Questions New Guitarist

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Guitar Questions for the Beginner Is it best for me to use Electric Tuner or Tune By Ear? Using a Guitar Tuner certainly makes it easier at first to start learning and playing the guitar. When a guitar is in tune it sounds alot better and plays your music more accurate. The only downfall is becomming dependent on your tuner as one day your batteries will go out and you will feel helpless. What I suggest is to get an Electronic Tuner but only use it to check how well you tuned the guitar by ear. This way over time you will not need the tuner at all.
How do I tune a Guitar by Ear? If you want to learn to play correctly and have your Guitar Sound good then it is extremely important to make sure your Guitar is in Tune. Below, I will make it as easy as possible for you to learn how to tune your guitar. Your Guitar if it is a standard one, the type you should be learning on, will have 6 strings. The frist string at the top is the thickest string and Is kow as the E string. The bottom String is also an E string but it is much thinner then the top one. Below I have listed all of the strings on your Guitar: E – the thickest,plays low, and is known as the 6th string. A – 5th String D – 4th String G – 3rd String B – 2nd String E – 1st String also the Highest sounding string. Ok, now that you know what the strings are we can move onto Tuning the Guitar Without an Electronic Tuner.
Step 1: Start with the E String or 6th String If you don't have an Electronic Tuner and you are uncertain what the E string sounds like then you will just have to assume that it is fine. You will use this 6th String as a reference for all your other string adjustments. Since the 6th string is the thickest chances are that it is in tune as it stretches less then the others and is effected less from temp changes and etc. Still I would reccomend that you have an electronic tuner as you are learning to help check your accuracy and to properly train your ear. Once you have trained your ear to the 6th string then tuning the other strings in will be simple.The most important thing at this point is to tune the guitar to itself so all the strings sound good when played together.
Step 2: The A String Just behind the 5th fret press the 6th string(largest string) and hold it down.With your right hand strum the string, What you will hear is an "A note". Adjust the tuning peg for the A string until it sounds like the E string being held just after the 5th fret. Once they both sound alike then it is time to move onto the next string
Step 3: The D String Just after the 5th fret on the "A String" you will fin the "D note". Go ahead and play the A string while you are holding the string down after the 5th fret. You will hear what the D note sound like. Now start slowly adjusting the tuning Peg for the D String until it sounds like the D Note from the A String. Once the D string sounds the same as the D note you are playing on the A string its time to move onto the G String below.
Step 4: The G String On the D string behind the fifth fret is the G Note. Hold the D string Down at the 5th fret and go ahead and play that note. What your hearing is a G note. Start adjusting the tuning peg for the G String and play that string. Then play the Gnote from the D string. Adjust the G string until they both sound the same.
Step 5: The B String Hold down behind the fourth Fret on the G string, This is a B Note. Go ahead and play this note several times to become familiar with it. Now pluck or strum the B String. Notice the difference in sound from the B note of the G string to the B String. Adjust the B string using the Tuning Nut for the the B string until the B string sounds like the G String being played at its fourth fret. Also note that the only string that is not being held at the 5th fret is the G string as it is held just behing the fourth fret.
Step 6: Tuning the E String Finally we are at the last string or the thinnest string which is the E String. Place and hold the E note on the B string at this time. If you havent figured it out yet you should be on the 5th fret of the B String to play this note. While holding down this E note on the B String play or strum it until you become familiar with how it sounds. Now adjust the thinnest E String tuning Nut until both notes sound the same when played. The high E string will need to be tuned often as it is the thinnest and comes out of tuning more easily then any of the other strings. Again I would like to Stress the Importance of having your Guitar in Tune when you play. If you play with it out of tune you will always sound bad and in fact you will always be playing the wrong notes. There are simple ways to help prevent your guitar from going out of tune so quick. Keep it in a dry area with stable temperatures. Remember your guitars neck can slightly bend or warp from temperature and moisture changes. Dont lay your guitar around. Get a guitar holder of some sort and kepp it off the ground. If leaning the guitar against something to hold ot up then lean the face of the guitar towards the wall or couch or etc. Do not lean it or set it down on its back side as the neck of the guitar can be stressed out.
Why are all the songs for beginners Lame?	Because they are treaqting you like babies. Seems to me that they all suck the fun out of learning but using these easier but stupid songs. Who really wants to learn "Michael Row Your Boat"? What I suggest for the new guitarist is to look at youtube and get some free lessons from someone like Scott Pelsang. His site at Youtube is MrLessons101. He is a 13 Year old who plays only the latest songs and shows you the fingering positions. The only thing to hold you back is yourself at this point.
What size Guitar should I choose?	The size of guitar is very important as you will be learning to stretch your fingers around the neck and hold down notes that will be hard to hold down when you first begin. For ages 10 and up I personally suggest a full size guitar as you will grow into it. For ages younger then that choose a medium or kids guitar. It is almost common sense to choose as you would not give a 5 year old a full size guitar nor would you purchase a toy guitar for a teen unless it was a joke gift.
Why are some Guitars more expensive then others?	"Sound"! Some guitar makers can just make a better sounding guitar as their experience over the years has helped them to turn out a high quality product. Now this does not mean to go crazy and spend thousands of dollars if you are new to guitarring. Instead choose a good quality guitar that is in the range of $150 to $400. In this range you will find many great sounding guitars that will last a long time. As you progress and learn then will you truly be able to pick a guitar by the way it sounds and only then can you take advantage of it and get the most beutiful sound out of a guitar.
How do I choose the right Guitar for me?	For your first Guitar just get one and start learning. You need to invest very little on your first guitar as you may fiind you dont have the passion or drive to practice. Many beginner guitarists fail do to their lack of passion and wind up having an expensive guitar just sitting in storage a month or so after they bought it. So choose a color you like, make sure it is not a toy guitar, get a beginners book for guitarists and start playing. The most important thing is knowing the more practice and hours you put in the better you will play. I have even seen some kids learn on a toy guitar and their awesome I just dont suggest it as it is harder to learn with an instrument of little or no quality. One of the biggest hings to me is to make sure the tunning buts are not plastic. They should be metal and able to lock the strings in place when tuned.
What Accessories will I have to buy when I purchase a Guitar?	Guitar Strap Picks Tuner Beginner Book Amp if you choose an electris Chord for your Amp Guitar case - not necessary but would be nice Guitar Stand - not necessary but prefer it to keep your guitar from getting damaged.
What is the best way to Learn how to play Guitar?	Pick it up and learn the basics through a beginners book. Then go to Youtube and visit MrLessons101 and learn some finger postioning for cool songs. Then find a plaace where new and seasoned musicians hang out like at an Open Mic Night at a local coffee shop. Now if you think you will learn over night or whith very little practice then do not even get started. It takes time to develop fingering positions and being able to naturally go from one note or chor to the next. You need to really want to play and be passionate about it. In fact when you start learning the guitar should hardly ever leave your hands when you are at home. Below is a list of times when you should not have your guitar in your hands: When you sleep When you eat When you go to the bathroom When your in the movie theatre When your driving a car When your swimming
Should I start with an Electric Guitar or an Acoustic Guitar?	This is all dependent on you. Personally I think most electric guitars are easier as holding the strings down is much easier on an electric then an acoustic. Also if your learning to play is disturbing to the household then you can plug your electric into a portable Amp so only you can hear your playing while the rest of the family can watch TV without whinng and complaining.