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while tuning with the pegs , hold the violin in front of you so that you can see the strings and so that the bottom part of the instrument rests on your legs . locate the correct peg that you will be using to tune . once you have located the peg that you will be turning , you are ready to tune , with one hand , grip the desired peg . as you turn the peg , pluck the string you are tuning but still keep a firm hold on your violin . when you would like to stop turning the peg , you should gently push the peg into the instrument to reinforce its position . when the peg finally sticks in place , pluck the string again and listen carefully . when you pluck the string and the pitch is just a little out of tune , then you may use a fine tuner to perfect the pitch . | how to tune a violin 3 | one hand should always be firmly holding the violin and the other hand should be tuning . this position will help you to create the force needed to turn the pegs correctly and it will keep your instrument safe . pegs , which are often made of ebony , are knobs located on the neck of your violin near the top . observe that each of your violins four strings is attached to one of the four pegs . turning one of these pegs tightens or loosens one of the strings , therefore changing its pitch . if you are tuning e , for example , then you will be turning the bottom right peg . if you are tuning a , you will be turning the top right peg . if you are tuning d , you will be turning the top left peg . and , finally , if you are tuning g , you will be turning the bottom left peg . keep in mind the proper tuning position . you will be turning the peg towards you or away from you based on how you would like to change the current pitch of the string . for strings that are very sharp , or high - pitched , you will need to turn the peg towards yourself . for strings that are very flat or low - pitched , you will need to turn the peg away from yourself . it is important to pluck the string so that you can hear how the pitch is changing . this will help keep the peg in place so that the tension wont move it and make the string slip further out of tune . this can be difficult , so have patience you can also gently push the pegs in as youre tuning . is the string too high too low can it be tuned with a fine tuner , or is it so out of tune that you need to turn the peg some more when it sounds just right , then you are finished . congratulations time to move on to the other strings . just as in the fine tuner method , the next string you should tune after a is d , which is to the left of a . then , after you tune d , you should try tuning g . g is to the left of d . lastly , once all of the other strings are tuned , you can tune e . |
start by taking off the strings . gather your tools . start with the neck or body . make sure all tuning pegs are snug but not tight . dip a small portion of the towel into the water . wipe down the body , limiting the water used . spray contact cleaner in your switches and pots . clean the frets , if you want . once your guitar is clean , restring it and play . | how to clean an electric guitar | you need to remove all of them , no matter what is said about string tension . do it by any means but dont destroy your guitar . once all the strings are off , get a microfiber towel preferably or a non - lint rag , regular , plain ol tap water , fine steel wool , sandpaper , a set of screwdrivers , pliers , and tape only use painters tape or automotive tape . it doesnt matter , but in this tutorial we will start with the neck . use the screwdrivers and the pliers to snug up all screws and the nut and washers on the peg . wipe the neck down , scrubbing inside the frets . you dont need to water a dead tree , get off all excess water , and do not ever use oils or other guitar care products . tighten all screws and watch you dont mess with your set up . do not use any guitar care products . they will become dirty and have a terrible sound to them . this part is time consuming , so you may skip it if you like . tape off the frets , and use the steel wool to clean each and every fret . remember that the steel wool will scratch your fretboard , so tape off right at the fret . |
sit down comfortably on a sturdy chair near a table where you have plenty of light . lay the bridge flat on the violin under the strings . carefully , lift up the bridge so that it eventually falls off in place . retune as needed . | how to repair a violin 1 | the lowest part should be under the e string . you may want to loosen your strings before . you want to lift it in rotation - like motion . do it slowly to avoid damaging the violin . if you loosened your strings , youll need to retune them . |
make sure the tuning is the problem . sit down comfortably on a sturdy chair where you have plenty of light . locate the keys on the top of your violin . slowly and very carefully turn the keys and bring your violin the closest to the appropriate tuning as you can before moving to the next step . tune your violin normally with the small pins near the bridge if you have them . | how to repair a violin 2 | you know its out of tune when your tuner reads the note as a completely different note eg . when tuning on the g - string , the tuner reads it as an f . they are usually black and difficult to move . if your key breaks , dont panic your violin is probably cheap or is very dry and fragile . youll need to go to the luthier . |
buy another string . loosen the little tuning pins near the bridge if you have them . insert the end with of the string with a bead on in the little hole beneath the tuning pins mentioned in the previous step . take the other end of the string and insert it in the big tuning keys at the other end of the violin . | how to repair a violin 3 | be sure to buy the right string , as they dont all have the same properties eg . the e - string is thinner than the g - string . this hole is always there even if you dont have these tuning pins . just look where the other strings are attached and youll find it . turn it a couple of times before tuning it . make sure it doesnt slide . |
make sure stuck keys are the problem . apply some graphite powder near the junction between the key and the violin . | how to repair a violin 4 | if your tuning keys are stuck , youll notice while tuning that they refuse to move and seem glued to the wood . after a few twists , it should be as good as new . if you dont have graphite powder , you can take a regular hb pencil and draw at the junction between the key and the violin . |
listen to see if the sliding is the problem . add a little bit of rosin powder . tune your violin and wait a bit restraining the key and it should be fixed . | how to repair a violin 5 | youll notice this while tuning your violin and seeing - - rather hearing - - that its not changing anything . be careful not to put too much or itll glue to the violin . |
check over the violin and bow visually . look inside the f - holes . obtain any parts or accessories you may need . if needed , put the chin rest on the instrument using the chin rest tool . clean and re - string your violin , or take it to someone who knows how to put violin strings on . check over the bow visually . add rosin to the bow . play away . | how to set up a violin | make sure there are no missing parts or visible structural damage like cracks or open seams . from top to bottom , the violin should have a scroll , 4 pegs , a black fingerboard that is firmly attached to the neck of the instrument , a bridge , a tailpiece , and a chin rest . some parts are easily replaceable , like the bridge or chin rest , while some more serious repairs will require a specialist . if in doubt , ask a violin teacher whether your instrument needs anything special they will usually help with setup and will let you know if it needs any additional work done . you should find the manufacturers tag , which will give you more information about where and when the instrument was made , and by whom . you should also see a small wooden dowel inside called a sound post . it should be sticking straight up . if it is crooked , bent , warped , fallen , missing , or is causing obvious strain to the belly of the instrument , then you will need to have it looked at . it looks tiny , but its actually extremely important in terms of both structure and sound . a sound post tool is used to remove and replace sound posts , and its usually professionals who handle this . make sure you get everything in the right size for your violin e . g . 34 , 44 . chin rests , shoulder rests or a soft sponge with a rubber band keeping it in place will do if not immediate access to a shoulder rest , bridges and strings are typically sold at music shops , or you can buy them online . you should also buy a new set of strings , even if your violin came with all 4 strings , because those might be old and are more likely to unravel or break . strings should be replaced at least once a year anyway . you will also need rosin , instrument cleaning cloth , polish , a tunermetronome , and maybe some peg drops in case you have trouble with your pegs slipping out of place . most violins are sold with chin rests already on them , but they are removable . there are a variety of chin rests on the market , so if youre on a 44 violin and youre looking for something a little different , try asking a teacher which chin rest they recommend . its not terribly complicated if you want to try your hand at it , but just make sure you look at which peg goes with which string before you take the old strings off . it is necessary to put the two middle strings on first a and d in order to hold the bridge on , and it is also advisable to re - string one string at a time so that the bridge never actually has to come off . the bridge should go halfway between the f - holes , and you can use the little crosses in the fs to line it up . make sure it lays flat and isnt noticeably warped or crooked . the downward sloped side is the e side . once there is enough tension to hold the bridge on , take out your tuner and tune the strings starting with a . be careful not to touch the horsehair . horsehair is sensitive to the oils on your hands and it will ruin it very quickly , making it dirty and slick . make sure there is enough horsehair on the bow about thumbnail - width and it looks new or light in color . tighten the bow screw about 10 turns , or until you feel the slightest resistance and make sure the bow stick bends inward , not straight or outward . you can also check and make sure it has a grip , and you can just put a pencil grip on there if its missing . more expensive bows can be rehaired if necessary , but cheaper bows are usually just replaced if the hair becomes too sparse and oily . this is because cheaper bows are more difficult to take apart . if your bow is fresh - off - the - presses new , it does not make a sound yet when bowed across the strings . you need rosin , and lots of it to start a new rosin block , take some car keys and scratch the smooth surface to release some rosin dust for the bow . be careful not to break it . then rub the rosin against the horsehair with slow , small motions from frog to tip , until the bow will make a sound against the strings . if you see dust flying , youve done too much your violin should be in playable condition now , so its time to set up to play . put the shoulder rest on the back of the violin adjusting width if needed—it should look like an arch , not a half pipe—and tightenrosin the bow if you need to . and to pack up , youll loosen the bow and remove the shoulder rest . |
find a local music shop that is more knowledgeable in string instruments . once you have found a shop , stick to your budget . purchase a good quality bow . learn more about the strings you use on your violin . understand that a good , strong sound from the violin will come from three basics . apply sufficient weight from the bow to the strings when playing . increase the speed of the bow when playing . adjust the angle of the bow . place the bow as much as possible at the heel end to achieve a broader sound . play according to the context of the music . practice a lot . | how to produce a bigger violin sound | if you have a violin teacher or friend who plays the violin , asking them may be useful as they will probably know who is the best dealer to go to . a violin costing 1 , 000 will get you a decent violin , but cheaper violins can often be equally as good . ask to try each violin in your budget range , and then get them to tell you about the instrument . if you are unsure what you are looking for then bring someone along who does if possible . remember that ultimately , it is your ability to play that matters if youre a good player , you can make a tin violin sound amazing . the bow is equally as important in producing a sound as the violin itself . as a beginner violinist , you may not realize this , but it can be a reason behind not enjoying playing the violin , so it is a good investment to purchase a quality bow . a mid - ranged bow is about 200 - 500 dollars . spending more than this may be a good idea if you are are planning to take your music learning further than a hobby . the strings too , have an impact on the sound quality the violin produces . the more popular brands of violin strings tend to produce a strong , pleasant sound , which is what renders them popular . however , it pays to experiment with strings from different brands as you become more confident playing , as eventually youll find yourself preferring some strings over others , owing to both the sound produced and how they feel . this is not something an article can teach you its a feel - sense that youll gain through playing and experimentation over time . these are speed , pressure and sounding point . put more pressure on the bow as you play , to produce a fuller sound . speed will create a louder sound . do be aware that speed can also create a harsher sound , so its important to refine your technique as well as playing faster . the flatter the bow is placed , the louder the sound that is produced . this occurs because more hairs from the bow are touching the strings on the violin . playing at the heel of the bow produces a stronger sound compared to the tip . a good violinist does not apply the same sound level throughout a piece but varies the sound to reveal the mood and varying shades of the music . it is important to learn innately when to increase your violins sound and when to keep it softer , varying it as you play the music . its a cliché but the more you practice , the better you get . moreover , the violin improves in tone too research undertaken in the 1990s showed that the more a violin is played , the more the instruments tone improves . |
take lessons or classes . learn the parts of a viola . learn the parts of the bow the long , various colored it can be black , brown , red or blue stick on the bow is the stick the white hairs are the bow hairs the normally black or brown piece of rubbery plastic near the bottom of the bow is the winding the normally black or brown rectangle with a chunk out of it near the bow hair is the frog the chunk out of the frog is the ferrule the silver and black screw at the very bottom of the bow is the tension screw and the tip of the bow is the tip . hold the neck of the instrument with your left hand , not loosely , but also not too tight - just relax . learn the different styles of play . learn the strings . learn about fingering . learn vibrato . learn to tune your instrument yourself . | how to play viola | some elementary schools have orchestra programs , most starting in the fifth grade . most junior high schools , high schools , and colleges and universities have orchestra programs , but if your school does not have an orchestra program , you are no longer a student , or you are not in a grade that offers an orchestra program yet , you can probably get lessons . look in your local phone books and online for lessons in your area . you may also want to purchase a beginners music book . the wooden part of the viola is the body the black or brown , oval - shaped piece of wood or plastic near the bottom of the viola is the chin rest the long , skinny , black or brown piece of wood or plastic that is skinny at the bottom and fat on top attached to the chin rest is the tailpiece the four silver , gold , or black colored circles on the tailpiece are the fine tuners the holes on the front of the viola are the f - holes the silver colored strings are the four strings the light brown , wooden piece holding up the strings near the bottom of the viola is the bridge the top part of the viola where the wood kind of curves upward is the upper bought the long , black or brown wooden piece a few inches away from the bridge is the fingerboard the long , skinny wooden piece where you hold the instrument , near the top , attached to the body of the instrument , is the neck the curly , wooden piece at the top of the instrument is the scroll the black or brown , oval - shaped wooden pieces sticking out near the scroll are the tuning pegs the nut is where all of the strings join together by the tuning pegs the end pin or end button - it is a small black or brown circle located on the side of the instrument at the bottom , near the chin rest and last , the sides . , put the chin rest under your jaw - it is called a chin rest , but you really place it under your jaw . the chin rest should be on the top of the instrument use the diagram below to help you . hold the instrument slightly slanted downwards , where you can balance a rubber bouncy ball if you have one on the c and g strings . your wrist should be straight and not collapsed against the instrument . then turn the instrument is off to the side . to play pizzicato , or pizz . you pluck the instruments strings - put the thumb of the hand you are not holding the instrument with on the corner of the fingerboard , and pluck the string with your first finger . if you are playing guitar position you are playing the instrument like a guitar - you cant play with the bow like this , you pluck the strings with your thumb only . to play arco , play on the strings with your bow - hold the bow with your right hand , on the bottom with your thumb in the ferrule your middle finger and ring finger over the grip and frog , slightly angled toward the screw your first finger over the silver part above the grip or on the grip , bending over the bow gently and your pinky finger on the bow on top of the screw . then you put the bow hairs on the instruments string , in the space where there is no fingerboard , while holding it up in up position place it on the side of the bow hairs , with the bow angled towards the scroll a little bit . pull the bow up and down as straight as possible to play the viola . the strings on the viola are , in order from left to rightthickestlowest string to skinniesthighest string are - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - c string - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - g string - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d string - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a string in other words , the thickest , lowest string on the left is the c string , the next string is the g string , the next string is the d string , and the last , skinniest , highest string is the a string - the d string is probably the most commonly used string . if you take classes , you may need to ask your teacher to help you label your finger positions with tape or stickers . if you dont take classes , then buy an electric tuner . play with your bow on the d string , your first finger , just a little bit away from the nut of the instrument , until the tuner says it sound like an e , then move on to an f♯ - put your second finger about an inch away from your in - tune first finger and play until the tuner says it sounds like an f♯ . then put your third finger down next to your in - tune second finger and play until the tuner says it sounds like a g . put stickers in the three in - tune spots . the first , second , and third fingers are in the same positions as the d string fingers are , just on a different string . these are the fingering positions for the viola anything in all caps is most commonly played by a beginner and the notes in parenthesis are another name for a note . a string 1st finger right by nut - b flat a sharp 1st finger in - tune - b natural c flat 2nd finger right by b natural - c natural 2nd finger in - tune - c sharp d flat 3rd finger a half step up - about half an inch to 34 inch up from c sharp - d natural 3rd finger a half step up - about half an inch to 34 inch up from d natural - d sharp e flat d string 1st finger right by nut - e flat d sharp 1st finger in - tune - e natural f flat 2nd finger right by e natural - f natural e sharp 2nd finger in - tune - f sharp g flat 3rd finger right next to f sharp - g natural 3rd finger a half step up - about half an inch to 34 inch up from g natural - g sharp g string 1st finger right by nut - a flat g sharp 1st finger in - tune - a natural 2nd finger right by e natural - b flat a sharp 2nd finger in - tune - b natural c flat 3rd finger right next to b natural - c natural 3rd finger a half step up - about half an inch to 34 inch up from c natural - c sharp d flat c string 1st finger right by nut - d flat c sharp 1st finger in - tune - d natural 2nd finger right by d natural - e flat d sharp 2nd finger in - tune - e natural f flat 3rd finger right next to e natural - f natural e sharp 3rd finger a half step up - about half an inch to 34 inch up from f natural - f sharp g flat remember there is no midway for 2 fingers on c , g , d , and a . also remember that four fingers on the c string is a g and four fingers on the g string is a d . four on d is a and four on a is an e . after reaching a certain level , you may want to learn it . it isnt , however , a good idea to learn vibrato if you havent mastered the basic and intermediate levels of viola . its a matter of personal preference , but most violists tend to do arm vibrato . arm vibrato produces a slower , richer type of vibrato used in largo - andante tempos . this prevents you from looking like that maniac trying to frantically vibrate the string while playing at 50 beats a minute . some people feel like theyll never be able to , but its an inevitability . at the very least you should recognize and a and be able to tune in 5ths . be careful . turning too tight due to a hard to turn peg can easily cause strings to snap and break . using pencil lead to draw on the tuning pegs can help loosen them up . however get the lead only on the tuning pegs needing to be loosened . if the tuning pegs are not staying in consider buying some peg compound to help it stick . a lubricant like wd40 can be used on the fine tuners , but do not get any water on the body of your viola . |
loosen your strings before you get to the airport , but not all the way . make sure you have a hygrometer inside your case to check humidity . take your violin as a carry - on item . cover your violin . loosen your bow to prevent breakage . | how to protect your violin on a cross country plane trip | lower your strings about a whole step . your strings g , d , a , and e should sound like f , c , g , and d after tuning . planes are low - humidity environments , so make sure to keep a vapor bottle in your case . if this is not possible , mail your violin prior to your departure . it is preferable to use a silk cloth as a cover or put your violin in a silk bag . additionally , wrapping your violin in a towel will suffice . pack the towel around the violins bridge , fingerboard and pegs these are the weakest spots . |
change your strings when they are rusty , gummy , or falling out of tune quickly . note the path of each string before removing it . loosen the old strings by down - tuning . remove the strings from the bridge . clean your unstrung guitar with a lint - free cloth . purchase the correct strings for your guitar . lay the guitar on a flat , soft surface at a comfortable height . turn the hole of the tuning post so that the hole faces you . thread your first string through the bridge and into the tuning peg . grab the string on both sides of the peg and crimp it in an s shape . wrap the end of the string around the other half to lock the string in place . lightly hold down the string as you slowly tighten it . repeat the process on the rest of the strings . cut the ends of the string off . tune your guitar frequently once the new strings are on . | how to change strings on an electric guitar | if youre a serious guitar player youll be changing your strings frequently , and some musicians change weekly . if your strings feel slow and sticky , or you have to re - tune frequently , youre due for new strings . if you havent restrung in 3 - 4 months , get new strings . if youre about to play a big gig , change the strings that morning to prevent unexpected breaking . if youre new to tuning , you want to have a good sense of how the guitar should look . take a picture of the strings , or simply look up a picture of your guitar online . while it isnt complicated , you want a good sense of how the guitar is strung before beginning . though it is rare , some guitars have special holes or winding patterns near the strings . dont cut the strings off without take a quick look at everything . turn the tuning machine or peg to loosen each string enough that you can unwind the string and pull it out but hand . youll know youre loosening if , when plucked , the string sounds deeper . while you can also cut your strings off , this method eases tension gradually and , in the worst case scenario , you can reuse an old string if one breaks while restringing . if youre a beginner , just loosen one string at a time . then replace it and repeat with the next string . once loose , you can unwind the string off the tuning peg and free it from the neck of the guitar . on a regular bridge , like a fender strat or any other string - through guitar , just pull the strings out of the back of the guitars body . to make it easier , carefully push the strings through , providing some slack and making them easier to grip . grab the string by the small , donut - shaped metal end and slowly pull it through the guitar . most guitars are strung in a simple , straightforward manner , so just follow the string through the guitar to remove it . do not yank the strings out . protect your guitar by taking your time . if you have a wrap - around bridge , you will be able to pull them out of the underside of the bridge . wrap - arounds started out as toms when players like zz top wrapped the strings around the tailpiece to give the string height a low profile without any buzz . use this time to remove all of the dust , grime , and dirt from the neck of your guitar . this will make the guitar look good , protect the new strings , and actually make your guitar feel a little faster . for deeper cleaning , purchase a bottle of fret - cleaner from your local music shop . 95 of the time you should get the regular weight , or lite strings . while some guitarists use heavier gauges or odd string configurations , you cant simply grab a set of strings if your guitar is not made for it . strings that are too heavy for your guitar can warp or bend the neck without the proper adjustments , so stick to regulars until you know more about your guitar . in general , you want your high e to be a . 008 - . 0011 thickness . this is for medium , lite , and extra lite strings . if you use drop tunings , like a drop d , you might want heavier strings . ask your music store staff for a specific recommendation . give yourself plenty of room to work , laying the guitar down on a table so that you can adjust it comfortably . make sure to place a towel or blanket underneath to prevent scuffing or scratching . some people like resting the head off the edge to make tuning easier . this hole should point away from the string so that it is parallel to one of the frets . if you were holding the guitar and playing it , the hole would be pointing up . thread it from the inside of the guitar out . in general , most guitarists will begin with their heaviest string , the top e . it will often me marked as 6th string , or by the highest gauge number usually around . 050 . slide it in the opposite way you took the other strings out , then run it through the hole in the tuning peg , pulling the string away from the guitar . make sure you leave 2 - 3 inches of slack , as well - - you dont want the string to be taut before you even start tightening . the tuning pegs arent marked , but you should just replace the strings in the same order you took them out . on most electric guitars , the first peg is for the top string , then each one further towards the tip of the head is for a string further down . try not to overthink this . simply grab both sides tightly , then turn your hands clockwise to crimp both sides of the string along the tuning post . if you pulled the string out , it would look like the s in the van halen logo . your right hand will be coming towards your body , away from the guitar . your left hand will be pushing up , in towards the other tuning pegs . take the end of the string and pull it under the other side of the string the side being fed into the tuning post . after you go underneath the string , bring the end back over the top and pull it taut , pulling towards the very tip of the guitar . youre basically creating a loop with the end of the string around the rest of the string . youll have a small coiled bit of string right where the string meets the tuning peg . place your index finger on the string 1 - 2 before it meets the tuning peg . you dont want to pin it , just hold it down . then you can turn your tuner slowly counter - clockwise . make sure that your string is winding around the peg in a uniform manner . use a tuner to slowly get yourself up to the proper tension . when in doubt , try not to over - tighten - - this causes strings to break . once youve got the first one done , repeat the process on the rest of the strings , working through the packet . remember to clean the fretboard after removing a string , to leave some slack in the string before tightening , and to crimp the string in place before starting to turn . if your head has a 3x3 set - up , remember that the lower set of tuning pegs must be turned in reverse . simply repeat the proceeding instructions , replacing left with right and up with down . use wire cutters to remove the excess string at the end , though you may want to leave 12 or so to allow deeper tunings , if you desire . as the strings get used to the tension , they slowly stretch . this only occurs for the first 1 - 2 days , and can be avoided by regular , constant tuning as you put the strings on . |
the point of effects is to make your guitar or bass sound better in its musical context or to make it sound new and different or even just to have fun making strange noises . the most noticeable and commonly seen effects are those little 3 or 4 square boxes you often see on the floor in front of guitar or bass players . larger floor units with big buttons for players to push with their feet and multiple types of effects are common as well . | how to buy guitar effects 1 | many effects processors can give you hours of juvenile joy just messing around with them . these are called stomp boxes due to a large steel button the player steps on to turn the effect on or off . there are also floor boxes which feature foot treadles for continuous control of one or more effects . all of these types of effects can be referred to as effects pedals . rackmount effects are meant to be mounted by their front panels into a standard equipment rack . these often come with an associated foot controller . finally , many modern amplifiers feature built - in effects with controls on the amps primary control panel or optional floor controllers . there are plenty of other special types of effects that have been used over the years , but the vast majority are simply modifications of one of the categories below . |
while learning to play ones instrument is , of course , far more important than modifying its sound , messing around with effects early on can be a fun way to engage with the instrument and start learning its tonal range without a lot of hard practice . alternatively , there is a broadening selection of very low - priced multi - effects pedals that give you a lot more to mess around with and get your feet wet with a lot of different effects types . if youve already been playing for a while , look to artist interviews such as those online here at musicians friend to find out what your favorite artists use to produce their signature tones . finally , and most importantly , check out the sound bytes weve posted for most of the effects on our website . | how to buy guitar effects 2 | theres a huge variety of stomp boxes out there , many with very low price tags that make great gifts and can add a new dimension of fun for beginning players . a practice amp with built - in effects is also a great way to get started . most modern multi - effects units and amps feature presets created by experienced engineers to sound good at the touch of a button . if youre a typical player , youll adopt and abandon dozens of different effects boxes over your playing career . also , if you hang around late at club shows or show up early , most players are willing to talk about their rigs . these will give you an idea of what each of these effects can do when used by a pro . referring to our sound bytes while reading this guide will give you a more concrete sense of what various effects sound like . |
by and large , delay effects split the signal into two identical signals and momentarily hold back one while allowing the other to play in real time . | how to buy guitar effects 3 | the signals are mixed back into one at the output . usually you can control the length of the delay and the amount of the signal that is affected versus the part that stays dry unaffected . this latter control—found on most effects—is usually called the level control . |
reverb is the most natural of effects . reverb thickens up your sound , softens the edges , and makes it sound like youre playing in a large hall or a bathroom or stairway . echo also called long delay is a natural effect as well , but it can only be encountered in large spaces such as canyons or maybe a large , empty stadium . | how to buy guitar effects 4 | you can experience reverb by singing in the bathroom or a concrete stairway . this type of sound is easy to duplicate by putting transducers on either side of a spring and running a guitar or bass signal through it . spring reverbs have been included on many guitar amps since the early 1960s . though there is scarcely a record made that doesnt use any reverb , you should use it judiciously . heavy reverb almost always sounds bad . if you buy a dedicated reverb unit , it will give you several varieties of reverbs to choose from . you emit a loud , sharp yelp and a second later you hear the yelp come bouncing faintly back to you from a far wall . this is a particularly fun effect to play around with by yourself . if you set the delay long enough , you can play against the notes you just played and harmonize with yourself while the rate sets up a kind of beat . |
echo controls usually let you determine the level , the period between playbacks , and the decay—the rate at which succeeding notes get quieter and quieter before they fade out altogether . | how to buy guitar effects 5 | the period or time parameter is often controlled by a single button you push repeatedly in time with the music . this is called tap delay and keeps your echo effect from clashing with the musics time signature . |
chorus occurs when you duplicate the signal some units create as many as 8 duplicates , keeping one in real - time and delaying the other only by a hair . | how to buy guitar effects 6 | this creates a rich almost underwater sound . the more delay is added on the secondary signal the more vibrato and bubbly to sound will get . this is most common on acoustic guitar and saw its golden days of usage in the 80s , not to say its still not widely used today that is . |
first if you dont already have one , get a guitar . practice . know music . if you dont know how to practice , get some good guitar books . improve your finger strength and speed . becoming a good guitarist takes years , youre not gonna wake up one day and be able to play an amazing riff . when youre practicing , dont just play chords of songs you know . try new things . you can also play guitar and sing at the same time , like jimi hendrix , kurt cobain , or james hetfield , but most of the best guitarists these days dont really sing much . if you feel that you are confident in your playing , play for family and friends . | how to become awesome at guitar | try to find one with a good sound . an equipped guitarist would have a supply of picks , an amp , cables , extra strings , and if you want to make cool sounds and effects , some effects pedals like distortion or wah . or you can get a guitar pack that comes with all the essentials . practice . practice . do you think jimi hendrix woke up an amazing guitarist no he practiced , and practiced , and practiced . he probably practiced hours and hours every day . you practice at least half an hour a day and if you really want to be really good , even more . be able to read the staff , guitar tab , and chord markers well . though , many great artists out there never did learn how to read music correctly . take billie joe from green day for an example . look on the internet for some tips , if you dont already , try to get an advanced guitar player teacher to help you with your playing and practice . by practicing a lot , your ability to move your fingers and hit the strings will increase . your fingers will become stronger . you can also practice finger speed with guitar scales . , this could help with your chord knowledge still do it but you want to do some exercises . try learning the different scales and just playing through them . experiment with your amp and your pedals . see what sounds you can make . try to get a unique sound , your sound . use your whammy barif you have one and use different forms of strumming and playing the notes . , do they think your good before you start looking for some sort of job as a guitarist , make sure you know and other people know that you can play really well . |
make sure you understand what intonation is . change the strings on your strat , if necessary . tune the lowest guitar string to an e . sound the natural harmonic at the lowest strings 12th fret . pluck the lowest string at the 12th fret . adjust the bridge saddle for the lowest string . repeat the process for the remaining strings . | how to adjust intonation on a strat | on a fretted instrument like a guitar , intonation is the instruments ability to produce fretted notes at the correct pitch all the way up the neck . therefore , intonation hinges on the length of the string from saddle to nut . if the string is too long or short , the guitar will play farther and farther out of tune as you move up the neck . intonation should be checked every time you change a guitars strings , so if your current strings are worn , consider changing them before adjusting the intonation . each time you change strings , the tension in the strings may change or you may inadvertently move the bridge saddles , which will alter the intonation . with the guitar in playing position , tune the lowest string to an e . use a tuner for this , and take the time to get it right precision counts when adjusting your strats intonation . if you regularly use a tuning other than standard e , you should tune the string to the note called for in your preferred tuning . to play this harmonic , lightly touch the string above the 12th fret and pluck it . the note sounded will be exactly one octave above the open strings pitch , because only half of the string is vibrating now . note that this harmonic can never be out of tune , because it resonates based on a fundamental principle . half of the strings length will always sound at exactly one octave above the full strings pitch . after listening to the harmonic , fret the string at the 12th fret and play a note . the 2 notes should sound exactly the same . the goal is to adjust the strings length so that the 12th fret bifurcates it exactly in half . if the picked note is higher in pitch than the harmonic , you must lengthen the string . if the picked note is lower than the harmonic , you need to shorten the string . the saddle of the strats bridge is the rectangular metal piece on which the string rests at its highest point . to adjust it , simply use a phillips screwdriver to tighten or loosen the screw at the back of the saddle . tightening the screw will lengthen the string , while loosening it will shorten the string . keep making minute adjustments until the 12th fret is exactly the same pitch as its natural harmonic . you may need to check each strings intonation a second time to make more minute adjustments , as adjusting the tension of each individual string will affect the others . |
use your ears . evaluate your needs . understand what defines an amps overall tone . learn the categories . compare tube versus solid state . the drawbacks of tube amps are generally more practical than sonic . beware of type - casting . review options for combo amps . note well small combo amps are often preferred in studio settings . review the options for heads , cabs , and stacks . learn the lingo . put it together . follow the pros . rack it up . the preamp . the power amp . disadvantages of rack rigs . gain the advantage . understand how different types of amps suit different styles of music . get the right amp for the job . | how to choose a guitar amplifier for rock music | yes , it seems remarkably uncomplicated and highly un - technical , and there are really no acronyms to cover it . however , its important to realize that from the outset , you have to like the sound the amp makes relative to the style of music you play . a marshall amp sounds absolutely amazing—if the style of music youre playing falls in to the van halen , cream , or acdc camp . a fender amp also sounds amazing—if youre going for more of a stevie ray vaughan , jerry garcia or dick dale sound . the best way to determine what an amp sounds like is to play your guitar through it . if you are more of a beginner , not confident about your chops , but want an amp you can grow into , have somebody at the store play it for you . the critical issue here is how amp a sounds when compared to amp b , so do whatever it takes to get a good comparison . amps are rated by wattage rather than physical size although high - wattage amps do tend to be physically larger . lower wattage tube amplifiers will tend to create harmonic distortion at lower volumes , which is preferable in practice , studio , and miked stage performance . higher wattage tube amplifiers will distort at higher volumes—which will require more creative mixing for live situations . the wattage has an effect on both the actual and perceived sound volume . in general , it takes 10 times the wattage of an amp to double the perceived volume . for example a 10 - watt amp will sound half as loud as a 100 - watt amp the wattage and cost of an amp are rarely related , as 10 watt amps can be two , three , or even ten times the cost of a 100 watt amp—depending on the quality of the components and the design . a knock - off 100 - watt solid - state amp is inexpensive to produce compared to a boutique 5 - watt tube amp . the sound quality experienced from an amplifier can be determined by many things , including but not limited to the preamp tubes used power amp tubes used the wood material used for the speaker cabinet the type of speaker cones the resistance of the speakers the guitar used the cables used the effects used the pickups in the guitar and even the fingers of the player . there are two main categories of guitar amplifiers configurations combo and headcabinet . combo combination amps combine the amplifier electronics with one or more speakers in a one - piece package . these are generally smaller , as combining a powerful head and a couple large speakers can quickly push an amp into the weightlifter category . headcabinet arrangements solve the weight problem by separating the speaker cabinet cabs from the head—or amplifier—cabinet . heads can be free - standing units that generally sit atop the cabs , or they can be rack - mounted units which are great for touring and more complex guitar signal chains . there are notable differences between the two styles of amplification . tube amps use vacuum tubes in both the pre - amplification and power amplification stages , whereas solid - state amps use transistors for all stages . this can , and usually does result in markedly different tones . solid - state amps are known for delivering bright , clean , accurate sounds . they respond quickly to your playing , and are far more rugged than tube amps think of the difference between a light bulb tube and an led solid state . throw both of them on the floor , and youll be scooping up one of them with a dustpan also , with advances in technology , many solid - state amps are loaded with a wide array of modeled amp sounds , giving you a lot of versatility . solid - state amps from a given manufacturer tend to sound the same , which can be a benefit when you need a reliable , repeatable tone . they are also notably lighter—both in weight , and on the pocketbook—than their tube brethren . this versatility and ruggedness comes at the expense of warmth of tone . while this is an entirely subjective evaluation , there are some differences that account for this when pushed into distortion , a solid - state amps waveform shows a hard - clipped edge and harmonics that stay strong through the range of hearing . by comparison , a tube amp pushed to distortion has a soft clipping edge , and harmonics that fall off well within the limits of hearing , giving tube amps their famed warmth . tube valve amps have a certain unmeasurable something to them that makes them the most popular type of amp . the sound of a tube amp has been described as thick , creamy , fat , and rich—adjectives that would pack on the pounds if amps were food tube amps can vary slightly in tone from amp to amp , and certainly do from player to player . for some players , their amp is the one that , in conjunction with their guitar , defines their sound . tube distortion is softer , and to most , more pleasing to the ear , and when pushed hard , adds some compression to the dynamics that adds to sonic richness that only tubes can deliver . tube amps can be much more powerful than solid state amps . a 20 - watt tube amp can easily sound as loud or louder than a 100 - watt solid state amp . a tube amp—especially a large one—can be very heavy a big negative if you regularly haul your gear up 3 flights of stairs tube amps are also more expensive , both initially , and when it comes to maintenance . a solid state amp simply is . unless you have a massive power surge , your solid state amp will sound the same , year after year . however , vacuum tubes—like light bulbs—wear out over time and will need to be replaced . tubes are not terribly expensive , but it will be an annual expense depending on how much you use it . tube amps rarely have emulation - type effects . youll need stomp boxes for those sorts of things . however , tremolo and spring reverb are often incorporated into amp designs . while its good to know the pros and cons of both types of amps , its not always the case that tube good , solid state bad . studies have shown that when played without distortion , tube amps and solid state amps are virtually indistinguishable . here are some common configurations for combo amps micro amps 1 to 10 watts . these are tiny , ultra - portable amps which are useful for practice on the go or when others are trying to sleep . they dont pack enough volume to be used in most jam situations where you must be heard in the mix with other musicians . as a rule , their sound quality tends to be poor when compared to larger amps due to low output power and lower quality circuitry and are not adequate for professional performances . the marshall ms - 2 is an example of a super - portable 1 watt micro amp which has received good reviews for a solid - state amp of this size . practice amps 10 to 30 watts . practice amps are also suited for the bedroomliving room environment , although the loudest of them may be used for small gigs performances , especially if a microphone is used to send them through the venues pa system . popular practice tube amps that sound as good or better than many larger amps include , fender champ , epiphone valve junior and the fender blues jr . as a general rule , the best amps in this range feature 20 to 30 watts with at least a 10 inch 25 . 4 cm speaker . full - size 1x12 combos with 50 or more watts of power and at least one 12 inch 30 . 5 cm speaker , the 1x12 amp offers the smallest package which is considered suitable for small gigs without using a microphone . for higher - end models , such as those produced by mesa engineering , the sound quality is of thoroughly professional calibre . 2x12 combos are similar to 1x12 combos , but they add a second 12 inch 30 . 5 cm speaker . the 2x12 design is considerably heavier and bulkier than the 1x12 , but it is still a favorite choice of working musicians for performances at small to medium - sized venues . the addition of a second speaker allows for certain stereo effects , and two speakers simply move more air than one allowing more presence in your sound . a favorite in this category is the roland jazz chorus , which features a signature sound , stereo , a clean sound , and built - in effects . for example , if youd like to know what a tiny 5 - watt fender champ sounds like in the studio , listen to eric claptons guitar on layla while combo amps are great for an all - in - one solution , a lot of players like to customize their sound . they may love the sound of a marshall cab speaker cabinet , but only when driven by a mesa engineering head . others might not be that particular about cabs , but want to be able to have several of them for a powerful wall of sound that stretches across the stage . a head is an amplifier without speakers . a cabinet cab is a stand - alone speaker enclosure , which can be connected to a head . a stack is a head and a set of cabinets connected together , ready for use . stacks are generally preferred for gigs rather than practice , although theres no rule against having an enormous stack in your living room—if your family allows it . fair warning in most cases , they wont stacks are physically bulky , very heavy , and devastatingly loud . these are the tools of musicians who play large venues . heads are all roughly the same size physically , but they come in a variety of wattages . small heads pack 18 to 50 watts , while full - power heads are generally 100 watts or more . there are also super heads , boasting a tinnitus - inducing 200 to 400 watts of power . for performances at small to medium - size venues , a small head is more than enough . the smaller heads are often connected to a single 4x12 cabinet which contains four 12 inch speakers , as the name suggests . this type of setup is known as a half stack , and it is a favorite of working musicians . before buying a half stack , keep in mind they are too large and too loud for most bars or venues with a small stage most of the gigs youll actually play , they dont fit in any vehicle smaller than a van or pickup , your band members will not help you haul it up on stage , and a half stack will cause permanent hearing damage if you dont use earplugs . the half stack offers plenty of volume , and the presence of four speakers . use the heads amplifier that the professionals use . a full stack is the dream of many a guitarist but will be frowned upon by your sound man and everyone on stage with you . this is generally features at least a 100 - watt head connected to two 4x12 cabinets . the cabinets are stacked vertically one on top of the other , giving the setup its distinctive name . a full stack is as tall as a grown man , making for quite an impressive sight . the sound is equally impressive . a full stack is too large for all but the very largest of venues , and even then your sound man will be micing you so youll never actually have a use for a full stack . most working pros will use two half stacks in stereo rather than bringing a full stack on the road . guitarists who are truly sadistic in a sonic sense , such as some heavy metal players , may run one of the 200 - 400 watt super heads through a full stack . with any full stack and especially the hot rod setups , you will require ear protection if you wish to play at higher volumes without sustaining potentially serious ear damage . most live shows you see that use full stacks are doing it as a stage trick . typically only one cabinet has speakers in it and the rest are up there for show . mötley crüe used to make fake speaker grille frames out of black cloth and 2x4s to make it look like the stage was full of amp stacks most pros currently use 2x12 or half stacks because the sound is easier to control . if you really want a full stack , by all means get one , but youll almost never get to use it unless you are doing a stadium tour . they are just too big to be practical . many musicians use gear racks , usually a reinforced metal box with removable panels on the front and back . the front side of the rack , when open , has two vertical rows of threaded screw holes on the sides , set 19 inches 48 . 3 cm apart the rack mount standard . like a head - and - cab setup , a rack - mounted guitar amplifier rig separates the amplifier components and the speaker cabinets . however , rack - mounted heads can be broken down into two categories the preamp and the power amp . both heads and combos have these components as well , but rack units make it practical to treat them as separate items . most major amplifier manufacturers , including marshall , carvin , mesa - boogie , and peavey make rack - mountable amp rigs . this is the initial amplification stage in its basic form , a preamp boosts the signal so that it can effectively drive the power amp stage . higher - end preamps will feature various tone - shaping features , including equalization , variable tube configurations , and more . this is connected to the preamp , takes the signal the preamp shaped , and gives it serious , speaker - driving power . like heads , power amps are available in different sizes , from a minimum of 50 watts to monster 400w power amps . as many power amps as you want can be connected in a daisy chain or to different pre - amp outputs to boost the power of the signal , as well as possibly blend the tonal influences of two different power amps . as you can probably tell , racks are frequently very complicated rigs . a novice guitarist may find them perplexing . they are also heavier and bulkier than heads - - and add onto that the bulk and heft of the rack itself . since you need to buy multiple products and accessories , the price for a new rack rig can be but isnt always higher than that of a head . a rack allows you to mix and match products by different manufacturers and find a tone that is distinctly yours in addition to the preamp and power amp , there are a lot of great products that can be mounted right on the same rack with your amplifier—reverbs , delays , eqs , and other sonic delights . racks frequently have caster wheels , making them very easy to roll around , and having a rack can also simplify setup your components are always ready to plug in to as soon as you wheel your rack onto the stage and power it up . finally , racks are uncommon , and will attract attention . people will be impressed if you wheel a rack rig into rehearsal or performance , but beware—they will expect you to be a seasoned guitarist , or at least be able to effectively use your rack . dont bring your rack anywhere unless you know how to get those pre - amps and processors to do exactly what you want them to do . professionals axe masters like robert fripp , the edge , and kurt cobain have favored rack rigs . for the most part , amps are not one size fits all . although there are all sorts of amps , they can be classified in two broad categories vintage and high gain . each style of rock has characteristic amps . here are some general guidelines vintage amps produce the classic sounds of early amplifiers . for the jazz , blues , or blues - rock guitarist , the vintage sound is still widely considered the most appropriate for the style . vintage amps can be actual antiques , or they can be modern amps that replicate the sound of antique amps . the sound of fender , vox , marshall , and similar amplifiers from the 50s , 60s and early 70s is the foundation of the vintage tone . when you think vintage , you think hendrix , led zeppelin , eric clapton , deep purple , etc . these are the sounds that started it all . high - gain amps produce a sound with greater distortion than that of vintage amps . although there is some debate about the evolution of high - gain amps , many believe that a large part of their history is owed to eddie van halen . van halen actually knew very little about electronics he has admitted that is why his guitar was so oddly assembled , and only got his high gain tone by maxing out all the knobs on his amp , then brought the volume under control with a variac , which brought down the amps voltage . with his landmark eruption solo in 1977 , van halen introduced the roaring , face - melting sound of an amp pushed into complete power tube saturation . amp makers trying to emulated that sound at lower volumes then started adding extra gain stages to the preamps of their amp designs , to allow for higher gain tone at controlled volumes . as heavy metal evolved , so did the need for higher gain amps . for hard rock and heavy metal music from the early 80s and beyond , vintage amps are overshadowed by their modern high - gain counterparts . if you want to play jazz , blues , blues - rock in the style of led zeppelin or very early heavy metal in the style of black sabbath , a lower gain tube amp may be your best choice . if you want to play hard rock , 80s metal , and shred guitar in the style of the countless 80s guitar heroes , you will probably want to go with a high - gain model . note that many newer amps can provide both high - gain and vintage sounds , although some purists feel that the only vintage amps worth playing are the actual antique amplifiers themselves . amp modeling technology which allows one amp to simulate the sound of many different amps is a relatively recent development which has both fans and critics—though to most people , they sound remarkably good . modeling amps can be very useful , although if youre a purist , nothing beats walking in with a real fender twin reverb , an ancient marshall plexi head , or something similar . |
decide whether to buy an electric , acoustic , or classical guitar . the most common guitar for a childs first is a classical style guitar . figure out what size your child needs . the size guitar you choose for your child is , perhaps , the most crucial aspect affecting the childs ability to actually play the guitar . consider the guitar brand . think about color and design . know how much you should expect to spend . regardless of brand or design , as a general rule of thumb , the most expensive guitars will have better tone and durability . make sure to purchase the right accessories . at minimum , you will need to buy extra strings . | how to buy a guitar for a child | a classical guitar is an acoustic guitar with nylon strings . while acoustic guitars with metal strings are more common in the music industry , nylon strings are softer and easier for children to press down and strum . this is especially important for young children learning to play for the first time , since painful metal strings may turn them off of playing long - term . while not as common , electric guitars are a worthwhile option , especially for children with a more energetic demeanor . they tend to be a little more expensive than an acoustic guitar , though , so many parents prefer to buy them only if they feel confident about their childs continued interest and dedication to practicing the guitar . consider asking your child for his or her preference . if your child has his or her heart set on a particular type of guitar , buying something different may make your child feel less inclined to continue practicing . a guitar that is too large will be impossible to play , while a guitar that is too small will teach your child to play incorrectly , making it difficult for him or her to transfer to a standard size guitar upon reaching adulthood . in general , a 4 to 6 year old child , ranging in height from 33 to 39 99 cm to 114 cm , needs a guitar that is 14 of the standard size . a 5 to 8 year old child , ranging in height from 310 to 45 117 cm to 135 cm , needs a guitar that is 12 the full size . children between the ages of 8 and 11 years old , ranging in height from 46 to 411 137 cm to 150 cm need a 34 size guitar . children ages 11 and up who are at least 5 152 cm tall can have a standard , full - size guitar . brand has an impact on both the price and quality of the guitar . a higher quality guitar , like a squier guitar made by fender , will stay in tune remarkably well but will also be on the high end of the cost scale . you can ask the store or dealer for other recommendations based on quality that will not have as much of an impact on your budget , though . if you are uncertain about whether or not your child will stick with guitar lessons , you can also buy an inexpensive starter guitar from a respected beginner brand like j . reynolds or excel . kids are attracted to color and print , especially at a young age . thankfully , highly decorated guitars are not usually much more expensive than plain , simple guitars . at the very least , you should consider buying a guitar in your childs favorite color . you can also shop for a print or pattern that can appeal to your child . guitars with hello kitty or other popular characters tend to be popular , as well as guitars with flames and skulls . guitars with pretend rhinestones can be popular . the price of extremely high - quality guitars can run into the thousands , but you can purchase a fairly good quality guitar for a child for anywhere between 150 and 300 . the difference in tone between a guitar that costs 150 and one that costs upward of 500 will not be that noticeable in childs guitar , especially if the child is still a beginner . moreover , if your child may outgrow the guitar in a few years , it is better to go with a less expensive one earlier on and save up for a higher quality guitar once he or she is old enough to have a full size . your child will , in all likelihood , go through a fair share of strings as he or she learns to play , and you will want to have extra strings on hand to change out as soon as one breaks . you should also have a good stock of picks , since children are just as likely to lose a lot of picks , too . if you are getting your child an electric guitar , you will also need to purchase an amplifier and a guitar cable . these do not need to be anything especially fancy , but you will at least need a simple 10 - watt amp in order to make the guitar audible . a guitar bag , guitar strap , and guitar tuner are also good accessories to buy . they are practical accessories , since they will help your child play and maintain the guitar , but they may also help make your child feel more enthusiastic about learning to play , as well , since they give some sense of authenticity to the experience . |
find someone selling a used guitar . ask them how old it is . try playing a few frets . place the head - stock in front of your eyes with the guitar body away from you and look down the neck to verify it is straight . ask the person that is selling the guitar to play something on it . check if you hear any odd noises . check if there is any rust on the fret bars , the strings and the knobs at the machine head . if there is any rust , ask the person if he can replace it for you and then sell it for the same price . make damn well sure the strings play well . lastly , check for any scratches , cracks and chips coming off the guitar at any place . dont go all gung - ho on buying that same guitar now , spend an entire week searching for people selling used guitars . also , make sure you feel comfortable with the size of the guitar , whether your fretting fingers are too strained , etc . after youre done searching for guitars and have at least 3 options to choose from , choose wisely , and choose best according to sound quality , price and looks all in one . dont forget to ask for some guitar picks , spare strings , strap or a case if they can get you one . | how to buy a used guitar | , start playing all frets from top to bottom string and listen for strings ringingrattling . if you hear a noise , verify that it is a string with broken windings rattling . if it is not a string with broken windings , then it is a fret that improperly set . the fret is the metal lines going across the guitar neck . it can also be an improperly set bridge at the bottom end of the guitar , usually white and the strings sit over it . , it can be because of a dented fretboard , or a bent one . , learn to tune the guitar too . ask the seller if he can tune it for you too . if the box - part is safe , no cracks , consider buying it . ask the person to wait for your response . its best if you go in person to see them . some guitars have very hard strings to press and they might hurt you . some fret boards might be too large for you , and all this extra stretching might get you tendinitis . dont quit learning guitar for some lame sounding gear . comfort is the key . , |
consider what type of music youd like to play . look at the action . inspect for fret wear , cracks , etc . get it tuned up and play it in the store . hook it up to an amp , and see if you like the sound . have a realistic budget and stick to it . go for tone with the amp . | how to choose a beginner electric guitar and amp on a budget | if you never intend to do octave high vibrato bar stuff or play music in the style of bands like pantera hard , fast metal , with lots of high note bending leads , or jimi hendrix psychedelic rock , then exclude any floating or fancy bridge also called a tailpiece . non - floating tail pieces are usually more stable keeping tune and intonation and cheaper to buy . you should visit a local guitar shop to purchase your first guitar . you will benefit immensely from their experience , and they will be able to support you after the sale . avoid places like walmart , best buy , etc . because all they can do is sell you a guitar , and a poor one at that . most local guitar shops have gone to great lengths to select guitar lines that are serviceable , and play and sound good . as a beginner , you will appreciate their service and commitment to you , even though a local shops pricing may be a touch higher . most local shops offer lessons , as well . avoid mega chain music stores such as guitar center or sam ash . the customer service record is poor for the most part , and the atmosphere is not conducive to a beginner picking out their first instrument . also , they offer no in - house service department , and no lesson studios , either . neck thickness . do you want an all - around guitar , or do you have a certain style you know you are going to want to play slide blues players should look for a neck that is wider and has a nice arch on the backside for support . if you want to play popular metal or rock , you should go for a nice narrow neck . its easier to move the fingers . action is the distance between the fingerboard and the string at any given time . make sure you hear no buzzing from the guitar when playing a note at a normal weight . try it at the 5 , 10 , 12 , fret , etc . and listen for the buzz of strings banging on the frets below it . if any guitar is like this , ask the music store any good one will do this for you to adjust the neck if you can try it out in playable condition . if they can adjust it for you , then there is no problem , it just needed adjustment . the obvious stuff . some people may find this uncomfortable , being a newbie and all . if you dont want to play it , just start bending strings , up and down , using the whammy bar think of it as guitar stretching . then see how well it stays in tune . if this guitar has no locking nuts on the head , and it still stays in tune , its a winner . but if you have to re - tune more than a little , and almost all the strings , pass on it . you will grow frustrated by it very quickly . if you are new to this , your taste for tone will likely change . just get something that sounds close to what you want . think in terms of clarity , tinniness , depth , colour . look around until you find something in your range . you can expect to find something in the 200 to 450 range for beginners . try more than ten different types before you decide . you may need to buy a processor as well , so consider whether the amp has inbuilt effects or not . |
design your guitar body shape . choose your materials . purchase the required hardware . buy a pre - manufactured neck . make sure you have the necessary tools and know - how . buy a kit if you want to make things easier . cut the body blank . mark the position of all the body hardware . route the body . drill holes for the electronics . paint or finish the body . cut the neck , if needed . bolt or laminate the neck to the body . attach the bridge to the body . drop the electronics into place . solder the electronics . string your guitar and test it . | how to build an electric guitar | before you begin , youll want a solid idea of what you want your instrument to look like . you can draw inspiration from a classic model like a fender telecaster or a gibson sg , or make your own unique design . once youve settled on a design , draw the body , full scale , on paper , and cut it out . the guitar body shape can be rounded , like a gibson les paul or a fender stratocaster , or angled , like a gibson explorer or flying v . you can also choose a unique shape for your guitar , such as a square or circle . some guitarists prefer a single cutaway to access the higher frets , some like a double cutaway , or you might choose not to have a cutaway at all . many electric guitar bodies are made of swamp ash , alder , mahogany , or maple . common woods for guitar necks include maple and mahogany . rosewood or maple are standard choices for fingerboards . some of these woods are rare or protected , and hard to come by . you can experiment making an electric guitar with any kind of wood you would like , however . there is room for variation in terms of the thickness of an electric guitar body . select a wood size based on the thickness of an existing guitar , or on what feels comfortable to you . theres a lot of variety in terms of the looks and capabilities of the parts youll need for your guitar . you can choose based on the kind that existing guitars you like use , or experiment with something new . you can easily buy the equipment youll need from most guitar shops or online . for an electric guitar , youll needone or more pickups single coil or humbuckers a bridge tuning pegs a nut volume and tone controls and knobs a pickup selector switch an input for a ¼ inch cable a pickguard optional strap pegs optional , but recommended a truss rod optional , but recommended fret wire if you are building your own neck strings unless you have a lot of skill and experience in woodworking , it is recommended that you buy a pre - made neck . since the neck is often considered the most complicated part to make , you might consider purchasing one and building the rest of the guitar yourself . you still do the rest of the work yourself . if you purchase a pre - manufactured neck , building an electric guitar doesnt require highly sophisticated tools or expertise , but the process isnt exactly beginner level , either . youll need to know how to saw , drill , sand , and solder , and have tools capable of fulfilling these tasks . its possible to create an electric guitar using hand tools alone . however , having access to an electric jigsaw , drill press , and router will make things much easier and faster . several companies produce electric guitar kits that include all of the parts youll need , prepared and ready to assemble . if you just want to get your feet wet , these can be a good choice . while you wont get the full experience of making a guitar from scratch , youll still get the satisfaction of putting it together and finishing it yourself . lay the cut - out of your guitar body design on the wood you selected , and trace the design onto it . use a jigsaw or another saw to cut through the wood , following the outline you drew . sand the sides of the body blank after cutting it out . if you would like to round off the top and bottom edges of the guitar , use a sander for that as well . draw a line down the center of the body blank for reference . then , draw marks on the body blank to identify where you want hardware like volume controls and the pickups to go . you can position things like volume and tone controls , the pickup selector , and the plug input more or less wherever you like . follow the design of an existing guitar , or choose what feels comfortable to you . pickups should sit under the strings , centered with the fretboard . mark the position of the pickups by referencing the center line you drew . the bridge needs to be positioned so that the distance between it and the nut on the neck correspond to the scale length of the neck , which varies somewhat depending on the guitar . if you purchased a pre - manufactured neck , use its scale length to position the bridge accordingly . otherwise , most guitars have scale lengths ranging from 24 - 26 inches . youll need to make a cavity a hole that goes partly through the body of the guitar in the back of the guitar to fit the electronics for the volume , tone , pickup selection controls . you will cover it later with a bit of material usually hard plastic . youll also need one cavity in the front of the guitar for each of its pickups . rout the pickup cavity or cavities to the depth recommended by the manufacturer . you will also want to rout a cavity where the neck will attach to the body that is wide enough and deep enough to secure the parts together . use the marks you made earlier as a guide . the number and position of the holes youll need will depend on the exact hardware youre using . generally , however , you will need holesfor the bridge hardware for the volume , tone , and pickup selector controls to allow the pickup wires to pass from the front cavity to the back one to fit the cord input in place for the strap pegs if you are using them much of the creativity that comes from making your own guitar shows in the way the body looks , so use your imagination here . the possibilities are endless you might tryan oil finish to give your guitar a natural look a colorful paint and either a high - gloss or matte finish multiple colors to create a striking pattern painting an image or design on the body for a standout look if you purchased a pre - manufactured neck recommended , skip this step . if not , youll need to cut the guitar neck to the width and thickness you prefer . leave the headstock end wider to accommodate the tuning pegs . round off the back of the neck using a belt sander , for instance until it has a comfortable profile . neck widths are usually about 1 . 5–1 . 75 inches 3 . 8–4 . 4 cm at the nut , and widen slightly as the frets get higher . make the headstock whatever contour you like . routing a hole through the length of the neck to insert a truss rod is recommended , but not required . if you are adding a fingerboard to your neck , cut a thin piece of wood to the same width as the neck , and glue it on top . round the edges of the fingerboard to give it a radius . cut fret wire to size for each fret , then gently tap the frets in place , then file their edges smooth . measurements need to be highly precise , so use a spacing template available online . glue the nut where the fingerboard meets the headstock . attach the tuning pegs to the headstock , drilling holes if necessary . attach the neck to the body where you previously made a cavity for this purpose . you can glue the neck in , or run bolts through the back of the body and the neck to fix it in place . there are a number of types of bridges , so the exact directions for attaching yours will depend on its design . the simplest varieties , however , simply require a few screws to fix the bridge in place . run the pickup wires through the holes you previously drilled . drop the pickups into the cavities on the front of the guitar body , and fix them into place with the screws provided by the manufacturer . do the same for the volume , tone , and pickup selector controls , as well as the input for the guitar cord . the pickups you purchased should come with a schematic that shows exactly how to connect these to the controls and to the input for the guitar cord . follow this schematic , using an ordinary electronics soldering iron to complete the job . wrap any wiring connections with electrical tape , unless the manufacturers instructions suggest another method . once the electronics are in , cut a piece of hard plastic to cover the cavity you created in the back of the guitar body . fix it in place with small screws . use your favorite string gauge . after theyre in place , try playing your guitar a bit unplugged to make sure everything feels right . then , plug your guitar in and play . if all has gone well , the guitar is doneyou might need to make small adjustments to perfect the guitars intonation , such as changing the bridge pins or saddle height . if you need help doing this , take your guitar to a local shop . |
first , youll want to consider the age and the dominant hand of the recipient . choose between acoustic or electric . be careful when buying a relatively cheap beginners guitar about 100 give or take , and you may even find a package deal that comes with an amp and an array of accessories perhaps even an educational dvd . when you buy a used guitar , you can get a much better guitar for the same money . look everywhere you can before making a purchase . | how to buy a guitar for a beginner | a right handed person typically holds the neck of the guitar with their left hand . a left handed person holds the neck with their right hand . however , it could be that heshe wants to strum with the non - dominant hand so it is easier to operate the fretboard with the dominant hand , so let himher experiment with the preference . if a person is left handed there is a neat little test that can help determine whether buying a lefty guitar or a righty guitar will be best for them . first have the person clap their hands as they normally would and watch . how do they clap their hands is their right hand mostly still while the left hand does most of the clapping if this is so then a lefty guitar would suit this left - hander best . if both hands are doing equal clapping then it should be up to the left - hander to decide . typically electric guitar strings arent as rough on a childs fingers the way that an acoustic guitar can be . if you go the electric route they probably will want an amp too . by all means go cheap and small . make sure the amp has a headphone jack that mutes the speaker when connected . some amps are in the headphone itself which just plugs into the guitar . some brands make smaller versions of their full size models . think of the guitars that hendrix or clapton usually played on because you can easily find a cheap child sized one like that . the benefit is that scale is shorter , easier to reach with smaller hands . the string tension will will be lower than the full scale model the strings wont be so stiff or hard to press on and this makes it easier for weaker fingers to build strength . you may find that the guitar is poorly set up . that means that it will be hard to play and to tune correctly . bring along a friend who is more experienced - he or she can weed out the damaged or unplayable guitars . hint the best deal is a middle priced guitar owned by an adult . it is much less likely that a mature person , who has spent hisher own money , will abuse their guitar . often they look brand new . the other advantage to buying used is , if you should decide to stop playing and sell your used guitar , you will likely be able to sell it for about what you paid . absolutely do not buy from a teenager , the vast majority do not know how to take care of a guitar . sorry teens , look online for prices , but buy in a local music store . sometimes local music stores will compete with online store pricing . so dont be afraid to ask if you see the same instrument in a store that was cheaper online . shipping will be a factor due to size and weight , but shouldnt be much . buy locally , the store employees can be a big help when buying and after you bought as well . . |
stretch your fingers . do hand exercises . practice speed drills . | how to avoid pain in the left hand while playing the guitar 1 | the strength of your muscles is secondary to the flexibility and agility of your muscles . one way to improve the latter two attributes is by properly stretching your fingers before practice . bend back each finger until it feels comfortable and hold them in that position for several seconds . do the same for each thumb , but also stretch your thumb into your palm . get the blood flowing through your fingers by pretending to type rapidly in the air . roll your wrests both clockwise and counterclockwise . spread your fingers out into a fully extended position , then release the tension . after stretching out your hand , you can strengthen the muscles you commonly use during guitar play . there are two main exercises you can do without playing the guitar itself . work out the extensor muscles of your fretting hand with these two exercises first hold your left hand or fretting hand in a relaxed position . extend your thumb to your pinky and then pull them apart slightly . continue this motion with the rest of your fingers ring , middle , and then your index finger . repeat as many times as you want , but dont over - exercise your muscles . hold your fretting hand relaxed with your palm facing up . extend your pinky finger slightly and then flex it . continue the same exercise with the rest of your fingers ring , middle , and then your index finger . after properly warming up your hand , you can practice a few lines on your guitar . set a metronome , if available , to a comfortable tempo . for beginners , use 80 bpm , and experienced players can play at around 120 bpm . set your hand so your index finger is on the first fret . then play this chromatic riff across each string 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 . use an individual finger to play each fret . for an added exercise , do the same motion in a descending order . start with your pinky on the fourth fret of the last string . this technique will exercise each finger . once you become comfortable performing this exercise , increase the speed of your metronome . |
hold the guitar properly . have the proper finger placement . relax your posture . take productive breaks . | how to avoid pain in the left hand while playing the guitar 2 | the way you hold the neck of the guitar effects how long you can barre chords before your hand cramps and hurts . anchor your thumb close the center - back of the neck and not over - the - top as if it was peeking from the fretboard . placing your thumb in the center - back of the guitars neck should help you with the proper form . the proper form will increase your hands stamina . look at the angle of your arm and wrists . you will notice that the more acute the angle of your wrist , the less strength you have in that hand . keep all your joints from your wrist to your fingers at natural rounded angles . there isnt a golden rule with hand placement . jimi hendrix held his guitar in a way that his thumb wrapped around the guitar . do whatever makes you comfortable . in this example , youd hold the guitar like a tennis racket . the proper finger placement helps your sound and your hands stamina . place your fingers close to the fret that is closest to the bridge , instead of placing your finger dead - center between the frets . this helps decrease the force needed to barre chords . you should also get into the habit of arching each finger when playing notes or chords . this way your fingers dont touch other strings and hinder the sound . it is common to feel stressed and strained while playing the guitar . this is especially true for beginner guitarist . it is normal to feel pain when trying out a new guitar shape . when reaching for these tougher hand shapes , its important to take note of how the rest of your body is reacting . make sure you have the proper fingering , then take a deep breath and let your shoulders rest . stiffness will only hinder a musician . keep a relaxed posture to work the instrument into a natural position and feeling . when you are practicing the guitar for longer periods of time , make sure you take breaks . a good guitarist will take productive breaks to ensure the practicing mentality isnt lost . take a five minute break to drink water or go on a walk . avoid sitting on the couch and watching tv on your break . maintain your desire to improve as a guitarist . keep a musical biography around to keep you inspired . |
adjust the action of your guitars neck . try different neck shapes . seek medical assistance if pain persists . | how to avoid pain in the left hand while playing the guitar 3 | a guitar with high action will require more force from your fingers to press the strings down . you can adjust the truss rod on most guitars with an allen wrench . it is easy to damage your neck , and you should take your guitar to a trusted repair shop for an easy adjustment . if you cannot afford to have your guitars action fixed by a repair technician , consider using a capo on the first fret of the guitar as a temporary alternative . placing a capo on the first fret helps bring the strings closer to the frets . older guitars require you to remove the neck to access the truss rod . neck shapes play a major role in the comfort of playing . different brands and styles of guitar offer many neck styles and shapes to their customers . always try out a guitar before buying it . similar to buying a new pair of shoes , you want to try out guitars that not only sound great , but also feel right . you can also change your the neck of your current guitar . the process isnt too complex and it could be a more economical solution . fat necks are usually viewed in the guitar world as sturdy and reliable necks . this style of neck could be difficult for beginners . try out several styles of necks before making any decisions . prepare for soreness and stiffness . with that in mind , a novice guitarist should not expect to have the same level of stamina exhibited by a more experienced guitarist . if pain in your fretting hand persists for longer than two days , you should let a doctor examine your hand . you body lets you know something is wrong whenever pain becomes acute . unlike weightlifting , where some pain is gain , in the guitar world persistent pain could mean trouble . |
find some income . open up a savings account at your or your parents bank . put as much money as you can in there , and make sure when it goes in , it doesnt come out . decide ahead of time which guitar you want . every weekend , call , go online to , or go to some local guitar stores . be patient . when it comes time to buy the guitar , take a friend that plays guitar with you to get it . once you decide on buying it , make sure you haggle . now you have that guitar youve always dreamed of , and you dont have to go broke . | how to afford an expensive guitar | some guitars are around 1000 , or if youre in the market for a les paul , 3500 . basically get the best guitar you can afford to get at the time . it makes a difference . they might have to put it under their name if you are under 18 . only withdraw the money when youre going to buy the guitar . it is very important that you decide the exact make and model and that you stick to it . dont only go to the extremely large ones , but try to find some small , privately owned ones also . check there for your guitar and start writing down the store name , price , whether it is new or used , and what condition it is in . this should start to get you a good idea of how much it will cost . dont get anxious and buy the first guitar you see . you need to wait it out . after 2 or 3 months , you will find an amazing deal . they will help you decide if it is in good enough condition , and will keep you from buying it on impulse . dont be afraid to do this more than once . if the guitar is not right for you , keep waiting . guitar stores always mark up prices , and with a little pressure , you can make them bring it down , especially if it is used . good things to say well , i dont really have quite enough right now . i think i saw it cheaper at insert store . um . i think im going to shop around a little more . maybe find a better deal . if you take 100 bucks off the price , ill take it off your hands right now . |
hold the guitar properly . hold the pick properly . get familiar with the action of the guitar . strum the strings between the sound hole and the bridge . practice strumming all the strings equally . try upstrokes . use your wrist . learn the alternating up - down rhythm . change chords . leave out the fourth down stroke in the measure . practice the pop - rock pattern . practice using your strumming hand to dampen the strings . put the chord and the tempo first . start playing songs . | how to strum a guitar | keep the guitar balanced on your thigh , tight into your body . to learn to strum the guitar properly , you need to keep the elbow of your strumming hand out of the way of the string , near the base of the guitar , so you can use your wrist to strum . support the guitar neck with your fret hand . the thumb should be positioned just past the center of the neck opposite the strings . if you have to use your arms to hold up the guitar , its very difficult to strum properly . let the weight of the guitar rest on your lap , securing it with your elbow and make sure you can move your strumming hand without moving the guitar . with the palm of your hand facing your body , curl all your fingers in toward your palm . place the pick on the first knuckle of your pointer - finger , so it points straight toward your chest . grasp it with your thumb securely , leaving only a few centimeters of clearance from your finger . play around some to get a good and comfortable grip on the pick . alternatively , you can strum without a pick , using the thumb of your non - fretting hand . johnny cash never used a pick . that choice depends on whether you can get enough clear sound with your fingers . practice with a pick and abandon it if you find it too troublesome and like the sound of your fingers on the strings better . it can be somewhat painful on your strumming fingers to not use a pick . building up calluses is always a good thing , though . the action refers to the height of the strings off the fret board , and the strength in your fretting finger needed to play the strings . practice making chords properly and getting a clean sound on all the strings at once . strums will sound rattle - like if you strike dead strings that youre not fully fretting . it can be quite frustrating to try to learn to strum if youre not making the chords properly . if your strums sound dry or like a rattle , stop strumming and reform the chord correctly . practice strumming the strings in different places to get a sense of the sound it creates . strumming directly over the sound hold will create a bass - ier , boom - ier sound , while strumming closer to the bridge will give you a sharper , tinnier sound . while theres really no right place , generally , you want to aim your strums about an inch south of the sound hole . play around with your particular guitar to get a sense of where you like the sound best . in time , try strumming a simple first - position chord , like a g chord , with down strokes . play quarter notes , one strum each , trying your best to hit all the strings . stay on tempo , counting your four strums per measure . starting with the low e string , strum all the strings , trying to give them all equal weight . it can be difficult at first to make it sound like a chord , letting all the strings ring more or less the same . beginners tend to hit either e string , the first or last , a little harder . when youre comfortable doing that on beat , try strumming the guitar from the little e string to the low . this is called an upstroke . these can be somewhat more difficult , but you still want to practice getting all the strings more or less equally , letting the chord thrum out like one big sound , rather than raking over them all individually and slowly . a good strum is all in the wrist . youll be able to spot a beginner easily from the flailing about of the strumming arm , strumming from the elbow . learn to keep your elbow tight into the instrument , using your wrist to strum . many novice guitar players find it difficult to hold onto the pick while learning to strum . most pick problems are the result of hanging on too close to the base of the pick and letting it flop around . make sure youre holding it properly , letting only the tiniest amount of the point stick out of your fingers . the most basic rhythmic strumming pattern you can learn is to alternate down strokes and upstrokes with every beat dudududu down up , down up , down up , down up . keep the same tempo , but try a down - up strum for every beat , dividing the quarter notes into eighth notes . instead of one stroke for every beat , youll have two strokes for every beat . these are eighth notes . it should be the same tempo , so keep tapping your foot at the same rate , but strum twice for every beat . when you get comfortable with your down strokes and your upstrokes on one chord , change it up . switch from a g chord to a c chord every measure , then every two beats , practicing changing chords in time . take your time learning this and getting the changes down . it might be slow going , but youll be better off for the work you put into it now . moving on to the next step before youre comfortable changing chords will be frustrating and discouraging to your sound . get the chord changes worked out and youll be playing songs in no time . almost no songs involve a straight up - down pattern , and it would be boring to play the same pattern over and over . leave out one down stroke and see how the pattern changes dududu - u . where you would have played the down stroke , play nothing . to start learning more complicated strumming patterns , you have to learn how to leave out certain up or down strokes , while still maintaining the same up and down pattern in your hand . in other words , youll continue moving your wrist , but leave your pick off the strings . a familiar strum pattern youll hear at lots of open - mics and practice sessions is d - d - u - u - du . start listening actively to your favorite songs that feature acoustic guitar prominently to get some sense of the strumming pattern used . now that you know the basics , you can start learning to vary your strumming patterns , leaving out particular strokes to achieve different effects in the song . another way to add some variations to your strumming patterns is to learn to dampen the strings with the ball of your strumming palm , maintaining the pattern but getting a more percussive effect when you strike the strings with your pick . neil young has a distinctive , bottom - heavy strumming pattern that he uses along with string dampening , and acoustic guitarist - surfer - popstar jack johnson also has a distinctive damp - strumming style thats easy to learn and sounds fancier than it actually is . beginning guitar players often over - strum , focusing too much on doing the pattern they learned and too little on the tempo , the clarity of the chord , and playing the song . when strumming , try to focus on the chords first , then onto the strumming pattern . youll sound like a pro in no time . guitars a lot more fun when youre actually playing chord patterns and songs that you know start out with an easy song that will teach you basic strumming patterns . you can play almost any country and folk song using the first position chords g , c , and d . pick a few to learn and practice them to get the strumming patterns figured out . identify the chords you have to play in a song youd like to learn and determine the amount of strings to strum . d major , for example , only requires strumming five strings , while g major requires strumming all six . |
dedicate time to practice guitar every day . spend time each day on the boring technical skills necessary for good guitar players . try to teach yourself your favorite songs by ear . learn to read tablature tab , the most common written form of guitar music . supplement your practice with music theory to expand your range across the guitar . refine the tone of your guitar to truly shine on stage . push yourself to learn new styles and songs outside your comfort zone . take lessons , play with a more experienced guitarist , or enroll in an online class . | how to be a good guitar player 1 | study after study has shown that regular , consistent practice is far more effective than big chunks here and there . if you want to be a good guitar player , you need to practice at least 6 - 7 days a week . that said , not all practice is created equally , and the following steps will help you make the most of your time each day you sit down . practice should always be focused . that means all your mental energy is on guitar , not practicing with the tv in the background . dont try to learn five new techniques a day - - its much better to perfect 1 - 2 at a time . the more time spent practicing , the better youll be . this is the most important thing you can do to be a good guitarist . shredding an incredible solo is not some skill that is trained on its own . it is the culmination of many technical exercises and hard practice . think of the following exercises like a painter mixing up her paints - - these are the small but essential skills needed to create your art on stage . consider just 5 minutes of the following exercises each time you practice running up and down through all of your scales . learning 1 - 2 new chords and strumming them to a metronome repeated picking exercises search online and find your favorites speed - picking practice alternating picking , downstrokes only , and sweeping learning by ear is when you teach yourself a song just by listening to it . before the internet , this was one of the only ways to learn a song , but there is more to the activity than just memorizing the notes . learning by ear trains you to understand the guitar intuitively - - instead of thinking about what note needs to come up , you start to think about what notes will sound right before your even play it . you ear and your fingers become synced up much more smoothly . when learning by ear , work in small sections . get a few notes perfectly right , then slowly add more . trying to get chords right is difficult , but just work slowly . figure out all of the root notes first , then try to determine what types of chords fit into the song . tablature , or guitar tab , is a simple and intuitive way to write out guitar parts . youll see six lines , much like a musical staff , with numbers on each line . the six lines correspond to your six strings , with your heavy e string on the bottom and your thinnest e string on the top . the numbers tell you which fret on that string to play , and you read from left to right . thus , the following tab would tell you to play the 3rd string , 2nd fret , then play an a minor chord e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - g - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - d - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - a - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 - - - - - - e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - music theory may seem dull and boring , but it actually opens up thousands of new ideas , scales , and chords for you to use . think of it this way - - would you rather have to memorize which chords and scales go with which , or would your rather of the blueprints to create any song you can imagine music theory , of course , is a huge field , but some good places to start include the circle of 5ths . major and minor scale composition the use of modes . common chord progressions . while not nearly as important as technical practice and skills , good guitarists know that what they play is only part of the battle . how your guitar actually sounds , whether acoustic or electric , will help shape your tone and personal style , so take some time to research and experiment with the guitar , amp , pedals , and strings that work for you . string gauge is an easy way to change your tone - - thicker strings sound deeper , with more bass , while thinner strings sound high and bright . if youre an acoustic guitarist , the size of the guitars body is the major factor in changing tone . luckily , most music shops will let you test any guitar you want before buying . electric guitarists have the most freedom , as you can tinker with effects pedals and amp combinations to perfectly refine your sound . good music is good music no matter what genre it is , and the best guitarists know that inspiration can come from anywhere . different types of music use chords , scales , and rhythmic ideas that you may never think of , but can open up wholly new avenues as a guitarist drop the pick and play with your fingers . a pick may seem necessary , but guitar gods like mark knopfler and jeff beck prove otherwise . cover a few songs in a genre you dont normally play - - what does it sound like converted to your favorite style of music try to figure out the parts for other instruments , like trumpet solos or bass lines , to get a fresh perspective of melodic composition . if youre a lead player , write some rhythm parts or vice versa . take classes , get a book , watch an instructional video , or join one - on - one lessons - - whatever teaching style you prefer , seek some outside guidance to kick - start your learning . it seems obvious , but you cannot teach yourself what you dont know . a dedicated teacher or set of lessons will help you improve much more quickly than you can on your own . no matter what avenue you take , make sure youre still enjoying yourself . a teacher is no good for your development if they take all of the fun away . |
practice every day , for about 30 - 90 minutes . get your band mates or some other musicians to play with . build an audience of friends or family to watch . record your performance in front of the small audience and compare it to a recording of you playing the piece alone . asses the location of the performance in advance . on the day of the performance , play for a small group at the venue beforehand , if possible . | how to avoid getting nervous at a guitar gig | this will help you master the piece youre playing . it helps ease fears of playing in front of others if you play with others . this group should consist of between 1 and 5 people who wont make fun of you or lower your self esteem in some other way . look for missed or incorrect notes and other mistakes . continue playing for small groups until there are no errors . consider some questions like , will you be in prominent view how many people will be watching |
recognize the string order on a guitar . practice basic chords . understand the importance of learning scales . practice playing major scales on the guitar . try playing scales in different keys . learn how to read tablature . do five minute warm ups . practice the tabs of your favorite guitar song . try to learn one new song a week . learn the guitar solos you love . watch videos of guitar playing . use a metronome to practice playing at different speeds . do timed guitar drills . try more complex playing techniques . | how to be good at guitar | to get better at playing guitar , it can help to be aware of each string on your guitar and their corresponding note . this will allow you to learn chords and scales in the future and get better at learning how to play songs . we are going to be discussing the string order on a standard six string guitar . seven string and eight string guitars will have a different string order . the top string is the thickest string and it is e . the order then goes from the thickest string e , to the thinnest string , low e . the order is e , a , d , g , b , e . it may be tricky to remember the string order so you can use the anagram , eat all day , go to bed early . learning how to play chords will do two things itll get your fingers used to the guitar , and itll allow you to play at least a simplified version of pretty much any song . you should look up chords for right handed players if you play with your right hand and chords for left handed players if you play with your left hand . start by playing guitar chords very slowly . take your time and try to play each note clearly . practice holding the strings down and making the chord shapes . try to hold the chords with your non - dominant , or non - playing hand and strumming the strings with your dominant , playing hand . you may start by following chord diagrams , online or printed out on paper , to help you visualize the basic chords . the chord diagrams will label each string with their corresponding note e , a , d , g , b , e and the order you are playing the notes to make a guitar chord . you can look up basic chord diagrams online or through a guitar chords app on your phone . use your knowledge of the string order on your guitar to learn basic chords . you can then move on to more complex chords once you have mastered the basics . basic scales will help you become familiar with the notes you can play on guitar . they aid in the process of knowing where your fingers should land if youre reading a piece of music for the first time . for playing lead guitar , knowing scales is essential . you can start by learning the major scales on the guitar and then move on to more complex or obscure scales . learning new songs will also push you to try different scales and patterns on the guitar so you are a more well rounded player . start by breaking up your guitar neck into blocks of four frets . each section of the guitar neck will contain four frets that you can use to play major scales . you will then use a pattern , or series of notes , to play major scales in each section of the guitar neck . to play scales , you will need to first locate the key of the scale . the key is determined by the first and last notes of the scale . so if you are playing a scale in c major , you would start the scale on the c major note , located on the eighth fret . then , you would play the pattern over and over again , running through each note . an example major scale pattern can be found online . there are a number of resources online for learning scales , including this one and this one . once you have practiced a few scales in the same key , switch it up and practice playing to same scale in different keys . challenge yourself to learning scales in each key of the guitar so you have increased range and get more comfortable playing at different keys . you should also focus on accessing all of the frets on the guitar , moving up and down the guitar neck . try to play scales that start at the lower frets of the guitar and avoid playing in only the keys you are comfortable with playing . many guitar players make the mistake of practicing the scales in the same area of the guitar , which can lead to boredom and underdeveloped playing skills . guitar music is most often not written in sheet music form its written in tablature . this is a way of writing music down to read that is unique to guitar . its also fairly easy to read . tabs are formatted to mimic the fretboard of a guitar visually . youll see six lines when you look at a tab , and each line represents one of the six strings , starting with the thickest at the bottom . you read the tab from left to right . youll see little numbers on the lines that represent the strings . each number tells you how far up the string that note is . so if you see a number 2 on the e string , you should play the second fret on the e string . then you just play the notes in the order as theyre written . the only weakness of tablature is that it doesnt give you the exact rhythm that the notes are played in . youll have to listen to the song to get that down . before you start practicing a song , you may want to warm up your hands by playing a few exercises on the guitar . you can listen to audio of the warm up online and then try to play along to the audio or play it from memory . warming up can get your hands and brain the mindset for practicing tabs . you can find simple warm up chords and scales online . you should try doing different warm ups to improve your finger dexterity and speed . this may come in handy when you are trying to learn how to play songs . to get better at reading tabs , you should look up the tabs for your favorite guitar song or songs . start with less complex tabs first and then move on to more difficult tabs . study the tabs and note where the chord changes as well as the major scales used in the song . you can then break down the song and practice each section of the song using the tabs . tabs will be notated by string , such as e or a , and numbers , which notate the fret . for example , if the first line says e , that is the low e string , which is the sixth string of the guitar . then , the first line may say 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 - 3 , that means you play the e string in the third fret . you can find the tabs of many major rock , pop , and jazz songs online on sites like ultimate guitar tabs . many tabs will come with audio of the song so you can play along to the audio . challenge yourself to learn one new song a week to improve your playing . you may start with a certain genre of music , like rock , and then challenge yourself to try a new song in a different genre , like jazz or pop . look for songs that have unique or interesting chord changes as these will allow you to learn how to play new melodies and sounds . you may want to consider playing with someone else who is also learning how to play guitar and challenging each other on learning different songs once a week . you can then help each other improve on technique and playing . if you have a favorite guitar driven song that has a wicked guitar solo , look up the tabs for that solo and practice it on guitar . doing this will allow you to listen closely to how some of your favorite guitarist use chords and scales to great effect . a big part of being a good guitar player is learning how to play with feeling and style . listening and mimicking your favorite guitar solos can help you work on these elements . one option is to listen to a guitar solo you love and transcribe it by ear . then , try to play the solo on your own using your transcription and your memory of the solo . this can help you get better at listening closely to guitar solos and the individual playing styles of the guitarists you love . there are several youtube channels online that are made to help people just starting out on guitar . they will walk you through everything from chords , to scales , to arpeggios , and more . find one or two that you like and use them as a resource in your practice . some of these youtube channels include httpswww . youtube . comusermartyzsongs and httpswww . youtube . comusertomas6750 . a metronome is a device that provides regular , metrical beats or clicks at a certain speed , known as beats per minute . using a metronome when you practice your playing can allow you to get better at playing tight and on beat . it can also allow you to test your speed and dexterity when you play . you can download an app on your phone that can act as a metronome and set the metronome at different speeds or beats per minute . then , try to play an original song or an existing song at that speed . the idea is that as you play , the metronome click should disappear or go into the background against the strong beats of the music . if your playing is in perfect time , your notes will line up right on top of the metronome click , and you will no longer be able to hear the sound of the metronome . another way you can improve your playing speed and finger dexterity is to challenge yourself to do several timed guitar drills a day . you may try to run through all the scales and chords on the guitar within a certain time frame or challenge yourself to learn and plan the tabs of a song within a certain period of time . set up a timer and force yourself to commit to a timeframe so your practices feel more like short drills that allow you to get better at your playing . you can find guitar exercises like fretting combinations , ascending and descending quads , and chord changes on the guitar lesson world website . once you feel you have reached a certain level of playing , you may try to expand your playing abilities by trying more complex techniques like finger picking or hybrid picking . these techniques can add personality and variety to your playing as well as challenge you to try different styles . to do finger picking , you will need position your hand so you are using your thumb , index , middle , and ring fingers for picking . you will then use these fingers to pluck certain strings , creating a cool technique that you can integrate into an original song or as an original flourish on an existing song . to do hybrid picking , you will use a pick to play strings usually played by your thumb finger . you will then use your middle , ring , and pinkie fingers to pluck the higher strings on the guitar . hybrid picking is popular in country music and for playing riffs in rock n roll . |
push yourself past your most common strumming patterns . practice daily with a metronome , percussionist , or both . learn to dampen bum notes to clean up your chords . teach yourself 1 - 2 new chords a week . use capos to place difficult - to - sing songs into your vocal range . learn the value of groove by paying close attention to bass and drum techniques . use dynamics , or volume control , to create unique and captivating rhythm parts . experiment with alternate tunings . | how to be a good guitar player 2 | if youve been playing guitar for any period of time , youll likely start to notice that you naturally fall into the same strumming patterns each time you play or write a song . the best way to avoid this is to try and duplicate strumming patterns from your favorite artists , pushing yourself to widen your rhythmic tool belt . can you mix some single notes into your strumming for example , a very country - western technique is to pick the root note , then strum the chord separately right afterwards . remember to strum both up and down when playing . how can you use muted strings by lifting your fingers lightly off the frets to get a percussive sound in your strumming check the violent femmes for good examples . a rhythm guitarist , it goes without saying , needs to be able to stay in rhythm . the problem is that a guitarists primary training is in melody , as drummers generally provide the rhythm for you to follow along to . however - - the ability to stay perfectly and precisely in time separates the amateurs from the pros , as perfect rhythm has an indescribable ability to make people dance . spend at least 5 - 10 minutes a day on a metronome , if not the entire practice session . always start at a pace where you can play the notes perfectly instead of rushing through . gradually up the tempo as you get faster . many metronomes can be set to click off for a few beats , forcing you to stay in time on your own before they come back in . this is a great way to test yourself . many times , especially with electric guitars and distortion , playing too many notes at once can sound muddled or messy . many jazz chords require skipping strings in the middle of the chord to sound correct . great guitarists pull this off but using the pads of their fingers to dampen the strings below the strings theyre fretting . for example , the following jazz chord is formed by using the bottom of your middle finger to mute the a string , allowing you to freely strum all six strings without the a sounding out e - - - - 7 - - - - b - - - - 7 - - - - g - - - - 7 - - - - d - - - - 6 - - - - a - - - - x - - - - e - - - - 7 - - - - , ideally , you want chords that you can play with chords you already know , which helps you practice transitioning from one to the other . dig deep into every chord you can find , from simple power chords to complex jazz shapes . to effectively learn a chord practice forming the shape from nothing . take your hand off the guitar , then place it down in the chord shape . repeat until it feels automatic . practice getting to the chord from other chord shapes . play or learn a song with the chord in it . review your new chords each day until memorized . a capo simply shortens the neck of the guitar , allowing you to play open chords starting at any point . this means you can change the key of a song without actually changing the shape or order of any of your chords , allowing you to play the song in any key you can sing it . effective capo use is essential for a rhythm guitarist or singersongwriter . as part of the rhythm section , you are responsible for keeping the song grooving both melodically and rhythmically . if youre in a band , you need to be locked into these other musicians so that youre always in time , hitting each note in unison to give the song power . if youre playing all alone , its twice as important to get this groove down learn the basics of bass guitar andor drums to get more in touch with the tempo and timing aspects of rhythm guitar . focus on playing every note together as a rhythm section . this perfect synchronicity is the essence of a good groove . when playing alone you have a lot more freedom with rhythm . the best way to groove is to know the song so well its automatic , letting you feel the energy of the song and audience instead of thinking about the next chord . work on a smooth transition from dead silence to powerful strumming , or picking individual notes in between fuller chords . your ability to modulate tone and volume is a great way to create tension and release in a song , building drama and energy . when playing with a band , try to sync up with the drummer . when he takes some volume off , you should too . if playing alone , use volume control to manipulate the energy of the song . try starting slow , then building up to a triumphant or climactic song . see john butlers oceans for a good example . new tunings open up new sounds , new chords , and can make certain chords or progressions far easier to play . a good way to start is by learning some famous songs in other tunings - - the led zeppelin hey hey what can i do rolling stones you cant always get what you want catalogs particularly good places to start . guitarists jimmy page and kieth richards both lean heavily on alternate tunings . start with open tunings , which are when the guitar hits a chord without holding down any frets . this allows you to play more open notes , giving the whole song a brand new texture . even dropping your low - e string a half step will give you a slightly richer , deeper tone overall , as seen in led zeppelins hey hey what can i do . |
make sure your lead lines service the song , not overshadow it . pay attention to a notes expression , not just the notes themselves . build solos like stories instead of just tossing out technical fireworks . start improvising to your favorite songs and backing tracks . study rhythm guitar to immerse yourself in chords , structure , and solo ideas . jam with other musicians and guitarists . dive into modes - - slightly different scale forms with specific moods and tones . | how to be a good guitar player 3 | the best lead guitarists dont just know what to play , but when to play it . in particular , lead lines tend to muddle up singing , and so most guitarists tend to fill in the gaps between words instead of playing on top of them . your goal , always , is to be a part of the song , not to try and stand out on top of it . other strategies to consider include letting your lead lines mimic the song , such as playing the melody the singer sings or synchronizing with the bass line . using lead lines to transition in and out of intros , choruses , bridges , etc . instead of constantly playing them . making each note count instead of seeing how many notes you can play . for a masterclass in expression , listen to b . b . king . on paper , many of his solos dont seem that impressive . but live , when you hear the incredible emotion and tone he drips on every note , you realize why he is one of the greatest to ever live . if you focus on making each note compelling and enjoyable your solos will become exponentially better . remember that the guitar is a physical instrument - - get physical with the strings vibrato , or shaking a note back and forth , is a great way to drag a note out artfully . bending into and out of notes allows to literally manhandle the note into the tone you want . slides let you move gracefully around the fretboard , gliding notes into one another hammer - ons and pull - offs help your play quick sets of notes with extra emphasis and speed . it may sound cliche , but jimmy pages stairway to heaven solo is a masterclass in how to build a compelling , gripping guitar solo . think like a storyteller - - with rising action , a climax , and a resolution . stairways solo starts slow , building power until it crescendos in the blistering licks the song is known for . dont ever play your best stuff first - - save it for the climax . restraint is key . remember that what is hardest to play is not always what sounds best . find a home base lick to keep coming back to if you get lost in the scale . this gives your solo a recognizable structure or theme as well . tension is caused by contrasts - - a fast section sounds far quicker when played after a slow one . even if the lines and solos in your bands songs are usually written in advance , improvisation is one of the top ways to explore the fretboard and expand your musical creativity . improvising is , naturally , a personal effort , so you can and should go about it however youd like . some good ways to get started include look up backing tracks on youtube , like blues in a - minor , to play basic scales along to . learn your favorite solos , then experiment with rearranging the notes in new ways over the same song . get a guitar partner , make up a quick chord progression , and trade solos back and forth , alternating the rhythm player . one of the biggest mistakes a lead guitarist can make is thinking theyre better than or above the rhythm player . nothing is further than the truth , as the best lead players must know chords inside and out . think of it this way - - a chord is simply a collection of single notes all played at once , meaning all of these notes are plum for the picking in lead lines . if you know the rhythm section backward and forwards youll be able to write unique , blistering lead lines and solos to mesh with it . its generally good practice to be able to play the rhythm section proficiently before crafting lead lines . music is a shared art form and one that can be learned much faster with others . you pick up tricks , share and receive new chords or scales , and learn to play on the edge of your seat . playing with others is the closest you can get to being on stage while still practicing . furthermore , surrounding yourself with better musicians is the fastest way to get better yourself . when jamming , remember toplay both rhythm and lead . no one likes a solo hog . ask questions if youre confused . learn the chords in the beginning , not when its your partners chance to solo . play with the other instruments , not on top of them . when everyone is playing together , everyone sounds better . a mode is simply a set of notes in the major or minor scale that you highlight instead of playing the entire scale . in a sense , they are entirely new scales to play , though they take a little study to master . pick one below that sounds good and look it up online . each mode emphasizes certain notes to get totally different moods and styles ionian - - your basic major scale dorian - - a bluesy minor key sound . phrygian - - a spanish - sounding minor mode lydian - - very close to the major scale , but with a slight cool - jazz tint mixolydian - - a bluesy major key sound aeolian - - an almost identical minor key , but playable over major chords locrian - - very unstable sounding mode , sometimes used in death metal and atonal jazz . |
learn the basics thoroughly . study musical notation . practice every day . when learning a piece or song , choose one that you are comfortable with . try to finish a piece , no matter how difficult it may be . have patience and reasonable expectations . listen to different guitarists . record your guitar - playing . | how to be a good guitarist | a good guitarist must be an expert in the fundamentals of guitar playing . the fundamentals include posture when holding the guitar , proper left and right hand finger positioning , and plectrum or pick usage . though reading guitar tablature is easier , it generally has one drawback it does not show timing . the beginner should at least be familiar with reading musical notation . granted , some very talented guitarists are able to play without ever needing tablature or sheet music they learn a song just by listening to it . but unless you are one of these people , youll be better - off mastering musical notation so youll have access to a wide collection of compositions . do drills and exercises to polish your skills and technique . strengthen your fingers , and aim for a clean and clear tone . avoid muted sounds unless the music calls for it . learn easy songs first . not only does this build confidence , but it also helps your fingers remember certain formations and chords that tend to be repeated in other songs . do not get into the habit of not finishing what you start . if a certain part of a song frustrates you , put the guitar down and take a break . you may even sleep on it , and start fresh the next day . do it at your own pace , it doesnt matter how long you take to master a piece . of course , remember the previous step . be reasonable . do not take on a complicated song or piece if you havent mastered your basics . do not expect to play like a famous guitar god with just a few lessons . attaining a professional skill level takes years of practice and training . compare one artists interpretation of a song to anothers . have an open mind . a good guitarist is familiar with different styles and genres . listen to yourself and identify your mistakes and weaknesses . have another guitarist critique it . youll improve more if you know what you must work harder on . |
know your guitar . identify the issue . apply the proper fix . | how to adjust your guitar to fit you 1 | learn where all the good and bad things are such as string buzz or intonation issues . knowing what could be better on your guitar will make fixing it easier and give you a better feel . figure out what you want to change on your guitar and fix it . some common issues are fret buzz , this is when you play a note on your guitar and the string vibrates against a fret . in order to do this you need to adjust the bridge first and maybe a twist of the truss rod . adjusting the action is another common procedure in which the strings need to be raised or lowered to fit the players style and preference which can help fix major buzz . to do this , you will need to read the following steps and methods so that you dont break anything and can continue playing . |
acquire the proper tools . adjust action . check your action . | how to adjust your guitar to fit you 2 | if you have a sole work place , gather all materials you need and keep them there . if not , gather all you need for your guitar you will be adjusting and replace them afterwards in an organized place . here is all the tools you may need for all types of commonly played guitars screwdrivers - hex wrenches pliers small crescent wrench string winder side - cutters ruler optional manual optional for tune - o - matics , screwdrivers are all that are needed . individual saddle bridges and floating tremolos much like strat style bridges need hex wrenches and screw drivers . floyd rose and similar only need hex wrenches . now that you have the proper tools ready you will adjust the action of your guitar by using a hex wrench to adjust each saddle of a strat style bridge , the bolts are small screws inside the saddle , left is down , right is up . tune down your strings to make rising easier . using your fingers or a flathead - screwdriver to adjust the bridge andor tailpiece to obtain desired height . using a handbook and hex wrenches to adjust the mounting screws on floyd rose and similar bridges using a manual and proper tools to adjust a bridge not listed once you find a desired height , make sure the strings do not hit anything along the span of the strings , including the frets . a little fret buzz on electrics you can get away with but no fret buzz should be present when you play an acoustic . you may use your ruler to find an exact measurement . |
be sure . use proper tools . use caution . | how to adjust your guitar to fit you 3 | be certain that the problem requires you to adjust the truss rod before you start . problems like major buzz , too low or high of and action , or neck warping can be fixed by the truss rod . however , adjusting the truss rod is a very delicate procedure that if rushed or not taken with care can even result in breaking the truss rod or the guitar neck . if at any time you feel uncomfortable adjusting the rod , take your guitar to a tech . use the proper tool for the job most commonly a hex wrench and a manual to describe which way you need to turn . if possible , do not do this yourself unless you are experienced , if youre not careful you can easily snap the neck of the guitar , or render it unusable . take it to a guitar tech where the adjustment is relatively low cost and experienced . |
know what you need . find a gauge . adjust accordingly . | how to adjust your guitar to fit you 4 | different string gauge and material give you different feel and sound . research what you need by all means necessary , including playing your guitar . some examples are rock genres - 46 - 36 - 26 - 15 - 13 - 10 . metaldown - tune - 54 - 48 - 42 - 24 - 17 - 12 after finding a gauge you like string them onto your guitar and always stretch them . remember that most guitars will not hold past certain brands of 56 gauge . sometimes a perfect lower gauge action will not be welcomed with a higher gauge string . adjust your bridge referencing to step 1 to accumulate the best of your guitar . |
set the rhythm of the metronome to 44 time . set your metronomes tempo to a comfortable , easy pace to begin - - around 70 beats per minute . evenly strum the guitar to the beat , hitting just one strum per beat . try out a more complicated strumming pattern to keep improving . set the metronome to cut out every other measure , forcing you to stay on time without a guide . try different tempos and time signatures each time you practice . | how to practice guitar with a metronome 1 | this is the most common time signature in modern music , the one counted out 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 1 , 2 . the metronome will count out these beats for you , giving you a perfectly timed track to match up with . not all metronomes advertise time signatures like 44 or 34 . some make you pick the note length . if it asks , set the machine to quarter notes . metronomes determine their speed in beats per minute , or bpm . while many songs are around 100 bpm or more , you need to focus on getting perfect rhythm across a variety of tempos . start slow , then move up as you get better . some people actually find slower tempos harder to match up to , helping you improve even faster . if you can hold at 70 bpm , then 120 will be much easier . just work on one simple strum per beat . this isnt glamorous , but focus on hitting every beat perfectly for 1 - 2 minutes straight . really try to get you strumming perfectly matched to the beat . once this becomes easier , start upping the speed , still sticking to just one strum per beat . once you can strum every beat , its time to start playing real guitar . pick a couple of chords you are comfortable with - - something simple , like g - c - d - - and start an up - down strumming pattern you can hold comfortably . up the speed of the metronome , focusing on holding your rhythm even when you have to change chords . this is a key feature for practice - - the metronome goes silent for a measure , but comes back in right on time . your job is to come back on time with it . as you get better and better , keep making the intervals between measures longer and longer . once you can stay on perfect time even when the metronome cuts out you will have the rhythm mastered . set the machine to eighth notes , or 34 time . get really crazy and try out a song in 74 , or drop the bpm so low you really need to focus on each well - spaced beat . metronome practice doesnt have to be boring if youre willing to challenge yourself . again , never just screw around or play halfheartedly , making mistakes without corrections . you need to actually work on staying with the metronome to gain anything from these exercises . |
move your foot or head along with the beat . count yourself in if you struggle to find the beat . focus on the one . play with other musicians , or a jam track , to bridge your skills to real music . | how to practice guitar with a metronome 2 | this isnt just to look cool - - moving another part of your body along with beat helps you sink into the groove , making it easier to sync your strumming up . tap a foot or nod you head . with the guitar in your hand , simply count with the metronome - - 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 1 , 2 . once you feel comfortable with the beat , keep counting as you drop in with the guitar , letting your voice help guide you with the rhythm . if youre really struggling , adjust the tempo . dont practice at a pace that forces you to make multiple mistakes - - you want to learn to hold consistent rhythm . the first beat of every measure is a good benchmark to hit on time , especially if youre struggling . counting out the beats , just focus on strumming on the first beat for a few measures . get use to where the beat resets . when playing with other musicians , the most essential beat to hit in any measure is usually the first one . at the end of the day , youre not going to be on stage with a metronome - - youll be with a percussionist , other guitarist , or no one at all . that said , many recording studios use metronomes , so you do need both skills . never rely on just one or the other to practice rhythm - - both of them are essential to becoming a top guitarist . |
identify the parts of the guitar . hold the guitar correctly . tune the guitar . practice fretting the strings . hold the pick . learn first position chords . learn finger placement for the chords . practice getting a clean sound from every string in the chord . strum with loose , relaxed motion . learn barre chords . manage the finger pain . learn to play some songs . learn how to read guitar tabs . learn from others . | how to play guitar | whether youre playing an electric or an acoustic guitar , the instrument is essentially wood and metal . copper - wound strings vibrate to create sound . the wooden body resonates that sound to create the warm tones we associate with a guitar . the strings run between the headstock of the guitar , where they are affixed to tuning pegs that can be rotated to tighten and slacken them , and the bridge , where theyre fixed to the guitars body . on an acoustic guitar , the strings are fixed to the bridge with removable pegs , and on an electric guitar the strings are generally strung through an eyelet . the neck of the guitar is the long wooden piece of wood , flat on one side this is called the fretboard and curved on the other . the fretboard is inlaid with metal frets that demarcate the different notes . an acoustic guitar will have a sound hole in the body where the sound will resonate , while an electric guitar will have as many as three magnetic pickups which will channel the sound through an amplifier . before you start wailing like hendrix , make sure youre holding your guitar correctly . if youre right handed , youll play the guitar by strumming about halfway between the sound hole and the bridge with your right hand and fretting the strings on the neck with your left hand . to play your guitar , sit up in a straight - backed chair or stool . when you orient the guitar to your body , the smallest string should be pointed toward the ground and the thickest string should be pointed up at the ceiling . hold the back of the guitar so it touches your stomach and chest and rests on the leg of your strummingpicking hand . the guitar should be held mostly with your leg and by cradling it in your body . your left hand is used to stabilize the neck and fret the strings . hold the neck in the v created by your thumb and forefinger . you should be able to smoothly move your left hand up and down the neck without having to hold it up . even if you hold the guitar correctly , you may experience some discomfort while getting used to playing . do not become discouraged if your shoulder hurts in addition to your neck , arms and hands . you will eventually get used to it . its no fun to play a guitar thats not in tune and can lead to some bad habits when youre first starting out . tuning regularly will also familiarize you with which string and fret combinations correspond with which notes . learn the name of each string . from the lowest to highest pitch thickest to thinnest strings the strings are named e , a , d , g , b , and e after the note played when the string is plucked with no fingers touching it . use a mnemonic to remember this order , such as eddie ate dynamite , good bye eddie electric tuners are easy to use and very accurate . hold it to the guitar and pluck the high e . the tuner will tell you if the guitar is sharp too high or flat too low . pick each note and tighten the string to make it go higher , or give it some slack to lower it . make sure the room is quiet when using a tuner because the microphone on the tuner can pick up other sounds . if you cannot afford a tuner , you can also tune your guitar without one by matching each note to the corresponding note on the piano . the frets are the metal strips that run perpendicular to the strings that mark each note . to play a note , press your finger down between the metal strips , not on them . to say that youre playing the third fret means that you place your finger on the string in the gap between the second and third fret . if you hear buzzing , move your finger away from the lowest fret and closer to the higher fret . hold the string down firmly so that it only vibrates between your finger and your strumming hand , with the tip of your finger doing the pressing . every time you move from one fret to another , the resulting pitch will be half a step higher as you move toward the body and a half step lower as you move toward the headstock . practice moving up and down the fretboard , pressing the frets and getting a feel for the pressure you need to use to play a note . a pick , or plectrum , is a small tear - shaped piece of plastic used for picking out individual notes and strumming the guitar . theyre cheap and available at any music retailer . while its not essential to learn to play guitar with a pick , its most generally the way to start . make a fist with your picking hand and your thumb flat on top of your curled fingers . hold the pick by grasping it perpendicular to your fist between your thumb and index finger , with no more than a few centimeters of the smaller end sticking out of your hand . a chord is a harmonic group of at least three notes . for beginning guitar , there are two basic chord types first position chords , and barre chords . first position chords can be played with a combination of open strings and pressed strings in the first three frets of the guitar . commonly major chords are c major , a major , g major , e major , d major . when youve got the shapes down , practice switching between them as quickly as you can . write out more or less random arrangements of the chords you want to play and switch between them , strumming once . make sure you play the appropriate notes . in a major , for example , the low e string is not strummed . theyll be marked on the tablature with an x . develop good habits now for success in the long run . the finger placement is as follows first major , then minor c - chord place your ring finger on the third fret of the fifth string . place your middle finger on the second fret of the fourth string , and your index finger on the first fret of the second string . strum all but the sixth string . then , go back and play each string individually , while still playing the chord . make sure each string rings out clearly . a major take your index , middle , and ring finger , and place them on the second frets of the second , third and fourth strings on the guitar . it is simply one line down these three strings . play every string but the top one . g chord place your middle finger on the third fret of the sixth string . place your index finger on the second fret of the fifth string , and your ring finger on the third fret of the first string . make sure each string rings out clearly . e major this is one of the easiest chords there is . place your middle and ring fingers on the second frets of the fourth and fifth strings . your index finger should go on the first fret of the third string . d major place your index finger on the second fret of the third string . place your middle finger on the second fret of the first string . place your ring finger on the third fret of the second string . only play the bottom four strings . e minor this is exactly like e major , except you dont use your index finger . put your middle and ring fingers on the second frets of the second and third thickest strings . a minor place your middle and ring fingers on the second frets of the third and fourth thickest strings , and your index on the first fret of the second thinnest . this is the exact same shape as e major , just moved down one string . again , ignore the top string . d minor again , very similar to d major . place your middle finger on the second fret of the third thinnest string . place your index finger on the first fret of the thinnest , and your ring finger on the third fret of the second thinnest . play only the bottom four strings . after you had placed all your fingers on the fretboard , play through each of the strings of the chords . make sure that the strings that are supposed to ring are not muffled or muted . if the notes are not ringing out properly , chances are that you are not pressing hard enough or parts of your fingers are touching that string which prevents it from sounding out clearly . are any unused fingers touching strings keep your fretting fingers curled above the fret board when theyre touching the strings as if you had your fingers resting over an imaginary glass ball , or a marble in the knuckle of each finger . this leaves space for the open strings to ring out unmuted . strumming consists of downstrokes and upstrokes in various combinations , striking all the notes of the chord evenly and rhythmically . use your wrist to practice smooth up and down motions . keep your elbow in tight towards the guitar and sweep the pick down all the strings . your elbow should not move very much , as you strum mostly from the wrist . barre chords , or movable chords , are extremely useful for starting to play songs . in a barre chord sometimes shortened to bar chord , the index finger of your fretting hand bars all the notes at a single fret . to play an f , which is the barre chord in first position , you bar all the notes on the first fret with your index finger and play what is essentially the shape of the e chord moved one step up the neck , with your middle , ring , and pinkie . using the same claw - like finger positioning on the second fret , you can play an f chord . move to the third fret , and it becomes a g chord . its a difficult finger positioning to learn , but you can start playing the chords to any rock or pop song relatively quickly when you learn to strum and play barre chords . the ramones , for example , used nothing but barre chords to great effect . therell be a point at which things will seem bleak you cant quite get to each chord as fast as you want , your fingers are killing you , and it seems easier to put the thing back in its case . the reason most guitar players stop playing a few weeks in is that it hurts . after a couple of months and years of playing , callouses will build up on the fingers of your fretting hand that will greatly reduce the pain of pushing down the strings for long periods of time . everyone who learns to play the guitar has to deal with sore fingers at the beginning . learn to love the pain and associate it with everything that you love about music and the guitar . ice your fingers after playing or soak them in some apple cider vinegar to alleviate some of the pain . dipping your fingers in rubbing alcohol after playing can speed up callus build up . just dont do it before you play . its a whole lot more fun to play when youre playing a song that you can recognize and not just a set of chords or notes . even better , 90 of music is made up of only 3 - 4 chords . follow the link in the bolded text to find ten songs you can play with only four chords . start off slow and speed up gradually as you get used to the rhythm . it can be frustrating how mechanical you will sound at first , but the more comfortable you get switching between the chords , the closer youll be to rocking out on stage . as you master easier songs , move on to more complex pieces . sweet home alabama by lynyrd skynyrd is basically a repetition of d , c , and g in that order , but it sounds much more complex on the record because of the lead guitar licks . guitarists have their own system of music notation called guitar tablature , or guitar tabs for short . the basic idea is to look at each line in the staff of the tab in the same way you look at your guitar . each line corresponds to a string , and each number tells you which fret to hold down when plucking that string . for example , to play this tab - notated lick from the lynyrd skynyrd song sweet home alabama , you would play two notes on the open d string , the b string at the third fret , the g string at the second fret , etc . e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - g - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - 0 - - - - - - - - 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2p0 - - d - 0 - 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 - - 0 - - - - 0h2p0 - - - - - - - - a - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - 0p2 - - - - - - - 0 - - - - - - e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - 3 - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - switching between lead - style licks and chords is exciting . youll feel like youre really making music and not just learning guitar . make sure youve got your chord shapes down correctly and that youre not losing the rhythm entirely when you play a quick lick . the guitar is best learned by watching , listening , and mimicking the techniques of others . you dont have to take formal lessons to learn guitar , but having friends to play with and share tricks and suggestions with can be a great resource . youtube tutorials can be extremely helpful for beginners and for advanced players alike . watching stevie ray vaughn rip through a solo or seeing how jack johnson fingers your favorite song can be a great learning experience . if youd like to play classical or jazz guitar , or even if youd like to learn to read sheet music , formal lessons are a good idea . teaching yourself is a great way of developing your own style , but there is only so much you can learn without a knowledgeable mentor . |
take your bow gently out of the case . use the screw to tighten or loosen the bow hair . spin the screw to the right to make the bow hair tighter . rosin the bow with the orange , green , or yellow piece of dried pine tree sap . use the rosin and rub it onto the bow hair , up and down repeatedly , about 5 or 6 times . congratulations | how to prepare a violin bow | a bow is just as fragile as it looks . take care in handling your violin . be careful not to make it too tight or loose , see tips for a method of checking if the tightness is good . if your hands are sweaty , wet , or it is just hard to spin the screw , try putting your shirt , or a piece of cloth over it . the process should be much easier . this is called the rosin . make sure that the surface is rough and grainy so that the grains get into the bow hairs . if it is not , then file it with a nail file or sandpaper . you are welcome to do more . some do more than 20 . see the effects of different amounts of rosin in the tips section . you have prepared your bow and now it is time to play that wonderful music |
learn how to hold it like geminiani . try some alternate positions , on and above the collarbone . adjust your left hand hold . stabilize your violin with the bow . adjust the angle of your bow arm . learn how to shift . find inspiration . | how to play the violin chin off | geminiani said in 1751 that the violin must be rested just below the collarbone , turning the right - hand side of the violin a little downwards
. give it a go . if you push the violin against the body , youll find a quite stable position . once you have mastered a position below the collarbone , you might also want to try to rest the violin above the collarbone where you can more easily perform music from later time periods . experiment with banging the violin against the collarbone so that you know exactly where it is . there are two possible positions 1 more horizontal , directly on the collarbone . 2 more vertical , slightly further up and pushed against the neck , with the button of the violin pointing at the middle of the neck . you can use your thumb quite low , or you can rest the violin in your hand . in any case , you need a flexible and independent thumb that can adjust to the needs of your fingers the bow is part of the chin - off equation believe it or not , it actually helps stabilizing the violin . lets do this little experiment glue the bow against the strings and move the violin in the air with the help of the bow . depending on the angle of your violin , you might have to adjust your bow arm by moving the elbow further back if the violin is more in front of you . you will also have to adjust the level of your arm if your violin is more horizontalvertical . shifting does become a little bit more adventurous when you play chin - off , but it will also make you get to know your violin better .
there are a few different things to think of when shifting when possible , do half - step shifts and gradual climbing , rather than big jumps . secondly it is possible to move the whole hand for large upward shifts , but not for large downwards ones you might end up dropping your violin . instead , you can shift downwards like this
squeeze the violin a little between 1st finger and thumb . put on the 2nd and 3rd finger and slide down while keeping the thumb in the same position . when you have reached your destination , rest the violin the hook of your 1st finger while you move your thumb back . go back to your normal grip .
voilà you have now mastered shifting as a chin - off violinist . read about and watch videos of violinists playing chin - off , find help and comfort amongst your historical colleagues |
study the violin . tighten the bow by twisting the scroll located just below the frog . put your left thumb and four fingers on the neck at the top of the violin . hold the bow correctly . hold the bow gently but firmly . once you have reached the tip of the bow , put your first finger down . its your decision if you want to mark the spot or not . do the same thing , but this time placing your second finger . place your third finger right beside the second finger . now move to the next string on the left . the next string is the d string . do you see a pattern in the strings , good luck | how to play a violin as a beginner | pluck the strings at the fingerboard . the highest note is e . the lowest is g . the second lowest is d and the second highest is a . put rosin on it . make sure to scratch newly bought rosin with sandpaper , a key , or a coin so its no longer smooth . you will need to rosin your bow about every time you practice . after practicing , make sure to wipe your violin with a clean cloth to get rid of any sticking rosin . make sure your wrist is straight , not flat . remember , no pancake hands make your wrist straight as a carrot flex your fingers and touch the strings . put the chin rest under your jaw and align the violin with your arm . dont put the violin right on your arm , a bit beside it . put your thumb just next to the frog . place your middle and ring finger together on the frog . make sure they dont go around the frog . your pointing finger should rest on its side at the second knuckle about four centimeters above your middle finger . lastly , place your pinky finger next to the scroll . always remember that your pinky should not go around the bow its the only finger that stays on top . it might also be beneficial to place your fingers near the balance point of the bow . to do this , lay out your middle finger since it has the most balance and place the bow on it . move the bow to the right or left until it stays on your finger without falling off . then put all of your fingers in place - your finger positioning stays the same , you are just placing your hand in a different place . be sure that your bow stick is parallel to the bridge . start with e , the string closest to your right . e is the highest string . rest the bow on the e string and start at the bottom of the bow . put the hair on the string and slowly pull the bow down . flex from your elbow . remember not to put pressure on your hand use the weight of your arm to pull the bow . the key is to know where to put your fingers . put your finger right at the edge of the fingerboard . its an f . move it down one fingertip . that should be where you put your first finger . many violin teachers mark the spot so that you always know where to put your finger , although you will get into the habit of looking at your fingers and not relying on your ears . start right beside your first finger and move it down one finger tape . mark this with tape as well . this note is a g . play . move it down only half a fingertip . mark this as well . it is an a . play this note . it is the second highest . it is called the a string . play this . now . you should already have the tape marking where all the notes are . no fingers is a . first finger is b . second finger is c . third finger is d . open string d . first finger e . second finger f . third finger g . guess the next note . if you guessed g , then youre right . the notes on the g string in ascending order are g , a , b and c . keep practicing and use the help of a teacher . |
find the right sort of music . pick an appropriate song and section . listen to the notes first . get the stance right . start strumming and fingering the frets . add some singing . grab a buddy . finish with a bow . | how to play air guitar | its recommended that you try metalrock or punk , as these tend to have the right pace , energy and rhythm needed for good air guitar playing . most air guitar players are simulating electric guitar music like rock and heavy metal . on the whole , most other music genres are a lot harder to play air guitar to , some being too slow , some too melancholy and some just plain too complicated . a guitar solo section is always the best place to play air guitar . the longer this section , the better , giving you a great chance to really get involved in the playing . be sure to include some riffs . try to imagine that you are creating the sounds that youre hearing . part of imitating is believing , visualizing yourself up there on stage being the center of attention as the crowd hollers for more , more , more when you play the music for the air guitar session , the music must be as loud as you and those around you can withstand . its best that way spread your legs out wide , bend your knees a bit and put your right hand about level with your crotch . hold the guitar in place––bend both arms between 75 and 90 degrees , one hand in front of your belt buckle . your palm should face you at the appropriate fret spot that a real guitar player would play frets and have the other hand up in the air with the fingers spread , bent and pointing toward you . when playing , here are some things to bear in mind the higher the note , the lower your hand should be placed . dont put your strumming hand down too low , no real guitar player will play with the guitar down to their knees , except fieldy from korn . occasionally caress the imaginary neck of your guitar , running your hand up and down it . get moving this isnt just about shifting your fingers and arms around . get the whole body involved . bend those knees , lift those legs , jump up and down now and then . jerky movements and slides across the stage are great additions too . if you want to be really cool , try some jimi hendrix style moves with your air guitar behind your head , playing with teeth , doing spins and moves like that . you could even smash it up at the end dont worry itll fix itself . while performing your exaggerated strumming motion , accompany this with loud singing or lip - syncing . this step is optional you dont have to be a singing guitar player and you might not find a suitable combination of music with energetic singing . however , if you do love the lyrics , this can really help get you into the spirit . loud yeahs are considered mandatory by some air guitar players , so even if you cant sing , you can holler its fun alone and twice the fun with someone else . get an air buddy willing to jam with you . maybe they can join in on bass you will look much less ridiculous and others might even join in . in fact , the more the merrier . let it rock your audience will applaud . |
know what size you need . learn the anatomy of your instrument . get a beginners book , something that has a cddvd to help you . learn the strings . learn how your instrument works . take a look at the book . hold the instrument properly , with your left hand on the fingerboard midway down and your right hand maneuvering the bow . start with something played on d and a . learn the notes . start playing | how to play some simple tunes on the violin | test this by holding your chin on the chin rest . the chin rest is the black piece towards the bottom of the fingerboard . most newer violins have one , but some people take them off or an older violin may simply not have one . getting one attached is a simple matter of going to a music store or a violin instructor . then , grab the scroll . the scroll is the elegantly carved piece at the very end of the fingerboard . once you are holding it , if your arm is stretched out but you arent straining to reach it , thats your size . the sizes are full , three - quarter , half , and quarter . keep in mind , however , if youre between 9 and 18 , you may want to buy a full size one . that way when youre finished growing for a while you wont need a new one right away , its pretty easy to play one a size big . if youre a little kid and you need a quarter , a half will most likely accommodate your size for a little bit longer . it goes as follows . the body is the basic wooden structure . the fingerboard is the long , often black , piece containing most of the strings . the scroll is the end piece , which contains the peg box , where the strings are attached to the violin . f - holes are the black scrolling openings on either side . these allow the vibrations to escape from the sound post , the part that is responsible for turning vibrations into music . the bridge is where the strings run over on their way down . this is connected to the internal sound post , causing the vibrating strings to make the whole violin come to life and make music appreciated worldwide . many books designed for children are good no matter your age the notes are often labeled . hold it by the curve in the middle so you are looking down the whole structure towards the scroll . facing this way , the string to the far left , the thickest , is g . the next one to the right of g is d . the next one after that is a , then e . the bow , made of wood and horsehair pulled from the tail of a horse no animals harmed , thats not painful and the horse can grow the hairs back , is drawn across the strings to create a vibration , carried through the bridge and down the sound post . you may wonder , with only four strings , how can such a wide range of notes be produced the player placing their fingers down , thats how , reverse these directions for lefties . the middle strings are easier to switch between at first . then you can move on to e string . try g when youre comfortable . these are easy to learn , only too difficult to explain . if you bought a good book though , youll be confident in what it says . if the book makes you feel like youre doing something wrong , pop in the cddvd that came with it . if youre still not sure , go buy a new book , but keep the other one . even if theyre poor in basic instructions , theyll have some good practice songs for later . |
identify the e - string and g - string side . loosen the strings slightly . place the bridge between the f - holes . put the violin strings in the knobs of the bridge . tighten the strings . | how to place a bridge on a violin 1 | a violin bridge is a small piece of wood . the bottom of the bridge is usually a straight line , while the top is arched slightly . when youre examining your bridge , youll notice one side of the arch is slightly higher than the other . the lower side is the e - string side , and the taller side is the g - string side . when you put the bridge in place , make sure the e - string comes over the e - string side , and the g - string comes over the g - string side . if you dont know which strings are which , when the violins head is facing your body , the g - string will be the string farthest to the left . the e - string will be the string farthest to the right . to avoid snapping a string while placing the bridge , loosen the strings slightly . you loosen violin strings by turning the tuning knobs on the end of the violin . strings should be loose enough that you can easily pull them up and down , allowing them to be lifted up enough to slip the bridge under the strings . the f - holes are two f - shaped holes found near the end of the violins head . when you slide the bridge under the strings , make sure its between the two f - holes . the bridge should be placed at roughly the midway point of the f - holes . imagine youre drawing a line from one f - hole to the next , starting at the small horizontal line running through one f - hole and stretching out to meet the small horizontal line running through the other f - hole . this imaginary line should run through the violin bridge . the violin bridge has four small knobs running across the top . the four violin strings fit into these knobs , keeping the bridge and the strings in place . gently feed one violin string at a time into the knobs on the bridge . now you can retighten your strings to keep the knob in place . gently turn each knob on the bottom of the violin . its a good idea to use one hand to hold the bridge in place while tightening the strings , to prevent it from falling over . tighten the strings until they are secure enough to keep the bridge in place while still having a very slight amount of slack . |
make sure the bridge is standing at a 90 degree angle . check to make sure the bridge is in the center of the violin . make sure the bridge falls roughly in the middle of the f - holes . | how to place a bridge on a violin 2 | once youve placed your bridge , youll want to check to make sure its placement is correct . lay your violin down on a flat surface . get down to the violins level . the side of the bridge facing the violins tailpiece should stand at a roughly 90 degree . the other side of the bridge should be sloped forward slightly . if the bridge is not forming a 90 degree angle , you may have put it in place backwards . youll have to remove the bridge and start over . your bridge should be in the center of the violin . it should not be too far to the left or right . if your bridge is leaning to the right or the left , gently push it until its in the center of the violin . you can simply eyeball to see if the bridge is in the center by glancing at the violin from a birds eye angle . if you want to be extra sure the bridge is positioned correctly , however , you can use a ruler or measuring tape to measure the length of each end of the bridge to the end of the violin . the measurements should be roughly equal . the bridge should be between the f - holes , roughly falling between the middle of each hole . the bridge may have slipped slightly while you were tightening the strings , so once again check . make sure you can drawn an imaginary line through the center of each f - hole that runs through the bridge . if the bridge has moved , gently slide it up or down until its in the right place . |
hold the bridge when tuning . replace strings individually . it is best to have a professional place your bridge . | how to place a bridge on a violin 3 | bridges often fall out of place during tuning . to prevent this from happening , make sure you hold your bridge in place with one hand when tuning . on occasion , you will need to replace the strings of your violin as they break and wear down over time . in this case , make sure to replace strings individually . removing more than one string at once can cause the bridge to fall out of place . take your violin back to the shop where you bought it , or bring it to a music shop . if you dont feel confident placing a bridge on your own , ask your instructor to do so , or get a professional do so for you despite the cost . a professional will sand it , make sure its the right size for your instrument and will adjust the sound post . |
understand what a flat note is on the violin . play the first two notes b b . play the next two notes , bf bf . play the two cs , c c . play the last note . | how to play flat notes on the violin | for example , you are playing on the a string . part of the song goes like this b b bf bf c c cs cs d and a strings the notes with flats look like this f . youll also notices that the sharps will look like this s . put your index finger down on the a string . this is the a string and b fingering b x . slide your first finger down so that it almost touches the little bump at the end of the strings . b flat fingering bbf x . go back to b , and slide your finger up . half - step . c fingering cbbf x . here it is c sharp . half - step up and thats it cs cs . c sharp fingering cscbbf x . |
place the violin or viola on the right side , roughly around the middle of your chest . make sure that the part of the violin or viola with the strings on it are facing the outside , rather than facing against your side . place your right arm over your violin or viola and place your hand over the neck of the violin or viola . firmly , but gently , hold the violin or viola between your right arm and your right side , much like a calvary general would hold a riding crop . understand that you are doing the standing up rest position | how to place a violin or viola in rest position 1 | your violin or viola should be by your right side . , the neck is where the tuning pegs and fingerboard are located . , |
place the violin or viola on your left thigh . place your left hand on the neck of the violin or viola just above the body , and hold onto it . dont hold too tight , or your hands might hurt . you are doing the sitting down rest position | how to place a violin or viola in rest position 2 | the place where the chin rest , or end button , is should be facing down resting on your thigh . make sure the part with the strings is facing away from you . , |
approach violin practice in a different way . split sessions up . check with your teacher about your pieces . use movement to express musicality . if you prefer a particular genre of music , you can play that genre you prefer . listen to violin music while doing other tasks . picture your violin as your best friend or twin . if you love a good story , take a step back to reflect . play pretend . set goals . know about celebrity musicians . take advice from your tutor or music teacher . | how to make violin practice fun | if you look at violin practice as a chore or boring - chances are it will be a boring old chore . instead , stop and think . why do you like the violin go through all the main reasons why you like it . many like the violin because of its sound , so instead you could say something like my violin is a cool instrument - i love its sound , so i will practise to make it sound even better say it enough times , then it will become fun . your natural attention span only lasts 30 - 45 minutes . if youre an advanced player and you must practice for an hour or more per day , do half an hour in the morning and another half hour at night . youre doing the same amount of practice , but in small chunks . you may have been playing them for a while now , and have become too easy . or it could be too hard . ask your teacher for permission if you may learn some new pieces or scales . sometimes , it pays to be a little bit crazy . close your eyes and sway with the music like joshua bell . mairead nesbitt the fiddler from the irish group celtic woman can play the violin while jumping and twirling around on stage . you could even choreograph a dance routine with your violin , like youtube violinist jun sung ahn juncurryahn . if you choose this , find yourself a private studio , music room or a space in the house where you are free to move around . you can play pop music on your violin , for example . alternatively , if you prefer learning violin by ear , listen to a particular song multiple and then teach yourself to play it with no sheet music . the more music youre exposed to , the better . you are pretty much inseparable . in your head , you can start up a little conversation with it , and let its sound talk to you . listen to whatever it has to say . pretend only you and your violin can understand a secret language , like you would with your best friend . if you leave your instrument in its case for too long , you can say it will start to get lonely and neglected . think about your memories with your violin . were they happy memories you have come a long way since when you were child . and your violin has come a long way since being popularized during the 13 - 14th centuries . question its past . was it really one of the first instruments to appear in the venetian court just imagine all the stories your instrument could tell . use your imagination to make up a story in the back of your mind as you practise . here are a few suggestions youre a celebrity violinist and youre backstage preparing for a huge show . if you let yourself be lazy , youre going to get booed off by the crowds . you have applied to audition for a prestigious violin scholarship , and you have to do a performance exam . the panel is testing you on how well you know your scales , your pieces , theory , your musicality and how well you can read sheet music . in order to get that scholarship , you need to practise harder and more efficiently to be just that little bit better than everyone else . imagine you are a child prodigy . you have to perform in front of some important people . therefore , you must practise hard in order to impress them . youre going to record your latest album . you want the cd to sound good enough to impress the untrained ear and the only way you can do that is practicing a number of times to avoid any recording mistakes . imagine a special someone in your room as you practice . they are sitting in the corner , beside you . it could be your crush or significant other , a best friend , favourite family member , or someone in your life that you respect . no matter who they are , if they are a person worth impressing you must practice if you want to look good in front of them . practise for a certain amount of time and reward yourself afterwards with things like a day with friends , movies , new stationery , books , clothes . chocolates also work - but only do the chocolate reward sparingly . avoid money rewards , these can become unappealing after youve spent some of it . keep posters of them , get their latest albums and if possible watch their dvds . this can be handy when you have a bad day , as having a picture of them or listening to their music can help inspire you . some include andre rieu , lindsey stirling , hilary hahn , sarah chang , midori , celtic womans mairead nesbitt , and itzhak perlman . they often have the best practising tips . |
open your violin case up and put it in a sunny place . leave your violin in an open , sunny area for a period of time closing it at night of course storing the bow in a safe area outside the case where the hair can breathe . vacuum out your case a number of times thoroughly . have your bow repaired , or purchase a new bow if your old one has become a victim of the bow bugs . putting 15 drops of rosemary or cedar essential oil may also repel these bugs . practice , practice , practice | how to get rid of bow bugs | these bugs hate light and open , fresh areas . , do this at least two times . it may take a few times to clean out the bugs . , placing chips of cedar wood or a cake of camphor wrapped in cloth in the case can also work , but these steps are optional . moth balls also may help , but often contain poisons or neurotoxins . a better choice might be sawyers permethrin or repel permanone pest repellent . remove all items , spray everywhere , especially in bow pockets , and let dry before returning bow and violin to case . bow bugs like places that are dark , concealed and unopened for long periods of time . |
violin and viola players should turn their instruments over and carefully place them in their laps with the peg box to the left . cello and bass players should turn their instruments back side out and carefully place them in a stand , or have someone carefully support the instrument . measure length - wise across the back of the instrument 4 from the purfling 3 in the neck button area 1 to the purfling edge by the end button 2 . refer to the following list of body sizes by measurement to find your instruments body size . | how to measure the body size of a violin , fiddle , viola , cello or upright bass | , be careful to not scratch the finish of the instrument during the measuring process . the following data adheres to modern day standards . your instruments measurement may vary from this table . violin body lengths 44 violin 356mm or approx . 14 inches 35 . 6 cm 78 violin 343mm - 348mm or approx . 13½ inches 34 violin 335mm or approx . 13 inches 33 . 0 cm 12 violin 310mm or approx . 12 . 2 inches 31 . 0 cm 14 violin 280mm or approx . 11 inches 27 . 9 cm 18 violin 255mm or approx . 10 inches 25 . 4 cm 116 violin 230mm or approx . 9 inches viola body lengths large viola 430mm or approx . 17 inches 43 . 2 cm medium viola 410mm or approx . 16 inches 40 . 6 cm small viola 390mm or approx . 15½ inches 34 viola 356mm or approx . 14 inches 35 . 6 cm 12 viola 335mm or approx . 13 inches 33 . 0 cm 14 viola 310mm or approx . 12 inches cello body lengths 44 cello 755mm or approx . 29 . 7 inches 75 . 4 cm 34 cello 690mm or approx . 27 inches 68 . 6 cm 12 cello 650mm or approx . 25 . 6 inches 65 . 0 cm 14 cello 580mm or approx . 22 . 8 inches 57 . 9 cm 18 cello 530mm or approx . 20 . 8 inches upright bass body lengths 44 bass 1160mm or approx . 45 . 7 inches 116 . 1 cm 34 bass 1110mm or approx . 43 . 7 inches 111 . 0 cm 12 bass 1020mm or approx . 40 inches 101 . 6 cm 14 bass 940mm or approx . 37 inches 94 . 0 cm |
learn to play the violin . learn to read music . look for songs to play . have fun | how to play songs on the violin | this is absolutely essential . you cant just pick up a violin and play it straight away , it takes a substantial amount of time to learn and you will likely need several years experience before you can tackle complicated songs . you can learn songs by ear but its better if you can read the actual notes . note only treble clef is used in violin music . buy books of sheet music in music shops make sure its for violin though , or try the internet . also try learning by ear . if youre a beginner , try nursery rhymes . youll probably do this if you have proper lessons anyway . although they arent really songs as such , you can learn a lot from playing classical music . again , the kind of things youll likely do in lessons , if you have them . country music would be a good idea to play as violins are often used . same goes for pop you will often hear some violins in amongst the guitar , bass and synthesizers . you could try rock and metal , but usually these kind of genres music focuses much more on guitars . however , if you really want to play rockmetal songs on violin and have had a good few years experience , consider learning a bit about guitars and guitar tabs this will open the door to a world of online tabs which you should be able to adapt for violin with some knowledge and skill . |
understand what is meant by referring to the violins body . learn how to locate the front and end parts of the violin body . learn the names and placement of the distinctive elements of the violin . note what the f - holes do . find the fingerboard . locate the chin rest . understand the purpose of the strings on the violin . know the terminology applied to parts of the violin directly related to the strings the bridge is a wooden piece that holds up the strings and carry the vibration of the strings to the body . know how to locate the tuning pegs . have a good understanding of the bow and its parts . | how to identify the parts of a violin | the body is the large wooden part of the violin . it vibrates with the strings to make more sound . the neck is the skinny part of the violin between the main body and the nut . this is where the violinists left hand is placed while playing . the tailpiece is near the bridge . it houses the fine tuners at the end of each string . the scroll is the decoratively carved end of the neck of the violin . it is usually shaped like a rolled - up spiral hence the name . however , some scrolls are carved into the form of a human or animal head . you need to know these so that you can understand what is being asked of you when youre asked to clean , place fingers on , tighten , etc . various parts of the violin . every beginner violinist must know these names by heart and what they signify . the f - holes are f shaped holes in the body . these holes are put in place to help amplify the sound and project the acoustics of the violin more . the fingerboard is the long wooden piece touching the peg box . this is where the violinist places his or her fingers to shorten the vibrating section of the strings . if the finger is placed nearer to the bridge , the pitch will be higher . if the finger is placed nearer to the scroll , the pitch will be lower . true to its name , is where the violinist places his or her chin or jaw . this is attached to the bottom of the body . the strings are where the magic happen . they are usually made out of metal or animal gut . when the violinist uses the bow on the strings or plucks the strings , they vibrate and create the beautiful tones of the violin . violin strings change in pitch when the tension is changed or a violinists finger presses on them . the strings from left to right are called g , d , a , then e e being the highest in pitch . the fine tuners are metal screws that change the tension in the strings by small amounts for fine adjustments . there are four tuning pegs near the scroll . these are used to hold the strings in the peg box with friction . they are used to adjust the tension which changes the pitch on the four corresponding strings . there are some violins in existence that have mechanical geared pegs , however they are rare and not very popular . conventionally , the lower left peg holds the g string , the upper left peg holds the d string , the upper right peg holds the a string and the lower right peg holds the e string . also note the peg box . the peg box is at the end of the finger board . this is where the four strings are wound around the tuning pegs . the nut is located at the top of the fingerboard near the peg box . the nut helps hold the strings in place over the fingerboard . the nut is sometimes used instead of a finger to limit the vibrating area of the string . doing so makes a harsher tone than when stopped with a finger . the bow is used to make sound on the strings . it has a few parts to it as well the stick is the wooden part of the bow which is above the hair . the hair is the part that interacts with the string . the part of the hair that is closest to the hand is called the frog . the part of the hair that is furthest from the hand is called the tip . |
make sure that you have all the appropriate supplies for your practice time . set goals for how much you want to practice for each category of music . always start your practice time with scales . next move into etudes . after that , move onto your solo , or other current music . metronomes are friends | how to make the most of practice time for violin | this should include a stand , your violin and bow , music , pencil , and a metronome . write it down in a notebook , and keep a clock close by to monitor the time . for example scales 10 minutes , etudes 20 minutes , solo 20 minutes , etc . you may want to set a timer if it helps you remember . this will warm up your fingers and make you more aware of the key of pieces . start at g and play as many octaves as you can . then go up chromatically , as far as you know . go slowly , and precisely making sure each note is in tune . this may also be used as a warm - down . be well aware of the key and dont worry so much about the bowings , unless your teacher wants you to have them . make sure the notes are in tune that is etudes main purpose . play the etudes straight through , and then pinpoint any difficult spots . make sure you dont just keep playing this straight through . avoid playing the parts you know over and over , and work on the difficult parts . if there is a hard passage take it out of the music and practice is slowly with nice , sustained bows . increase the speed from there until you have is up to speed , and put it back into context . try to use one at least every other day , especially in parts where you are rushing . when you get a new piece , play it slowly with the metronome , to make sure you get every note with every melody . |
sit down in a straight - backed chair or stand up straight . dont slouch . position your feet . | how to hold a violin 1 | it doesnt matter if you choose to sit or stand , but it does matter that you keep your core engaged and that you sit up or stand up straight . you want to feel like you have power up through your body . slouching can lead to decreased speed and eventual pain . when sitting , both feet should be flat on the ground with the same positioning as if you were standing . if youre standing , position your feet a comfortable distance apart . they should be slightly less than shoulder - width apart , with your left foot a bit in front of the right . place your weight fairly evenly between your two feet . when moving while playing , you may shift the weight between your feet . |
place the violin on your neck and shoulder . place your chin on the chinrest . angle your head properly . pivot the violin toward the center . | how to hold a violin 2 | you should rest the broad end of the violin onto your left collarbone with the neck of the violin facing outward . it should feel like a relatively natural , stable position . lower you head straight down until it touches the chin rest . this may feel slightly less natural , but you also shouldnt be straining yourself too dramatically . your chin should only drop , not stretch . now that your chin is on the chinrest , angle your head a little to the left so that you are looking 90 degrees from your violin . you want to angle your head in such a way that the chin rest runs along your jaw and ends at your chin . it should create a line that extends from your nose outward . this is the correct way to hold a violin . if this is your first time holding a violin it might seem difficult , but get in the habit of doing it this way . otherwise you will develop bad habits that will make it difficult to progress in the future . |
keep the angle of the violin relatively steady while playing . hold the violin straight with the strings parallel to the ground . position your left hand at the end of the violins neck , before the struts . curl your forefinger onto the top of the neck . establish a straight line from your left wrist to your forearm . grasp the bow . | how to hold a violin 3 | when you play , the angle of the violin will fluctuate from left to right depending on the type of music and your comfort level . however , the angle should not deviate too much more than 20 degrees . , the violin has a tendency to drop with bad posture , so check your posture if you notice the violin dropping constantly . to help with this , tie a rope from the ceiling and attach it to the scroll of the violin . make sure that the rope is short enough that it is taut when the violin is in the proper position . , hold the neck between your left thumb and forefinger , as if you are pinching it . you dont need to hold it too tightly or you will cramp your hand . the remaining fingers should not touch the violin . the violin should rest on that knuckle lightly . the weight of the violin should be distributed evenly between this knuckle and your collarbone . , do not twist your wrist . this positioning will change depending on the type of music being played and which strings you are using . this is the basic 1st position . you need to hold the bow at the end of the bow . dont choke up on it like a baseball bat . hold it with your right thumb and fingers . your forefinger should rest on top of the bows pad and your pinky finger should sit on a screw . now you are ready to play . |
begin practicing vibrato only after you are fairly comfortable with your finger placement and have memorized all of your notes positions . understand how your wrist is supposed to move as you vibrato . as you hold your left hand in this fashion , imagine that someone is holding a pencil just centimeters away from the side of your hand . try it with your instrument . keep in mind that your finger should never slide on the string . try bowing the string that your vibrating finger is on . move very slowly when learning , to develop muscle memory . practice this slowly until you feel very comfortable . | how to do vibrato on a violin 1 | hold your left hand in the air as if you are ready to play the instrument . try to move your wrist and your arm so that your hand touches the imaginary pencil . keep in mind that , while you vibrate , the only thing you should be trying to move is your wrist in a back and forth motion , as if there were two pencils on either side and you were trying to brush them as your hand moves . this is the movement you shall use for vibrato . while doing this movement , your left hand should remain extremely calm . first you should try the vibrato movement without actually playing , and you should attempt to do it slowly . vibrato works best when only one finger is on the string . you may try vibrato with any finger you would like , although it is usually easier to do on the 2nd and 3rd fingers . do not attempt vibrato on the 4th finger until you have mastered it on the rest of the fingers , however . it rolls against the fingerboard , rather than slipping back and forth . again , keep in mind that your wrist should be moving , and not your arm . you should also not have to put effort into rolling your finger against the string . because your wrist is in the vibrato motion , your finger should roll on its own . you will hear the pitch lowering . that is because , as you vibrate , your finger should first be on the correct pitch , and then roll towards the scroll , which will lower the pitch . after that , your finger should roll back towards the previous pitch . this is what causes the shaky sound in vibrato . your finger should roll against the string so slowly that you can hear the lowering of pitch . and then , after that , the raising of pitch . learning vibrato may take a lot of time , but it is very much worth it . |
if doing vibrato with your wrist is giving you troubles , try doing it with your forearm , instead . to do vibrato with the arm , start with the first step with learning wrist vibrato , but instead of just moving your wrist move your full forearm back and forth . after that becomes fairly comfortable get your violin and put a finger on the fingerboard and very slowly move your arm back and forth with your finger still on the fingerboard . be sure to switch your fingers too , it is important to be comfortable doing vibrato with all your fingers . when you get more comfortable , speed up the vibrato bit by bit . | how to do vibrato on a violin 2 | this way is much easier to learn and it gives a richer sound than vibrato with the wrist . , |
form a ring with your thumb and fingers . place the bow into your curved hand . let the remaining fingers fall into place . allow for differences in the down stroke and upstroke . the position described here is the basic position you will use when making both a down stroke and an upstroke . avoid overextending and tensing your joints . | how to hold a bow 1 | hold the bow in a vertical position using your non - dominant hand . with your dominant hand , form a loose ring with your thumb and both the middle and ring fingers . note that your index and pinky fingers should naturally curve down toward your thumb , as well . do not touch your thumb with those fingers , but keep them relaxed and perched in that curved position . with the bow hair facing you , gently open the ring you created so that you can slide the stick of the bow inside . the stick should rest on your thumb right at the point where the frog the device where the bow hair is held and can be adjusted meets the leather bow grip . bring the index and ring fingers down over the opposite side of the frog . the pads of those fingers should rest directly on the frog . your index finger should rest around the stick at a fingers space away from the middle finger , and the pinky should curve and rest on top of the bow stick . you should gently hold the bow without gripping it . your fingers should be curved in a natural , relaxed form , and your joints should not be stiff . your palm should also remain soft . but you should be relaxed and accept gradual changes in this position as you move your bow along the instrument . in general , your fingers will be more arched during a down stroke , but during an upstroke your fingers will become more elongated . while playing , be sure that you keep your hands and joints free from tension . it should be a comfortable and relaxed grip . your first and second finger joints should all be bent slightly , with no hyperextensions . otherwise you will not have a lot of control and your strokes will be short . |
place your thumb on the frog . turn your wrist . relax your hand and turn the wrist slightly to the left , in toward your body . allow your fingers to relax into place . keep your wrist relaxed . | how to hold a bow 2 | the thumb of your dominant hand needs to rest on the point of contact between the bow and the frog , which is the device at the end of the bow hairs where they can be tightened . your thumb will end up being wedged between the bow hairs and the bow stick , somewhere between the frog itself and the leather pad next to it . the bow should be in a horizontal position . hold it straight across with your non - dominant hand placed at the middle or the far end as you position your dominant hand correctly . release the bow from your non - dominant hand once you set your bow hold . note that the portion of the bow used for playing will face toward your non - dominant side . for right - handed cellists , this will be the left for left - handed cellists , this will be the right . if you are left - handed and holding the bow with a dominant left hand , turn the wrist slightly to the right . the remaining fingers should curve gently over the top of the bow stick . the pinky finger should not be allowed to rest on top of the bow stick , as it might with a bow stick for a viola or violin . instead , the pinky should also extend downward with the other three fingers . while it is not essential , the middle finger usually lies just opposed to the thumb from the opposite side of the stick . the ring finger is usually on the side of the frog , and the first joint of your pointer finger will usually end up on the leather pad or metal winding ahead of the frog . even though the exact placement of your fingers can vary , you should not allow your thumb to collapse back as you play . it needs to remain gently bent in a normal direction . most of your leverage will come from your thumb , pinky , and ring finger as you play . do not press the bow to the strings of the cello . lightly lay the bow on the strings as you hold it and as you play . ultimately , as you play , you need to have a loose , relaxed grip that is just firm enough to control the direction of the bow . |
hold the bow downward . keep the bow facing vertically downward with the frog pointed up . turn the bow until it touches your index finger . let your remaining fingers fall into place . maintain your hold while playing . | how to hold a bow 3 | rest your hand on top in an open handshake position , with your palm resting lightly on top of the frog . the frog refers to the enclosed mechanism that holds and tightens the bow hair . a handshake position simply refers to the sort of position you would hold your hand in if you were preparing to shake hands with someone . note that this method is one of the most common ways to hold a german bow , but it is not the only way . if you want to explore different techniques , talk it over with a bass teacher or with a more experienced bassist . gradually turn the bow sideways , drawing the frog further into the palm of your hand and pointing the bow inward toward your body . the tip of your bent thumb should just barely touch the tip of your index finger , and both should rest lightly on top of the bow . do not pinch the bow in between your thumb and index finger . they should only rest on top of the bow and should not grab onto it directly . position your middle finger so that it rests directly next to the index finger . the ring finger should rest next to the middle finger , and the pinky should rest beneath the frog . your pinky should touch the outer part of the ferrule , the silver part of your bow . essentially , the bow will be cupped gently inside of your hand and held in a horizontal position as you play . keep your hands relaxed and flexible to allow for movement , but not a loss of control , as you play . the wrist should bend slightly as you play downward in order to keep the bow straight across the strings . similarly , the fingers will straighten a bit as you play , but be sure they do not hyperextend , which will reduce your control and make your transitions difficult on the backstroke . |
relax your hand over the bow . allow your fingers to fall into place . try another hold if this one is not comfortable . keep your hand in place as you play . | how to hold a bow 4 | hold the middle of the bow with your non - dominant hand . rest your dominant hand over the bow , just above the frog . keep the fingers of your dominant hand relaxed and naturally spread apart . the bow should be in a horizontal position . bend the thumb slightly so that the tip touches the point at which the frog meets the rest of the bow , or the contact point . your other fingers should gently curve over the top of the bow stick and down the side . do not allow the pinky finger to rest on top of the bow stick . this position might be comfortable to you if you have ever played the violin or viola , but your hand will not have enough support if you repeat it with the french bow . instead , the pink should curve and extend over the top of the bow stick with the rest of the fingers . release the bow from your non - dominant hand once you have a good grasp with your dominant hand . you can let your fingers extend past the bow , or you can keep them perched higher up . the choice is yours . experiment to determine what placement feels most natural and gives you the most control . while the method just described is the most common holding technique used for a french bow , there are variations you can use if holding the bow in this way feels awkward or uncomfortable for you . try imitating the placement of teachers , mentors , or favorite performers to try slight variations on the french hold , such as placing the pinky finger in the u of the frog . playing a bass is very personal , but it takes practice to find your ideal holding position . the length of your fingers and size of your hands will likely determine how relaxed your hold is , or how your spread apart your fingers tend to be on the bow . try bringing your fingers closer or farther apart along the length of the frog . one good rule of thumb , regardless of your hand size , is to place your fingers a natural distance apart . you can locate this natural distance by allowing your hands to fall at your sides , naturally curving at the fingers and thumbs . the distance between your fingers in this natural relaxed posture should be the same when you grip the bow . the initial grip is much easier than maintaining that grip through heavy playing . it is important to exercise your hands with daily playing so that you will have the stamina to hold your grip through several songs . do not overstrain any particular fingers . try to keep the tension between all of your fingers and thumb . do not allow your pinky or thumb to straighten . |
distinguish by the frame size . observe and weigh the bow . listen to the pitch . notice the strings . pay attention to their pitching . know by inquiry . if you can , check the musical clefs . | how to distinguish between violins and violas | is it big or small the violin generally has a smaller frame than the viola . the bow is the long wooden stick that is used to play an instrument . if the end which you hold the bow the frog is a straight 90 degree angle it is a violin bow , whereas the viola bow is a 90 degree angle with a curved corner . moreover , the viola usually has a heavier bow . is it lower or higher the violin has a higher e - string while the viola has a lower c - string . the violin string order from lowest to highest is g , d , a , e . violas do not have an e string , but an additional lower note , making their string order from lowest to highest c , g , d , a . violins generally play higher pitched parts of the music while violas play lower pitched parts . however both instruments use much of the same techniques in playing and require the same level of training and dedication to master . if it is a solo , check the printed program to identify the instrument being played . if it is an orchestra , the strings nearer to you the audience on the left are the violins . the first instruments to the left of the conductor are the first violins . the next section is the second violins . the next section usually contains the violas , but occasionally the violas might be placed directly opposite of the first violins . violins read treble clef while violas read mainly alto clef and occasionally treble clef . |
after youre done playing , loosen the bow and wipe of the stick with a soft , lint - free cloth . sometimes , just a simple wipe down isnt enough . take a small amount of denatured alcohol and , using a soft toothbrush , gently brush the hair lengthwise . hang the bow to dry in such a way that the hair is not touching the stick . put the bow back together , tighten the strings , and rosin well . | how to clean a violin bow | loosening the bow helps prevent warping while its in the case . occasionally , you will need to clean the hair of your bow . to do this , loosen the screw on the end of the frog and take the bow hair away from the stick . especially focus on dirtier areas . , |
remove the old string . install the new string . make sure the string is in the proper notches in the bridge and the nut , and begin to tighten the string with the tuning peg . do this for the rest of the strings . continually check the bridge , tune the new strings . stretch the strings . test your new strings | how to change the strings on a violin or fiddle | loosen it by twisting its tuning peg in the appropriate direction , and pull the string out of the hole in the tuning peg . then unhook the other end from the fine tuner . if there is no fine tuner , unhook it from its hole in the tailpiece . only take one string off at a time because if you dont then your bridge , tail piece , and sound post can fall off . insert the ball - less end of the string into the hole in the tuning peg , and push it all the way through , so that about 2 centimeter 0 . 8 in of it sticks out the other side . bend this end back so that the string does not come out of the hole easily . place the ball end of the string into its fine tuner or the hole in the tailpiece . tighten it until it is approximately at the pitch it should be . it is best to wait a day before changing the next string . since you will be tightening the new strings a lot with the tuning pegs , your bridge will start to lean toward the fingerboard . just straighten it out by gently pulling the top toward the tailpiece . , after you have tuned your new strings , stretch them back and forth rapidly and vigorously be careful when stretching them if they are not dominant strings . then , tune them again . you should notice that they have gone flat . this is because they have stretched . repeat this process until they will not stretch anymore . this will make your instrument stay in tune much better . |
find a piano or keyboard to use . sit down at the piano or keyboard and familiarize yourself with it . learn the major keys . learn the chords . notice patterns . master humming . review finger placement . practice . | how to teach yourself to play the piano 1 | if you dont have one at home , perhaps you can borrow one from a friend . the benefit of learning to play on a piano is that the sound is authentic because its generated by a string . it also contains all 88 keys . keyboards dont have either of these features . keep that in mind when making your selection . pianos are much more expensive than keyboards , but they can be rented to own at some piano stores . tune the piano if it is an antique or vintage piano so that you can train your ear to hear the notes correctly . older pianos are usually out of tune especially if they are not played regularly . if your piano hasnt been played for ages , you may want to have it tuned professionally before going any further . if youre unable to find a piano , a keyboard is a great alternative . theyre affordable , never go out of tune and have lots of sounds and features that can enhance your music . not to mention , theyre a lot easier to move around and dont take up much space . a keyboard is a great tool for a beginner . you can always start out on a keyboard and then upgrade to a piano . get a learning keyboard . these specialty instruments light up in a specific order to help you learn songs more quickly . typically , they come with books and videos that will help you learn musical notation . play with it and identify the middle tones middle of piano , flat tones left black keys , sharp tones right black keys , bass tones low sounds and high tones high sounds . really listen to each of them , and note how they are different from the others . keep practicing until you can tell the difference between them . youll have to study the major keys if you want to be able to identify the sounds that you hear . some people do this by learning the major keys and then assigning a number to them . for instance , 1 is c 2 is d 3 is e 4 is f 5 is g 6 is a 7 is b 8 is c . notice how the numbers 8 and 1 both represent the note c , but number represents a lower or higher c . the number 1 represents middle c . once you know how to do this , you can label songs by numbers instead of letters . for instance , mary had a little lamb would be e - d - c - d - e - e - e . this would be represented as 3 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 3 - 3 . if you dont have any musical knowledge at all , you will have wing it and figure it out by trial - and - error . songs are mostly composed of variations of chords . youll hear them in different keys , but the chords are composed of the same notes . identifying those notes is crucial when youre figuring out a song by ear . so , learn how to play the basic chords and find out where they are located on the piano . play the chords to familiarize yourself with the sound of them so that you recognize them . even if you dont know the chords name , you should know what they sound like . you should also be able to recognize if the chords are a bass tone or high tone , and from that youll know where they are located . for instance , c , e , g is a simple chord that you should learn to recognize in c major first . however , it can be played in lower and higher keys as well . all songs are composed of musical patterns . chords repeat themselves often in a steady beat or rhythm . if you can identify the patterns that you hear , it is much easier to play a song that you hear . youll be able to learn which chords are combined with others . this helps you to understand how melodies and baselines are constructed , which helps you to make your own . humming helps you remember or compose the song . then , youll be better able to repeat it on a piano . in other words , hum the tune . then , sit down and the piano and repeat it . once you know the chords and what the notes should look like , you should be able to duplicate them by ear . to really play , you need to know which fingers to play the keys with . the best way to do that is to get a basic understanding of finger placement from a beginners piano book . normally , the fingers are numbered . for instance , the thumb is one and the pinky is five . these books will teach how to play each note by telling you which finger to play it with . listen to songs . then practice humming them and see if you can duplicate the song on your piano or keyboard . or , select a song that you like and using the techniques that youve learned , attempt to play it by ear . becoming a good piano player requires lots of practice . youll need to practice at least three times a week . |
learn some basic piano knowledge . use instructional books . study the notes . learn finger placement . practice playing scales . learn some easy songs . practice , practice , practice . | how to teach yourself to play the piano 2 | there are 88 keys on a piano . white piano keys are called naturals because they make a natural note when pressed . black piano keys are called accidentals because they make a sharp or flat note when pressed . there are seven naturals on the keyboard c - d - e - f - g - a - b there are five accidentals per octave and they can either be sharp or flat . learn the names of the left - hand and right - hand staff bass clef and treble clef since you dont have a teacher , let instructional books be your guide . there are many books available in both specialty music stores and regular book stores that will take you through a step - by - step process of learning how to read music , play basic scales , chord progressions and then simple songs . utilize multi - media tools such as dvds . youtube videos also are a valuable source . if you are a visual learner , these tools will suit you well because you can see the music being played correctly . you will need to learn where the notes are located on the piano , what they sound like and how the note is written on the staff . to do that , you can make flash cards to identify the notes on the staff . you can purchase stickers to place on your piano to help you learn the placement of the notes . you also can purchase books that help beginners learn how to read notes . familiarize yourself with common chords . start with the chords in majors . then follow with the minors . use the instructional books to help you learn how to play the notes . playing the notes with the correct fingers is just as important as learning where the notes are located . if you dont practice using the correct method , then youll have trouble playing up and down the scales . playing scales helps you familiarize yourself with the notes and the sound of them . if you are learning how to sight read , playing music while you sight read helps you learn where the notes are located and what they look like on the staff . play the scales for each hand one at time . then play together . using your instructional books , go through the lessons . they will teach you to play easy songs as well as mastering finger placement . practicing with easy songs also helps you to memorize where the notes are located , which improves your sight reading abilities . start with c major . then , work your way through the minor keys , so that you can familiarize yourself with them . when youre practicing a piece of music , try to play the melody and bass lines for each hand separately at first . once your playing of each improves , then practice playing them together . learning to play the piano requires a lot of practice . play with sheet music to get better at sight reading , fingering and playing . plan on practicing about three to four times a week for about a half hour . dont move on to the next lesson until youve mastered the previous lesson . |
look for an instructor . decide how often to see an instructor . practice . | how to teach yourself to play the piano 3 | this is the most costly , but also the most proficient way how to learn music . a good instructor will not only have a proven track record of helping beginners learn music , but also be able to teach you the basics correctly . using an instructor helps you avoid bad habits that can take a long time to unlearn . review sight reading , fingering , and playing with an instructor . ask the instructor to review where the notes are located on the staff and the piano . because your goal is to teach yourself how to play , then you probably wont be visiting an instructor frequently . go to an instructor once a month just to do a check - up on your progress or to ask questions about anything that is puzzling you . for instance , you might have questions about if youre playing a song in the correct tempo . once again , you will need to practice a great deal in order to learn how to play . many people that visit piano teachers practice several times a week . so , practice two to three times a week or everyday if you like . plan on practicing playing for at least 30 minutes two times a week , but you also will need to take time out to review your notes and sight reading abilities . you dont need a keyboard or a piano to practice those . |
open up the piano to expose both the tuning pins and the keys . play the offending note and find the strings associated with that note . hold down the key and use a guitar pick to gently pluck each of the three strings that make up the note . hold down the damper pedal the one that lifts all of the dampers and insert a rubber wedge mute in the gap between an outer string that sounds correct and the next note over . play the note to make sure that youre still hearing dissonance . hold down the note and pluck the un - muted strings again . place the head of your tuning lever on the pin for the out - of - tune string , with the handle in about the 100 position , if you are right - handed , or the 1100 position if you are left - handed . strike the note with about a mezzo - forte blow and gently nudge the handle of the tuning lever a fraction of a millimeter to the left towards the lower notes on the piano - while its unlikely the string would really be sharp , its a good idea to try this direction first to help avoid breaking a string . if there is no change or you cant tell if theres a change , double - check that you have the tuning lever on the right pin . if the problem is getting worse as you nudge the tuning lever to the left , then try raising the pitch of the string by striking the key and gently nudging the hammer to the right towards the upper notes . as the two strings sound closer and closer , listen carefully for the beats - - a higher - pitched wah - wah - wah sound that will speed up as the two strings get more out of tune , and slow down as they closer to being in tune . continue gently nudging the tuning lever until the beats are completely gone . then nudge the lever to the right just enough to hear beats again . strike the key with a sharp blow - - with any luck it will settle into tune with the other string . when the two strings are sounding together , press the damper pedal and remove the rubber mute from the third string . put the piano back together and enjoy | how to tune a unison on a piano | depending on the piano , this usually requires removal of the front part of the upper cabinet and sometimes the key cover . , listen for which one sounds different from the others . this leaves two strings sounding when you play the note - one that is in tune and one that is not . if you are not , you have muted the wrong string , so repeat the previous step to mute the string on the other side of the unison . follow the out - of - tune string up to its tuning pin . , listen to the sound - - is the problem getting worse or better , strike the key every time you move the tuning lever to equalize the string over all of its points . , if it goes too far , start again and try raising the string a little higher before giving it a sharp blow to try to settle it . , |
find a piece you want to transpose . write down the pieces basics into your composition notebook . start copying the treble clef notes . divide the chords into more manageable notes . proofread your transposing . add the stylistic tips . play your piece . present it to a professional . | how to transpose piano notes to violin notes | if you already have one in mind , buy it from your local music store . dont forget to stay true to your ability , as tough piano pieces will translate into tough violin music . this is the meter , tempo , key , etc . a quarter note is a quarter note , and a g is a g , no matter what instrument its played on . dont forget to retain the same measure lengths and divisions . piano are meant to be played by ten fingers that play multiple notes at once . violins play single or double notes , so chords of 3 or more notes are played by two violins or a violin - viola duet . for chords that make your eyes cross , make two separate violin parts . the hardest thing about writing music is keeping consistent timemeter its easy to screw up and put 4 beats in a measure with 34 time . although it may be a pain to fix , itll be a bigger pain for you or someone else to play . some , like loudness , are easily copied from the piece . others , like style , may or may not be present . yet other tips that refer to string techniques will not be present . refer to tips as to how to make stylistic and technical additions . it is the final proofreading . repeat steps 5 - 6 if you notice any mistakes or anything that needs to added . have a private teacher or a trusted friend who plays professionally look it over . ask for their suggestions , or perhaps to play the piece with you . remember , mistakes are merely opportunities to improve . dont be mad if they dont offer any praise chances are , they will . |
understand and be able to play piano yourself . decide how many lessons you want to teach each week , how much you will charge , and how long each lesson will be . decide where you will have your lessons . find students . plan out your lessons . have your first lesson . encourage your students often . join your local , state , or national music teachers associations . invest in professional developments . for younger students , it is beneficial to have a reward system for practicing . | how to teach piano | you need to have piano experience before becoming a teacher . most teachers have learned their craft thoroughly and enjoy it . most lessons are 30 minutes long , especially for beginning players . find out what other piano teachers in your area are charging . as a new teacher , your rate should be lower than theirs . many starting teachers begin with a low rate of 25 per lesson and raise their rate every two - three years by a few dollars . when youre deciding how many lessons and when you want to teach each week , remember the time commitments of your students . are they still in school college students are they working a 9 - 5 job youll have to work around their schedules too . remember to leave time for your lunch or dinner break . you could have them at your house , at your students house , or at another site , such as a music store or community center . make sure there is a piano and a chair for you and your student . it should be clean , easy to work in , and easy to get to for you and your students . advertise in the newspaper , hand out fliers in your neighborhood , and tell everyone you know . if your city has a community center , ask if they have a music program that you could be part of . it would give you more credibility . music stores are good places to find aspiring students . ask if they have a place , such as bulletin board , window , or desk , where you could hang a flier . once you have a student and the first lesson scheduled , plan out what you will teach your student at the first lesson . introduce yourself and ask the student some basic questions about themselves . find out if they have ever played piano before and how much they know . you could ask them to play a simple piece for you . do they have any goals or pieces that theyre working on why do they want to learn to play piano what kind of music do they like you may want to find out when the lesson is scheduled if your student is new to the piano so you can recommend books for them to buy before the lesson . alfred piano course books are an excellent series for learning the basics , but there are many other series to choose from . as the teacher , you should be familiar with the books . some teachers buy the books for the students the student pays for the books at the first lesson so that they can play through the pieces themselves and be able to give the student helpful hints , skip pieces that doesnt agree with your teaching principles or other things . learn from them and change how youre teaching for each student . teach on the level of the pupil . base your lesson off them . go their speed . theyre paying for the lessons . you want them to understand why the reason behind various music techniques . start with what they know and build off it . tell them when theyve improved and what they do well . offer constructive criticism only . you will be able to network with other teachers and be informed with new teaching methods and publications . this can include private lessons from teachers that are more advanced than yourself , reading music teaching literature , attending concerts , practicing and learning new repertoire for yourself , or browsing the internet or youtube for ideas and inspirations . remember a good teacher is also a good student . you could offer small prizes candy , pens , toys , etc . when theyve achieved the practice goal youve set for them . |
put your piano in a suitable place . cover the keys when not in use . keep liquids at a distance . play your piano . | how to take care of a piano 1 | pianos are made almost entirely of cast iron for the frame , steel wires set at high tension , a lot of wood , felt , and glue . as a result , they are vulnerable to high humidity and extreme temperatures . as temperatures and humidity levels fluctuate , parts of your piano swell and shrink , and in extreme cases , glue joints fail and soundboards crack . to prevent such damage , place your piano in a room with consistent temperatures and humidity levels year - round . an ideal temperature is around 70 degrees fahrenheit an ideal humidity level about 50 percent . avoid locations near ac vents , heaters , fireplaces , high - traffic doors , and rooms with large windows . temperatures and humidity levels in these locations are less stable . to maintain a consistent humidity level , you may have to use a humidifier in the winter when its less humid , and a dehumidifier in the spring and summer as humidity levels rise . unless your basement is climate - controlled , keep your piano above ground level . if possible , put the piano in a room that your pets avoid . covering your pianos keys prevents dust from accumulating between the keys and limits exposure to other contaminants such as pet hair . if your piano comes with a built - in cover also known as a fallboard or back - fall , make sure you use it . if your piano lacks a key cover , you can buy one online or from a music store . they are easy to find , relatively cheap , and worth every penny . you can also cover the entire piano with a drop cloth . this will protect the keys and keep dust and contaminants out of the inside of your piano . spilled liquids can damage your pianos wood finish and cause irreversible internal damage . never use your piano as a surface for food or drink . youll find that the temptation to place drinks on your piano is greatest in high - traffic rooms . if your piano makes for a convenient surface for you or your guests , consider moving it to a more isolated area . playing your piano regularly keeps moving parts in good working order , makes it easier to identify problems , and prevents service lapses . you should try to play your piano at least once a week . |
dust . find a piano technician . tune the piano regularly . ask about voicing . ask about regulation . | how to take care of a piano 2 | every couple of weeks , you should clean the pianos keys with mild soap and a damp cloth . dry them immediately . you can clean your pianos outer surfaces like any other finished surface , but avoid aerosol cleaners that contain chemicals , silicon , or solvents . you should also avoid dusting the inside of your piano . leave that to a pro . the care of your pianos inner workings should be left to a registered piano technician rpt . you can find one through the piano technician guilds webpage or through a referral . ask friends , colleagues , or your piano dealer for recommendations . keep in mind that this will be a long - term relationship . to tune a piano , a technician adjusts the tension of your pianos 200 strings so that notes play in the proper pitch . how often your piano needs tuning will depend on how often you play . but whether you play a lot or a little , you need to budget for tuning – about twice per year . playing an out - of - tune piano will increase the wear on the instrument . you may need to have your piano tuned more frequently during the first year of ownership since new wire slowly stretches or creeps during the initial months of playing . your piano may also slip out of tune as it adjusts to the temperature and humidity of your home . voicing is the adjustment of your pianos overall quality of sound or tone . for example , a pianos tone can be soft , brittle , or robust . your pianos tone is a personal preference , and a lot depends on how you want your piano to sound . however , you should ask about voicing if your pianos tone varies radically from note to note , if your piano can no longer play softly , or if you notice any changes in your pianos tone . as parts start to wear , the tone of your piano will naturally change . this is not a sign of damage . the more you play your piano , and the more climatic changes your piano undergoes , the more your pianos parts settle , compact , stretch , and change dimension . regulation involves adjusting and replacing these worn or warped parts to optimize your pianos overall performance . you should ask your technician about regulation if youve had your piano tuned recently , yet your piano still sounds off . if your pianos keys are uneven or stick when you are playing , ask about regulation right away . |
realize that your hands may actually be too small for large distances . stretch your hands often . play pieces in which octaves , ninths , and tenths occur . practice octaves . practice ninths . do the same with tenths or higher depending on what you need and the size of your hands . continue using these steps for as long as it takes to span the distance you need or want . | how to span large intervals on a piano | some peoples hands will never span more than an octave . put your pinky or thumb , depending on which hand on c and stretch it as far as you can . hold this position , but dont hurt yourself . the most important thing is to feel the stretch you dont have to go far past that . using lotion and having regular hand massages can help your hands become more flexible . you will usually have to span using your left hand , but occasionally , your right hand will have a large distance to cover . play pieces that have both . beethovens moonlight sonata is a good piece to use for this purpose . it includes ninths for the right hand and many octaves for the left hand . chopins prelude no . 20 in c minor has octaves for both hands all the way through . play a c octave harmonic scale going up and back down . try to increase speed and try to keep your fingers spread . play a c with a ninth d harmonic scale going up and back down , again keeping the span . , |
go to a website that specializes in the sale of musical instruments . advertise on music blogs and forums . place an ad on a free online classifieds website . sell the piano on an online auction website . mention it on your personal blog . | how to sell a piano online 1 | there are a sizable number of such websites in existence , and many of them even specialize in the sale of pianos . for the most part , there will be a fee for either posting an ad or successfully making a sale . in some cases , there may even be a fee for both . look into the reputation and requirements of various websites and determine which would offer you the greatest benefit at the lowest cost . the downside of these websites comes in the form of heightened competition . with so many people advertising their used pianos in one place , it will be more difficult to make your own piano stand out . on the upside , though , anyone who visits the website is definitely interested in buying a piano , so you can be fairly certain that your ad is reaching the right audience . not every blogging community or message board will allow you to advertise , so make sure you check the policy on advertisements before posting yours . some music and piano message boards have a special forum set aside for advertisements or will allow you to make an advertisement in your signature , especially forums dedicated to music lessons and instruments . if a music blog you follow has been known to mention instrument sales in the past , contact the blog owner and ask about advertising your piano there . do not simply post about it in the comments unless the blog specifically gives you permission to do so . otherwise , plastering your advertisement in someone elses web space is rude and may even get you banned from the blog . these websites specialize in the sale of used goods . moreover , if you choose a classifieds website that allows you to advertise to your local area , you will have more leeway about how to ship or deliver the piano than you would if you sold the piano to a customer on the other side of the country . each classifieds community has its own rules about placing ads , so make sure to review these before attempting to sell your piano there . online auction websites are some of the oldest online resources for selling used goods , and they also remain some of the most frequently used websites today . for the most part , you can either set a price at which a buyer can purchase the piano flat out or you can allow users to make bids on the piano . setting up a blog for the purpose of selling your piano is probably not the best use of resources unless you plan on frequently selling musical instruments through it . if you already have a blog , though , and you actually have people who follow it , mentioning that you have a piano for sale can be a good way to spread the word . this can be even more effective if you have a music - related blog , but your blog does not necessarily need to be about music for you to advertise on it . |
have reasonable expectations about price . a piano is only worth as much as someone is willing to buy it for . be honest . lying to or misleading a customer will not gain you any favor and will only result in an unhappy customer who will demand their money back . be specific . take pictures and video . | how to sell a piano online 2 | if you want to sell your piano , you need to offer it at a price someone will pay for it . base your price on expert opinion as well as your own market research . also understand that there are many others out there who are trying to sell and even give away their used pianos , as well . get your piano appraised . a professional appraisal will let you know how much the piano is worth based on make and condition . having a professional appraisal will also give validity to your sale ad , since prospective buyers will know that someone other than you has commented on the pianos value . find out what other pianos of the same make and quality are going for . even if your appraiser tells you that your piano is worth a large sum , if there are a dozen others like yours that are going for a considerably smaller amount , you will need to adjust your price accordingly to be competitive with the prices set by the other sellers . depending on how you sold your piano , the website you went through may deem that the customer has every right to do so , too . if the piano has its problems , be upfront about it . even if it is in great working condition but it has a damaged leg where your dog chewed on it or your child scratched it , be honest and let your prospective customers know . a severely damaged piano may take a while to sell , but if you are honest about a mildly damaged piano , a buyer may take that as an indication of trustworthiness , thereby feeling comfortable with the notion of purchasing from you . identify the pianos manufacturer and the year it was made . while the price of pianos rarely change due to time , the age of the piano , especially in conjunction with the manufacturer , can still reveal information about how the piano was made . also share any information you have on the history of the piano along with a detailed description of its working condition and appearance . a picture is worth a thousand words . you might have to pay a few extra dollars to post a photo if you sell your piano through another website , but the extra money can be worth it since most buyers tend to prefer purchasing a product they can see with their own eyes . if you are selling the piano through your own blog , it can be even more helpful to have a video demonstrating how well the piano plays , allowing potential buyers to both see and hear its quality . |
learn the basic parts of the base clef . remember all cows eat grass to memorize the notes in the spaces from the bottom up . remember grizzly bears dont fly airplanes to memorize the notes on each line from the bottom up . try out a few different mnemonics if you dont like the ones provided . count through the alphabet , starting with g on the bottom line , to figure out the notes above and below the staff . | how to read the bass clef 1 | the bass clef looks almost just like the treble clef , which is the staff you likely learned first . however , the bass clef is read differently . in general , the bass clef is used to denote the deeper , left - hand notes on staff this is the collection of five lines and four spaces that music is written on . notes can go above and below the staff as well . each line and space matches a specific note . ledger lines lines above or below the staff , added to expand the staff . remember , however , that they all must have spaces between them as well , which indicate notes . bass clef this is the backward c on the left - hand side of the staff . the top of the clef should touch the very top line of the staff . if this symbol is different like a cursive s or strange b you do not have a bass clef . advanced music theory tip lowering the bass clef to the second highest line creates a baritone clef . raising it above the top line indicates a sub - bass clef . the lowest space the one between the bottom line and the second lowest line represents an a . the space above it represents a c , then an e , then a g . thus , the notes in the spaces , form the bottom up , can be remembered thusly - - - - - - - grass - - - - - - - eat - - - - - - - cows - - - - - - - all - - - - - - - , the very lowest line is a g , then a b , then a d , f , and finally a . you can make up any mnemonic youd like , but the classic is always easy to keep in mind - - - airplanes - - - - - - fly - - - - - - - dont - - - - - - - bears - - - - - - - grizzly - - - - , dont worry if you hate thinking about bears or cows . there are a variety of other mnemonics available , and you could even invent your own if you wanted . remember that all of these count from the bottom up , because the notes go from lowest to highest . spaces ants can eat grapes american composers envy gershwin lines great beagles dig for artwork good bikes dont fall apart garbage bags do fly away . the bass clef simply moves through the alphabet , with each line and space representing one move . so , since the bottom line is a g , the space above it is an a . the line above that space is a b . the next space is a c , and so on , until you get back to another a on the top line . this will also help you with the lines above and below the staff . simply work through the alphabet , counting each space and line equallyyour middle c is on the first ledger line above the staff . the space beneath it is a b . the space right below the staff is an f , and the first ledger line beneath it is an e . |
test yourself with music reading quizzes , which require you to pick the note as quickly as possible . hit the matching note on your instrument as you read each note . practice with written music each time you practice . try sight - reading to warm - up and work on your bass clef skills . | how to read the bass clef 2 | the best way to get good is to practice , and the best practice is reading notes as quickly as you can . there are many online quizzes for free , but you can also print out a collection of notes on a bass clef or have a friend or teacher write one and practice identifying each one perfectly . as you get better , time yourself on each quiz . work on improving your accuracy along with your speed - - dont sacrifice quality for speed until you can get each note without mistakes . print out or write down a staff with a random collection of notes . as you identify each one , play the same note on your instrument . this will train your brain to not only identify the note but the sound and the physical positioning of each part of the staff . youll improve your playing speed considerably as a result . if you want to work on reading music , in any clef , read music and play . even if you mostly improvise , work on scales , or dont use written music , you should still devote 10 - 20 minutes to reading music and playing along . sight reading is when you put a brand new piece of sheet music in front of you and play it as you read for the first time . it isnt easy , but it is one of the best ways to get speedy on the staff . again , make sure you dont sacrifice quality for speed . play it at half time if youre continuously missing notes or have to stop and start . remember - - this is practice , not a performance . |
break the keyboard into octaves which correspond to lines on the tab . locate the notes in the tab based on the octave of the line theyre on . read tabs from left to right , paying attention to any measure breaks marked with is . play notes sequentially as you read from left to right . read repeating numbers above or below the tab as beats . learn how rests and sustains are expressed in tabs . play notes marked with a period as staccato . look for rs and ls on the left of the tab as a guide for which hand to use . | how to read piano tabs | piano tabs usually take the form of a series of horizontal lines , each labeled with a number at its far left , like this5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - though this arrangement may at first seem to bear no resemblance to the black and white keys of a keyboard , piano tabs actually represent different regions on the keyboard through clever shorthand . the number at the left of each line represents the octave that the notes represented on the line are located in . piano tabs define their octaves relative to the c scale - starting from the far left of the keyboard , the first c note on the piano begins the first octave , the second c note begins the second octave , and so on up to the highest c note . for instance , in the sample tab lines provided above , the lines represent , starting from the top , the fifth , fourth , third , and second octaves from the farthest - left c , respectively . its not necessary for piano tabs to include lines for every octave on the keyboard - just the octaves in which notes are played . the letters a through g should be spread throughout the lines of the piano tab , like this5 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - c - d - e - f - g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f - e - d - c - - - - - - you may have already guessed that each letter corresponds to a note in the scale lowercase letters signify natural not sharp or flat notes , which are the white keys on the keyboard . upper - case letters signify sharps , which are the black keys . for example , c is the black key to the right of c , which is a white key . notes on the lines of the tab are meant to be played in the octave that corresponds to the line . for instance , notes on line 4 in the sample tab above are played in the keyboards fourth octave . for simplification of writing and to avoid confusion between the flat symbol , which resembles a lowercase b , and the note b , there are no flats in piano tabs . instead , all flats are written as the equivalent sharp eg d - flat db is written as c - sharp c . like pieces of sheet music , tabs are read from left to right . the notes at the far left of the tab are played first , followed by the notes to the right . if the tab is longer than the screen or page , it can wrap around below each time it reaches the edge - just like sheet music . often , but not always , piano tabs include vertical lines marking the barrier between each measure - usually , these are represented with capital letter is or with vertical line characters , like this5 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - c - d - e - f - g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f - e - d - c - - - - - - if so , treat the space between each set of vertical lines as one measure . in other words , for songs in 44 , there are four quarter notes between each set of lines , for songs in 68 , there are six eighth notes , and so on . start reading a piano tab at its far left and play the notes in order from left to right as you encounter them . if two or more notes are directly above each other , play them at the same time as a chord . in our example tab5 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - c - d - e - f - g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f - e - d - c - - - - - - . we would first play the a in the fifth octave and the a in the fourth octave , then the d in the fifth octave and the d in the fourth octave , then the f in the fifth octave and the f in the fourth octave , then the notes c , d sharp , e , and f in sequence , and so on . one weakness of tabs in general is that it is difficult to express rhythm via basic tablature notation . this can become problematic when dealing with sustains , rests , syncopated passages , etc . as a workaround , some tab writers actually count the beat of the song below or above the tab . such a tab might look like this5 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - c - d - e - f - g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f - e - d - c - - - - - - 1 - - - 2 - - - 3 - - - 4 - - 1 - - - 2 - - - 3 - - - 4 - - in this case , the notes roughly above 1 are roughly on the first beat , the ones roughly about 2 are roughly on the second beat , and so on . this is hardly a perfect system , but it makes the most of the limitations of the tab format . some piano tabs include off - beat markings . often , these take the form of an ampersand to mirror the common method of counting off - beats , as in one and two and three and four and . such a tab might look like this5 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - c - d - e - f - g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f - e - d - c - - - - - - 1 - - 2 - - 3 - - 4 - 1 - - 2 - - 3 - - 4 - another weakness of the tab format is that its difficult to express how long to hold a certain note or how long to rest between notes via tabs . some tabs dont mark rests and sustains at all - after a held note , for instance , there will just be the series of dashes that make up the line . other tabs will use a series of characters after notes to show that they should be held . see below5 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - a - d - f - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - c - d - e - f - g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f - e - d - c 1 - - 2 - - 3 - - 4 - 1 - - 2 - - 3 - - 4 - in this case , we would hold the final c note from beat 3 to the end of the measure . staccato notes are the opposite of sustained notes - they are short , sharp , and truncated . many piano tabs use periods to denote certain notes as staccato . see below5 - a . - d . - f . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - a . - d . - f . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - c - d - e - fg - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f - e - d - c 1 - - 2 - - 3 - - 4 - 1 - - 2 - - 3 - - 4 - in this case , we play the first three octave chords as staccato . usually , but not always , the higher notes in a piece of piano music are played with the right hand , while the lower notes are played with the left hand , so its usually safe to assume that the highest notes in a tab are played with the right hand and that the lowest notes are played with the left . however , some tabs specify exactly which notes should be played with each hand . in these cases , lines with an r at the far left of the tab are played with the right hand and lines with an l at the far left of the tab are played with the left hand . see belowr 5 - a . - d . - f . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - r 4 - a . - d . - f . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - l 3 - - - - - - - - c - d - e - fg - - - - - - - - - - - - - - l 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - f - e - d - c o 1 - - 2 - - 3 - - 4 - 1 - - 2 - - 3 - - 4 - in this case , the fourth and fifth octaves are played with the right hand , while the second and third are played with the left . note that the o at the far left of the beat markings at the bottom of the tab was used simply to fill space and has no bearing on the tab itself . |
recognize lines and spaces . recognize clefs . recognize key signature . recognize the time signature . recognize measures . | how to read piano sheet music 1 | when you look at sheet music , you will see five lines with four spaces between them . these are collectively called the staff . both the lines and the spaces are used as locations for notes , and where on those notes fall determines the pitch of the note . what pitch is assigned to the line or space is determined by the clef , discussed below . lines and spaces can also be created above and below the normal five by drawing short lines as needed to indicate the note . clefs are different shapes , located at the very beginning of a music staff , which tell you what pitches are on what line or space of the staff . they are usually recognizable because they are large and cover all five lines . although several clefs exist , you will only need to know two for reading piano music a treble clef or g - clef is the clef or symbol you will usually see associated with music , so it should look familiar . it looks vaguely similar to an ampersand or symbol . the lines , from the bottom up to the top , indicate the following pitches e , g , b , d , and f . the spaces , from the bottom up to the top , indicate the following pitches f , a , c , and e . a bass clef or f - clef looks a little like a backward c with two dots behind the arc . the lines , from the bottom up to the top , indicate the following pitches g , b , d , f , and a . the spaces , from the bottom up to the top , indicate the following pitches a , c , e , and g . the key signature tells you which notes get changed . the whole or normal pitches are labeled with letters abcdefg , but there are also half - steps between those notes which are indicated with either a sharp or a b flat . the sharps and flats located at the beginning of the staff show the key signature and the lines or space on which they fall indicate that any note which falls in that place is played with either that sharp or flat . extra sharps and flats can always be placed within the music as well and will be placed next to the note they alter . sharp means the pitch goes up , while b means the pitch goes down . the sharp of one note is the same as the flat of the next note up . sharps and flats are indicated by the black keys on your piano . this is discussed below . the time signature , indicated by two numbers at the beginning of the staff , tell you how many beats a note gets . the bottom number indicates what type of note gets one beat which number corresponds to which note is indicated below and the top number indicates how many of those are in one measure or section of music . when you look at the staff , you will see occasional vertical lines drawn through the horizontal lines of the staff . the space between these lines is called the measure . think of the measure as a musical sentence , and the line as the period at the end of that sentence though it does not mean you should pause before starting the next . measures help break up the music and work with the time signature to tell you how many beats to give to a note . |
inspect the piano and make notes . research local or online classifieds and auction sites for price comparisons . write the ad . | how to sell a used piano 1 | be as thorough as possible when recording details about the piano . what company produced it how old is it what is it made of are there any flaws or faults potential buyers should be aware of the more details you can provide , the better the odds youll find a suitable buyer match . once you have established the condition of your piano , you can narrow your search in order to find comparable items either online , in local newspapers , or in buy - and - sell publications . pianos for sale arent always easy to find , but with enough digging , you should be able to come up with a rough idea of your items worth . be sure to keep a few things in mind brief is best . only include details relevant to the advertisement . longer ads lose peoples interest , so keep it short and to the point . take a photo . classified ads and buy - and - sell magazines generally dont include photos with their ads , but most online sites do . having a photo of the piano gives prospective buyers a look at exactly what theyre buying , rather than having to rely exclusively on the text in the ad . include detailed contact information . most people have a preferred mode of contact . enclose a phone number and email address so that interested parties have more than one option . flexibility helps . if youre willing to barter , youll likely draw more interest . include your willingness to accept someones best offer when creating your listing so the buyer knows youre amenable to negotiating . |
recognize parts of a note . recognize the types of notes . recognize rests . | how to read piano sheet music 2 | notes consist of several parts . like the lines and circles that make up the written english language , the lines and circle of the notes change how that note functions in its musical sentence . understand the parts of notes in order to understand how they sound . the head is the round part of the note . it can look like an open circle or a closed dot . the location of the head indicates what pitch the note should be . the stem is the line which it attached to the head . it can point up or down , it does not affect the music it is only determined by where on the lines the note is located . the flag is the little tail which you may see coming from the end of the stem . there can be one flag or two . there are several common types of notes which are made by changing different things about the parts that make up a note . there are also rests , which indicate that no sound is played for a certain period of time . here is a list of the most common notes a whole note a whole note is indicated by an open head with no stem . these are indicated with a 1 in the time signature . a half note a half note is indicated by an open head with a stem . these are indicated with a 2 in the time signature . a quarter note a quarter note is indicated by a closed head with a stem . these are indicated with a 4 in the time signature . an eighth note an eighth note is indicated by a closed head with a stem and one flag . these are indicated with an 8 in the time signature . a sixteenth note a sixteenth note is indicated by a closed head with a stem and two flags . joined notes eighth and sixteenth notes can be joined together by turning the flags into a bar which spans between them . these are indicated with a 16 in the time signature . there is no elegant way to put it quarter rests look like a squiggle . eighth rests look like a diagonal line with one tail , while sixteenth rests have two tails . whole rests look like a bar in the upper half of the middle space , while half rests are in the lower portion . |
recognize left hand and right hand lines . recognize the pitches on your piano . use the pedals when indicated . read the lines of music . go slowly . practice . | how to read piano sheet music 3 | when you look at piano sheet music , you will see that there are two staffs which are attached at the beginning of each line and at the measures . these two lines indicate which hand plays which notes . the upper staff indicates the notes played with the right hand and the lower staff indicates which notes are played with the left . each key , both white and black , represents a particular pitch and like the repeated pattern of the keys , the pitches also repeat . look at your piano and you will see two black keys close together and then three black keys close together . starting with the first of the two keys and moving to the very next key including white notes the pitches are cdb , d , deb , e , f , fgb , g , gab , a , abb , b , and c . the bolded text indicates a black key . labeling the keys while you learn may be helpful . you may see pedals at your feet if using a proper piano , rather than a keyboard . the left pedal is called the soft pedal , the middle pedal is called the sostenuto pedal , and the right pedal is called the sustain or damper pedal . when to use the most common pedal , the sustain pedal , is indicated on the sheet music the sustain pedal should be pressed when the word ped . is written below a note and released when you see a star . alternatively , you may see horizontal , vertical , or angled lines together . a horizontal line means to press the pedal , an angle means a brief release , and a vertical line means to release the pedal . reading music is just like reading a language . think of the staff as the sentence and the notes as the letters . put your knowledge of the staff together with your knowledge of the notes and begin to play the music that you see on the page . you wont be very good at first but you will get better and better as you get more experience . when first learning to play piano , play slowly . over time you hands will get used to the movements and it will be easier to play without looking at your hands constantly . play songs very slowly until you are comfortable and ready to speed it up . reading and playing music smoothly and correctly takes time and practice . dont be discouraged if you dont get it right away . if it was an easy skill to pick up , people wouldnt be so impressed when youre good at it practice every day and get help when you can . a music teacher at your school may be able to help you learn to play the piano . you can also ask members of your community , such as people at your church , if theyd be willing to help you . if you really struggle , consider taking a class . these classes dont need to be expensive . many piano students at your local university will offer discounted lessons and local community centers will sometimes offer cheap courses . |
call on an expert to find out what your piano is worth . | how to restore a piano 1 | restoring your piano can take a big bite out of your budget , and if you are a novice , you dont want to engage in especially risky parts of restoration and ruin the piano . try to get an idea of your pianos worth and overall condition before you sink money into restoring it . you can contact a local piano tech or other knowledgeable party and they can help you determine the structural and musical condition of your piano , as well as whether or not it will be feasible to restore it . if you have a piano from during or after the great depression , evaluate the materials used to construct it . if main panels are primarily composed of particleboard , it is likely less worth restoring . if it is primarily composed of wood , has a fairly thick iron frame , and is from a reputable brand it is more likely to be worth restoring . pianos from the competitive market of 1890 - 1925 are often of higher quality and more comparable to well respected brands today . if you dont know the age of your piano , you can determine what it is if you know who manufactured the piano and if you have the serial number of the piano . |
post the ad in as many places as possible . set a fixed price and post the piano on an auction site . use social media to get the word out . | how to sell a used piano 2 | this is easily the best way to find the right buyer . pursue paid advertising if youre willing to foot the cost . if you would rather stick with free sites , you should have no trouble getting your ad posted on high - traffic classified sites . holding an auction for a used piano may not yield the best results , but listing it for immediate purchase may generate a few nibbles . you should have at least one detailed photo if you decide to pursue this route . providing links to your listings on popular social media sites can increase the amount of traffic to your posting . but dont overdo it . badgering people on your social network can cost you friends and strain relationships . |
respond quickly to interested parties . answer any questions buyers may have . negotiate a fair price . | how to sell a used piano 3 | people dont like waiting for replies , especially with so many available products for sale online and through the classifieds . if you dont answer them , theyll likely spend their money elsewhere . check your email and phone messages regularly , and provide a reply as soon as it is convenient for you . even with the clearest , most well - written ad , people will invariably have questions for you . do your best to provide any additional information . if youre willing to accept someones best offer , then keep a dialogue open with that customer until you come to an agreement or decide that neither one of you is willing to go any further . |
make sure that your keyboard is on and functionaloperating normally . find the memory bank button . go to the song memory section to the right and choose between 3 , 4 , and 5 . click rec plus 3 , 4 or 5 at the same time . check to see that the lcd display now shows rec . play and it will record , when youre finished , click the startstop toggle button . go to the song list and find you recorded song | how to record a song on a yamaha dgx 20 3 | press it . the lcd display should say , bank 001 . , , you can play whatever you want . the display will now say writing do not turn the keyboard off while it is writing . then click play . |
find the serial number . locate your piano on the chartto see how old it is . discuss the age and overall musical and structural integrity of your piano with a trusted technician . | how to restore a piano 2 | it is usually located on the plate of the piano between the bass and tenor strings . it is sometimes found on the top of the piano when you open the lid . regardless of the age or manufacturer , keep in mind that ornate carvings and inlays , or any unusual design , can mean your piano is moderately more valuable , even in the face of poorer condition internals . a pro can suggest to you the best stains and methods to use if you plan to restore the wood yourself . unless you want to restore your piano so that it is a furniture showpiece only , consider consulting a piano tuner to determine if your piano is musically sound . a professional tuner can also advise you about replacing worn or damaged piano keys . |
disassemble the piano . cover all the interior parts . | how to restore a piano 3 | this will require removing all the hardware and labeling each part so that you can reassemble it . you might want to take notes as well to help you remember the disassembly process because the project may take you a long time to complete . it also helps to take photographs of each piece before and after you remove them . unless you are repairing parts within the main action , do not disassemble the main action . use a plastic sheet and make sure every part of the interior is covered . |
use a furniture paint stripper to remove the old varnish . clean the bare wood after you have removed the varnish . use a wood filler to repair dings and dents . choose the wood stain . apply the first coat stain . allow the first coat to dry thoroughly . | how to restore a piano 4 | this may require several applications , especially if your piano has ornate parts or scroll work . you can skip this step if your piano has no varnish or paint left on it . use paint thinner , fine steel wool and an old lint - free cloth . as almost all pianos use a very thin veneer , avoid taking off any more material than is necessary to remove the original finish . if you plan to use a lacquer finish coat , you must use a filler that has the same chemical makeup as the finish lacquer . this will prevent a reaction to the stain you use that could cause uneven color after you stain the wood . most finishes can be applied over most types of wood stain , but polyurethane varnish cannot be applied over some stains . use a lint - free rag . you can also use a foam brush use only new brushes . stain a small area at a time and wipe away any excess to avoid streaking . you can apply as many coats of stain as you would like each new coat will deepen the color . |
start applying the final finish . lightly sand between each coat . use a tack cloth to wipe down the wood . | how to restore a piano 5 | polyurethane works well as a finish coat . it will seal the stain and protect your piano from moisture damage . your finish coats will dry pretty quickly , but you should allow each coat to dry for at least 48 hours between applications . use a fine - grade sandpaper or no . 000 steel wool to sand each thin coat of finish . two or three thin coats of finish will give your piano a professional sheen it is a longer process , but is preferable to applying just 1 thick coat . after you sand each application , wipe down the wood with the tack cloth so that all dust and other particles are removed before you apply the next coat of polyurethane . if you skip this step , you will likely end up with a bumpy and unsightly finish coat . |
make absolutely sure all the parts are dry before you begin to reassemble the piano . put a piece of carpet on the floor before you begin . reassemble the pieces in reverse order . | how to restore a piano 6 | touch each piece and each part of each piece if anything feels tacky , then it isnt thoroughly dry . you can also use a large , flat piece of cardboard or a sheet . this is a preventative step that will help prevent scratches to the wood while you are reassembling the piano . consult your photographs and your notes . |
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