A fretted plucked stringed instrument, usually having 6 strings.
2
votes
3answers
863 views
What harmonic devices are common for jazz-rock fusion guitar?
If I want to compose a fusion piece (or improvise over one), what harmonic tools I can use to sound right in this genre? Every genre has a specific chords, progressions, scales, techniques etc. which ...
3
votes
3answers
189 views
Which electric guitar strings have the least (pitch) bend
When playing my electric guitar, the pitch of notes varies depending upon how exactly the strings are fretted; this is particularly a problem with strings that are barred by the first finger, since ...
6
votes
3answers
4k views
Should a Floyd Rose bridge be parallel to the body of the guitar?
I've read before that a Floyd Rose bridge should be parallel to the body of the guitar.
This is an image of the bridge on my guitar:
You can see that the left side of the appears to be a little ...
8
votes
3answers
206 views
What guitar tunings allow many chords without fretting between “live” strings
When playing the guitar, I find it difficult to fret a string without touching the string on either side and ruining the sound. Open tunings make it very easy to play one type of chord by barring ...
19
votes
5answers
1k views
Recycling guitar strings
This one goes out to all my eco-friendly shredder pals. Does anyone know of an organization that takes guitar strings and recycles them? I run through quite a few packs per month on a heavy gigging ...
0
votes
4answers
3k views
How can I build my finger strength when I am not practicing?
I am a beginner for guitar. And I am having a hard time playing the F barre chord. It is said that only through practice can one make a difference. But I have limited time playing guitar. Are there ...
2
votes
1answer
37 views
How can you tell if the sound of an electroacustic nylon guitar is going to be good?
How can you predict whether an electroacoustic nylon guitar is going to have a rich/deep sound by looking at its technical specifications?
7
votes
7answers
2k views
Is it possible for a left hander to learn guitar right handed?
I am looking to get a guitar for my step son.
He is largely left handed, but currently he plays the drums right handed without any difficulty.
Would the same apply with learning guitar from scratch?
...
3
votes
3answers
141 views
What to do when we have back pain from playing guitar after a while?
What should I do when I start having back pain every 10min after playing? I sit down and change position but the pain continues. Every player has to support the weight of the guitar if playing ...
1
vote
2answers
102 views
Best process to learn a new song
I have been wondering about the best way to learn playing a new song on guitar. For example, a lot of people try to pick a small part, practice and perfect it and then repeat the procedure for the ...
2
votes
1answer
48 views
Learning tablature with tutoring software that shows me what to do in real-time [closed]
I want to practice playing songs off of tablature, but I think it would be easier for me if I saw the actual notes displayed on a virtual fretboard while the song is playing. Guitar Guru does ...
0
votes
0answers
27 views
Suggestions on how to emulate MSI with only pedals. [closed]
My band is looking to perform a cover set of Mindless self indulgence for halloween. We're a 4 piece band and can't really be running synths on stage. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of ...
0
votes
1answer
134 views
How to extract musical notes(tabs) from chords?
Is there any way to extract tabs from the chord?
I am a guitar player and i want to play some songs on my guitar. I found the chords for these songs on the internet but there are no tabs available. I ...
9
votes
2answers
175 views
How can I easily manage different tunings?
This is probably appropriate for a range of instruments, and I have seen mentioned in other questions that professional musicians can cope easily with transpositions, different instruments that play ...
5
votes
0answers
125 views
Has anyone encountered G-D-d-f-g#-b tuning (guitar) [closed]
For many months, I've been playing my guitar tuned G-D-d-f-g#-b:
| G (+3 above standard)
| D (-5 below standard)
| d (standard pitch)
| f (-2 below standard)
| g# (-3 below ...
7
votes
3answers
784 views
Vertical wall mount / Holding a guitar by the neck
Is there potential danger of damage in storing your guitar in a vertical wall mount, like the ones that guitar shops use in their showrooms?
It seems like an obvious question (after all, that's the ...
5
votes
2answers
131 views
How to devise a strumming pattern for a song
My son was trying to devise a strumming pattern for a song but gave up.
How would someone go about developing a strumming pattern for song like Chiquitita (ABBA) on an acoustic guitar.
5
votes
3answers
216 views
What's the correct technique for strumming a guitar?
By correct I mean from a biomechanical perspective to minimize the risk of injury. I have seen some advice saying that strumming should be controlled by the big muscles such as the shoulder. My ...
3
votes
4answers
224 views
Is there a name for this guitar technique for Paganini's Capriccio #6?
I've spent several years working up Paganini's Capriccio #6 for the violin on the guitar and I wonder if the idea already exists and has a name.
For the violin, the piece is a coninuous double-stop ...
19
votes
9answers
2k views
“one finger per fret” - is it worth following this rule?
When I first got into guitar, I was given advice to follow a "one finger per fret" rule with the left hand.
Basically, to fret notes with all four fingers, and to follow a pattern such that in any ...
4
votes
4answers
2k views
On the guitar, if I play a song which is in the key of D, where should I put the capo?
How can I determine where to position a capo based on the key of the music I am playing? I current can only play songs in the key of C with no capo. Is there any rule to follow?
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Does using a whammy bar detune your guitar?
Will regular use of a whammy bar cause your guitar strings to come out of tune significantly faster than normal?
4
votes
3answers
178 views
What are the dos and don'ts of positioning your thumb on a guitar?
What are the Dos and Don'ts of thumb position in guitar playing? Are there bad habits or just alternative techniques?
-1
votes
1answer
61 views
What is the best way to learn to play a piece on the guitar?
I've been playing the guitar for about 3 years. I would like to play more country and bluegrass. What is the best way to pick up new techniques and learn how to play anything besides basic guitar ...
6
votes
2answers
407 views
Some acoustic guitars are easy to play but some aren't. What affects playability?
I was comparing a fender and an epiphone acoustic guitar and noticed that fender was easier for my left hand. Both guitars have the same dimensions and seemed to have same string gauge.
I thought ...
11
votes
7answers
2k views
How do you mic a guitar amp?
How do you go about mic'ing a guitar amp for live performance? Would you do anything different if you were mic'ing the amp for studio recording? Is there anything specific I should look for in a ...
0
votes
3answers
120 views
What left hand technique is being used to create this percussive chord transition sound?
There is a strange chord transition that I cannot figure out how to play near the beginning of this acoustic guitar song:
...
0
votes
0answers
67 views
I'm buying a Bugera 333xl Infinium head, and i'm just wondering what cabinet I should get? [closed]
I'd like a 4x12 cabinet, for pretty much as cheap as possible, as my budget is quite low now. Though, I don't want low-cost to compromise sound, so... i'd like to get a cheapish, ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
How do I fix a stripped pickguard screw?
I have a Gibson Faded Flying V (Mahogany) and recently the guitar cable was yanked, pulling and stripping a screw from the pickguard. Is there a good way for me to fix this?
11
votes
9answers
440 views
Is there a technique to help you memorize the notes on the guitar?
The title says it all. Is there no escaping memorizing the neck note by note, or is there a nice technique for this?
8
votes
5answers
3k views
What factors affect a guitar's ability to sustain a note?
There are effects and gadgets that can create a long sustained note, but what about the guitar itself?
I have a squier standard strat which I can't help but feel could be letting notes ring longer, ...
7
votes
6answers
200 views
Power chord: Can the lower fifth be used?
Normally a C power chord is played by using C and the G in the same octave (that is, 3rd fret of 5th string and 5th fret of 4th string). But a friend says the C power chord can be played just by ...
3
votes
2answers
139 views
Inconsistent Right Hand Technique - Mixing economy and double picking
I am coming back to the guitar after almost 10 years away. I have been around the instrument as a jazz player for almost 25 years.
The biggest challenge coming back is what, I believe, drove me ...
11
votes
3answers
219 views
Basic Punk Rhythm Guitar--Snare Feels Like Down Beat
I'm a pretty good guitarist, and I can play some tricky rhythms (weird time signatures, syncopation, some of the easier djent stuff) but I've always had trouble when my drummer starts to play anything ...
17
votes
9answers
9k views
Why do some artists tune their guitars half a step or whole step down?
Is there a reason some guitarists tune down half or whole steps, other than preference or style?
It bugs me sometimes when I would like to play along with a song only to find that it's played down ...
0
votes
1answer
98 views
How do I make my fingerpicking patterns interesting?
I'm pretty used to picking through patterns in 3/4, 4/4, 6/8, 8/8 and 12/8 over arbitrary chords, but the novelty of this skill has worn off. How do I create patterns that doesn't get repetetive ...
0
votes
1answer
129 views
How can I play that crazy sound in Koko Taylor's “Wang Dang Doodle”?
In Koko Taylor's Wang Dang Doodle,
there's some kind of ringing arpeggio lead that almost makes you forget that the whole song has only one chord. How do you play that crazy lead?
Edit: This isn't ...
1
vote
1answer
75 views
Guitar buzzing after replacing bridge pickup
I replaced my humbucker bridge pickup with a different one (humbucker as well) and now I have this buzzing when I'm not touching any metal part on my guitar (string or pots). I wired the pup exactly ...
10
votes
4answers
811 views
Valve (tube) amps and clean tone
Is there any difference in clean tone sound between a valve/tube amp and a solid state amp? i.e., does having a valve in an amp affect the clean channel, or only the distorted channel?
Apologies for ...
3
votes
2answers
134 views
How do I play this ornament/slur? (Guitar Tab)
(As I have 2 questions about this specific tab and as they're both (probably) easy to answer, I figured I'd just ask them at the same time)
How do I play the ... ?
Ornament (Green)
I guess the ...
20
votes
4answers
4k views
How should I “store” my guitars?
I have a bunch of guitars of varying quality from unplayable to quite nice. I intend to hang some (or all) of them on walls for decoration, but I'm not sure if this is good for the guitars, so perhaps ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
How does a “Talk-Box” differ from a Vocoder?
Both the Talk-Box and Vocoder combine instrumental sounds with vocal sounds to create a Singing Instrument (or a more precisely-controlled Singer). How are they different, beyond "One's for guitar and ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Acoustic Guitar Pick-Up Microphone Replacement [closed]
Okay, I used to own an Estetban guitar with an Opus-3 pickup. This guitar has been broken for about a year now, but the electronics were removed to be reused later. When i dug it up to install it in a ...
7
votes
6answers
4k views
Is it good/bad to play guitar with low tension string?
When I started playing my acoustic(at an early age) I tuned the guitar just by matching notes. Like, matching the note of 5th fret of 6th string to open fret of 5th string and so on.
I didn't used ...
4
votes
1answer
87 views
Can I use strings for bridge pins on a non-bridge pin guitar?
Very new to the guitar. I borrowed an Oscar Schmidt OC11 without an E-6th string and I bought a heap load of different weighted strings so I could try different types. However, the strings I bought ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
What are the most popular types or styles of pickups, and what is the genre of music most associated with them?
I see humbuckers, single coil, active pickups, etc. I see P90's, PAFS, etc. Which are basically for jazz, blues, metal?
14
votes
8answers
1k views
What is intonation and how can I find out if my guitar has correct intonation?
What is intonation?
What is the best way to check my intonation and fix it if necessary?
6
votes
3answers
151 views
How to train playing sheet music on guitar?
I am a beginning guitar player, and I struggle to play sheet music.
If I remember the piece I want to play by heart, it goes pretty fine. However, when I look at the sheet (if I forget a few notes, ...
10
votes
5answers
349 views
Breaking out of pentatonic scales for guitar riffs
I've been playing guitar for about 9 years now. From a young age, my teachers focused a lot on pentatonic scales. So that's what I'm defaulting to when improvising, soloing, writing stuff, etc.
...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
Is there a preferred string gauge for different styles of music?
Generally speaking is there a preferred string gauge for different styles of music?
E.g. Will the fingerpicking folk player choose one gauge and the rock lead guitarist another gauge, how about the ...
