Guitar Secrets

There are factors that affect a musician when playing guitar. The quality of the instrument and amps, for one, has direct effect on the quality of music played. The pick is another factor – though often overlooked – that affects how a guitar player plays.

What to look for in a guitar pick

When selecting a guitar pick, you need to consider the pick’s size, thickness, and material. These aspects have effects on the sound you make when strumming the strings of your guitar. The thickness of the pick affects the volume and tone of the sound. It’s the same with the material of the pick. The size of the pick, on the other hand, affects its usability and ease in handling.

Reliable guitar pick brands

Popular brands of guitar picks include Jim Dunlop, Fender, Steve Clayton, Teckpick, Ibanez, Gibson, Peavey, and Dava Control. These makers have been around for quite some time and have loyal following among guitar legends and guitar wannabes alike.

Customized guitar picks

You can also get customized guitar picks done if you want a personal feel to your guitar pick. When doing so, determine the size, thickness, and material that you want. Select the design of your guitar pick. You don’t have to stick with the usual triangular shaped picks.

We often hear people claim that music soothes our ailing soul, but what if you hear lyrics like "We come bursting through your bodies, Rape your helpless soul"? You will then conclude that music isn't always as good as it sounds! If you hear this excerpt, "We force you to kill your brother, Eat his blood and brain" from Demons by Rigor Mortis, I'm sure you'll feel the creeps running through your veins. But when you're in a rock concert you do not mind at all. You just start slamming your hands and banging your head; you become oblivious to everything. And people start rounding up like an obsessive herd. I wonder, is there a conniving power behind this flare?

Sex, drugs and rock 'n roll: this is the slogan of rock stars who live their lives in waste and who are utterly ruined by fame and misery. This glaring lifestyle catches the critical eye of the cynic, that's why rock bands and their music are linked to Satanism and evil. Some dismiss it as a total bluff, an unproven mystery, while others continue to gather stories that try to support this claim. They say that rock bands are like puppets, they are hypnotized by music recording companies who used them as baits to the unknowing and ignorant music consumers. Money, music and fame. They say that this is the devil's way of sabotaging our faith and power.

Hearing about the arresting stories of the Satanic rock band cults, I know that many self-knowing hypocrites will say that we should bring back the Beatles when their melody and beats are innocent and real. But little do people know that John Lennon and Keith Richard of Rolling Stones are heroin addicts. At least that's what biographical researches say. Just so Richard could get an American Visa, he had to undergo blood transfusion and wash away the trace of his heroin-contaminated blood. This free sex and drug trade also happened during the musical reign of the Beatles and the Rolling Stone. There's no way of telling if this is a fact or a myth, but all I know is that all instruments--whether a simple guitar or a complicated trumpet--can be potential sources for good and evil. But it's not an excuse to drift away from our faith just becasue of a lousy music.

Does your playing suck real bad, with your knuckles all red and hurting? Suck it up, crybaby! To remedy that pain and awful playing, a good exercise trick may just do wonders. Yes, there's an exercise for wanna-be guitar players like you. I've seen fingers bleed, strings tearing out from relentless playing, but still nobody could master a trick. So in one of my classes, I decided to apply an age-old practice of guitar exercises. Guess what? It worked! After two weeks, I was able to spot some of my students' flaws and and improvements. Give my boys a decade from now and they can play as good as John Mayer and Ryan Cabrerra.

Guitar exercises are like dog tricks; you can find them on the Net or in dusty guitar books. Just follow some finger patterns and slowly advance from one phase to another. You think it's easy? Not quite! It may take some time and much of your patience. But if you're willing to go through a drill that will improve your accuracy and give your fingers some flexibility, then it may be worthwhile. In playing the guitar, time may suck you dry. You'll have to pay attention even to minor details before you can advance to playing like Carlos Santana. The truth is, some exercises can be frustrating. So when you feel like your finger patterns are all sloppy, slow down a bit and retain the pressure, holding on to it for a little longer.

Like in yoga and other fitness exercises, you'll need to focus and breathe deeply. Relax your mind. Your fingers would hurt a bit but in order to strengthen your muscles, you'll have to welcome the bitter pain. This is not about racing so don't think about speed yet. Concentrate on the tempo and clear notes before you shuffle along one pattern to another. Make it an everyday routine and in no time, you'll able to adapt speed, techniques and strength. Take your time because good things happen to those who are willing to wait.

To play the guitar is to create music. That's first in mind while others dream big of becoming entertainment legends. But for me, being able to bobble with the guitar is a way to escape the filth of an ordinary life. I've always been hooked watching cool bands on TV and I eavesdrop whenever radios start playing. I grew up thinking that if I play better, I'll have my shot to fame.

But the world is not cut out that way. I soon found out that in able to survive, you don't just play music. You need a day job and even another part time just to get by. Although I'm quite aware of my seemingly ordinary life, I feel special whenever I play. I may have given up on a dream, but not the passion.

Playing the guitar is the closest way you can get in touch with the music gods. I personally love The Beatles, and here's a list of my top ten picks of Beatles guitar tabs that are easy to play. These are the songs Day Tripper, Eight Days a Week, Fool on the Hill, Hard Day's Night, I Saw Her Standing There, I Should Have Known Better, I've Just Seen a Face, Nowhere Man, Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da, and Rocky Racoon.

Those are not just my favorite songs, but also the helpful Chapter One if you're a beginner. They're easy to follow and it's easy to read their guitar tabs. If you can't be the next Paul McCartney, just play his songs and you'll be reincarnated with the mania.

When I was a kid, I used to be a natural teaser. I'm a Dennis the Menace and I stir mayhem into people's lives. At least that was before, but if there's one thing I did regret the most, it is my failure as an older brother. You see, when I already had the mastery of skills in playing the guitar, my kid brother would come to me and ask about my secrets. But I told him none because I wanted to be the only best in the family, someone who'd stand out in the crowd. And so he quit playing. If he only knew that he was actually better than I am! So now that I'm a teacher, I've learned to share some things I wish I could have done before.

My brother had a natural kick for it. He was fast and he even had a steady grip. So where did he lack in score? He didn't play his favorite tune. He readily jumped to masterpieces when he could have learned more with silly camping jingles. It's important that you also combine singing with playing. I know it's absurd if you don't have that golden voice. But for purposes of mastering your musical craft, it will help you develop a better ear for timing and coordination.

One thing I've learned as a guitar player and much more as a man is that always, the first step is humility. Learn the basics little by little as you go on to the advanced stage. It's okay if you're no Mozart or Cat Stevens. They also had their humble beginnings. They'd been through so much pain before they sprang to fame.

What makes guitar a formidable opponent? Rock stars make strumming so cool and so wild that you might actually think that they're just fumbling with the strings. But hey, it takes days to learn about Adobe Photoshop and years of rigid devotion before you can play the guitar!

For once, I would like to think that Steve Tyler is a genius. Definitely not with women and his crazy antics, but in musical chemistry. He's a master of his own craft disguised in leather pants and long, dingy hair. And to be a master, it entails a lot of work. You have to invest patience, devotion, time, and discipline before you can reap a lovely tune. So at least, let's give the poor crazy guy a little credit. It's harder than you actually think it is.

If Steve can learn it, why can't any normal human being do? Try to place your fingers in different directions, then hold on to it for a little while. Let's see if you won't get the cramps!

Unfortunately, guitars are not linear like the piano. There are ups and downs in scales swinging across the fretboard; lots of finger patterns to remember; and you'll have to move with agility and harmony. While one hand plucks the strings, the other presses it down. Now that's tough next to bagpipes.

I remember, when I first learned about the chords, I was jumbled up in despair. It's hard to make two things work as one. Like your left and right hands are off their separate ways. I have to develop a strong grip, endurance, and coordination before I got the hang of it. There are many times when I wanted to give up and learn other instruments instead, but my strong desire to play spelled out success from failure.

For beginners, there will come a time when you'd want smash your guitar to the wall. It's not that simple as it looks, but for a passion so strong, hard work will surely pay you that piece of a lovely tune!

What is common among guitar legends and rock stars? No, not a tight ass or a hot body! But a good ear. Yes, a good ear in playing music and in learning one. The most common sense of all is the sense of hearing.

Have you ever wondered how blind people can fiddle with the guitar when they can't see those notes? We've seen Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder grace their knuckles on piano bars but I've also seen other blind people on the street or the church, strumming that string. Perhaps, what they lack in sight, they may achieve in might.

Carlos, a guitarist for a church choir said "If you have a heart for music then you'll have the soul for hearing". The chords and the notes are the basics but without putting your ear into it, they'll forever remain as symbols for what could be a lovely tune. Not everybody can afford regular guitar classes. For instance, Ramon has to rent an old acoustic guitar for $5 a day from his uncle. He lives in a trailer and there's no way he can afford to buy his own guitar. So how did he learn? Everyday he watches how musicians play. He listens to Cat Stevens on an old audio player of his grandfather, or he would walk all the way to the city and watch how people play on the streets. He then goes home, with an empty pocket but with a memorized finger positions without labels of what it could mean. He plays it back at home, he listens, and arranges different knuckle- combos.

Basically, that's how Ramon, now a jingle composer, learned how to play guitar. He doesn't even know how to read notes but he knows more about tone simulation. Just by hearing the string, he could convey it in a swing.

I'm a juggler of my own life. I've got my usual boring day job, but I spice it up a little with my band gigs twice a week and on my free hours, I teach guitar lessons. Well that's been some sort of relief, affording to live on my own the way I want to.

Band gigs are cool but I also enjoy teaching. I'm fascinated about this boy, Matt. At seven, he asks all the types of questions a boy can come up with. He's up for the running as the most inquisitive child in the Guinness Book of Records. There's this one time that he caught my attention and boiled me down into thinking. Matt asked "How could I be a master of guitar?" and quipped "You know, I want to be Steve Tyler...so teach me now before I grow old trying!".

That's serious pressure to actually lead a boy to his dreams. Then I mused about it. It took me a year to learn the basics and the chords, and then another year before I made a sound of real music than the usual string twisting. I wrote a song after months and all in all the journey took five years before I got a gig with a band.

The next day I went up to Matt with an answer. I said "To be a master is to be a slave of a lifetime!". Matt's eyes rolled, then I explained "Guitar is a passion and passion doesn't end. If you want to be Steve, play with your soul. Just do it." I've always believed that learning is an endless trail. Others learn fast, others don't. People have different learning speed and abilities, but only one passion, and that is to create music with the guitar.

To be a certified guitar legend: play songs, teach so you would learn, and imbibe as well as revive. There is always something new to learn and you can always do it in your own pace. Do not panic, there's no reason to fret, for it's just strings.

Before she hit the Billboard's Chart and caught the eye of Santana, there was first a girl and her guitar. We now find ourselves humming along with her acoustic beats and strumming along with her rhythm. Michelle Branch dominated the scene not as a teeny-bopper idol like Britney Spears or Christina Aguillera, but a serious song writer who creates beautiful music with her guitar.

Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch was born on July 2, 1983 in Phoenix, Arizona. She came out a little short of time and ounces, she greeted the world seven weeks early at 3 lbs, 11 ounces. Nonetheless, this baby girl is destined for the rock n' roll jive. At three years old, she already recorded songs from Beatles with their age-old karaoke. At eight, she started her singing lessons and from then on, the switchback to musical journey began.

She had her first guitar at the age 14 and began to compose songs through its strings, and soon found herself performing live gigs. Her musical journey led her to recording an independent album. But it was during an act for Hanson that the music industry opened up for Michelle Branch and her guitar streams. Maverick Records produced the debut album of Michelle Branch-- The Spirit Room.

Michelle Branch is now featured on several music videos, hitting the charts while her recent success is a collaboration with another guitar legend--Santana. Performing live, writing songs and shooting for music videos, you don't see her without a guitar. Her guitar is her breakthrough to fame with innate talent and unique qualities to set an acoustic trend.

My brother is an average fellow. He doesn't quite stand out in the crowd. Actually he's kinda short for his height but we are astonished how he gets to date those cool babes. He's no prom king material but believe it or not, he's a real-life dream to a former highschool teen sweetheart.

I've tried everything he does. I wore the same perfume, same clothes, I even look better than he does. So what's the ultimate secret? He told me after 10 years. It's his guitar. It won't even qualify as a hot stuff. It's old with a web of dust in our garage.

He charms ladies with his sensitivity that's what he says. Rather than love letter and poems, he plays accoustic tunes to melt their hearts to his advantage of course. So what is it with men and guitars? His better-half retorted, saying that as tough as men would like to emphasize themselves to be, women yearn for character and gentle touch of masculinity.

My brother is not a cool dude but whenever his wife sees him playing, he looks as if he's Steve Tyler or Cat Stevens. From a woman's point of view, they say that singing while playing the guitar is men's cheaper manuever to seduce and express without sounding corny or trite. Aside from his passion with guitars, I have to confess, when he sings, he turns out to be just fine.

Guess what? I've recently put the theory into practice. Three out of a possible five went out with me for dates! So what is it with men and guitars? Maybe only women would really know...

My father has been very supportive of my obsession with music. He gave me my first guitar and I will never forget that. That is one of the best gifts that I have ever received in my entire life. While playing the guitar, I saw this chord of The Eagles' Leader of the Band. During that time, I already know how to play In My Life of The Beetles. So here comes another song that I want to learn. Learning the song is difficult. The callus that I have gained are starting to affect the way I strum the chords. I was on the stage that I want to give up until my cousin came up to me and help me. He is a guitarist of his own band that he formed back in college.

He told me that learning how to play a guitar is like studying in college. It is difficult at the start but once you have graduated, all your efforts will be rewarded. You can land on a high-paying job and will have a successful career. In playing a guitar, callus and sometimes even small wounds may develop in your hands, but the feeling is so unexplainable when you learn how to play even a single stanza of the song. Later on, I realized he is correct. Not all things are given to you at once, there are things that you have to work on to realize its importance more. With that realization, I felt more greatful with my guitar.

I have been a fan of Aerosmith since Steven Tyler joined the group. Steven is of Italian and German descent on his father's side and of native American and Russian descent on his mother's. This popular man is known for his wide grin and big lips. He shares this mannerism with fellow rocker Mick Jagger. He is also known for hanging scarves from his microphone stand during concerts and also dancing with it and lifting it from the stage. As they, those acts will definitely bring the house down. Who will not carry a tune of I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing," one of Aerosmith's famous song if you see Steven Tyler doing that.

I am pretty sure that if you see him, you will get your own guitar and microphone to imitate his performance. I have tried it one time when I am alone in the house and I really had fun. However, I realize later that I was not actually singing, instead I was shouting, which I consider good. You may wonder why? Well, through shouting, I was able to release my frustrations in a nice way. Instead of crying and sour-graping, people though that I was just imitating Steven Tyler. Once again, it's my guitar and me who only know about it. Isn't that a nice guitar secret?

As an individual, we have our own hobbies. Some prefers watching their favorite movies and series. Others love watching and joining different sporting events. There are people who are like me, sitting inside my room and playing my guitar. That's how unique we are here in the world. Speaking of guitar, do you know how Gallagher Guitars differ from other guitars? For your information, this company is a manufacturer that takes great pride in the individuality of its guitars. Imagine, this company has made almost 3000 guitars in span of 35 years. Like any other homemade creations, no two guitars made by this company are alike. Each instrument has its own personality since the first day of its assembly up to the finishing stage.

Just like those Gallagher guitars, this guitar that I am holding right now is very unique. It is unique in the sense that this guitar and myself have develop something between. Some people might laugh on me because this is just a guitar, but I tell you that whatever my guitar and me have shared each other is priceless. This guitar witnessed how my first heartbreak pained me. This guitar was able to hear all of my frustrations in life. This guitar was the only one with me during the darkest days of my life. And that makes this guitar unique.

Keeping your guitar clean has more advantages than you might think. It does not only show other people that you are a neat person, it tells a great deal more. Plus, your guitar will greatly benefit if you do keep it clean. So, without further ado, here are some useful cleaning tips that you should observe when caring for your wonderful guitar.

If you notice rust forming on the frets, you can use metal polish and masking tape. However, make sure that the strings are removed before you apply the polish. The masking tape may be used to cover the fretboard. Also, be sure to cover the maple or rosewood so that it will not be stained. As for dust that seems to be piling up, try to use a small soft paintbrush. Make sure that it has been unused before you clean your guitar with it. Another thing, the room temperature must be acclimated by the guitar if the said instrument has been exposed to cold weather. Otherwise, weather-checking could occur.

You do know weather-checking, right? This happens when cracks are visible on the back and the top finsih of the guitar. You might think that you can get away with it through warranty. However, that is where you are wrong my equally musically-inclined and talented friends. Warranties don't cover this kind of situation.

Surely, a guitarist like you won't want to see your guitar damaged, right? You do not have to buy expensive cleaning products to make your guitar last. I find that just a few tricks (or common sense) is enough to make anybody's guitar playing days last. I invested in a top gig bag or guitar case of prime material to keep dust and spilled drinks from my guitar. I think that it is the cheapest health insurance my guitar can have. Plus, it protects my guitar from sudden shift in temperature. A guitar stand also comes in handy in between jam sessions. That way, I am sure that my guitar is not in danger of being sat on. A great guitar strap is also a good investment.

I clean my guitar before and after playing with a lint free and soft cloth. This almost makes buying cleaning products unnecessary (if I do use cleaning products, I get those top quality ones). People are often advised to have annual fitness exams, right? Well, I do the same for my guitar. I take it to my regular guitar repair guy for its regular tuning and parts check-up. This saves me from extensive repairs since problems are corrected before they get worse. Lastly, this might be the easiest trick of all. Play often, especially if your guitar is made from wood. Guitars are like good quality wines; they get better with age.

I once played the guitar a few years back. I stopped, however, since I only took lessons from my cousin because there was nothing else left to do during summer breaks. I also love to watch those who are really good in playing it. Probably it was just one of my frustrations since I can only do simple tunes and plucking. As I am in the mood of remembering my days of playing the guitar, I am going to share a bit of what I have learned from my cousin.

What I am about to explain is the proper way of guitar picking. If you are now familiar with the fretboard and you mastered the strings already, picking should be the next exercise for you. Though mastering the proper guitar pick is the hardest guitar lesson to learn, mastering the following exercises everyday will help you perfect your skill. The trick is to have both of your hands working together. For example, if you are picking, you should also be aware of what the fretting hand is doing. To help you with your picking speed and dexterity, practice picking down and up alternately.

Another point to remember in picking is that you should always start picking alternately up and down with the Low E string. You can make use of a pick if you prefer, depending on the songs you wish to play. In practicing such trick, you will soon find and develop your picking style. If you mastered the exercises I featured, you can now jump to High E string, the tinniest string, and work back up. Once you developed your style, building up your fretting skill is what you should consider practicing next.

One day I was in the den, fiddling with one of my guitars. Trixie saw me trying to do some sliding moves. Apparently, my hands were too stiff. She decided to teach me some of her musical secrets.

First off, Trixie told me that the heel of our right hand should be used so that the guitar strings can be deaden once in while. Make sure that you dampen your guitar strings using your fingers behind your slide. Next, you can try lowering the chords in E or D if you already know how to play most licks in G chord. Another thing, do not engage in overplay. What I mean is that you can take advantage of so-called dead airs by putting some emotion into your playing. Furthermore, my cousin advised me to listen carefully to some of my favorite guitar players. However, she also informs me that I should not copy their style. I should think of ways to improve the style of my fave guitar players and incorporate it to my love for music.

There you have it. Trixie's advice seems simple enough. However, patience is the key here. Once you put your heart and soul into your guitar playing, you can never go wrong.

I have so many friends who are into playing music. Some of them are in rock bands, some of them sing, and some play the good old strings. They have really gone a long way since they started to experiment with their own techniques in music. They all started on an open mic night in local bars.

My friend who is an acoustic guitar player, has been through so many highs and lows before he finally got a hold of his guitar skills. Guitar players would want to perform on a live audience, once they start to perfect their frets and their techniques. So, how else can you perfect something unless you try it, right? Try an open mic night then.

The best way to practice is on a club or a bar with an open mic night. It is a must that an aspiring guitar player performs on an open mic night. Many other famous Hollywood stars have started their careers on an open mic night. Everyone wants to have fun on an open mic night. The only tip is, don't be scared and don't be nervous. The people would really appreciate your musical talents. If you do it over and over again, you'll be sure to handle fame as a piece of cake.

If you are playing on stage with a band, remember to tune your guitar first. Even the relatively best of artists sometimes forget this. And it is not nice to tune your guitar when you are already on stage. Not only is it disrespectful to other bands that'll play after you because it consumes a lot of time, it can also be quite annoying to the audience who want to hear music and not a cacophony of out-of-tune instruments. This also goes to the other members of the band. Make sure all your instruments are in tune. (Yes, even drummers are not exempt from this; drums also have to be tuned.)

A guitar tuner is most useful when you are playing with a band. You cannot always trust your hearing when your instrument is plugged to an amplifier. The amplifier distorts the "sound" coming from the vibration of the strings, converted to electric pulses from the pick-ups, to make it louder. It creates a lot of overtones that can quite fool the ears. Only when you start playing with your band will you hear that there is something wrong. Before you go up on stage, tune your instruments. It will save you time, and the hassle of rushing to tune your instruments.

I have always been fond of hearing the laid-back Hawaiian music. That loose-string guitar playing or the Slack key has always been a classic. The Slack key has always been a famous background music to any Hawaiian-themed Hollywood movie. There's the ever-so-funny 50 First Dates and there's Lilo and Stitch. Now, I'm wondering if only the Hawaiian's can play the Slack key and do they have a special guitar instrument for it?

Well, I thought that there's a special Slack key guitar solely for playing a loose-string tune. But, it turns out that there's actually none. The Slack key can be played on any instruments as long as it has strings. The Slack key tune would best be played on Nylon-stringed guitars. This is because the Nylon best sounds loose and plucky. But, there's also a guitar for slackened tune. This guitar is called the "baritone guitar". This guitar has a longer neck. Its soundboard is slightly different than regular acoustic guitars. This is how it makes those wonderful vibrating sounds and frequencies. The sound of the Slack key beats the best audio speaker systems around.

The Slack key is said to be an endangered musical practice. This is because it's only being passed from generation to generation. The master passes it on to a chosen child. If a master dies without passing it on to another generation, then that would be a great loss. So, if you want to learn the basics of this wonderful music, learn it. So, you can have the opportunity to know a bit of the Hawaiian culture.

I always wonder how guitar players play the guitar so well. I know that they practice a lot and they devote a serious amount of time to perfect their tunes. But, I think it takes more than practice to be a true-blue guitar player. It also takes a lot of heart and soul to play the guitar, doesn't it? You have to really love what you're doing, to be able to give it your best. Just like in any other field of expertise, you have to know what you're doing by heart.

I once heard a guitar player say that a "sense of rhythm" is the key factor to be able to play the guitar well. Having a sense of rhythm is more of a person's talent than a skill. But, like anything else, it can be learned. If you want to be the best guitar player, you need that innate musical talent. I'm not saying that if you don't have talent, you can't play the guitar anymore. You just have to connect with your guitar's tune. Another thing is, as any other good guitar players, you have to really devote your time to playing your guitar. This would give you some sort of harmonizing relationship with your instrument. But, you have to make it a point that you don't overspend your quality time practicing. This wouldn't be healthy anymore. The most effective way of getting your tunes right is to play the song on a CD player. So, you can play along with it. This would really familiarize you with the humming and strumming of the song's guitar sound. Lastly, when your hands and fingers are already hurting from playing too much, stop. You have to rest your muscles every now and then. Over-practicing will actually do more harm than good. It can really damage your hand-finger muscles. So, if you haven't got too much talent, determination will get you there.