Feel the Beat — How to Get It Going (guitar playing lesson theme)

The reason why most people who try to play the guitar and are not “up to snuff” is that they give too easily. The problem with these people is that they tend to think that there is something wrong with them and why they simply cannot get the strings to sound right.

In reality, falling short in learning to play the guitar is not based on the capability of the person but more on the kind of style he is using. If he is trapped in a certain level of progress in guitar playing, it should likewise not be blamed on the person but on the kind of approach that he used.

When things like these happen, the only way to get going is to change the style to achieve remarkable results.

In fact, 8 out of the 10 people who were asked what made them continue learning to play the guitar, they answered that it was because they used a wonderful technique that some people take for granted. This approach is known as “feeling the beat.”

People who are considered experts in playing the guitar insist that the only distinction that sets a good guitarist apart from a distinguished guitarist is based on how they apply the approach “feel the beat” to their tune using their instrument.

The basic argument here is that trying to get things going by simply feeling the beat while you play the guitar will absolutely change your style of learning and playing the guitar. When people try to feel the beat as they play the instrument, they get to internalize the pulse of the music as it flows from the strings out to the audience.

This is probably the same reason why some people insist that music is the language of the soul. It is basically the main idea of using this kind of approach.

Music experts assert that it is how the great composers and singers stand out from the rest. When musicians learn to feel the beat, they tend to put the notes into their system and let every tone flow along with the beat of their heart.

The question now is: how do you start feeling the beat. Here are some tips to get started:

1. Internalize the beat

When you want to learn how to play the guitar you must get your emotions ready. Try to feel the beat by listening to the music and bridge a connection between your feelings and the music.

The very core of this approach is to feel the beat of the music flowing into your system.

Once you get the beat connected to your system, take hold of your guitar, and start hitting those strings. Try not to play a song that you already know. The idea is to release the feeling and let the notes flow with what you feel.

2. Play by the ear

As soon as you learn how to feel the beat, you can start playing by ear; this is when you can play the song on your guitar just by listening to it over and over again.

Historical reports show that some great musicians learn to play the instrument by using this approach, because once they start to sense the pulse of the song; they gradually pluck the notes and begin to play the song as they continue to play.

Most people who play the guitar and write songs do not simply use those tabs and musical sheets. They just try to fathom the song by “playing by ear.”

The bottom line is that learning to play the guitar does not have to be rigid and strict or why guitar playing is not specifically exclusive for those talented in music. The instrument is available for everyone, young and old, big and small, boy and girls.

The idea is to take some time to learn the instrument. Trying to feel the beat does not happen in a snap. You have to allot adequate time to start putting the notes into your system.

The truth is that people who failed to learn guitar playing simply lacked the time and patience to do all of these things. Becoming an expert in what you do is simply having the time for it, and if you do, you will start to get the ball rolling and the notes flying in the air.

Guitar For Dummies Acoustic Guitar Starter Pack (Guitar, Book, Audio CD, Gig Bag)

The Acoustic Guitar Starter Pack For Dummies is the easiest and most convenient way to learn how to play the acoustic guitar. This pack provides everything you need to start playing guitar--all in one box! Included in the pack are a Kona acoustic guitar, gig bag, digital tuner, 3 picks and the top-selling "Guitar Basics For Dummies" book with CD.

Everything you need to start playing guitar--all in one box. Click to enlarge.

Pack includes Kona acoustic guitar, gig bag, digital tuner, 3 picks and book with CD. Click to enlarge.

Kona Acoustic
The included Kona steel-string acoustic features a Linden back and sides with a Spruce top for rich sound. Precision enclosed tuners keep your tuning stable. The 10 year limited warranty should give you enough time to learn a few chords.
Digital Tuner
The digital tuner features an LED readout and a built-in microphone.
"Guitar Basics For Dummies" Book
This 120-page book with bonus audio CD will get you going in no time flat.
About For Dummies
For Dummies is really about attitude. In fact, every For Dummies book, CD, video or other product is a concise, lighthearted and conversational tool that can help you start doing something now--without any formal mumbo jumbo getting in the way. Introduced in 1991, the For Dummies brand has developed a loyal following and have more than 150 million books in print.
About Kona Guitars
Kona Guitars, headquartered in Fort Worth, TX, are exclusively distributed in the U.S. by Kona Guitars Incorporating traditional styles with contemporary flair. The entire line of Kona guitars offers something for everyone.
What's in the Box
Kona acoustic guitar, gig bag, digital tuner, 3 picks and the Guitar Basics For Dummies book with CD.
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Simple Instructions to Learning Chord Structure Easily

A technical knowledge of harmony is not an absolute prerequisite to the enjoyment of music, but the amateur musician and listener alike should be aware of harmony as an element of guitar chord structure. He should be cognizant of certain basic principles, properties and uses of this element.

Harmony as an element is more sophisticated than rhythm and melody. It was virtually non-existent in primitive cultures. It is an element which appeared comparatively late in the history of music and was developed primarily in western civilization.

Harmony is a musical element based on the simultaneous combination of musical tones (as distinguished from the consecutive tones of a melody), or the accompaniment of a melody using chords.

A combination of three or more tones, played simultaneously and perceived as sounding as a whole is called a chord.

A few rudimentary principles will help you understand the nature of conventional chord construction. The simplest chord is the major triad, which consists of three tones. We can build a triad by selecting the tones of a certain major scale and by adding two or more tones above it in alternate degrees of the original scale. For example, if we start with the tone C as “do”, the tonic of the C-major scale, we get the triad do-mi-sol, 1-3-5, or using the letter names C-E-G.

The tones of any chord maybe arranged in different order, and they maybe duplicated an octave above or below without changing the essential nature of the chord. This is the reason why we often see chords such as C/E, (the first inversion of the C major triad using the chord tone E as the bass) or C/G (the second inversion of the same triad using the chord tone G as the bass)

Building chords in thirds (on alternate scale degrees as described) was the basis of all conventional harmony from 1700-1900.

In the twentieth century serious music composers expanded the chord vocabulary by additional means of construction for the sake of more colorful and complex effects. Although additional means of construction have been introduced, modern pop, rock and jazz music still follow the conventional way of chord construction – by thirds.

Going back to the major chord, you may be wondering why there are several fingerings for a certain major chord. This is possible because in the 12 frets of the guitar, the notes simply repeat themselves in increasing octaves, at their corresponding string. C, for example, is on the first fret at the B string, third fret at the A string, fifth fret at the G string, and on the eighth fret at the E string. For reference, here are the other notes and their possible fingerings:

D: 3rd fret at B, 5th fret at A, 7th at G and 10th at E;

E: 2nd at D, 5th at B, 7th at A, 9th at G and 12th at E;

F: 1st at E, 3rd at D, 6th at B, 8th at S and 10th at G;

G: 3rd at E, 5th at D, 8th at B, 10th at A and 12th at G;

A: 2nd at G, 5th at E, 7th at D, 10th at B and 12th at A;

B: 2nd at A, 4th at G, 7th at E, 9th at D and 12th at B.

Depending on how the melody of the song is arranged, the chord formation can assume any fingering position as long as the triad is formed and however it is conveniently played.

Now that you have an understanding of the major chord, let us investigate its parallel counterpart the minor chord. If the third of the major triad is altered by lowering it by one semitone (one fret on the guitar and two frets for each whole tone), the resulting triad will be C-E /flat-G, which is the minor triad.

Check the fret board and investigate all of the possible fingerings, for the minor chord. You may see that if comparing it with the major chord fingerings, only one string is lowered when forming the minor chord, unless there is a doubling of the minor third (E /flat).

If you are wondering why all the examples mentioned here are on the C chord, it is because it now your turn to apply the lesson. Chart down the major and minor chord triads for the rest of the notes and … start strummin’!

Learn to Tune a Guitar

Learning to play the guitar is never difficult especially if the beginner has a passion for guitars. A part of the learning process is learning how to tune the guitar. Tuning the guitar may seem very difficult when in fact it is not. Here are some quick steps to learn how to tune the guitar:





1. The guitar player should first identify if the guitar is in or out of tune. A guitar is out of tune if the chords are played but the sounds do not seem right which means that it is time to tune the guitar.





2. The sixth string is usually the string that is always in tune because it is the largest string and does not go out of tune easily.





3. When tuning the fifth string, all a person has to do is place the finger on the sixth string on the fifth fret. He can then strike the sixth string. After that, he can strike the fifth string. If the sounds created were not the same, he can make the fifth string tighter or loosen it depending how low or high the pitch has become.





4. The person can do the same process on the fourth and third strings placing the higher string on the fifth fret and striking it. Then he can strike the lower string and if they do not create the same pitch, he can either loosen or tighten it.





5. When tuning the second string, he can place the finger at the third string on the fourth fret and either tighten or loosen the third string to match the sound of the second string.





6. Placing the finger on the second string and press on the fifth fret will be the method to tune the first string and then he can strike and follow by striking the first string open. He can either tighten or loosen the second string to match the sound of the first string.





7. To check to determine if the guitar is in tune, all he has to do is try a chord. If the guitar still does not sound in tune, he can do the process again until he is able to fine-tune the guitar.





This is the easiest method of tuning a guitar. There are also electric methods to tune a guitar, but this traditional method is the most efficient. Once a beginner is able to learn how to tune a guitar, learning to play it will never be that hard.

Kinds of Guitar: The Classical, Acoustic and the Electric

A guitar is a stringed instrument that produces sounds through the string’s vibration resonating within the guitar’s body.





Guitars can be classified into 3 kinds: the classical guitar, the acoustic guitar and finally the electric guitar.





The classical guitar (also referred to as the Spanish guitar) is the most common between the three kinds of guitar. This kind of guitar has a hollow body with a hole that acts as a resonator of the sound produced by plucking and strumming the strings. It normally has six strings made of nylon. These nylon strings have less tension when compared to steel strings thus making this kind of guitar easy to pluck or strum. It is assumed that it is to be played only with a person’s fingers and not with a pick. It is also normally used without amplifiers but classical guitar owners can equip one or just play the guitar in front of a microphone. This kind of guitar is used mainly for classical, Latin and Flamenco music.





The acoustic guitar looks like a classical guitar in terms of shape and appearance. Like a classical guitar, an acoustic one does not normally use amplifiers. Their similarities stop there, though, as an acoustic guitar uses steel strings to produce a louder and brighter sound. Heavier woods (such as spruce, maple and mahogany) are used for the body and neck of the guitar. This is to withstand the tension brought on by the steel strings. This kind of guitar caters to blues, country and folk music. It can also be used in different genres of rock.





The electric guitar uses electronic pickups to convert the sound of vibrating the strings into electric current. These signals will then be electrically altered to produce the desired sound before being fed to the amplifiers. Since the electric guitar uses these pickups, there is no need for the body to be shaped in a way that it would act as a resonator. This type of guitar is used for different kinds of music such as rock and roll, country, pop, jazz and heavy metal.





Classical and acoustic guitars are normally used by one man or in accompaniment of other guitars. This is because, unlike electric guitars, classical and acoustic guitars are not loud instruments and they will not be able to compete with other instruments such as percussion and wind instruments. Acoustic guitars today, though, may have built-in electronics to allow amplification of the sound.

The CAPO and guitar-playing

Despite the similarity of the words, the capo is not your regular trigger-happy Mafia leader although it does come from the Italian word "capo tasto" which means head of finger board. Instead, the capo is a harmless gadget or device attached to a stringed instrument like a guitar, to raise its pitch.
Capos come in different brands but the common kinds are the elastic capos - which are the least expensive and most commonly used by guitar players, the nylon capos, and the steel string capos.




While it may look a bit strange and highly technical for non-guitar players, the capo can be easily attached to a guitar. It is placed on any of the frets of a guitar neck. A fret is a small ridge on the finger board of a stringed instrument. Or in layman's terms, it looks like equal divisions located in a guitar's neck or handle - the one attached to the guitar's semi-elliptical body.





To use the capo, just attach the device to any of the frets and make sure the clamp can hold all the strings down. Inspect for any kind of pulling of the guitar strings as it may cause the guitar to sound out of tune.





A special kind of capo, the third hand capo, is a gadget that can easily clamp all the strings of the guitar in place. Like the ordinary capos, it allows the guitar player to play tunes that may be difficult to play using the bare guitar strings.





If you have tried singing accompanied by a guitar, or just playing the guitar, you may be familiar with songs that are either too low or too high in pitch and you just can't reach the right pitch. This is where the capo comes to the rescue, by making the pitch right.





The capo is not only used by guitar experts but it also allows beginners to enjoy different kinds of tunes without difficulty. Using the capo can sometimes be frustrating for guitar players as they can hinder the proper playing or proper hand reaching.





While capos are used with stringed instruments, they are also commonly used with guitars. Guitars can either be acoustic or electric, but the basic method of playing the instrument remains the same.





Most guitars have a total of six strings but there are 12-stringed guitars so no matter how many guitar strings there are, they are most generally played by strumming or plucking the strings with a person's right hand. Sometimes, though, a pick is used to do the plucking or strumming. The left hand is used to hold the guitar in order to play a note or chord.





A guitarist must possess the following essentials:


1. Extra Strings - guitar strings usually break when you least expect them to so do yourself a favor by keeping extra strings for emergency purposes. Guitar strings should be changed every two months even if they do not break. But if you use your guitar more often than the regular guitar player you should try changing strings more than once every two months to keep your guitar in shape.





2. Picks - stock up on these little things because they are easy to lose. Guitar players who only have one pick and lose it use alternatives like carving a pick from a hard plastic but the professional pick is always better.





3. Capo - the capo is a very important device for guitar players because it can help them strum a higher pitch if a song proves to be too high or too low. You do not want to be frustrated if you cannot get the right pitch so invest in a good capo.





Guitar teachers advise their students, especially beginners, to use an electronic guitar tuner so they can focus on learning how to play the guitar. Like the basic tuner, the capo is one of the essential accessories a guitar player should have because it can easily change keys that sound awkward, with ordinary strumming.





If possible purchase the most durable and reliable capo, even if they are more expensive than the ordinary ones. But before buying a capo, you must first have a guitar on which it can be attached.





The following are tips in buying and maintaining a guitar:





Price must be a consideration because you would want to buy a guitar which is within your budget.





The guitar of your choice must be easy and comfortable to play. Experts suggest that buying a guitar with strings that are close to the fret board would be good for easy playing.





A beginner should not only invest in a good guitar but should also invest in essential guitar accessories like the capo.





Keep your guitar rust-free by making sure you wash and dry your hands properly before playing the guitar. Remember that the guitar strings are pone to rusting so take care of them.





Keep you guitars in a safe guitar case and away from sudden weather or humidity changes.

Fender 351 Premium Celluloid Guitar Picks, 12 Pack, Abalone, Medium

The Classic Celluloid Pick for Your Guitar

You cannot go wrong with the classics. In this case, we are talking about the Fender 351 Premium Celluloid Guitar Pick. Classic shape, medium weight, Fender Premium Celluloid picks combine the traditional tone and feel of celluloid, with beautiful and unique colors. Celluloid is one of the best pick materials. Ever. It gives you traditional feel, a smooth striking surface and a warm tone.

Classic sound with a wider body and a rounded tip.

Fender Premium Celluloid picks combine the traditional tone and feel of celluloid, with beautiful and unique colors. Often called the Fender pick, the 351 shape is the pick most associated with Fender company and guitar. A wider body and a rounded tip have made this pick a favorite with players of every style.
Why a Medium Guitar Pick?
A medium guitar pick is 0.73–0.81 mm or 0.028–0.031 inches thick. When playing rock or heavier music, or while playing electric guitar with hi-gain amplification or distortion, thinner picks produce muddier, less precise, less controlled sound while thicker picks produce more specific, more controlled and well-shaped tone. Thinner picks also tend to rip or tear more often if used too forcefully, whereas a thicker one is less likely to wear down. Thicker picks are generally used in more discrete genres, such as heavy metal or power metal.
Celluloid, Historically Speaking
Invented in 1856, celluloid is considered the first invented thermoplastic. This was the first plastic ever used to produce picks, and it is still used today, especially for guitarists aiming for vintage tone. Celluloid is easily molded and shaped, and it was first widely used as an ivory replacement. Easy to manufacture, easy to produce, celluloid is the favored pick of guitarists around the world.
About Fender
Founded in 1946, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation has been an American icon for over 50 years. In that time, Fender’s contribution to the evolving sound of contemporary music has been global and continuous. By introducing the first commercially viable solidbody electric guitar, the first electric bass and countless classic amplifiers, Fender musical instruments have left their mark on jazz, blues, country, rock and many other styles of popular music.
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Knowing the Parts of a Guitar

The guitar is one invention that dates back more than 5000 years ago. Through the years, it has evolved into what people know today as a 6 string musical instrument for right handed players.

One of the things a person needs to know before learning how to play this instrument is the parts that make up the guitar.

The top of the guitar is called the headstock. If the person wants to adjust the pitch, it can be adjusted by twisting it and there will be a change of pitch when played.

The part of the guitar that holds the strings near the headstock is called the nut. This can be made of different materials such as bone, plastic, brass, graphite or ivory which may make one guitar sound different than another.

The fret serves as a guide that allows the user to make the sounds of various notes. This happens because each of the six strings is made of a different width.

The truss rod holds the strings at the top of the guitar. If the instrument sounds different, a slight adjustment can make it sound good again. Many musicians do this especially if they are just borrowing it for a gig.

The strings of the guitar are held by the truss rod and the bridge. The purpose or the bridge is to transfer the vibration of the strings to the soundboard so the sound can be amplified.

The regular guitar comes with 6 strings. The weight of each of these strings is in thousands of a diameter which produces the different sounds.

The inlay is a visual element on the guitar. It comes in many forms and the most common are parallelograms, diamond shapes and dots. This is located in between the frets that guide the person when playing and is quite similar to the different keys in the piano.

The neck of the guitar makes up the headstock, nut, frets, truss rod and the inlays.

The body of the guitar will determine the kind of sound that resounds when the instrument is being played and his depends on the type of wood used in making it.

Some people think that a certain item in the guitar is just there for aesthetic purposes. There is a purpose for each part and by understanding it, the individual will be able to distinguish a good guitar from a poor one and have a good time playing it.