabs. Then select a very basic song that you know well and start to play around with it. However, it is important to note that reading and then playing acoustic guitar tabs does take some getting used to. But you will be surprised at just how quickly you can pick them up once you know how to read them.

Also being able to hear the song that you have been learning the acoustic guitar tabs for makes it much easier to learn as well. So even if you do think that you remember how the song goes when listening to it but actually being able to read the tabs as well will help you to learn and understand the rhythm and detail of the song as well.

Using acoustic guitar tabs in order to learn how to play this instrument will be much more fun than you first thought. You will soon find that you are able to play several different songs all of which you can then use to entertain friends and family as well as yourself.

About the Author:
Above we have provided details on what acoustic guitar tabs are, but if you would like to find out more about acoustic guitars including learn how to play then click on the link Acoustic Guitar Information.

Hannah Montana Audition Tape

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by
admin
on February 24, 2008
in Guitar Performance and Learn Guitar
. 0 Comments

Miley Cyrus auditioned for the part of Hannah Montana when she was only 12, in 2005. Now you can see her audition tape, and how she got the role. I guess having Billy Ray Cyrus in the business helped - he plays her father in the show as well - but there is no denying there is talent revealed on the video.

Miley has gone on to star in the hugely popular Hannah Montana “Best of Both Worlds” concert tour, and become a teenage multimillionaire. She is set to win further acclaim as a movie star in the upcoming Hannah Montana movie.

Check out where you can see her playing and get Hannah Montana concert tickets.

If you feel inspired, why not get a Hannah Montana guitar and start learning to play the guitar?

Choosing Acoustic Guitars

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admin
on December 2, 2007
in Acoustic Guitar, Guitar and Learn Guitar
. 0 Comments

Acoustic guitars have been the standard by which all other instruments are judge for decades now, and they seem to show no signs of diminishing in importance. Before the invention of modern amplification systems, the acoustic guitar was not universally the preferred instruments of songwriters. Acoustic guitars, after all, are relatively quiet when compared to a banjo or an accordion. Nowadays, however, you can play guitar acoustic music as loudly or as quietly as you wish. Although everyone recognizes the sound of a guitar, it never seems to get old. From folk to rock to jazz, guitar is probably the best place to start.

Once you have advanced a little bit, guitar playing gets a lot easier. When you are first starting, however, it is extremely difficult. The first few times you play acoustic guitars, it can be very frustrating. Your fingers hurt when you push down on the strings, the chords don’t sound like they should, and nothing works out right. Persevere! Acoustic guitars aren’t popular simply because of their melodious sound. It is an open secret that they are extremely easy to play compared to many other instruments.

Of course, before you even start playing, you have to pick out your acoustic guitar. This is a subject of some debate among guitar experts. Should you buy a beginner guitar, or should you go all out and get something more expensive? Many people believe that beginner guitars are the way to go. That way, if you don’t like playing, you haven’t wasted too much money. Other people believe that you shouldn’t confine yourself to cheap acoustic guitars. If you have the money, you should buy a really good ax. That way, it will be a joy to play. The better it sounds, the more you’re going to want to play it!

In my opinion, the best approach is a compromise. Whether you are getting acoustic electric guitars, nylon string classical guitars, or some other kind, it shouldn’t be the bottom-of-the-line. Get something that is decent, but not overly expensive. You can usually find acoustic guitars on sale for less than 200 dollars. Take someone who is experienced along to help you pick it out. Choosing the right guitar, after all, is crucial. You will be sticking with that instrument for months or even years to come, so you had better choose carefully. You don’t want an instrument that will be hard to play and, worse, will not even stay in tune.

Buying A Guitar Amp For A Learner

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admin
on December 1, 2007
in Guitar Accessories and Learn Guitar
. 0 Comments

In order to play an electric guitar, first you must have a guitar amp. You don’t need an amp for an acoustic guitar of course, although some can be hooked up to an amp to make sure that those listening can hear.

Guitar amps can be expensive, and if you have a learner guitar player in your home, you might not want to buy an amp until you know what you are getting into. There are two types of amp you might want to get, for practice and performance. However  you should not invest in either of them unless you know your learner is serious about playing for the long run.

A really good performance guitar amp can cost over a thousand dollars or more. These are the amps that those who play professionally use because they need the best sound they can get. One brand of guitar amp that many professionals rely on in Marshall, but there are also other good brands available. However, buying that type of expensive guitar amp for a child that may or may not continue to play might not be a wise investment.

Other than the larger guitar amp that most performers use to play, there are smaller ones that many use to practice. These do not sound very good if you are performing, but they are perfectly adequate for practicing at home. They don’t play too loud, but they might go louder than you might think when you look at them. The practice size guitar amp is usually about a foot tall and a foot wide, and are easily carried where they need to go. They also have a jack for headphones when someone needs to practice around others. For the new guitar player, this is the way to go until you realize they are serious about their endeavor and want to perform. At first, buying a second hand practice amp that has been used, or an introductory one that is not that expensive to being with, might be the best idea.

What parents should also remember when buying a guitar amp is that they do draw a lot of power. They may also have parts that must be replaced on occasion, and they can be a bit pricey. Tack that on to the price of a full sized performance guitar amp, and you can have quite an investment on your hands. If for some reason your child gives it up, you could always find someone to buy your used amp, but you almost certainly won’t nearly recoup your purchase price if you bought new. That is why it is always a good idea to buy a practice amp first, and then the larger one only when it appears the hobby is here to stay.