Posts Tagged ‘guitar playing’

Online Guitar Lessons For Kids and Adults

My daughter came home from hockey practice last week claiming that her and her friends just “have” to learn to play the guitar. I think it is because there is a group of boys at school in a local band and they want to be more than just groupies.

But who am I to argue right?

Electric Guitar is what it is all about right now, but who knows what next week. She is into into rock and hard rock music so electric guitar is fitting.

I asked a friend of mine about this as he is a music instructor and he advised that I should visit this website and look at a product called Guitar Superstar. Being a single parent I do not have a lot of spare cash and I did not have enough to get her a guitar and expensive lessons so I did as he said and had a look with my daughter.

She thought it was awesome, there are all different guitar learning styles to enable her to learn to play electric guitar. She cannot play any chords at all so it needed to start basic and get comprehensive as she grew into guitar playing and became a confident musician.

So now my daughter is learning to play electric guitar and is becoming quite a success, she is enjoying it far more than I would have anticipated so it was money well spent.

I am hoping her chosen career will not be that of a guitarist (not that I have anything against guitarists!), and because I can control what she does on line and how much time she spends on line this product works really well for us.

I also use Guitar Superstar as a reward for doing the more mundane things like, mathematics homework!

The best online guitar training program http://www.guitarsuperstar.info

As far as musical programs go, I do research accross the internet to see which products are truly viable.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/online-guitar-lessons-for-kids-and-adults-1342003.html

Learn To Play Guitar Fast

Want to learn to play guitar fast? Then you’re in the same boat I was a few months back. I tried books and magazines to help me learn guitar, but I soon got frustrated, and could not care less reading about the history of the guitar. But that’s what most books will start you on.

I’m not saying learning the history of the guitar is a waste of time, what I’m saying is you can learn all of that on your tour bus after you master the guitar!

I wanted to not only find a way to learn guitar fast because I wanted to play in a band, but I also wanted to make it a fun experience all at the same time. Is that too much to ask?

Anyway my search brought me to the conclusion that this mission was going to be tough, you see I’m not much of a reader, so I needed to find a combination of teaching methods that would suit all of my senses at the same time.

For instance…

  • I wanted to see someone do it first.
  • Then I wanted to try myself.
  • I wanted it to be fun.
  • I wanted it to contain recent examples of songs.
  • I wanted to learns songs at the same time as learning.
  • I wanted to learn to play fast.
  • I wanted to impress my new band in just a few days.

You could say I had a lot of wants….;)

Anyway I found something that would help me do all of this and more, it met every single one of my needs, and I am now a killer guitarist! Or so my band says!

If you want to learn to play guitar fast you need to outline your needs just as I did, narrow down what it is you want the most from your guitar playing, and stick with it.

Learning guitar can take a while, but with the right methods you can cut down on that time on a massive scale, learn to play guitar fast, and enjoy it all at the same time!

To check out what all this guitar talk is about, and to learn to play guitar like a real hero visit Learn To Play Guitar Fast.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/learn-to-play-guitar-fast-1324515.html

Playing Fast Guitar – Learn Important Tips To Amp Up Your Playing Speed

If you’ve been playing the guitar for awhile and can’t seem to get anymore speed on your licks, don’t worry because this happens to almost every guitarist. Some guitarists just have more time than others to hash out these skills while you’re left there wishing you could play faster.

As much as it might seem very difficult playing fast guitar, you can do it too by practicing hard and smart. Here are some very important tips to get your fingers moving faster the next time you’re scaling the guitar neck.

1. Strengthen your forearms. A lot of the muscles that power your guitar-playing comes from your fingers, but the rest comes from your forearms. Do a few exercises or start lifting to really get those muscles shaped for faster riffs.

2. Do other finger-intensive exercises. Playing fast guitar might be in your mind when the instrument is in your hand, but there are plenty of other things that can improve your finger movement throughout the day. Take up some other skills that involve intensive finger movement like typing or playing the piano in order to keep your fingers working hard.

3. Practice online typing tests. Sure you can test your speed on the guitar with a metronome, but have you ever thought about taking it to the internet? Hype up your typing skills and start using typing tests to measure the speed of your fingers because god knows how often we’re all on the computer these days!

4. Try to keep from cracking your knuckles. Cracking your knuckles can lead to medical problems in your hands and wrists once you get into your twilight years. Try to stop it if you want your hands to stay flexible and healthy for optimum playing speed.

5. Practice electric parts on the acoustic guitar. Maybe you have a couple riffs that you’re playing somewhat fast on the guitar. Transfer them over to the acoustic and try your hand. Your muscles will learn to adapt to the harsher conditions of the acoustic while the speed of playing on the electric guitar will slowly begin to increase.

6. Set reasonable speed goals. You can’t expect to reach goals that sound absolutely crazy and that’s most of the reason guitarists give up on themselves. Set goals that are challenging, but possible to ensure you stay on track with your skills.

It’s a hard business to start playing faster guitar riffs, but it can be accomplished by dedicating yourself to every practice and being consistent with your strategies. Put these 6 tips to the test and see if you can start increasing your guitar speed.

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Kyle Hoffman is an experienced guitarist that has been playing and performing in hardcore and rock bands for years. If you want to know about the best fast electric guitar courses on the internet, check out his popular guitar blog, How To Guitar Tune!

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/playing-fast-guitar-learn-important-tips-to-amp-up-your-playing-speed-1239741.html

Top 20 Heavy Metal Vocalists #5 to #1

As I stated on my other heavy metal blog list, this is just who I like. Not a matter of technical performance or record sales or popularity. These are just the vocalists that you will find on my MP3 Player and on the Flash Drives in my car. I enjoy all music, just some more then others. Now lets end this list!

#5 – Brian Johnson – Obviously you can’t think of Brian Johnson’s music without AC/DC coming up. You know what, that’s fine with me. After the passing of Bon I don’t think anyone thought that voice could be filled, but Brian has done that with dignity and respect to the band. The new generation doesn’t really know that there was a different voice at the mic of AC/DC that has to say something about the talent of this man. Brian is so high on the list because of the amazing catalogue of music that he will forever be known for.

#4 – James Hetfield – Not the James Hetfield from the documentary “Some Kind of Monster”, but the James Hetfield us metal heads know and love from “Kill Em All”. James has an amazing voice that compliments not only his own guitar playing but also that of fellow shredder Kirk Hammett. Metallica is the band that all others strive to be and that is in a big part because of the vocals of their main man. Metallica is Metallica and I love it. Growl you bastard growl.

#3 – Vince Neil – This is very shocking to some reading this site including my wife because I am a huge Motley Crue fan, but the fact is I’m a Motley Crue fan, not really a massive Vince Neil fan. Vince needs Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars, and Tommy Lee to be complete. That has been proven time and time again with his sub par solo career, but with that being said no one else could sing the songs I love like Vince (the John Corabi experiment), so that puts him at number 3. I think my wife puts him at #1 for other reasons, but this is vocals not…

#2 – Bruce Dickenson – When you talk about Heavy Metal Music can you possibly have a conversation without this man. Bruce’s music speaks for itself. I’m not a fan of the best Iron Maiden front man argument simply because there really is no other. Bruce is the standard which most singers gauge their performance. Seeing this man use that range live is something you will never forget. Eddie might be the Maiden mascot, but Bruce is the voice and always will be. SCREAM FOR ME WE LOVE METAL!

#1 – Ronnie James Dio – Believe it or not until a couple of years ago I really didn’t know that much about Dio, until Vince had me listen to Holy Diver. I was blown away that a Heavy Metal Musician could sound so dark and evil one moments and so operatic the next. I’m one of those people that will pick Dio over Ozzy in Sabbath (or Heaven and Hell) any day of the week. Heaven and Hell, Lady Evil, Mob Rules, incredible songs that need no justification. Not to mention the fact that he raised Rainbow to new heights with hits like “The Man on Silver Mountain” and his solo career was off the charts. Dio is the voice of Heavy Metal and the image that will keep it strong into the future. If you think he’s getting old check out the new H&H album and you be the judge. SHOW ME THE HORNS DIO!

That’s the end, do your worst!

JB Martell
Read more at Heavy Metal Blogs

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/top-20-heavy-metal-vocalists-5-to-1-1148241.html

Guitar Teacher or Self Study?

So you are looking to further your learning as an acoustic guitarist but not sure what to do next? There is a vast array of options available to you and things can get rather confusing. You basically have two options when learning how to play acoustic guitar: Hire a guitar teacher or Learn on your own. This topic is open for debate. Honestly, I feel it really depends on you and your particular needs as an individual. We will explore both options in this article, so that you will be able to make a better decision.

LEARNING ON YOUR OWN

Learning on your own can be broken down into two simple categories: You can either learn for free or you can invest in a home study course.

Learn For Free

Learning for free is definitely a possibility. With the Internet at your fingertips, anything is possible these days. There are a handful of excellent free guitar websites that offer lessons and other great resources for those of us on a tight budget. However, some of these free sites and resources may be difficult to locate and not all of them are created by professionals. So you may find, after some time, that the free route may not be enough or may prove to be too frustrating.

One huge advantage to the free learning, besides being cost effective, is that it gives you the option to test the waters before you invest any money into private lessons or home study courses. Guitar playing is not for everyone. You may find after playing for a short while that your heart isn’t into it. In order to become a good guitar player you must be passionate about playing, have patience and dedication. Without those qualities, I am afraid you won’t get very far.

Home Study Courses

With the right home study course, learning how to play guitar is very possible, assuming you are dedicated to working hard and practicing. With the right course, you will not only save money (when compared to hiring a private instructor), but you will also be able to learn at your own pace. You also have the option to access the same information whenever you want and for as many times as you want. That is probably the biggest advantage to this option. We learn best by repetition. Sometimes we have to hear or watch something over and over again before it sinks in. With a home study course, you simply pop a cd or dvd in and watch or listen whenever you feel the need. With an instructor you don’t have that option.

There are several excellent home study courses available that can be just as effective or better than hiring a private instructor. Courses can cost anywhere from $30 to as much as a few hundred dollars, depending on the quality and content of the home study course.

HIRING AN PRIVATE INSTRUCTOR

First and foremost, this option can get costly. Private guitar lessons, on average, can cost about $15 – $30 for a half hour lesson, and $20 to as much as $75 for an hour lesson, depending on the teachers experience and reputation.

One big advantage to a private instructor is the direct feedback they can provide . One of the most common problems a beginner faces is developing bad habits. A good instructor will help you recognize your bad playing habits and help you correct them on the spot.

Finding a “good” teacher can be a difficult task and you should choose one carefully if you decide to go that route. Even the most talented guitarists, that have been playing for decades, can make terrible instructors, so your criteria for choosing a teacher should not be based on experience alone. You need to find a person that actually “enjoys” teaching and isn’t just doing it for a paycheck.

The first thing I would do is to come up with a list of possible instructors in your area.

You can do this by:

Asking Your Friends and Family

A great place to start when searching for a guitar teacher is to simply ask your friends, family or co-workers. You may have a close personal friend, relative or co-worker that has already taken lessons and will be able to recommend a good instructor.

The Internet

The Internet is a great resource for finding possible instructors. You can simply do a search on Google for guitar teachers in your local area. You could also visit guitar discussion groups online and ask around there.

Yellow Pages or other Publications

Grab a yellow pages, newspaper or other publication and search for local guitar instructors that way.

Once you compile your list, you need to make certain you are getting the best possible instruction for your money, so be prepared to ask your instructor a few questions. Ask him or her how long they have been teaching, the teaching qualifications he or she has, the number of students he or she currently teaches and ask for the phone number or contact information of a few of his or her students. From the answers you receive, you should be able to determine which instructor is right for you.

So the choice is now yours. Only you can determine which option is right for you. Some of us simply cannot afford to hire a teacher, so the choice is rather simple. Others are simply unable to learn on their own and need the guidance and encouragement that a teacher can provide.

I wish you luck!

Ralph Serpe is Webmaster and Founder of http://www.learn-acoustic-guitar.com. Visit us today for more free acoustic guitar lessons.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/guitar-teacher-or-self-study-1031981.html