Top Websites to Download iPod Music - Make the Right Choice

Looking for the top sites to download iPod music online? Finding them is not a tough task if you know what aspects to take into consideration and what constituents make the website a great source for downloading iPod music.

Reputable paid membership websites where you can download iPod music to your heart’s content at a low fee paid only once, are where your search should start. The priority is given to them, because with these sites you know that each file you download is legal, of good quality and free from harmful spyware, adware and viruses. But the benefits of using these sites to download iPod music are not limited by this only.

Every well-established music download website will have a huge selection of songs, making it possible to find virtually anything you could fancy. They also make sure that the process of navigating the site, downloading and using media software, which is usually provided as a part of the package, is as simple as one can get. In case of any minor problem their customer support is quick to respond and give full assistance.

In your search for the best website, make sure to check the customers’ testimonials and independent reviews by other sites. The word of mouth spreads faster than any advertisement. The safest way is to choose the site, which has proven its good reputation and has a large number of members – simply because so many people can’t go wrong.

To make your choice a little easier, here are a few popular websites where you can download iPod music at a low one-time fee or on subscription basis:

Feed My iPod
Another cool site with equally huge file library and full service for your iPod. Download iPod music and other iPod stuff at a very low monthly fee or a once-forever membership fee.

iPod Downloads Pro
With over 95 million files ready to download on your iPod, this site is where you will surely find just anything you could dream about. Download iPod music within seconds and listen it straight away – the files are ready to use and don’t need converting. A life-time membership or a yearly subscription is available – a great value for your money.

My iPod Music
One more great place of best quality – hassle-free and secure. Constantly updated database ensures you can get the latest of the latest albums and songs. Advanced free software allows you not only to download iPod music, but also convert the file format to iPod-compatible one and transfer them to your iPod easily and quickly.

by Davion Wong

NIRVANA

Nirvana was formed in 1987 in Aberdeen, Washington and its music genre focused more on alternative rock and grunge. It was a smaller band in size with only three main members, including Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl. Nirvana would be bringing in a big change in music that made them a hit among their audience; unfortunately, the band's life was short lived due to the demise of Kurt Cobain in 1994. However, Nirvana's music would continue to be enjoyed and the albums the group put out during its existence are still being sold. The other two members of the band would also continue to release albums of their own and continue their own musical careers.

It took a little time before the band was able to settle on the name Nirvana. There were a few other names the members were contemplating, but they settled on Nirvana as Kurt Cobain wanted a name that was nice and beautiful instead of something ugly and typical. The music they created during the years the band was active was also a reflection of this. From the time they first started putting out music until Kurt Cobain's death, the music continued to change and remain relatively original. This originality and experimentation with their music was well received by their audience.

Even Kurt himself realized how much their music kept changing and growing when he admitted that many of their first songs were angrier, while their later songs became "poppier" and "happier." While it was good for the band to have their music so well accepted, Kurt Cobain was a little shy of the attention. He wanted the focus more on their music than on their fans and possible future awards. Apparently, the music meant more to him than anything else, so much so that he worked hard to keep the focus of the band in itself.

It really is unfortunate that the band had such a short run as they were on a good start to having a very successful future. In fact, it is possible that if Kurt had been successful in kicking his addictive and devastating habit the band could have enjoyed many more years of popularity. They could have even possibly won awards and gained far more recognition than they had. As mentioned before, after Kurt Cobain passed away, the other members of the band continued on their own musical career. It seems that Kurt was not the only one who wanted to compose and perform music for others to enjoy.

The surviving members went on to create or join other groups where they could continue doing what they enjoyed. It would seem that while Nirvana was, for the most part, a small band that mainly consisted of three people, these three people were dedicated to their art; music. They enjoyed experimenting with music and creating new sounds that could be shared with an audience. Nirvana's music, and the subsequent music created and performed by the two surviving members, is new and different music that is still enjoyed by many today.

by Victor Epand

How to Avoid Bad Habit When Playing Guitar

It is much harder to break a bad habit than it is to prevent bad habits from occurring in the first place. However, with some things, people prefer to learn on their own. Self-taught guitar lessons are among the most popular and learning how to play the guitar for fun is a very common hobby or past time. Unfortunately, that means that many people learn to play the guitar incorrectly and must eventually learn to adjust or fix their guitar playing bad habits.

When it comes to guitar playing, some bad habits are harder to break than others are. If it is something simple like strumming the guitar strings the wrong way, this can be adjusted or unlearned without too much difficulty. Conversely, holding the neck of the guitar wrong can be very difficult to overcome and prevent you from ever being able to jam on your guitar the way that many rockstars play.

Adjusting the strap to hold your guitar at the proper level may be very important in some cases but if you are really jamming out on your guitar, you may not even use a strap and just hold your guitar in your hands without any additional support. Problems like this will not present any major issues for most people in regards to their guitar playing but some bad habits are very difficult to overcome and create longer lasting side effects.

It is actually possible to tune a guitar incorrectly and have it sound okay for most uses. However, if you do not learn to tune your guitar, you will be in big trouble the first time you try rocking out with other guitar players or the next garage band. Many small things can go wrong when you are learning to play the guitar.

Once you have learned to do it the wrong way, unlearning what you have taught yourself on the guitar and then learning to do it correctly may be more difficult than you imagine. One of your best bets is to get a good guitar guide online so that you learn right the first time. Learning to play the guitar is a great goal but learning to do it right really does require you to find and use a good guitar guide.

By Ewen Chia

(published at http://www.goarticles.com

Joe Satriani

Do you have a nickname?

Joe Satriani is known as 'Satch' to his friends, and he has lots of friends!
In addition to his own material, Joe Satriani has recorded and toured with friends including Mick Jagger, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper and even Spinal Tap.
And before his self-released 1986 debut album, "Not of This Earth", Satriani had become something of a cult legend as the guitar teacher to such future stars as Steve Vai, Metallica's Kirk Hammett, Counting Crows' David Bryson and jazz artist Charlie Hunter.
How cool would it be to have Satriani as your guitar teacher?
Well, that's just not going to happen. He is touring the USA right now.
Satriani was born on 15 July, 1956 in Westbury, New York.
He was inspired to play the guitar at age 14 after hearing that Jimi Hendrix had died.
Satriani heard the news during a football training session where he immediately confronted his coach and announced that he was quitting to become a guitarist.
Today, he is widely recognised as a technically proficient rock guitarist.
He has mastered many performance techniques including two-handed tapping, sweep-picking, volume swell, harmonics and extreme whammy bar effects.
He is also known to have an eye and an ear for a good tune, and more recently, an emphasis on emotion over technique.
What guitar technique will you be known for?

(from Chris Elmore)

It's Never Too Late to Rediscover The Musician Inside of You

Do you recall the day you traded in your guitar for a job at the bank or gave up your piano lessons to become a doctor? Have you been thinking about rediscovering your musical roots as soon as your retirement kicks in? Are you still hoping that some day you’ll get to dust off your sax and join the local jam session? If this sounds all too familiar, you’re not alone. In fact, it’s more common than you think for people in the latter stages of life to get the itch to return to their musical beginnings.
Like most closet musicians, you likely arrived at a turning point in your life where you had to decide between the certainty of a job and the uncertainty of a life in the music business. And, like the vast majority, you chose the more stable path. Do you ever wonder though, what it would have been like if you had enough courage to pursue the other path - even if it would have totally freaked your parents out?
As a professional concert pianist I have people say to me all the time that they would give anything to do what I do. A lot of these folks wish they just could turn back the clock and get another shot at it, even if it might not have been the responsible thing to do.
That’s why I’m so grateful for the path I have chosen, not only because I love it but because, I never have to worry about what I might have missed. The truth is; I love music and what it does for my soul. I wake up every day with excitement because I really don’t know what’s going to happen or where I’ll end up. That to me is a gift, not a liability. The only thing certain in my life is uncertainty and that I can always count on.
But, our society is not programmed to think in these terms. We’re groomed in school to play it safe, get a job and pay the bills. It’s definitely the easy thing to do but is it the right thing? I think we were all born to learn something new and exciting every day. For most people who go to the same job day after day, a job they most likely hate - how is this learning?
Many people find themselves at a turning point in their latter years when they think to themselves, “What exactly happened to my dreams?” But, then you think to yourself, “I got married and had kids, it would have been completely irresponsible of me to follow my dreams because so few actually make it.” That’s true, except why couldn’t you have been one of the few? In any case, I often say to people, “Why don’t you quit your job now while you still can?” To my mind, living every day in a situation you hate will only lead you somewhere you don’t want to go. It’s important to choose a goal in life that you really are passionate about because, that’s what will make your life exciting and challenging. Anybody can get a job.
But, even if you absolutely cannot give up your job, why not take up music seriously at the same time? For now, start practicing in secrecy. Then eventually you’ll be good enough to perform for others. And, if you’re passionate enough, you may even get to be the performer that you’ve always admired from a distance. You know, the one you’ve often cheered for with mixed delight and sorrow because, you know you could have been that person?
The good news, it’s not too late!
Take my friend Bruce for example. With three years left to go to his retirement as a bank executive, he reintroduced himself to blues guitar. Shortly thereafter he reunited his high school band and now they’re actually booking themselves for dances, concerts and private functions. And, my friend Mary Ann is doing the same thing. She had a music degree in classical piano which, she eventually gave up to become a family doctor. Now, several years later she’s formed a jazz quartet with some friends and another doctor on drums, and the band performs at least 5 nights a month around town.
These are just two examples of people who understand that they can have it all; both a successful professional career and a life in music. Like them, you don’t have to wait for your retirement to get back to doing what you love.
So next time you feel the need to rejuvenate your life with music, come on out of the closet. Because, the truth of the matter is the only thing stopping you, is you. Take my advice and start living your life the way you want and not the way everyone else expects of you. Live the rest of your life doing what you love because, the only risk in life is not taking one.
By Paul Tobey
(published at http://www.articlecity.com)

Is Your Guitar Practice Working?

To succeed at learning guitar, regular practice is essential. But even if you are diligent enough to make sure you practice regularly, you may not be getting as much out of your sessions as you could. Many guitar students find that in spite of spending hours practicing they don't seem to make much progress. What can be done to change this?
Before you start your guitar practice session, you should carry out a warm up. This can be just simply opening and closing your hands repeatedly. Then simply play a sequence of notes up and down the fret. Spend about 5 to 10 minutes on this. This will help you get your playing position and holding of the guitar comfortable and warm up your muscles before the serious stuff begins. As your learning advances, you can improve your warm up session by playing scales and arpeggios.
Make a plan or routine for your guitar practice sessions. An example plan might be to start with practicing a scale, followed by learning one or two new chords. Finally you could finish off by learning part of a song that you want to be able to play. Using a plan for your practice sessions allows you to get on with practicing rather than waste time wondering what to do next in your practice session.
Try to build into the session plan a goal such as learning two new chords. If you are being taught by a guitar teacher, they may set goals for your next lesson. If you are teaching yourself, it is even more important for you to set goals. Failure to set goals will allow you to drift in your practice session, and this will affect your progress. The goals could be for that session or could be for completion in three or four sessions depending on the difficulty of the goal. Try to be realistic when setting goals so that you don't undermine your confidence. Having a goal gives you a target, a challenge, and this helps to motivate you during the practice session.
When you are learning something new, a scale or chord sequence for example, make sure that you practice slowly. If you practice too fast you will make mistakes. As you repeat these mistakes in the practice session, you are simply learning to make mistakes. It is the accuracy of what you are playing that is important, not the speed. Once you can play what you have been learning easily and accurately, then you can try speeding it up. Practicing guitar too fast is a common mistake that beginners make. Try using a metronome to control the speed at which you play.
If what you are practicing is proving too difficult, don't keep trying and trying and end up frustrated and tired. Take a break and come back to it later. Be kind to yourself and practice something less demanding. You will often find that when you return, even in a later practice session, to what was giving you difficulty, it will play a bit easier. Slogging away endlessly at something you find difficult is a big motivation killer. Don't do it!
If you feel any pain aching or soreness while practicing, you should stop your guitar practice session. If you have warmed up and your posture and hand position on the neck are correct, you shouldn't suffer any pain during a normal practice session. The only exception may be if you are a beginner guitarist, when your muscles will have to adapt to the new prolonged positions that they hold and work in.
Try to stick to your practice schedule. There may be days when you simply can't complete a session, but this should be the exception. If you really want to make progress your guitar practice should be regular. Even if you only manage 15 minutes a day this will be better than one hour then no practice for a week. If finding the time is difficult try splitting your session into two parts. Do whatever it takes to keep your practice regular. Make sure you are giving your practice your full attention. Don't practice somewhere where there are lots of distractions. If you spend 30 minutes practicing, but your mind is wandering towards what's going on in the other room, your practice won't be worth much. Never practice guitar in front of the TV!
To make your guitar practice more successful, try to include music that you really enjoy in your practice session. Practicing a tune you hate is not going to get you very far. Sometimes you will have to learn a piece of music from your lessons that you just don't like. You will have to learn this, as there will be something about the piece, technique, chords etc. that it is important for you to try in the context of a song. When this happens add a piece that you enjoy to the session as well to compensate and lift you up again.
Finally, at the end of the session, just play around with your guitar and have some fun. This will help you finish in a good mood and will set you up in the right frame of mind for your next session. If you end a practice session tired and frustrated, you will not be looking forward to your next session and that is bad news. Aim to make your guitar practice fun and see just how much progress you can make!
By Ken Radwell
(published at http://www.goarticles.com)

Preparing for Your First Beginner Guitar Lessons

The first essential requisite to taking a beginner guitar lesson is to possess your own guitar. How many guitarists do you think started learning the instrument by borrowing others' guitars? None, practically! The logic to this is simple - practice is an important part of the learning process, and having your own guitar makes practice an easy task. You do not necessarily have to buy yourself an expensive instrument; you can even buy a second hand one and graduate to a better guitar once you are familiar with how to play it. Once you have bought yourself a guitar, you can actually start taking beginner lessons. Beginner lessons are guitar classes taught to newcomers so they are familiar with the basics of the guitar and how to play it. The first thing you will be taught is not how to play the instrument, but what the different parts of the guitar are. All websites providing online beginner guitar lessons start their teachings from this point. This makes sense because it is not a good idea to learn a musical instrument without first knowing its various parts. Along with knowing each part of the guitar, you also have to learn the functions of each individual part. Knowing the different parts of the guitar and their functions familiarizes you with the instrument.

Basic Steps to Beginner Guitar Lessons
After teaching you the different parts of the guitar and their functions, the next thing beginner guitar lessons teach you are the names of the different strings on the guitar. The strings create the sounds on a guitar when you strike them. After you have learnt about the strings, the next step in a guitar tutorial for beginners is to learn the different ways you can play the guitar - standing, sitting, etc. - and the postures involved. While learning about the postures, you will also learn how to hold the guitar, and the correct positioning and grip for both your hands. Once you are through with these basics, the next thing that you can learn in beginner guitar lessons is actually how to use the guitar - how to form the different chords, how to hit the strings so you get the proper sound, etc.

Beginner Guitar Lessons - Guitar Theory is not a Prerequisite!
There is one school of thought that emphasizes the need to know guitar theory while taking beginner guitar lessons. The logic for this is simple: once you know the basic theory, it becomes easier to learn the chords. However, this is not a mandatory practice; in fact, many online guitar tutorials do away with the need for knowledge of guitar theory as a prerequisite for learning the chords and other complex things about the guitar. Basically, the need for guitar theory knowledge depends primarily on your level of interest in the instrument. If you are planning to take up playing the guitar full-time, it makes sense to know the theoretical aspects as well. However, if you are taking it up as just something you want to learn so you can play some of your favorite numbers, then it makes sense to just go ahead with the online tutorials alone and learn the different chords.
Now that you have a solid game plan, it's time for you to get out there and start taking your own beginner guitar lessons!
By Kirk Downing
(published at http://www.articlecity.com)

Simple Steps to Better Guitar Tone

Great guitar tone is something that every guitarist wants. The quest for tone is one of the biggest reasons guitar players drop so much money on amplifiers and effects. If you've found yourself spending a lot of money lately on various 'sound tweaking' gadgets, take note: the solution to your sound problems just might be closer (and cheaper) than you think! Whether you want killer distortion or country-twang, the secret of great tone begins with a pure, clean signal. In other words, no matter how many effects you intend to use, you've got to make sure the basic, unadulterated “dry signal” coming through your amp sounds just as good as anything else. The reason for this is simple: every effect you add to that signal brings in a little bit of noise. So, you need to start with as clean a signal as possible so that the cumulative impact of noise and signal degradation from your effects is kept to a minimum. The first step here is as easy as proper maintenance of your guitar. Not only do you need to keep your strings fresh, and your neck in alignment, you also need to eliminate any sources of buzz or hum coming from faulty cords or poor electrical wiring in your pickups or input jack. The second step is to run the same maintenance check on your amplifier. Now, the fact is, some amps are just noisier than others. If you can find nothing physically wrong with your amp, it may just be that you need to do upgrades for better tone. For example, your amp's factory-installed speakers are probably not top-of-the-line. In the case of tube amps, especially, this can make a HUGE difference. Along similar lines, you might also consider upgrading your tubes and/or the transistors used in the pre-amp stage. Why? Because your amp's sound is greatly influenced by the way each of these components responds to the guitar signal. Cheap parts have a slower dynamic response, and can also add unwanted coloration to the signal. This is one reason why some amps will sound great at a lower volume, but start to break up and distort as soon as you turn things up. Last, but not least, take a look at the effects pedals you currently have in your arsenal. Maybe you've purchased 2 or 3 different distortion pedals, for example, in an elusive quest for that perfect 'crunch'? There's nothing wrong with owning multiple pedals for the same type of effect; but, if you still aren't getting the sound you desire, it could be that you need to add something very basic into the mix, like an EQ pedal. A good EQ pedal will allow you to shape which frequencies are emphasized. You can, for example, cut the mid-range for a heavier tone, or boost the highs so that your treble notes punch through. Try mixing and matching EQ and Volume pedals in different places along your effects chain in order to boost or limit the characteristics of other effects. You'll be amazed how many different sounds you can create with a little experimentation!
By Beth Miller
(published at http://www.articlecity.com)

Music Fundamentals - Intervals

Intervals are the fundamental building blocks of music allowing us to read and write music, and most importantly, to help us construct chords and harmonies. However words like major, minor, augmented, diminished, enharmonic and compound leave many people a bit confused, hopefully this article will throw some light on the subject.
The ‘distance’ between two notes is known as an interval. This is the difference in pitch between two notes. The size or amount of distance is measured numerically.
If we consider the C scale there are 8 notes; C D E F G A B C numbered from 1 through to 8. As an example the interval from C to G is a 5th as G is 5 notes above C. The interval from C to F is a 4th as F is 4 notes above C.
All intervals are measured from the first note of the scale. These intervals are given a name as well as a numeric value and in order of progression they are: C-D is a major 2nd, C-E is a major 3rd, C-F is a perfect 4th, C-G is a perfect 5th, C-A major 6th, C-B major 7 and finally C-C is a perfect octave.
The intervals that are perfect are so called because they have a certain purity about them that comes from the overtones and upper-partials that are contained within them (these will be explained in another article)
Intervals can be raised or lowered by a half-step/semitone. If a major interval is chromatically reduced by a half-step it becomes a minor interval e.g. C-E is a major 3rd, if it is lowered by a half-step (from C-Eb) the interval becomes a minor 3rd.
If a perfect interval is chromatically reduced by a half-step it becomes a diminished interval i.e. a perfect 4th lowered by a half-step becomes a diminished 4th.
If major or perfect intervals are raised by a half-step then they become an augmented interval i.e. a perfect 5th would become an augmented 5th.
Compound intervals are those that extend into the 2nd octave. C to D (in the next octave) is called either a major 9th or a compound major 2nd. C to F (next octave) is a perfect 11th or a compound perfect 4th.
Enharmonic intervals are those that differ in name but not pitch, for example C-G# is an augmented 5th and C-Ab is a minor 6th.
When intervals are inverted they reverse the relative position of the notes. C-G (perfect 5th) becomes G-C which is a perfect 4th, a 3rd would become a 6th. Perfect intervals when inverted remain perfect e.g. C-G being a perfect 5th would become a perfect 4th when inverted, a major becomes minor, minor becomes major, diminished becomes augmented and augmented becomes diminished.
These rules apply to all scales.
By Nigel Rowles
(published at http://www.articlecity.com/)

Acoustic or Electric Guitar

Having played the guitar for a number of years, I am often asked this question by eager learners - "Should I start learning with the acoustic or electric guitar?" In this article, I'll talk a bit about both so you can come to an informed decision.
First of all, let me get something straight. The actual notes and fretboards work the same for both, so if you start with either one, its always interchangeable, although the playing techniques might differ.
Most younger players would gravitate towards the electric guitar thanks to MTV and the "cool factor". The acoustic guitar seems to have a more "folksy" image to it. Both sound very different, with the acoustic relying purely on natural acoustic principles to generate the sound, using the body of the guitar as an "amplifier". The electric guitar on the other hand needs an electric amplifier to generate sound. There are of course hybrids, but that is not relevent in this article. So, which is better for the beginner? I'll cover 3 aspects below - cost, convenience and playability.
Cost
Both are about the same, you can get really expensive custom built electric of acoustic guitars. However, the electric can start to get more expensive simply because of the tempting options and accessories like amplifiers, pre-amps, effects pedals, volume pedals, etc. The acoustic on the other hand might be simpler to start with. It plays right out of the box!
Convenience
Again the acoustic wins as you can take it almost everywhere without worrying about a power socket. There are personal practice gadgets available for the electric guitar which allows you to practice with headphones.
Playability
My personal preference here is the electric guitar. I find it easier to play, with the strings being softer and thus less effort to play.
Either way, they both should be respected and used for what they are and any good guitarist should be adept at both. For the beginner, I would prefer the acoustic as it helps a lot in ear training as you get accustomed to the vibrations of the body making the tuning of the strings are easier to detect.
My final piece of advice is to don't get too obsessed with your instrument while you're learning but focus on the music instead. Once you start to get better at it you'll know instinctively what sort of 'ax' you'll need. I've met my fair share of musicians who are so into the gear but have not improved in their skill much and on the other hand, have heard some amazing, soul-stirring music from blues masters that have played the same guitar all their life!
By Al Tan
(published at http://www.articlecity.com)

Learning All About The Guitar

Those who know how to play the instrument want to explore ways to improve their playing skills. When learning how to play the guitar you will here guitar jargon, these types of words were created so guitar people are able to communicate with each other in their own context.
The speed and confidence you have in making chord changes is key to mastering the guitar and successfully playing the instrument. You must make yourself comfortable with the position so that you will be able to execute correctly while playing the guitar. The pinkie is not used since it is the shortest finger and is not conducive to playing the guitar. Playing classical guitar is more inclined to figure work and plucking.
Whatever the reason you’ve got the guitar, learning to play online is a must. Let’s face it learning to play the guitar should be fun and not boring or frustrating.
Many people can not learn or find it boring to learn from a book, and many people find that private lessons are much to expensive, there is an alternative learn how to play buy DVD course or by learning online. Each step of learning to play your guitar gets you closer to your ultimate dream and that is to be a “good” guitar player.
When learning how to play the guitar and you are just a beginner it will feel very awkward and you will feel that you cannot move your fingers, you will need to continuously look at the strings to make sure you are positioned correctly. Learn how to do this properly the first time and it will get easier, if you try to skip this it will make it harder in the long run. The remedy for this is of course to practice reading the sheet music without looking at the fret board. However, there are many learning processes going on at the same time when you practice on your instrument. A beginner should practice tuning the guitar so that he can become better and better at it. You will need to practice often, try to create a schedule by looking at a calendar and make a plan and stick to it. Most people like to make an appointment so it seems like you cannot miss it. Essentially, effective guitar practice consists of taking four elements of playing the guitar and incorporating them into your practice routine.
When you make preparation, timing, and warming up a part of your routine of how to practice the guitar effectively, you will see how quickly you improve your skills. Please, whatever you do, don’t take up the guitar if you are only going to practice the last hour before your lesson. But it does mean you need to set aside time to practice and commit to actually it. When first learning the guitar the beginner should begin with the common chords, this will be the easiest way to begin. We've all been there soon after we get hold of our first guitar we know that to play anything people are actually going to listen to we need to "learn a few chords".
By David Marc Fishman
(published at http://www.amazines.com)

Learn and Master the Guitar at Home

As a guitarist, I'm often asked this question - "What is the best way to improve my guitar playing given my limited time and budget?" In this article, I'll explore how you can use a Guitar Learning Method on the the Internet to learn and master the guitar in the comfort of your own home. Compared to a personal tutor, learning the guitar online is a much more flexible and cost effective route. You can take the lessons at your own pace and work it around your schedule, plus its far more affordable than a private guitar tutor. So, what do you need to get started? Contrary to popular belief, you only need a few basic things to get started. Don't be caught up with all the hype around equipment, gadgets and learning aids. First of all, you'll need a guitar. Bet you already knew that, but you don't have to wait for that perfect guitar to start, a basic acoustic guitar with fresh strings will do. Secondly, you'll need a PC with a decent set of speakers. Third, a private place to practice and learn is an added bonus. Finally, the most important thing you'll need is a whole lot of determination and tenacity. Guitar learning can be frustrating and you really need to keep at it to see results. Now that you've got all that sorted out, get online and start learning! A good guitar training program should have step by step instructions with videos. You'll learn how to read notes and tab, form chords and recognize chord progressions by ear. Some programs will even provide you with custom software to help you develop a musical ear. You'll be surprised at how much these excellent online music lessons will cost. Its a lot more affordable then you. Once you purchase it, it'll always be online for you to login and learn. Be prepared to develop callous on your fingers and some pain on your wrists when you start. Some programs will also provide finger training exercises to help you strengthen your fingers (and you'll grow stronger skin on your fingers to compensate the callous). The secret to learning the guitar successfully is persistence and practice. Don't rush the program and only move to the next lesson after you've mastered one. Many people give up when they don't seem to get anywhere in their playing, but remember that everyone needs to learn to crawl, then walk, then run! Get down your basics well and work on foundations like playing chords, developing a good sense of rhythm, the correct fingering techniques (bad habits will be hard to break later on), proper posture and handling of your guitar so you can enjoy playing long hours without hurting yourself. I hope that this article will be useful to you on your musical journey. Remember to keep practicing and don't give up. If you read biographies of any great guitar players, you'll see a similar pattern: dedication to their craft and practice!
By Al Tan
published at http://www.articlecity.com

Learn Guitar - Online Review

Not all guitar lessons are the same. In the same way as all school teachers not being the same. So which to choose private guitar lessons or internet downloads. Which is the best way to learn? There are a variety of ways to learn to play guitar - the real challenge is to find out the most effective way for you. Firstly what learning goals do you have, what you do aim to achieve, and how long do you expect it to take? Do you want to be professional, semi-pro or strictly an amateur guitarist? Also have you thought about what style of playing will best serve you best? Realistically what do you hope to achieve in the next year? Jam with other guitarists and musicians? Play for friends and family? To learn to play your favourite songs? Guitar lessons are a strong discipline like any learning experience. Once you decide to learn this instrument, you have to persevere and stay focused. Here is a quick 'learn guitar review'. Online Internet lessons Before you choose to take lessons from any internet tutorial, it is best to seek out some reviews of the options available. Otherwise it is dead easy to spendout on a system that doesn't suit you at all. How strongly do you value your spare time? It's dead easy to waste 10 hours or so a week, mindlessly surfing the web looking out for guitar tips. Whereas if you know what you are doing and have located a strong training system you can spend that time playing guitar and learning the things you really wanted to play. Internet lessons are definitely cheaper than private lessons, they are more convenient, at your own time and leisure. They are also in the comfort of your own home with no need to travel anywhere. One major drawback is that if you make mistakes (without realising it), there is nobody to tell you about them! Also nobody there to ask about something you are not clear about. Private guitar lessons This is the most effective ways to learn, but it costs! You'll get one on one tuition, and any bad habits will be nipped in the bud. The instructor is usually well qualified and you can swap and change styles as you see fit. It is always best to use a teacher who specialises in the style you predominantly wantb to learn. There's no point in taking a classically trained teacher to show you how to play blues guitar! The world is full of classically trained guitar teachers who have not the slightest clue about modern music. It may also be useful to do some research on the teacher, such as famous students. Drawbacks include being tied down to a fixed time and place, and of course the excessive cost. The bottom line There is no substitute for hard work no matter what you choose. If you haven't got the will to practice over and over, it's probably best to save your cash!
By Dave Bennett
(published at http://www.articlecity.com

Why You Should Take Online Guitar Lessons

Many people want to learn to play the guitar but never get to actually commit to doing it. It's a real shame because the guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments. It has a great sound and it can be used to play almost any type of song or melody, plus it's relatively easy to carry around. With all these features a guitar has, it's certainly not the lack of desire that keeps most people from learning how to play the guitar.
In fact, in most cases it has to do with time and money. Most of us simply don't have the time to commute to guitar classes or afford to pay for a personal guitar instructor. Moreover, some schools are just not aimed at the average person who just wants to learn to play a few tunes, but rather focus on more advanced guitar courses.
The solution to all this would be teaching yourself how to play the guitar. But it does seem nearly impossible doesn't it? Well, it used to be. I mean, how is it possible to learn to play music from a book or something, right? It's not! But we're not talking about books in the first place!
We're talking about computer-based multimedia guitar courses that you can buy on the Internet. Think about it, a multimedia course will not only let you know how a tune is meant to be played, but will also allow you to record and compare your performance to the correct one. And as far as practice is concerned, you can see video instruction of basic guitar exercises and play it back as many times as necessary until you "get it".
Furthermore, a PC-based guitar course will allow you to go at your own pace which may even be faster that the pace many schools or many instructors teach their students. Add to that the fact that you'll be saving a huge amount of time and money and you have every reason in the world to try an online guitar course at a fraction of the cost.
By John Roberts

Why Play Guitar?

As a full-time guitar instructor, I am constantly faced with people in all walks of life who, for all different kinds of reasons, believe that playing the guitar will add something to their lives. Most people that are just starting the guitar for the first time are young (pre-university) although certainly not all. One of my favorite students last year was a 65-year-old retiree who wanted to learn enough to be able to start a bar band with his friends.
There is no “one” reason to play the guitar. This instrument can bring joy to everyone regardless of their primary motivations for taking it up. There’s no such thing as being too old or too musically inexperienced for the guitar either. Neither the Beatles or Jimi Hendrix could read music, and I think most would agree that they did all right without it.
Many guitarists will ask me, after their first lesson, how long it will take them to become good at the guitar. I’ve never been able to answer this question. No one can. Your success or failure in playing the guitar depends completely on the effort that you put into it. One of my favorite stories is about Eddie Van Halen: he would come home after school and pick up his guitar. He would sit at the edge of his bed and play until he had to go to sleep. Not once, not every once and a while: every day. Of course, most of us don’t have the luxury of this much time to practice, but this story helps to illustrate that success isn’t completely dependant on some inborn talent, but on hard work. There’s no easy way into it. Please, whatever you do, don’t take up the guitar if you are only going to practice the last hour before your lesson. You’ll just annoy me and you’ll never get any better.
Remember, if you go to an instructor or you take lessons online or from a book, what you learn is, for the most part, up to you. You’re the one hiring the teacher and, although you’re putting yourself under their direction, it’s your responsibility to inform them as to where you want to go. Find a teacher who will help you succeed in the style of music that you want to go into.
So, why play the guitar? There isn’t a day that I don’t wake up and am glad that music is such a big part of my life. Music has brought me more happiness than almost anything else. When you accomplish something, the sense of success becomes real, whether you’ve recorded your first song, or finally learned to play all the chords to “Smoke on the Water”. Playing music, like any other art form or skill, greatly enriches those who study it.
by George Nellas
(published at http://http://www.articlecity.com/)

Guitar-A Brief History of The Guitar

Origins in Babylon & Egypt
As far back as the Babylonian era there is evidence that people played small stringed instruments; instruments with a body, neck, strings and tuners. These instruments are also found in drawings from ancient Egypt dating back more than 2000 years.The predecessors of the guitar are the lyre, oud, viheula and the guitarra. They varied from having 4 single strings (the guitarra) to five and six pairs of strings (the vihuela).
By the nineteenth century the guitar, having six single strings became universally accepted. Geared metal tuners replaced the violin style tuning pegs and the frets originally made from gut were changed to wire. More and more music was being written and performed specifically for the guitar and the interest in the instrument continued to grow.
The classical guitar as we now recognize it is generally attributed to the modifications by Spanish luthier, Antonio de Torres (1817 - 1892). He standardized the string length to sixty-five centimeters and placed great emphasis on the top soundboard in the production of tone as well as perfecting the fan-bracing under the soundboard.
Gibson http://www.gibson.com/
In the very late 1800's Orville Gibson designed the steel string acoustic patterned after a violin. It had an arch-top and f-shaped sound holes similar to a violin. With the steel strings and the larger body the guitar had more volume than the classical guitar.
About forty years later in 1936, Gibson introduced their first electric guitar. It was the ES-150, which was an arch-top guitar with their hexagonal pick-up. Some jazz musicians still consider this as the best pick-up for jazz.
In the late 1930's Les Paul was playing a modified Gibson ES-250. He began working on Sundays at the Epiphone Guitar Company factory in 1941. There he experimented with his prototype electric guitar, “the Log” that he made from a 4” x 4” block of pine with a bridge, pickups and a tailpiece. This new instrument produced a rich, sustained tone. In 1942 he presented his “Log” to Gibson where they laughed at and belittled his guitar calling it a “broomstick-with-pickups.”
In 1949 Gibson added two new guitars to their lineup; the ES-5 which was the first three-pickup guitar, and the ES-175, with its sharply pointed cutaway. In 1958 Gibson debuted the semi-acoustic ES-335 which was an instant success. Other “icon” Gibson guitars such as the Flying V, Explorer, Moderne, SG and the Firebirds followed during the next decade. (More on Gibsons guitars under Les Paul)
Fender http://www.fender.com/
In 1947 Leo Fender introduced the “Broadcaster” which later became the “Telecaster®.” The Telecaster® was the first solid body electric guitar to be mass-produced. Incidentally, during the same year Leo Fender introduced the Fender Precision® Bass. Previously bass players played the big upright bass.
The significance of these instruments cannot be overstated. It is this combination of the electric guitar and the electric bass that gave small combos the ability to have enough volume to be heard. It is the combination of guitar, bass and drums that is the core of the modern combo or rock band.
The Fender “Stratocaster®” was introduced in 1954. The “Strat®” included three single coil pickups, body contours and a deeper cutaway as well as the addition of a vibrato (whammy bar). It is without a doubt the most popular and influential electric guitar of all time.
Fender expanded the guitar line in subsequent years to include the Mustang, the Jazzmaster and the then, top of the line Jaguar. Fender also introduced a complete lineup of amplifiers including the Fender Champ, the Super Reverb, the Twin Reverb, the Bandmaster and the Showman. Leo Fender’s contribution to guitar making is as Henry Ford’s to the auto industry.
Les Paul
With the success of Leo Fender's Telecaster®, the head of Gibson (M.H. Berlin) called to get “that guy with the broomstick-with-pickups back.” Les Paul was contacted by Gibson and in 1952 the Gold Top Gibson Les Paul was introduced. This guitar featured a mahogany body with a maple top, Kluson tuners, two P-90 pickups and a trapeze bridge/tailpiece. The “Les Paul”, by 1954 had spawned into a family of four models; the Junior, Special, Standard and Custom. In 1954 Gibson introduced the tune-o-matic bridge on their top models including the Les Paul Custom. These are still the standard Gibson electric guitar bridge.
The Humbucker Pickup
One of the characteristics of the Fender single coil pickups as well as the P-90’s and other single coil pickups such as the Alnico (aluminum/nickel/colbalt alloy) is the presence of s 50/60 cycle hum. In 1955, innovator Seth Lover wrapped two single coil pickups opposite each other to cancel the hum. The resulting pickup is the famous Humbucker. Although the patent was applied for in 1955, it was not granted until 1959. Remakes of these pickups are generally referred to as PAF’s (patent applied for).
Martin http://www.martinguitar.com/
Although the Martin Group had been building guitars and other musical instruments for a number of years, in 1931 the Martin Guitar Company began producing the models D-1 and D-2 steel-string, flat-top acoustic guitar under their own name. The D-1 was destined to become the D-18. The Martin Dreadnougt, which is the size of the standard acoustic guitar, quickly became the preferred instrument of country, folk and bluegrass players.
Martin maintained steady growth throughout the years but in the 1970’s there began a tremendous interest in the acoustic guitar which somewhat paralleled the “soft-rock” and the “unplugged” eras and still continues. Martin guitars feature quality of materials such as Sitka Spruce and Indian Rosewood and exhibit craftsmanship to aspire to. They have five famous Dreadnougt models D-18, D-28, D-35, D-41, D-45 as well as numerous smaller sized guitars.

Conclusion
There are many other guitar makers that have revolutionized the music industry such as Rickenbacker, Gretch, Guild and more recently Godin. However, the impact of Fender, Gibson and Martin have been undeniable and phenomenal. They have been and frequently still are the “measuring sticks” against what other brands are measured.
(published at http://www.5-easy-guitar-lessons.com/)