Guitar elements photo by electric-guitars-guide.com

Everything comes easier with understanding

For quite some time now, people have been focusing on typical, common ways of learning to play the guitar. Not only that they used to follow the rules to the letter, but at some point, people seemed to forget about the passion and the love for music and the instrument itself. At this point, it is no surprise that most people lose interest in that particular instrument in no time at all. What the individual should understand at first is that there is no easy way to learn to play the guitar. Work and dedication are the keywords of the process, not to mention the fact that knowing which style or technique suits you best may provide faster results. Within this article, we shall discuss a different approach to the idea of learning to play the guitar. Remember, the tips discussed here are excellent in the beginning, nevertheless, in order to learn to play well (or to a level where you might gain some audience) you will need to constantly brush your skills and never give up.

Preparation is the key

You do not need expensive equipment, or dozens of handbooks to teach you how to play the guitar. In the beginning, you need to make sure that all your equipment is in the right order – that everything has a high degree of functionality and that they are all tuned properly. Note that it is rather disappointing to hear how bad everything sounds even if you are doing everything by the book just because you did not tune everything correctly. This is a perfect example of making something harder than it already is. Find a quiet place and unleash your skills, but only after you go over the preparations. At this point you will be able to concentrate on the important part of your process – the learning how to play the guitar part.

Carlos Santana

Learn more about your guitar

At first, most people consider their guitar as their instrument – no, that is not the right approach. Remember to cherish your guitar, and learn as much as you can about it. This will ensure that you will now where every button, every string on your guitar is and you will know what it does. Most guitars sound

different from one another therefore learning where each sound can be found (on a rough scale, obviously) can be quite helpful when learning to play the guitar. Why do you think John Lennon kept the same guitar for almost 6 years (the bass guitar you can hear in songs such as If I Fell)? You will soon notice that this reconnaissance process will allow you to gain more experience.

Know your level

One mistake people do when starting to play any instrument is aiming too high. While it is okay to aim high on the long run, in the beginning it would be wiser to consider easy tasks which take little time to complete and will give you the feeling that you are progressing into a direction. Note that nobody has been born with a guitar in his or her arms; therefore, it is impossible to become Jimi Hendrix or Carlos Santana overnight. Do not give up just because you feel that your skills are not as high as you might want them to be after only 5 or 6 days.

Here are some video pointers

Learning to play any instrument can seem hard in the beginning, and without a doubt, it can be time and energy consuming. However, if you are serious about your goals, and you truly want to learn to play the guitar, you will notice in time that the process is quite fulfilling. Here are some videos and a huge selection of different types of guitar lessons you can download and learn how to play guitar quickly.

Feel free to leave some comments or even some tips for other visitors in the comments section below. You can also bookmark this page with one of the bookmarks below if you want to find this page again or share it with others.

A debate rages on in the drumming world! You might think that the debate centers on brands of drums, or different styles of drums. However, you would be wrong. This debate centers on the use of electronic drums in the music industry.

There are two very strong opinions regarding the use of electronic drums or drum machines. Some musicians and music producers love the use of these kits. Others, hate them, and strongly disagree with the use of electric drum sets in the mainstream music industry.

Types Of Electric Drums

The main types of commonly used electric drums are:

Drum machines
Electric drum sets

Drum machines are a widely used type of electric machine that have become very popular in almost all types of music. A drum machine is a small box with buttons on it that can be programmed for a variety of different sounds, and beats. A drum machine can be programmed to play a continuous loop or simply a short set.

Advantages of Drum Machines:

Convenient and portable
Easily programmable
Simulate a variety of sounds
Excellent for faster beats

Because drum machines are so small, they are extremely convenient and portable which makes them a popular choice for many musicians. For some bands, if they have to hire a drummer for live shows, it can simply be much more cost effective to use a drum machine in place of a live drummer.

In fact, in some cases when a drummer has quit the band, the band will simply use a drum machine in place of the person. This strategy is more cost effective, and often easier than dealing with different personalities.

Drum machines can be programmed for almost any sound imaginable, and with a little practice, they are easily programmable. Today’s drum machines can store a wide variety of beats, songs and programs. Therefore, an entire set can be programmed into these machines.

While electronic machines are not perfect for every type of music, they are often thought of as more effective than acoustic drums for dance music. The beats that are required for dance music are very fast and often a live drummer cannot keep up with them. In these situations, electronic machines are perfect.

Electronic Drum Sets

An electronic drum kit is another very popular form of technology that is used in drumming. These kits consist of one or more electric pads that are grouped together and create sounds when they are struck. Most of the time, traditional drumsticks are used for these kits.

Electronic drum sets can be programmed with a wide variety of sounds and can be made to sound very similar to an acoustic drum set. Often, one or two electronic drums are used alongside acoustic drums to simulate the sound of a missing drum. For example, if you do not want to lug around a large bass drum, an electric drum can be used in its place.

Controlling the volume on these sets is as easy as turning a knob to turn down the volume, which makes them the perfect drum set for apartment dwellers, or those musicians with roommates or cranky parents. Quiet practice is a big benefit of the electric drum.

Many argue that electric drum sets are tacky. Because they were first introduced in the 1980’s, electric drums quickly got a reputation of being cheesy. In addition, many believe that the only thing that electronic drums are good for is for play, but not for real musicians.

The Argument Against Electric Drums

The biggest argument against electronic drum sets or drum machines is that they lack feeling. For many musicians, playing music is all about the feeling and emotion that they can project through their sounds. They argue that when you take a live drummer and replace them with a machine, you lack the feeling and the quality of emotion.

For some types of music such as jazz and soul, machines are not appropriate at all because these are genres that exude feeling and emotional meaning in the sounds created. Therefore, many musicians feel that it is extremely tacky to use a machine in these genres.

Although a drum machine is small and portable, you cannot improvise with a machine. It is programmed to play a loop and that is it. There is not room for any impromptu changes and the rest of the musicians must be on beat, or it will be very noticeable. A machine cannot accompany a soloist either. Moreover, one of the biggest arguments with a machine is that it is not very nice to look at!

Can authentic sounds truly be replicated by a machine? That question is the basis for another argument against electronic drums. Many believe that as good as they are, computers cannot recreate an authentic acoustic drum set. Critics claim that machines sound hollow and tinny and not at all like drums should sound.

What Is The Solution?

As with any argument, there will not be a one size fits all solution. The best solution for each individual and each band is to do what they like best, and what suits their sound. Many bands and musicians have created a compromise by using acoustic drums with a mixture of electronic drum pads and drum machines. By intermingling the two types of drums, you have the technology to create some new and interesting beats, as well as the authentic sound and emotional feel of acoustics. Perhaps a compromise is the best solution to this debate.

About the Author – Kevin Brown is successful author and publisher of many informative websites including http://www.drum-sets-now.com . His websites offer tips and advice on a wide array of topics including drum sets, electronic drums, percussion instruments and more. Learn drums now by clicking here before too much more time passes.

If you want to learn to play lead guitar then you already know it is a combination of theory, technique, and natural talent. Everyone wants to be the best lead guitarist they can be. Everyone knows that you have to address the basics such as reading music and listening to music but most don’t think about the really important things that will set you apart from other people who want to learn to play lead guitar.

There are six important tips that you will want to remember.

- Technique

- Position to Learn

- Hand Position

- Attitude

- Discipline

- Leadership Skills

Technique

Technique, of course, is one of the key elements you must address when you learn to play lead guitar. It is really important to get a good teacher to teach you the technique skills and to help you to perfect them. Many famous, and not so famous, lead guitarists will tell you they never stop learning, never stop practicing and never stop perfecting their style. Playing guitar is and expression of your talent, you need to practice and perfect your craft.

Position to Learn

Most people don’t realize that when you first start to learn to play lead guitar it is helpful to practice sitting down. This gives you much more control over your instrument and allows you to concentrate on the actual music you are practicing. This might be difficult for some but whether you decide to sit or to remain standing you must always remember to have both feet flat on the ground and to sit with your back straight. This will help you to avoid back strain or injury.

Hand Position

When you learn to play lead guitar you will soon realize that one of the most important things to learn is how to position your hands. If you start from the beginning with the correct hand positions you will find it much easier later to move through the different chords with ease. It also lets you react quickly if one of your fellow musicians has a problem and makes a mistake. At first it will seem very difficult especially if you have been using incorrect hand positions in the past. Stick with it, practice hand positions regularly, it will pay off in the end when you sound professional.

Attitude

Attitude, and by this we don’t mean having a bad attitude, is a very important thing to pay attention to. Attitude affects your body language and this is important when you learn to play lead guitar. Attitude and body language go together to give you the confidence you will need to perform as a lead guitarist. Watch successful lead guitarists and see how they always look so much more confident than their back-up guitarists. That’s attitude!

Discipline

When you first learn to play lead guitar it is easy to be disciplined. Your initial enthusiasm makes it easy to be able to spend hours trying new music and techniques. As you improve it is easy to settle in to a level that is good but maybe not excellent. It takes discipline to maintain a level of practice that will constantly improve your skills. Discipline is what separates an average lead guitarist from a brilliant one. One good tip is to write out a program and set a schedule with small goals along the way to keep you motivated and on track.

Leadership skills

Leadership skills are important to have if you want to be a lead guitarist. You will be the one people look to for guidance, you will be responsible for all the musicians in the group. You need to be able to pay attention to what everyone is playing and be able to cover mistakes that may happen during a song. This may take a while to get really good at but you should always be training yourself. Try to listen while you are playing and you will improve. This skill will grow if you start right from the beginning when you learn to play lead guitar.

Louise Nova is highly involved in the music industry and endorses the best in guitar training programs on her site at Learn To Play Guitar Secrets

It seems the greatest challenge at the onset of my student’s violin studies isn’t producing a clear tone or learning Twinkle Twinkle. For most players, the hassle of finding a good instrument is most difficult. We’re not born with an instrument-seeking gene. Most people don’t even know what size to look for.

My first 3/4-size violin was a plain but overpriced student outfit. Sadly, my mother and I didn’t know any better and the music store made suckers out of us. As a teacher and music shop owner I frequently encounter players who, like myself, were poorly advised on the purchase of an instrument. Thus I’m inspired to shed some light on the delicate issue of buying a violin.

The best place to start on the purchase of any instrument is through your teacher or a specialist in your instrument’s field. Even if you plan to teach yourself, it’s still wise to consult a professional on what to look for and avoid in an instrument. Building a trusting relationship with such a person is invaluable as you progress in your playing and invest in higher-level instruments. Like me, most luthiers, or violin specialists, love to talk shop and are happy to educate those who want to learn.

Your teacher or specialist can provide suggestions and tips before you start your search. For instance, prospective violinists should know that bowed string instruments are scaled in various sizes for children ages 2 and up.

A six-year-old could range from playing a 1/8 to a 1/2 size, depending on his/her development. People over the age of twelve typically play a 4/4, or full, size, though I do have a couple if 10-year-olds managing just fine on full sized violins. Because people come in all shapes and sizes, a teacher is the best judge of what instrument you need and can save you buying the wrong size.

Take your instrument search a step further and ask your teacher or specialist to assess a prospective instrument you have located. You may discover, with your teacher’s help, that the Stradivarius copy at the flea market is not worth an inflated Strad price tag. You may not be so interested in that great deal when your teacher tells you the needed repairs will cost more than the instrument is worth.

If you must replace the strings, bridge and bow hair or bow, about a $160 investment, you are not any further ahead on a $200 outfit. An outfit is when you get the violin, bow and case together.

That’s another thing: you need to know the lingo. Words like œpurfling, œribs, and, believe it or not, frog, will spring up in your violin hunt. A few hours researching on the Internet will certainly inform a new buyer. Start by learning the various parts and components of an instrument, and then educate yourself on what is most desirable in an instrument.

For instance, an ebony fingerboard is a better choice over rosewood and a horsehair bow beats out any synthetic hair. Some carbon fibre (fiber) bows play better than wood bows and they are far more resistant to warping and other damage.

Having a quality instrument is tremendously important and often overlooked by beginners. I see players develop more rapidly and enjoy playing far more when they play a superior instrument.

Unfortunately, as soon as you talk quality, the salesman talks price. There are ways to get what you want in an instrument without putting a second mortgage on your house. Maybe that $100 unstrung violin and hairless bow looks shabby, but an expert may see underlying potential and value beneath the dust. If you are concerned you may not take to the instrument, consider renting before making a huge investment. Borrow a violin from a relative until you have saved up for your own.

With low priced student outfits you may save by buying a used instrument instead of the latest new model. The used violin may have a few dings and isn’t “shiny new, but someone else paid the depreciation and broke it in. However, be warned that a used student instrument may need work, new strings and a new bow, which can be like buying new cost-wise.

The new versus used issue varies depending on the instrument and price tag. I see benefits and drawbacks in both new and used and always carefully consider the priority, cost or quality, when selecting an instrument for a student.

Most important to buying used or damaged instruments is that you have a repair person you both trust and who does exceptional work for the right price. Too many people claim to be good luthiers but they can wreck a beautiful violin unintentionally.

Now for some words of caution in your purchase: Realize that many shops pay teachers a commission, typically ten to twenty per cent of the selling price, for sending their students in to buy an instrument. This practice is viewed as highly unethical by myself as well as most other teachers and shops, but it continues to occur.

Make sure you’re not buying the most expensive violin in the shop just so you can line your teacher’s pockets. Feel free to ask if the teacher earns commissions and never let any shop bully you into a purchase. Walk away from a deal if it feels fishy.

As for shop owners, it’s best to buy from someone who actually plays the instrument and understands the subtleties in tone and feel. Many salesmen will insist a violin sounds great, but they aren’t even a skilled player, so how would they know? If you are suspicious of the violin’s origin ask about where they got it from. You’d hate to buy a stolen fiddle or a junky one relabled as a rare antique!

Heavy topics aside, enjoy the anticipation and thrill of this exciting first step towards making music. Consider this the first of many wonderful steps you will make in your life as a musician. Good Luck!

**Rhiannon Schmitt (nee Nachbaur) is a professional violinist and music teacher who has enjoyed creative writing for years. She currently writes columns for two Canadian publications and has been featured in Australia’s “Music Teacher Magazine.”

Rhiannon has worn the hats of businesswoman, performer, events promoter, classical music radio host and school orchestra music arranger in rural British Columbia, Canada.

Her business, Fiddleheads Violin School & Shop, has won several distinguished young entrepreneur business awards for her comittment to excellence. Her shop offers beginner to professional level instruments, accessories and supplies. Her site http://www.fiddleheads.ca provides a rich resource of information on her school, violin, products for sale and her many writings.

Rhiannon is happy to educate and assist players in purchasing instruments in a no-pressure environment.

Rhiannon’s also Founding President of the Shuswap Violin Society http://www.violinsociety.ca She dedicates much of her time to community music projects and helping young musicians in financial need.

When searching for a student model trumpet for a beginning trumpet player, one should shop locally as well as on the internet (online.) There are many reputable musical instrument companies who offer solid student model trumpets. The following quality brands immediately come to mind Yamaha, Conn, Bach, Holton and Kanstul.

Don’t buy a musical instrument locally unless the local stores deal is the absolute best price you can find after comparison shopping. As a resident of Columbus, Ohio I have bought trumpets and flugelhorns both locally and from musical instrument dealers in Washington D.C. and South Bend, Indiana as those dealers offered me the absolute best deals at that time. A significant amount of money can be saved from conducting a comparison shopping study before purchasing an instrument. Just go to a major search engine such as Overture, Yahoo or MSN and type in the word trumpets to do a search. After noting brands and model numbers that appear to be suitable (customer reviews of specific models are available on some online stores) then comparison shop with those same brands and models to find your best deal. Some stores offer a lowest price guarantee as well as a satisfaction guarantee find one of those stores to get the best and safest deals.

Most student model trumpets will come with a carrying case and a mouthpiece. Ask your dealer to make sure you are getting the following accessories along with your instrument: a case, a mouthpiece, slide grease and valve oil. Those are the necessities that will be required to maintain your student model trumpet.

To purchase a used trumpet, look at the classified ads in your local paper as well as local specialty papers such as the Trading Times a newspaper printed weekly specifically for selling used merchandise. Many online musical instrument dealers also sell used trumpets. The advantage of buying a used instrument from a dealer is that the dealer will inspect the used instrument and repair whatever needs to be repaired before selling the instrument. If your intention is to shop local Pawn Shops, be sure that you have an experienced trumpet player with you who can inspect any horn you look at for flaws and verify it’s worth to you before paying what the Pawn Shop sales person ask for in a deal.

Russell Dixon is a professional trumpet player with thirty five years of playing and teaching experience. For further questions regarding any aspect of the trumpet … contact Rusty by email on his website at http://www.TrumpetGig.com.

Many people look up to great guitarists of both the past and present, wondering how they became excellent musicians. A lot of people attribute such greatness to natural talent, something they were born with and were good at from the very beginning. But it would be surprising to many that a great number of such great artists did not really have the innate ability to become great players, some of them never even thought of being excellent musicians from the beginning. Conversely, there are a lot of prodigies who showed amazing feats do not necessarily become great artists later in life. In fact many of the great young talents waste away as they become adults for one reason or another.

So what makes the difference between those who make it and those who do not? For some it could have been good management, great publicity or just sheer luck. However for most of the great guitar players out there, one key thing that becomes the driving force to greatness is the passion not only to become a good player, but an excellent artist. Many great talents have the right skills (perhaps the right genes) to become a good guitarist, however they do not necessarily have the immense desire to be the best in their craft. There is even a big danger for prodigies to loose interest in their craft as they get tired of being sensationalized during their younger years.

Those who may not have all the talent but just have a right amount of knack for guitar playing may have a greater chance to be great, if they have the passion that drives them to their goal. One should have a desire strong enough to fuel a discipline that will keep one doing one’s work. Of course passion alone would not make one a great guitarist immediately there are some key steps to do so.

First, one should learn from a teacher or a mentor. Why there are some rare cases of do-it-yourself successes, great guitar players more often than not have learned from great masters as well. There are millions of things that only a teacher can impart. Not even thousands of volumes of books and online lessons can replace the vast knowledge a teacher can give.

Second, an aspiring great guitarist has to devote hours and hours of practice through several years. Even the great guitarists of today still practice a lot to ensure that they would not their fingers would get rusty and their minds would not tarnish. Even if you have the greatest teacher in the world, you would not learn much if you do not practice. But it would also be futile to practice aimlessly without a teacher telling what to practice, so these two keys are inseparable.

Third, an aspiring musician should have great patience and a realistic self-evaluation. One should not expect amazing progress immediately. The road to greatness is a long one. There are slow times and fast times. While you should be greatly encouraged when progress is fast, you should not despair during the times you make a lot of mistakes and the moments that you seem not to learn as much.

Fourth, you should do the steps to greatness as soon as you can. Procrastination is evil in the music world. As much as possible do not put off lessons and practice sessions. Devote a special slot of your daily schedule to practices and lessons.

There are many other steps to become a great guitarist, but the ones mentioned above are the foundations to success. It takes hard work and long time to become a great player but if you are dedicated to the craft, you are just a few inches behind to greatness.

For further resources about improving your guitar playing craft, click on this link Learn Guitar Reviews.

The author, Arland Kent, writes on various subject matter including guitar related topics, dogs and health. He writes for http://learnguitar.reviewsrate.com.