Which type of Acoustic Guitar to choose?

Acoustic guitars seem to show no signs of diminishing in importance and they have been the standard by which all other instruments are judge for decades now. Before the improvement of modern amplification systems, the acoustic guitar was not the preferred instruments of songwriters across the world. 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 exasperating. 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 harmonious sound. It is an open secret that they are exceptionally easy to play compared to many other instruments.

Before you even start playing, you have to pick out your acoustic guitar of course. 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 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 excessively 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 correct guitar, after all, is essential. You will be sticking with that instrument for a long and even a very long time, so you had better choose carefully. The incorrect instrument will not even stay in tune and will be hard to play.

Published: 2007-09-17 Author: Isabelle Chartrand

Red/Black 6 String 30" Guitar by Schoenhut This Red/Black 6 String 30" Guitar by Schoenhut is an exceptional introduction to playing for the aspiring young musician. Celebrate the magic of music with this handcrafted Guitar, which can be used for guitar classes, private lessons and study ... or playing in their first “Amateur Band.” This guitar is kid sized and fun to play. With the superior construction, durable high gloss lacquer wooden finish in an amazing red and black color and amazing sound, parents and children will appreciate the beauty. A quality instrument is always has a positive result when beginning the study of music. The Red/Black 6 String 30" Guitar by Schoenhut is easy to play, tunable, and will help to keep a child engaged in one of the most gratifying pastimes in history: making music. Red/Black 6 String 30" Guitar by Schoenhut comes with a carrying case, extra string, a pick, and tuning pegs.Ages 4 and up.By Schoenhut

How To Market Your Music Thru MySpace And Get Noticed!

Marketing your MySpace artist page will help you increase hits to your page which will translate into a growing fan base. But you should also promote your page in other ways.As the internet becomes increasingly easy to navigate and to use as a marketing tool, placing your MySpace URL in various places will help people find you and learn more about your music.

Marketing on your web site
Always include your MySpace URL on your bands web site and vice versa. The more opportunities you give people to listen to your music and learn more about your sound, the more profits you will earn and the more popular you will become.Band web sites can be used to promote your latest CD, downloads, or upcoming gigs, while your MySpace can be used to find new fans, to upload samples of your music, and generate buzz within the online music community.

Marketing on promotional materialsAdd your MySpace URL to fliers, business cards, media kits, radio spots, internet ads, and any other places you use to promote your music. Unless you have a recording contract, you will have to do all music promotion yourself.

Take advantage of local newspapers and magazines that do write- ups about your band by asking them to mention your MySpace URL. This is especially important if you don't have a web site yet.

Adding URLs to CDs and other merchandise
If you release a CD, you can promote your web site and MySpace page by including both on the CD or other merchandise you want to sell.

Many musicians are producing their own albums these days instead of waiting for a recording contract. Use MySpace to draw more people to your web site or third-party distribution site. Including URLs on your CD will give others a way of finding out more about you and your music.

Include URLs when contacting record labelsIf you decide to contact record labels or are approached by a record label, make sure they have your URLs and other contact information. This will make it easier for them to contact you.

Blogs, forums, and other communication onlineInclude your MySpace URL on the bottom of all blogs and forum postings. This will help spread the word and peak the interest of those who are on the message boards. While you dont want to promote your page when leaving a comment, it is fine to leave your URL. This is considered your online calling card.This can be an extremely useful way to market yourself, especially if you are an expert in the topic that is being discussed or know a lot about the music business. People are more apt to look up information of those who leave well written, intelligent responses.

Conclusion
Self-promotion can be very time consuming.
While it is one of the most important parts of earning a living as a musician, it is also one of the toughest.MySpace can make self-promotion easier by introducing you to many types of people on the internet. By promoting your profile page, you are giving others the opportunity to learn more about your and your music.


About the Author
For more information, useful tips and hints please browse at website. http://www.greatpromotionsite.com

Rock n’ Learn Guitar by Castle Toy Kidz Beats Rock and Learn Guitar by Castle Toy is just the thing for your music fan. It's fun, simple and teaches kids while they create musical masterpieces. There is a record and play mode, easy play mode, normal play mode and demo mode. This musical fun guitar features music tempo control, plucking switch, vibrato switch and volume control. The guitar also features flashing lights and a shoulder strap so you would have what you need for your own concert. Ages 3 and up.By Castle Toy

Writing your own Music

You know you love music, but aren’t sure how to articulate it on paper. A little determination and desire to create music is all it takes to get you started. Becoming a songwriter can be incredibly rewarding and knowing where to start can definitely take some stress off. Go somewhere you feel inspired. Whether this is a physical or mental place doesn’t really matter. Make sure you have some peace and quiet to let your inspiration in, though. It’s hard to let those creative juices flow with a radio blaring in the next room. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to write a song ‘today.’ The best way to get started is to just mess around a little.

Whether you are strumming the cords on a guitar, putting a few notes together on the piano, or humming an interesting tune…it doesn’t really matter. It’s while you are messing around that you usually stumble on something you like. You’ll find it much easier to write a song when you approach it in a fun way.

Start thinking about what you want to say. We all have a story to tell. Whether it’s out of our every day life or a fantasy we hold, really doesn’t matter. Find something that is important for you to say or that represents you as a person and an artist. This will give you great direction for your piece as a songwriter. Remember to stay prepared. Once you have started writing, you’ll find that inspiration comes from a variety of places. Carry a pen and paper, or a recorder with you everywhere so that when you come across something that moves you, you’ll be ready. Staying prepared also includes keeping your heart open. Being able to listen to others express themselves in different forums, can be very moving and inspiring. Writing is an ongoing process. Going over and over your song can help you fine tune it. Don’t think once you’ve finished the first draft, you are done. Typically it takes quite a few drafts to get the finished quality you are seeking. Remember that practice makes perfect. Becoming a songwriter definitely takes a lot of practice, but mostly a lot of patience.

About the author: In this article author Jeni Stevens conveys that how easy to become a songwriter, and also mentioned few tips on how to express your feelings in your word. More information is avail on www.shaunbarrowes.blogspot.com

Kid's Electric Guitar by Woodstock Percussion Kid's Electric Guitar By Woodstock Percussion is the ultimate instrument for an aspiring rock star! This is one of the coolest instruments on the market with its built-in amplifier and speaker. Kid's Electric Guitar By Woodstock Percussion comes with a great instructional booklet by renowned folk musician Happy Traum. Also included is a pick, 9V battery, and shoulder strap.Ages 6 and UpBy Woodstock Percussion

Acoustic children's Guitar

Acoustic Children's Guitar Acoustic Children's Guitar. Make beautiful music on a beautiful kid-sized guitar. Acoustic Guitar is a beauty: all wood with high-gloss natural finish. And it's real: made in a musical instrument factory, it's a high quality, half-sized 32" classical guitar with nylon strings, fully tunable machine heads, and protective string posts for added safety. Guitar includes pitch pipe, 2 picks, and an extra set of strings, a chord chart, and a beginner's booklet.Ages 6 to 12By Latin Percussion

Guitar Practicing Tips for Newbies

It is often the case that individuals just learning to play the guitar want to sound like a professional when they really need to focus on guitar playing/practicing tips for newbies. Guitar playing/practicing tips for newbies may sound like fundamental information that is not fun, but that all depends on how serious you are about learning to play the guitar. The best advice for you at this stage of your learning is to take it slow and learn as much as you possibly can.
This short tutorial, which features guitar playing/practicing tips for newbies will present you with the basics for honing your skills. By following the steps below you will be playing like a pro in no time at all.

Step 1: Warm Up Your Hands and Fingers
Your hands will get a good workout when you play and practice the guitar. Just as a typist whose hands perform repetitive motion for a significant number of hours can develop carpel tunnel syndrome, so can you too injure the delicate tendons in your hand. You can experience very painful cramps and in extreme cases could lead to loss of ability to play the guitar at all.
You should spend at least 5 minutes warming up your fingers and hands before you perform either of these activities. One of the most important guitar playing/practicing tips for newbies is to take a break if you play or practice for longer than an hour. The following exercises are ideal for
warming up your hands and fingers:
* Use each hand to gently massage the other one; concentrate on the base of the area located at the base of the thumb
* Place your hands against one another, pressing your fingertips together
* Stretch your fingers out as far as you can and then curl them inward; repeat twice

Step 2: Practice Chromatic Scale
While playing either major or minor chords is a traditional method that guitarists use when they start practicing, this feature of guitar playing/practicing tips for newbies would be remiss if it did not recommend that students of the guitar practice the chromatic as often as they can.
The chromatic scale is among the guitar playing/practicing tips for newbies because you play all 12 notes on the guitar in half steps. This scale is contrary to a whole note scale, which consists of playing the notes in whole steps.

Step 3: Get Down to Playing
You have looked forward to another opportunity to play your guitar and here you are. If you haven't prepared for your practice session by choosing your lesson beforehand, the guitar playing/practicing tips for newbies for this step include suggestions for what you could practice/play during your session.
* Learn a new chord
* Choose to learn one section of a new song
* Practice picking, strumming, plucking, or all three

Step 4: Cooling Down
The cooling down phase is a time to bring your session to a close. Instead of abruptly stopping and putting your guitar away, this is the time to sort of reward yourself by leaving the session on a positive "note." Whether you are practicing or playing the guitar, you are probably challenging your skills. In the cool down you ease out of the challenging phase.

The following are the best guitar practicing/playing tips for newbies for cooling down:
* Play a short, familiar piece that is comfortable for you
* Don't focus on playing your finale piece with perfection; just play it
* Closing your eyes while you play the finale can help to calm you if the practice session was difficult or frustrating

About the author: For more more information about guitar practicing please visit http://www.guitar-directory.net

Electric Guitar by Simba

Electric Guitar by Simba Electric Guitar by Simba is 21" long and has real metal strings. Guitar has a "try me" function; 3 AA Batteries included. Colors may vary.Ages 4 and upBy Simba

cowboy guitar by Schylling

Cowboy Guitar by Schylling Play guitar like the pros with this great 6 string Cowboy Guitar by Schylling.Ages 6 and up.By Schylling

How To Approach Guitar Sales

If you're in search of information on guitar sales, how to buy a guitar or how to buy a bass guitar, there are some points you should take into consideration before you part with your hard earned cash. Whether you buy new or used, these steps should be taken in order to avoid disappointment. So, 'how to buy a guitar' is a question easily answered if you do the following.
1. Play the guitar
2. Inspect for cracks, dents and scratches
3. Test the neck for strength and twist
4. Sight the neck for straightness
5. Check a bolt-on neck's alignment
6. Inspect the nut's shape, slots and action
7. Check the fret condition and height
8. Make sure the truss rod works
9. Check the bridge and tailpiece
10. Check the tuning keys
11. Make sure the hardware is secure
12. Check the electronicsIf you follow these steps, your questions about what to look for at 'guitar sales', 'how to buy a guitar' or 'how to buy a bass guitar' will be quickly answered. The rules for either are the same.Here some more excellent tips on how to buy a guitar, when investigating a guitar for sale, from Dan Cross:
Have patience - do not decide you HAVE to buy the guitar that day. Plan on taking at least two trips to the music store.Maintain control - You are in charge! Don't let music store salesmen intimidate you.Research - The web is a great place to find info on guitars. Use it to your advantage!Get help - if at all possible, recruit a friend who plays guitar to help you choose an instrument. If not, don't be afraid to ask music store employees multiple questions.You do not have to be an expert guitarist to get a good deal on a good guitar at a guitar sale. What you do have to be is a disciplined shopper. For many guitarists, especially novices, trying out a guitar in a music store can be an intimidating experience. Invariably, there are several other guitarists in the store who feel the need to show off their skills on the instrument, by playing all their most impressive licks. Understandably, this can be scary, but you'll need to focus on your goal - finding the best instrument possible, for the least money.

Scan the store until you find an instrument that appeals to you. Make sure you are given a good stool, and a pick (although I suggest you bring one you're comfortable with). If you're looking at electric guitar sales and playing an electric guitar, make sure you're plugged into an amp similar to the one you plan to use. If you've only got a small practice amp at home, don't allow the guitar to be plugged into a Marshall half-stack through a rack of pedals.The first few times I tried out a guitar in a music store, I remember playing very quietly so no one would hear that I wasn't very good.

A perfectly natural instinct, but in retrospect I've realized it was the silliest thing I could have done. In order to really hear the tonal qualities of a guitar (either electric or acoustic), it needs to be played at a reasonable volume. Do not be afraid to strum the open strings hard - listening to the guitar's sustain, and keeping an ear open for problems like buzzing strings. If you're having a hard time hearing (due to other guitarists in the store, etc.), ask to play the guitar in a separate room, or in a quieter part of the store. It should be noted I've been in music stores where owners glared at me for turning up the guitar a little, or strumming an acoustic vigorously.

My solution to the problem - I hand them the guitar, say thanks, and take my business to a store that allows me to find out what the guitar sounds like before I buy it. I urge you to do the same... these people are obviously not very familiar with the way guitars work, thus not the best stores to deal with anyway.

Let's look for a moment at guitar makers and manufacturers and which are at the top of the heap. Probably the 3 most widely known and respected guitar makers are Martin, Gibson and Fender guitars. These manufacturers have been a huge part of the industry for decades and their reputations speak for themselves. Martin guitars however, are slightly different than Gibson guitars or fender guitars in that they don't make electric guitars, per say but only acoustic and acoustic-electric models. Hopefully, before you start hunting down the guitar sales in your local area you'll learn these simple steps.
Article Source: http://www.articleset.com

Learning To Play Guitar By The Ear

Learning how to play a guitar can be accomplished through different methods depending on your convenience and aptitude - taking private lessons from an expert teacher, using teach yourself books or videos that demonstrate the instructions to be followed or through websites that offer guitar lessons.

Irrespective of how you learn, the ultimate aim of learning to play the guitar is to play a song that you are fond of or familiar with. The song may be your favorite song from your childhood heard over the radio or CD or TV or in a concert and might have been played by your favorite band.
Whatever be the nature of the song, the usual way of learning to play it is to buy the sheet music and read from it and practice it. But a superior method of learning a song is to learn it by the ear i.e. to learn by keenly listening to the song. This technique can be applied to practically any type of song and all you need is a CD player to play it.
The instrument used to replay the song does not really matter. It is a very useful skill that you need to develop if you are interested in making a career in music. The following paragraph gives a few tips for learning to play the guitar by the ear.

Tips for learning to play guitar by the ear

Training the ears to listen to the music carefully is the first step in learning to play guitar by the ear. Having an ear for music need not be an inborn quality alone but can be developed through practice. You can prepare your ears to pickup different features of the music. You have to learn to identify different chords in the music and the changes in them even as a song is played. You should be able to distinguish between the major and the minor chords.

A deep interest in the type of music that is being played helps in quickly learning its finer points. Tuning the guitar so that it matches with the song you want to play is the next step. This step requires a little practice and patience and individual string may have to be tuned to match each individual note of the song.

With these basic tips, you can learn to play the guitar by the ear through regular practice. It is not as hard as it sounds as.

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