MARSHALL MG-15RCD, VOX V9159

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1 Guitar.LifeTips.com

2 Category: Answer User Questions Subcategory: Answer User Questions Tip: 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 GuitarTwelve String GuitarClassical Accoustic GuitarSlide GuitarElectric Six String GuitarBass GuitarFly GuitarDouble Neck GuitarYou 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. Category: Buying Subcategory: New Instruments Tip: Amps In choosing an amp, you have to first consider how much you have to spend, the style of music you like to play, and what kind of tone you like best. It is perhaps best to start with something small. You might feel that a Marshall stack is the way to go, especially if you have the money, but from home use, big amps are hard to work with because they get too loud too fast. They also take up a lot of space. Anything over 20W is overkill for a home practice or friendly jam session amp. Remember, even a 15W amp is loud when cranked. What you sacrifice with lower wattage is clean volume. But if you primarily use a dirty tone, small will work just fine. Here are a few recommended amps to look at MARSHALL MG-15RCD, VOX V9159 Cambridge 15, and Fender Blues Junior. Tip: Buying a guitar Choose a guitar that has the strings close to the fretboard, or playing will be difficult. Be sure that it produces a clear sound, with no buzzes at any of the frets, and that the guitar is constructed of high quality wood, so the neck doesn't "warp."

3 Tip: 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 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. Category: Equipment Subcategory: Pedals Tip: Which guitar effects are better: Single-effect stomp boxes or multi-effects pedals? There are a lot of cool multi-effects pedals out there that give you a bigger bang for your buck...if you're looking at a dollar-per-effect ratio. After all, some sacrifices have to be made to squeeze all those multi-effects into a small box and keep the price low. Individual, dedicated effect pedals often deliver superior effects with a wider rage of adjustabilityšbut they cost more on a per/effect basis. In other words, you can typically get more sonic quality and more variations on a single- effect pedal. Here's the bottom line: If your music requires multi-effects, then you need a whopping multi-effects pedal. But if you're only going to use a few effects, dedicated stomp boxes may better serve you. Category: FAQs Subcategory: FAQs Tip: How are basses tuned? Four-string electric and upright basses are tuned in perfect fourths, E A D G from low oo

4 high. Five-string basses commonly add a low B, but some add a high C instead of the low B. Six-string basses usually have both the high C and the low B. Seven-string basses add an F# to the six-string layout. Eight-string basses are like 12-string guitars. There's an extra string added to each of the four standard strings, with the second set tuned an octave higher. 12-string-basses add two "octave" strings instead of one, making 4 sets of three strings. Category: Guitar Techniques Subcategory: Learning to Play Tip: Stay Humble In the process of learning, keep in mind that the ego is a double-edged sword. The ego can propel us to want to do well (in this case play the guitar well) but at some point it can actually prohibit the learning process. We sometimes don't want to embarrass ourselves or admit that we do not know something. It is very important to keep a very humble approach to learning the guitar and to continue to put ourselves in learning situations. Playing with better players is a great musical environment to grow in. Subcategory: Playability Tip: Optimizing Guitar Playability Playing guitar is a highly personal experience. Every player has different needs, and that is why setting up your new guitar becomes a matter of personal taste. Ultimately what you are trying to achieve is: 1. Good Action (the least possible distance between the string and the frets without buzzing or rattling of the string against the fret). 2. Balanced, even, electrical output on each string in all pickup positions. 3. Smooth, accurate tuning action and the ability to stay in tune after bending a note or using the tremolo. 4. Last, but certainly not least, killer Tone! Category: Maintenance Subcategory: Electronics Tip: Preserving guitar leads To ensure longevity of your guitar leads, roll them carefully up. Don't use a winding - over the elbow - method as this can cause separation of the wiring inside the connectors. Any sharp pulls or constant pressure can easily break the delicate solder joints in the cable. Roll gently into a circle about 10 to 12 inches across and store flat in

5 a hard box, crate or road case. Subcategory: Instrument Tip: Guitar Care Use only quality guitar care and maintenance products -not furniture polish or abrasive dust cloths. Tip: Humidity & Your Guitar Did you know that humidity can have some pretty dramatic effects on your guitar? The recommended conditions for an acoustic guitar are between degrees Fahrenheit at percent humidity. Of course, these temperatures are not always attainable. When you have to take your guitar out in extremely hot or cold weather, it's best to cool off or warm up your car ahead of time. Never place your guitar in the trunk, since the trunk gets very hot in hot weather and very cold in cold weather. If you must expose your guitar to extremes, first remove all the tension from the strings. Then, allow the guitar to remain in its case and slowly return to a moderate temperature before tuning up again. Tip: Remove moisture from guitars To remove moisture from your guitar / case when stored, place small packets of silica gel like the type you get in packaged items. The gel is designed to absorb the moisture away from the precious item. Discard and replace every 6 to 12 months as the gels lose their effectiveness after a while. Tip: Temperature Keep your guitar away from extreme heat, cold, or humidity changes. Avoid placing your guitar on its stand near heat and air conditioning vents, windows, doors, outside, or in your car for long periods of time. Category: Playing Styles Subcategory: Rock Tip: Rhythm In rock and roll, as little as two notes played together can make a powerful rhythm background.

6 Category: Practice Subcategory: Advanced Tip: Don't Worry Don't get frustrated if you can't pick up each "lick" perfectly at first. This takes a lot of playing and practice. The most important thing is to get as close to the "vibe" and the over-all feeling of a particular phrase. Subcategory: Beginners Tip: 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! Tip: Motivation Examine your priorities. Do you want to have some serious fun with this? It doesn't take any particular level of talent to achieve a decent level of playing satisfaction on the guitar. In my view, if you can clap your hands in time to the beat of a song on the radio, then you have the necessary sense of rhythm. The rest is perseverance--knowing that you will succeed if you make a little progress each day, by putting in the time. Tip: What Does it Take? Introduction You have decided you want to learn to play the guitar. It's not as simple as sitting down with the guitar one day, beginning to strum. It takes dedication and practice, along with a few other techniques you may not have considered, such as visualization Begin Learning By Yourself Why should you start learning by yourself? Because you can make mistakes in the privacy of your own room. Nobody else is around to see you muff that chord. You are under less pressure this way, making it simpler for you to actually push through those first difficult steps. Access some websites that offer free guitar chord charts and practice your fingering. As you strum down, expect some of your chords to sound fuzzy, buzzy and muffled. Until you get used to where your fingers belong, and until you are able to press down on each string, this will happen. It's natural. Once you've learned the basics, you'll be able to figure out what a guitar teacher is telling you to do. This means a little less frustration for the both of you. Practice, Practice, Practice Set aside a little time every day to practice. Try for a

7 maximum of thirty minutes a day to practice. If you won't be able to practice for thirty minutes on a particular day, practice for as long as you can. If it's fifteen minutes, you managed to get something in. Learn the lingo: frets, strings, nylon versus steel strings, pics, capos. When you practice, choose a few chords and work on these. Learn new strum patterns. Practice tuning your instrument. Whatever you work on, practice it until you are comfortable with it. Chord Exercises Choose some new chords and practice forming them with your hand. Study your chord charts and place your fingers, as indicated, on the correct strings. For instance, an A chord uses your forefinger, middle finger and ring finger, with all three placed on the three center strings on the first fret. Practice each chord until your fingers are comfortable with their placement on the fretboard. Pay close attention to which fret your fingers are supposed to be on, because placing them on the wrong fret affects the sound of the chord. Practice Chord Changes You have your fingers placed on the A chord and you want to switch to an E chord. Here, you'll need to consciously look at each chord and where your finger is on your guitar. As you change to a new chord, you'll literally pick one finger up at a time and move it. Yes, it will be a slow process at first. Keep practicing and allow your fingers to develop muscle memory for each chord. Before you know it, when you see a new chord, your fingers will automatically change to the new chord without you having to think about where each finger should go. Learn to Tune Your Instrument It's much easier for you to learn your new instrument when it sounds right. If you are learning on a 6-string guitar, the strings are tuned to a high E, A, D, G, B and a low E. Use a tuning fork, a portable electronic tuner, your ears, or, if your instrument is so equipped, the tuner that's built into it. Once you get skilled enough, you'll be able to tell automatically how your guitar should sound. When you change to new strings, you'll have to tune frequently because the strings are tight, not stretched out. If the humidity changes, this also affects your instrument's sound. Imagine Yourself Playing Finally, visualize yourself playing simple tunes. Imagine yourself playing the new chords you're working on learning. For the chords you remember more easily, physically position your fingers in that chord. Do the same for a second chord, then begin slowly switching between these chords until it feels natural for you. Do this visualization exercise every time you are relaxing or watching television. The next time you sit down with your guitar, you'll remember more easily where your fingers are supposed to go for a particular chord and your practice session will go more easily. Category: Sound & Dynamics Subcategory: Tone and Voice of the Guitar Tip: Vibrato Vibrato is nothing more than a repetitive slight bend at different speeds. The high strings (1st-3rd) are generally "pushed" upward when vibrato is applied. The lower strings are "pulled" downward.

8 Subcategory: Volume Control Tip: Gain, Overdrive and Distortion Gain is usually defined as an overall boost in your signal without any added tonal coloration. It is usually expressed in decibels such as "Gimme a 3dB boost on that bass." Adding more gain is basically just amplifying the signal so it cuts through the mix or can be heard over a loud drummer. Overdrive, as it has come to be known as, is a smooth, warm, slightly distorted sound, generally associated with the sound made by cranking up a tube amp. It is fat and dynamic, allowing you to vary your tone just by the way you play. Overdrive pedals can come close to giving you that tube-overdrive sound, probably the most popular being the Tube Screamer. Distortion can be defined as anything from a fuzz tone to a full-on, notched-out midrange, death metal wall of noise. It is a hard-edged sound with as many variations as there are players. Digital distortion has a more metallic, raspy sound which works well for heavy metal, grunge, or reliving your 80's hair band days. Analog tube distortion gives a good, all-around rock tone, such as the sound of a Marshall stack cranked to 10. The key to all this is to listen and experiment and let your ears be the final judge. Knowing the differences and how to use them will go a long way to helping you define your own signature tone. Tip: Volume Dynamics "Dynamic" doesn't have to mean "Loud." Experiment with picking notes as softly as possible -- at whisper level. Also try picking with your fingertips instead of the pick, for a rounder tone. Category: Strings Subcategory: Changing Strings Tip: Tune as You Go When you change your strings, remove, replace, and tune up one string at a time - constantly keeping the guitar in tune as you go. This prevents uneven strain on the neck, which could eventually cause warping. Subcategory: Selecting Strings Tip: Find One You Like Experimenting with different brands is great, but once you a find a brand and gauge you like, stick with it. Your guitar will thank you for it. Constantly changing string gauges

9 usually involves adjustments to the neck, which can be a time-consuming pain, and wouldn't you rather be playing? Tip: Rectified Nylon Rectified Nylon: Nylon strings that have been ground to precise tolerances. Deliver a mellow sound preferred by many professional classical guitarists. Tip: Roundwound or Flatwound? There are two main flavors of bass strings: roundwound and flatwound. All wound strings are made by wrapping layers of wire around a core wire. Roundwound strings use a round wire as the wrap, flatwound strings use a flat ribbon wire. Roundwound strings deliver brighter sounds, but can emphasize squeaks. Flatwound strings have a duller sound, with less extra noise, and tend to keep a more consistent tone longer. Tip: Stainless Steel Wound Stainless Steel Wound: Preferred by many acoustic electric guitarists. Strings wound with stainless steel are excellent for magnetic pickup amplification and are noted for brightness and durability. Category: What is: Subcategory: Guitar parts & accessories Tip: Ball end Ball end: the brass or plastic ball, nut or ferrule affixed to one end of certain types of guitar strings. On some types of acoustic guitars, this ball end goes into a hole in the bridge below the saddle, and a peg is then inserted into the hole to hold the end of the string in place. On electric guitars, a similar arrangement is used, or the ball slips into a keyhole slot. Tip: Flat Wound A flat wound string is made by winding a flat or ribbon-like metal wire around a metal core wire, to create a smoothe string less prone to "squeaking." Tip: Ponticello ponticello - the bridge of a stringed instrument.

10 Tip: Round Wound Round Wound: the winding of round wrap wire on to the core of a musical string. Subcategory: Musical Terms Tip: A tempo a tempo - in time. Tip: Allegro Allegro - lively, rather quick. Tip: Andante andante - rather slow, a walking pace Tip: Arpeggio arpeggio - to play notes of a chord consecutively. Tip: Cantabile cantabile - in a singing style. Tip: Da capo da capo - return to the beginning. Tip: Da capo al fine da capo al fine - return to the beginning and play to the word "fine". Tip: Dal segno dal segno - repeat from the sign. Tip: Fortissimo fortissimo - very loud. Tip: Hammer

11 hammer - to produce a new note by forcefully striking the string with the left hand. Tip: Largo largo - slow and broad. Tip: Moderato moderato - a medium pace. Tip: Piano piano - soft. Tip: Prestissimo prestissimo - as fast as possible. Tip: Presto presto - quickly. Tip: Ritardando ritardando - gradually slow down. Tip: Rubato rubato - robbed time. Tip: Tacet tacet - be silent. Tip: Vibrato vibrato - to vary the pitch of a note with rapid movement of the left hand. Tip: Whole note whole note - receives four beats in 4/4