Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Making the Most out of Online Guitar Lessons


Online guitar lessons are beneficial for any guitar player, but mostly for those beginners that have busy lives. Even though you are dying to learn to play guitar, there might be times when it is just too hard to squeeze in the time to sit down and learn. That is what is so great about online guitar lessons. Most guitar lessons for beginners walk you through the basics of the guitar, like how to hold it and how to read the tabs. Guitar lessons for beginners are typically slower and more detailed. This is helpful because it allows you to move at your own pace in learning how to play guitar.

When you are searching for online guitar lessons to take, you should search for ones that also provide more advanced lessons that you can work towards. As you progress from the guitar lessons for beginners into more advanced lessons, you will find that the guitar is easier to play than you thought, and you can begin to develop your own sense of style. There are many ways to take advantage of playing the guitar in your own style. It will give your music more personality and will help you to work on the guitar skills that will make your style stand out more. With online guitar lessons, it will be much easier to find out what type of style you are and what you will excel at.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Watching Acoustic Handmade Guitars Being Made

It is fun watching acoustic handmade guitars being made. They are made with such precision and specific materials, that not everyone can actually make one. Also, they are so simple in design it will surprise you at how they make such beautiful music. An acoustic handmade guitar is going to look like any old guitar to the naked untrained eye. But to those that know about guitars, handmade guitars are much more precious and valuable than any other type of guitar. Handmade guitars are made in a number of places. However, they are not made everywhere, so finding one is going to prove to be quite a challenge.

As acoustic handmade guitars are made, it is important that they all go through a specific process. Following this process will help you to understand how to better appreciate the music that they produce. It is also a great way to motivate yourself to learn how to play. Most handmade guitars are made from a special wood that is heated and bent into a certain shape. The bending is a delicate process so it can only be done by certain people. This is also a reason why handmade guitars are more expensive than others, besides the time and labor it takes to produce one.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Zager Guitars Review by Bonnie Earnhardt


Product: Zager ZAD 80
Email: Scarlett at burntmailcom

Features : 9
I just purchased the guitar of a lifetime! It's a Zager ZAD-80 acoustic. Solid cedar top, mahogany back and sides. Gold Grover tuners. Dreadnought body. Scalloped bracing. Incredibly graceful neck.

If I were to change anything about it, I think my "elitist" side would opt for solid mahogany, and I believe (though I'm not positive) that the ZAD-80 is laminated. But it certainly doesn't affect the sound or appearance of the guitar.

Sound : 10
Let me tell you, this is one *sweet* guitar...and I have a lot to compare to. I recently purchased a Martin HD-28VS, and I am seriously considering taking it back to the shop in favor of this ZAD-80.

This baby sings like an angel. And she sings with an ease and grace I only *wish* my Martins had. I can finally achieve complicated chord structures I've struggled with for years. I prefer to play finger style, and this guitar gives me the opportunity to focus on great new patterns instead of worrying about dead-sounding chords due to the high action of my guitar. The ZAD-80's sound is bright and full. You don't have a category rating of "Totally Awesome, I Am Blown Away", but I am!!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Zager's ZAD-80 is a gorgeous work of art with its abalone inlay, impressive fit, and stunning finish. In addition to being a musician, I'm a graphic artist with a bent toward perfectionist, so I have a tendency to pick things apart looking for the minutest flaws. Trust me, I found nothing to complain about in this guitar.

One thing I particularly look at is what kind of wood is on the back of my guitar. No one ever sees it, so the Luther has the opportunity to use "ugly" wood back there. I was pleased and surprised to see a really pretty pattern in the grain on the back of my ZAD-80.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I'm not a performer, but I think the ZAD-80 will handle anything I want to throw at it. Its hardware is solid, the finish is flawless and deep, everything about it is top-notch. And if I were a performer who needed a backup guitar, you can be sure it would be another ZAD-80!

Customer Support : 10
As I was making my choice, I had the opportunity to deal with several people at Zager guitar. My questions, either by telephone or e-mail, were promptly and courteously answered. Even when I changed my mind in the 11th hour about which model guitar I wanted, they were wonderfully friendly and helpful. And, I asked the impossible. I ordered my guitar the weekend before Christmas as a gift for myself and asked that it be delivered to me before the holidays. I did NOT pay for special handling or shipping. Zager jumped right on my order and my guitar arrived on the east coast in 3 days. And don't forget, I'm talking about THE WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS!

Customer service and support? This company truly knows the meaning and carries it out. I highly recommend them.

Overall Rating : 10
I would put the Zager ZAD-80 guitar up against any I own...and I own a Yairi and 4 Martins: one of which is a custom model and one is a pre-war model. I love those guitars, but my hands are quite sensitive and I cannot play them for very long at the time. I do not have that problem with my ZAD-80. Because it's so easy to play, I can work on complicated melodies without giving up due to the frustration of painful fingers!

If my ZAD-80 were stolen or lost, right after I took a stick to whomever stole it, I'd buy another. That same day.

I am in no way connected to the folks at Zager Guitar, other than being a delighted customer. I highly recommend them and their guitars to anyone.

Monday, May 10, 2010

The Convenience Of Video Guitar Lessons


Video guitar lessons have made life easier for those individuals who want to learn how to play the guitar. Video guitar lessons have made it easier and more convenient than ever to learn to play the guitar. There are plenty of people who have thought of learning to play the guitar but who never hot around to do it because it would have placed a burden both on their schedule and on their wallets as well. Plus the amount of time it would take to find a guitar teacher that suited them.

Video guitar lessons are the answer for these individuals. Video guitar lessons can be purchased on DVD or can be downloaded directly on your computer, and they will eliminate having to search for a guitar teacher, plus the fact that they will also save you the time and expense of having to drive to a lesson. Nowadays for less than a tank of gas or a one hour guitar lesson, you can purchase video guitar lessons online on a DVD or take the lessons online for a month. This option offers you the ability to practice at your own pace and at your convenience, plus the fact that you will be more relaxed when there is no guitar teacher watching you make embarrassing mistakes. You'll be able to practice the same piece over and over, without having to worry about a time limit, thus saving you hundreds of dollars.

There are quite a few reputable companies that have video guitar lessons available online for as little as 25 dollars a year, and guitar tabs are usually included with many of these lesson thus making it unnecessary to read music the traditional way.

With this amount of convenience and so little cost, there is no longer an excuse to put off your dream of learning to play the guitar.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Differences Between Electric Guitars And Acoustic Electric Guitars


The guitar is a very popular instrument and it is being used from a long time, no matter the music style. The guitar can be adapted to any style. In order for this to be done properly, there has been manufactured, during time, many types of guitars. For example, if you want to play some rock' n' roll music, than the electric guitar is exactly what you need. But if you want to play blues or something even more soft, than you might be required to use some acoustic electric guitars, because the sound they produce is softer. But the main idea is that guitar can be successfully adapted to all styles of music.

The main difference between acoustic electric guitars and electric guitars is that the last mentioned can be played at only when they are unplugged. Acoustic electric guitars can be used both if they are plugged or unplugged, and they are made up of wood, featuring six strings which are specially tuned to produce rhythmic, sweet, musical, but also loud sound.

If the acoustic electric guitars are being plugged in, their sound is strongly amplified, and the clarity of the sound is amazing. If they are not plugged in, the sound these instruments produce is the same with the sound of the acoustic guitars. That is why many people prefer to buy acoustic electric guitars instead of electric guitars, because they feature double use: clean acoustic sound when they are not plugged in, and loud as the electric guitars when plugged in an electric socket.

Also, with the strings so soft and easy to handle, there is no wonder why these instruments are at so high demand. And because they can be used for all types of music, they are the best alternative to any other type of guitars.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

The Acoustic Guitar


Guitars have played an important part in molding the music of many cultures. Different types of guitars, including acoustic guitars, are used to create certain sounds and styles. Acoustic guitars got their name from the type of amplification they provide. Unlike the electric guitar, they do not need external devices for amplification; they are amplified acoustically. Acoustic guitars generally feature a standard array of six strings, although twelve string ones are also available. Wood is the most commonly used material for making acoustic guitars.

The type of wood used to manufacture acoustic guitars affects the quality and sound of the guitar. Some of them, however, can be made of several other materials. The more expensive guitars are generally made of solid wood tops, sides and backs. Beginner guitars are usually constructed with layers of wood pressed together, though, which is known as laminated wood. Different types of acoustic guitars are classified according to the material used in making their strings.

Nylon is commonly used, but steel string acoustic guitars are sometimes preferred because they can produce a louder sound. Guitars featuring steel strings require stronger construction than nylon string guitars, though. This is because there is a higher tension in steel strings. The body of a steel string acoustic guitar is also larger than nylon string guitars. The size and shape of acoustic guitars dates back to the mid 1800s, and these dimensions remain the same to this day. An acoustic guitar can be used either for finger picking, or for strumming. Regardless of the chosen method of playing, a pick is generally used. The acoustic guitar is used in many styles of rock music, such as folk, country, blues, bluegrass and folk. These guitars are also popular for solo performances. They are perhaps the most diverse instruments of our time.