Guitar / Ukulele

Guitar Lessons:  Myths about Classical Guitar

The classical guitar, as the name indicates, is a type of guitar mainly used in playing classical music. It is generally an acoustic guitar with nylon strings. The traditional classic guitar has 12 frets and is built typically to be played in a classical position. The classical guitars might come in different shapes and materials, but they follow some basic construction rules, which make them ideal for playing classical music. If you are planning to take classical guitar lessons, it is best that you get a nice classical guitar. If you want to be persuaded to learn the classical guitar, check out: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/reasons-to-learn-classical-guitar/. But classical guitars are more than that. Let’s bust a few myths regarding this style of guitar.

Myth #1: Classical guitar is only for classical music

It is often assumed that you can only play classical music on the classical guitar. There is a huge misconception even among many musicians that classical guitarists cannot play other genres of music because they are steeped in classical music and can only play Bach and Mozart. But this is not quite true. A classical guitar is actually quite versatile. While it is the guitar most suited to playing classical music, it is not suited only to play classical music. With a classical guitar, you can play rock, Latin music or even pop. There is no limit once you get going!

Myth #2: Classical guitar is serious business

A recurring idea of classic guitarists is that those who play the classical guitar are very serious, focused on old-style music, and worst of all, lack creativity in experimenting with music. But this is wrong, plain and simple. Like any other musical instrument, classical music too offers an outlet for your creativity. You need not be restricted to only playing established music if you don’t want to. You can create your own styles, seek your own inspirations from wherever you like, and mix up genres if that is what appeals to you. The choice is always there.

Myth #3: Classical guitar is for soloists

There is this image of classical guitarists as people who play solo and cannot work with other guitarists or musicians because people who play the classical guitar cannot or will not enjoy playing in bands. But that doesn’t even make much sense. Like pretty much any other instrument, classical guitar lends itself to a variety of musical experiences, one of them being playing with other people in a band. There is also scope for this within a very traditional classical structure.

Myth #4: You have to sing if you play classical guitar

It is a widespread myth that those who play the classical guitar must also sing along. This probably has something to do with the fact that classical guitarists tend to be pretty thoroughly grounded on musical theory, but this does not in any way ensure a great talent for singing. Many guitarists who play classical music do not want to work on their singing as they feel that their playing is sufficient. And it often is!

Myth #5: It’s a dead art!

There are always people who sneer that classical music is over, so obviously classical guitar is also obsolete. This is an absurd stance and simply not true. Good music is good music, whatever the genre. Popular bands have reinterpreted classical music and many artistes have played classical music, and these have been very well received. Classical music is still alive and breathing.

For more information on guitars in general, please refer to: www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

Guitar Lessons:  Types of Acoustic Guitars – Tonewood – Part I

Acoustic guitars are really versatile instruments that come in a large number of different models. There are variations in shape, neck size, finish and wood. They are all important factors in how comfortable you get with your guitar and how suitable a specific guitar is to you. When you start your acoustic guitar lessons, keep in mind that each model is suitable to someone or the other, so you have to be specific what kind of guitar you are seeking. This specification should focus on the physical comfort of holding the guitar, the sound it gives and its suitability for the genre of music you want to excel in.

We have already seen what body styles are available and how they are different from each other here: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/guitar-lessons-types-acoustic-guitars-body-styles/. In this article, we will discuss the different wood materials from which the guitar is built. Each wood will give different sounds and will appeal to different people. It is believed that the wood chosen for the top is a large factor in determining what the sound of the guitar will be like.

Alder

A lightweight wood which gives out a clear and full tone, it is a commonly used wood for the body of the guitar. This is the wood used to make Fender Stratocasters. The wood is medium weight and appearance is light tan, which makes it suitable for a solid finish. The wood provides a decent sustain.

Ash

Ash guitars are of two types: the harder Northern type and the softer Southern type. The southern type is more suitable for guitars as it has a balanced, bright and warm sound. This wood looks lovely with a translucent finish. It is generally used for single-wood guitars.

Basswood

Basswood is a great choice for budget guitars. In spite of the low cost, it is a good light and soft wood with a fat, soft and balanced tone. The colour is light and has minimum grain, providing for a good finish.

Bubinga

Bubinga is an excellent wood for guitars, being hard, stiff, strong and dense. It is generally used for necks and fingerboards, which require the kind of durability the wood provides. The tone of the wood is thick and it provides good sustain. The colour is dark with distinctive grain patterns, and quite appealing.

Cedar

A wonderful and popular wood, cedar provides a warm and bright sound that is favoured by fingerstyle players. The wood responds quickly to the player, making this an ideal choice for classical or flamenco guitars. This wood is also used for sides and backs. It provides a distinct reddish finish which is quite attractive.

Ebony

Another hard and strong wood, ebony provides a strong sustain and snappy high tones. It has quick response, making it a good choice for fingerstyle players. It is also very durable and wears well without giving in to the pressure of the finger and string. It is also great to be used a fretboard material.

What wood you choose can ultimately affect your comfort level and sound of your guitar. Hence, this is a decision to be made very carefully after considering your requirements and preferences. You would not want to be stuck with an expensive and nice guitar with which you feel uncomfortable. So before taking your basic guitar lessons and purchasing your first guitar, explore research and understand before buying.

For more information on this subject, you can refer to: www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

Guitar Lessons:  Ukulele Styles

Ukuleles come in several different styles, depending on their shapes, sizes and other specifications. In order to choose one that you like best, you need to be familiar with all the different choices available. The three major criteria to be looking at when choosing a ukulele are tone, shape and wood. Between these three, you can probably make a good choice depending on your needs. There are also considerations of budget and brand, but once you have the three important specifications in place, you are set to go. You can also opt for custom made ukuleles once you get beyond your ukulele beginner lessons. If you are still hesitant about choosing to learn this instrument, read this article: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/why-take-ukulele-lessons/.

Tonal ranges

There are four types of ukuleles: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. The difference between them stems from the fact that they have different scale lengths and overall lengths as well as different tunings. All these variations result in providing different tones and sounds to the ukuleles. You need to be able to consider these variations when deciding on your purchase.

Soprano: The soprano is considered the original ukulele and its sound is the one that is generally associated with the instrument. Today, standard ukuleles are those which are soprano models. This type of ukulele is the smallest of them all and is relatively a good fit for children.

Concert: The concert ukulele is slightly bigger than the soprano one and has a slightly deeper and louder sound, though close enough to the standard ukulele to be considered as acceptable by conservatives.

Tenor: The tenor ukulele is a perfect instrument for large people with big hands since its fingerboard is spacious. The sound is very deep and resonant and it has a longer scale and length than the other options.

Baritone: The baritone ukulele is the biggest in size and can give out deep bass notes. It is suitable for those who want to learn ukulele and then move on to play the guitar. It is like a mini-guitar in many ways.

Body shapes

Guitar: Guitar shaped ukuleles are the most common ones. The look like a guitar but are generally easier to handle.

Pineapple: Originally designed by Kamaka, this shape is unique and lovely. If you want something different or funky, this is the one to choose.

Boat paddle: The name is quite apt for these ukuleles. They are quite comfortable for some people though it is the least popular option.

Woods

The wood used for constructing the ukulele plays a role in the production of sound, its durability, sustainability, comfort level and suitability for different persons. So just blindly picking up any ukulele without checking out the material it is made from is not advisable, as you will learn during your ukulele lessons.

The most common wood used for ukuleles is the Koa. It is a tropical wood that is found in abundance in Hawaii and has been the traditional choice for ukuleles for decades. It provides the ukulele with a lovely array of colours and beautiful patterns. Other generally used wood for ukuleles are cedar, mahogany, maple, redwood, rosewood, and spruce. Each wood has its own positive and negative properties and their appearance might be appealing or not depending on your tastes.

For more information on ukuleles, you can refer to: www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

All You Need To Know About Practicing For Bass Guitar Lessons

Practice.  Practice. Practice.  Your music teacher may sound like a broken record, but practice separates the wannabes from the musicians.  It may be true that talent may take you far.  But with practice, your bass guitar lessons could give you the resilience you need to sustain the journey.  When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

Your teacher may give you pointers on how to effectively practice what you’ve learned from your bass guitar lessons.  Singapore teachers may often emphasize on the drills and you could properly execute them on your own.  Here’s a quick reference on the ‘What’, ‘Where’, and ‘How Much’ practice it will take for you to become a competent bass player.

WHAT

Practicing enables you to absorb the new skills you learned in class.  You become more familiar with skills like memorizing chords and its corresponding finger positions.  Practicing gives you the ability to master playing and transitioning in between chords.  A sign of mastery is effortless execution. Yet practicing does not begin and end there. You need to practice more.  Yes, more!  This will serve to ‘maintain’ and hone your competencies further.

WHERE

The environment where you hold your practice could affect the productivity and effectiveness of each session.  Here are the factors to consider in identifying and setting-up your practice venue:

• Identify an area that is quiet, comfortable, and well-lit.
• Avoid distractions of any kind. Have everything that you use for practice within arms’ reach.
• Consider the room temperature ideal for you. Studies show that colder temperatures are more relaxing and can enhance creativity.  While warm temperatures are good for increasing memory.
• Set a dedicated practice spot or even an object such as a chair. Only use it for your practice session.  In this way, you are wiring your brain and body to get into ‘practice mode’.  As you get into the groove, you become more productive and efficient with your time and energy.

HOW MUCH

Perhaps you’ve heard epic stories of master bassists and guitarists who practiced until their fingers bled.  Or the likes of Jimi Hendrix who never put his guitar down.  For these masters, practicing has become second nature like breathing, sleeping, or eating.  This will all come in due time.  But for now, frequency over length of time would be far more effective and less stressful for beginners.

A consistent practice time of 30 minutes per day initially works best.  It will enable you to retain more without putting a strain on your mind and body.  Then eventually, you can build it up to about one or two hours per day, divided into chunks of 30 minutes per session.  Then as you get into the rhythm, you can ease your way into more practice hours.

For best results, complement your bass guitar lesson practice sessions with these tips to get your lessons up to speed: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/tips-to-supplement-bass-guitar-lessons-for-beginners/ .

Your bass guitar lessons is a two-fold process consisting of the actual lesson and the practice session.  Both should be closely supervised by a capable teacher.  Though your teacher may not be present during practice, competent teachers from http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/  integrate practice tips into the actual lesson. In this way, your alone-time for practices would be more fruitful and purposeful.

Improving your Ukulele Playing – Part II

Your ukulele playing can be improved over a period of time provided that you give sufficient time and attention to the particulars and your ukulele teacher is able to point out the main problems or insufficiency in your playing. We have already discussed some tips here: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/improving-ukulele-playing-part/.

Buy a metronome

Ukulele players, especially those taking beginner ukulele lessons, generally have a problem with timing. Even some experienced players have this problem. In fact, this is one of the main areas of improvement when it comes to the ukulele. The solution to this widespread problem is to simply  invest in a metronome. By using a metronome, you can play along while keeping track of the timing. It might be useful to first just strum up and strum down with the metronome ticking, just to get used to playing in rhythm with the timer. It is also a good idea not to let bad timing become a habit for beginners. Using a metronome from the beginning can prevent the formation of this habit in the first place.

Record yourself

When you are playing, you might sometimes realize where you are making mistakes. But most of the time, you will miss the obvious because your concentration is on the playing, not on listening to yourself. A good teacher will listen to you and point out your faults but he or she will not be able to do so every single time you practice. An alternative is to record yourself when you practice. You can then listen to this recording and try to pin down the instances when you made mistakes. Then play again while trying to improve or eliminate those mistakes. This way, you can teach yourself by listening to yourself.

Learn musical theory

If you are really intent on improving the way you play the ukulele and want to master the instrument, you will need to learn musical theory at one point or the other. Some teachers dispense with the theory learning in the beginning because not every student comes in with the same intent and many are not interested in something so heavy right at the beginning. Studying musical theory will help you improvise and compose within the framework, which is what music is all about. It will help you read and understand music sheets. By understanding the basic musical theory, you would also be able to become a better player.

Jam away!

If you want to be a real musician, you cannot just perform for yourself. You must perform for others because music is a dynamic, lovely thing and sharing it with everyone is the right thing to do. Find gigs to play, join up with others, and have fun. You could even arrange a play-along with your colleagues and friends one day a week. You can invite the other students you learn with at the ukulele lessons for beginners. When you play with others and for others, you will automatically be able to pick up on tips and tricks while at the same time receiving some feedback on your own performance. And most of all, you would be having fun while improving yourself.

If you are interested in learning more about the ukulele and are seeking tips and information on the subject, www.guitarlessonssingapore.com is a great resource for ukulele and guitar players.

Guitar Lessons:  Types of Acoustic Guitars – Body Styles

Acoustic guitars are great for beginners taking acoustic guitar lessons as well as for experienced professionals. As guitars go, acoustic is the most popular type. But even within the genre of acoustic guitars, there are a great many variations. One of the variations that continuously crops up in discussions on comfort and compatibility is that of the body style.

There are three main body styles, and a few additional ones that are used sparingly. These are Classic: concert and grand concert, auditorium and grand auditorium, Dreadnought, and Jumbo. There are also other shapes that are not too common but will be discussed below.

Classic

The classic guitar is the one most commonly sought since it produces a good sound, is easy to handle for most people and also happens to have a long tradition behind it. It is especially popular with guitarists who fingerpick, because classic guitars tend to give excellent clarity between the high, mid and low tones. But this doesn’t mean that classic guitars don’t make for good strumming too, because they do. These generally use light gauge strings to avoid tensions on the neck.

Among the classic guitars, the concert guitar, dating back to the 1850s is excellent for petite musicians because of the smaller size of its body. However, it is the auditorium style which is in vogue and is extremely popular because it balances volume, tone, and comfort. Most people when they mention classic guitars, mean auditorium style acoustic guitars.

Dreadnought

The dreadnought guitar gives a bigger sound than the classic, and is preferred by people who want a more booming and powerful sound. This is made possible because of its large soundboard, which enhances the sound capability of the guitar. It is highly suitable for heavy strummers because of its shape. The body style is very distinctive with square bouts, wide waists and 14-fret necks. These guitars generally work best with medium gauge strings.

Jumbo

Large, powerful and loud, the jumbo guitars are popular with people who like the classic guitar shape but also want the powerful sound of a dreadnought. The jumbo can be considered a glorified classic guitar, but it has its own small quirks. While it can be uncomfortable when sitting down to play because the body is far too big to fit into the lap, it is highly suitable for performing artistes on the stage who generally tend to use guitar straps.

Travel and Mini-Acoustics

While the classic, dreadnought and jumbo styles are the most popularly used guitars, there are also mini guitars that have become available for special reasons. One reason is for smaller people to be able to handle a guitar. Children taking beginner guitar lessons are also able to handle these models effortlessly. These guitars are also useful for people who regularly travel but want to be able to work on their music while traveling.

There are two types of mini-guitars: those which are simply a smaller sized classic guitars and backpackers, which are designed to be durable and lightweight with a narrow body that makes it easy for transport.

For tips on purchasing an acoustic guitar, check out the article: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/tips-for-purchasing-an-acoustic-guitar/. If you are seeking more information about guitars and guitar lessons, www.guitarlessonssingapore.com is a great resource.

Jazz Guitar Lessons:  Why Choose Jazz Guitar?

Jazz tends to have a bad reputation among many musicians and has taken a long time to be accepted in mainstream music. Over time, it has become a more respectable form of music. Today, because of its inherent qualities, jazz is seeing a resurgence among musicians. Some beginners want to take off by studying jazz, while others decide to explore the genre after years of studying acoustic or classical guitar. So why do these people choose the jazz guitar? Why should you choose the jazz guitar?

Rhythm

Jazz is nothing if not rhythm. If you are really going to study jazz in depth, you will realize that it is a much sophisticated form of music as far as rhythm is concerned than any other form. The genre is built on advanced harmonic styles than most other forms of music. Hence, jazz can give you a better understanding of how chords are put together, individually and in sequences. Taking jazz guitar lessons means that you would have to give an extraordinary amount of attention to your rhythm development, which would make you appreciate it more.

Challenging

There is no denying that the jazz guitar is challenging. It is advisable to actually learn some basics on the acoustic guitar before switching on to jazz, even if it is your main passion. The reason why this is so difficult to learn is that jazz musicians have to learn a lot of theory in order to be able to play around with the music. They also need to be very creative to make a solo sound interesting. If you don’t already like the genre and have some natural creative talent, jazz is a hard genre to master. However, the challenge is what makes it so rewarding.

Improvisation

Jazz is all about improvisations. This is what makes the genre so difficult to learn. But this is also the same thing that makes a great musician out of you. Improvisation requires extensive knowledge of theory, a feel for the rhythm, creativity, and spontaneity. Once you learn to improvise and are able to work on your music at different levels, you can theoretically do anything. You have to feel the music before you are able to improvise. Thus, learning the jazz guitar gives you an opportunity to explore your inner creativity and try out new things. It is ultimately a very satisfying experience.

Fun!

People don’t learn music so that they can put something on their résumé. Music is a passion for most people, and they pick up an instrument because it is fun. If you love jazz music, then you will definitely have fun learning to play jazz guitar. In spite of being difficult, the only frustrating part that most jazz musicians face is learning the theory. The actual playing is considered to be great fun, since it allows even those taking beginner jazz guitar lessons to unleash their own creativity in any way they want. If you are learning jazz guitar with friends, the fun factor is doubled!

If you want to get started on your jazz journey, this article on basic jazz guitar can help you commence: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/basic-jazz-guitar-tutorials/. If you are serious about pursuing a jazz career, then you can find a lot of help on this site: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/.

Why Take Bass Guitar Lessons

Bass Guitar is popular, but not as popular as the acoustic and electric guitars. Few people bother to take bass guitar lessons even though it is such an important part of a guitar band. One of the reasons for this is that bass guitar is not considered as a standalone instrument. But there are a number of advantages in learning how to play the bass guitar. It might just become your instrument of choice without you even realizing it. Why not give it a shot?

Bassists are rare

Bass guitar does not appeal to a large number of people who really prefer to learn acoustic guitar and stick to it. There is nothing inherently wrong with choosing to stick to the standard guitars. But if you choose to learn bass, then it will provide you with a powerful advantage. Bass guitarists are so rare that they are welcomed anywhere they go. As a bassist, you will find it so much easier to get gigs and jobs than if you only knew the standard guitar. A bassist will always be in more demand than any other guitarist, and that’s just a simple fact. If you want to make use of this gap, then you would be well on your way to your musical career.

Always required for a band

Whether you have had previous experience or not, the question pales when confronted with whether you can play bass or not in a guitar band. One of the most frequently advertised positions in bands is that of the bass guitarists. There are far too many guitar players but very few bassists. Bass guitarists are certainly rare, but they are also very significantly needed by guitar bands. Bands simply would not have the same sound and power without their bassist. So the two come together to provide great opportunities for you, the one who chose the bass guitar. If this is your aim, you can pick up a few tips at http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/bass-guitar-lessons-preparing-you-how-to-be-a-band-bass-player/.

Bass guitar is powerful

Make no mistake – getting a job easily shouldn’t be your only reason to choose the bass guitar over the standard guitars. The bass guitar is a great instrument in its own right and you will soon learn to appreciate it once you start learning it. It provides the power to the band and buoys up the music. Without the bass, the other guitarists will actually sound weak. Like the drummer, the bassist provides a powerful rhythm in the band. In fact, the bass guitar is so powerful that it can easily cover and smooth over the mistakes of other members of the band. It is a great position to be in!

Easy to learn

Most musical instruments defy you in the beginning. They are very hard to learn because of their complexity. Many instruments are also physically very taxing. The bass guitar is large and heavy, but if you can handle that, then the actual learning is much easier than if you chose the standard guitar or drums. The guitar has chords that you need to learn before you can play with any level of expertise, but the bass guitar only has notes. Since the bassist provides the rhythm, a beginner bassist only has to work on the root note of each chord repeatedly. This is very easy to pick up for a beginner – just take rhythm guitar lessons and you are off to a good start!

For more information on learning bass guitar, you can consult the website: http://www.guitarlessonssingapore.com/.

Tips for Electric Guitar Beginners – Part II

When learning to play the electric guitar, you need to incorporate a lot of things in your program. Merely learning how to play songs is not enough. Some of the things that would help you as part of your musical education are given below. Consider them as tips for undertaking a more well-rounded musical education for your guitar ambitions.

Learning to tune your guitar

Keeping your guitar tuned is really important if you are to learn how to play good music. If your guitar is not properly tuned, you might find that you are sounding wrong even when you are playing all the notes right. This will not help you learn at all. By far, the best way to learn how to tune your guitar is to do it yourself. This should be one of the basic electric guitar lessons. The guitar would generally come with a guitar tuner. You just have to learn how to use it, and slightly more important, when to use it. With time, this will become a habit and you will learn to keep the guitar always tuned, ready for playing.

Learn music theory

In Part I of this article, found at http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/tips-for-electric-guitar-beginners-part-i/, we discussed how important learning how to play by ear is. But the opposite is true as well. Once your ear is trained, learning formal musical theory would help you understand the notations for the music you love to play. Learning theory might be boring for some people, but it is still an essential part of your music education. The sooner you learn, the better it will serve you in the long run. Learn to read sheet music as well as chord charts and tabs. Sight reading is extremely important, because it can be crucial during performances. But whatever theory you learn, pair it up with actual playing so that you learn very early to identify the notes you read.

Listen to different music

Music is very versatile and there a large number of options for all guitar players to obtain ideas and lessons from different genres of music. A good musician is one who is aware of different genres and is able to handle all kinds of music. It is understandable if you are focused on learning a particular genre of music, and you should definitely work on that. But this should not be the boundary of your musical world and your electric guitar lessons for beginners should be more versatile. The best guitar players are those who consistently explore and learn, try out new things and learn all the time. It is possible that you might develop a liking for more than one genre and become a better musician for it.

Practice!

And last, but not the least, practice regularly. Devote an hour or so every day for your guitar practice. Listen to music as often as you can, so you can develop an ear for it. Tune your guitar every week so that it becomes a habit for you. Make sure that you keep your guitar clean and dry so that it continues to give good service. Read music theory and try to learn the notes. Practicing includes all of these things as well as the actual playing, so make sure to include all that you can in your daily practice!

For more information on learning electric guitar, refer to www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

Improving your Ukulele Playing – Part I

You have started your ukulele beginner lessons and have learned the basics. Now you want to make sure that you are improving your playing. This should happen automatically over time, but sometimes, it doesn’t for some people. There is no need to be discouraged because there are ways to ensure that your ukulele playing improves. If you don’t see much improvement over a long period of time, then you could take a few of the following tips into consideration and see whether they help you. If you are more interested in knowing how to enhance your lessons and get the most out of them, check out http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/tips-to-enhance-your-ukulele-lessons-part-1-of-2/.

Play with a group

This is not to say that playing at home by yourself will not produce results, but when you play in a group regularly, you gain certain advantages. You will be able to observe how the others play and you will strive to keep up to their level. In case of any mistakes, you can discuss and get it sorted the first time it even happens. This prevents you from developing bad habits. You can learn from the experiences of others and contribute to their learning as well. And the best part of this is that playing in a group is great fun!

Play to someone

If you have the facility, have someone who understands the ukulele hear you play on a regular basis. It is best if you can have your teacher do this, but if this is not possible, then you can always make a reciprocal arrangement with one of the ukulele players you know. By doing this, you can have your small mistakes pointed out to you that you yourself might not be able to catch. It is very hard to point out your own mistakes, no matter how slow you are playing and how alert you are. By playing to someone, you can realize what mistakes you make and focus on improvement.

Listen to ukulele music

Listen to a lot of music where the ukulele is the main instrument. You will gradually develop a sense of what is right and where mistakes are being made as you play. The more you listen to good music by professional musicians, the more you will develop this understanding. This is how you learn to play by the ear, which is a great quality for ukulele players, and indeed, all musicians to have. Without learning how to play by the ear, it is difficult to improve your ukulele playing because your sense of music still needs to be developed.

Practice, and then practice some more

Just like everything else, the ukulele requires a lot of practice for the player to improve. Without regular and consistent practice outside of ukulele lessons, this improvement will never happen. When it comes to practice, it is more useful to pinpoint and focus on your weak points than continuing to play what you already know perfectly well again and again. Practice playing full songs and always incorporate something new every once in a while so that you don’t get bored or frustrated with your practice sessions. Ideally, it is good to practice for a couple of hours every day but if this is not possible, then draw up a schedule for your practice to which you can stick.

For more information on ukulele lessons in Singapore, please refer to www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

Tips for Purchasing an Acoustic Guitar

When starting out, most people prefer to buy an acoustic guitar. It is the guitar most recommended for guitar lessons for beginners as it helps you easily discern the sounds and notes, in comparison with other types of guitars. However, acoustic guitars come in many shapes and sizes, materials, and price ranges. It can get quite confusing for someone who doesn’t know where to start. It’s a good idea to get some basic knowledge before making a purchase as you’ll be using the instrument for quite a while. If you need more persuasion to choose an acoustic guitar, check out this article: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/why-learn-to-play-the-acoustic-guitar/.

Test the guitar

Selecting an acoustic guitar is a serious business. There are so many choices available that you really need to try out quite a few before settling on something that you find suitable. If you don’t have the experience, take along an experienced friend or even your guitar teacher along when you go to purchase your instrument. It has become normal for many people to buy guitars online, but considering how much you are spending, it is always better to go to the shop and try out the instruments yourself. Play a few notes yourself and check whether the resonance is good. You can also ask someone to play the guitar in your presence so you can check whether the projection is good as well. If it doesn’t feel right to you, then it’s not the right guitar for you.

Check out the body style

Each guitar model is slightly different from the other, even if they are the same type of guitar. So there are literally hundreds of choices when you go to purchase an acoustic guitar. The build of the guitar does have a slight effect on the sound it produces but that is not the sole reason why you should keep an eye out for the body style. Each person’s physical make-up is different and a particular guitar might not feel comfortable for everyone. So trying out the guitar to make sure you are able to play on it comfortably is extremely important. If you buy a guitar that is uncomfortable, you will soon develop problems in your posture and muscular pains and aches. To avoid this, choose a guitar that fits your body and your arm without putting too much pressure on your body. You can try out simple guitar lessons as a test.

Price does matter

Acoustic guitars can differ vastly in prices depending on the model and brand you choose. It is best to go for a decent and well-known brand so that you know what to expect from the instrument. Moreover, it is much easier to get such instruments tuned or repaired if the occasion arises. The first thing you must do is set a budget for your guitar purchase. For a beginner guitar, you need not spend a lot of money, but it should still be enough to get you a decent model. Remember that you cannot learn to play well on a second-grade instrument. For more advanced players, there are a large number of options that you can consider, especially if money is no object. In the matter of guitars, you get what you pay for. So be prepared to research all the different models available in your budget range.

To get a better idea about guitars in general, check out the website: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/.

Jazz Guitar Lessons: Types of Jazz Guitars

Jazz enthusiasts will often turn towards a jazz guitar as their instrument of choice. This is a perfect choice for playing the kind of music you love. Sooner or later, you would want to buy a jazz guitar of your own. There is a large variety in jazz guitars, a number of different brands and prices ranging from really cheap to extremely expensive. What you buy must be according to your requirements and limitations, but there are some basic things you need to consider when deciding on the type of jazz guitar you want for your guitar learning lessons. http://www.guitarlessonssingapore.com has more useful information on guitars.

Jazz guitars come in four distinct types, each of them having their own advantages and disadvantages. They are archtop jazz guitars, solid body jazz guitars, semi-hollow and semi-acoustic jazz guitars and custom jazz guitars.

Archtop

This is the guitar that is associated with jazz in the public mind. Most guitarists purchase the archtop guitar. It is the traditional jazz guitar, which produces a warm tone, so essential for jazz musicians. It’s a classic guitar for jazz and immediately makes you stand out as a jazzer. One of its main advantages is that it produces the authentic, original jazz sound since it was created for. It is also big, which makes it steady. It’s also the cheapest option, though any kind of jazz guitar is prone to be expensive. On the flip side, it has fewer tonal variations than many other types of guitars and it can be too heavy for some people, causing posture problems.

Solid body

These are the ordinary guitars used for rock and country music, but they have also made inroads into the jazz genre as well in recent years. It is lighter in weight and has a smaller size, which would suit people who are not able to deal with the size and weight of the archtop guitars. For such people, this guitar helps in solving any posture issues. It also has a large variety of tones and has no feedback problems. On the other hand, it does not produce the authentic jazz sound and you will have to work hard for it. The look of the guitar is also more rock than jazz, which might put off some people.

Semi-hollow

This guitar provides you the best of both worlds. It is a compromise between the archtop and the solid body guitars, being smaller and lighter than the former and larger and heavier than the latter. Semi-hollow guitars have a large tonal variety but can also work well with other genres with ease. It is also quite inexpensive when compared to other types of guitars, making it quite popular for beginner jazz guitar lessons. However, it has fewer tonal variations and everyone will not find the body shape comfortable to work with.

Custom guitar

If money is not a problem, then a custom guitar is an excellent option, especially for advanced users. You can single out your preferences for material, body type and playing style and have a guitar created that would suit you the best. The only problem is that it’s hugely expensive and not affordable to everyone. It also has a long waiting list, so it might take a while for your guitar to be built.

Once you have your jazz guitar, you can consider your various options on taking lessons. This article will help you with this: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/options-for-jazz-guitar-learning-lessons/.