Nov 19 2007

Guitar Maintenance And Care

Your guitar will certainly give you more consistent quality sound along with a much longer life span if the correct care and attention is provided. Purchasing some accessories that are essential for the care of your guitar is vital if you are serious about playing the guitar. There is a well known saying that is certainly true, and that is “a guitar player is only as good as the sound and quality of the guitar he is playing”.

A hard shell case is the first item which should be purchased, in order to ensure the safety of your guitar during transportation to and from different locations, where you will be playing your guitar. A soft or cloth “gig bag” is something which many people use for their guitar, these bags zip up and offer protection to the exterior surface of the guitar. The only problem with this type of bag, is that during transportation, the tuning nuts on the end of the guitar neck can move which results in the guitar becoming out of tune, as there is nothing to protect them from being bumped.

Cracks and actual punctures can also happen to the guitar when using a gig bag, if there is any kind of impact when loading and unloading the guitar. Whereas a hard shell case will in actual fact prevent this from occurring as there is sufficient space between the neck and body of the guitar and the case. The case is designed to take impact whilst keeping the guitar secure on the inside and keeping it in tune. A hard shell case is a more expensive than a gig bag, however that little extra investment will provide your guitar with better protection.

A guitar stand is another item which should be purchased for the care of your guitar. The guitar should always be rested on a stand when not being played. Many people choose to lean a guitar against a wall or a couch when not in use, however, this is not suitable. If the guitar is not stored in the correct manner, or not placed on a guitar stand, then the neck of the guitar can become warped, which will make it more difficult to play.

It is necessary to apply more force to the strings when playing the guitar if it is warped, as the neck increases the distance between the strings and the neck. This can result in very sore and blistered fingers, which is absolutely unnecessary. By possessing a guitar stand, the guitar can be kept in the same location when it is not in use and also prevent accidents.

A tuning device is the final item which should be purchased. You will become better at tuning your guitar the longer that you play simply by using your ear. However to begin with, you will need something that informs you of the exact sound and accurate tuning. Many of the tuners are very simple to use. It can be very embarrassing when your guitar is not tuned correctly, especially if you are playing to an audience and singing at the same time.

About the author: Kevin Sinclair is the publisher and editor of MusicianHome.com, a site that provides information and articles for musicians at all stages of their development.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Nov 16 2007

History of Classical Guitar

According to an oft-quoted phrase we are all adolescent intellectuals without history. So it makes sense to explore the noble history of classical guitar, which has travelled a long way only to carve a niche for itself in the world of music globally.

This history would be incomplete without naming the legendary guitarist Luther Antonio de Torres (1817-1892) who made significant changes in the construction of the newly framed modern version these guitars. He is also considered as the founder of the modern classical guitar school.

This unique history can be traced back to the Near East. The archaeologists found its representation in myriad forms in the excavations of Babylonia. Also referred to as a Spanish guitar, classical guitar heralds from the family of instruments called chordophones. They have been a part of the ancient musical tradition for over 100 years.

Spanning over four centuries history classical guitar has been a subject of great debate and controversy. Many earlier instruments also contributed a great deal in shaping its history. Many great players and composers also contributed to an amazing extent in shaping up this amazing journey of this popular instrument.

The popularity of the guitar was on the downslide with the emergence of the piano in the middle of the 19th century. Francisco Tarrega (1852-1909) initiated a whole new style of playing which added a new definition to the entire history of the classical guitar.

Some of the earlier instruments, which shaped the history are as follows

Renaissance guitar
Baroque guitar

The size and shape has been the same over 100 years.The modern version of the ancient guitars has evolved over the following few sources

The Lute
The Vihuela
The Renaissance five-string guitar.

Some of the legendary names associated with the field of guitar are as follows

Gaspar Sanz
Fernando Sor
Mauro Giuliani
John Williams
Julian Bream

The most accepted convention these days is to use the fingertips to play on the guitar. However, in the bygone era it was the prevelant custom to use flesh over nail to play the guitar.

Some of the renowned players who preferred using fingertips over nail include-

Fernando Sor
Francisco Tarrega

Since, there is more space between the strings on a typical classical guitar it is easier to handle it for amateurs. Some of the cardinal features of this popular instrument are as follows-

It uses nylon strings.
It generally makes use of a rich colour palette.

Hogging the musical scene globally classical guitars are a player’s delight. With changing times it has undoutedly evolved a lot. Technologial advancements may have given guitars a backseat with newer instruments like synthesizers hogging the limelight these days. But, still the old guitar has retained all its alluring charm and reigns supreme over other classical instruments which have made the entire musical journey all the more enticing for the listeners through ages.

About the Author: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, classical guitars, drums, drum sets, and synthesizers, keyboards.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com

Nov 16 2007

Learning To Play A Guitar

A guitar is described as one of the most ancient instruments that can be used in any style of music. However, learning to play a guitar is not always as simple as it may sound. A guitar can be played acoustically or electronically. A few simple tips on learning to play a guitar will help you pick it up more easily.

Tips on learning to play a guitar

Get Rid of Discouragement
The first step, while learning to play a guitar or any other instrument for that matter, is to believe in yourself. During the initial days, as a learner you may often feel that this is not your cup of tea. You may often find yourself saying, this is too difficult.

Playing any instrument is difficult and initially learning to play a guitar can seem like a gigantic task. You may feel discouraged or bored. As a learner you may have to practice a note or chord several times at the beginning. Do not give up. Even after several tries if you feel you are nowhere near the actual sound, do not feel discouraged. Give yourself a break and get back at it with a fresh mind.

A teacher
Find yourself a good guitar teacher. There is no substitution to a good guitar teacher. While learning to play a guitar one can invest in as many as books and videos they want for learning how to play a guitar. But in order to become a perfectionist you need to learn your lessons from a teacher.

A good teacher. A teacher who has been teaching professionally for years will not only have the right experience but will also have the correct wisdom. Wisdom and experience are necessary for learning to play a guitar perfectly and to become a proper guitar player. Books, videos, and the Internet are helpful but will not provide the learner with a feedback nor the ability to correct.

For correctly learning to play a guitar a teacher is required. A good teacher will help correct the wrong techniques. A good teacher will help you get rid of bad forms that may later develop as your bad habits. Besides all, a good teacher provides you the encouragement that you are always looking.

Practice makes a man perfect
True as the saying goes, practice does bring in perfection. The more you practice while learning to play a guitar, the more familiar you will be with the instrument and sound. With time you will feel more at ease with the instrument. Draw up an effective practice schedule. One may not necessarily practice for long but one should practice daily.

Get comfortable
While learning to play a guitar it is very necessary that you are in a comfortable surrounding with no interruptions. Interruptions can kill your concentration and pull you out of a good rhythm.

In order to be more comfortable just before you start, stretch your fingers and warm your hands. A few more simple exercises for your fingers will help you move your fingers more smoothly over the fret board. Also, be seated in a correct posture.

Timing
One of the most important factors that you need to remember while learning to play a guitar is maintaining a good timing. A lot of professional teachers start off with the help of a metronome.

A metronome is an instrument that helps you maintain a steady timing while playing. If as a learner, you start using a metronome from the first day you can develop good control and better playing habits.

About the Author: Victor Epand is an expert consultant for guitars, drums, and synthesizers. You can find the best marketplace for guitars, drums, and synthesizers at these 3 sites: guitars, drums, drum sets, and synthesizers, keyboards.
Source: http://www.articlesbase.com