Learn And Master To Read Guitar Tablature (Tab)
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Learn And Master Guitar: How To Start A Band
While you don’t have to be able to play guitar like Jimmy Hendrix, it makes it a lot easier if you do know a little before going out to conquer the music world with some comrades.
At least you should be able to play in time and what the role of each instrument is in the band. Listening carefully to your favorite musicians is a great practice to find out what the role of the lead guitarist and the roles of the other instruments in the songs are and will help improving your ability to play in time.
Before you think of playing in a band, learn and master to play some cover songs. Even if your goal is to play originals and originals only, you’re going to need some material to practice together with your band while you’re working on material for your future album. Not only does this give you something to practice together, it will also improve your ability to write together as a band. Playing covers teaches a group how to play together and the individual musician’s roles in the group. Once you know how each other plays more intimately it will open up new ideas in your own writing as you are more quickly able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of your band mates.
Select cover songs that are well known with other fans of the genres you’re into. The chances of finding someone who knows the same songs to jam out on in your first get together is greater and you want to get going and get going as soon as possible. Sure, you can pull out the more obscure stuff later, when you have finished learning guitar and can start playing for your own enjoyment.
So now that you your guitar lessons behind you and are able to play guitar pretty well, it’s time to find some bandmates! There are plenty of ways to find potential bandmates for free, countless websites have free Musicians Wanted advertisements. You will also find music classifieds in your local free newspapers or on Craigslist.com, or on the notice board at your music store around the corner.
Who are the right people to jam with? People like yourself will likely be the easiest to get along with, and that comes first when forming a band. If you’re joining an already existing band, have a good talk with as many of the current members as you can to get a feel for the dynamic of the band. Despite what a person might be like as a musician and how much you think you might be able to accommodate them, at the end of the day, being in a band with someone you do not get along with just isn’t fun and inevitably leads to a split.
So you’ve lined up a fellow musician to get this thing off the ground with or you’ve been invited to try out for an existing band. If it’s the latter, find out exactly what the band plays, work out ahead of time what you will play together, and learn and master the material backwards and upside down even before your first jam. Even if it’s just three or four songs, make sure you have them down before you get together for your first jam. It’s better to nail a few songs than to half-ass many. If time is a constraint between finding out the material and your first jam you can explain that you were keen to learn some of the material very well to show that you have the ability to play their stuff and play it well.
If you’re building a band from scratch and you are planning a jam with some others for the first time, communicate with them exactly what you think would be good to try at your first jam. There is nothing worse than getting together for the first time and having nothing to play together properly. Even if it’s just one song, make sure you and anyone else attending the first jam together knows their stuff. After all, jamming with a new bunch of people or even one other person and being able to belt out your favorite tunes straight up, that’s what you’ve been learning guitar for all this time. Progress and expand your repertoire as quickly as possible to get out there and play live. Rehearsal is necessary and there may be a lot of it required before you play out for the first time, but if there is no progression in the rehearsals for an extended period of time and, therefore, the group is no closer to playing out then members quickly get disillusioned.
Are Classic Guitar Lessons A Solid Foundation?
Like most kids my age, I wanted to play electric guitar. I figured that I could just learn a few chords, strum my guitar, and magically get hordes of groupies, flocking to my side. This is a common fantasy and a harmless one, but my parents encouraged me to have bigger dreams. They convinced me to take classical guitar instruction to start learning guitar. They argued that learning classical guitar would give me a much more solid foundation in how to play guitar. I would learn guitar techniques, understand musical theory, and once I was proficient, rock out with the best of them.
So I signed up for classical guitar lessons with the stipulation that, once I got good, I could get an electric guitar and start rocking. What I didn’t expect was how much I enjoyed to learn classical guitar. Learning acoustic guitar was like nothing else I had ever accomplished. I had never really listened to classical music before, but once I started playing it I became absolutely fascinated with it. It was so subtle, so complex, and so intricate. Although the rhythms were simple, the chord structures and variations added a grace that I had never heard in contemporary pop music. I was hooked, and it really helped motivating me to learn to play the guitar.
It helps that I was a natural at playing classical guitar. One of the things that they never tell you when you start to learn guitar is that your fingernails make a big difference in how well you can play. Guitarists with soft fingernails are doomed to be second-rate guitarists. You need to have strong fingernails or else you can’t properly pick the notes. Not only did I have good fingernails, but I had the sort of skinny long fingers that allow you to play bigger, more complicated chords with ease. My hands were made for playing the classical guitar, and my mind wasn’t far behind. I loved classical music by the time I had been at learning to play guitar for a couple weeks.
That is not to say I gave up my rock and roll dreams. On the contrary, once I passed beginning guitar lessons, I started to learn to play a little bit of rock ‘n roll as well. It was surprisingly easy to pick up after I had learned to play classical guitar. Don’t get me wrong, it does involve some skills they you don’t use in classical playing. Some of the chords are different, and you have to learn how to use a pick. Nonetheless, I had discovered such subtlety with my fingers that it was comparatively easy.
This article was written by our guest blogger Cyn.
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My Updated Jamorama Learn Guitar Course Review
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Disclosure: The opinions offered here are my own based on my experience. All information is verified as accurate at the time of review. If you choose to visit one of the courses I reviewed on this website and make a purchase I may receive a commission, how ever I do not allow this to interfere with my rating and review process. I never accept paid reviews and each product is thoroughly tested by me. All opinions offered here are my own. I am open to reviewing any guitar-training course – please feel free to email me with your suggestions. The New Jamorama Learn Guitar CourseI had bought the old version of Jamorama already two years ago (and returned it because I found it too basic). In July 2011 I bought their newly updated Deluxe version because I wanted to know why everybody else seems to like the course (they have now sold over 100,000 copies). And I have to admit, the new version is awesome!
Jamorama is a Step by Step downloadable learn guitar course, and members now have online access to a comprehensive members area. The Standard Edition is a beginner to advanced course and focuses on learning to play chords and strumming. The Deluxe Edition goes beyond the standard edition and takes the student into playing guitar solos, lead licks and scales. It provides you with over 12 months of lesson materials and prepares you to play famous songs. If you would like to see the specific features, please visit Jamorama.com for more information. I bought the Deluxe Edition for $99 and found it impressive. It is a complete package and covers the whole process of learning guitar, from strumming, muting and bending, to timing, reading music and playing songs. All parts of the Jamorama Learning Kit work well together to make learning to play the guitar fast and enjoyable. You can also get a Hardcopy Edition which contains the Jamorama Books, DVDs and Software plus online access. This means you can begin the lessons online right away while you wait for your package to arrive in the mail. With the Jamorama course you get some great free bonus games and software (GuitEarIt, Jayde Musica and Jamorama Metronome) for use on PC or Mac. |
How the Jamorama Guitar course works:Each lesson comes as video where you can watch a real player teaching you how to learn to play the guitar step by step. This is one of the neatest things about Jamorama, they have covered everything in detail and made it real easy to understand, so that everyone can follow and learn how to play guitar fast. So you can learn step by step at your own pace. For every lesson you have written material plus video and audio lessons, plus the software programs. I loved the video lessons and have to say the books are a clear and concise combination of instruction and encouragement, and really easy to understand, even for guitar newbies. I was also impressed with the bonus software and games. It’s a lot included in the course. You learn how to set up and tune your guitar, finger-picking and strumming. Also the Jamorama metronome is really handy. All in all, it is great value for the money compared to other guitar courses available online. The Standard version retails at the time of this review for $49, and the Deluxe package for $99. |
What I liked…
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What I didn’t like…If you already know how to play the guitar and are looking to get to a more advanced level then Jamorama is not for you. I’d rather suggest the Learn And Master Guitar course. If you are new to the guitar, Jamorama is the most complete learn guitar course at the best value you will find online. |
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I hope this review was helpful to you.
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Lesson 3: How to Read Guitar Tablature (1)
Lesson 4: How to Read Guitar Tablature (2)
Lesson 5: Introduction to Chord Progressions
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Playing Lead Guitar In A Band
A successful band is more than a group of good musicians – There are many other factors besides musicianship that affect the success of a group. Today I would like to outline some of them so that you may avoid the pitfalls and problems that all bands face when trying to achieve success.
Firstly, I would like to talk about group direction. Before anyone even thinks about picking up their instrument, the direction of the group should be discussed and agreed upon. There are a few different directions a band can go. A ‘60/40’ group is one that plays approximately 60% old pop standards and 40% ‘top 40’ tunes. A band heading in this direction will play most of its gigs at dances, hotels, weddings etc. and can be assured of a steady income. Recognition for a band like this will probably be restricted to a local level.
Another direction a band can head is to play mainly original material and aim for a recording contract and tours. A band heading in this direction will not make a lot of money until they are well known.
When starting a group, it may be better to go with a ‘60/40’ group to gain experience and money for better gear. Whichever group you decide on, make sure that you all agree on the number of musicians, the types of instruments and the style of music that you are going to play.
You must choose a style of music that everyone in the band enjoys. It is a good idea to listen to other established groups playing live to gauge the popularity of different styles and to get a feel for which genre you would like to play in. Once you have decided upon a style, stick to it. You will notice that your crowd will get smaller because you are playing to a niche market; but you need to remember that you can’t please everyone and it is far better to give really pleasing shows to a select group than average shows to many.
It is extremely important to think about the structure of your band. Basically, a group can be broken down into two parts – the ‘rhythm section’ and the ‘lead section’. The ‘rhythm section’ includes the bass guitarist, the drummer and the rhythm guitarist. It is the job of the rhythm section to lay down the beat of the piece of music. The drummer and bassist should work together to set the beat up; the rhythm guitarist should fill the beat to give the whole rhythm a full finish.
The ‘lead section’ includes the lead guitarist the vocalist and other things like the keyboardist etc. This section should work together to embellish upon the beat that the rhythm section sets up.
It is important that each member does their part and does not overdo it. You must remember that you are working as a team in order to achieve a combined sound.
If your band is really serious about getting out and playing and making a real impact on the music scene, then you should spend a lot of time on rehearsal – probably more time on that than anything else (apart from maybe sleep). It is important to be organized and to not let each other down as bands often breakup over commitment issues. When you start rehearsal, make sure that you have a goal for the session and that you keep record of what you achieve.
Rehearsal is important but I really can’t stress enough to you the importance of playing to a crowd. You will gain 20 times the amount of experience on stage as you would in the rehearsal room. Work on a good stage appearance and think about the things that you are going to say to your audience. It is most important to connect with your audience. You should practice these things in the rehearsal room.
It’s not all band work – you need to practice by yourself as well. Think of it as your responsibility to the other members in the band to keep your skill level up/increasing and to know your parts as best you can before you get to rehearsal. You will save countless hours if you work on band music outside of band rehearsal.
The most important thing when it comes to making a successful and tight band is unity. If the band works as one, it will achieve good things.
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How to Buy A Second Hand Guitar
Often cheaper than a new guitar and just as ready to rock out, a second hand guitar could be the perfect addition to your collection or the perfect thing to learn on, but how do you know that your potential purchase isn’t a potential dud?
The truth is that some fantastic guitars, while expensive when new, are relatively cheap second hand. Sometimes you can find a custom or a limited edition guitar that someone is selling quickly for the cash and you can often get a real bargain if you know what you are looking for. It really pays to do the research before thinking about buying a second hand guitar as some sellers will push their price up to cash in, especially if they know they are selling to a beginner who is just starting to learn guitar and may not know much about them.
So what should you look for when inspecting a second hand guitar?
Let’s just say that you have found a second hand guitar in the musical instrument section of the weekly classifieds and you are quite keen to go and take a look at it. Below is a list of hints that will help you when inspecting the guitar and talking to the seller:
When talking to the seller, ask them the following:
- The make and model of the guitar – It is best if you can do some research on the guitar model to find out the asking price elsewhere, both new and used, and whether or not other people are experiencing problems with it. You can find reviews for almost any guitar submitted at Amazon, or you can go and ask at your local music store.
- About the condition of the guitar – If they are honest, the seller may tell you about any damage that is undetectable upon rough inspection.
- How long they have had the guitar – If they have had it for a long time, they should have a good knowledge of its history of use, repairs and maintenance etc. If they are not forthcoming with that sort of information, they may be trying to pull one over you.
When inspecting the guitar, check the following:
- The overall condition – Look the guitar over and make note of any obvious damage – guitars often take a bit of wear and tear and if its just small scrapes and scratches then the guitar will probably be fine. Look for rust also , not on the strings, but on the hardware that is holding the strings and the pickups. If there is any rust in these places… run! It’s not worth it. What good is a guitar that may fall apart on you in the near future? Trust me – leave it alone.
- The neck of the guitar – the neck is really important. Here are some areas to look at:
- Make sure that the neck is not warped or out of shape in any way.
- Check the area where the neck joins to the body of the guitar – look for cracks where it may have been broken in the past.
- In the same fashion, check the area where the neck joins the head of the guitar.
- Check the action – Action is a word that describes how close the strings are to the fret board starting at the head of the guitar all the way down to the bridge.
It is preferable to have the strings very close to the fret board as to make it easier to press them down (not so close that they are touching of course). If the strings are nice and close to the fret board all the way along, you would say that the guitar has a good action. Pictured right is a guitar with poor action. Notice that the strings sit quite far off the fret board. Guitars with poor action are harder to play and don’t sound very good. You can fix the action on your guitar by taking it to a guitar technician, but it will cost you between $20 and $50. - The Intonation of the strings. Intonation is a word that describes the accuracy of each individual note that the guitar can produce on any string. If the intonation is correct, every note on the guitar will be the correct pitch – If it is out, the guitar will be impossible to tune and it will sound horrible. To roughly check the intonation, play the E shape barre chord on each fret of the guitar. As you move towards the bridge of the guitar, you should hear the chord keeping its pitch – if not, the intonation is out and you will need to get a guitar technician to work on the problem.
- If the guitar you are looking at is an electric, you must plug it in and see how it sounds through an amp. Ask the seller if you can play it through your amp and if you don’t have one, ask someone if you can borrow theirs. Try the following when testing an electric guitar through an amp:
- Turn the amp up to a fair volume level and then play with the volume and tone controls by turning them to full and then back to zero. Test the pickup selector by flicking its switch back and forth. Carefully listen to any sounds that are being made while doing these things. You are looking for scratchy sounds or clicks that might indicate old or worn electrics.
- Strum a single chord and while the chord is ringing start playing with the controls like before, still listening for scratches or clicks or any other nasty sounds. Guitar technicians can fix these problems and most guitars need to be done about once every 5 – 10 years. Just be aware of this fact or you could find yourself spending more money than you first intended to get a good guitar to learn on.
- Check the sound of the guitar – Before you buy, you want to know that the guitar sounds like it should? Once you have tested the guitar sound, go to a music store and ask to play on a new model of that guitar. If at all possible, use a similar amplifier to the one that you tested the second hand guitar on, and see if you notice any BIG differences. There is a simple rule that I like to follow: If you’re not happy with the guitar sound… Don’t buy it!
The most important thing to remember when shopping for a guitar to learn on is… Don’t shop impulsively. A guitar is a major purchase and you want to get the right one. Leave yourself time to go away and think about the purchase. If you have doubts when checking out a guitar, you are probably better to leave it and hold out for something that better suits you.
If you are a guitar beginner and a little worried about testing guitar in public – don’t worry. It is important to remember that you are not there to showcase your playing ability – you are there to discern whether your proposed buy is a good deal or not so just go for it.
If you are still worried, take an experienced guitarist along with you when you are looking at a guitar to learn on. See if you can persuade a teacher or a friend – most musicians love to help beginners who are interested in learning to play the guitar. Not only will they be able to offer helpful advice – they will be good moral support when it’s time to pick up the guitar and test it out in public.
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