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avoid interval tuning when playing with other instruments . play your thickest string fretted on the fifth fret . tune the un - tuned string next to a . finish with your final string . | how to tune a bass guitar 2 | interval tuning will make sure your strings are in tune with each other , but will not tune your bass to the actual pitch . interval tuning is perfect for solo playing or for situations where you have no other method of tuning . if you are playing with a group and nobody has a tuner , you could interval tune your bass and then have other players tune their instruments to yours . as long as everyone tunes to the same root , the players should sound in tune . this is also known as the e string . playing the e string fretted at the fifth fret will produce a similar sound to that of its neighbor , the a string , when played unfretted open . these notes should be the same . to achieve this alternate between playing your fifth fretted e string and your open a string . hold the two tones in your head as best you can . adjust the a tuning peg to change the a string to match the fifth fretted e string note . the a tuning peg , in most cases , will be the second from the body of the guitar . this is the d string . now that a has been tuned to the e string , you can use a to tune d . play a string while holding the fifth fret , then alternate and play the d string open . these tones should be the same . to tune your d string play both notes and try to hold each in your head . the d string note will be tuned to the fifth fretted a string by adjusting its tuning peg . the d string tuning peg should be the third closest to the body of your guitar . turn the peg until the tone made by your d string matches that of your fifth fretted a string . this is also known as the g string . since d has been tuned relative to a , you can use d to tune g . fret d again while holding the fifth fret and play the note . then play the g string open . both these should be the same , so youll need to alternate between notes and try to hold both in your head . the g string pitch will need to be adjusted through its tuning peg . the g string tuning peg is usually the farthest peg from the body of your guitar . turn this peg while alternating between fifth fretted d and open g until the notes match . your bass is tuned . |
turn on your tuner . set or check your tuning note . tune to your tuner . make use of online tools when a tuner is unavailable . | how to tune a bass guitar 3 | depending on the brand of tuner available , you may need to press a button , flip a switch , or simple open your tuner to turn it on . as there are many different models of tuner , youll have to follow your tuners direction for best results . desktop tuners are small devices that can be set up on flat surfaces , like a desk or music stand , while tuning . these frequently have ¼ inputoutput to connect to both bass and amp . clip on tuners are generally very convenient for practice , though these can be unsightly if left on during a performance . you should clip these onto your headstock when tuning . some simple tuners may only tune to a single note , but you might be able to set other tuners to whatever note you please . this information should be displayed clearly and prominently on the screen of your tuner . most electronic tuners these days comes with a led screen color coded red and green . red generally implies that you are off pitch , while green implies you are nearing it . you may find that your tuner has an auto - tune function to help beginners tune open unfretted strings . this might require you to set your tuner first before playing a string and adjusting its tuning peg to tune your bass . after the tuner is set , play strings one at a time and follow the tuner screen indicators to tune each string by adjusting each corresponding tuning peg . you wont have to alternate between strings like with the interval method or hold a pitch in your head like when tuning to another instrument when using a tuner . be careful not to accidentally mismatch strings and tuning pegs . doing so will mean youll have to re - tune . when youre in a pinch and you dont have a tuner on hand , you could always look up a free bass guitar tuner online on your phone or computer . there are even guitar tuning apps you can download to your phone so youre never without one . depending on your phone and the quality of the appwebsite tuning service , some of these online tuners may be low quality . |
familiarize yourself with the anatomy of the bass . learn how to tune - a - bass - guitar . familiarize yourself with the amplifier . learn proper posture , how to hold the bass while standing and sitting . learn how to pluck the bass . learn how to mute strings with each of your hands . get into position . learn the notes of the first four fingers of the most upper string including the loose string note e f f g g . learn how to press the strings with your left hand hard enough so that when you pluck with your other hand the pitch will shift accurately . learn how to play in time . learn how to read and play bass tablature . learn music theory and develop musical intelligence . learn how to play the e major scale . learn the role of the bass player in a band . learn the most common techniques such as hammer - on . learn vibrato playing . teach yourself a song that you like . learn more songs , scales and techniques . | how to teach yourself to play bass guitar | identify the most important parts of the bass . use a reference tone from a tuning device or a tuning fork to tune the bass . the bass is tuned from above e a d g where e is the lowest pitch and g is the highest pitch . learning how to tune the bass is very similar to learning how to tune - a - guitar . remember the order with this mnemoniceveryone admires dignified guitarists . plug one end of the audio cable into your amplifier and the other end into the bass . turn the amplifier on . when done playing turn it off . first learn the difference between volume and gain on the amplifier . adjust pots on the bass until you have a nice sound . the basics of setting up the bass amplifier are similar to that of a guitar amplifier see connect - an - electric - guitar - to - a - combo - amp . adjust the strap so that playing feels comfortable . place your right hand above the strings . you may rest the lower arm on the bass . find a position along the strings where the sound is full between the fretboard and the other end . use the index and middle fingers of your right hand to pluck the strings . try to isolate the plucking to your fingers , thereby minimizing wrist and arm movement . learn how to alternate between index and middle fingers . practice switching between strings in a i - m - i - m pattern where i is index finger and m is middle finger . you may use your thumb as support on the back side of the bass . alternatively , you may wish to learn to play the bass with a pick . if this is the case , buy a heavy gauge guitar pick . hold the pick between your index finger between the first and second knuckles and your thumb . then pluck the string by moving the pick downward across it and then upward across it . practice this down - up plucking motion . if you are unsure as to which technique is best for you , try both . when learning how to play bass , ideally a string should never vibrate with another . place your both hands on the bass and try to become as comfortable with your left hand as possible in the direction of the tuning pins of the bass . with your left hand place your index finger on the first fret and your other fingers on adjacent frets . continue for each string a a b c c , d d e f f and g g a a b . avoid the sound of loose left hand fingers . use a metronome . first , try playing notes using the open e string on each beat of the metronome . these are called quarter notes . start slowly and gradually speed up the tempo or speed at which the metronome clicks as you become comfortable playing in time . then , start slowly again and attempt to play on each click of the metronome or beat , as well as once halfway between each beat . these are called eighth notes . finally , start slowly again , and attempt to play one note on each beat , halfway between each beat , and halfway between each of these . that is to say your first note should line up with a click of the metronome , and you should play three more notes before you hear the next click . these are called sixteenth notes . be sure to keep each note even with all the others at each step . look for beginners tablature on the internet . , this is all of the notes in the key of e and is the easiest scale on the bass . play the e string open , then the e string on the second fret , the e string on the fourth fret , the open a string or the e string on the fifth fret , as they are the same note , the a string on the second fret , the a string on the fourth fret , the d string on the first fret , and finally the d string on the second fret . then try going back down the scale and up again until you are comfortable with it . then , you can learn other scales by playing higher . for instance , the f major scale is the same pattern , you just play each note one fret down the neck e string first fret , e string third fret , e string fifth fret , a string first fret , etc . the f major scale will be two frets down , the g major scale will be three frets down , and so forth . the bassist is often thought of as the liaison between the drummer and the rest of the band . this is due to the fact that the bassist is heavily involved in setting the beat of a song , as well as often forming the root of the chords the rest of the band are playing . thus , you should work very closely with the drummer and work together to keep the tempo . the hammer - on is a common technique where a note is played without plucking the string . to do this , try playing the e string on the third fret . while you still hear the note , switch to the fifth fret . you can apply this basic technique to playing any two notes in sequence on the same string . vibrato is a common technique in music used to add texture . to use vibrato , slightly bend the string back and forth with the fretting finger while you still hear the note . do so faster and faster until you can barely make out the specific times when the tone shifts up or down . with practice , you should be able to add vibrato to sustained notes . aim for playing it in time , with the right intonation . you can see if the song has bass tab available , in which case you should start slow from the tab before playing with a recording of the song . it will be more difficult to learn a song without tab or sheet music , but it can still be done . find out what chord progression the song has , and try just playing the roots of the chords in rhythm . then , try using a common bass walk along with those chords to add to it . this may not be the exact part you hear on the track , but it will still sound good . some good songs for fans of classic rock basslines include i cant get no satisfaction by the rolling stones , you really got me by the kinks , crossroads by cream , my generation by the who , and eight days a week by the beatles . |
make your fingers stronger . proper form is everything . learn to change your strings . get a good amp . experiment with different music styles . learn about musical notation and music theory . learn your scales . listen to other musicians . get a good bass . realize that you and the drummer are the driving force of the band . start a band , best way to learn to play . | how to start playing the bass guitar | having strong fingers helps , seeing as how the bass strings are a fair bit thicker than those of the guitar . learn to use your index and middle fingers to pluck the strings of a bass . there are no down - strokes and up - strokes in bass , unless using a pick every note you make will be from one of your fingers pulling the string towards your face . or , you can use your hand , like a pick , and put your thumb and pointer - finger together and strum . while you usually may not break a bass string like you can very easily the high e of a guitar , you risk breaking other , more crucial parts of the bass like the neck itself . youll need a good starter amp . about 10 to 15 watts is good if you dont plan to play with anyone . or , if you do , get something bigger . i went to sam ash , and found a 200 watt amp it shook the store . try to find something that really catches your attention . generally a lot of alternative rock uses a strong bass note on the 1 and 3 of a beat , but nothing else . jazz , blues , classic rock , some metal , and some punk are some fun alternatives when youre looking for new songs to play . also , try to get a precisionp - bass , they can usually do well with all types . if you are serious about becoming a good bass player , you will need to know your music . just keep in mind that the music theory was born from the music , not the other way around . feel free to experiment your scales are your fundamentals . youll refer back to your scales when you begin to construct bass - lines . start with the 5 note blues scale and 6 note blues scale . and not just other bassists . listen to the drummer who keeps the time and rhythm . rule of thumb if the bass is less than 100 , you will outplay your bass in a matter of months . dont waste all your money on the first bass - you can always go back to get a new one . start with a bass - pack that includesamp , guitar , strings , strap , chords . the bassist and drummer in most bands set and keep the tempo and form the real feeling of the song . the bass and drums also really control the dynamics of the group , so if you want a loud crescendo , then dont crank the guitar crank the bass and have the drummer play louder , then the guitarist should turn up appropriately . the bass and drums are the key to making a song work remember that without them , the guitar sounds puny and weak . im still at this step because people around here arent very . musically talented . |
identify the repeating pattern of keys on the piano . identify the black keys . find the octave the note is in . learn what the notes look like . | how to learn keyboard notes 1 | find the note c on your keyboard , as shown in the image below . this is the first note of the c major scale c , d , e , f , g , a , b , and back to c . note the pattern of white keys three white keys enclosing two black keys , and four white keys enclosing three black keys . you can also see it this way the black keys repeat a five - key pattern of two black keys separated by one white key , then two white keys , then three black keys separated by one white key , then two white keys . this pattern is constant on all keyboards . every note on the keyboard is represented in this single 12 - note octave—theyre just higher or lower in pitch . using the image below , identify and learn the black keys on the keyboard . note that each black key has two possible names . for example , there is c sharp c♯ and d flat d♭ . what you call this note depends on what key you are in or what chord you are playing . here are the names of the notes on the black keys 1st black key in the group is c♯ or d♭ 2nd black key in the group is d♯ or e♭ 3rd black key in the group is f♯ or g♭ 4th black key in the group is g♯ or a♭ 5th black key in the group is a♯ or b♭ notice that to find the note of a black key , you either go to the white key immediately before to the left of it and use a sharp sign , or you go to the white key immediately after to the right of it and use a flat sign . use the image above as a reference . start by finding middle c . this note belongs in the octave 4 , and is highlighted in red , above . go down or up to reach the octave that your key is in , decreasing or increasing the octave number respectively as you go . learning what the written notes look like can also help you understand the relationship of the notes . here is a chart showing what the white notes look like , musically , starting at c4 the c in the 4th octave . here is a chart showing what the black notes look like , musically , starting at c♯4 . on the top line , the notes are written as sharps . on the bottom line notes are written as flats . though they look different , they sound exactly the same . |
start at the first key to the left . go up to the right the keyboard using only the white keys . follow the pattern . learn the black keys . move up to the right in the keyboard , youll find the following group of 5 black keys immediately after the first black key 2nd black key is c♯1 or d♭1 . | how to learn keyboard notes 2 | this is the lowest note playable and it is designated a0 the a at the zeroth octave . the keys youll encounter are detailed as follows first left - most or lowest white key is a0 2nd white key is b0 3rd white key is c1 notice and repeat the following pattern for the remainder of the white keys , starting at the third white key 3rd white key is c1 4th white key is d1 5th white key is e1 6th white key is f1 7th white key is g1 8th white key is a1 9th white key is b1 10th white key is c2 notice how , after reaching b1 , the pattern will repeat again for the next higher octave c2 . this pattern continues up the keyboard c2 to c3 , c3 to c4 , and so on . starting at the lowest black note on the keyboard—at the leftmost side—the first black key is a♯0 or b♭0 . the symbol ♯ is read as sharp , and the symbol ♭ is read as flat . 3rd black key is d♯1 or e♭1 . 4th black key is f♯1 or g♭1 . 5th black key is g♯1 or a♭1 . 6th black key is a♯1 or b♭1 . as with the white keys , the black keys continue the same pattern up the keyboard . |
manage your learning and practice time . plan your practice . improve your musical notation reading skills . improve your finger placement and speed on the piano keys learn some finger stretching exercises to use before you start playing . practice the different scales using proper finger placement . memorize and practice musical scales , especially the most prominent ones . memorize and practice chords . improve your musical aptitude commonly called musical ear by practicing listening to musical pieces and trying to infer their notes . improve your musical mind playing . make sure your posture on the piano is proper . practice on your favorite musical pieces or songs at first . improve your left - hand right - hand coordination skills . practice performing in public . make use of modern technology if youre practicing by yourself . learn the fingering techniques . | how to improve your piano playing skills | dedicate a time slot to sessions or training and be committed about it . try not to allow anything to deter you from your practice . commitment to practice is crucial to improving your abilities . use schedules if your time is so full that you cannot dedicate the same time slot periodically . use reminders on any device you usually carry with you to remind you of your sessions . if using a device is not helpful , having an agenda on hand can do the same job . although this is not necessary later , at first , when youre learning new things , its important to know what you should be learning in the next few sessions so as to be able to measure your progress . this is supposed to help you keep track of your knowledge and skills progress , not be a tool to disappoint you if you didnt make the progress you hoped for in the time you expected . if you feel some particular concept took a really long time to master , dont worry . the important thing is that , in the end , you do master it . many of the steps and tips to follow will either depend on , or greatly benefit from a proficiency in reading musical notation sheet music . you can do this as follows learn to read piano music if you havent already done so . make sure you understand most of the concepts of musical notation . if you want to improve your overall piano playing , youll need to learn about more advanced musical notations such as dynamics , tempo , key and time signatures , clefs , etc . knowing only how to read the notes themselves and their intervals wont be enough . learn to sight - read piano music . this will improve your ability to translate what you see and understand on the musical sheet into beautiful piano tunes . learn proper piano finger placement if you havent already done so . placing your fingers correctly on the piano keys is crucial to developing more advanced abilities . start by practicing going up the scale , then down , then up and down . do each one at least five times using proper finger placement when practicing a certain scale . try to practice two or three scales before each session . do this whether a session is a lesson with a teacher , or some free time slot you assigned to learning and practicing the piano . try to practice using sheet music that contains finger numbering on them , especially at first . this way you can be sure that you are playing correctly . fingering is very important later on when you are playing harder pieces . practice with increasing speed . set your metronome on a slower speed and when you have mastered one speed move it up to a faster speed . this will develop muscle memory . when learning a new song , or a new scale , start by playing it slowly but obeying the timing of the piece . then , start speeding up , keeping proper time intervals between the notes . for example , if practicing a simple c major scale , youll start by playing each note c , d , e , f , g , a , b as a whole beat . then start playing each note for half a beat not leaving the other half beat as a rest , then quarter , and so on . once you made a mistake , start all over again . practice this for half an hour a day until you feel you can do it without making any mistake . practice proper chords finger placement . you can find many resources on the internet detailing proper fingering for each chord . sometimes youll find more than one optimal finger placement this is a matter of preference , so follow whichever makes you more comfortable while playing especially while progressing from one chord to the next . learn all the major , harmonic minor , melodic minor and chromatic scales . master the scales and practice them . also , if youre playing a specific style such as blues , jazz , etc . learn the scales of that style . chords are multiple notes played together at the same time on the piano , pressing multiple keys simultaneously . begin by learning the most prominent chords . learn the different inversions of a chord . try to learn when and in what progression each inversion is used . practice chords by playing progressions . start with simple ones such as the c - f - g progression . once youve mastered those , go to more complicated ones . do this as follows start with simple and slow songs . try to find the notes of the song first by trial and error on the keyboard . always practice slowly before you try to play quicker . it is better to go step by step , rather than rushing through things . try to name the notes using only your ear after that , and writing them down . after youve finished a section , try playing the notes youve written down , see how close you were . you might create some grading system and try to test yourself . dont worry if you get only few notes at first . just learn from the mistakes you make . bit by bit , youll some day be able to write down the whole song with great accuracy . mind playing is when you play a song or a piece of music in your mind . this can be done as follows look at a sheet music and try to play it in your mind . at first , youll find difficulty doing so , so play it tone by tone . at the very beginning , you might use some sort of recording device and read the notes by humming and recording . with progress , youll start recording larger chunks of the sheet before pausing to read the next chunk . then youll be able to sight read whole passages , melodies , and even pieces in your mind . after that , actually play the piece and see how close it was . improper posture on the piano can cause pain which in turn makes your body more stiff so that you cant play as fluently as you would if your posture were correct . align your pelvis opposite to the middle c note . sit upright , not leaning towards or away from the keyboard . be relaxed , not stiff . your fingers should be slightly curved downwards , as if youre holding an apple in you hand . do not place your fingers in a perpendicular position with the keys . also , do not allow your fingers to curve upwards . if youre new to playing , watch the pinky fingers . they seem to go higher than the other fingers for new learners . try to make each pinky stay at the same level as the other fingers . this might need some practice at first , but keep it up until it becomes the natural stance . you can find a lot of free sheet music on the internet and you can buy song books and sheet music from many music stores . you can also download free midi files of the song or piece and transform it into sheet music using certain software such as musescore . start by playing the piece really slowly . what matters at first is that you get the progression of notes and chords . worry about timing at the next stage . after youve mastered the progressions and development of the piece , start perfecting your timing . make sure each note is played for the period it is meant to be played , and at the time required . use sectioning while learning . learn sections of the song , master them and then move to the next section . a section can be a melody , a chord progression , a chorus or refrain , etc . this can be accomplished as follows do some coordination exercises before you start practicing . the use of a metronome device would be good as you can practice coordination at different tempos . when practicing more complex pieces , start by practicing the right hand part of the piece , then the left hand or vice versa then try to play them together . take your time , dont rush it . once youve mastered one part , move to the next , and not before that . its important to get used to playing in public while not getting tense because of a wrong note , or nerves . start by performing in front of a small group of private acquaintances family , friends , etc . increase the number of attendants slowly . start performing in private occasions picnics , vacations , parties , etc . there is a wide range of software and hardware designed to aid in the practicing and improvement process . some of those are metronome devices . used to practice timing and tempo and adjust your playing in accordance with time . software pianos . these can be useful while improving your musical aptitude and mind reading . musical notation software such as musescore . this type of software is useful for transforming midi files into sheet music . it is also useful for storing musical scores digitally , managing them , reprinting them , etc . also , software helps with the process of composing music . musical software games and practice aids such as synthesia and prestokeys . these games and aids are used to practice musical scores by means of a midi keyboard or a piano in which case , the game wont be able to keep your score . efficient fingering will help your technique so much more . compare this to multiplication . if you were given the problem 5 plus 5 plus 5 a hundred times , would you do 5 5 5 . or 5 100 obviously the second option . similarly , if you could use a more efficient fingering , why not use it it takes 1 minute extra to figure out what fingering suits you best . a minute spent now could save you hours later when you try to change your fingering . know how the muscles in your hand work . most of this comes from common logic . for example , you can easily point at something with your index finger . how about your ring finger thumb 1 , index 2 , middle 3 , ring 4 , pinkie 5 im not an expert in human anatomy , but its very likely that the thumb and index finger have individual muscles , while the third , forth and fifth have muscles connected to each other . as a result , dont use excruciatingly painful fingering , such as pressing the middle c with your pinkie and then going for the e with your thumb and then the g with your ring finger . buy your sheet music . if you can afford sheet music , it may be in your best interests to do so . sheet music comes with fingerings only the ones you need to know , and people will usually have tested it before releasing it . you can photocopy books as well , but make sure you dont break any copyright laws . 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expose yourself to several different pianos . play each of the pianos , or have the salesman play pieces as well as major and minor scales . take an experienced pianist with you when you are ready to buy get their opinion about your choice of each piano . contact experts find out which pianos are often used by music institutions such as conservatories and universities particularly if you can afford a very expensive piano . try out several pianos of each brand . inspect the piano carefully , including every part , as described . | how to buy a piano | make it a point to visit a few showrooms and become familiar with various manufacturers , and the names and qualities of each make . ask questions , and get brochures and make notations on a pad regarding each . listen carefully to hear that each piano does have a slightly different tone . some are mellow , brilliant , loud or soft . each individual piano produces a different tone and unique sound regardless of style . take into consideration the size , especially if your room is small . the grand piano ranges in size from under five feet to nine feet a concert grand . the term baby grand is often used to describe pianos around the 5 size . a grand piano has a fast touch and is more responsive and powerful than an upright . many people enjoy playing grand pianos more than upright pianos . however , some larger professional - quality uprights can have equal or better tone quality than many small grands . grand pianos all have a horizontal action , and upright pianos have a vertical action that can be above or below the keys . uprights range in height from 36 to 51 inches 91 . 4 to 129 . 5 cm . all of them require the same amount of floor space , about five feet by two feet . the largest of the uprights is the studio piano , which is 44 inches 111 . 8 cm or taller . this is a type which is becoming quite popular . uprights , 39 to 42 inches 99 . 1 to 106 . 7 cm tall , are referred to as consoles . no longer built is the spinet which was 36–37 inches 91 . 4–94 . 0 cm high . manufacturers discontinued these because they were not a great sound and the action configuration was very inferior to consoles and studios . however you might find a used spinet or one in stock that may be good for the beginner and fit nicely into the room . realize however that tonal preference is very subjective and your opinion is the most important when it comes to the sound you like . listen to low , middle , and high notes . ask about and learn to understand what makes a certain piano more desirable than another . keep in mind however that your experienced pianist is going to recommend what they like , not necessarily what you like . they may also want to steer you to a brand they already know . the brand you have heard of may not be the best choice . your taste and your budget are the most important elements . such hubs of music instruction know through experience some pianos which are of good quality and relatively trouble - free . ask music professors and professional musicians for recommendations . recognize you may be steered toward those brands who have made long term investments in marketing to these institutions to make their products most familiar . piano technicians are another source of information about pianos and may have thoughts on which piano to choose when you narrow down your selections . look for a member of the piano technicians guild in the yellow pages . understand , that a technician will probably be oriented toward pianos that are easier to work on . different models are typically manufactured with vast quality differences . it is similar to a car brand . the boston piano is made from much lower quality components than a concert grand piano by steinway even though they are sold by the same co . often , depending on the model and price range , there are surprising individual differences . one thing you will notice is how the keys feel when you press them down . some are stiffer than others , and some are looser . this is called touch . you will want to find the piano feels good to your fingers and and sounds good to your ears . the back the posts should be heavy and strong enough to provide adequate support in proportion to the rest of the piano . the soundboard a wooden board at the back of the instrument which translates the vibrations of the strings into the tone of the piano . the soundboard is one of the vital parts of the piano . a cracked soundboard can make a piano sound unappealing . plate an irregularly - shaped piece of cast iron bolted to the back of the frame . it holds one end of the piano strings , and anchors most of the twenty tons of pull exerted by the taut strings . treble and bass bridges another of the pianos vital organs . these long pieces of hard maple are attached to the soundboard , transferring to it the vibrations of the strings . when piano dealers refer to the strung back , they mean the parts just discussed plus the strings . the bass strings are wound with wire to add weight and reduce the frequency at which the string vibrates . this allows the use of relatively short strings to produce deeper notes . the working section of the piano is called the action . there are about 7 , 500 parts here , all playing a role in sending the hammers against the strings when keys are struck . piano hammers are formed of one or two layers of felt forged onto a wooden hammer molding under tremendous pressure . if a dealer talks to you about a 9 - pound hammer as opposed to a 12 - pound hammer , he means the weight of the sheets of felt that were used to make the hammers . the piano keys rest in the key bed , a perfectly flat well in the front of the cabinet that keeps the keys level . each key is balanced by a center pin , and bushed with fine wool for silence and proper clearance . the ivories are not ivory anymore , but a fine molded plastic that wont crack or turn yellow . the black keys are made of a similar material . most pianos have three pedals , but most pianists need only two . the sustain pedal on the right lifts the dampers which in a resting position prevent the strings from vibrating away from the strings so that the tone is sustained after the keys are released . the pedal on the left , called the soft pedal or una corda pedal mutes the tone by shortening the distance the hammers travel or by shifting the action slightly so fewer strings are hit . many pianos have a third pedal in the middle for sustaining bass tones only . on most grand pianos and some uprights , the third pedal is the sostenuto pedal , which sustains tones when the pedal is depressed . finally , theres the cabinet , that handsome piece of furniture which will take a prominent place in your decor . modern cabinets are made of core stock overlaid with thin veneers of fine furniture wood . many grains and finishes are available and modern finishing techniques assure excellent appearance and easy care for years . |
have a knowledge of a variety of music , so as to not be imitating any one song . learn about scales . learn about chords . there are as many ways to improvise as there are people . | how to improvise on the piano 1 | jump in and learn one that has a lot of sharps or flats in it if you can , such as b major . practice the scale you learn maybe just in the right hand at first . you might find these bumpy scales are easier to play than c major , since you can see how the scale is shaped it is suggested that you learn triad chords before moving on to quartals and such . triad chords consist of three notes 1 - 2 - 3 and between two notes and the root1 - 2 or 1 - 3 is a distinct interval . for a quick example , a c major triad consists of a c - e - g . between c - e is a major 3rd , while between c - g the interval is a perfect fifth . here are some suggested techniques to try . you may find one may suit your way of thinking better than others , so give them each a shot |
sit down and hit notes only of the same key . have your left hand play the background chorus slow block or broken chords in the same key . have your right hand playing the melody . switch keys once you become better at it to give it a broader , more complex feel and to amplify the beauty of the song . | how to improvise on the piano 2 | f , g , em , a , etc . , |
play a slow 44 piece with each measure getting one chord on the left hand . with the right , improvise a melody within that chord . the next measure switch to a different chord and continue the melody in that next chord . continue this until you become proficient or bored . | how to improvise on the piano 3 | , |
once youve learned how to play some scales in both hands , try improvising with both hands going at once . try playing a call and answer game with your hands . | how to improvise on the piano 4 | get your fingers moving in the same scale . itll sound alright . play some random phrase in one hand and try to repeat it in your other hand . start simple . eventually you may find your hands can generate melodic ideas simultaneously that work together |
instead of simply playing block chords or arpeggios in one hand , try to make the top or bottom note of that accompaniment form its own melody . try playing accompaniments in your right hand with chords or arpeggios and melodies in your left hand . | how to improvise on the piano 5 | the little finger commonly known as a pinky and the thumb tend to be most convenient for this way of playing . |
learn the parts of the bass guitar . sit upright with the body comfortably in your lap . know the names and notes of all four strings . alternate your index and middle fingers to pluck the strings . learn what notes each fret represents . use a few tricks , like octaves , to help learn notes across the fretboard . press a string right behind the fret to sound out the note . fret with the outside edge of your fingertips . read tablature to learn almost any song for free off the internet . | how to play the bass guitar 1 | if you want to play the bass guitar , you need to understand how to talk about it . a bass is a relatively simple instrument , but knowing the vocabulary is essential body the big part of the bass that rests on your lap or along your stomach . it contains the hardware needed to make sound . neck the long , segmented section that the strings run along . head the top of the bass , where the strings are locked in . it holds the tuning pegs , which you turn to tune . frets the segmented sections on the neck . each fret represents the location of a different note . bridge the area on the body that the strings are locked into . it is at the opposite end as the head . pick - ups on electric basses , these are the little rectangular bars in the center of the body . they transmit the sounds youre playing to an amplifier . it is easiest to play while sitting , but if you have a strap you should use it to take some of the weight off . lay the body lightly in your lap with the neck pointing to your non - dominant hand . so , if youre right - handed , you hold the neck and frets with your left hand . feel free to experiment with a comfortable height . it should be roughly between your collarbones and hips , but you can adjust it within this range . you want both arms to be loose and relaxed , elbows slightly bent . if youre right handed , your right forearm can rest on the top of the body . just make sure your thumb , middle finger , and index finger can comfortably reach all four strings . of course , there are basses with five , six , or even more strings , but beginners almost always start on a 4 - string bass . on guitars , the strings count upwards , meaning the first string is the closest to the ground when youre playing . the thickest string on top is the fourth string . so , looking at a guitar from the front , the strings would look like 4th string e 3rd string a 2nd string d 1st string g when you alternate fingers , each only has to do half the work , meaning you can often play twice as quickly . to play a note , keep a relaxed , straight wrist , with your fingers draping down the strings . pluck the strings with your index and middle fingers like you were walking them on the strings . keep your hand as still as possible . you dont have to pull hard , just enough to sound out clearly through your amplifier . work on smoothly , consistently alternating fingers without any hiccups or dull notes . luckily , this doesnt require memorization once youve learned how the notes work . remember how musical notes move - - a , a♯ , b , c , c♯ , d , d♯ , e , f , f♯ , g , g♯ , a . each fret simply moves you one step down the line . so , on the 4th string , the thickest string , no fret at all is an e . the first fret is an f , the second fret an f♯ , and so on down the neck . the most important thing to remember is that there is no such thing as e♯ or b♯ . you simply skip right to f and right to c . to help learn notes , know that any note two frets and two strings down is the same note . so , the 4th string , 3rd fret and the 2nd string , 5th fret are both gs , though the second on is a higher pitch called an octave . octaves make learning notes much easier . a note one string down and five frets backward is an identical note . so , the 4th string , 7th fret is an b , as is the 3rd string , 2nd fret . they should sound almost identical . if you need to play the 2nd fret , you press the string down in between the 2nd and 3rd frets . you dont need to play right on top of the fret . the closer you can get to the fret , however , the better the note will sound , so you want to be right behind the 2nd fret to get the best tone . as you get started , youll find it hard to always land right behind the fret . practice a finger position that gets you a smooth note without buzzing and the speed will come later . feel your fingertips , noticing the hard area right near the edge of your fingernail . this is the best place to hold the strings , just a bit to the outside of the fleshy fingertip . because it is a bit harder of an area , you wont have to press quite so hard on the frets to get a good sound . this is a good way to get comfortable playing . tablature also called tab is a simple , web - friendly way of writing out guitar and bass parts . almost any song you could ever want to learn is available online by searching my song bass tab . furthermore , learning the system is easy each line represents a string , and the numbers on it tell you what fret to play . the following example would play the 2nd fret on the 4th string three times , then the 4th fret on the 2nd string three times g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 - - 4 - - 4 - - - - a - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e - - - - 2 - - 2 - - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
play on high quality , round - wound nickel strings . apply fast fret to your strings . work with a metronome so that you dont lose the rhythm . learn to play with three fingers on a high speed rhythm 180 bpm . play the strings perpendicular to the body when youre feeling comfortable with the technique . train yourself by staying on only one note . work on your left hand once youre able to shred on one note . | how to shred on a bass | look for strings you feel good playing on its important to be comfortable when you play . this is optional . the goal is to get a better feel on your strings . in this way , your fingers will slide with greater ease . beware though––this is only to help you , but dont overdo it , dont apply too much fast fret if you work without it , you will practice the technique but you will not keep the rhythm . if you do practice with one , be aware that you will not be able to use it in a band or a composition . if you only play with two fingers , start playing with your third finger on a song that you already know . dont play a high speed rhythm at the beginning . dont start with slayers raining blood , for example . just scrape the string with the tip of your fingers to be fast enough . if you lose power in the sound , you can use a boost or distortion pedal to offset it . it is also a good way to highlight your shred when you play it in a band , focus on your right hand for right - handed players . the d or g strings are the best for training . try to change the note when you play . after that , work on your right hand by changing the string you are playing . |
tune the guitarbass as close as you can get it . starting on the bottom string , fret the 12th note . fret the harmonic at the same position . if the sounds are not the same , adjust the length of the string in order to re - calibrate its intonation . repeat this process with each string . | how to set the intonation on a guitar or bass | , if the pitch of the harmonic sounds the same as the fretted note , then that string is ok . the pitch generated by the harmonic is the natural pitch for reference . if the fretted note sounds lower than the harmonic , then the length of the string should be shortened . move the saddle towards the headstock . try one millimetre at a time . if the fretted note sounds higher than the harmonic , then the string should be lengthened . this is achieved by moving the saddle in the opposite direction to the headstock , one millimetre at a time . |
play along to any song by following the root notes of each chord . time your notes up to the kick and snare drums . learn to walk between notes . practice with a metronome , as perfect timing is essential for great bassists . change your picking location and style to change your sound . add fills - - little improvised or creative sections - - when youre given some space . service the song instead of trying to show off . | how to play the bass guitar 2 | if you dont know the root notes or chords , just ask . for example , say the songs chords are g , c , and then d . you want to play a g when the guitarist plays a g , a c with his c , and switch to d when he switches to d . if youre just getting started , this works for more complex chords too - - you could play the same three notes if the chords were g7 , c7 , and d7 . for beginners , just focus on these root notes . as you get better , start experimenting with the same notes in other areas . the open 2nd string is a d , but so is the 3rd string , 5th fret work on transitioning right in time with the guitarist . you want to hit the first c note right as she hits the first c chord . one of the basss primary functions is to bridge the gap between the rhythm section drums and the other melody instruments guitar , vocals , piano , etc . to do so , you have to be locked into both , playing the right root notes to fit the melody and the right rhythm to fit the drums . good ways to do this are to think in frequencies play a lower note to time up with the low - frequency kick drum , hitting this deep bass not together . play a higher note like the same notes octave to fit in with the snare drum . the walking bassline began in blues and jazz but has since expanded to all types and genres of music . it is the simplest way to bridge your root notes and start expanding your playing through songs . to begin doing so , simply try playing each fret between two notes on the same string . for example , say the song goes from an e to an a . the following walk helps you fill the space between changing chords g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e - - - - 0 - - 1 - - 2 - - 3 - - 4 - - 5 - - - - - youll notice that some notes dont sound as good as others . as you get better , youll learn to walk up and down using only the notes in your scales . you want to play limited notes , but you want every single note to hit the listener hard . the only way to do this is to keep a strong , regular rhythm , which makes practicing with a metronome essential . you should always focus on landing on the beats , practicing in 44 , 88 , and even 32 with your metronome . rock bassists tend to create a rocking , bouncing feel by landing hard on the 2nd and 4th beats . funk bassists must hit the 1st and 3rd beats harder than the other two - - this is one of the roots of the genre . reggae and ska bass tend to focus on the in - between beats - - the 1 and , 2 and , 3 . beats . plucking the guitar near the neck produces a warmer sound . plucking near the bridge has a brighter and more percussive tone . and switching to a pick gives you a harder , sharper edge to your notes . if youre really looking to extend your range , you can learn to play slap bass , producing the unique , loud tones made famous in the seinfeld soundtrack . the aggressiveness you pluck with will also dramatically change the sound . palm muting is when you drape the edge of your hand on the bridge while picking , giving a quiet , percussive , and plodding sound to your notes . always think about what tone best fits the song . harder , more rocking genres like punk tend to want louder , more percussive playing , while softer tones are used in a variety of genres . when you want to add a little flourish or flair , pick moments where the band gives you space - - when there are no vocals , during moments the lead guitarist is quiet , or in and out of transitions . fills are your chance to show off for a few notes , and they are an essential part of keeping the bass interesting without stepping on anyones toes . when playing a fill , try to time it up with a drummers fill . this usually comes right before the song transitions in some way . remember that the roots notes are always most important . when in doubt , play the root notes . great bass players know that they are responsible for a songs groove - - the almost subconscious feel that gets people dancing or moving . but a busy , technical , or flashy bassline is very hard to groove to and often drowns out guitar , piano , and vocal parts . a huge part of successful bass playing is showing restraint . remember - - root notes come first , forming the melodic backbone of the song . any flourishes must come after youve mastered these notes . |
learn the major scale to greatly increase your note range when playing . master the minor scale for a slightly more moody set of notes . learn how the major and minor scales are combined to play even further down the neck . play the other notes of chords instead of just the roots . use accenting techniques to make each note stand out . prioritize the 5th note of each scale when making transitions . mute unneeded strings with your other fingers as you play . study music theory . | how to play the bass guitar 3 | you must , at a minimum , learn the major and minor scales . these two scales , played across the guitar , can guide you throw 90 of the songs thrown your way . if a song is in the key of c - major , you have the entire c - major scale at your disposal . the following scale is for a - major , but you simply start it on whatever note you want to put it in the key of this note . bolded notes are the roots , or the two a notes . g - - - - - 5 - - - - 6 - - - 7 - - - d - - - - - 5 - - - - 6 - - - 7 - - - a - - 4 - - 5 - - - - - - - - 7 - - - e - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - 7 - - - , the minor scale generally has a darker or more moody tone to it . the a - minor scale located below is a good fit for songs in a - minor . again , bolded notes indicate root notes . g - - 4 - - 5 - - - - - - - 7 - - - - - - d - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - 7 - - - - - - a - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - 7 - - 8 - - e - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - 7 - - 8 - - , this handy trick will double the number of notes at your disposal when playing songs , though it is important to note that they still have different feels . to find the notes , take the major scale in the key youre playing , for example , the a major shown above . if you start a minor scale on the second note of the major scale , in this case the 7th fret b , all of these notes will fit in your song as well otherwise put , a song in a - major can use either the a - major scale or the b - minor scale . this relationship holds up and down the fretboard . for example , you could play just a , e , and d if the chords are a7 , e7 , and d7 . but you could also play some of those 7th notes , which simply mean the 7th note in the associated scale . so , if the guitarist is playing an a7 , you can also hit the 7th not in the a - major scale 2nd string , 6th fret to sound amazing . if youre struggling with the numbers , just ask the guitarist to show you the chord . all the notes hes playing on his top four strings will match the notes on your four strings . many bassists can play 10 notes and sound good , but only the best players can play one note and make it sound amazing . bass is a very physical instrument , and your ability to handle and manipulate the strings is how you wring emotion and power out of every note vibrato keeping your finger on the string , shake your hand up and down . you should hear the note waving based on how high or far you shake the string . bends with your finger on the fret , use 2 - 3 fingers to push the string up the neck . you should hear the notes pitch change as you bend the string . you can also pull the string downward , too . slides play a note and , without taking your hand off the string , slide down to the next note you want to play , fluidly transitioning down . hammer - ons instead of plucking a note , slam your finger down on the string at the fret you want , sounding it out with just this hand . pull - offs when removing your finger from a fret , use your fretting hand to pluck the string instead of coming straight off . if you stick to root notes , their octaves , and the 5th , you can create many interesting , melodic , and moving basslines . the 5th is simply the 5th note in the scale - - even if that particular chord isnt being used . you can slide the 5th note between other roots to effortlessly slid up and down the neck . check the lick below , played over a simple c , g , d chord progression illustrated below . g - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d - - - - - - - - - 5 - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0 - - 3 - - 0 - - - 2 - - - - - - - 5 - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 - - - - - - - - - - 310 - - - - 10 - - - c - major - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - g - major - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d - major - the bass is a very low , deep frequency , and youll notice that it shakes the room when played loud . this is great , except when that shaking sounds out the strings you arent even playing to avoid this , bass players must use their whole hand to keep other strings mute , which you can do by simply laying a finger on the string to keep it still when you play a note , let your finger come up , resting on the string above it to mute it . dont pull your hand away from the guitar after plucking . do the same thing when plucking your thumb downward , resting it on the string below . use your ring and pinky fingers to mute lower strings , resting them on all strings below the two plucking fingers . use your thumb to mute higher strings , resting it on strings above the ones youre playing . there are endless options available to you , from new scales to modes and melodic tricks , that only come from time spent learning music theory . start with the basics , like the circle of fifths , before moving on to scale composition and more fun tricks and tips . at the very least , learn how to form the pentatonic scales , which are simplified versions of your major and minor scales . |
examine the headstock . remove an old string . clean the neck and fretboard . clean the body . pull the new string through the bridge . thread the string . turn the tuner . repeat with each string . tune your bass . locate and remove the truss rod cover . check the gap between the strings and the fretboard . adjust the truss rod . check the adjustment . let your guitar rest . | how to set up a bass guitar | this is the top of the guitar , where the strings are held on to the nuts for tuning . note how the strings come off at the nut and wind around each tuner , especially how many times each wraps around . lower strings , which are thicker , will wrap around fewer times . this is a good reference point for when you re - string the bass yourself to see if things are fitting properly . to do this , loosen the first string via the tuning pegs , until you see it loosen . where the bass is strung at the bottom of the guitar will be different for different depending on the manufacturer . you may have to pull the string out through the bridge , or the body . before removing the strings , be sure to see how they are wrapped around each post . wrapping around the wrong side is a common mistake , so make a note of which way to go for when you re - string . you can either replace the strings one at a time or all together . most people prefer to change them one by one because it keeps some tension on the neck . if you do them all at once , just keep track of which string went with each nob so you replace them in the proper order . once youve removed the strings , its good to keep them as spares in case your new ones break . use cleaning oil to give the neck a good wipe down and get rid of any dirt or grime . if the neck is made of wood , check your cleaning product to make sure it wont damage the wood . then apply some oil to the fretboard and let it soak for about 5 to 10 minutes in before wiping off the excess . use a soft cloth to wipe down the rest of the bass , getting rid of dust and any stray fingerprints . do this without the strings is better because youll be able to get to the parts of the bass that would normally be covered by them . you can use a cotton swab to really get into the nooks on the bridge . make sure the thickness matches the string you pulled out of that slot . the order you string the guitar doesnt really matter , though it is easier to start on one end and go down the line in order . its most important that you get the right string thicknesses in the right place on your bass . when you start the restringing , make sure to give yourself too much string to thread through and wrap at the nut in the headstock . youll always be able to cut off extra . bend the string down into the nut , and wrap while turning the tuner . hold the string taut with one hand and make sure to wrap as tightly as possible around the nut . make sure that youre being careful not to damage the string . finely wound or strings with coatings can be nicked and bent very easily . you should now be turning the attached tuner knob to tighten up the string . you dont need to get the string in perfect pitch just yet but its a good idea to keep tightening the string until it makes a sound when you pluck it . in other words , keep tightening the string until it no longer flops around the fret board on the neck . youll adjust the tuning later , for now the string just needs to be tight . if you decided to remove them all at once , youll only need to do the re - stringing , but if not , youll just start by loosening the next one and going on from there . once you have completely re - strung the bass , you can tune the strings to get the proper notes . use an electric tuner , or a piano , to get the proper pitches . the strings on a four - string bass should be tuned low to high at the notes e - a - d - g , while a five - string should be b - e - a - d - g . in most basses , the truss rod is located at the bottom of the headstock . some bass guitars , though , will have the truss rod hidden at the bottom portion of the fret board where the neck joins the body . if the truss rod is in the headstock , you should be able to make adjustments with a 5mm allen wrench , which should be included with your bass . if it does not have one , you should be able to get one from a tool kit . if your truss rod has a cover on it , itll need to be removed . you will see a metal plate screwed into the back of the bass where the neck joins the body . this can be removed by simply unscrewing the screws that are fixing it to the guitar . remember to keep the truss rod cover and its screws in a safe place . these truss rods can be adjusted using a phillips screwdriver . a good rule of thumb is the thickness of one to two business cards between the string and the frets . more experienced bassists will probably have a more specific gap in mind , and can adjust to that . frets are the ridges on the neck that you press the strings onto to create different notes . slide the business card between the string and the 8th fret starting your count from the headstock . if the card cant fit , youll need to loosen the truss , and if there is extra space , youll have to tighten it . in most basses , you will turn the rod clockwise to tighten the truss rod , and counterclockwise to loosen it . you shouldnt need to turn it much , about 14 turn in the necessary direction . clockwise and counterclockwise directions based on looking down the neck from the headstock . once you have made the turn , check the gap with your business cards at the 8th fret again . avoid adjusting more than 2 or 3 times in total . if you still arent satisfied with the adjustment , or notice you cant turn the rod any further , take it to a professional technician to let them examine it . once you have finished setting the truss , retune the strings and let your guitar sit for a few hours . you want to let the wood settle after the adjustments . after the rest , pick it up and give it a try . if everything feels right , you are ready to go . |
choose the number of strings . select a scale . decide on fretted or fretless . choose a material . find an amp . decide if youll play with your fingers or with a pick . | how to play bass 1 | because bass guitars are electric , the body of the guitar can come in nearly any shape or color and still give a great sound . what is important though , is choosing a guitar with the right number of strings for your ability . as a beginner , it is best to start with a classic 4 - string bass guitar . the original bass guitar was made with 4 strings , and is considered the most basic . nearly all bass guitar music can be played on a 4 - string guitar , and because the neck is narrower than a 5 or 6 string guitar , it is easier to work your hands around . a 4 - string guitar is typically strung with the eadg strings , but if you want , it can be strung like a 5 - string guitar with a lower string making it bead instead . 5 - string and 6 - string guitars are great because they give a greater range of available notes to play . however , they also require more control to reduce the buzzing of other strings and the ability to reach all the notes . the scale of a bass guitar refers to the distance from the nut to the bridge , essentially the length of the guitar strings . a longer scale will have longer string length and produce a deeper sound . a shorter scale may be easier to maneuver for a beginner , but will lack the depth of sound a long scale bass will have . most bass guitars have a 34 scale , but you can also find short scale 30 or less , medium scale 30 - 33 , and extra long scale 35 or more bass guitars . unless your hands are very small or very large , stick with a 34 scale for the best sound . if you decide to get a 5 - string or 6 - string bass guitar , increase the scale for a better sound . always get a minimum 35 scale if you increase the number of strings . a fret is the space sectioned by small metal dividers on the fingerboard of the guitar . frets mark where different notes on a string can be played , and are found on all guitars . however if you are buying a bass guitar , you have the option to go fretless . a fretless guitar does not have the metal dividers , and instead has a long , smooth fingerboard . fretless guitars are more difficult to play because you dont have a visual marker of where certain notes lie . instead , you have to play the bass by ear . for beginners , it is best to choose a guitar that is fretted , to give some guidelines for note and finger placements . over time , you can choose to move to a fretless guitar for a bigger challenge and a slightly different sound . bass guitars are made out of many different materials , including different types of hard and soft woods , and composite or synthetic materials . each substance gives the bass a slightly different appearance and sound . hard woods , such as hard maple , walnut , ebony , and rosewood , give a percussive sound to your bass . soft woods including alder , basswood , and swamp ash , aid in supplying your bass with a softer , warm sound . the most popular synthetic material to make bass guitars out of is graphite , although luthite is another commonly used material . these are all very consistent in sound , as the material doesnt change from guitar to guitar like it does with natural woods . many bass guitars are made from a mix of materials , especially having the body of one material and the fingerboard of another . this is a good option as well , so dont feel the need to search for a single - material bass only . in order to play bass , you need to have an amp to attach it to so you can hear yourself play . an amp has three parts the power amp , preamp , and speaker cabinet . the easiest way to get all three is to buy a combo amp . although these may lack the louder sound of bigger amps or separate parts , they are the easiest for beginners to use . many people recommend you to learn both ways , youll be a more versatile bassist . |
know what fx is . make sure the power amp and all effects are turned off . disconnect all power adapters from the power amp and the effects pedals . make sure there are no instrument andor speaker cables attached to either the power amplifier or any effects pedal . place the following effects pedals on the floor , from left to right korgax100g multi - effects processor boss ds - 1 distortion pedal dunlop crybaby wah - wah pedal connect the guitar into the input of the dunlop wah - wah pedal using an instrument cable . connect the output of the dunlop wah - wah pedal to the input of the boss ds - 1 distortion pedal using an instrument cable . connect the output of the boss ds - 1 distortion pedal to the input of the korg ax100g effects processor using an instrument cable . connect the output of the korg ax100g effects processor to the input of the power amp using an instrument cable . assemble the fx loop . connect the fx power supplies . proceed to connect the dc adapters to an electrical outlet . assemble the amp and the cabinet . locate the speaker input of the speaker cabinet and make note of its impedance levels . connect a speaker cable from the speaker output of the power amplifier into a matched speaker input of the speaker cabinet . connect the power supply to the power amplifier speaker cabinets do not require a power supply . turn on the equipment . turn off the equipment . | how to set up the essential effects chain guitarbass | some higher - end amplifiers feature what is called an effects loop . typically located on the back of any power amp , the effects loop consists of an input known as the fx return and an output known as the fx send . the fx return is connected to the output of an effects pedal , while the fx send is connected to the input of an effects pedal . the fx loop allows the guitarist to place certain effects after the distortion generated by the amplifiers distortion channel if applicable . the term in front refers anything plugged into the main input of the amp , which in this case would exclude anything plugged into the fx loop . while sonic beauty is in the ear of the listener , the fx loop is typically used to house delay , reverb , tremolo , and chorus pedals . the reasoning behind this is that delay , reverb etc tend to sound better after distortion echoing a distorted sound , rather than being distorted . if your amplifier has a distortion channel which you plan on using , the effects loop will let you run delay , reverb etc after the distortion stage . if you only use effects pedal distortion , simply placing the delayreverb after that pedal will achieve the same result . with all this in mind , this guide will set up the delay pedal in the fx loop , while the other effects will go in front of the amp . make certain the amp does not have a stand - by switch engaged if this switch is on , turn it off first , then proceed to shut the amp down . if you are using a tube amp , wait about a half hour after turning it off before disconnecting the power source . this allows the tubes to cool down properly . , the input is on the right side of the dunlop wah - wah pedal . the output of the dunlop wah - wah pedal is located on the left side of the pedal , while the input of the boss ds - 1 distortion pedal is located on the right side of the pedal . the output of the boss ds - 1 distortion pedal is located on the left side of the pedal , while the input of the korg ax100g effects processor is located on the right side of the processor . the output of the korg ax100g effects processor is located on the left side of the processor , while the power amp input is located either on top of the unit , or on the face of the unit the input is almost always located near the amps tone controls . using an instrument cable , connect the input of the boss dd - 6 delay pedal into the fx send output of the fx loop . the input of the boss dd - 6 delay pedal is located on the right side of the pedal . using an instrument cable , connect the output of the boss dd - 6 delay pedal into the fx return input of the fx loop . the output of the boss dd - 6 delay pedal is located on the left side of the pedal . each of the 4 effects pedals has an input for a power supply usually located on the rear of the pedal . it is very important you use the correct power supply for each pedal for the ds - 1 and crybaby a boss psa - 230p dc adapter will work fine . most effects pedals use regulated 9 volts dc , with a center negative plug make sure the symbols on the adapter and pedal matches . other pedals have other requirements . smallersimpler pedals like the ds - 1 and crybaby can often share the same power supply - assuming their power requirements match up . bigger things - delay pedals , multi - effects etc - may require their own separate adapter . in any case , never plug in a power supply if you arent 100 sure it is the correct one because dc adapters take up a lot of outlets , it would be beneficial to use a power strip to connect all adapters to one electrical outlet . if you are not using the recommended half stack combination consisting of a power amplifier and a speaker cabinet , skip to step 16 . locate the speaker output of the power amp and make note of its impedance levels . for guitar amps , the ohm level is usually 4 , 8 , or 16 ohms , while bass amps usually feature a 2 ohm level . if one output features a dual impedance level ex 48 or 816 , this means it can connect to a speaker cabinet that accepts either of the impedance levels listed . , turn the amplifier on , being sure to disengage a stand - by switch if present . turn on all the effects pedals , making sure that a light or some other led display turns on along with each device . using either a switch or rotary control , engage the fx loop . make sure your guitars volume is turned up , and youre ready to go turn off the power amplifier before anything else . wait about thirty seconds to make sure the amp is completely shut down . turn off all the effects pedals . disconnect the power supplies from each of the effects pedals . this keeps the adapters from running hot , as effects pedals still use electricity even if they are set to the bypass setting bypass refers to the setting in which an effect is used in an effects chain , but is not activated . for example , there may be four effects in the effects chain , but only two are activated during a particular song . |
hold the bass correctly . tune your bass . practice your plucking . mute the strings that arent being played . learn how to play roots . learn how to play octaves . learn how to play roots and fifths together . keep rhythm while you practice . practice on a regular basis . | how to play bass 2 | in order to make the best music you can , it is important to have it in the proper position . you should always use a shoulder strap to hold the bass so that when you are playing your hands can focus on make the sounds you want to hear . you can sit or stand up , but make sure that you have good posture in either position . also , make sure that the shoulder strap holds your bass at the same level regardless of whether you are sitting or standing . the bass should be held somewhere between your hips and collarbones . most people tend to play with it held near their bellybutton , but its all personal preference . the guitar should be held at about a 30 degree angle , so as to prevent the need to uncomfortably angle your wrists so much . the standard tuning on a 4 - string bass guitar is e - a - d - g , with e being the low string and g being the high string . you can learn how to tune your guitar by ear , which is often inexact , or plug your bass into an electric tuner , which is more exact . to make a string go up or go down in pitch , turn the tuning heads , also called tuning machines . the bass guitar , unlike other guitars , is only ever plucked rather than strummed . it is important to maintain good plucking practices though , to create the best sounding music . the bass can be picked like a guitar as well , which is a matter of musical preferences . always keep your nails trimmed short . your nails will change the sound of the guitar if used against the strings . pluck using two fingers to increase efficiency . alternate plucking between your index and middle finger . it doesnt matter which you start with , as long as you keep the speed and rhythm between them consistent . pluck the strings closer to the neck for a flat , warm tone . if you pluck nearer to the bridge at the bottom , the strings will give a more percussive sound . when you practice , keep your plucking isolated to a small area without a lot of movement up and down the strings . pluck the strings by rolling over them with your fingertips . dont actually pull on the strings , as they wont create as nice of a sound . if you want to increase the volume , turn up your amplifier , not your plucking strength . in order to give a clear sound and avoid muffling the notes you play , it is necessary to mute the strings by resting a finger on them . keep your thumb as close to the e string as you are able , so that whenever you are not playing it your thumb can rest on it to do the muting . if you have to skip strings to play multiple notes , try using multiple fingers to help with muting . you can choose to move your thumb off the e string to mute other strings if you are playing higher strings . dont push down hard on the strings , but gently rest your finger or thumb on them to block the vibrations that cause sound . roots are the main note that a chord is based off of . a chord is playing multiple strings at once , and the root is the note for which the chord is named . typically , you will start playing the base simply by focusing on playing the roots to chords . all music is made up of 12 notes , which can be played in higher or lower versions . the higher or lower version of a single note is called an octave . to play a higher - pitched octave than the note you are currently playing , move two strings up and two frets up . to play a lower - pitched octave than the note you are currently playing , move two strings down and two frets down . you can play a lower octave with your index finger and the corresponding higher octave with your ring finger . use your other fingers to help mute the strings that are not being played . once you understand roots , learn how to play fifths as well . a fifth is the note you play five scale tones away from the root . typically these are played together , to accompany another player on the guitar or piano . fortunately , finding your fifths is pretty simple . to play a fifth above , move two frets higher on the next string . to play a fifth below , stay on the same fret and move to one string lower . the most important job of a good bass player is to keep the rhythm of their music . the bass definitely adds great sound to any piece of music , but the vital task is keeping a good beat . once you get better at plucking and playing the correct notes , spend time working on keeping rhythm . listen to the bass performances in some of your favorite songs to hear the ways that they keep rhythm . buy a metronome to help you practice . metronomes are small tools that emit a clicking noise at a certain rate , helping you to match the rhythm . you can adjust their speed to practice at a fast or slow pace . the best advice for anyone learning a new instrument is to practice regularly . putting in only a few minutes of work each week will make excelling difficult . giving yourself at least 10 - 20 minutes of practice a day will not only help your hands to feel comfortable with the bass , but make your music sound clearer and better over time . |
start learning tablature . begin to learn scales . try your hand at soloing . start composing your own songs . learn some advanced techniques when you feel you are ready . when you feel the need of having two or more basses , go for it | how to play bass 3 | tablature is a visual guide that will teach you how to play notes of songs if you dont know how to read music . since many people dont know how to read music , tablature is becoming increasingly popular . as boring as they sound , scales are actually very important in the development of serious musicians . learning scales will help you practice your fingering , improve your speed and agility , as well as help you to soloimprovise . a solo is when a musician sets off on their own and plays a musical passage thats distinct , varied , and sometimes improvised . soloing can be hard , but its also rewarding . when you get to the point of starting to be bored playing other peoples music , it may be time to create your own . composing your own music takes a lot of time , practice , and false starts , but having your own song is like nothing else in the world . some of these techniques include sweep picking with fingers or with a pick , its harder with fingers , tapping , tremolo picking again , harder with hands than with a pick and slappingpopping . if you are at this point , it means that you really like what you are doing . you may be bored with always tuning and detuning your bass , so having 2 or three can save you some time . |
consider a di box . consider going direct . tune your guitar or bass . link your instrument to your macbook . use garagebands digital amps . plug in headphones . switch your input from microphone to line in . open garageband and record . restore your settings to normal when finished . | how to connect a guitar or bass guitar to a macbook 1 | youll need some kind of interface or adapter that takes the signal from the guitar and gets it to the computer . a di is a small amplifier which takes the quiet signal coming from your instrument and amplifies it before it goes into your macbook . dis come in either active or passive forms . most six string guitars are passive by design no amplification inside the instrument itself requiring a battery and thus will require an active di . some bass guitars are active by design require a battery in the instrument and could use a passive di , but in general active dis are more common . although dis convert instrument signal effectively , they are most commonly used alongside professional recording equipment and thus may not have the appropriate outputs to get into your macbook . since you want to avoid adapting your connections signal multiple times , make sure to find a di that has the output you want . search for an interface . the term interface is often used for more complex options of connecting instruments to computers , and implies a more automatic compatibility with modern laptops via usb or other means . search guitar macbook interface or similar to see some options . these work very similarly to dis by amplifying the signal on its way to the laptop , but are sometimes sold in conjunction with software suites that help model various classic amplifiers and effects once your signal has made the leap to digital . first understand what you have in terms of connections one each side 14 inch cable thunderbolt input , etc . then consider what exactly youre trying to achieve . choosing to connect your cables with adapters only and not use di or other proper signal converter when recording results in signal loss and unwanted noise . note older versions of macbook had a microphone 18inch input , while newer versions do not . this is the perfect time for you to check if your guitar is in tune . you dont need an amp cranked to full volume to do this . at a reasonable volume or without amplification at all , listen to the intervals of your instrument or use a tuner to tune it . if you plan on using a tuner or foot pedal with your instrument , these will also need to be added to your setup . for most basses , this means you will have to connect the foot pedal and tuner to your guitar with correct accompanying attachments before you attach your di . if you are recording , you may also want to consider using some fretboard lubricant . this will decrease the amount of squeaking caused by sliding your fingers down the strings . doing this depends on your chosen diinterface . if you choose to adapt your chord and connect your guitar directly to your macbook , youll need appropriate adapters and can expect significant signal loss . more recent macbook versions do not have an audio input for a direct connection but older models do . be careful when youre connecting your cable to your macbooks audio input this port can look very similar to your headphone input . in most cases , your headphone input will be indicated by a small headphone or musical note symbol beside the port . this can be an effective space saving technique , since traditional amps can take up a significant amount of space . garageband comes pre - loaded with many common amps that you can use to craft the sound of your guitar . choose from one of these for the amp that best suits your purposes . youll have to experiment with garageband to find which amp produces the kind of sound suited for your recording . you can also customize amp pre - sets through the amp pop - up menus . using these , you can change between amp types , models , cabinets , and mics . though it can feel righteous tearing a solo on your bass at loud volumes , with this kind of setup the extra noise will likely create feedback and distort the sound of your instrument when recording . protect the quality of your recordings by using headphones . even if you dont intend on using your headphones and instead plan on using the readout in your digital audio interface daw , which in this case is garageband , plugging in headphones can still improve the quality of your recording . a feedback protection feature can be enabled in garageband from the monitor pop up menu . toggle this feature on in that menu to protect yourself from excess feedback . this can be found in your system preferences , which can be found on the program dock . you dock is usually located at the bottom of your screen , and system preferences will likely be represented by a gear icon . in system preferences , there should be an option labeled sound . open this by clicking and then choose input in the following menu . here you will be able to change the settings from internal microphone to line in . navigate to garageband on your macbook . when the program launches , in the upper left hand corner should be the file heading . select this and , in the resulting menu , choose new or new project . this will open the new project dialogue box . here you can choose from many different inputs for your recording choose the setting that best matches your recording preferences . once you have opened a new project and the associated dialogue box has appeared , options should be available for digital amp users who are not using an external amp . since youre using headphones , youll also want to change your from monitor off to monitor on . these settings can be found in the my instrument pop up menu . your macbook will remember many of your changed settings , which could create difficult if you plan on video chatting or using a microphone after your recording session . youll need to return to system preferences on your program dock and from there path through sound to the input menu to return your input from line in back to microphone . |
set your price range . shop around . try before you buy , whenever possible . bring someone along who is an experienced bassist . consider buying a used bass . | how to buy your first bass guitar on a budget | a new bass guitar can cost anywhere from 200 to 5000 depending on the brand , quality , and finish . used basses tend to range from 100 to 1500 and are often just as good , although pricing and selection will vary from one locale to another . over the last year or two , some department stores such as target and walmart began carrying starter instruments that are far less expensive than you might find in a guitar shop . for example , a starter bass currently listed at target . com is priced at 129 . however , your best bet is to check guitar shops and pawn shops frequently for a good deal . also , check the classified ads . most people have no idea what they are selling , and you can get a good deal . most guitar shops will let you plug in and play around with any instrument right in the store . see if you like how it sounds , looks , and feels in your hands . do not buy something used without playing it first unless it comes from a reputable dealer and has some sort of return policy if it turns out you do not like it . be very cautious about buying instruments on internet sites such as ebay . if it sounds too good to be true , it probably is . let himher play any instruments you are considering buying . if you are a parent buying an instrument for your son or daughter , find someone who can try instruments for you . your child will thank you later . most used equipment drops in price over the years and can offer much better quality and sound for the same price as a new bass . always check a used instrument for damage , and play it or have someone else play it before buying it . if you are buying remotely and you cannot have physical access to it , use your judgment and make sure you can have it returned . |
resolve dead audio output created by mono audio . check muting , soloed , and instrument tracks for other audio issues . check manuals for incompatibility . | how to connect a guitar or bass guitar to a macbook 2 | in some cases when using a physical amp , you might find that garageband does not recognize any sound being produced , even when you are playing your instrument . this may be caused by a settings conflict . the most likely issue will be with your mono audio setting . to fix this , you should navigate on your macbook from settings → general → accessibility . in the resulting menu , you should see a mono option , which you should turn off . after adjusting this setting , your sound production should be a - ok . you may need to close garageband and re - launch the program for your setting changes to take effect . if you have muted your main instrument or soloed another instrument , garageband will not output the sound from your instrument . additionally , if you have changed your instrument track from blue to green , garageband is programmed to ignore your input instrument . you may have activated one of these features through an accidental click or by hitting a hotkey mistakenly . check each of these simple solutions before attempting something more drastic . there is a huge variety of equipment you might be using when producing and recording sound with your macbook . any one of these pieces of equipment , your tuner , your di , your pre - amp , and many other commonly used guitar accessories , can create difficulty with garageband if the equipment is not compatible with apple products . check the manuals for your equipment to see if there are compatibility issues . if youve bought your equipment used and were never given a manual , or if you have lost your manual , you can usually search the make and model of your equipment to find its specifications . in many cases , you might even have a digital copy of the manual available to you . |
finding the harmonic , lightly place your finger overtop the fret , just enough to make contact with the string . pluck the string with your picking hand , using your thumb or plectrumpick . practice a quick release . | how to play harmonics on the bass guitar 1 | the frets seven and twelve tend to be the frets most easily used with this technique , so we will start there . choose either . note that you are in fact over the fret itself and note placing your finger where you would hold the string down as if normally fretting it . adjust your fret hands pressure and placement until you have a satisfying harmonic note . now that you have found the placement that gives you the strongest and clearest harmonic over the fret , practice releasing your finger from the string as quickly as possible after picking it to let the harmonic ring out . youre done |
hold down the first fret . find the thirteenth fret . using either your picking hands first , second , or third finger , pluck the string while your thumb stays stationary . practice the release . | how to play harmonics on the bass guitar 2 | this method involves holding down the strings in the usual manner and focus is on the picking hand . for ease of learning holding down the first fret of whichever string you choose will be the starting point . previously the twelfth fret would produce the desired harmonic but due to the first fret being held down , it will now reside at the thirteenth . place your picking hands thumb overtop the fret using the same basic rules from the previous method . adjust your thumbs placement if needed . as in the previous method , once the desired harmonic is found practice releasing your finger after the string is plucked to allow it to ring out . |
place your pick in your hand so as to have only a small portion of it sticking out between your fingers . hold down the first fret of whichever string you choose . pick the string by the thirteenth fret and immediately mute the string with the side of your thumb . | how to play harmonics on the bass guitar 3 | , |
make sure you are serious about becoming a bass player , most people think that it is very easy and doesnt take any skill . purchase a bass guitar and a bass amplifier . learn how to play , joinstart a band , this is it , time to establish your style . succeed | how to establish yourself as a bass player | this is not true by any means . playing bass takes a lot of rhythm and coordination . if you do not have either , practice up on them before taking action for the next step . this is a fairly easy one , assuming financial limitations are few . buy a bass under 500 , but more than 200 , since these are generally very good quality instruments , but not too fancy or elaborate . as far as amps go , get one about 50w for starting . 50 watts is enough to feel the bass and hear it over a drummer , considering you are playing with one . upgrade both your bass and amplifier after about a year of heavy use . this step is the most important of them all . if you dont know how to play , and play well , you never can have the chance for people to like you and your style so you can either do what i did , teach yourself for about a year and then start lessons , or just take lessons right off the bat . do not teach yourself without taking lessons at all along the way , only because i feel that associating with one who knows more about the instrument than you can truly help you succeed . what good is a bass player without a band backing him or her up join up with some people who share interests in the same kind of music as you , and learn to cover some of your favorite songs . this will help you in the future if you start writing original material . make sure your new band practices often . dont just rip off some other bass players style . first thing in establishing your style is to find out your method of playing your bass guitar . do you play with your finger , with a pick , or do you slap make sure you have your style down - pat and then move on to deciding your image . what matters is the player and how well they perform . if you wish to establish your look , by all means , do it are you going to take the flea approach the krist n style les claypool - esque do whatever feels and looks the most natural for you . dont try to be something youre not either , you dont want to be a poser . book some gigs and rock your heart out figure out your stage presence and always be in this presence at shows get people excited land a record deal be big just remember , stay true to the music . its the best thing to ever happen to you , take my word for it . |
examine the head of your guitar . loosen the first string via the tuner until the wraps on the winder begin to visibly relax . once the string is loose enough , pull it from the tuner . pull the string out either through the bridge or the body , depending on your particular bass . clean the revealed portion of your bass guitar neck with a soft cloth or towel . note if the old string had the correct number of winds around the tuner , use it as a template for cutting the new string of the same gauge to length . pull the new string of the same gauge through your bridge assembly in the exact manner you removed it . thread the string through and around guides , if any , being careful not to damage the string . pull the string taut , tighter if you want but tension is not necessary here . examine the wraps on the tuner they should not be overlapping , but lay side - by - side nicely . bend the end and poke it into the center of the tuner . hold the end in the tuner and turn the key until it begins to pull tight , and bring it in close to tuned a final tuning will be performed after all strings have been restrung . replace the rest of the strings following the previous steps . tune your bass guitar and play | how to change strings on a bass guitar | note how the strings come off the grooves in the nut at the top of the neck , pass or bypass holders and the direction that they wrap around the tuners . this is very important for tone . you should have no less than 2 wraps around each tuner but no more than can fit around the tuner without overlapping . you can either take all the strings off at once and put new ones in all together , or do them one at a time . some people prefer to change them one by one because it prevents changes in stresses on the neck . others will periodically remove all the strings at once so they can clean the fretboard more easily . but thats your choice . it will be bent on the end where it was stuck into the tuner . sometimes it will be difficult to grasp the end of the string to pull it out , so alternatively begin by pushing the string out then pulling . there are many treatments available to clean your guitar with , pick whichever is your favorite . if not , it still can be used to guide you in cutting the length of the new string . be careful not to damage the guitar finish . pull the string completely through the bridge before laying it on the nut . finely wound or strings with coatings can be nicked or bent easier than one might think . wrap it around the tuner until there is about an inch left . correct it if necessary . make sure not to put the tip in before wrapping if possible , since doing this will twist the string and can lower its integrity and sound quality . there should be at least two complete wraps present on the tuner , but still no more than can fit on without overlapping . the new string should sit on the bass just as the old one did . , |
adjust your truss rod and adjust your action , if necessary , before setting the intonation of your bass . examine the bridge of your bass to determine the tool you will need to adjust the saddle positions . plug your bass into an electronic tuner . tune each string on your bass . play the harmonic of the g - string at the 12th fret . fret the g - string at the 12th fret and play the note . adjust the bridge saddle to correct the bass string intonation . repeat the process . repeat the process for each of the other strings . | how to adjust intonation on a bass guitar | adjusting the truss rod and adjusting the action on your bass changes the distance between the bridge saddles and the nut . any such change will affect the intonation of the bass . obtain the necessary tool , which can be a small flat - blade screwdriver , small phillips screwdriver or an allen wrench . recheck and adjust the tuning of each string after tuning all of the strings . changing the tension on each string will affect the tuning of the other strings . continue tuning each of the strings until they are all in tune simultaneously . lightly touch your finger on the string directly over the 12th fret . verify on the tuner that the string is tuned exactly to g . fret the string directly behind the fret . fret the string with the same pressure that you would ordinarily use while playing . resist the temptation to press more firmly on the string . note the tuning on the electronic tuner . if this note is sharp above the tone of the harmonic , then the string length from the nut to the bridge needs to be increased . if the fretted note is flat below the tone of the harmonic , then the string length from the nut to the bridge needs to be decreased . if the string length needs to be increased , turn the bridge saddle adjustment screw clockwise . if the string length needs to be decreased , turn the bridge saddle adjustment screw counterclockwise . determine how much to change the saddle adjustment based on how far out of tune the fretted note was . play the harmonic to verify that the string is still in tune after adjusting the bridge saddle location . fret the string at the 12th fret and play the note . observe whether this note is in tune , sharp or flat . repeat the process until the note played with the string fingered at the 12th fret is the same and in tune with the harmonic played at the 12th fret . |
tune the bass as you normally play it . wait at least 30 minutes after any significant change in string tension before inspecting or adjusting the neck of your bass . determine the relief , or bow , in the neck . remove the truss rod cover on the headstock , just beyond the nut . use an appropriately sized allen wrench to adjust the truss rod . adjust the truss rod a 18 - turn at a time . make additional truss rod adjustments with no more that a 18 - turn at a time , retuning and remeasuring after each adjustment . test your truss rod adjustment by fretting each string of the bass at each fret . raise or lower the bridge or the individual string saddles on the bridge . test your action adjustments by playing your bass at each fret . | how to adjust action on a bass | use an electronic tuner to achieve accurate tuning . this will assure that the strings are at the proper tension when adjusting the action . it takes time for the neck of a bass to settle into its final position after significant changes have been made to the forces applied to it . waiting longer periods will increase the accuracy of your adjustments . the neck of your bass must have a slight bow to play properly . if the neck were straight , you would get fret buzz , especially on notes played on the first 5 frets . if you have a capo , attach it at the first fret otherwise , hold down the e - string or b - string on a 5 - string bass at the 1st fret with your left index finger . hold the string down at the 12th fret with your right thumb or right elbow . use a feeler gauge to determine the largest gap between the string and the tops of the 4th through 8th frets . if the string is touching any of these frets , the neck needs more relief . if the gap between the string and any of these frets is greater than 0 . 020 inch 0 . 5 mm , then the neck needs less relief . alternatively , attach a capo at the first fret or hold down the g - string at the 1st fret with your left index finger . press the g - string down at the end of the neck with your elbow . use a feeler gauge to measure the gap between the bottom of the string and the top of the 8th fret . if the gap exceeds 0 . 012 inch 0 . 3 mm , the neck needs less relief . if there is no gap , the neck needs more relief . the truss rod needs to be adjusted if inspection of the neck indicates that it needs either more or less relief . depending on the model of your bass , you will need a small phillips screwdriver to remove the screws securing the truss rod cover or a small flat - blade screwdriver to pop or pry off the truss rod cover . if the neck needs less relief , you will tighten the truss rod by turning the truss rod nut clockwise . if the neck needs more relief , you will turn the truss rod nut counterclockwise . after a 18 - turn , tune the strings again and remeasure the string height . , if there is fret buzz when playing at any of the first 5 frets , the neck is too straight and the truss rod needs to be loosened . if there is fret buzz only above the 12th fret , there is too much relief in the neck and the truss rod needs to be tightened . if there is fret buzz consistently up the neck , the truss rod is likely set properly and the bridge needs to be raised to adjust the action . if your bass does not have individual saddle height adjusting screws , you must adjust the action by raising or lowering the entire bridge . there are many bridge designs , each with its own specific adjustment features . select the proper tool for the adjustment hardware on your bass . typically , tightening turning clockwise bridge height adjusters will raise the action and loosening turning counterclockwise bridge adjustment adjusters will lower the action . if your bass has individual saddle height adjusting screws , make general action adjustments by raising or lowering the entire bridge , then make your final adjustments by changing the height of the individual string saddles . individual string saddles are generally adjusted with allen wrenches . you have lowered the action too much if you hear fret buzz . |
adjust your truss rod and adjust your action , if necessary , before setting the intonation of your bass . examine the bridge of your bass to determine the tool you will need to adjust the saddle positions . plug your bass into an electronic tuner . tune each string on your bass . play the harmonic of the g - string at the 12th fret . fret the g - string at the 12th fret and play the note . adjust the bridge saddle to correct the bass string intonation . repeat the process . repeat the process for each of the other strings . | how to adjust intonation on bass | adjusting the truss rod and adjusting the action on your bass changes the distance between the bridge saddles and the nut . any such change will affect the intonation of the bass . obtain the necessary tool , which can be a small flat - blade screwdriver , small phillips screwdriver or an allen wrench . , recheck and adjust the tuning of each string after tuning all of the strings . changing the tension on each string will affect the tuning of the other strings . continue tuning each of the strings until they are all in tune simultaneously . lightly touch your finger on the string directly over the 12th fret . verify on the tuner that the string is tuned exactly to g . fret the string directly behind the fret . fret the string with the same pressure that you would ordinarily use while playing . resist the temptation to press more firmly on the string . note the tuning on the electronic tuner . if this note is sharp above the tone of the harmonic , then the string length from the nut to the bridge needs to be increased . if the fretted note is flat below the tone of the harmonic , then the string length from the nut to the bridge needs to be decreased . if the string length needs to be increased , turn the bridge saddle adjustment screw clockwise . if the string length needs to be decreased , turn the bridge saddle adjustment screw counterclockwise . determine how much to change the saddle adjustment based on how far out of tune the fretted note was . play the harmonic to verify that the string is still in tune after adjusting the bridge saddle location . fret the string at the 12th fret and play the note . observe whether this note is in tune , sharp or flat . repeat the process until the note played with the string fingered at the 12th fret is the same and in tune with the harmonic played at the 12th fret . |
determine your budget . ask bass players for recommendations . research different brands . look for a model that fits your playing ability . choose a starter bass guitar if you are a beginner . decide how many strings you need . look for a bass guitar with frets , unless you are an experienced player . | how to buy a used bass guitar 1 | before you research types of used guitars , decide what your budget is beforehand . bass guitars are usually cheaper when used , but different models will be pricier than others . think about what you need this guitar for and what quality youd prefer so you dont overspend . if you are a hobbyist or new player , commit to a certain budget beforehand so youre not lured into buying a more expensive brand . talk to more experienced bass players and ask them what theyd recommend for you . tell them your experience level and what youre hoping to get from your new guitar . ask them what model they used and why they chose it . you can also ask them where they got their guitar and whether it was used . if they bought theirs new , ask them if they know of any used instrument stores in the area . a fellow musician will have your best interests both quality and price in mind . bass guitar brands range in price and quality . your needs as a musician and your personal style might fit one brand better than another . the most respected brand for bass players is fender because it offers a variety of guitars depending on a players skill level , musical style , and budget . other popular brands include yamaha , music man , and ibanez . no one bass guitar brand is necessarily better than another , but certain brands are superior in specific qualities . research the pros and cons of each brand and determine which best fits your musical tastes . most brands will have a range of guitars , with more complicated models for advanced players . a model in your playing range will fit you best regardless of which company made it . starter bass guitars are an inexpensive option for new players . most companies offer affordable starter basses made from lower - quality hardware but still very playable and user - friendly . bass guitars traditionally have four strings , but five - string , six - string , and beyond models exist . the more strings you have , the wider range of notes your bass will be able to play . the cheapest used models will be four - string guitars they will also be the easiest to play . if youre on a tight budget or youre just starting out , choose a four - string guitar . if youre an experienced bass player on a budget , avoid used starter basses opt instead for a bass with richer tonewoods and better hardware . your bass will be a little pricier but will fit your needs for a longer time . fretless base guitars offer a smoother sound but usually require more skill . if this used guitar is your first bass , make sure you find a model with frets . new players dont have the muscle memory or trained ear required to play with fretless guitars . |
put a capo on the second fret . keep your third and fourth fingers on the third frets of the highest two strings . play an em chord , keeping your third and fourth fingers in place . play a g chord . play a d chord . play an a7 chord . cycle through these four chords . learn the cadd9 chord . repeat the intro pattern four times for the verses . for the first verse only , substitute cadd9 for the last em7 . play cadd9 - dsus4 - em7 - em7 twice . play cadd9 - dsus4 - g5 - g5f - g5e . end with g5 - a7sus4 - a7sus4 - a7sus4 . play and repeat cadd9 - em7 - g - em7 . transition into the next section with asus4 . play the intro progression four times . play the first verse , then the second verse . play the bridge , then the chorus . play the third verse , then the bridge , then the chorus twice . end by repeating the chorus progression . | how to play wonderwall on guitar | this is how the song is played on the recording . you dont need to do this , but if you leave the capo off , the entire song will be two semitones lower . if youre singing , youll need to adjust your voice accordingly . note past this point , all fret names are relative to the capo . in other words , the third fret is actually the fifth fret , and so on . your pinky will go on the third fret of the high e string g and your ring finger will go on the third fret of the b string d . theyll stay here for most of the song use your index and middle fingers to press on the second frets of the a string and d string . now , strum all the strings . youll play a modified em7 chord . a finger guide is below em7 chordhigh e string 3b string 3g string 0d string 2a string 2low e string 0 now , shift your middle finger to the third fret of the low e string . keep your other fingers where they are . strum all the strings . youll play a modified g major chord . g chordhigh e string 3b string 3g string 0d string 0a string 2low e string 3 again , keep your pinky and ring finger where they are . move your index finger to the second fret of the g string a . strum the four thinnest strings . youll play a d major chord with the top note normally f raised a half step to g . this gives you dsus4 . dsus4 chordhigh e string 3b string 3g string 2d string 0a string xlow e string x move your index finger one string down so its on the second fret of the d string e . strum the five thinnest strings . youll play an a7sus4 . if its easier for you , you can also fret the second fret of the g string a . this wont affect the sound very much . a7sus4 chordhigh e string 3b string 3g string 0d string 2a string 0low e string x now you know everything you need to jam on the intro section . the entire section is just em7 - g - dsus4 - a7sus4 repeated again and again . listen to a recording to get the strumming pattern down . with a little practice , its not hard — youre doing the same thing for the entire section . the verses in this song are very similar to the intro . in fact , the only difference is in this one chord , which only appears in the first verse . to play it , keep your pinky and ring finger on the same two frets that they have been on , then fret the bottom two notes of an open c chord with your other two fingers . in other words , put your middle finger on the third fret of the a string c and your index finger on the second fret of the d string e . cadd9 chordhigh e string 3b string 3g string 0d string 2a string 3low e string x for reference , the verses are the parts of the song that start with today was gonna be the day . backbeat , the word is on the street . and so on . as noted above , the verses for this song are more or less like the intro . use the same em7 - g - dsus4 - a7sus4 pattern that you learned for the intro . repeat this cycle four times for each verse . the first verse has this one tiny change in it and thats it — otherwise , its the exact same . you only want to change the very last em7 , and only in this verse . if youre singing , hit this chord just as you start singing the final word of the verse now . in other words , i dont believe that anybody feels the way i do about you nowcadd9 . the basic pattern for the bridge is finally different from the introverse pattern . luckily , we already know most of the chords well use . start by playing a cadd9 - dsus4 - em7 - em7 twice . note that the em7 repeats . for reference , the bridge is the part of the song that starts , . and all the paths we have to walk are winding . youll switch from the em7 to the cadd9 when the second line starts . and all the lights that lead . this is without a doubt the trickiest part of the song , but all it takes is a little practice to master . youll start out the progression the same as before , but end with a quick run through of g5 chords with a moving bassline . this is easier than it sounds . first , finger the g5 chord simply by putting your middle finger on the third fret of the low e string g . g5 chordhigh e string 3b string 3g string 0d string 0a string 2low e string 3 then , slide your middle finger down one fret and put your index finger on the second fret of the g string a . g5f chordhigh e string 3b string 3g string 2d string 0a string 0low e string 2 then , move your fingers together to the second frets of the a and d strings b and e so that youre basically fingering the em7 chord from before g5e chordhigh e string 3b string 3g string 0d string 2a string 2low e string 0 hit these chords on like , say , and you there are many things that i would like g5 to say g5f to you g5e . after the fast passage above , just fret the same g5 chord from before , then switch to the a7sus4 chord and keep strumming it for a few repetitions . youve just made your way through the bridge . transition from the held a7sus4 to the chorus section below . hit the a7sus4 chord on how . like to say to you , but i dont know how a7sus4 . the chorus is easy — youre just playing chords youve already learned in a steady pattern . play this progression four times for the chorus . for reference , the chorus is the part of the song that starts , because maybe youre gonna be the one that saves me . this is only after the first chorus . in the recording , theres about a measure of rest after the last em7 of the chorus . then , as the song transitions into the third verse , theres about a measure of a7sus4 strumming that switches to em7 strumming as soon as the verse starts . listening to the recording will help a lot here . the timing with the rest beats can be a little challenging to get at first . now that you know all of the parts of the song , you just need to stitch them together . for the intro , youll playem7 - g - dsus4 - a7sus4 4x the verse progression isnt really different than the intro besides the one cadd9 , but for our purposes the verse starts with the first today was gonna be the day . the first two verses come right in a row , but remember that only the first verse gets the cadd9 . in other words , youll playem7 - g - dsus4 - a7sus4 em7 - g - dsus4 - a7sus4 em7 - g - dsus4 - a7sus4 cadd9 - g - dsus4 - a7sus4 em7 - g - dsus4 - a7sus4 4x this is fairly straight forward — you just need to play each part once . in other words , playcadd9 - dsus4 - em7 - em7 2x cadd9 - dsus4 - g5 - g5f - g5e g5 - a7sus4 - a7sus4 - a7sus4 cadd9 - em7 - g - em7 4x a7sus4 right before third verse here , youre only playing one verse , but youre playing two choruses . in other words , playem7 - g - dsus4 - a7sus4 4x cadd9 - dsus4 - em7 - em7 2x cadd9 - dsus4 - g5 - g5f - g5e g5 - a7sus4 - a7sus4 - a7sus4 cadd9 - em7 - g - em7 8x after the third chorus , the singing stops , but the instruments keep playing the cadd9 - em7 - g - em7 four more times . if youre playing live , make sure everyone in your band knows when to stop if you stretch this section out , it makes a good place to take a solo since the singer isnt singing anymore . |
put your first finger on any string and on any fret . place your third finger two frets up and one string higher than the index . consider adding a third note , the octave , right below your ring finger . strum only the strings youre fretting . slide your chord anywhere on the top two strings . | how to use power chords on a guitar | for the sake of learning , start with it on the 3rd fret of the low e string . this note is a g . wherever you start your index finger is the type of chord youll be playing . if you started on the 5th fret of the e string youd be playing an a power chord , for example . continuing the example of the g power chord , you place your ring finger on the 5th fret of the a string . this simple form - - two strings , two frets apart , is all you need for a power chord . - - x - - - - x - - - - x - - - - x - - - - 5 - - - - 3 - - if you would like , add in an octave by simply barring your ring finger on the string below , here the d string . you can also use your pinky . your final chord would look like this - - x - - - - x - - - - x - - - - 5 - - - - 5 - - - - 3 - - you can use the fleshy part of your index finger to lightly dampen the lower strings , resting on them so you cant hear them when you strum . however , unless youre making big , dramatic strumming motions you can just focus on playing the right strings . remember , power chords are movable you can play them anywhere by maintaining this same shape and hand position . start on the 5th fret , 5th string to play a d , slide down two frets and play an e . come up a string to the 7th fret , 6th string and play a b power chord . you can move anywhere . remember that , in terms of written music , these chords are often written as fifths , like a g5 or an a5 . they will not be written out as g power chord , or g p . c . |
check music stores in your town . visit local thrift stores . go to flea markets and pawn shops . look in your citys classifieds . shop online . | how to buy a used bass guitar 2 | often these stores will sell used instruments at a lower price . employees will be well - versed in instrument quality and be able to help you choose a guitar based on your experience and budget . even if a music store does not sell used instruments , chat with the employees about your search . they may know used bass guitar sellers nearby or tell you more about what to look for in a used instrument . contact local instrument repair stores as well . their employees may know of a used guitar seller , or they may even be willing to renovate a used bass guitar for you at a reasonable price . check thrift stores in your area for used bass guitars . often players will donate their old guitars in decent condition . bass guitars at thrift stores are not usually in perfect condition , but they are often cheaper . you never know what surprise buy you might find in a thrift store . flea markets and pawn shops can also be an inexpensive place to buy an instrument . check for flea market listings in your town and ask vendors if they know of any instrument sellers . pawn shops also sell items in good condition for a low price , much like thrift stores . often pawn shops sell used vintage instruments at a low price . if you are an experienced player , a vintage bass guitar might be of interest to you . ask the seller or store owner for a certificate of authenticity , especially if the used bass guitar is older . check your citys classifieds online or in the newspaper for people selling their guitars . if you buy a bass guitar from a local seller , you can ask them about their experience with the guitar and what qualities they enjoyed about it . if youre in no hurry , you could also check local garage sales . because you never know what someone will sell at their yard sale , this could be a time - consuming process . check online marketplaces or auction sites for used bass guitars . when searching online , make sure to ask the seller lots of questions about their bass guitar and ask for a variety of photos . because you wont be able to determine its quality in - person , youll want to get a clear idea of its condition . dont buy from a seller who uses simple descriptions or refuses to send you more pictures . they may be scamming you or trying to hide a flaw . check your sellers feedback before you make a purchase . if they have high ratings , youre more likely to receive a guitar in good condition . |
bring an experienced musician along . try the instrument out for yourself . make sure the length is comfortable for you . check for damages . ask for lots of pictures , if buying your instrument online . | how to buy a used bass guitar 3 | if you have a friend whos spent time around musical instruments , bring them along especially if they also play bass guitar . even musicians who have little experience around guitars can help you inspect the instrument and determine what condition its in . if none of your friends are musicians , get to know the different parts of a bass guitar as well as you can . the more you know about the guitar , the better youll be able to estimate its condition . if youre buying the instrument in - person , ask the seller if you can strum the guitar . more experienced musicians will be able to play a few notes on the bass and tune as needed from there , youll be able to determine its quality . beginners might not know what to look for as much but will still be able to test how the instrument feels in their hands and whether they like its sound . if you have never played a bass guitar before , ask the seller if they could play a song for you . youll get a better sense of its condition by watching someone play . when holding the guitar in your hands , decide whether the length is comfortable for you . bass guitars are available in a variety of lengths , and some will fit you better than others . smaller players should look for guitars with a scale length of 30 inches 76 . 2 cm or less . the average bass length is 34 inches 86 . 3 cm this will be the most versatile bass length , if your guitar will be used by multiple people . check for any nicks or cracks in the frame , as even small fractures can distort the basss sound . some parts of the guitar , like the strings or tuning keys , can be upgraded . others , like the neck , are a permanent part of the guitar . thoroughly examine the guitar , and ask the seller about any possible damages . if the guitar is in poorer condition but is being sold at a reasonable price , ask the seller if they know of any instrument repair shops . you may consider purchasing a used guitar for a cheap price , then having a repair shop refurbish it . even if youre not inspecting the guitar in - person , you can still get a good sense of its condition . ask the seller to send pictures of the guitar from a variety of angles , and ask for close - ups of any spots that look damaged . ask the seller to make a recording of themselves playing a song on the bass so you know how it sounds . when buying instruments , what you hear is just as important as what you see . |
rest the body of the guitar on your right knee , if youre right handed . keep the guitar perpendicular to your body when playing , not leaned back into your chest . remember that guitar strings count up from one to six . use the guitar frets to tell you where to put your fingers . | how to play your first guitar song 1 | the curve in the guitars body will rest on your thigh , with the neck extending out to your left . of course , left - handed guitarists would reverse , holding the guitar on their left leg . sit up straight and hold the guitar close to your body , resting it on your thighs , hip , and stomach . it may feel more comfortable to lean the guitar back , but keeping it upright will help you play more quickly and comfortably . the body of the guitar should stay flush to the leg it rests on . resist the temptation to angle the guitar so you can see your hands - - this just makes it harder to play . for now , dont even worry about the note names . just remember that guitar strings count up . the thinnest , lowest string is the first string , while the thickest , heaviest string on top is the sixth string . if youre curious , the notes of the strings are , from 1st - 6th , e - b - g - d - a - e . the frets are your key navigation tool on the guitar , and they correspond to different notes on each string . they are the little metal strips on the long , thin neck of the guitar . the first fret is the one farthest away from the body of your guitar . to play a note on the first fret , you put your finger down between the first fret and the head of the guitar . if youre not holding a fret down on a string , then you are playing an open string . you always play behind the fret - - if the song wants a note on the 10th fret , youd put your finger between the 9th and 10th frets on the guitar , as close to the 10th as possible . |
vary your picking articulation . slap the strings with your palm . tap against the body of the guitar with your fingertips . slap the heel or palm of your hand against the guitar body . mute the strings with your fretting hand . borrow techniques from slap bass playing . pay attention to the rhythm of your percussive patterns . | how to use percussive effects on guitar | the most versatile technique for getting a percussive sound from a guitar string is by picking it very aggressively , either with your finger or a pick . pulling the string outward from the guitars body a bit when picking it will cause it to slap back into place , lending a sharp , percussive sound to the note . another percussive technique is to slap your picking hands palm against all the strings . pushing them hard enough so that they contact the guitars frets will increase the percussive intensity of this technique . try employing this slapping technique on the backbeats during a rhythm strumming pattern . of course , drumming against the body of the guitar itself will give you the most drum - like effect of all these techniques . you can use your pinky and ring finger for drumming to keep your other fingers free for picking . you can also free your picking hand entirely for drumming by playing passages entirely using hammer - ons and pull - offs . for a deeper , more resounding percussive effect from the guitar body , slap the heel of your hand or entire palm against it . this can be used in conjunction with fingertip drumming to create more intricate drumming patterns . when strumming , you can raise your fretting fingers off the neck and hold them just over the strings to mute them . playing strumming patterns with the strings muted like this will create a tight , crisp , percussive tone . slap bass is a style of playing bass in which the strings are deliberately clapped against the frets with the thumb when sounding low notes . try this technique when playing the low e string to create sharp , crisp bass notes . of course , using percussive effects on guitar is most effective when you apply these techniques within common drumming rhythms . try adding percussive accents to the backbeats of a strumming pattern , for example in 44 time this would mean on beats 2 and 4 . |
start with a pick for easier beginner strumming . relax your elbow and strum from the wrist . practice brushing the pick over the strings in each direction to start strumming . | how to play your first guitar song 2 | because they are thinner and made of hard plastics , picks are much easier to strum with early on , though there is no real right way to learn . make an o shape with your fingers by placing the pad of your thumb on top of the side of your index finger . slide the pick in between to hold it with firm , comfortable control . if youre having trouble holding onto the pick , try using your middle finger as well for stability . most people start with a medium , pointed pick , something around . 7mm in thickness . again , however , your comfort playing is more important than any right choice of picking device . some people would rather use their fingers , after all . keep your arm nice and loose , moving with a comfortable , relaxed swing of your wrist . think of having a feather stuck to your thumb , and youre shaking your wrist to try and get it to come off . strum the strings a couple of times , focusing on a smooth , fluid motion . a common mistake for beginners is to tense up , trying to mechanically strum each note perfectly , or working to hard to strum with speed . focus , instead , on natural , comfortable motion . once you have the basic motions down , work on hitting all six strings with relaxed , calm down strokes , counting each one out 1 and , 2 and , 3 and , 4 and , 1 . to stay in rhythm . then try some simple upwards strums , noticing how they feel a little different . most guitarists notice that need less strumming strength and can skip the top 2 - 3 strings to get a good sound strumming upwards . strumming should feel easy , gliding over the strings . if youre having difficulty , try to dig the pick less into the strings , just brushing it over the strings instead . |
cup your hand into a c shape , holding the neck of the guitar in the curve between thumb and fingers . press your middle finger into the space on the 5th string , 2nd fret . press your ring finger into the space on the 4th string , 2nd fret . strum each string in the chord slowly , making sure it sounds out . learn a second chord to build your first song . practice your two chords by strumming , removing your hand , then reforming the chord . | how to play your first guitar song 3 | your thumb presses lightly on the back of the fretboard while your four fingers are free to press down on the strings . your wrist shouldnt be kinked too far forward or backwards - - the back of your hand will be almost parallel to the floor . while you should adjust for comfort , remember to keep your wrist from angling away from the strings . remember , the 5th string is the second from the top . your middle finger presses the string into the back of the 2nd fret , holding it only as hard as you need for a clean sound . you can check by picking the string - - do you hear any buzzing , or is it a clean , pleasant tone simply hold down the 4th string just like you did before , keeping your middle finger on the string above it . these two frets are all you need to hold for your first chord . this chord , with the two fingers on the 2nd fret , is an e - minor chord . check for dead or buzzy strings , which usually happen when you accidentally drape some of your finger over a string without fretting it . to avoid this , think about curling your fingers so that only your fingertips are pressing into the frets . also , pull your elbow closer into your body - - it makes it easier to position your hand . the closer you are to the back of the frets the better your notes will sound . the fingers youre fretting with should only be touching the strings they are supposed to be touching . this second chord , a d2 chord , matches perfectly with your em to write your first song . to play it , ignore the top two strings , the 6th and 5th strings . place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string . then place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string . this is it - - simply strum the bottom four strings , the thinner ones . learning chords is not easy at first , and changing chords can be the hardest thing newbies have to do . to make life easier , make sure you have each chord memorized and down pat - - you should be able to quickly form them as soon as your hand touches the guitar . simply form the chord , strum , remove your hand , and repeat . remember , however , that playing a chord quickly is useless if it sound buzzy or muted - - focus first on quality over quickness . think about how a chord feels , not just how it looks . can your fingers find the chord without your eyes |
practice chord transitions by focusing just on moving from em to d2 . strum the em for one full measure . switch to the d2 chord after one measure . pick a comfortably slow , regular strumming pattern , counting it out as your practice . practice different rhythms as you become more comfortable , alternating the chords every measure . | how to play your first guitar song 4 | once you have both chords memorized stone cold , just work on moving back and forth between them . strum the em once , then try to move your hands right to d2 . transition back , pause , then do it again . you should be able to go right to the chord , from memory , before learning to transition between them . this means you play the em for a full count of 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , or one whole measure . you can use any strumming pattern you want . if youre struggling , however , simply strum each chord on the one , then use the rest of the measure to prepare to shift chords until you get faster . remember , the em is when you have a finger on the 2nd fret of the 5th and 4ths strings on the one of the second measure , go to the d2 . then simply alternate each measure , switching chords on the one every time . remember , the d2 is when you have a finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string , and a finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string . always count out the song to practice your rhythm - - 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 the earlier chords are from americas hit horse with no name , and you could try to mimic the pattern on the record with a simple strum on every count of the song 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 1 , 2 , 3 . if this is hard , however , just work on only one strum per measure , strumming on the one beat . the actual song uses swung eighth notes , which you can practice once your chords are down . eighth notes are when you count , and play , on every beat 1 and , 2 and , 3 and , 4 and 1 and . if youre curious , the swung part is when your alternate a hard downstroke on the count 1 and , 2 and . with a quick upstroke on ands . the result is a kind of plodding , horse - like rhythm . once youve got the hang of things , challenge yourself to try newer strumming styles . play a little faster , though remember to make sure you still hit the chords cleanly and without buzzing . then , move on to several new chords and beginner songs to keep getting better . |
buy the song . buy the van halen i ii authentic guitar tab edition from alfred . tune your guitar down one fret to eb , ab , db , gb , bb , eb . learn how to tap . start practicing . play it in front of your other guitar - playing buddies and watch their jaws hit the floor | how to play the solo from eruption eddie van halen | it is very challenging to learn this piece without the audio aid . the steps in this article are based on that tab . understand that the measures are divided by a dotted line , not a solid line . i assume that this is because , for the first half of the piece , eddie doesnt really follow any definable time signature . there are some parts of this tab which are a bit off , due to the extreme speed of his playing . a friend of mine and i know this to be true , because we used a program named sony acid pro to slow it down to half speed , where we could listen to and distinguish every note being played . this is the tuning he uses , and it really does help the speed , because the strings are looser . this is not optional . in measure 1 , ignore what they say , and start with a slide down from fret 7 on the a string . measure 2 is authentic , but you can ignore the palm mutes if you want . if you dont want to , palm mute lightly . measure 3 is a bit more challenging . up to the point where you play fret 5 on both b and high - e strings , it is authentic . after that , the publishers made a mistake . each sequence of - 8 - 5 - 0 - on the b string followed by - 8 - on the g string followed by open e string is actually - 8 - 5 - 0 - followed by - 8 - on the b string the first time through , only you leave the open e string out , and hold the - 8 - on the g string for emphasis . after that , it is actually - 5 - 8 - 5 - 0 - , with no g or e string at all . note the different sequence on the b string . this is the correct way to play it . the exact same rule applies to the beginning of measure 4 , where the sequence is repeated one more time . measure 4 is literally almost half wrong . after the already corrected sequence , he doesnt play - 7 - on g , - 5 - on b , and then - 5 - on e . he actually plays open d , - 7 - on g , and - 5 - on b . he doesnt play the following - 8 - 5 - pull - off on b , the - 7 - 12 bend on g , or the - 5 - on b , so skip em . from then until the end of measure 4 is correct . measure 5 is correct up until the slide from - 3 - to - 15 - on the a string . but this is easy to correct . simply play the - 3 - and leave out the slide . note the dive - bomb with the whammy bar on open e . do not play the little - 15 - on a to open - a pull - off . it is incorrect . when you play the chord progression in measures 6 and 7 , have fun with it . this is usually where he does the scissors 4 feet 1 . 2 m in the air , so play it nice and slowly with a lot of emphasis . at the end of measure 7 , the slide is not from - 3 - to natural harmonic at - 19 - on the b string . it is actually from - 2 - to natural harmonic at - 19 - on the g string . in measure 8 , do not bend the last - 20 - on b of the - 20 - on b to - 17 - on e sequence . leave out the - 20 - that comes right after you play the open g . in measure 9 , do not bend the second - 19 - on b 1 12 . instead , bend the - 20 - on b one full bend . also , when you have just finished the full - 20 - on e bend , and you have pulled off to - 17 - on e do not play the - 17 - on e after you have played the - 20 - on b . just go into the next sequence . in measure 10 , do not play the whammy bar from - 20 - on b . move on to the slide . until measure 18 , the tabs are correct . polish your picking skills . you will be picking very , very quickly from measure 12 to measure 17 . measures 18 and 19 have some faults . ignore the - 7 - to - 8 - slide on the d string , and , right after that , instead of what they say , play - 5 - 0 - 4 - on g followed by - 6 - 0 - 5 - on b followed by - 7 - 0 - 5 - on g followed by - 8 - 0 - 7 - 5 - on on b first bending and then trilling the last - 5 - . at the end of measure 19 , leave out the open d string , and slide from open e to - 7 - on e instead of - 5 - to - 7 - . measures 20 and 21 make up the exact same tune of measures 18 and 19 , only transposed . instead of playing the - 7 - on a after you do the second - 5 - 0 - pull - off on d hammer on a - 4 - on d and then play - 5 - 0 - 4 - on g followed by - 7 - 0 - 5 - on d followed by - 7 - 0 - 6 - 4 - on g and trill the last - 4 - half a step . at the end of measure 21 , through measure 22 , repeat the same sequence that you played in measures 18 and 19 , and its easier to transpose the - 11 - 9 - 11 - 9 - and so on on g in measures 22 and 23 up to the b string , where you would start with - 7 - 5 - 7 - 5 - . measure 24 through measure 39 is totally two hand tapping . eddie actually plays it on the b string , not the g string , so if you transpose which is advisable since its actually easier the way he does it then you would start with - 14 - 2 - 5 - b string and then go into - 9 - 2 - 5 - also b string . in measures 31 , 32 , and 33 where he starts his decent , the transposed to b string the notes are actually - 17 - 12 - 15 - - 17 - 11 - 14 - - 17 - 11 - 14 - - 17 - 10 - 13 - - 17 - 9 - 12 - - 17 - 9 - 12 - - 17 - 12 - 15 - - 12 - 15 - - 17 - 11 - 14 - - 17 - 11 - 14 - - 17 - 10 - 13 - - 17 - 10 - 13 - - 17 - 9 - 12 - - 17 - 9 - 12 - and so on . |
start in standard eadgbe tuning . tune the sixth string to a d reference tone . tune the rest of your strings as normal . play | how to tune a guitar to drop d 1 | regardless of whether or not you get your guitar into drop d with a tuner , its usually easiest to start from ordinary eadgbe tuning . this is because only one note is different between the tunings — change this note , and youre ready to play . this guide assumes that youre familiar with the notes in standard tuning as a reminder , here are the notes youll want each string tuned to reference tones for these notes are readily available from tuner programs onlinesixth thickest string e fifth string a fourth string d third string g second string b first thinnest string e two octaves up from the sixth string e next , use your tuner to play a d . in a pinch , you can use the d note thats normally used for the fourth string — if you do this , dont forget that your sixth string will be exactly one octave below this tone . some tuners , however , can be adjusted to give you the proper drop d tone this tone is technically called d3 . if your tuner cant be adjusted to play d3 , note that this reference tone can easily be accessed with any number of adjustable online tuner programs . since the only note that is different between standard tuning and drop d tuning is the sixth string , your guitar should now technically be in tune . however , its a very good habit to give the rest of your strings a quick tuning anyway just to ensure that theyre perfectly in tune with your new bass note — even a minor inconsistency can produce ugly - sounding chords . keep in mind that , since your sixth string is now tuned to d , youll use its seventh fret not its fifth to tune the fifth string . the rest of the strings can be tuned as normal for standard tuning . congratulations your guitar is now tuned to drop d and is ready to play . as a reminder , its strings should now be tuned to the following tones sixth thickest string d fifth string a fourth string d third string g second string b first thinnest string e |
start on the 2nd fret of the guitar . place your index finger on the 2nd fret , 3rd string . place your ring finger on the 3rd fret , 2nd string . put your middle finger on the 2rd fret of the 1st string . strum every string except a and low e strings . know that you can move this shape up and down the neck to make other chords . | how to play the d chord for guitar 1 | an open d chord is bright , high - pitched , and expansive . it is one of the most commonly used chords , and works well with other common open chords like e , a , and g . remember that frets count from the head down . if youre right - handed , the first fret is all the way to your left . remember that the strings count from the bottom up , so the thinnest string is the 1st and the thickest is the 6th . place you index finger down on the 2nd fret , 3rd string . your two fingers will be diagonal to each other . when youre done , you should have a triangle shape across the bottom three strings . this is your finished d chord ignore the top two thickest strings on the guitar - - they are not used for the chord and will muck up the sound . this simply three - fingered shape can be slide up and down the bottom three strings to make more chords . practice playing moving up and down the neck , searching out other chords . note your ring finger determines the root of the chord . if it is on a b , then the chord is a b . |
listen to the song . play the twelfth fret of the d string with your index finger . play the fifteenth fret of the b string with your pinky finger . play the fourteenth fret of the g string with your ring finger . play the twelfth fret of the g string with your index finger . play the fifteenth fret of the high e string with your pinky finger . play the fourteenth fret of the g string with your ring finger . play the fourteenth fret of the high e string with your pinky finger . play the fourteenth fret of the g string with your ring finger . repeat that whole section . practice that section . play the fourteenth fret of the d string with your middle finger . repeat steps 2 - 11 . play the twelfth fret of the g string . repeat steps 2 - 11 . strange hand position . picking the strings . swing your ring finger around to the fourteenth fret of the high e string . picking the strings . place your pinky finger on the fifteenth fret of the high e string . picking the strings . play the final riff in one smooth motion . | how to play the sweet child o mine intro on guitar | since youre only learning the intro , you dont have to listen to the whole song . just listen to the first part . take into account how fast its played , how long it lasts and how most of its just repeated patterns . just spending five minutes noting these things will help you loads when youre trying to play the song . , that whole section is the first part of the riff . practice it at 80bpm until you can play it perfectly . add 10bpm until you reach around 150bpm . for the rest of the intro , its pretty much all the same so make sure you can play it well . if you need time , spend an hour practicing , then come back to this article and learn the rest . , for the last little riff , you need your index finger on the twelfth fret of the high e string , your middle finger on the fourteenth fret of the g string and your ring finger on the fifteenth fret of the b string . keep this hand position just pick the high e string , the g string , the b string , back to the g string , then the high e string again then finish on the g string . remember not to move any other fingers . with the same hand position , hit just the high e string and then the g string . you should still have all four fingers on the fretboard . keeping this position , hit the high e string , then the g string and then remove your pinky . pick the high e string , then the g string and then remove your ring finger . pick the high e string , then the g string , then finish by swinging your ring finger around to land on the fifteenth fret of the b string . pick that string and let the note ring out . |
start in standard eadgbe tuning . tune the seventh fret of the sixth string to the open fifth string . alternatively , tune to the open fourth string . | how to tune a guitar to drop d 2 | if you dont have a tuner or any reference tones handy , its still possible to get your guitar into drop d tuning , provided that its already well - tuned to standard tuning . for this reason , youll once again want to begin with your guitar in standard tuning . next , begin to lower the pitch of your sixth string currently tuned to low e . as you do this , play its seventh fret with along with the fifth string open . if your guitar was already well - tuned , your sixth string should be tuned to d as soon as the tone of its seventh fret perfectly matches the tone of the open fifth string which is a . you can also tune your sixth string so that it matches the tone of the fourth string currently tuned to d . however , if you do this , youll need to keep in mind that your sixth strings tone will be exactly one octave beneath your fourth strings . some guitarists find it a little more difficult to judge the difference between these two tones than it is to use the fifth string a to tune the sixth string . note that you dont have to commit to this method or the one above — its perfectly acceptable to use both the fourth and fifth string to get the sixth tuned to d . |
add the low d note to your playing . familiarize yourself with drop d power chords . learn songs that use drop d . the best way to start getting the hang of drop d is to start using it in songs | how to tune a guitar to drop d 3 | now that your sixth string is tuned to low d , the range of your guitar is slightly greater . you have two new notes at your disposal low d , played by strumming the sixth string in the open position , and eb , played at the first fret of the sixth string . being able to play these new low notes opens up several exciting possibilities for your playing . the most obvious of these is perhaps the fact that you can now play chords and scales with a root note of low d or eb . this is especially useful for songs that rely heavily on these chords . another less obvious benefit is that you now have new bass notes for finger - picking playing styles which are commonly used in folk music . this gives you the opportunity to use these low notes as bass tones , pedal tones , and so on . its even possible to use the low d note as a drone note . one of the biggest advantages of drop d tuning is that it can make power chords on the thickest strings very easy to play . specifically , because the sixth string is a whole step lower than in standard tuning , a power chord is played in the same fret for all three lower - pitched strings . this means that , rather than requiring three fingers to play , power chords can be played with just a single finger . simply lay your finger across the d , a , and d strings similar to how you would barre a chord to fret a power chord in drop d . its worth noting that drop d also makes it easier to switch between power chords quickly . this is used to great effect in hard rock and metal music — some songs would be very difficult or impossible to play in anything but drop d . below is a short selection of songs that use drop d tuning — some are easy , some are hard , but all of them should have tabs readily available online to help you learn themdear prudence by the beatles everlong by the foo fighters moby dick by led zeppelin never going back again by fleetwood mac blackhole sun by soundgarden |
go to the fifth fret of the guitar . bar the 5th fret with your index finger , getting all but the top string . use your ring finger to barre the 2nd , 3rd , and 4th strings at the 7th fret . leave the bottom string barred , or simply dont play it . | how to play the d chord for guitar 2 | this is a slightly thicker , higher - pitched d chord . it is also much easier to get to when youre further down the neck , and easily transitions into other barre chords . if you already know it , this is simply an a - major barre chord located on the 5th fret , 5th string . this note is a d . barre from the 1st to the 5th string with your index finger . strum once to ensure that all of the strings are properly pressed down . you can also place your pinkie on the 2nd string , seventh fret , your ring finger on the 3rd string , 7th fret and your middle finger on the 4th string , 7th fret . most people find it easier to just barre the string , but you will get a cleaner sound with individual fingers . if you slid the entire thing up the neck , using open strings instead of a barred index finger , youd have an open a chord . the top and bottom strings are the least essential for your chord . if you can strum just the middle four strings , youll have a better - sounding chord , but you can also strum the high - e string for a little more noise . do not strum the top string . |
slide all the way down to the 10th fret . barre the entire 10th fret with your index finger . place your ring finger on the 12th fret , 5th string . place your pinky on the 12th fret , 4th string . place your middle finger on the 11th fret , 3rd string . leave the other strings barred , then strum all six at once . | how to play the d chord for guitar 3 | this is a very high and bright sounding d - chord , and isnt used too often unless youre playing all of your chords that far down the neck . still , knowing how to form this chord is a lot of fun , and can give your songs a breath of fresh air when thrown in for a normal d . this chord is melodically identical to those before it , just at a different octave . this is simply an e - form barre chord , meaning you form an e - major chord with your pinky , ring , and middle finger , then barre two frets up with the index . the result is the same shape as a normal e chord , just with barred notes instead of open notes . this note is an a . the first note , the one on the 10th fret , 6th string , is a d . this is another d . this note is an f , and is needed for a full d chord . this chord uses every single string on the guitar , though you can stick just to the top ones for a thicker , slightly deeper chord . |
review the names of strings , frets , and notes . make sure you guitar is tuned . put your ring finger on the third fret of the first string . put your index finger on the second fret of the fifth string . put your middle finger on the third fret of the sixth string . strum all six strings at once to play your chord . practice moving your hand in and out of chord position . | how to play the g major chord on guitar 1 | if youre new to guitar , you need to get a handle on the basic terminology that is used with guitars before you set out to learn chords . you can find simple introductions by doing an online search . strings count from the bottom up . the thinnest string is the first string , and the thickest is the sixth string . the first string is high e , the second is b , the third is g , the fourth is d , the fifth is a , and the sixth is low e . you may want to create a mnemonic to help you memorize the names of the strings . frets are the metal strips down the neck of your guitar . if youre a right - handed guitarist , the first fret is the furthest to your left . the next closest to you is the second , the next one down the third , and so on down the neck of your guitar . you also should keep in mind how fingers are typically numbered on chord diagrams . your index finger will be 1 , your middle finger is 2 , your ring finger is 3 , and your pinkie is 4 . your thumb is not numbered . while this may seem obvious , it can throw you off if youre used to thinking of your thumb as your first finger . you also can purchase an electronic tuner or use audio guides you can find on the internet . just do a search for acoustic guitar tuner . there also are free and paid mobile apps you can download for your phone that will help you tune your guitar . these can be handy if you plan to play or practice your guitar away from home . start with the lowest string and tune it first , then move on to the next thickest string , tuning high e last . with time and practice youll be able to tune your guitar without assistance , because your ear will be able to distinguish the correct note . the third fret of the high e string is a g . this is a root note that gives the chord its g character . pluck the individual string a few times to get used to the sound and make sure its playing clearly . the second fret of the a string is a b , one of the three essential notes for a g major chord . pluck the individual string a few times , then strum from the fifth string down to the first to get used to how these notes sound together . the third fret on the low e string is another g , just as the third fret on the high e was g . this means this is another root note . strum the string alone , then try strumming all together . g major is an open chord , which means any strings not fretted are played openly . with your fingers in position , strum all six strings several times , making sure the sound is clean . if a string sounds muted , you may need to adjust your fingers . fret with your fingertips , not the pads of your fingers , and keep your hand curled over the neck so you arent accidentally touching or muting any of the strings . finding the chord shape requires muscle memory , which you must develop through repetition . remove your hand from the guitar , then place it back with your fingers in chord position . if this is the first chord youve learned , have patience . it can be difficult to get used to making chord shapes and you might struggle a little at first , but it will get easier with practice . if you know other chords , practice transitioning from the g major chord to another so you can get the hang of moving fingers between positions . if your fingers are having trouble quickly reaching the notes , tilt your guitars neck up in the air . this angle gives your fingers more room to move . |
try the abbreviated version of the g major chord . play the rock g for a richer , deeper sound . use your pinkie on the high e string . use a d chord shape at the seventh fret . vary it up with a g7 chord . | how to play the g major chord on guitar 2 | by simply placing your middle finger on the third fret of the first string , you can create an abbreviated version of the chord that may be easier for you when transitioning between chords . this abbreviated version is not an open chord . you do not strum the sixth , fifth , or fourth strings of the guitar . only strum the third , second , and first strings . make the basic g major chord shape , then place your pinkie on the third fret of the second string . this adds another c to your chord and gives your strumming a slightly fuller sound . some guitarists find it more comfortable to switch their pinkie and ring fingers . find the shape that is comfortable for you . while the standard fingering of a g major chord puts your ring finger on the high e , you may find it more comfortable to put your pinkie on the high e , using your ring finger on the low e and your middle finger on the a . if you know how to make the shape of a d chord , moving your fingers to the seventh fret with your fingers fretting the highest three strings also will produce a g chord . with the d chord shape , your index and middle fingers are on the seventh fret . your ring finger is on the eighth fret . your index finger frets the g , your middle finger frets the high e , and your ring finger frets the b . the g7 chord is a bit of a stretch for your fingers , but if you get to the point where you can make this chord shape comfortably , it will provide a bluesier tone to your music . place your middle finger on the second fret of the a string and your ring finger on the third fret of the low e . youll notice this is a similar shape to the standard g form , just with different fingers . now stretch back your index finger to the first fret of the high e . remember to keep your hand curled so you dont mute any of the strings . strum all six strings openly to play this chord . |
make a bar with your index finger at the third fret . create an e major chord shape with your remaining fingers . strum all six strings . | how to play the g major chord on guitar 3 | place your index finger flat over all six strings on your guitar to create a bar that will press down on all strings evenly . make sure your finger is as close to the fret as possible without being on top of it . roll your finger onto its side a bit , dont just lay it flat . the tip of your finger should extend over the edge of the fretboard . you may need to experiment a little moving your wrist around until you find the most comfortable position for you . make sure youre pinching the neck of the guitar very hard with your thumb so your barre finger stays straight and firm across the strings . the g major barre chord is part of the e family of barre chords . since youve barred your guitar at the third fret , making an e major chord shape results in a g major barre chord . place your pinkie on the d string at the fifth fret , your ring finger on the a string at the fifth fret , and your middle finger on the g string at the fourth fret . once youve got your fingers in place , strum all six strings openly to play the chord . make sure all strings are vibrating cleanly and there arent any strings muted or muffled . you may want to strum slowly across all six strings to check the sound from each string . make sure your non - barre fingers are curled , so that youre only fretting with your fingertips . keep in mind that it takes a lot of practice to play a barre chord successfully . dont give up if you find it difficult at first . |
place your indexpointer finger on the first and second strings on the first fret . place your middle finger on the third string on the second fret . place your ring finger on the fourth string on the third fret . practice picking and strumming the bottom four strings . | how to play the f chord on guitar 1 | in other words , you are using your index finger to hold down the e and b strings on the first fret . use the pad of your finger to cover both strings with only one finger . try rolling your finger slightly back towards the headstock , so youre pressing down on the side of your finger instead of the fleshy part . this section is a little harder , making it easier to fret with . in other words , use your middle finger to hold down the g string third from bottom on the second fret . in other words , use your ring finger to hold down the d string fourth from bottom on the third fret . if possible , lightly touch the fifth a string with the tip of your third finger - - this mutes the string so it cant be heard while strumming . while not essential now , this is an great technique to practice as you continue playing guitar . once all of your fingers are firmly in place , practice picking the bottom four strings until each note rings clearly . pick each note individually to make sure they all sound out clean and clear . if you hit a bum note , readjust your finger placement until you can play it clearly . the first and second strings are usually the most problematic - - check that your second and third fingers are curled directly onto the appropriate strings , rather than lying against the ones underneath . once you can play each note clearly , practice strumming the f chord . also , practice changing from f to another chord , then back again . you may be painfully slow at first , but youll eventually get the hang of it . |
graduate to the open f , or the old school f , for a fuller , richer chord . place your first finger on the first and second strings on the first fret . place your second finger on the third string on the second fret . place your fourth finger on the fourth string on the third fret . place your third finger on the fifth string on the third fret . | how to play the f chord on guitar 2 | this version of the f major chord , nicknamed old - school f as it was popular with musicians in the 60s and 70s , adds one extra note to the f described above , giving it a fuller , rounder sound . it is slightly harder to play than the mini f , but easier to play than the full barre chord f described below . in other words , place your index finger on the e and b strings on the first fret . this is identical to the beginning of the f played above . in other words , place your middle finger on the g string on the second fret . this note is an a . in other words , place your pinkie finger on the d string on the third fret . youll be on an f - - your root note for the chord . in other words , place your ring finger on the a string on the third fret . this is the extra note . your third finger is now placed on the a string while your pinkie finger is placed on the d string - - you can swap these two fingers around if you like , but most people find this position easier . if possible , lightly touch the sixth e string with the tip of your third finger - - this mutes the string so it cant be heard while strumming . |
barre the first fret . place the rest of your fingers . play other barre chords . | how to play the f chord on guitar 3 | place your index finger across all six strings on the first fret and press down . this version of f is the most traditional , and contains all of the notes without any shortcuts . this makes it the biggest , fullest version of the chord . roll your finger slightly back towards the headstock , so you are pressing with the hard , bony side of your finger rather than the soft , fleshy middle . barring takes some practice to get comfortable . you will need to apply quite a lot of pressure to hold down all six strings . try squeezing your thumb against the back of the neck for extra support . holding your first finger in the barre position , form your second , third and fourth fingers into the shape of an e chord , starting on the second fret . more specifically place your second finger on the third g string on the second fret . place your third finger on the fifth a string on the third fret . place your fourth finger on the fourth d string on the third fret . the finger position used for the f major barre chord is an example of what is known as an e barre formation , as the fingers following the barre make the shape of a basic e chord . for example keeping your fingers in the same formation as the f barre chord , slide your hand down the neck of the guitar until your index finger is on the third fret . this is a g barre chord . if your index finger is on the fifth fret , you are playing an a chord . you can move this form anywhere . |
learn on an electric guitar . buy newer , thinner strings . lower the action . | how to play the f chord on guitar 4 | if you have a choice between an electric and an acoustic guitar , learn to play the f chord on an electric guitar first . the thinner strings and faster fretboard make it much easier to maneuver around the strings , especially for barre chords . the strings are closer to the fretboard on an electric guitar , so playing doesnt require as much finger strength . one good tip is to buy thinner strings for your guitar preferably size 9s on an electric and size 10s on an acoustic if your current strings are very thick . thinner strings dont require as much pressure to hold down , so they will save your fingers some pain if you want to learn how to change the strings on your guitar , see this article . the action of your guitar refers to how high the strings are placed above the fretboard . this requires professional servicing , but is a key step to make playing and learning guitar far more fun . the lower the action , the less pressure youll need to apply to the strings . cheaper guitar often have very high action , which can be a problem for newer guitar players . luckily , guitar shops are usually able to lower the action of any guitar as part of a set - up service . youll have to pay money for this , but it could potentially make your guitar a lot nicer to play |
review the basics of strings , notes and frets briefly if youre new to guitar . place your ring finger on the 5th string , 3rd fret . place you middle finger on the 4th string , 2nd fret . place your index finger on the 2nd string , 1st fret . strum the bottom five strings . try the alternate fingerings for a richer open chord . focus on getting your fingers as close to the fret as possible . | how to play the c major chord on guitar 1 | knowing how to talk about the guitar will make it much easier to learn your chords . luckily , numbering on the guitar is easy the strings count from the bottom up , not from the top down . the string closest to the floor while holding the guitar , and the thinnest string , is the 1st string . the first fret is the furthest to your left if youre a right - handed guitarist . the frets are the metal strips in the guitar , and the furthest from your body is the first fret . the next one closest to you is the second , the next the third , and so on . make sure you guitar is tuned . you can purchase an electric tuner or use an audio guide found on youtube or google . remember that the 5th string is the second from the top , not the bottom . your ring finger goes between the 3rd and 2nd fret . this note is a c . the closer you push your finger to the 3rd fret , the better your chord will sound . again , get as close to the fret as you can . try to use your fingertips to fret as precisely as possible . this is the e note in this chord . this is the high c note for this chord . now youve reached the chords final shape , and it looks like a diagonal line pointing away from your head towards the ground . the open note between the 2nd and 4th strings is a g . all you need are these three fingers . while it wont be terrible if you accidentally play the top string , the chord will sound much better if you ignore it . take your ring finger off the 4th string and drop it to the 6th string , 3rd fret . then use your pinky to once again fret the 4th string , 3rd fret . this adds another g into the chord for a thicker , richer sound . for the best sounding chords , use the tips of your fingers , placing them as close to the frets as you possibly can . pick each string individually to see if any of the notes arent sounding out well , and could use an adjustment . |
move up to the 3rd fret for a higher - pitched c - major . use your index finger to bar the third fret for a c - major barre chord . move up to the eighth fret for another c - major barre chord . | how to play the c major chord on guitar 2 | this variation on the c major chord starts at the 3rd fret—hence the name third position . place your fingers as shown below place your first finger at the 3rd fret , on the 5th string . press your finger flat into the neck so that all five strings are held down on the 3rd fret . place your second finger at the 5th fret , on the 4th d string . this is the g note . place your third finger at the 5th fret , on the 3rd g string . this is the c note . place your fourth finger at the 5th fret , on the 2nd b string . this is the high e note . when you strum , dont play the bottom or top strings . just play the middle four . for this version , place your first finger across all the strings at the 3rd fret . place your other three fingers as described above . this is called a barre chord , or sometimes bar chord . you lay your index finger flat on the guitar , fretting all five strings on the 3rd fret . now you can strum the bottom two strings with the others . will start this next position on the 8th fret . notice the frets are much closer up here , and the notes sound somewhat higher . place your first finger at the 8th fret across all the strings . push down so that youve got all the strings barred . place your second finger at the 9th fret of the 3rd string g string . this note is an e . place your 3rd and 4th fingers at the 10th fret , on the 4th and 5th strings , respectively . strum all the strings . |
find the root note of the scale . memorize the notes in the c major scale . use the corresponding finger on the corresponding fret . say or sing the name of the note as you play the scale . sound out a melody with the notes . | how to play the c major scale on guitar 1 | the root note of any scale is the note that gives the scale its name . therefore , the root note of the c major scale is a c . the root note also is the lowest note on the scale . you can find c on the third fret of the fifth string of your guitar . fret the string with your index finger . just use your fingertip so the string sounds cleanly and you dont mute any of the other strings . keep the rest of your fingers curled over the keys . think of making the shape of a c with your fingers around the fret board . scales repeat through octaves , so the scale naturally progresses back to the root note , which will then be one octave higher . the notes of the c major scale are c - d - e - f - g - a - b . these notes remain the same regardless of the octave . if you find it easier to play by ear with reference notes , find an audio recording of the c major scale online and listen to it . sing along with the names of the notes until you have the notes memorized . then try to find those notes on your guitar . when you learn to play guitar , your fingers are numbered in a universal way . the frets on your guitar also are numbered . in first position , the finger number and the fret number are the same , so that your first finger is on the first fret . in case you arent familiar , your first finger is your index finger , your second finger is your middle finger , your third finger is your ring finger , and your fourth finger is your pinky . after first position , the relations between finger numbers and fret numbers change . for example , if your first finger is on the second fret , your hand is in second position . the second finger has access to the third fret , your third finger to the fourth fret , and so on . remember to use just the tip of your finger to fret the strings , and keep your other fingers curled over the fret board when youre not using them to fret a string . when you first play the c major scale , do it slowly . saying or singing each note aloud as you play will help reinforce the names of the notes in your head . if you can sing the note in tune , this will help you associate the name of the note with a particular sound . when you hear that sound in a different octave , you will automatically know what note it is . once youve learned the notes to the c major scale , play around with the notes . youll discover simple melodies that can be played simply with the notes from the c major scale . for example , you can play the song twinkle , twinkle little star using only the notes from the c major scale . in fact , this song can be played entirely on one string on your guitar . practicing simple songs like this is a good way to become familiar with the scale itself and the relations between the notes . |
memorize the interval formula for major scales . find the root note . move up one whole step from the root note . follow the formula to map the scale . practice playing the scale on one string . | how to play the c major scale on guitar 2 | all major scales are formed using the same interval formula . once youve memorized this formula , you can not only figure out how to play the c major scale , you can learn any other major scale by applying the formula . intervals are specified by whole and half steps . on your guitar , a whole step is two frets , while a half step is one fret . for all major scales , there is a whole step between the first and second notes , a whole step between the second and third notes , and a half step between the third and fourth notes . then you have whole steps between the rest of the notes up until the seventh note . there is a half step between the seventh and eighth notes . this interval formula can be abbreviated w - w - h - w - w - h . the root note of any scale is the note that names the scale . so for the c major scale , the root note is c . in first position , youll find this note on the third fret of the fifth string . on your guitar neck , one whole step equates to two frets . so if you started on the third fret of the fifth string , the second note in the c major scale would be on the fifth fret of the fifth string . using the interval formula , you can accurately play the c major scale on any given string , starting from the root note . a whole step up from c is d , another whole step up is e , a half step to f , and so on . sing the names of the notes along with your playing to connect the notes to the intervals . every major scale can be played on each individual string . when learning the scale by interval , this is one of the easiest ways to understand the relation between the notes and prepare you to move up and down the neck with a scale . while normally you will play a scale across several strings , moving up and down a single string can help you understand the logic of how notes are arranged in scales and octaves . try this if you are a beginning guitarist – the understanding will help you pick up more complex melodies later . when youre playing the entire scale on one string , you also can simply move one finger up and down the fret board , rather than worrying about changing fingers . this will help you become more familiar with moving around on the neck of your guitar . |
start with chords that you know . study pattern diagrams . link together single - octave patterns to make multi - octave patterns . | how to play the c major scale on guitar 3 | if you already know a few chords on guitar , it may be easier for you to learn scales by pattern than by note or interval . when you play a chord on guitar , youre playing every other note of the scale starting with the root note , which gives the chord its name . when you find chords within scales , you can blend the two together to improvise sequences on your guitar . if you know the root note of a chord , you can figure out the scale for that note from the chord alone , especially if youve already learned the interval formula . you can find pattern diagrams online or in books on how to play guitar . by memorizing these diagrams , or finger shapes , you can easily play a number of different scales and chords up and down the neck of your guitar . pattern diagrams may be the easiest way for you to learn if you are a visual learner . finding patterns also can be more fun than memorizing notes or following an interval formula . the pattern diagrams show you where to place your fingers when youre playing a chord . typically the root note is a black dot and the other notes are blank dots . you also might see finger numbers or notes . use the type thats easiest for you to understand . once youve become familiar with the single - octave patterns for the c major scale , you can create larger patterns that cover the whole fretboard and encompass multiple octaves . remember that notes repeat as you move up the fretboard . if you fret a string at the first fret , youll find the same note by fretting that string at the thirteenth fret – just in a different octave . single - octave patterns repeat up and down the fretboard , so once youve learned it in one position , move down to the next root note and play it again in a different octave . |
study the chord progression before you start playing . play one measure of c . happy birthday starts on a c major open chord . play two measures of g . on the first beat of the second measure starting on the you syllable , play an open g major chord . play two measures of c . next , on the syllable you , play an open c chord . play one measure of f . on the first beat of the sixth measure , play an f major chord . play two beats of c and one beat of g . the seventh measure is the only one in the song that isnt the same chord for the whole measure . end on c . end the song by playing an open c major chord on the final you . start with two g pickup notes . play a - g - c in the first measure . play b - g - g in the second measure . play a - g - d in the third measure . play c - g - g in the fourth measure . play g - e - c in the fifth measure . play b - a - f - f in the sixth measure . play e - c - d in the seventh measure . end on c . finally , hit the first fret on the b string to bring the song to a close , like this high e string - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b string 1 - - - - - - - - g string - - - - - - - - - - d string - - - - - - - - a string - - - - - - - - low e string - - - - - - - - swing the hap - py eighth notes . let each you note ring a little longer than normal . try playing in different keys . try substituting 7 chords in the third and seventh measures . | how to play happy birthday on guitar | if you already know how to read chord progressions , simply read this step and skip the rest of this section as the chords to happy birthday are very simple . below is the chord progression to happy birthday . happy birthday hap - py c birth - day to g you . hap - py birth - day to c you . hap - py birth - day dear f na - ame . hap - py c birth - day g to c you . a few important things to note about happy birthday the song uses a 34 waltz beat . this means that there are three beats per measure and that the quarter note gets one count . this is easy to observe in the first measure if you follow the lyrics , birth - day - to , each syllable gets one beat . the song starts with two pickup eighth notes . in other words , the hap - py at the start of the song occurs before the first beat as the chords dont kick in until birth - day . you can use any strumming pattern thats comfortable for you . a simple one that works well is to simply use a down strum for each quarter note three per measure . this chord is played for the whole first measure , starting on the birth syllable of birthday . you dont have to play any chords on happy , since these are pickup notes to the first measure . an open c major chord is played like this open chigh e string open 0b string first fret 1g string open 0d string second fret 2a string third fret 3low e string not played x you can keep from playing the low e string by muting it with one of your fretting fingers or simply avoiding hitting it with your strumming hand . keep playing this chord through the third measure . an open g major chord is played like this open ghigh e string third fret 3b string open 0g string open 0d string open 0a string second fret 2low e string third fret 3 keep playing this chord through the fourth and fifth measures and the syllables hap - py birth - day dear . this will be the first syllable of the name of the person whose birthday it is . play this f chord for the whole measure , through the next hap - py syllables . an f major chord is played like this f majorhigh e string first fret 1b string first fret 1g string second fret 2d string third fret 3a string third fret 3low e string first fret 1 note that the chord above is a barre chord . this means that it uses the side of your index finger to fret all of the strings on the first fret . beginners can find this difficult to do , so , if you cant quite get it to sound right , try this alternative instead easy f majorhigh e string first fret 1b string first fret 1g string second fret 2d string third fret 3a string not played xlow e string not played x play c on the birth - day syllables and g on the to syllable . in other words , two beats of c and one beat of g . you may have trouble switching between these two chords so quickly if youre a beginner . practice this measure by itself and dont give up as you want your finger motions to eventually become second - nature . for effect , let this final chord ring out . congratulations youve just played happy birthday . practice the steps above until youve gotten the hang of it , then try singing over the chords the melody to happy birthday is a simple one that everyone knows , so practicing it is easy and youll know right away if it sounds wrong . the first two notes the ones that correspond to hap - py are both gs . the note youll want to start with here is the one you get by playing the open g string . play one note for each syllable in hap - py , like this high e string - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b string - - - - - - - - - g string 0 - 0 - - - - - - - - - d string - - - - - - - - a string - - - - - - - - low e string - - - - - - - - for this section , since theres not an easy way to represent staff music or tablature on wikihow , were going to proceed measure - by - measure . for a traditional inscription of the melody , visit a site like guitarnick . com or start - playing - guitar . com . each beat gets one note , like this high e string - - - - - - - - b string - - - - - - - - - - 1g string 2 - - 0d string - - - - - - - - a string - - - - - - - - low e string - - - - - - - - b gets two beats and the two g eighth notes get one , like this high e string - - - - - - - - b string 0 - - - - - - g string - - - - - - - - 0 - 0d string - - - - - - - - a string - - - - - - - - low e string - - - - - - - - the third measure is the same as the first , except that the final note is two frets up , like this high e string - - - - - - - - b string - - - - - - - - - - 3g string 2 - - 0d string - - - - - - - - a string - - - - - - - - low e string - - - - - - - - the fourth measure is the same as the second , except that the first note is one fret up , like this high e string - - - - - - - - b string 1 - - - - - - g string - - - - - - - - 0 - 0d string - - - - - - - - a string - - - - - - - - low e string - - - - - - - - the g you start on here is an octave higher than the g youve used earlier . the next two notes descend from this g , like this high e string3 - - 0 - - b string - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - g string - - - - - - - - - d string - - - - - - - - a string - - - - - - - - low e string - - - - - - - - the b you start on here is made with the open b string and the final fs are played as eighth notes on the high e string , like this high e string - - - - - - - - - 1 - 1 - b string 0 - - - - - - - - g string - - - - 2 - - - - - - d string - - - - - - - - a string - - - - - - - - low e string - - - - - - - - start on the open high e string here , like this high e string0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - b string - - - - - 1 - - 3 - - - - - - g string - - - - - - - - - - d string - - - - - - - - a string - - - - - - - - low e string - - - - - - - - , above , weve used straight eighth notes for each of the hap - pys in the song — that is , eighth notes where each note is played for the same amount of time . however , if you pay attention while you sing the song , youll probably notice that the eighth notes arent actually played straight . rather , theyre swung , which means that the first eighth note is a little longer than the second . to play the song more accurately , the hap syllable should be played for a little more time and the py syllable should be played for a little less time than if you were using straight eighths . in musical terms , wed say that the first eighth note in each hap - py is a dotted eighth note and the second is a sixteenth note . try singing the song aloud to yourself again . odds are , youll naturally stretch out each you and the last syllable of the birthday boygirls name . this is a good thing , as it lends the song a little more of an emotional , dramatic quality . if youre not already doing this when you play the song on guitar , try adding it to your playing and it should come easily . in musical terminology , holding a note at the end of a piece or phrase in this way is called a fermata . the notes and chords above dont make up the only way to play happy birthday . in fact , there are several different sets of chords and notes called keys that you can use to play this song . though a discussion of what exactly a key is is beyond the scope of this article , its easy to find music for happy birthday in different keys by using a search engine query like happy birthday guitar keys . for example , heres another way to play happy birthday happy birthday hap - py g birth - day to d you . hap - py birth - day to g you . hap - py birth - day dear c na - ame . hap - py g birth - day d to g you . in the examples above , weve only used major happy - sounding chords . in reality , you can also add chords called 7 chords to this song to give it a slightly more complex , almost bluesy feel . if you want to do this , simply change the chord in the third measure and the second chord in the seventh measure to the 7 version of that chord so that a d becomes a d7 , a g becomes a g7 , and so on . for example , here is the original chord progression for happy birthday from the top of this article with 7 chords substituted in happy birthday hap - py c birth - day to g you . hap - py g7 birth - day to c you . hap - py birth - day dear f na - ame . hap - py c birth - day g7 to c you . for reference , a g7 chord is played like this open g7high e string first fret 1b string open 0g string open 0d string open 0a string second fret 2low e string third fret 3 |
choose instrumentation . utilize the common chord progression for the introduction . use a different chord progression for the verse . go back to the original chord progression for the chorus . work on tempo . | how to play mad world | playing this song will be different based on what instruments the musicians are using . in many variations of mad world the major instrument is the piano . however , for other musical presentations , the guitar is the lead instrument . think about which instruments are best for a specific rendition of this song . sheet music for the song shows the intro as being composed of two chords f minor and b flat major . playing these two alternately will provide the back - and - forth kind of sound featured in the introduction to mad world . when the song is played with f minor as the base chord , the verse chord progression would be from f minor to a flat , e flat and b flat and back to f minor . think about alternatives for the key of the song . changing the key can make the song sound a bit different . for instance , some versions of sheet music for mad world use the chords e minor and a major for the intro . being able to change keys for a song quickly is part of what makes a musician more experienced and professional , and its worth putting some time into the study of relative chord progressions in order to be able to effectively change keys . for example , if using the introduction chords f minor and b flat major , return to this same chord alternation for the chorus . listen to the way the alternating chords match the vocal chorus line i find it kind of funny , i find it kind of sad . here , the timely resolution back to f minor is part of what makes the song feel a certain way . getting this feeling right is part of playing this song well . the pace of the chords is very important for mad world . again , listen to the lyrics and try to make the pace of musical play match the vocals and the overall ethos of the song . getting the sound right will evoke associations with the original version and make your version sound good . |
learn the bass note riff at the centre of the song to guide your playing . use your index finger , sliding it around the neck , as much as possible . learn the implied guitar chords for the verse . fix up your amp . review you power chords if youve never used them . learn the two - chord bridge into the chorus . start the chorus with two strums of an e power chord . slide your whole power chord down to the 10th fret to play a g . you want to practice keeping the same finger shape together as you move across the neck , since power chords all of the same shape . slide right back to the e chord for one quick strum . hit the 5th fret , d power chord as you slide back up the neck . keep moving to the 3rd fret power chord . land the last power chord on the 2nd fret , then repeat the entire thing . listen to the song repeatedly to learn the rhythm and order of the song . internalize the rhythm from the bass guitar , as it is the same one used in the solo . move down to the 12th fret on the 1st string to kick the solo up a notch . replay the last section , avoiding the high - pitched notes on the 17th fret , to end the solo . use the bridge chords as your outro . | how to play seven nation army on guitar | this is the iconic set of notes that the song begins with , played on the bass . the exact same riff is repeated through the verse and chorus , though jack white plays the notes as power chords on the guitar . if you can learn the basic riff , however , you can add the chords in later with ease . the bass riff looks like g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - d - - - - - - - - - - 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a - - 7 - - 7 - - - - - - 7 - 5 - 3 - 2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e - - 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - in the real song , this is only a bass guitar riff . but you can crank up the distortion or use an octave pedal to mimic the sound on an electric guitar . get used to moving your whole hand fluidly across the guitar to master the above riff . use your index finger to fret as much as possible instead of switching fingers - - youll need your ring and pinkie free to make chords later on . listen closely and you can hear jack white sliding around the guitar . it is most pronounced right before he launches into the riff , sliding into that 7th fret note . if you were to play the song with just an acoustic guitar , for example , youd need to know the chord melodies . but these chords could be used for any cover or version - - look at marcus collins version , which uses rhythm guitar in the verse where the original has none . to play chord melodies , simply play the following chords - - each chord times up to the same note in the bass riff above . e 7th fret , 5th string g 5th fret , 4th string d 5th fret , 5th string c 3rd fret , 5th string b 2nd fret , 5th string these can be played as straight chords or powerchords . to get a real white stripes sound from your guitar , your amp needs to be adjusted a little . dont worry , youre not opening anything up , just change the settings a little . youll need quite a bit of gain , try turning that up to 8 . to even that out , keep your treble all the way up to 7 or 8 too . keeps the mids at 5 while the bass should be pumped up to 8 . if your amp has an effect called presence , turn that up to 8 too . power chords are simple 2 - finger chords used for big , brash , and quick songs . if youve never made them , they are actually easy to build . start with your index finger on any fret on the top two strings - - use the first note of the seven nation army riff 7th fret , 5th string to start . now , simply place your ring finger one string and two frets down , on the 9th fret , 4th string . only play these two strings - - this is your power chord for even bigger , better chords , add your pinky on the string and fret below your ring finger 9th fret , 3rd string , so your final chord has three notes . the note your index finger is on determines the chord . since the note in the example is an e , this is an e power chord . this is the section that begins with the words in the first verse , at least and the message in my eyes . as he says this you should hit a g power chord 3rd fret , 6th string for one full measure . switch to an a power chord 5th fret , 6th string or an open a 2nd fret , 2nd - 4th strings for one full measure . you want to start with one big strum , followed up by a shorter one . in case youve forgotten , an e power chord looks like this e - - x - - b - - x - - g - - x - - d - 9 - a - - 9 - - e - - 7 - - after the second , quicker strum , jump quickly up to the 10th fret and strum it once . this chord takes the place of the 5th fret , 3rd string shown in the bass riff above . e - - xx - - b - - xx - - g - - xx - - d - 12 - a - - 12 - - e - - 10 - - from here on out , youll be repeating the bass riff , just with power chords . hit the e one more time on you way back up the guitar . your next chord is another power chord , the 5th fret on the 5th string . e - - x - - b - - x - - g - - x - - d - 7 - a - - 7 - - e - - 5 - - keep on following the bass riff . the chord is still the same shape . this is a c power cord , sometimes called a c5 . e - - x - - b - - x - - g - - x - - d - 5 - a - - 5 - - e - - 3 - - the last chord is the b and is located on the 2nd fret of the 5th string . once youve hit this , there is a brief pause before you simply repeat the chords once more for the chorus . e - - x - - b - - x - - g - - x - - d - 4 - a - - 4 - - e - - 2 - - seven nation army is simple , and doesnt have any vigorous strumming . after learning all of the power chords , you need to learn the actual song . there are three parts a verse , a chorus , and a bridge . listen to the song to see how the music changes during these parts . the verse is only bass and drums . you can , however , play the chords of the song , or play the bass riff on guitar . the bridge is simply your way in and out of the chorus . at the end of the verse , right before jumping into the power chords , play the two chord bridge . you also play it after the chorus , right before going into the verse again . the chorus is your power chord riff . this exact same riff is also played behind the guitar solo . the guitar solo in seven nation army isnt technically difficult . but rhythmically it is almost in perfect tune with the iconic bass riff from the beginning of the song . this this powerful , plodding , and deliberate rhythm is key to making the solo sound nice . if you need , review and learn the bass line before the solo . it is easy enough and will help immensely . all youre doing is taking the following sets of notes , and putting them through the same rhythm as the bass solo . start part one of the solo on the 9th fret , 3rd string . the solo has two parts - - both of which follow the style of the bass riff . the first half starts on the 9th string , playing the 9th string repeatedly in place of the held root note in the bass riff . after leaving the 9th , keep playing the rest of the notes as if they were the bass guitar . play this riff twice . g - - - - - 9 - - 9 - 9 - 9 - 912b - - 11 - - - 9 - 9 - 12 - 14 - 12 - - 12 - 1214 - 12 - 11 - - - - - this riff is when the guitar really starts to squeal . keep practising , playing along with the song , to get the feel for the bends . note , as well , how much vibrato when you shake a note , as indicated by the is used to give the notes flavor and attitude . e - - - - - 12 - - 12 - 15 - 12 - 12 - 15b - - 14 - - - - 12 - - 12 - 15 - 17 - 15 - - 15 - 1517 - 15 - 14 - - - - - the last little section of the song sounds great if you play the b - string occasionally as well , barring both strings on the same fret . this can add some of the body and power to your solo as youre playing , helping you capture some of the attitude of the original . e - - - - - 12 - - 12 - 14 - 12 - 12 - 15b - 15 - - - - 12 - - 12 - 14 - 12 - 12 - 14 - 12 . once the solo is over , quickly play the 13th and 12th frets on the b - string 2nd string . then jump into a quiet rendition of your bridge - - the g and a power chords - - to transition back into the verse . if you know how , palm mute these last two chords for the best effect . |
if you are comfortable with the guitar , you should know that when holding the guitar , the largest string top is known as e , or 6 . grab your guitar . place your capo on the 3rd fret . place your fingers in the c position . for the c chord , you will be plucking the four middle strings , 5 , 4 , 3 , and 2 . pluck 5 and 2 at the same time . place your middle finger on the third fret from the capo . place your fingers in the am a minor chord . place your fingers in the fmaj7 chord . do the last steps again . for the pre - chorus , do the plucking pattern for the chord that you have to play . play the chorus . play two more verses . play the pre - chorus . chorus . next there is a verse sung by zayn . play the chorus twice . pluck the am pattern once , then the g pattern once , and then 6 and 2 together on the fmaj7 . finished | how to play moments by one direction fingerstyle | then a 5 , d 4 , g 3 , b 2 , e 1 , then pluck in this order 4 , 3 , 5 , 2 , 4 , 3 . you will do that 4 times . well call this the g chord not really g chord . you will have the same picking pattern as the c chord , but you will substitute 6 for 5 . repeat 4 times . you will pluck the same way you do for the c chord . then lift and place your index finger to create hammer - on sound on the double pluck . now put your finger back . then play the hammer - on again . play the same plucking pattern that you do for the g chord . on the second time doing this step , lift your middle finger . the third time do the hammer - on again . the fourth time , place your middle finger back where it was originally . , step a play the plucking pattern for am once , then the g chord , then c , then fmaj7 . step b then am , then g , then fmaj7 , then pluck 6 and 2 on the fmaj7 chord once . you will do the same pattern that you did for the first two verses . continue the pattern for these verses . , just like the verses . its the bridge . play it like the pre - chorus except play step a three times and then you play step b . , keep practicing and youll be playing it like a pro |
learn the major scales be familiar with the major scale pattern whole , whole , half , whole , whole , whole , half . as with any major scale , you begin with the root . next , we take a whole step to the 2nd fret on the a string or a b note . then another whole step to the 4th fret on the a string or the c note . then a half step from c to the open d string . then a whole step again to the 2nd fret on the d string or the e note . another whole step to the 4th fret on the d string or the f note . another whole step to the 1st fret on the g string or the g note . lastly , one more half step to the 2nd fret on the g string or the a note . | how to play the a major guitar scale | please see wikihows major scale article on the guitar , with standard tuning , this would be an open a string . there are , of course , many ways to play a single scale on the guitar . this article will concern itself with playing the a major scale in first position . use your middle finger to play this note . use your pinky finger to play this note . , use your middle finger again to play this note . use your pinky finger again to play this note . use your pointer finger to play this note . use your middle finger to play this note . ending the scale by playing the root again provides a finishing or closing touch . |
learn the motion . use a prop before using the cello . apply the motion . control the motion . | how to do vibrato on a cello 1 | vibrato comes from the up and down motion of the arm , not from the rotation of the wrist or hand , but you do want the arm to rotate this is different from the violin or viola . this motion is similar to opening a jar , and then closing it quickly . it is very helpful to learn this away from the cello before applying it . see next step to help with this . to learn the motion of vibrato , it is helpful to use a film canister to serve as a rattler . fill a film canister or a pillbox with pebbles , rice , or anything else that will rattle . simply hold this in your left hand . then support your elbow as if you were playing the cello , and move your hand up and down vertically as if you were hitting something . do this for 10 minutes a day until it feels natural . it may take several days . practice a lot . to help with control , try making this motion fasterslower , and widernarrower . when you feel comfortable , transfer back to the cello again . now , apply this motion to your practice , of scales especially , until it becomes a natural motion . try playing a scale first with one vibrato maybe slow and wide , then try again playing it another way fast and wide , then another and so on . when first applying vibrato to your playing , try only using it on scales at first . scales are simple so it is easier to concentrate on getting the correct motion . be able to get a whole variety of different vibratos from wide and slow to narrow and fast . vibrato should not just be an onoff motion . different characters require different vibratos . |
put your thumb behind the fingerboard and put you middle finger on a note . slowly use a glissando between the notes but not too much . practice doing this faster . | how to do vibrato on a cello 2 | start with you middle finger , because that is an easy one . glissando means sliding and to move to the next note of the scale instead of picking up your finger . keep at it until it sounds good . |
think about why you want to play the cello . have a goal . get a teacher . learn basic notes , techniques , and rhythm start very slowly , because the beginning is the most important part of your learning . practice regularly every day , and take breaks if you get uncomfortable . go to lessons and have 30 minutes a week to start , then go to 45 minutes , an hour , etc . take advantage of all performance opportunities at school and in your community . always practice scales and arpeggios . alternatively , you can practice etudes as well . join a community orchestra . learn the notes and get their intonation perfect 100 of the time , then learn vibrato effectively . | how to play the cello | do you want to be like your friends are your parents forcing you to learn these are not good reasons . you must have a strong desire to be a good cellist , or you will waste a lot of time , money and effort . be it a certain piece you want to play , a concert you want to play in , a competition you want to enter , or an orchestra or school you want to get into , having a goal will help you through practicing and give you motivation . ask your musician friends parents how they found their teacher , or look in the yellow pages . go see at least 3 teachers to get a feel of how they work , and then choose the one that best suits your schedule and your way of learning . bring a parent to your lessons for the first year so you can have an outside perspective of your posture , sound and position while you are practicing at home . if you learn wrong , it will take years to fix bad habits . some bad habits can even be physically injurious . please , start slowly . during the first week , you may want to only practice for 15 minutes at a time your fingers wont be used to the string and will hurt a little at first . remember that it is always better to spread out your practicing rather than practicing a lot two or three days a week . you can also add a second lesson per week . depending on the teacher , lessons can range from 25 to 100 or higher . , people tend to concentrate on what they are playing instead of how they are playing it , and scales are a good way to really think about it . scales are also a sort of stretch before you play a song . practice technical work and take theory classes . do exams . exams help you evolve and give you a goal to reach every few months . these are short pieces look for krane books or schroeder and , in more advanced stages look for popper and duport that test you on not only scalar technique and knowledge but bow stroke , vibrato , rhythm , tone , and many other aspects of the cello . in combination with regular piece music and scales , you can help improve yourself and mix up your practice schedule as well . orchestras are great for learning theory if you do not want to take classes , and teach rhythm , intonation , and how to play with other musicians . if you work hard , an orchestra will be very rewarding because you will move up and one day become the principal . vibrato livens up the music beautifully and warms the tone . |
place your left hand in first position on any string . lift your fingers up above the strings . move your hand slowly and smoothly towards one of the basic positions . increase the pace but remain smooth . place your left hand in first position on the d string . loosen your thumb up slightly and move your hand so that your first finger is on the f note and your second finger is on the g note . practice lifting up your fingers in this position . move your hand back to first position . practice moving back and forth on the d string . place your left hand in first position on the d string . press down all your fingers and play . lift your fingers up slightly and move back to first position . try out the other strings . practice shifting to the various positions . place your left hand in first position on the d string . move you hand so that your first finger is on the a note and your second finger is on the b♭ note . press down all your fingers and play . practice this on the other strings . try the different combinations of positions . | how to shift on a cello | make sure that your arm and fingers are curved . check your thumb that it is supporting the cello but not squeezing it tightly . if you are squeezing it too tightly , relax your hand and gently place your thumb at the neck of the cello . only hover them over the strings . try not to get too close to the strings as the shifting movement will be much harder , however , having your fingers too high above the strings will make it hard to accurately place your fingers . this action must be done smoothly so that there is less tension in your arm . gradually increase the speed of shifting to each position . avoid yanking your arm towards the position . keeping your thumb loose helps you shift easier . make sure you are completely accurate . press all four fingers down and play the d string . lift your fingers off one by one to see if each note it in tune . once you have checked and the notes are in tune , place your hand gently on the d string in first position again . your third finger should be on the g note and your fourth finger should be on the a note . this a is the same a as your open string a . press down all your fingers in this position and play . to test if your second position on the d string is correct , play your open a string and compare . they both should sound the same . lift your fourth finger to see what g sounds like , then lift your third finger to listen to g and so on . if the notes are out of tune , adjust your fingers and try again . remember to move your thumb with your fingers . ensure that you are not squeezing too tightly . remember to lift your fingers slightly first then move . avoid sliding up and down the strings with your fingers as it is very slow . always keep your fingers and arm curved over . improve your speed and accuracy . practice shifting to second position on the other strings too in second position on the a string , the notes are first to fourth finger c d d e g string b c c d this d is the same d as your open string d c string e f f g this g is the same g as your open string g move your hand so that your first finger is on the g note and your second finger is on the g note . your third finger should now be on the a note and your fourth finger should be on the b♭ note . lift your fourth finger up and play . this should be the a note . to check if it is accurate , play your open a string to compare . then , lift your third finger up and play this should be the g note and so on . if the notes are out of tune , adjust your fingers and try again . always check your thumb . do not make it a habit to keep your thumb in one spot while shifting as this will cause problems . always adjust your fingers if the sound is out of tune . in third position , the notes on the a string are d d e f g string c c d e♭ c string f f g a♭ practice slowly and gradually increase the speed . try shifting from first to third position second to third position third to first position third to second position check to see if all your fingers are accurately placed . adjust your fingers to the correct position if necessary . your third finger should be on the b note and your fourth should be on the c note . note that the c note is the same c note on the a string in first position . lift your fourth finger up and play , then lift your third finger up and play and so on . adjust your fingers if the notes are out of tune . in fourth position , the notes on the a string are e f f g g string d e♭ e f c string g a♭ a b♭ moving from first to fourth position and back is difficult to do quickly and accurately . |
listen to a concert a . play your a string . | how to tune a cello to concert a 1 | concert a a4 in scientific pitch notation is a pitch that is an octave above the a string on your cello . concert a is , however , the pitch of the violin a string , and will be what the concertmaster plays when the orchestra tunes . if you are in a full orchestra , you will most likely tune to this pitch given by the principal oboist . dont let the different timbres of the instruments throw you off . this pitch is also 440 hz on a note generator . many metronomes and tuners have note generators with this specific pitch to help you tune . tone generators are also available online , though every musician should have a metronome as part of their kit . keep in mind that different orchestras may set concert a to a different pitch - for example , 442 hz is common in some parts of europe . bow it softly but smoothly . adjust the fine tuner or peg , if its really out of tune until it is in tune . if your arms are long enough , you can adjust the fine tuner with your left hand while simultaneously bowing . this takes practice to sustain the smoothness of the bowing . to play concert a , simply play that harmonic . find the pitch on the a string 3rd finger 5th position , and instead of pressing all the way , lightly touch the string . the sound will be lighter and more airy , but you may be able to hear the intonation better . |
find the second harmonic of the d string . alternate between the harmonics on the a and d strings . alternate between the harmonics on the d and g strings . alternate between the harmonics on the g and c strings . | how to tune a cello to concert a 2 | the second harmonic , by its very nature , has two positions on the d string you will use the one located in 1st finger 4th position a3 , or the a below concert a , if you press down . lightly press this note to obtain concert a . if they are not the same pitch , then the d string will be flat or sharp . adjust accordingly until they are in tune . the g string harmonic producing a d3 is found in the same place as where you lightly pressed the d string . all you need to do is to play that harmonic a string down . when these harmonics are in tune , then your cello should be in tune and ready to go . |
play the a and d strings at the same time . check if the d string is flat or sharp . continue with the lower strings . | how to tune a cello to concert a 3 | use a moderate sound and a smooth bow . with good ear training , perfect fifths are easy to hear , while out - of - tune fifths can be picked out by recognizing the dissonant vibrations and a sound that is not quite right . adjust your d string until the a and d strings produce a perfect fifth . assuming your a string is in tune , press the d string near the nut to slightly sharpen the pitch , and adjust as needed . if a perfect fifth results from doing this , then the d string is flat . likewise , if you need to press the a string near the nut to obtain a perfect fifth , then the d string is sharp . as with tuning by harmonics , this relies on your ear to make sure that your strings are actually in tune - otherwise , the errors accumulate as you get lower . a perfect fifth of the g and c strings may be a bit difficult to hear at first , especially if your strings are not high quality or if you are tuning in an orchestra with other cellos . use harmonics if needed . |
listen to the butler era suede back catalogue . get to know the equipment used on the records . capture bernards tone . create distinctive and memorable intros . arpeggiate chords . play soulful , melodic leads . experiment with your solos . use a variety of techniques . use a range of effects pedals . finally , be inventive . | how to play guitar like bernard butler | bernard was the lead guitarist for the band from their inception , but most of their finished material featuring his guitar work was released between 1992 - 1994 . this includes their debut suede , the follow - up dog man star , the stand alone single stay together , and the respective b - sides and rarities , many of which can be found on the album sci - fi lullabies . this will give you a good idea of the techniques and styles he uses , and the further you delve into the back catalogue , the more you will notice a common theme and style that recurs in the guitar work . bernard used a gibson les paul during the bands early years , and regularly live on songs such as animal nitrate and metal mickey . he has also utilised a fender telecaster , gibson j - 200 , vox phantom and fender electric xii , however , the electric guitar most commonly associated with him is a cherry red 1960 gibson es - 355td - sv , which he has continued to use throughout his career . his primary amp would appear to be a vox ac30 , which has been used extensively throughout his career . any of this equipment would be useful in replicating bernards guitar sound , but is not necessary . brands such as epiphone offer more affordable versions of the les paul and 355 , and any cheaper vox amp would help recreate the cleaner , jangly tones on the suede records . bernard used two distinct guitar sounds for nearly every suede song he played one the first is a clean - ish , jangly tone , quite similar to johnny marrs one of bernards guitar heroes signature sound , but with a flavour of its own that is very characteristic of his regular amp , the vox ac30 . this sound can be hear most prominently during the verses of metal mickey and animal lover . the amp settings that i usually use for this tone are gain - 5 , bass - 1 , middle - 7 , treble 10 , reverb - 3 . the second is a fuzzy , over - driven tone that bernard often uses to thicken the lead parts , such as the one in stay together . for this he used a boss ds - 2 turbo distortion , and the settings that i use for this on the pedal are gain - 10 , tone - 7 and distortion - 5 . this , or any similar pedal will give you the distorted fuzz that characterised the explosive suede choruses . one of butlers finest moments is the introduction to animal nitrate . the track begins with eerie ambient sounds , followed a distinctive riff in the key of b minor , which is then boosted by a roaring flanger effect , helping to introduce the song in style . bernard seemed to favour using an effects pedal for the introduction of a song , such as a chorus effect on the intro to we are the pigs . adding an effect can give a guitar part an extra edge that sets it apart from others . however , a simple crunch tone can embellish an intro , as demonstrated in the raunchy power chords that open suedes debut single , the drowners . bernard often broke down and embellished chords for many of the songs , a great example of which would be the introverse of metal mickey . the chords for the verse are a , g , d , c and a . however , rather than strumming them freely , he broke down each chord and embellished it by turning it into a series of guitar licks . if you listen closely to the song , whilst the first a chord is strummed in its entirety , the following chords are represented with a series of bass notes and fast licks . this is a recurring style that shows up regularly on the suede album , and is present in other songs such as my insatiable one and so young . in conclusion , when trying to emulate bernards rhythm style , its best to break things into open chord parts , rather than just hammering out barre chords . when it comes to his guitar style , the more intricate and interesting sounding it is , the better whilst bernard gives texture to the verses of a song with jangly rhythm parts , the chorus more often than not features a melancholic , melodic counterpart to the vocal . emphasized with a fat fuzzy tone , these parts sometimes copy the vocal part , or simply compliment the vocals with an alternate melody . some of the best examples of this would be the over - driven chorus of so young , which features a minor pentatonic melody , and stay together , which departs from the quiet arrangement of the verse with a bluesy , fuzzy guitar part . whilst he often used standard pentatonic scales to construct solos , such as those found in metal mickey and animal lover , in other songs he was prone to experimentation , and literally thinking outside the box , namely the pentatonic scale boxes . the best examples of this would be the animal nitrate solo , which recalls the chorus part , but also ventures into an almost chromatic series of notes , and the solo in the asphalt world , which favours melody over strict scales to complement the minor sound of the song . one of his most memorable , the solo in we are the pigs combines both methods , by sticking to regular pentatonic scales , but still with a strong sense of melody . basically , as long as it sounds interesting , dont worry about soloing within the rules remember , rock music is all about breaking them bernard demonstrated a wide variety of guitar tricks and techniques during his time in suede , some of which were purely musical , and some of which contributed to his guitar showmanship . these include , but are not limited to pick slides moving , metal mickey half step and full step bends legato employed in a variety of ways trills animal lover bending the guitar neck to raise or lower the pitch of a chord used memorably just before the animal nitrate solo tremolo picking stay together , moving triplets stay together arpeggios within a solo my insatiable one double stops metal mickey as mentioned previously , bernard often used effects to enhance his guitar sound . most of the songs on the first album feature only a small handful of effects , compared to the large array that bernard used on the second , dog man star . here are several of the effects he used , and examplesthe songs he used them most prominently on distortionfuzz - animal lover , this hollywood life . flanger - animal nitrate , my dark star , metal mickey phaser - my dark star , animal nitrate chorus - stay together , we are the pigs , the asphalt world wah wah - the asphalt world what sets bernard butler apart from other guitarists of his era , is that he epitomized the role of the lead guitarist . rather than just strumming chords , he used the guitar as his voice , and his guitar work was as equally important to the early suede era as brett andersons vocals . butler broke the boundaries with the instrument , and was arguably the most accomplished lead guitarist to emerge out of the britpop movement . |
learn the strings . number your fingers . learn the c chord . try it out the notes . expand your musical vocabulary . extend the f chord . play a g chord . play the g chord the easy way . put it all together . learn the key of e . theres a lot of rock n roll done in the key of e , and a lot of blues , too . play the a major . play the b major . try it out . learn the key of a . learn an alternate version of the a chord . try it out . learn a g major . learn a c major . learn a d major . learn an e minor and major . learn an a major and minor . learn an f major . | how to play guitar chords | the best way to start is by becoming familiar with the strings on your guitar and how they relate to your fingers . to make this easier , were going to number them both . the strings on your guitar are numbered like this vertically , the strings are numbered 1 through 6 , from highest pitch to lowest . horizontally , the numbering is based on the fret positions . note that when the directions say put your first finger on the 3rd fret , that means you actually place your finger between the 2nd and 3rd fret . its the string itself that needs to be in contact with the 3rd fret . use this mnemonic to remember which note each string is tuned to , from lowest to highesteat all day , get big easy . take a look at your left hand , and imagine you have numbers stamped on your fingers . your index is 1 , your middle finger is 2 , your ring finger is 3 , and your pinky finger is 4 . your thumb we will call t , but you will not be using it for chords in this article . the first chord we will cover is a c chord—one of the most basic chords in music . before we do , lets break down just what that means . a proper chord , whether played on a piano , a guitar , or sung by well - trained mice , is simply three or more notes sounded together . two notes is called a diad , and while musically useful , is not a chord . chords can also contain far more than three notes , but thats well beyond the scope of this article . this is what a c chord looks like on the guitar the lowest note is the 3rd fret of the a string c the next note up is played on the 2nd fret of the d string e note there is no finger on the g string . this string remains open when strumming a c . the highest note is played on the 1st fret of the b string c the highest and lowest strings on the guitar are not played for the basic c major chord . play each note note in the chord , from low to high , one at a time . take your time and be deliberate press down firmly on the fret , and pluck the string . let the note ring for as long as you can , then move to the next note press your 3rd finger onto the 3rd fret of the a string , as indicated above , pluck , and let it ring until it fades out . you just played a c note . press your 2nd finger onto the 2nd fret of the d string , then do the pluck - and - ring to play an e . break time simply pluck the open , un - fingered g string . press your 1st finger on the 1st fret of the b string , and let that c note sound loud play the notes , one at a time , for a few times . when youre ready , sweep your pick or fingers across all four middle strings quickly . youve just played a c chord it may sting a little the first few times you do it , but as you develop calluses , the pain goes away . playing a c chord is nice , and its definitely a gateway chord that will lead you into more interesting musical territory , but theres much more to music than that here are two other chords commonly used when playing in c major . f , and g . play a basic f chord like this the notes in an f chord are f , a , and c . note that the f and the c are being played by the same finger the first finger is placed across the 1st fret of both the 1st and 2nd strings . generally , chords are built so that the lowest note is the root of the chord , but in this case , the f is being sounded on the 1st fret of the 1st string . this is called an inversion . you can an f in the root by playing the f on the d string the 3rd fret up , played with your third finger . you may notice the chord doesnt sound a lot different , just fuller . like the c and the f , the g chord is one of the big three in the c major scale . there are many ways to play it , and well show you two . the first way is easy its the exact same fingering as the extended f chord , only moved up two frets heres a way to play the g chord with only one finger now that you know the three basic chords in the key of c , put them together , and perhaps youll recognize about a zillion popular songs . strum c four times , followed by f , two times , then g , two times , then back to c . note that after each chord is a roman numeral . these indicate what position the root note of the chord is on the scale—regardless of fingering . once you know the basic chords in all the keys , its easier to just show a chart than to have the chord spelled out every time . practice that until your fingers are tired , then take a break , but come back well also show you the basic chords in e and a the three chords to learn here are e maj i , a maj iv , and b maj v . heres the e chord this is one of the easier chords to play , once you have your calluses built up . you can play all the strings at once . crank up a marshall stack to 11 with this chord , hit it hard , and youll feel the beginnings of being a rock hero this is another big chord , sonically . there are several ways to play this . you can use one finger across the 2nd fret of the b , g , and d strings playing c , a , and e , respectively , or any other combination of fingers . for this example , well use the 4th finger on the b string , 3rd finger on the g string , and 2nd finger on the d string . as you get better at playing , you will understand that moving quickly from one chord to another sometimes results in odd fingerings that still work . the key is to make the most efficient use of your fingers , and once you kick off the training wheels , dont be afraid to experiment . you can play this one easy , or play this one hard . the easy way is shown with the black numbers . you can add the additional note , show by the gray number . heres another short strumming pattern to try out in the key of e try varying your strumming pattern , too dont just stick to the lines on the paper . youre already two thirds of the way there the key of a consists of a in the first position i , d in the fourth position iv , and our old powerhouse friend e in the dominant fifth position v . heres how to play the d chord note the first finger across the first three strings this is the beginning of a barre chord . a full barre chord uses one finger across all strings , and is often based on the basic forms shown in this article . this is useful when played along with the d and the e chords heres another little ditty to try out your new chords on now , think of the creedence clearwater revival song , down on the corner , and try it again , your ring finger goes on the top string , 3rd fret . the middle finger is for the 5th string , 2nd fret , and you pinky goes all the way to the bottom , on the 3rd fret of the 1st string . strum all of the strings together to play the chord . if you want , add in the 3rd fret , 2nd string - - this not is not necessary , but makes a richer sounding chord . - - 3 - - - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 2 - - - - 3 - - place your ring finger up on the 5th string , 3rd fret . then follow with your middle finger 4th string , 2nd fret - - note how this is the same beginning as a g chord , just moved down a string . then end with your index finger on the 2nd string , 1st fret . play all but the top string . - - 0 - - - - 1 - - - - 0 - - - - 2 - - - - 3 - - - - x - - this chord only requires the bottom four strings . place your index finger on the 3rd string , 2nd fret . your ring finger then goes on the 2nd string , 3rd fret , and your middle finger is the 1st string , second fret . youll form a little triangle shape . only strum these three strings and the 4th string - - the open d - - to sound out the chord . - - 2 - - - - 3 - - - - 2 - - - - 0 - - - - x - - - - x - - this deep chord uses all six strings . place your middle and ring fingers on the 2nd frets of the 4th and 5th strings . then place your index finger on the 3rd string , 1st fret . strum all six strings . - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 1 - - - - 2 - - - - 2 - - - - 0 - - make an e - minor chord by simply removing your index finger , leaving the 3rd string open . an a major is one of your easiest chords - - simply use your index , ring , and middle finger to fret the 2nd fret on the 2nd , 3rd , and 4th strings . play every string but the low - e string . - - 0 - - - - 2 - - - - 2 - - - - 2 - - - - 0 - - - - x - - make an a - minor chord by playing the first fret , not the second , on the b string . the shape is identical to e - major . f resembles a c major chord , just smushed . ignore the top two strings . place your ring finger on the 4th string , 3rd fret . your middle finger goes 3rd string , 2nd fret . finally , the index finger goes on the 2nd string , 1st fret . play only the bottom four strings . - - 0 - - - - 1 - - - - 2 - - - - 3 - - - - x - - - - x - - |
find a good and reliable music store that specializes in stringed instruments preferably that are handmade . go to the store . talk to the maker of the instrument , or hisher assistants . test the cellos for the tonal quality . get a good bow . purchase some strings . change the tailpiece and and the fine tuners if necessary , and purchase a wolf tone string eliminator gadget if encountering problems with wolf tones . choose a good secure case , preferably hard . | how to choose the right cello for you 1 | if you have a private teacher , see if they can come or have a student who is moving up a size , and see if you can buy theirs . they will usually know which cellos sound better . talk about your price range and ask about the different types of cellos high arched , low arched , two piece back , one piece back . even if your teacher says to choose a certain cello , but you prefer another cello , choose your cello . you should know that you will be using this cello for quite a long time . you wouldnt want to regret your decision . remember not to be hasty , there are always other cellos in other great workshops . the cello may be great but the accompanying bow might not be . ask one of the specialists and your teacher which one to get . just like with the purchase of your cello , dont be hasty . pick one you feel comfortable with , that feels balanced . many people recommend getting a wooden bow , not a fiber glass one . having two bows can also be convenient . if you buy a cello , the strings provided might not be the best fit . ask a specialist and your teacher for their opinion . if no help is available , stick with the best brands , obligato , larsen and jargar , or dominant for the less advanced . it is very important to have the cello well set - up to its advantage . a cello with great potential could sound poor with the wrong accessories . do not buy red label strings , they are about 10 a string , but they are cheaply made and sound bad . other types may be 40 - 100 per string , but they are higher quality , last longer , and sound much better . titanium string are more than 100 per string , but are excellent , and are extremely high quality . make the investment if you can afford it and know that you are going to keep playing . , if you are using a cello that is smaller than a full sized , hard cases will be hard to come by . also , good rosin is also important . |
locate a string instrument shop . visit multiple places . dont go alone . beware of commission fees . find out the prices . try to get a discount . purchase additional supplies . | how to buy a cello 1 | you can either check the phone book , use a search engine with keywords like string instruments shop near me , or ask fellow musicians or your teacher for advice , but try to find some local music shops that you can visit easily . if you live in a very rural area or a small town where there are few or no shops like this at all , it may seem tempting to get online to do your shopping , but ideally you will want to see and test any instrument you want to purchase first . make sure that the shop you go to has a good selection of cellos in various price ranges , both for students and professionals , present to try out . take your time and visit multiple stores if you can . theres nothing wrong with going to several locations to price compare and make sure theres not some great , undiscovered cello just around the corner . particularly for such a large investment , you dont want to rush into a decision . find out what kinds of policies they have - - can you rent - to - own if you change your mind , do they have a trade - in policy in place do they allow you to finance or make payment plans if so , find out additional details about these policies . although you might feel like this is a decision you can make on your own , take your teacher or another trusted expert with you to the store you will want them to examine the cellos with you , to listen to you play them , and to try them as well , so that you can be sure to pick a good cello . there may be things you will miss that they wont . although most students are not aware of the practice , it is traditional within the industry that stores often give teachers a commission based on sales . this matters to you because the commission will almost assuredly be based on the amount of money the instrument costs . it could affect the advice that your teacher might give you for selecting a store or a particular brand . although there is nothing inherently unethical or illegal about this practice , you still deserve to know exactly what your money is paying for . especially if you are hurting for money , talk with your teacher to find out if they do usually request a commission fee , and if so , if theyd be willing to waive it . before you go to the store , call ahead to find out if they participate in a commission fee program . you can request that the store provide you with a written statement that no money or instruments changed hands for a commission so that you can be sure everything was done ethically . only after you have thoroughly examined the cellos physically , but before you test anything out and start getting too attached to an instrument , its time to find out the prices . at the low end of a good cello , you can expect to pay 2000 and closer to 5000 on the higher end for a beginner or students instrument . instruments on the lower end of the cost range will usually be shop - made instruments theres less attention to detail and some or much of the work will have been done by machines on an assembly line . some parts , like the tops and the backs which contribute considerably to the sound , will still be hand - made . instruments on the lower end of the scale are usually considered to be good for newer players as the sound is engineered to pop out . especially when youre talking about an instrument that costs thousands of dollars , every bit of money you can save counts . if the store does not participate in commissioners fees and your teacher does not expect one either , you might ask if they can arrange for a 10 discount with the store . once you have made up your mind , you will need to buy some additional items for your cello , because most of them do not come with a bow , strings , rosin , or extra tuning pegs . you will also have to replace these items from time to time as they will wear down from regular use . you may also have to purchase a hard case to protect your cello from potential damage if one is not included . most cellists find it unnecessary to stockpile extra supplies having one or two extra strings handy inside your case is usually plenty . if this is your first cello , you may also need to pick up a tuning fork or an electric tuner . beginning students may also need a music stand , especially if they intend to learn to read music . |
find a good and reliable music store in your area . go to the store . find a helpful and friendly employee . find out what size cello you need . get a good case . find out if your cello comes with a bow . get some rosin . | how to choose the right cello for you 2 | before going , find popular brands online and check the prices and the quality . the better cellos should be more expensive , but not necessarily . if you have a private teacher , see if they can come . they will usually know which brands are best . at most stores there will be employees just waiting to help customers like you . different heights require different size cellos . the employee will probably have you try out a few different cellos . if a cellos c - peg comes to your left ear when you put the end pin out , it is a good size cello for you . be sure you do not have to put the end pin out more than a foot or so , otherwise you will have to get a new cello very soon . a good case is one that will protect your new cello and have room for a bow , rosin , and a cleaning cloth without having any of them banging up against the cello . most cases are just made of fabric but there are also harder cases that have wheels . these hard cases are usually more expensive , but are more durable than the fabric ones . some cellos include a bow , some do not . if yours doesnt , you need to look at the bow selection . a good bow is not too long or too heavy . |
choose a variety of instruments for inspection . dont select cellos solely by brand . be sure its the correct size . test it out . | how to buy a cello 2 | its important that everything about your new cello look , feel , and especially sound appealing to you . if you only test one and assume that its the perfect fit , you might miss something better . as you go along , do not pay attention to or ask about the price or brand of the instruments yet . instead , ask your accompanying expert what they think of the sound , and try to pick a few that youd like to physically test later after giving them all a thorough inspection . have your teacher or selected expert inspect the cellos as well . although it might be tempting to treat buying a cello the way you might buy clothes finding the perfect brand name and sticking with it this is probably not the best way to go about it . although there are perhaps some brands that should be avoided , most that youll find in a store should be generally reliable . talk with experts you trust , and ask other cellists who you may know through orchestra or lessons about which brands they might recommend , but try to experiment with a range of cellos across different brands . the size of the cello that you will need is based primarily on height cellists who are 5 feet or taller should generally be able to use a full - size cello , and those from 4 - 4½ feet tall should seek a half sized cello . those who are in the middle between those two sizes will probably be more comfortable with the smaller cello . due to the cost of a cello , you may wish to take into account whether or not there is a high likelihood you will continue to grow most girls reach physical maturity around 15 years old , and boys around 16 or 17 , and until then you may continue to grow . to determine if a cello is the correct size for you , sit in a chair from which you can comfortably rest your feet on the floor . make sure your back is straight . pull the endpin out a foot in length and allow the instrument to rest at a 45 degree angle against your chest . the top of it should come to the middle of your chest , with the peg for the c string situated near your left ear . most shops will have a quiet area for you to test a cello out in , but some will also allow you to take it out of the store to test in other areas . if they do allow the latter , take advantage of this and test the cello in spaces you will commonly play - - your home , wherever you take lessons or practice , the orchestra or band hall - - to conduct additional tests . you should be on the lookout for good tone and playability that is consistent whether the instrument is directly underneath your ear or all the way across a very large room . unfortunately , there is no science to this step you will have to make the choice based on your own instinct and your mentors advice . one sign of a quality cello is the presence of the occasional wolf note , wherein the vibrations between the instrument and the string itself cancel each other out so quickly and repeatedly that the note stutters as its made . |
examine the cellos varnish . check for quality wood . inspect the flame . check the fingerboard and neck . look at the bridge . test the strings . inspect the fittings . look at the sound post . | how to buy a cello 3 | a cellos varnish is more than just an aesthetic choice it affects the way an instrument sounds and how that sound will continue to change over the years . if it is applied too heavily , the instrument will be unable to open up , preventing a musician from making notes that fully resonate and in fact diminish as you play . in this case , less varnish is considered more . the color of the varnish is purely personal preference there is no agreed upon hierarchy among musicians . the kind of wood that the cello is made of matters spruce tops and maple ribs and bottoms will produce good , quality sound . meanwhile , laminated wood is probably best left for flooring due to its poor ability to conduct sound . look for good grains the ebony parts should ideally have very tight grains , so close they might actually appear to be perfectly smooth , and the spruce portions should have a grain that is tight in the center that grows wider toward the bouts . a good , dense flame the horizontal bar of contrast underneath the varnish , located in the wood itself is generally indicative of the woods expense . avoid wood that has an iridescent flame , wherein the light and dark bars change when the instrument is moved , as this is a sign that the flame has been artificially created . these pieces are interconnected , so it makes sense to check them both at the same time . be sure the fingerboard feels smooth and dimple - , bubble - , and pit - free especially as you play . do at test to make sure both components are even with the scroll held next to your chin , look down the fingerboard to make sure the light is even all the way across . a fingerboard that has been planed well will have a scoop at the mid point a string . the neck should be treated with an oil finish instead of varnish . a bridge should be straight with a slight curve when viewed from the side , and the feet of it should exactly fit the instruments belly . the cellos strings should fit into the grooves of the bridge , just deep enough to hold them securely without impeding vibration . an ideal bridge will be made of maple , have a tight grain , and be highly flamed . be sure that you like the strings of the instrument by trying them out . if you or your mentor feel theyre inappropriate , ask to try a different set . you also want to be sure that the strings are approximately . 9 mm away from the fingerboard on the treble side and 1mm - 1 . 4mm on the bass side . the fittings refer to pegs , endpins , and tailpieces as a group . sometimes less scrupulous dealers may try to pass off an inferior cello by using fittings that look nice but are of poor quality . your pegs should not be too tight or too loose so that they turn and stay in tune easily . they shouldnt extend too far from the scroll , and the ends of them should be flush with the scroll head . endpins come in 18 or 20 inch sizes and a variety of metals be sure yours suits your needs , sets firmly , and retracts without any issues . preferably you want a tailpiece that is made of ebony plastic will resound less than it or composite materials and come with a built - in fine tuner as this reduces the weight , but the tailpiece absolutely must be the right size for the instrument . to locate the sound post , you must look through the f - hole . you want to be sure that its uncracked , splinter free , and positioned correctly . it should be about a fingers width from the bridge , just behind the right bridge foot . it should not distort the f - holes shape , shouldnt lean , or dimple the top of the cello . |
use a trusted mail order firm . look around online cello communities . avoid auction sites if possible . beware extremely low prices . dont judge a listing based on appearances . know what to look for in descriptions . check for return policies and warranties . purchase your additional supplies . inspect the cello upon arrival . | how to buy a cello 4 | although it is strongly suggested that you buy a cello you have had the opportunity to examine and test personally , you can also purchase them online . find an internet merchant that sells cellos like cellos2go , lindawest . com , stringworks , or fineviolins . com . youll want to make sure that at least one person on the staff is a cello specialist . there are multiple communities online for buying and selling cellos as well as simply getting in touch with other cellists . cello . org has a classifieds section , as do uvcello . org and usedviolins . com . additionally , there are facebook communities like cello community international that you can inspect . be advised that the hosts of these communities do not screen , authorize , or in any way ensure the authenticity of the offers being made . , auction sites are just about the last place you want to look for a musical instrument . it is much more likely that you will end up buying an item that is misleading and a waste of your money through these sites . if you absolutely see a cello that you are interested in buying on one of these sites , have someone with an experienced eye look at the listings details , photos , and help you ask the sellers questions . many of the cheap cellos you might find on these sites are chinese with setups that more experienced cellists will point out are bad poor quality strings , improperly made bridges , tail pieces that are heavy and cheap . the listings may also include the words like master which is entirely misleading . whether you are purchasing from a store website or an auction listing , beware prices that seem too good to be true . although the exact number seems to be in dispute 700 or 1000 the general consensus of experts is that the cheaper you go , the more likely you are to end up with a piece of junk that will experience problems down the line . if the wood is uncured , the body could crack , come unglued , or the neck could separate from the body . damages such as these would render the instrument unplayable even after having spent the extra money it will take to get it set up in a reputable shop , and you will have to pay more money to get it fixed later if it can even be fixed . in general , you want to be seek out a cello that has been around for a number of years and has already opened up its sound . but its impossible to tell based on the listings photos if the item is actually older because these days antiquing methods in virtually every country cellos are manufactured in are good enough to trick many amateurs . they can even put dings and scratches into the surface . , it is vitally important if you insist on doing your shopping online that you look for the information you need to make a correct choice . find out when it was produced , if its laminated or varnished , and what woods its made of plywood or spruce and maple . you want to avoid anything laminated , made of plywood , or too new if you cant find the information to make a good assessment , contact the seller for more details . some appraisers and sellers of violins like celloconnection . com and reuning . com will provide certificates of authenticity for owners ask if the seller has one , or ask for them to get it appraised if they are claiming a special maker . never make a purchase without knowing all the details . if a seller does not want to be honest about any of those details , you should find another place to buy a cello from . no matter where you choose to buy from , be sure to check what return policies they have in the event that the item is damaged in transit or , once it arrives , you decide it doesnt suit you . additionally , youll want to find out if there is any kind of warranty made by the seller . just like when buying in a store , you will need to buy other items like a bow , case , extra strings , and the like for your instrument . especially if you are seeking the cheapest cellos you can find you should not expect these items to be included unless they are specifically listed on the web sites listing . after you receive the item , youll want to check to make sure that it didnt sustain any damages during transit . if any pieces have loosened or slipped off while the instrument was being shipped , be sure to get someone experienced , like your teacher or a shop , to put it together again immediately . you also need to make sure that the soundpost is in the correct position before you attempt to play or tighten the instruments strings doing otherwise may ruin the instrument . |
consider renting for small children . consider your skill level . consider your budget . | how to buy a cello 5 | however skilled a very young musician may be , they are not the ideal candidate to buy a cello for . young children are known for going through very rapid growth spurts as elementary school students , theyll grow about 2½ inches in just a single year . part of what determines the cello you should buy is your size , and fractional size instruments are notoriously difficult to resale . to avoid having to buy a brand new cello again within six months or a year , consider renting a cello instead for those who need anything up to a ¾ size . are you brand new to playing the cello are you sure you plan to continue playing the instrument in the years to come will playing the cello be a hobby for you , or do you have plans to pursue it professionally , or even semi - professionally if you arent sure if you will continue to play the cello for many years and do not intend to take it at least semi - professionally , then you may be better off renting a cello until youre sure . cellos are extremely expensive for a good fractional , teachers advise students spend no less than 700 a good , full - sized cello for an adult will be at least 2000 . anything less expensive than that is not a good instrument and should be avoided . if you cannot afford to spend that much on buying a cello , renting is the better alternative . |
leave the top string , the low - e , open . place your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the a string . leave the 4th string , the d , open . fret the g string on the 1st fret with your index or middle finger . strum all of the strings at once to play your e7 . | how to play an e7 chord on guitar 1 | the thickest string on the guitar is the 6th string . since it is an e , the root note of an e7 , you can leave this string open . remember that guitar strings count from the bottom up . the thinnest string is the 1st string , the thickest the 6th . shortcut if you already know an open e - major chord you simply have to remove one finger to get an e7 . remove your finger from the 4th string , leaving it open . this is an e7 . the fifth string , the a , is fretted at the 2nd fret . if you remember e - major , the form so far is the same for your e7 . this is actually the 7th note , but a higher octave of it than found in the major scale . if you dont care about the music theory , just leave this string open and move on . make sure that your ring finger doesnt mute this string accidentally . this is actually the last note you need to worry about - - the rest of the strings are left open . again , this is the same note used in an e - major . all you need to do is play an e7 are these two notes and the other open strings . thats it . strum all the strings to sound out your bluesy chord . the final chord looks like this in tab - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 1 - - - - 0 - - - - 2 - - - - 0 - - |
use your index finger to barre over the open - e7 form to make any chord a seventh . learn an e7 barre chord on the fifth fret . | how to play an e7 chord on guitar 2 | this only works for chords starting on the sixth string , but this makes it easy to play a seventh chord anywhere . imagine that the open strings were actually a barred fret - - they are all the same fret being sounded out in your chord . this means your other two fingers will make any chord barred a 7th . since the next e begins on the 12th fret , your e7 barre chord would look like - - 12 - - - - 12 - - - - 13 - - - - 12 - - - - 14 - - - - 12 - - when barring chords on the 5th string , you can use the same strategy to move your chord anywhere as the one used in the last step . however , you must use the form of an a7 chord , because an open a7 resembles a barre chord on the a string the same way an open e7 resembles a barre chord on the e string . for an e7 , youd start on the 5th string , 7th fret , an e , and play the following form - - 7 - - - - 9 - - - - 7 - - - - 9 - - - - 7 - - - - x - - note if you moved this form all the way to the open strings , so you only fret the second string on the 2nd and 4th strings , this is an open a7 chord . |
observe the correct finger positions . make sure your guitar is in the standard tuning put your index finger on the 1st string , 1st fret press the 3rd string second fret with your middle finger . put your ring finger on the 2nd string 3rd fret play the chord check the proper fretting for each string e string - 1st fret b string - 3rd fret g string - 2nd fret d string - open a string - not played e string - not played | how to play d minor on your guitar 1 | , |
bar the fifth fret with your index finger press the 2nd string with your middle finger on the 6th fret . press the 3rd string with your ring finger on the 7th fret and the fourth string with your little finger on the 7th fret too . now play the chord and voila , youve successfully played a d minor chord . check the proper fretting for each string e string - 5th fret b string - 6th fret g string - 7th fret d string - 7th fret a string - 5th fret e string - 5th fret | how to play d minor on your guitar 2 | , |
get the right instrumentation . start out with acoustic guitar . add versions of the synthesizer in the background . progress into the chorus . take the guitar back to the verseintro progression . add drums along with female vocals . go back to the chorus and play it through , along with the vocals . add extras on the interlude . bring back louder drums and background music for the last chorus . add violin progressively . fade back into the verse to end the song . | how to play broken by seether | broken uses a variety of instruments , with electric guitar and violin out front , and a synthesized element along with drums in the background . the acoustic guitar outlines the beginning of the track with basic chord - based , single - note work . other instruments join in eventually . figure out the introduction chord progression . this same chord progression continues through the verse . in the key of e minor , which is a popular key for this song , the chord progression goes from e minor to c major three times , before going to d major and back to c major to resolve . master the picking style presented by the guitar player on the studio track . this style uses the top three strings as well as the bottom string of the fretboard in a particular melodic sequence . sheet music or guitar tablature , or tabs , will help beginners see exactly how this picked guitar riff is played . as the guitar goes through its introduction , some light synthesizer music is heard in the background of the track . where the vocalist first sings im broken� a different chord progression starts . in the key of e minor , the chord progression for the chorus actually mirrors the introductory and verse chord progression . in the chorus , the guitar goes from c major down to e minor , before ending with a similar progression of c major to d major and back to c major . this will play through once , and then again as the female vocalist enters the song . where the female vocalist comes in with the worst is over now� the drums begin . this gives additional heft to the last two - thirds of the track . musicians have to figure out on their own when its necessary to add extras like drums to their version . , in the studio version of broken , the guitar solo during the interlude is minimal . it doesnt have to be that way for an original take on the song . add electric guitar or anything else to fill in the song while the vocalists are silent . while the male and female vocals start again , musicians will want to add additional instrumentation to provide power for the end of the song . after the last chorus , the violin ramps up into a sequential riff that repeats three times . again , musicians can provide their own take on this , depending on the availability of various instruments . this song relies on a partial verse at the end , where the drums and other background go still , for a softer resolution . |
know that an a requires 3 different fingers on three different strings . learn the notes of the guitar to find an a major even easier . understand fretting . leave the top two strings open to play an a major . place your pointer finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string . place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string . place your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the 2nd string . leave the 1st , lowest string open . strum down the bottom five strings . know that barre chords are quickly changeable , adjustable chords found up and down the neck . place your entire finger over every string on the 5th fret . leave the 6th string barred . place your ring finger on the 7th fret of the 5th string . place your pinky on 7th fret of the 4th string . leave the 2nd and 1st strings barred on the 5th fret . strum all 6 strings . learn to play an a minor . learn to play an a 7th . learn to play an a minor 7th . recognize that an open a is actually a hidden barre chord . | how to play an a major chord on the guitar | for a major or simply a , you strum every string but the topmost one . a basic a major chord is simply a straight line with your pointer , middle , and ring fingers on the 2nd fret , playing the 2nd , 3rd , and 4th strings from the bottom . looking down at the guitar in your lap and starting with the thickest string leave the top string open , which means there is no finger on the fret . leave the next string open as well place your pointer finger on the next string between the first and second fret . the first fret is the one closest to the head of the guitar . place your middle finger between the first and second fret . place your ring finger between the first and second fret . leave the bottom most high e string open . guitar strings are not numbered from the top down . the bottom string , which is the thinnest string on your guitar , is the 1st string . the next one up is the 2nd , and so on until you get to the 6th string , the heaviest one . a helpful mnemonic for the order of the strings is every boy gets dinner at eight , since the strings , from the bottom up , are ebgdae . the 1st string , the thinnest , is the high e . the 2nd string is a b . the 3rd string is a g . the 4th string is a d . the 5th string is an a . the 6th string , the thickest , is the low e . frets are the little metallic bars along the neck of the guitar . pushing down a string in between two frets changes the note of the string , and each fret marks out the intervals between changing notes . the 1st fret is closest to the head of the guitar , the small piece at the end of the neck where all the strings are tied to the tuners . if a song calls for a note on the 1st fret , you would put your finger down in the space between the head and the first fret . if it calls for a note on the 2nd sting , 5th fret , you place you finger in the space between the 4th and 5th fret , on the 2nd string . each fret represents a half - step , musically . so the 6th string top string , 4th fret is a g sharp , the 5th fret an a , the 6th an a sharp , etc . try and place your finger close to the fret for the best tone . for example , if you want to play a note on the 2nd fret , try and keep your finger as close to the second fret as possible without crossing over it or being on top of the fret . you are still between the 1st and 2nd fret , just closer to the 2nd . tableture is guitars version of sheet music , and simply uses the number of the fret instead of notes . it is incredibly helpful to learn if you want to learn the frets . you will try not to play the 6th string at all . the 5th string , when left open , is already an a note , so you want it in your chord . remember , the 5th and 6th strings are the top two strings . this note is an e . chords are not made up of all the same note . they are made up , instead , of several tones that come together to make a richer , fuller sounding chord . this note is another a , but it is one octave same note , but a different frequency higher . think of two singers , male and female , singing the same note at different tones , to get a beautiful harmony , and youll understand octaves . for now , just know you need it in your chord . when done , you should have your three fingers in a line on the second fret . this note is a c . it is included because c is the 3rd note of the a major scale , though this is not important for beginners to remember . this is another e , one octave higher than the e you are playing on the 4th string , and it rounds out the chord nicely . music theory note e is the 5th note of the a major scale . all major chords are made up of the 1st , 2nd , and 3rd notes of a major scale . thus , an a chord is nothing but a , e , and c . try not to play the thick , heavy 6th string on the top . this is your basic a major chord , known also as an open a . if you are having trouble making it sound clean practice curving your fretting fingers upwards so that the pads on your fingers dont drag on other strings and muffle them . press down firmly with the tip of your fingers . it may hurt for the first 2 - 3 days , but your fingers will quickly adapt . make sure you are close enough to the fret . at the very least , keep your fingers 34 of the way from the 1st fret to the 2nd . a barre chord , called such because you bar your indexpointer finger flatly across 5 - 6 strings at once , is used in many songs because you can move it quickly up and down the neck to get new chords . the chord is named after the topmost note that you play , which is also where you bar your finger . since the 5th fret on the 6th string is an a , you start there for your a major chord . this is your bar . start with the top of your index finger pushing down on the 5th fret on the 6th string , which is the heavy string on top of the neck . lay your finger down across every string so that all of them sound like you were playing on the 5th fret . pluck each string to practice your bar . you should hear a clear note all the way down the neck . the 5th fret of this string is an a , and it forms the basis of your chord . leave it barred and move to the next string . keep your bar solid , and place your ring finger two frets down on the 7th . you will be on the second highest string from the top . this is an e . one more string down , youll need to stretch your pinky to cover up the 7th fret right beneath your ring finger . this note is an a . place your middle finger on the 6th fret of the 3rd string . the last note you need to grab is the c , just one fret away from your bar , on the 3rd string . if youve played an open e chord , youll recognize this as the same structure for your fingers . this is why this form is often called an e form barre chord . this is where practice and finger strength will come in handy . you pointer should press firmly enough into the bottom two stings that you hear them on the 5th fret . dont worry if you dont get it at first , your hands will soon adapt . you can play ever single note on an e - form barre chord , which makes it very versatile up and down the neck . for harder - rocking songs , like punk , you can adapt the chord to play it faster by only strumming the top three strings 6th , 5th , 4th . this is called a power chord . this chord sounds a little bit darker , and some say sadder , than its major cousin , but is equally easy to play . the variation changes depending on if you are playing open or barre chords . a minor is usually abbreviated as am . open am this is the same shape as the one use in an a major barre chord , except you dont need to use your pointer to bar anything . remember that the 1st string is the thin , lowest string on the bottom . 1st string - - open . 2nd string - - pointer finger on 1st fret . 3rd string - - ring finger on 2nd fret . 4th string - - middle finger on the 2nd fret . 5th string - - open . 6th string - - open . am barre chord take your normal a major barre chord and pick up your middle finger , leaving just the bar on the 5th fret and two fingers on the 7th fret . 1st string - - bar on 5th fret . 2nd string - - ring finger on 7th fret . 3rd string - - pinky on 7th fret . 4th string - - bar on 5th fret . 5th string - - bar on 5th fret . 6th string - - bar on 5th fret . seventh chords are melodic and bluesy , and are used in a variety of rock , blues , and rb songs . they are also easily adapted from open and barre chords . often written as a7 . open a7 take your normal a major chord , but this time you should leave the 3rd string open . 1st string - - open . 2nd string - - ring finger on 2st fret . 3rd string - - open . 4th string - - pointer finger on the 2nd fret . 5th string - - open . 6th string - - open . a7 barre chord take your normal a major barre chord and pick up your pinky , leaving the bar on the 5th fret , your middle finger on the 6th fret , and your ring finger on the 7th fret . 1st string - - bar on 5th fret . 2nd string - - ring finger on 7th fret . 3rd string - - bar on the 5th fret . 4th string - - middle finger on 6th fret . 5th string - - bar on 5th fret . 6th string - - bar on 5th fret . this dark , bluesy , and sparse chord is usually in brooding , slower songs . because there is not a lot of fretting needed , it is pretty easy to play . often written as am7 . open am7 this is the same structure as an a7 barre chord , just one string lower and moved up the neck . 1st string - - open . 2nd string - - middle finger on 2st fret . 3rd string - - open . 4th string - - pointer finger on the 1st fret . 5th string - - open . 6th string - - open . am7 barre chord take your normal a major barre chord and pick up your pinky and middle finger , leaving just the bar on the 5th fret and your ring finger on the 7th fret . 1st string - - bar on 5th fret . 2nd string - - ring finger on 7th fret . 3rd string - - bar on the 5th fret . 4th string - - bar on the 5th fret . 5th string - - bar on 5th fret . 6th string - - bar on 5th fret . you dont have to bar all of the strings , however , because they are open . this means that you can play a much higher pitched version of the chord as a barre chord further down the neck . at the 12th fret , all of the open notes repeat , so the 1st string12th fret is an e , 2nd string12th fret is a b , 3rd string12th fret a g , etc . thus , by barring your pointer finger over the 12th fret and using your ring finger to bar the 14th fret you get an a major chord that is bright and high . you may have to sacrifice the 1st string , 12th fret e to make this work , as it is hard to bar the 2nd , 3rd , and 4th strings at once and still leave the 1st string uncovered . all of the variations mentioned for open a chords apply as well , as long as you add 12 frets to each diagram open strings , or 0 fret , → 12th fret , 2nd → 14th , etc . |
learn a g major . learn a c major . learn a d major . learn an e major and minor . | how to play basic songs on the guitar 1 | place your ring finger on the top string the sixth string , on the third fret . your middle finger goes a string below on the second fret . then use your pinky to play the third fret on the lowest , thinnest string the first string . you can also play this chord with your index , middle , and ring fingers , though it is harder to transition to other chords like this . strum all strings . - - 3 - - - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 2 - - - - 3 - - your fingers form a diagonal line up towards your face . your ring finger is on the fifth string the a string , third fret . your middle is on the third string , second fret , and the index goes down on the second string , first fret . - - 0 - - - - 1 - - - - 0 - - - - 2 - - - - 3 - - - - 0 - - place your index finger on the third string , second fret . place your middle finger on the first string , second fret , then finally lay your ring finger on the second string , third fret . youll have a little triangle with your fingers on the bottom three strings . you only strum the bottom four strings . - - 2 - - - - 3 - - - - 2 - - - - 0 - - - - x - - - - x - - place your second finger middle on the second fret of the a string . place your ring finger down on the second fret of the d string . finally , place your index finger on the first fret of the g string , the third string from the bottom . - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 2 - - - - 2 - - - - 0 - - make an e - major chord by simply adding your index finger on the third string , first fret . |
purchase a capo to make it easier to sing or adjust pitch . play bostons piece of mind with a capo on the ninth fret . play beyonces if i were a boy . play green days when i come around . play bon jovis its my life . play bob marleys no woman no cry . play the beatles let it be . play eagle eye cherrys save the night . play aerosmiths cryin . play john denvers country roads . play joan osbornes one of us . | how to play basic songs on the guitar 2 | a capo clamps down on all six strings , allowing you to play these chords anywhere on the neck . basically , wherever the capo goes becomes the new 0 in your chords . this allows you to keep the same shape and play songs in any key . the following songs have a capo in them , but you can still play them without one . note , however , that the songs will sound off - key from recorded versions . this great little riff sounds good electric or acoustic . it has a fast rhythm to it - - one strum on the first and third chords , two on the second and forth . if you can throw in some muted notes , even better . capo 9th chord shape progression em - c - g - d a slower tempo song , this sounds great on acoustic . simply strum down four times on each chord . it is just a slower version of the boston song . capo 11th chord shape progression em - c - g - d simple and easy , play four strums on the first two chords . then strum the third chord twice , once coming up with the pick . then play the final chord four times . capo 11th chord shape progression g - d - em - c play eight driving , quick strums on each chord , or four sets of updown strumming . keep this consistent beat these are eighth notes going . capo 8th chord shape progression em - c - g - d - em - c - d this requires a simple reggae up - stroke pattern . only play the chord by picking upwards , towards your face . as your hand comes back down , lift your fingers slightly off the chord so you get a muted chick as you strum down the guitar , towards your feet . capo 5th chord shape progression g - d - em - c - g - c - g - d just like bon jovis song , you just need gentle , calm strums . for each measure 1 and , 2 and , 3 and , 4 and , 1 and . you want to strum on the 1 , pause , the strum twice for the 2 and . play the 3 , pause , then strum twice for the 4 and . capo 5th chord shape progression em - d - c - g - d - c - g simple and easy , strum it like normal for the entire bar , but hit the last chord , right before you switch , harder and louder . capo 5th chord shape progression em - c - g - d the strumming is simple and basic - - three updown strums for each chord . capo 2nd chord shape progression g - d - em - c - g - d - c . another simple , folksy strum pattern . at the beginning of every measure , just strum the top string of the chord to get a nice , bouncy feel to the song . capo 2nd chord shape progression g - d - em - c - g - d - c - g this final song has a few nifty tricks in it to push your guitar skills , but you can skip them if youre still practicing . to get the intro riff , you use all the same notes in your normal chords . when transitioning chords , simply keep the last three strings in place for 1 measure . so , going from the d to the em , leave the bottom three strings as a d for the first strum of em , then lift them . capo 2th chord shape progression d - em - c - g - d - em - c - g - d |
know the six strings strung across the guitar . place your second finger middle on the second fret of the a string . place your ring finger down on the second fret of the d string . place your index pointer , first finger on the first fret of the g string . strum all six strings simultaneously . learn to get to your chord smoothly and quickly before you worry about transitions . use the tips of your fingers to really press into the string . slide up as close to the frets as possible . | how to play an e major chord on a guitar | they are numbered from the bottom to the top , with the thinnest one as the first string and the thickest as the sixth string . each string has a corresponding letter or note , which you need to know to learn chords . you can remember them by this short saying , frequently taught by american guitar teachers . eddie ate dynamite , goodbye eddie the first letter of each word gives you the note , going from thickest string on top to thinnest on the bottom . e thickest string a d g b e thinnest string remember - - the lowest , thinnest string is considered the first string . youre on the fifth string , second fret . this note is a b . this is the second fret , fourth string . this note is another e , but it is a higher octave than the open string on top . this is the first fret , third string . this note is a g . once youve got everything under control and fingers on the fret , simply play all six strings at once . if it sounds odd or off , gently pluck each string individually , hearing which finger might not be down on the fret or is covering an open string . the final tab for an e major chord is - - 0 - - - - 0 - - - - 1 - - - - 2 - - - - 2 - - - - 0 - - a problem for many young guitarists is that they learn the e major chord but are sloppy transitioning to it . a good way to practice is just to leave the guitar open , then move to e . strum it so that every single string sounds good , then take you hand off and re - set the e , working until you can land each chord smoothly . once you feel comfortable , pick another chord , like an a , and transition from e - a and back again to work on smooth transitions . you want a small , but precise area of the string under your finger . really work on curling your fingers so the tips of your fingers are pressing down . you want to keep the long part of your hands off the other strings so that you can hear them well . if your finger is on the second fret , get really close to the second fret for the best sound . if youre right - handed , you want to be as close to the left edge as the fret as possible , near the head of the guitar . you dont want to be on the actually fret , just right to the headboard side of the fret . |
tune your guitar to drop d . tune the sixth string of your guitar from e to d . you can do this by either using your ears or using a guitar tuner . play the regular power chord you do in standard tuning . move the root of the power chord two frets higher . strum . | how to play a power chords in drop d | for you to understand their difference , you need to try this first . lets try it with the g power chord . put your index finger on the 6th string d , formerly e string and 3rd fret . then put your ring finger on the 5th string a string and 5th fret . and then finally , put your pinky finger on the 4th string d string and 5th fret . we will now do the g power chord from the previous step , now in for drop d tuning . move your index finger 2 frets higher . your finger on the 3rd fret from the 6th string e string will now move to the 5th fret . you will notice that your fingers will look like they are forming a line . instead of using your three fingers , use only your index finger . place your finger flatly hitting the three notes you now know how to play power chords in drop d tuning |
barre all the strings from the 5th string down on the 2nd fret . place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the d string . leave the 5th string , the g , open . fret down the 4th fret of the b string with your pinky . strum all of the strings except the sixth to play your b7 . use your index finger to barre over an open - e7 form to make any chord a seventh . | how to play a b7 chord on the guitar | use your index finger to barre the second fret , ignoring the thick e string on top . dont forget that guitar strings count up from the bottom . the thing string is the 1st one , the thickest the 6th string . shortcut if you know the b - major chord , you only have to remove one finger to get an b7 . remove your finger from the 3rd string and leave it open . youve now got a b7 if you remember how to form an open a7 chord , your fingers will be in the same shape . if not , simply use your ring finger to fret the 4th fret on the 3rd string . just let the barred 2nd fret ring out instead of fretting it further down . make sure you can here this barred string cleanly . this takes some beginners some practice , but is a great way to start training your fifth finger . this is the second thinnest string on the guitar . leave the string below it , the high - e , open . make sure that your ring finger doesnt mute these string accidentally . strum out every string by the top one to sound out your beautiful b7 . - - 2 - - - - 4 - - - - 2 - - - - 4 - - - - 2 - - - - x - - , if you know an open e7 , you can simply move this form down the neck to the b , barre it , and have your b7 . this only works for chords starting on the sixth string , but this makes it easy to play a seventh chord anywhere . imagine that the open strings were actually a barred fret - - they are all the same fret being sounded out in your chord . this means your other two fingers will make any chord barred a 7th . since the b fall on the 7th fret , your b7 barre chord would look like - - 7 - - - - 7 - - - - 8 - - - - 7 - - - - 9 - - - - 7 - - |
learn the open strings on the guitar . | how to play a d major chord on the guitar 1 | make sure that you understand the guitar as an intersection of strings and frets . each string is tuned to a particular note , but you can create a different by holding down the string at any given point along the fretboard . there are six strings , and in standard tuning they are tuned to e , a , d , g , b , and e . high e the first , thinnest , and highest - pitched string . it is tuned two octaves above low e . b the second string , directly above high e g the third string , directly above b d the fourth string , directly above g a the fifth string and the second - thickest string , directly above d low e the sixth , thickest , and lowest - pitched string . it is tuned two octaves below the high e string . |
learn the open d major chord . practice the fingering . play the chord . | how to play a d major chord on the guitar 2 | there are several ways to play a d major chord on the guitar , but this version is the simplest . learn the fingering , and then practice your strumming until you can play the chord clearly . press the strings firmly , but try not to tense up put your index finger on the second fret of the third g string . place your middle finger on the second fret of the first high e string . then , place your ring finger on the third fret of the second b string . leave the top three strings open . the index finger is forming an a note . the middle finger is making the f note . the ring finger is creating d . together , these three notes make up the d major chord . if you are playing a regular guitar , you will finger the chord with your left hand . you will use your right hand for strumming . once your fingers are in place , use your right hand to strum downward from the d 4th string . only play the highest four strings d , g , b , and high e . do not touch the low e or the a string . keep practicing the chord until you can generate a clear , crisp - sounding chord . |
play a barre chord from the 5th fret . barre the 10th fret . practice barre chords . | how to play a d major chord on the guitar 3 | first , use your index finger to cover every string on the 5th fret , save the low e . then , place your middle finger on the 7th fret of the 4th d string your ring finger on the 7th fret of the 3rd g string and your pinkie finger on the 7th fret of the 2nd b string . make sure that you are holding each string down firmly . then , strum slowly down from the 5th string to the 1st string . make sure to leave the top low e string untouched . if you play the 6th string , here , then it wont be a d major chord . first , use your index finger to hold down every string on the 10th fret . then , place your middle finger on the 11th fret of the 3rd g string . put your ring finger on the 12th fret of the 5th a string , and put your pinkie finger on the 12th fret of the 4th d string . strum the chord in a single sweep , from the 6th low e string to the 1st high e . the barre chords are more technically complex than the open d major , and they require much more finger strength . work on pressing your index finger against the fretboard . make sure that you can hold down all of the strings firmly enough that you create a crisp , clear - sounding chord . if the chord comes out twangy or muted , then you are not holding the strings down firmly enough . pluck each string individually while you hold the barre chord shape . if a particular note doesnt sound clear , shift your finger around until you can play it crisply . make sure that your fingers are as centered as possible between the frets , and that none of your fingers are accidentally muting other strings . if you move these barre chord shapes up and down the fretboard , you can play any chord . two frets higher , for instance , makes a c major chord . two steps lower makes an e major chord . |
learn the 5 necessary chords to play hey there delilah on the guitar . strum while playing the chords or practice the picking pattern , with your thumb on the bass note and your index and middle finger picking the third and second strings . play the first verse . alternate between the d chord and bm chord for the chorus . use the same chords as verse 1 for verse 2 . repeat the chorus . continue with the bridge . duplicate the chord progression from the previous verses for verse 3 . finish the song by playing the 2 lines of the chorus . | how to play hey there delilah on the guitar | youll need to know the d chord , b minor bm chord , f sharp minor fm chord , g chord and a chord . , use the d chord for hey there delilah , whats it switch to the fm chord for like in new york city im a repeat the d chord for thousand miles away , but girl repeat the fm chord for tonight you look so pretty , yes you and end with the bm chord for the last word do quickly switch to the g chord for time square cant play the a chord for shine as bright as go back to bm for you , i swear its and finish with the a chord for true repeat this chord progression for the second part of verse 1 play the d chord for oh its what you do to and switch to the bm chord for the last word me return to the d chord for oh its what you do to and with the bm chord for me again the words and chords repeat once stay on the bm chord for the last line what you do to and finish the chorus with the d chord for the last word me , play the g chord for a thousand miles seems pretty far , but switch to the a chord for theyve got planes and trains and cars change to the d chord for id walk to you if i had no other and end with the bm chord for the last word way repeat these 4 chords play the g for our friends would all make fun of us , and and the a chord for well just laugh along because , we and the d chord for know that none of them have felt this and end on the bm chord for way return to the g chord for delilah i can promise you , that go to the a chord for by the time that we get through , the instead of the d chord , use the bm chord for world will never ever be the same , and youre to and end on the a chord for the last word blame , stay on the bm chord and add what you do to me and switch to the d chord for the last word me . |
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