Gaskell Guitars asked:


Left Hand guitar players the world over have always had a problem with availability of left handed guitars.

Many left handed people newly learning to play guitar end up learning to play right handed out of frustration. Many experienced left handed guitarists have simply become apathetic and given up looking for that which is abundant for right handed players. Not only is there a limited range of guitars, but the resources for learning are also pretty limited. This situation is the same in every country in the world.

It is not hard to understand. Of the world’s population, left handed people are a minority compared to right handed people. Within this minority there is a further minority of left handed people who play guitar left handed. Despite the small percentage of left handed guitarists, there have been a number of iconic left handed players who have made a huge impact on the music scene. These include Jimi Hendrix, Paul McCartney, Tony Iommi, and Kurt Cobain.

Many of the big guitar manufacturers do not offer left hand versions of some of their popular guitars. to be fair, US guitar manufacturers, have been facing harder and harder times, year after year. We all know that ALL industry (that is trying to do the right thing and being honest) is suffering and this is proportional to the decline of education (kids can’t learn, can’t hold jobs), the rise of drugs (thank you psychiatrists for getting rich by doping a whole generation into a state of useless-ness while brainwashing parents into believing frying kids brains with drugs is good) and increase of social hardship due to the world economic crash that’s going on (thanks Oil companies, banks, and government suppression) So it is tough for all.

Some guitar manufacturers offer left handed versions of their guitars through their Custom Shop. And although this is an attempt at service, the costs and waiting times can be quite painful.

Well, not any more! GASKELL GUITARS is a small Australian guitar manufacturer that makes only left hand guitars. Gaskell guitars are high quality, yet affordable instruments, that can be gigged with as they are or further upgraded or modified and still come in well under the cost of a custom shop order for the same kind of instrument!

Being situated at the “bottom of the world” and to some degree away from the noise of the collapse happening in other continents, we are able to operate intelligently and with focus on producing well-made, high quality left handed guitars that are not available as left hand models by original manufacturers.

Go to : http://www.gaskellguitars.com

You will find left handed guitars that you have not seen before in left hand and probably never thought you would! Some dreams do become reality.



Darlene

Ryan asked:


I understand that the guitar is a takamine acoustic as someone previously enlightened us with, but does anyone know what the model of that guitar is? Just wondering!
After getting a response and doing more research I think that the guitar is a Takamine NP15. You can see some on the uk ebay site.

Michelle

Phil Donahoe asked:


Most people think learning guitar is difficult. Well not true, learning guitar is always easier than most people think. Learning guitar is often like yoga for the fingers, as they learn to stretch and even grow a little differently. The key to learning guitar is practice. Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of first learning guitar is that it is seemingly impossible to play anything that actually sounds good and most people get frustrated and leave it at that. Once you get that first “good” tune from the playing the guitar it acts as a trigger for more enthusiasm and encouragement that you are seeing success from your endeavors. When you have that first guitar success it is a great feeling to have. One thing to remember is that learning guitar is a passion for each and every one of us and is something that takes a long time to master.

A guitar is primarily a rhythm instrument, meaning you can make good music with just a handful of chords and a couple of scales. Above all, the most important thing is to make sure that playing the instrument is something you actually enjoy, or no matter how much you put into it, you won’t ever get anywhere. It is undeniably the most popular instrument in our country at this time. For only a small amount more you can get a quality instrument.

Learning Guitar: Getting Started

I have found that learning to play guitar is like many other activities it takes practice and perseverance. A person can get along fine these days by learning a few chords and knowing how to read tab, right. That should be the first guitar goal and that alone will unlock many doors to guitar progression. The best and easiest path to becoming a competent guitar player is by learning some chords and then applying them to learning the rhythm parts of songs that you hear and enjoy. Guitar players often spend hours learning new chords and practicing them over and over again. Almost anyone can learn to play the guitar if they put their heart into learning, in addition to putting in a substantial amount of effort and passion. Although many prefer to take lessons, which can be very expensive, learning to playing guitar by purchasing guitar courses online is also a very realistic option.

Choosing an Acoustic Guitar

If you are looking to choose an acoustic guitar as your learning guitar then I would recommend the following:

- Taylor, moderately priced

- Dean, some good deals available

- Gibson, expensive, but you get your money’s worth in terms of quality

Acoustic guitars may be more expensive up front but then again you won’t need an amplifier. I often recommend learning acoustic first, and then moving to electric, but it doesn’t really matter what you start on and is often a matter of taste. An acoustic guitar is generally used by learners because it produces a cleaner sound and the chords crisper as a result. Some people consider it harder to play on an acoustic because you have to “push” harder, and when you take an electric guitar in your hands after that, you’ll see how it is easier.

Choosing an Electric Guitar

If you are looking to learn guitar by starting with an electric guitar I would recommend the following makes:

- Ibanez, great starters and very attractive prices

- Gibson, same as acoustic, expensive but worth it

- Fender, moderately priced, but if you don’t want to pay full price you can go with Squire

If you decide to start with an electric guitar, then you’ll want to purchase a practice amp too. You can usually pick up a reasonably high quality practice amp for around $50-$100. If you buy an electric guitar first, it will be great fun learning to do power chords and noisy solos, but when you reach certain level where you want to start using more complex chords and arrangements, it’s time to knuckle down to practice chords and progressions as if it was an acoustic. One advantage of learning guitar with an electric guitar as opposed to acoustic guitars is that you can practice silently by using headphones.

Conclusion

Learning guitar is about repetition, repetition, repetition and if you have time, repetition. Once you have those chords and scales burned into your muscle memory playing guitar is very relaxing. One major aspect of learning guitar is that of confidence and getting to that first goal and persevering is a must. Also some people find it difficult initially teaching the left hand the chords and fingering but again, this comes down to practice. The first thing to understand is that learning guitar is something that takes a long time. The most important thing to keep in mind while learning guitar is never give up and you will succeed.



Bertha

Roberto Sedycias asked:


For guitarists, guitar is not only an instrument of playing music, it is the very purpose of their living. Ask a guitarist if he ever leaves his guitar behind, and mostly likely he will reply, `NO`.

It is not unusual to a guitarist constantly research on how to improve the performance of his guitar. This is probably why many professional guitarists and other guitar aficionados all over the world lay a great deal of emphasis on having guitar accessories. Although, a guitar hardly helps you improve your playing technique or your ability to play killer riffs and tasty licks, some guitar accessories, however, can be very useful in making guitar play easier and more comfortable.

While you play your guitar you might want to focus only on how to play the guitar; however, it is easier said than done. There are many factors that could potentially interfere with your performance. Any guitar professional would tell you how a poor sitting posture, while you hold the guitar or even improper positioning of your guitar while you play it, can affect your performance to an unbelievable extent. Similarly, the wrong choice of guitar pics, some of the most sought-after guitar accessories in the guitar industry around the globe, can also affect your performance to large extent.

Whether you are a budding guitarist or professional guitarist who has been playing for a long time, you can`t deny the importance of guitar accessories and their impact on your performance. Here are some guitar accessories that are always worth investing in, if you seriously want to up the performance of you playability.

Guitar Pic Holders:

Guitar pics are indispensable guitar accessories; however, it is not always possible to ensure that they are placed at a convenient position to avoid misplacing them. They are tiny in size and hence, prone to being misplaced more often. Also, you might load them to your friends and forget about them forever. Since there is no particular place to hold them, you might as well drop them forgetfully.

Guitar manufactures know this problem since a long time and hence, they are coming up with guitar pics holders to combat this problem of guitar players. Guitar pics holders are a convenient place to hold guitar pics. For instance, some guitars pic holders now are available in the form of key chains or a clip attached right to the guitar for easy access so that you can not forget it anywhere. Some innovative guitar accessories such as built-in guitar wallet can also be found now-a-days. This is particularly useful for those that are rather forgetful or have a tendency to misplace guitar pics.

Instant release Guitar straps:

This is a must-have for guitarists who perform in front of live audience. Many times, while changing the sitting or standing position, they face difficulty in adjusting the ties of conventional guitar straps. To help the guitarists overcome this problem, manufactures have come up with instant release guitars straps that enable you to attach or remove your guitar easily with just a single click. Moreover, they fit just like the seat belt clip in your car.

Cup Holders:

How many times have you looked for a sip of water in between a long concert performance? Often times, you struggle to find enough time to bend and reach for the bottle of water that is placed behind your chair. Cup holders come quite handy in situation like this. Just like drink holders in your vehicle, guitarists can sip water or some other beverages placed on the cup holders. Cup holders can be attached to the guitar stand, microphone stand or even music stand and can be easily accessible.

Bespoke Guitar Picks:

Many popular guitarists want to gift their fans something as a souvenir and bespoke guitar picks with their exclusive designs can be a great memento you can gift your fan base. Along with setting a new trend, it is a great way to merchandise your band.

Guitar accessories may not help you improve your techniques; however, they are extremely essential as they help you feel easy, relaxed and comfortable to focus totally on how to play your guitar. In a nutshell, it pays to invest in guitar accessories.



Rita

Mizukai asked:


Yo. I want to learn how to play. I really suck and I haven’t the slightest idea how to read.

Now from what I read the thickest chord is A and the smallest is F.

If that’s how it works then please tell me how to play these strings for the songs
Smells like Nirvana
Hotel California
Forever Young
Good riddence
Feel good inc.
Californication
Snow ((HEy Oh))
Dani California
Tell me baby

I know I sound like a music dork but I need to know how to play these songs withen a week…

Please help me!

Cheryl

Chris asked:


I am using this song as an example because you have to move your pick back and forth and then go up a string to do the intro. I recently got a guitar (Jackson Kelly) with strings that are harder to do this with than my old strings.

What strings would someone recommend for playing this kind of stuff with? I dont know anything about gauges

Katherine

Guitar4Now asked:


I’m looking for a nylon string full sized acoustic guitar. I want a nice - ish one but not an overly expensive one. What’s a good price rang or guitar to get? Or both, that would be best! Thanks a lot, ten points for best answer.

Alicia

Bryce C asked:


What does a guitar of High action mean, and whats the difference between steel strings and nylon strings, and what usually comes on an acoustic guitar? And how do i determine which size guitar i get? And if there is a specific guitar you suggest for a beginner would you please let me know.

Heather

Ricky Sharples asked:


There are so many tools for learning how to play guitar that you can get on the internet, it makes you wonder whether how to play guitar books have a place in the world of technology. When you used to have to learn to play guitar from a teacher you always had to have a book that you learnt out of. It was a way of making sure you and your teacher understood where you were in your guitar playing. And if you did not have a teacher you possibly learnt to play guitar by copying what you heard on the radio or on records. Even then you probably had to go out and buy a guitar tutor or at least a chord book.

The advantage of books is that the printed page is a record of information that you might learn today but need to refresh your memory at some time in the future. Video guitar lessons are a fantastic way to learn to play the guitar but the written word has its own way of expressing thoughts or helping you with your approach to music, and you do not have to go through the laborious process of fast forwarding through countless videos to remind yourself of something the teacher said. Also a book can be read when the power is down and you have to practice on an acoustic guitar by candlelight!

So let us look at a few really excellent how to books for guitar. An example of concise, easy to understand, useful guitar info is “The Guitar Book” by Chris Lopez. This book not only contains all the solid information you need to begin your life as a guitar player, you will find it is an inspiration to share in the author’s obvious passion for the guitar. This book has everything for the beginner guitar player: basic chords, changing from major chords to minor, chord progressions, playing blues guitar through to slightly more advanced but extremely useful stuff like transposing a chord progression if the original key is not right for your voice. If you are sticking with playing chords to accompany your singing or if you want to get into solo guitar, this book should be by your bedside.

“The Everything Guitar Book” by Ernie Jackson promises to have you playing like a pro in no time. It certainly contains all the basic information like some history of the guitar and the names of all the parts of the instrument, and all the basic chords. This is the kind of stuff you would expect to find in a how to play guitar book. You also have a reference guide for the information you will need to keep in your head as you learn how to play guitar. The circle of fifths is covered,as are scales and arpeggios. You are introduced to playing songs by getting to know what you can play on the treble strings first, then you are introduced to bass patterns.

“The Everything Guitar Book” also introduces you to guitar players you should know about in whatever musical genre you are interested in whether it is classical, jazz, blues, flamenco or whatever is in between. The book then gives you an intro to playing electric guitar, buying an instrument and finding a teacher. Like any book that covers everything, there are some spots that you will need to explore elsewhere but this is a good first book for a beginner guitarist.

Frederick Noad is a classical guitar player and teacher who wrote a famous classical guitar tutor called “Solo Guitar Playing”. He also wrote a book aimed at the wider world of guitar players called “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing the Guitar”. This book carries a heavy classical guitar orientation but it also gives a good start for playing blues and flamenco. So it is a book for acoustic guitar players, but it is by a guy who know how to get the best from his instrument without causing severe injury to his hands and back and without using amplification. If you are a rock guitarist, do not skip past this book. There is a bunch of stuff in here that will help you become a great guitarist, and you probably will not find this kind of material anywhere else. Get it.



Amanda

Guitars from Spain asked:


Acoustic electric Guitars: this is a term used to describe acoustic guitars that have pickups installed in them so they can be plugged into amplifiers or PA systems. The majority of acoustic guitars you see on stage are acoustic electric guitars. Structurally, they are identical to traditional acoustic guitars.

Electric Guitars: these types of guitars made out of a solid piece of wood and rely exclusively on their electronic pickup systems and amplifiers for their volume. Their unique sound lends itself best to rock and roll, but they have also substantially shaped the sound of country music in the last 50 years. (Think “twang”)

Classical Guitars: also called “nylon-string”, classical guitars are used almost exclusively in the classical and folk idioms, but can also be found on more popular recordings. Carlos Santana makes a lot of use of the classical guitar in his

recordings. Slightly smaller than a traditional acoustic, they feature slightly wider necks and strings that are made of nylon rather than steel, to give them a very gentle, warm sound. The best Classical guitars are usually from Spain.

Hollow-body Guitars: These are simply traditional electric guitars that have chambers cut in the body to allow for more sonic resonance. They come in many different sizes and are favored primarily by players of blues and jazz music.

Steel Guitars: These are the farthest breed apart from traditional guitars so far. While any guitarist can pick up any guitar

from the above list and play, a steel guitar requires special training to play. The guitar is played flat on its back, and the strings are elevated approximately half an inch above the fretboard. This allows the strings to be played using a “tone bar” that takes the place of the fingers on a fretboard and gives the steel guitar its classic “crying sound”. This is the archetypal guitar sound.



Michele