A fretted plucked stringed instrument, usually having 6 strings.
9
votes
2answers
756 views
Noise while not touching guitar strings or metal parts
I get a buzzing noise from my guitar when idle. However, when I touch the strings or touch any metal parts (strings, bridge or the metal portion near the output jack), the noise goes away completely. ...
9
votes
3answers
535 views
What can be done about a buzzy sitar-like fret?
I have an acoustic-electric guitar, which I took home new about 10 years ago. Lately I've noticed that the G on the high E string (third fret, play it all the time) has started to sound like a sitar. ...
9
votes
2answers
157 views
Wireless Guitar Systems
I'm looking to buy a wireless transmitting system for my guitar. But I'm seeing prices ranging from $80 - $500.
What are the differences between an expensive piece of equipment and a cheaper one? ...
9
votes
3answers
360 views
What is the the Nashville Numbers system?
Recently, a couple of my bandmates were talking about a technique they use called Nashville Numbers. It's similar to writing out chords, but instead uses numbers. These numbers are a pattern that ...
9
votes
1answer
254 views
Mental approach to improvisation
Improvisation for guitar is a fairly well-covered topic, with good resources to be found within multiple contexts (Web, traditional literature, etc).
However, most of what I've read is basically ...
9
votes
1answer
372 views
What kind of guitar exercise is “the caterpillar”?
What does it consist in and how do you practice it?
9
votes
1answer
154 views
Help me understand this progression
A friend showed me this progression:
G7, F#m7b5, B7, Em7, A7, Dm7, G7, CMaj7, Cm7, Bm7, Bdim7, Am7, Ab7, Bm7, Bb7, Am7, Ab7
For the most part, I understand that at its heart it is built on a I vi ii ...
9
votes
1answer
60 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, ...
8
votes
11answers
14k views
How not to touch neighbouring strings?
When playing guitar, my fingers often touch other strings on the guitar. I found that my fingertips are too broad for the strings. When I press one string by my middle finger, the meat of the ...
8
votes
6answers
4k views
What kind of guitar for big hands?
For someone with big hands, what kind of guitar is suitable?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of big hands for playing guitar?
8
votes
4answers
2k views
What should a guitarist learn first: Rhythm or Lead?
It is a slightly subjective question, however, there is, I'm sure, a common consensus as to what lends itself better to a beginner so as not to get frustrated with the instrument. I'm curious as to ...
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, ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
How does The Talkbox work?
Beck started using this in the early 70's - they called it The Bag for a hot minute (as did Stevie Wonder) - Frampton's career came alive when he started using it - how does it work?
8
votes
4answers
681 views
How to become a good musician at a later age?
I'm a soon-to-be psychology graduate, however my big passion is playing guitar, and I was wondering if I could turn my hobby into something more serious.
I've been a bedroom guitarist for about 6-7 ...
8
votes
9answers
4k views
What chord is formed by the open strings of a guitar in standard (EADGBe) tuning?
Here is something that I have been wondering about for a while:
If you strum all six strings of a guitar in standard (EADGBe) tuning what chord would you play?
I think it would be some variety of a ...
8
votes
1answer
220 views
How do you play this tablature notation?
How do I play this on my guitar?
A side question, is there a reference site for checking music and tablature notation?
8
votes
6answers
850 views
Importance of sight reading for non-professional jazz guitarists?
As a non-professional, intermediate-level guitarist interested in playing jazz, I wonder how important it is for me to be able to sight read music (and I mean standard music notation, not guitar ...
8
votes
4answers
186 views
What is a guitar truss rod?
What is the "truss rod" on a guitar? Do truss rods vary for an acoustic, electric, or classical guitar?
8
votes
3answers
428 views
What are all those extra controls on the Fender Jazzmaster?
The wikipedia article says a lot, but doesn't dissect the artifact.
8
votes
5answers
1k views
Whole finger callous - for barre chords?
Attempting to learn barre chords and am having trouble with the G-string. What is happening is while I have sufficient pressure (at least I believe so?) the middle third of my index finger is ...
8
votes
3answers
864 views
What can I do to minimize damage to my picking hand wrist as I practice guitar?
My right hand (picking hand) is showing signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, and is slowly, but surely, degrading. I continue to practice guitar, but it's beginning to be difficult to do so.
What can I ...
8
votes
6answers
2k views
How do you strum an upstroke without striking an unwanted string?
It could be a silly question. I started learning guitar 2 months ago but the progress are not going very well.
Apart from the previous problem, which I haven't solved yet, I have a problem with the ...
8
votes
2answers
872 views
What is a Birdseye Maple Neck?
Where does it come from or how is it chosen over regular Maple Necks - is there a tonal difference?
8
votes
3answers
3k views
What's causing this buzzing sound on the high e string?
My Takamine acoustic has a tendency to buzz when I play the high e string fretted around frets 2 and 3. I figure it's something to do with the neck and tension rod. Are there any other parts of a ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
How do I develop a good vibrato?
A crucial element for phrasing is vibrato, but while you can notate a great number of things, you can't really notate vibrato. I know it's important. I know B.B. King's butterfly vibrato is a big ...
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?
8
votes
3answers
273 views
How to overcome the frustration while you are developing demanding techniques?
I'm practicing Flamenco guitar and I'm concentrating a LOT on the technique.
Flamenco is so demanding on the right hand, techniques like tremolo, rasgueados, alzapua ...
It is hard to play flamenco ...
8
votes
1answer
964 views
Flat-wound vs round-wound strings
What difference can you expect when playing with flat-wound vs round-wound strings on an electric bass/guitar?
I know that they feel different - I am asking explicitly in terms of sound.
8
votes
3answers
203 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 ...
8
votes
2answers
14k views
How does string gauge affect a guitar's sound and playability?
Guitar strings are available in a variety of gauges.
What effect does my choice of string gauge have on the sound of my guitar?
What effect does it have on playability?
8
votes
2answers
285 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 ...
8
votes
3answers
233 views
Why do classical guitarists recommend putting the left thumb between the index and middle finger?
In most of the literature that I have seen, the recommendation is for the left thumb to be roughly in line with the index finger, running parallel to the frets. I find that, especially toward the ...
8
votes
2answers
440 views
What makes african blues so distinctive?
When you listen to the music by Ali Farka Toure, Rokia Traore, Afel Bocoum and other african blues artists you can recognize it in a second.
What is it what makes the african blues so distinctive?
Is ...
8
votes
3answers
2k views
Guitar chords for samba
I'd like to learn some standard samba chords for guitar. I understand the usual involves jazzy chords like 9/11/13 and few others. Now, I can construct these chords myself, but problem number one: ...
8
votes
4answers
134 views
Is it better to practice a single lick / part exclusively until you master it, or to practice a number of things at once?
As the title states...
I am currently working at least one hour a day (which is my total practice time) on a single lick, and am determined to continue doing this to the exclusion of all other ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Emulating the tone of a Rickenbacker
I am wondering whether anyone has any knowledge about getting the sound of a Rickenbacker… without actually owning one. Specifically on a Telecaster. I know that the two are completely different ...
8
votes
2answers
753 views
Restringing a 12-string guitar with heavier strings - is it possible?
I'm considering using a 12-string guitar I don't play all that much as a testbed: Is it possible to restring an acoustic guitar as a baritone guitar, or even just string it so I can tune it down a few ...
7
votes
11answers
232 views
How do you tune your guitar?
I'd like to hear about the different techniques of tuning a guitar with standard tuning, and why you use them.
7
votes
6answers
631 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 ...
7
votes
4answers
976 views
What is “Phrasing” in the context of playing a Solo?
What is meant when a listener says"His phrasing was spot on"- specifically when talking about solo's but sometimes when referring to a pianist "comping". What does it mean when referring to a ...
7
votes
3answers
783 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 ...
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?
...
7
votes
3answers
146 views
Fingers and fretboard
I am glad to join this community :)
I am a beginner in guitar and I have the following question: When I play a chord (for example G7) my fingers aren't vertically aligned with the fretboard, but they ...
7
votes
5answers
1k views
Guitar Amplifier (Head versus Combo versus None)
I'm in the process of getting my first electric guitar and am trying to figure out amplifiers. I currently have a stereo amplifier and pre amplifier and a pair floor standing speakers. My living space ...
7
votes
4answers
270 views
How to decide whether my guitar is really bad
My teacher keeps telling me that my guitar is really bad.
I am a pretty novice guitarist (started 3 months ago), and haven't played on any instrument other than mine, so it's impossible to decide ...
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 ...
7
votes
4answers
245 views
Playing Guitar Tabs on Piano?
I was wondering if anyone could possibly explain how I could somehow translate a guitar tab into notes on piano. Is there some sort of algorithm I can apply?
ex:
...
7
votes
7answers
214 views
Are there any books or videos out there that teach you SLOWLY and do not focus on learning TABS?
Are there any books or videos courses that just teach you how to practice acoustic guitar and its not complicated either? I know that there are lots of video course, books, youtube videos out there ...
7
votes
5answers
167 views
Resources for learning the Blues
Can anyone recommend any good resources (books or online) for learning the Blues on the guitar? Scales and theory is what I am looking for.
7
votes
7answers
2k views
Can guitar playing cause stiff fingers?
I've had what I thought was a rock climbing over-use injury on my left hand for a while now, where the fingers on my left hand feel stiff and hurt slightly when I curl them in and the first joints are ...
