Jun
28
Filed Under (Guitars) by admin
Gyorgy Huba asked:


A guitar tuner is an amazing help to guitar players of all stages of expertise. Every guitar player should learn how to use a guitar tuner early in his career. They are small and compact and will come to your aid when your ear is too tired and emotional to tune your guitar with any accuracy. For many guitarists, tuning the guitar is more difficult than playing it, and a lot of time is wasted at gigs and during lessons trying to tune guitars by ear.

The notes on the open strings of the guitar are E A D G B E. Guitar tuners come in several different forms and perform the work of tuning guitars to varying degrees of completeness.

Although a guitar player tuning his guitar by ear might look cool, the fact is that nobody’s ear is as good as a decent electronic tuner. You could forget all about trying to train your ear altogether and just make sure your guitar tuner goes everywhere that you and your guitar go.

An electronic guitar tuner tells the guitarist if the note he is playing on each open string of his guitar is at the correct frequency. Electronic guitar tuners can vary greatly in price but the most expensive is not necessarily the best. Some tuners are just LEDs you can carry on stage with you to tune your guitar on the fly, some tuners are able to tune many different instruments.

There are many guitar tuners available online that simply sound the notes that correspond to the open strings of the guitar and the guitar player has to use his ear to match his guitar to the sound of the tuner.

There are also tuners that are available as free downloads from the internet. Some of these have several different displays to help you tune your guitar accurately and some can tune to various alternate tunings. Learning how to use a guitar tuner of this type would be a good move for any learner guitarist.

Low priced guitar tuners that you can buy at music stores use a similar method but the difference is that the tuner also has a needle that will indicate how close your tuning is. There are slightly more expensive guitar tuners that do a similar job but have a better quality display.

There is a guitar tuner that clips onto the guitar and “feels” the vibrations coming through the guitar when the open strings are played. Although we can’t hear the comparison with this kind of tuner, the result is a little better than with your basic LED display and getting to know how to use this kind of guitar tuner is a little easier.



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AntonijaP asked:


I’ve bought a guitar Falcon: FG100 Dreadnought Guitar (Red),sound of this guitar is different then the others and yes I’ve already tune it with digital tuner.And what do you think is it a good guitar for beginner?

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l t asked:


I want to get into playing slide delta blues but they seem right on a resonator guitar which start at around $400.
For $400 dollars, I could get a cheap-decent electric, amp, and pedal. So is there a good pedal, which can recreate that sound?

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Frank Foxx asked:


I get lots of e-mail inquiries on my website as to why I consider my system, Guitar-eze, to be so much simpler than virtually all the other guitar methods out there. The reason is - Guitar-eze is based on the well-known but highly under-utilized, and under-appreciated, open-D tuning.

That’s right - the guitar tuning that so many greats used and built upon, from Robert Johnson (open-E some of the time, but the exactly the same thing, a whole toner higher throughout), Keith Richards (Street Fighting Man, Jumpin’ Jack Flash unthinkable any other way), Joni Mitchell (with her jazzy, ringing open-string inflections), and so many more. Open-D can be much more than a one-off alternate tuning, as so often characterized, even from renowned instructors and players, in the method books and websites . Here’s a little clarification on just one amazing aspect of open-D guitar tuning.

One of the great advantages of open-D tuning is its “visual” aspect. For anyone with event a limited background musical theory, this can be a real eye-opener when learning guitar. Speaking from personal experience (as an aspiring guitarist with a moderate understanding of theory i.e. what chords and triads were), it became the point when the light bulb came on for me. In standard guitar tuning E A D G B E, the starting open chord is generally not usable (a permutation of an A11 or some such). The only way to build chords from that starting point is to utilize various finger-fret combinations, so as to create note groupings that sound the chords you want to play. Not only is the mastering of often tricky and unnatural finger positions a major stumbling block, especially for absolute beginners, the actual finger positions “mean” nothing. You can’t tell from a E-chord or an A-chord (first position) why they are what they are. Contrast this with open-D tuning, D A D F# A D. Even with no finger to fret, you can “see” the chord as you look down your strings. The four highest D F# A D are the triad for a D major chord (octave doubled).

What and advantage this is! Permutations are as simple as adding one finger to any one string, to any fret higher than the root note. For instance, staying in our open-D for the moment: Add your first finger to the first fret on the A string (makes it an A#). You’ve just created a D-augmented (D+), a modification universal up the whole of the fretboard. Move that same finger up one more fret on the same string - you’ve create a D6; again, a modification that can be used up and down the fretboard of the guitar.

For anyone with even just a rudimentary understanding of the rudiments, the logic should be highly appealing. Now, you’re no longer memorizing chord positions, without understanding what the relationships are. You’re seeing the relationships right at your fingertips.

For the experimenters out there - go nuts! Add one finger to any string starting at any position on the guitar (i.e. a one-finger major barre chord, which is what open-D gives you up and down the neck of your guitar), and you’ve discovered a new chord - check any theory book and it’ll tell you the name of the chord you’ve just created by making that modification. It’s an endless supply of new chords. Of course, it’s expandable to more than one finger, too.

By trying different combinations off the basic starting point of a major chord, you’ll hit some beauties and, of course, come clunkers. But what a way to hear and “see” how chords are structured and built. Also, because you have repeated strings in open-D (three Ds, and two As), you can try modifications on the repeat strings and see how the texture of the chord changes with the pitch of the note you’ve changed.

In my book “Guitar-eze” which focuses on open-D as a starting point to guitar versus standard tuning, the above is what I refer to as the system’s “versatility”. It’s something you simply cannot glean as simply when your starting point on the guitar is E A D G B E. I make the point that the system is great for either end of the guitarist spectrum (whether newbie, frustrated, or advanced) - whether you are theory-based or an ear-experimenter, open-D is much more than just a folkie alternate tuning for one song. It can be a stand-alone playing style (as I’ve done for twenty-plus years), or a viable alternative to add to your existing arsenal.

Frank Foxx is a semi-professional guitar player and part-time guitar teacher who plays exclusively in the tuning of open-D. He has written a guitar method book, extolling the virtues of what he considers to be the most versatile and easiest of all guitar tunings, entitled Guitar-eze A Simpler Approach to Playing the Guitar. His website is http://www.easierguitar.com . He keeps a blog at http://open-d.blogspot.com dedicated to helping guitarists and aspiring guitarists see the light.



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Jun
24
Roberto Sedycias asked:


Guitar, a dynamic musical instrument, is played in almost all kind of music; be it pop music, rock music, lounge music, country music or even contemporary classical music. The modern music can`t be imaginable without guitar.

The demand of guitar in every music sphere has made it one of the most sought after musical instruments. As guitar is an expensive musical instrument, it only makes sense to take proper care so that you can continue playing it for years to come. Here are a few tips discussed in the following on how to clean this amazing musical instrument so that its longevity can be increased.

Dust is the main form of debris that is collected on the surface of guitar. Don`t let dust cover on your guitar for dust buildup that can actually affect your guitar`s performance. A very simple approach to keep your guitar clean is by regular dusting. You can wipe off your guitar with a clean and soft cloth. You can either opt for any of your old but clean cloth or you can purchase special cloths that are available in music stores.

If you are a bit fancy about your cleaning, then you can choose many products available in the market that are designed for cleaning guitars. Guitar cleaners, fancy cleaners, liquid solvent and even solutions especially meant for cleaning the fretboard of guitars are available. If your guitar has a matte finish surface, it is suggested to use a water-based guitar cleaner as the creamy polished cleaners have a tendency to be slightly abrasive.

Often sticky residues from tape or stickers are left on guitars, which are a bit tough to remove. Use only mineral spirits or any other lighter fluid such as naphtha to remove the stains on your guitar. These solvent won`t harm the finish of your guitar. You just have to damp cloth with the solvent and wipe off the tape and stickers of your guitar. It might be surprising, but if you clean and dry your hands before you start playing on your guitar, it will significantly lengthen the life of your strings.

Like cleaning, polishing is equally important. A polish from a good brand not only gives your guitar an excellent shine, it also preserves the wood of your guitar. However, you should always choose a polish that is designed specifically for guitars as any general polish might ruin the smooth finish on guitars. But be careful of covering only the major surfaces of your guitar. Areas such as bridge or tuners or even the neck region of the guitar should not be polished.

Another major area which needs regular cleaning is the fingerboard of a guitar which includes the strings and the fret wire. These areas are prone to high-temperature and humidity and also of acidity by the constant touch of the player`s hands. The lower-end manufactured guitars especially suffer from this fret buzzing problem.

Though some simple adjustments raising the string action can correct the problem for some time, but this is not a permanent solution. If the surface of the fingerboard is not much damaged, a simple application of lemon oil can prevent the wood from further cracking. It is suggested to use a piece of extra fine grade steel wool to clean the fingerboard of your guitar. Don`t wet the steel wool; just rub it in up and down motion of the fingerboard area without catching the ends. The frets will be shiny only after a few motions.

Last but not the least is how and where you store your guitar. A guitar-case is a must and it should not be stored in too humid, warm or even too cold surroundings. Also make sure it does not get bumped around. An interior closet is the best place to store guitar.



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Jun
23
Filed Under (Guitars) by admin
Paul E Steinberg asked:


Guitar Hero has become a cultural phenomenon in the world of computer video games. The guitar, software, and accessories are availabe in all gaming platforms including Wii, Playstation, Xbox, etc. Guitar Hero is a series of music video games published by RedOctane, in partnership with Activision. The series is notable for its use of a plastic guitar peripheral to simulate the playing of music, represented on-screen by colored notes that correspond to fret buttons on the controller.

Heidi Klum Guitar Hero

Their has recently been a controversial advertisement with model Heidi Klum playing Guitar Hero in her undergarments! The games support individual play as well as cooperative and competitive modes for two players. The series has used a range of both licensed and independent rock music tracks from the 1960s, throughout the decades to the present, including many master tracks from the bands. In total, six games have been released for video game consoles. Games have also been released for mobile phones and the Nintendo DS handheld gaming system.

History

The series was originally developed by Harmonix Music Systems from 2005 to 2007. Then development duties of the series were transferred to Neversoft, whose first effort, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock was released on October 28, 2007 in North America.

The Guitar Hero franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, making many appearances in popular culture, and the games have become extremely popular as party games and hobbies. The series has sold 23 million units, earning $1.6 billion in retail sales.

Guitar Controller

Guitar Hero is unusual because it comes packaged with a controller peripheral modeled after a black Gibson SG guitar. Rather than a typical gamepad. This guitar controller is the primary input for the game. Playing the game with the guitar controller simulates playing an actual guitar, except it uses five colored “fret buttons” and a “strum bar” instead of frets and strings. The development of Guitar Hero was inspired by Konami’s GuitarFreaks arcade game, which at the time, had not seen much exposure in the North American market; RedOctane, already selling guitar-shaped controllers for imported copies of GuitarFreaks, approached Harmonix about creating a game to use an entirely new Guitar controller.

The concept was to have the gameplay of Amplitude with the visuals of Karaoke Revolution, both of which had been developed by Harmonix. The game was met with critical acclaim and received numerous awards for its innovative guitar peripheral and its soundtrack, which comprised 47 playable rock songs (most of which were cover versions of popular songs from artists and bands from the 1960s through modern rock). Guitar Hero has sold nearly 1.5 million copies to date.

Guitar Hero II Release

The popularity of the series increased dramatically with the release of Guitar Hero II for the PlayStation 2 in 2006. Featuring improved multiplayer gameplay, an improved note-recognizing system, and 64 songs, it became the fifth best-selling video game of 2006. The PlayStation 2 version of the game was offered both separately and in a bundle with a cherry red Gibson SG guitar controller. Guitar Hero II was later released for the Xbox 360 in April 2007 with an exclusive Gibson X-Plorer guitar controller and an additional 10 songs, among other features. About 3 million units of Guitar Hero II have sold on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360.

The final game in the Guitar Hero series to be developed by Harmonix was Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s for the PlayStation 2, which was released in July 2007. This final game version, changing the visuals from Guitar Hero II, and shortening the song list with no bonus songs was not as well received by reviewers.

Transition

Transition Both RedOctane and Harmonix were experiencing changes in 2006. RedOctane was bought by Activision in June while it was announced in September that Harmonix would be purchased by MTV Networks. As a result of the two purchases, Harmonix would no longer develop future games in the Guitar Hero series. Instead, developing would go to Neversoft, a subsidiary of Activision known for developing the Tony Hawk’s series of skateboarding games.

Neversoft

Neversoft was chosen to helm the Guitar Hero series after Neversoft founder, Joel Jewett, admitted to the RedOctane founders, Kai and Charles Huang, that his development team for Tony Hawk’s Project 8 went to work on weekends just to play Guitar Hero. In 2007, Harmonix and MTV Games released a new music title through rival publisher Electronic Arts, called Rock Band. It expanded upon the gameplay popularized by the Guitar Hero series by adding drum and microphone instruments, allowing players to simulate playing songs as bands, though this functionality has now been implemented in Guitar Hero World Tour.

Guitar Hero III:

Legends of Rock was released in late 2007 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC, and Mac platforms. The title is the first installment of the series to include wireless guitars bundled with the game and also the first to release a special bundle with two guitars. The game includes Slash and Tom Morello as playable characters in addition to the existing fictional avatars; both guitarists performed motion capture to be used for their characters animation in the game.

Guitar Hero III World Tour (aka Guitar Hero IV)

Guitar Hero World Tour, previously named Guitar Hero IV, is the fourth full game in the series and was released on October 26, 2008 for PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii. Analysts had expected that future Guitar Hero games in 2008 would include additional instrument peripherals to compete against Rock Band. Guitar Hero World Tour was confirmed as in development following the announcement of the merger between Activision and Vivendi Games in December 2007. Activision’s CEO Bobby Kotick announced on April 21, 2008 that Guitar Hero World Tour will branch out into other instruments including vocals. Guitar Hero World Tour includes drums and is packaged with a new drum set controller. A larger number of real-world musicians appear as playable characters, including the great Jimi Hendrix, Billy Corgan, Sting, and Ozzy Osbourne. Guitar Hero World Tour also features the creation of custom songs that can be shared with others.

On September 4, 2007, Billboard announced that the band Aerosmith was “working closely with the makers of Guitar Hero IV, which will be dedicated to the group’s music.” On February 15, 2008, Activision announced that Guitar Hero: Aerosmith, an expansion game to the series, would be released on June 29, 2008.

Guitar Hero: Aerosmith is developed by Neversoft for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, while the Wii version of the game is developed by Vicarious Visions and the PlayStation 2 version is developed by Budcat Creations. The game features a track selection composed of 60% of Aerosmith songs, with other songs from Joe Perry’s solo work or artists that have inspired or performed with Aerosmith, including Run D.M.C. Also in the works: Activision’s 2008 SEC filings cited that they plan to release Guitar Hero: Metallica by the first quarter of 2009.

By all expectations Guitar Hero will once again be the number one selling computer video game of the year in 2008. The Guitar Hero phenomenon lives on!



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