Fast Guitar Picking - Bad Habits That Could Be Holding You Back

By: Kyle Hoffman

It's one thing to have incredibly fast fingers on the fret board, but you need an equally fast guitar picking hand to do some real damage in a solo. When you watch a professional guitarist closely, their picking hand is almost in a machine-like blur that moves fluently with the fret fingers.

It looks pretty amazing and you'll be able to pull it off too someday with practice and determination, but there might be some things right now that you're doing to your technique to hold you back. Here's a list of things you might be doing that can limit your ability to improve on fast guitar picking.

1. You're just too tense.

There are a lot of very rigid guitarists out there who move in a very tense manner and they're only preventing themselves from improving. Learn to loosen up and have a comfortable grip on the pick when you play so you can reach your maximum speed.

1. You use too many muscles.

A lot can be put into your fast guitar picking action, but you might be doing more than you need. Realistically, the movement of your wrist and fingers and the tiniest bit of your forearm will suffice.

If you add any other muscles into the mix like shoulders or something, you're doing too much.

1. You hold the guitar pick with too many fingers.

Using too many fingers on the guitar pick applies to the issue of having tense muscles. With less fingers holding onto the guitar pick, you're allowing the muscles in your hand to loosen and move with fewer encumbrances.

1. If your guitar is on the strap, you might have it hanging too low.

Stereotypical grunge players like to have their guitars hanging well below their waste so they can hold up this dark image of hanging low when they play, but it's bad practice for playing fast. For fast guitar picking, you want your guitar hanging at your waist at the very least so your picking hand and fret hand have plenty of space to move without straining.

1. You hold your pick too far away from the tip.

The more control that you can put on your guitar pick, the easier it is to speed up the motion. Grab your pick a little closer to the tip near the strings the next time you play and you should have a bit more authority on the speed of your picking.

1. You're not double-picking, but only using down strokes.

Without learning how to double-pick by striking the strings by moving both up and down, you're really keeping yourself in the amateur leagues. Every time that you have a long string of notes or chords, you can double your fast guitar picking by going up and down.

It's best to resolve these bad habits early before they turn into something that may take weeks or months to get rid of. Remember these tips the next time you have some fast picking to do and you should be hitting new speeds soon.

Author Resource:-> Kyle Hoffman is an experienced guitarist that loves to play just as a hobby, and to perform live on stage. To learn Kyle's valuable tips for beginning the guitar the RIGHT way, visit How To Guitar Play as part of his popular guitar blog, How To Guitar Tune

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Guitar Whip - 6 Tips To Develop A Successful Guitar Swing

By: Kyle Hoffman

A guitar whip is the action of swinging your guitar around your back while attached to your strap. It's a somewhat dangerous move, but it really gets a crowd pumped to see such impressive tricks on stage.

As much as these tricks are amazing to witness, there's a large chance you can damage your instrument if you don't execute them effectively. Check out these 6 important tips to improve your ability to do guitar whips safely.

1. Install a strap lock on your guitar.
When guitarists started doing these crazy tricks on stage, their guitars were constantly popping the strap pegs out of their wood bodies from the pressures that were exerted. Now, you can purchase easy-to-install strap lock systems for your guitar so you have a reinforced connection between your strap and your guitar.

1. Start by practicing outside.
If it's your first time attempting a guitar whip, there's a chance that you'll be hitting more than air on your first try. Be safe and take your moves outside so even if something goes wrong, you'll have soft grass to catch your precious instrument.

1. Stand up straight with good posture.
Guitarists who slouch when they're performing a guitar trick like this might find their guitar necks drilling right into the floor on the way around. Stand up nice and tall to ensure that your guitar makes a full rotation without planting into the dirt.

1. Use sense when deciding which direction to swing.
Lighter guitars have the option of swinging in either direction due to their weight, but heavier guitars should only go down and across the front. Use the weight of a heavier guitar to lead the guitar whip and there will be a better chance that it makes it all the way around.

1. Watch your head.
If you're swinging your guitar behind your back first, you have nothing to worry about, but the opposite direction gets tricky. When you swing across your front first, there's a chance it might come around and nail you in the skull, so keep your head down!

1. Be mindful of your surroundings.
There's nothing worse than pulling off a guitar whip only to find that you're too close to something or someone until it's too late. Always check that you're swinging path is clear before you go into action.

Guitar whips are a pretty dangerous trick to pull off on stage, but they still can be executed logically and safely. Remember these tips the next time you try this trick and start getting the attention of your stubborn fans.

Author Resource:-> Kyle Hoffman is an experienced guitarist that loves to play just as a hobby, and to perform live on stage. To learn Kyle's valuable tips for beginning the guitar the RIGHT way, visit How To Guitar Play as part of his popular guitar blog, How To Guitar Tune

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Guitar Chorus Pedal - Blending The Chorus Effect Into Your Tunes

By: Kyle Hoffman

There are so many sweet effects for you to use with your guitar and the guitar chorus pedal stands among them. With its ability to emulate the sound of multiple guitars from one tone, it can add a whole new sensation to your live show.

But what are some opportune times to actually use this neat effect without taking away from the song? There are going to be better places than others to use this effect. Here are a few suggestions:

Stand out in the middle of a guitar solo.

You know that it's your time to shine when it comes down to you wailing above the rest during a powerful guitar solo. Try your guitar chorus pedal the next time you blaze the frets and you can leave a better impression.

Use it to boost your lead parts in a heavy rhythm section.

Sometimes an intricate rhythm section that consists of constant strumming can drown out a weak lead riff. With some chorus on your guitar you'll be able to cut through more of the bass and middle ranges to be heard over the top easier.

Add more bulk to a rhythm section.

A guitar chorus pedal is mainly used to create the illusion of multiple instruments playing in sync with each other. If you want to give more bulk and power to a rhythm section, flip on your effect and suddenly you'll have other tones backing you up.

Now, not everything that you attempt with an effects pedal is going to be beautiful music to your ears. It's very easy to do too much and potentially wreck a song. Check out these tips to check your intentions with the effect.

Think about your purpose.

If the only reason you can find to use your guitar chorus pedal is "just because" then you probably shouldn't. Always have a purpose to use your effects, because they can create really awesome drama when used in moderation.

Always serve the song.

Using the chorus effect too much can run the risk of ruining a song. You'll know deep down if a part of your guitar tune has too much going on and you really shouldn't attempt to fit anything else in.

You can't be in the spotlight the entire time in a full band.

As much as we all wish we were the center of attention 100% of the time when we're playing with a band, we can't be. Check your ego at the door so you're not putting attention on yourself with an effect that isn't necessary.

A guitar chorus pedal can add some really neat and new dimensions to your playing, but you have to make sure your intentions are pure and what's best for the piece. As long as you stay true to the tune, you should be in good shape.

Author Resource:-> Kyle Hoffman is an experienced guitarist that loves to play just as a hobby, and to perform live on stage. To learn Kyle's valuable tips for beginning the guitar the RIGHT way, visit How To Guitar Play as part of his popular guitar blog, How To Guitar Tune

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Guitar Pawn Shop - Helpful Tips For Buying A Secondhand Instrument

By: Kyle Hoffman

There may have been a time when the thought of getting your next guitar at a pawn shop crept into your mind. Really, they can be pretty good sources for used instruments at reasonable prices, but this is only if you know what you're looking for.

Too often, a guitar pawn shop takes advantage of customers who don't know what they're looking at and don't know much about their purchases. Here are some helpful tips to go into a pawn shop with confidence and come out with a reliable instrument without getting burned.

1. Do your research first.
One of the most common mistakes that a guitarist can make when they're looking to buy a new instrument is to go in blind. Do some research before you actually go to the stores by comparing reviews and prices of guitars online or in catalogs.

1. Beware of the salesman.
Guitar pawn shop salesmen are there to make sales at almost any cost and they usually hold a reputation of not being the most trustworthy individuals. Try to keep your space if they start following you around the store so that you can make a conscious decision without feeling pressured to buy right away.

1. Be confident in your choices and decisions.
As soon as the salesmen recognize you as someone who isn't sure of what they want, they'll take you for a ride and clean out your wallet along the way. Tell them exactly what you want and what you don't want to let them know that you're not going to settle for an instrument that's an over-priced piece of junk.

1. Identify bogus prices.
As part of your research before you go into a guitar pawn shop, you should have been looking up all sorts of prices. With this knowledge, you'll know within seconds if you're going to find some good deals or just a bunch of expensive garbage.

1. Ask to play the guitars.
Employees love to spin their selling technique on you, but the only way you'll really know the guitar inside and out is to just get your fingers on those frets. Ask to play any guitar that you're interested in, and if the salesman says otherwise, there might be something fishy going on.

1. Bring someone with you.
If you don't really know much about good guitars, the best thing to do is to bring someone who does. They'll be able to tell you if a guitar is well-made, if it feels comfortable, if it's easy to play, and if it's a reasonable price.

The guitar pawn shop can pull a few scams every now then, but they're also known for holding a few really great instruments at some great prices. Remember these tips when you go out shopping for your next guitar and you could walk out with a fantastic deal.

Author Resource:-> Kyle Hoffman is an experienced guitarist that loves to play just as a hobby, and to perform live on stage. To learn Kyle's valuable tips for beginning the guitar the RIGHT way, visit How To Guitar Play as part of his popular guitar blog, How To Guitar Tune

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Choosing Your Acoustic Guitar: The 2 Most Important Features

By: Art Gib

If you are a beginner who has been learning how to play the guitar and have decided that is a hobby you'd like to pursue more seriously, it is probably time to choose an acoustic guitar that will be with you for the long haul. You may have been learning on a cheap plywood model, which is just fine when getting acquainted with the workings of the instrument; but to really make beautiful music, you know you will need to invest in a quality guitar that will give you the sound you crave. The 2 most important features to look for when selecting from the thousands of available models are wood and strings. Here's a short look at each.Wood

Wood
You can always replace strings if they don't suit you, but you sure cannot change the wood once you've bought a guitar, so don't compromise in this area. The wood for a quality instrument has to be cut as well as dried properly or the sound will be inferior: it's as simple as that. So make sure you pay a little more to get the quality you want. "Tonewood" is the term for the material used for any string instrument's top, and different types will produce various qualities of sound. Since the sound you make by plucking strings results from the vibration against the top, the quality of the wood becomes vitally important.

Tonewoods for guitars can be made from mahogany or rosewood, but spruce is generally the material of choice because of its overall tone qualities as well as its durability. Within the spruce category, there are different types and grades: Sitka spruce from Alaska, for example, is prized for the looks of its grain as well as its uncompromising sound. Look for a guitar whose top is made from AAA grade Sitka spruce, and you won't go wrong.

Strings
Since you've been learning how to play already, you have probably developed a preference for certain string materials already. Nylon strings are good all-purpose tools that are appropriate for most beginners: remember you can always change your strings later if they don't suite the genre you like to play. Nylon works for softer music such as classical, folk, soft pop and even Latin music. Nylon is much easier on your fingers than steel, but you won't get nearly as powerful a sound as you will with other materials. If you gravitate towards rock or modern country, steel will probably be best.

If you are serious about making beautiful music, insist on a guitar that boasts only the very finest in tonewood: it will make all the difference in the world.

Author Resource:-> Alaska Specialty Woods (http://www.alaskawoods.com/) is about tonewood. Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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Tunings of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar

By: Bruce Lamb

If you have read one of my earlier articles on how I got started playing guitar and in particular Hawaiian Ki ho alu Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar I mentioned how us young teenagers living in Hawaii on the Island of Oahu would gather on the corner at night under a big mango tree and share our different music. I also mentioned we would play the popular music that was on the radio. Acoustic Blues was always my favorite style of music.

I liked the deep pre-war acoustic stuff that was mainly played by some of the older black community. I think the only reason you could find this music in Hawaii at that time was that the late night DJ was a black Guy. And as it turned out most of the lyrics and progressions were remade by the hot new bands at that time. Bands like the Rolling Stones were doing some of those old black songs like I can't get no satisfaction and I followed her to the station. Also Eric Burden and the animals were also redoing old blues songs. Ok I know I am showing my age now at 60 years old and it is hard to believe that those songs by these new artists are over 45 years old now.

Then I mentioned that the Hawaiian guys would always end the evening with a more traditional style of music by retuning their guitars. I could never get them to show us how or what they did but there was a silent code between them. While one guy was talking story or noodeling around with his guitar the other guy would be retuning. Before long they were both in this new tuning. I think it gave them great satisfaction in keeping this secret from us. As it turned out both guys would be in tune and would begin to play and sing Hawaiian songs. It was so enchanting and captivated me and I really wanted to try and play along but I could never figure out why my guitar was always so out of tune all of a sudden. It took me almost the entire summer to realize my old Stella guitar could be tuned in this magical type of tuning.

Finally the big secrete was revealed to me. I was working after school at the Marine Base in Aiea Hawaii as a janitor cleaning up the enlisted mens club which is a bar for the young Marines. It was strange that at that time in Hawaii the drinking age was only 18 years old. Anyway I worked with an old Hawaiian guy named Sammy. While we were on our lunch break I pulled my guitar out and Sammy said to me hey bradda Bruce try pass me the guitar already, in his style of pig English.

I handed him the guitar and he immediately began to retune the strings. Then the secret was revealed to me. Sammy began to tell me how many families in the Hawaiian communities actually had their own tunings that they played exclusively. The families would not share or teach anyone outside their immediate family this tuning because it was passed down from generations before. It was theirs for the keeping and is what made there families music different sounding from others. Its kind of like I guess how a magician will not show how a magic trick is preformed. The tuning that old Sammy showed me was the Taro Patch Tuning.

The Taro Patch tuning is the most common tuning in most of the Hawaiian songs. As it turned out I began to realize that this tuning was also used in many of the old blues songs that I heard from the old records that I had. It was also known as open G tuning that many bottleneck blues players would use. This tuning is a major tuning. The guitar is tuned to a major G chord or has a major chord within the tuning. To achieve this tuning you have to lower the tension on the standard tuning known as standard Spanish Tuning which is (E-A-D-G-B-E) on your guitar,from the lowest to the highest pitched string.

To get the Taro Patch tuning you have to change the pitch of the guitar strings to (D-G-D-G-B-D) which when you strum across all the strings it is the sound of a G major chord. I strongly suggest you use a electronic tuner to achieve this because you may break some strings until you understand the tuning.

Author Resource:-> Bruce Lamb ,Music Video Producer. Playing guitar 40 years.

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Mixing Music: 5 Tips for a Professional Mix

By: Justine Shoolman

Mixing music can be an incredibly inspired process. It is my conviction that it is best to get all of the managerial work out of the way to help facilitate a far more inventive and exciting mixing experience. Use these steps as a guide, make them your own, and I promise you that your final mix will be far more productive.

1. Organize Your Tracks
   It is helpful to group your tracks on the multitrack by instrument. Typically, you may have drums, percussion, bass, guitars, keys and other samples or instruments, and vocals. When my colleague worked on the latest Moneen album, he ended up with a ton of guitar tracks. He would blend guitar amps with several mics on each amp for major guitar sounds. It was common for him to have 40-50 guitar tracks per song. As such, organization was key to a successful mix. In the end he ended up grouping the guitar tracks into four unique groups, rhythm and lead tracks for Kenny and Hippy.
   

2. Edit Prior to Mixing Music
   Ensure all of your tracks are appropriately edited before you begin mixing. In today's digital world, we are constantly utilizing playlists and comping the best performances together. Make sure that every edit point has a crossfade as this will aid in avoiding any unwanted clicks and pops.




3. Consolidate
   Once you have edited all your tracks it is advised to consolidate them to your session start time. This will guarantee all of your regions will have the same start time which will be a huge benefit if you are going to hire a mixer to work on your music. It will also decrease your computer's processing time. Processing hundreds of crossfades and edits is very hard on a computer. By consolidating your tracks, you are taking away all of the edits and crossfades, by doing so you will free up processing power that can be used for effect processing during your mix. Plus, your computer will run faster during the mix.




4. Clear Unused Regions Before Mixing
   Once you have consolidated your tracks it is a good idea to eliminate any unneeded regions or tracks from your session. Keep only what you want to have mixed into your song. This will be helpful if you are hiring a mix engineer as it will ensure that no unwanted sounds end up in your mix.




5. Print Effects
   Record any cool effects you are using to their own tracks. You will end up with your original dry track, plus a new, wet track. It is often hard to recreate effects during a mix, especially if you use plug-ins that your mix engineer does not have.
   
   To illustrate this, my colleague was working with a band called A/Collision and they had given him demos of their entire record that they had recorded in cubase. He loved the sound of some of their vocal treatments, so when they were finished recording the vocals, he gave them the consolidated lead vocal track which he had them run through the same cubase plug-ins they used on their original demos. Unfortunately, he was then able to use those effect tracks during the mix -- hitting this point home.

While there are many more strategies to achieve a professional music mix, if you begin with these five, you are off to a great start.

Author Resource:-> Copyright Creators, a service that helps protect copyright works with eMixEngine.com, an online mixing service, developed for artists to have their music professionally mixed and mastered at a great price.

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