A fretted plucked stringed instrument, usually having 6 strings.
30
votes
15answers
2k views
How often should I replace the strings on my guitar?
When and why should you replace your guitar strings?
20
votes
14answers
5k views
How can I best learn to play barre chords?
I've been trying to learn the F chord for a while now, and I am having a very hard time playing the barre chord. I've read that pulling back slightly with your finger and using the body of the guitar ...
16
votes
2answers
1k views
Why is my guitar's saddle at an angle?
Most acoustic guitars I've seen, including my own, have an angled saddle (the white strip holding up the strings):
This makes the bass strings longer than the treble strings. Why is this?
...
10
votes
5answers
896 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 ...
33
votes
11answers
764 views
I need help getting out of my scalar rut.
I'm a well versed and experienced guitarist. I have a decent sense for rhythm and melody, but I have a VERY hard time with soloing. I know you've heard it all before.. I'm one of those guys that got ...
11
votes
5answers
8k views
What is the first scale one should learn on guitar
The title really sums it all up but I'll try expand it slightly. Lets say I'm learning guitar and would like to improve my guitar work. Which of the scales should I learn first and why?
48
votes
7answers
2k views
Why is the guitar tuned like it is?
Why is there that funny tuning kink between the G and B string on a guitar in standard tuning? I.e., the (musical) gap between the rest of the adjoining strings is 5 frets (or a perfect fourth), but ...
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
2answers
13k 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?
13
votes
7answers
866 views
Coated Strings—Gimmick, or worth the money?
Never used them myself, but I had a friend who used to swear by the plastic-coated strings he bought for his electric to try and help keep them cleaner. While I realize this probably does do ...
7
votes
1answer
135 views
How do I use string gauge tables?
I have seen that string manufacturers publish tables of string gauges and tensions.
For example, this one.
How can I use these to choose a set of strings for my instrument?
2
votes
5answers
222 views
Need Help in Starting to Learn Guitars?
I am a beginning guitar player. I enjoyed playing in my childhood, but for some reason I was not able to learn.
But now I want to learn guitar. I wasn't sure whether to buy an electric guitar or a ...
5
votes
4answers
415 views
What are the various methods of tuning the guitar?
This is not a question as much as it is a discussion. I am curious to know what are the different techniques to tune the guitar (using standard tuning) given you know that one string is in tune. I ...
11
votes
4answers
672 views
What is a string skipping exercise?
What is a string skipping exercise? I've heard about this exercise a lot, including on this website. What is it? What skills does it develop? Can you give an example?
6
votes
5answers
1k views
Logical way to learn movable scales on guitar?
After learning the CAGED 'open string' scales, what scales to do next? In what order or what way? When I learn a new scale, it seems to have the effect of displacing my ability to play other scales ...
23
votes
8answers
1k views
How do you identify a good guitar?
What do you look for when going for a guitar? I own an acoustic and am looking for a better one.
What should I be looking for? Wood quality, brand, strings, etc.?
9
votes
6answers
5k views
Fingers Too Short for Barre Chords?
My wife is learning the guitar and is getting pretty good. She gets frustrated though because she can't play barre chords. She claims that her fingers are literally too short to ever be able to play ...
5
votes
3answers
938 views
Which strings should I use for DADGAD tuning on my acoustic guitar?
I have recently switched to DADGAD tuning, before that I was using light tension strings ( 12 16 24 32 42 53 ).
But because of DADGAD, to compensate for the lack of tension on the neck, I wanted to ...
13
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?
10
votes
7answers
666 views
How do I properly stretch my newly strung strings?
I came across this string stretcher device. It claims to properly and evenly stretch new strings and maintain tuning.
I never really made a point to properly stretch newly strung strings. Can anyone ...
4
votes
6answers
2k views
Tips playing F barre chord
Any tips for a newbie in playing the F barre chord.
I find it very hard to put my fingers in place. I've got a strat.
I hear you can move it up and down the neck for other barre chords.
21
votes
10answers
4k views
As a guitarist, how can I learn to sight-read music?
I'm learning guitar right now, mostly from Justin Sandercoe's free online lessons, starting from the beginner's course. He has a lot of good tips for how to practice and drill chords, and scales, but ...
9
votes
6answers
1k views
Memorizing notes on guitar fretboard
I have 2 questions, which are somehow interrelated.
Learning which-note-corresponds-to-which-fret-position was told to me as an extremely important task for any guitarist who want to get better at ...
23
votes
7answers
428 views
What tools should every guitarist have?
What tools should every guitarist have to do most small/medium projects for their guitars? (change strings, tuners, knobs, pickups)
12
votes
10answers
1k views
Guitar tutoring software that listens to your playing?
I'm looking into learning classical guitar. I know most people will suggest getting lessons, and I'm looking into that.
But I was also wondering if there are any software tutors out there that can ...
5
votes
3answers
465 views
Is it acceptable to move hand position while practicing scales on guitar?
I was reading through the answers posted here, and I liked the idea of playing with the "finger per fret" method, but it's not always applicable. For instance I was practicing the Fmaj scale last ...
35
votes
7answers
1k views
Will learning to play another instrument help me to become a better guitarist?
I am a programmer and I do this for living. As a programmer, I've noticed how much difference it makes to learn another language - the quality of your work improves greatly, just because you know how ...
7
votes
11answers
228 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.
27
votes
15answers
5k views
Changing the strings: one by one, or by taking all strings off at one time?
The title says it all. Should I change strings one by one, or take them all at once? Does this matter at all?
If I take all strings off, will it damage my neck in any way, because the pressure is ...
17
votes
4answers
8k views
How does scale length affect my playing?
This one's a bit rudimentary, but scale length is a bit of a mystery to me. I understand what it is, but I don't understand what it does. I own guitars with different scale lengths (Telecaster vs ...
13
votes
4answers
1k views
Why do tube-based guitar amplifiers sound so good?
Is it just a cultural thing ("they've always sounded that way") or is there some basis in music theory for this?
11
votes
5answers
2k views
How to hide a flat pick in the right hand when switching to finger picking, Warren Haynes style
Watch any Warren Haynes video on YouTube and you'll notice that he often likes to mix it up and play solos with a pick but mid-way switch to using his fingers.
...
8
votes
3answers
344 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
3k views
Causes of sharp pain in a fretting finger after playing guitar or bass?
I have been playing guitar and bass for about 20 years now and I have noticed that sometimes, particularly in the last five years, I will do something with my fretting hand that causes a sharp pain in ...
2
votes
2answers
131 views
Driving a Novation UltraNova synth via a Yahama synth guitar (G10 ?)
Would it be possible to play on a Yahama syntheziser guitar, and get the sounds and instruments to actually come out of the sound bank of the Novation UltraNovation synthesizer ?
(please feel free to ...
10
votes
5answers
565 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?
9
votes
2answers
164 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 ...
8
votes
3answers
187 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
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
6answers
152 views
How do you care for your guitar?
A guitar that is used regularly will sooner or later show signs of wear and tear. How do you best care for your guitar and make sure it stays as good as it is for as long as possible?
8
votes
3answers
810 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 ...
7
votes
4answers
474 views
How do you prevent injuries from bad posture while playing classical guitar?
I'm tagging this as specific to classical guitar since that's what I am familiar with. The correct posture is very important which playing classical, including the footstool, the position of your ...
5
votes
3answers
133 views
How do I assess the value of a guitar when I'm preparing to sell it?
How do I go about researching the value of my instrument before I put it up for sale? I'd like to feel like I've done a proper amount of due diligence before I put it on the used market so I can both ...
4
votes
3answers
213 views
How do you play a barre chord (or a chord with 4+ strings)
I need to play a chord that goes:
$1.5.$2.7.$3.7.$4.7.$5.5
I can play a barre chord with my index finger and hold down all the strings on the fifth fret, but I cant hold down the three sevens. Any ...
4
votes
5answers
1k views
Why does my guitar go out of tune after I play it a while?
This might be an obvious question, but it would be good to know what factors cause guitars to go out of tune.
4
votes
3answers
100 views
Effective learning from videos
I've taken lessons and taught myself songs from books and tablature. I have also listened to a song repeatedly and attempted to learn it by playing along. One method I have not tried is learning from ...
2
votes
5answers
1k views
Effects of keeping a guitar in the car
I have a sales job, and am on the road most days. I often find myself with free time between appointments and would like to take advantage of that free time by practicing guitar. I have a 3/4 size ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
most effective guitar practice schedule?
I've Googled this question and there is a jumble of answers out there with long articles with complicated answers, so I thought I'd ask for more personal opinions.
I learned the guitar about 13 ...
1
vote
2answers
460 views
How do I play (and sing) a chord pattern song?
There are many questions I have regarding a chord progression so decided to use a simple song to start... Happy Birthday, since we all know it.
C G
Happy birthday to you
...
41
votes
7answers
637 views
Ten Minute Practice Techniques?
Unfortunately I can't play everyday.
However, I am trying to grab at least 5-10 minutes here and there. What are some good theory or scale techniques/practice methods I should have ready to pull out ...
