A fretted plucked stringed instrument, usually having 6 strings.
4
votes
2answers
353 views
What are some 'Standard' first position rock chords?
I was showing someone how to play the intro to "More Than A Feeling", and as we were working through the chord pattern it dawned on me how many times I've played the same voicing for the Dmaj (C,B on ...
3
votes
1answer
243 views
Chord lick, looking for others similar and maybe a bit of the theory behind how it works…
Here's a nice little chord lick that I picked up from Little Charlie of Little Charlie and the Nightcats. Charlie uses it as a turnaround in a few Swing Blues tunes he does.
$4.9.$3.8.$2.9.$1.7 / ...
1
vote
1answer
119 views
How do I find the accompaigning low-pitch note when playing fingerstyle?
If you're trying to learn a song by ear for example, how do you find the backing note to go along whith what you are playing?
For example, when playing canon in D, you first start with the D string ...
3
votes
4answers
398 views
How can I scallop a fretboard by myself?
I've seen guitar players over the years use Scalloped fretboards to interesting effect. I bought a Mexican Strat with a Rosewood Neck that I wanted to experiment on: Any ideas how to do the ...
5
votes
2answers
412 views
How is string height adjusted for a neck with a compound radius ?
From what I understand, during a guitar setup, the string height is adjusted to follow the fretboard radius.
How is string height adjusted for a neck with a compound radius ?
10
votes
1answer
304 views
What does it mean to play in an 'arpeggiated' style on the guitar?
I sometimes hear a guitar player described as having an 'arpeggiated' style, such as Peter Buck of R.E.M.
I know that an arpeggio is the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th of a scale, but exactly what does it ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
How to work out a strum pattern?
Annoyingly most guitar players seem to 'just play' a rhythm/strum pattern and it sounds like a song.
What advice can the community here give someone who is trying to go beyond playing 4 downs to ...
7
votes
6answers
567 views
Looking at the frets VS not looking at the frets
Is it a bad thing, if constantly look at the frets while playing? Some times I find by self curved over a body of the guitar so much, that my neck starts to hurt.
Seems, that some experienced players ...
10
votes
5answers
884 views
How do I choose my first guitar for self-learning?
Let's say I've never played the guitar, or I've only learned to pluck a string and play a chord but have forgotten most of it. Now, I've become interested and would like to try it out. I don't want to ...
13
votes
7answers
326 views
Where does picking speed come from? Forearm, hand, or bicep?
Where specifically on the arm/hand should rapid picking speed come from?
1
vote
2answers
526 views
Powering 5 high-current draw effects pedals
I've got the entire collection of Empress effects pedals now but my dream of an all-Empress pedalboard is being stymied by their power-hunger nature. 3 of the 5 run PICs for parameter changes and what ...
4
votes
1answer
46 views
5
votes
1answer
1k views
What is the difference between a flat and curved capo?
I want to buy a capo... What is the difference between a flat and a curved capo? Can I use either for both an electric and acoustic guitar?
4
votes
3answers
644 views
Can I use semi-acoustic guitar with overdrive (or compressor) without getting feedback?
Old-school method like to put lots of paper into body of guitar is not recommended in here =))
Anyway, I saw on youtube that one guy having delay+compressor+overdrive+reverb played with epiphone DOT, ...
6
votes
2answers
110 views
Improving my descending tapping technique
I find that it's very easy for me to get a clean phrase when tapping in an ascending pattern like the following:
$1 7h9h12
Reversing that pattern, however, becomes hard for me:
$1 12p9p7
I ...
9
votes
1answer
56 views
Is there any way to improve the life of my capo?
I have a spring-action grip style capo that is designed for changing the position easily. It used to be great, however now I am finding that quite often it will not fret some of the strings properly, ...
7
votes
3answers
367 views
Fingerpicks - which styles are they used for?
I'm currently learning how to use fingerpicks, like these:
The exercises I found are all blues or bluegrass related. I really like the strong sound and speed potencial, but I am more into the ...
7
votes
0answers
111 views
How to properly store valuable guitars?
What are the general guidelines when storing a collectors, very nice guitar (special woods, etc.), or one you value greatly? You will find humidity control systems in place at stores with "acoustic ...
11
votes
5answers
711 views
Will hanging a guitar by its headstock damage it?
I like to leave my guitars out, otherwise I don't play them. I have a couple of wall hangings and stands all over the place too. Will hanging a guitar from the wall damage it at all? Warp the neck? ...
4
votes
1answer
573 views
Lap Steel Tuning for more “modern” music?
I have a six-string lap steel that so far I have kept in C6 (CEGACE). I like it because I can play major or minor on it, but the tuning is seemingly built for hawaiian and classic country work, and ...
5
votes
4answers
164 views
Muting technique and exercises
I have been practicing muting for some days. However, I am not finding myself very comfortable with it. I use my right hand placed on the strings while the left had lightly placed over the fret. Is ...
6
votes
2answers
980 views
Are there any headphones specially designed for guitar?
I recently started playing guitar through my computer using guitar rig at home, and I must say I find it a bit difficult to not get distracted by the sound, as I usually play through some pretty nice ...
7
votes
5answers
520 views
How can I strengthen my fretting hand away from my guitar?
I don't get as much time with my guitar as I'd like, and I'd like to be "in shape" for the time of day when I can play. Are there exercises I can do while I don't have my guitar that can help improve ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Short fat fingers
Any tips for someone with short fat fingers.
I find trying to get my chords, I accidentally cover over other strings.
Any tips?
3
votes
2answers
123 views
How can I mute a string when playing an octave riff?
I'm trying to reproduce this Metallica riff (from the song Day that Never Comes):
|------------------------------------------------|
|------------------------------------------------|
...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
What is a ghost note ?
What is a ghost note and how is it different than holding the previous note ?
9
votes
2answers
207 views
What do they mean by 'This amp has a lot of headroom'?
Do they mean how loud it will go without getting distortion?
5
votes
4answers
32 views
Should I worry about this strap pin?
I recently bought a Fender Stratocaster that came stock with Schaller straplocks. This is great, because I pretty much always play standing. In shows, I jump around and do all the tricks in the book. ...
11
votes
7answers
835 views
Should the picking hand little finger be resting on the guitar?
I notice I tend to rest the little finger of my picking hand on the body of my guitar, typically on the edge of the sound-hole, for greater accuracy and steadiness of the picking hand.
After extended ...
6
votes
3answers
23 views
Tips for a New Teacher
I'm an intermediate guitar player. I've been playing for a few years, mostly teaching myself with a few months of lessons in the middle. I'm not a great player, or even particularly good; but I can ...
1
vote
2answers
240 views
What chord is this?
0-0-8-7-9-7
I'm not sure if that is correct.
Here is the song I'm trying to play. I'm just trying to figure out what the first chord is, but if you recognize what the other chords are I would like ...
4
votes
3answers
91 views
Stripped strap pin screw
You may have seen my question a while back about how to handle a faulty strap pin. I found another pair in my 'accessory kit' that are of much better quality. The dilemma now is removing the strap pin ...
2
votes
2answers
605 views
What Phaser is used at the beginning of “Rooster” by Alice in Chains?
I built a CE2 chorus clone that sounds fantastic and should work for Rooster. But I believe the Alice in Chains guitarist (was it Cantrell or Layne playing?) is also using a phaser, which I don't yet ...
10
votes
5answers
562 views
Selling my guitar
I want to sell a guitar, but I would like to know:
Where are good places to sell a guitar? Online? Guitar stores?
What is a good way to work out the value of the guitar?
-1
votes
1answer
156 views
Advance Plucking Lessons
Check this out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA-GadOp9sA (In this video it is not me)
I like plucking a lot. Most of the time I play Blackmoor's night. I can play several famous Blackmoor's Night ...
2
votes
1answer
311 views
What does the circle around a note mean in a guitar chord diagram?
I'm trying to play E/G#. I found this, but what is that symbol on the 4th string?
4
votes
2answers
43 views
how I must put my fingers for this tablature?
How should I play this bar? I'm having trouble figuring out the fingering so that I can play it easily (or as easily as possible, anyways).
3
votes
1answer
138 views
Guitar isn't playing in tune
I have a Segovia backpacker guitar (Segovia is a Korean company; the guitar was made in China). The problem is that it doesn't play in tune very well--especially if I play up the neck.
The strings ...
3
votes
1answer
127 views
What would the guitar sound like if I used only strings of the same weight?
The thickness of the strings on a guitar are different. If I had the thickness of one type only, could I tune the guitar appropriately still? And how would it sound? Would it sound just bland? ...
6
votes
2answers
648 views
Insane amounts of fret buzzing on my lower strings
This may have been addressed before, but I can't really find a thread that targets this problem.
Whenever I play on my low B, E, or A string between open and fifth fret inclusive, it always buzzes ...
6
votes
4answers
4k views
how does one use or apply lemon oil ?
I have bought a classic guitar for my nephew who is starting classes. The vendor gave me as a gift a little vial of "lemon oil" (translated from the french) saying just quickly something like "it ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
What are the actual notes of each natural harmonic?
So I know that if you play a natural harmonic at the 12th fret, this is just the same note as fretting the 12th is. Also, when I play my electric guitar and listen to lots of metal music in ...
5
votes
2answers
1k views
What is meant by “Top-End” and “Bottom-End”?
When guitarists describe the sound of their guitars, a lot of terms are used.
What does a guitarist mean when they talk about top and bottom end?
1
vote
4answers
318 views
Can E/G# be played like this?
I looked at several sites and I found this:
4 x 2 4 0 0
The 6th string is played on the 4th fret, correct? I found this on a message board but on the sites that I usually go to they don't show this. ...
4
votes
3answers
988 views
How does the Buzz Feiten tuning system work?
I understand the general idea of compensated nuts to produce more variance in the string lengths, and thus better intonation over a wider range of fretting positions, but the Buzz Feiten system I see ...
8
votes
2answers
280 views
Dealing with sharp fret ends
Continuing on my quest to subjugate this cheap bass I picked up in to the realm of "actually useful instrument" I've got a question about taming sharp fret ends. This bass, it has a lot of them. After ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
How can I Lower the strings to the fretboard?
How can I lower the strings to make it closer to the fretboard? When I play my guitar, using the 5th fret until to the 12th fret, it seems the sound doesn't come to my ears gently and I thought it is ...
3
votes
1answer
58 views
How to layout left hand fingers correctly?
I practice Flamenco guitar. Basically all music sheets that I read indicates the left hand fingers (1, 2, 3 and 4).
This is amazingly helpful because you can complicate a lot of things if you are ...
2
votes
2answers
100 views
Please recommend a book with excercises for guitar duet
Me and my friend play acoustic guitar. We are looking for a book, that will provide us with excercises to play together. I've searched on the net, but couldn't find anything, though I am sure those ...
6
votes
1answer
1k views
Basics of stage presence for guitarists
Where do I start to develop a good stage presence as a guitarist? While guitar-specific stunts (like the guitar spin, etc) are good to know, but I'm more interested in knowing general rules for ...
