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Guitar Tips

Read these 91 Guitar Tips in 12 categories ranging from Answer User Questions to What is:. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Guitar tips and hundreds of other topics. Become a Guru or Become an Advertiser.

Types of Guitars

There are currently many different types of guitars on the market. However they basically fall into either acoustic or electric categories. Below you will find a break down of the different types of guitars and their defining features.

Acoustic

  • Six String Guitar
  • Twelve String Guitar
  • Classical Accoustic Guitar
  • Slide Guitar
Electric

  • Six String Guitar
  • Bass Guitar
  • Fly Guitar
  • Double Neck Guitar
You can also find electric/acoustic guitars that can be played as is or plugged into an amplifier. An electric/acoustic guitar looks much like the regular acoustic guitar with all the same features, except it has a jack for plugging into an amplifier. An acoustic guitar can have six or twelve strings, no jack, twenty frets, and a sound hole.

Electric guitars usually have six strings, twenty to twenty-four frets, no sound hole, and a jack. Bass guitars, which are a type of electric guitar, have four to six strings, no sound hole, a jack, and twenty-four to twenty-six frets, though you can also purchase fretless basses now.

What does it take?

What is the single most important ingredient to make a good guitarist? Strong hands? Long fingers? Music theory knowledge? Proper lessons?

None of these!

What it takes is a love for the instrument and the desire to play.

If you truly love the guitar, then practise isn't a chore - it's the time when you're happiest. You're playing hard and getting better, but you're enjoying every minute.

Light or heavy gauge?

"Heavier" string gauges - i.e. those that have thicker strings, give more sustain, and enhance a guitar's natural tone. They often hold their tuning better than lighter gauges.

"Lighter" string gauges are easier to "bend" notes with, but have a much thinner sound. However it is also easy to accidentally bend a note out of tune with light string gauges.

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How much and how often to practice?

You should practise as often as you want to. If practising feels like a real chore, then leave it for that day.

10 minutes of inspired practice in a day is worth far more than an hour slogging away at something you don't enjoy!

Remember - playing guitar is FUN! You PLAY it - you don't WORK it!

What to look for in a new guitar

When choosing your guitar, there are several factors to consider... Particularly the price, playability, sound, and the looks.

Which is the most important? They are ALL important in their own way!

In no particular order of merit, here are the reasons...

1. If you are on a budget, then obviously the price is important! Most of us have wallets with limits! This is self-explanatory.

2. The playability of a guitar (how EASY it is to play) is important. Are the strings close to the fret board? Is the neck a comfortable fit for your hand size? Is the body shape comfortable to hold? Will make a big impact on your progress as a guitar player. Anything that hinders your progress can be disheartening.

3. Sound. Do the notes ring out on the guitar and sustain (last long before dying out)? Does the guitar sound fat and full, or bright and thin? What sort of tone do you want? For example - Rock and Metal players often favour fat, full sounding guitars.

4. Are looks important? You bet!! You want to look at your guitar and think it's cool. Playing something that looks a dog will not inspire you! Also, the look of a guitar can be important for the image associated with a certain type of music. Telecaster shaped guitars are often associated with traditional blues and country playing - Les Paul-shaped guitars are often associated with classic rock, Flying V guitars are usually associated with heavy metal.

Your first guitar

When starting out playing electric guitar, you will be faced with many choices of guitar, amplifier and hordes of other pieces of equipment. While much of the gadgetry is fun, the SINGLE most important part of your setup is the guitar itself.

However much money you have to spend, try to get the best guitar you can - even if it means not being able to afford an amplifier to begin with!

Unless you are playing in a band, you don't really need an amp to start off with, and the better your guitar is, the easier and more enjoyable your learning experience will be!

And in most cases - you get what you pay for!





 
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