Teach Yourself How to Play Acoustic Guitar
October 30, 2009 by rserpe
Filed under Beginner Acoustic Guitar
Home Study Courses/Membership Sites
LEARN AND MASTER GUITAR
Learn and Master Guitar is an all-inclusive easy to understand instructional guitar series that is designed to take the absolute beginner guitarist through the most fundamental concepts of playing guitar. Learn & Master Guitar is widely recognized as the best home instruction course for learning guitar available anywhere. It consists of 20 professionally produced DVDs, 5 Jam-Along CDs, a 100+ page lesson book, and a free online student support site. It is the only guitar home study product you’ll ever need.
Click Here to Learn and Master Guitar.
NEXT LEVEL GUITAR
Next Level Guitar includes methods that are sometimes overlooked in other guitar courses, like “STRUCTURE“ so you know exactly what to practice. Included are easy to follow practice routines to ensure you are practicing the right things and not wasting your time. Next Level Guitar uses popular songs as vehicles to learn strumming, new chords, rhythm, timing, and chord changing.
Learn more about Next Level Guitar Here.
JAMORAMA ACOUSTIC – The Ultimate Acoustic Guitar Learning System
Jamorama Acoustic comes with 153 video lessons and is packed with tips and tricks to get the student playing in the shortest time possible. The thing about Jamorama Acoustic that sets it apart from all other courses is that it is an integrated learning kit with lessons, games and practice jam tracks put together in a way that gets tangible results fast. Every aspect of the course from the way it is downloaded, to the way lessons are laid out, to the Acoustic Jam Tracks that come with the course makes Jamorama Acoustic easy and fun to use.
Learn More about Jamorama Acoustic Here.
JAMPLAY
JamPlay.com is hitting it big in the guitar world. Their website is a membership only service which broadcasts high-definition video guitar lessons. They have brought together guitar instruction with interactivity… even allowing you to ask questions to their video instructors. They feature 4-5 guitar instructors to give you a selection in teaching methods, which is a big plus.
They teach by “lesson set” instead of just flopping out a ton of small video clips. They start with the very basics like tuning your guitar, finger placement, and basic chords, and move on to finger-picking, palm muting, hammer ons, pull offs, and many more advanced topics as you progress through the lessons. We found this surprisingly good for the overall experience, because you can follow through these lesson sets just how you would with a normal guitar teacher. Biggest thing is, it’s cheap as well because they get so many members.
Websites
Not ready to invest in a home study course just yet? Not a problem. There are plenty of free teaching lessons online for the self taught guitar player.
Below are my top 4 website picks for acoustic guitar players. Of course my top pick is learn-acoustic-guitar.com (the site you are on right now), but you already knew I would say that.
Here are the others:
http://www.freeguitarvideos.com/
http://www.youtube.com – For YouTube, there are three users that I recommend you follow: JustinSandercoe , rockongoodpeople, and guitarjamzdotcom
Well there you have it. Plenty of resources for you to teach yourself how to play acoustic guitar. Be sure to bookmark this post and return at least twice a month, as I plan on adding new resources often.
Learn Guitar Quick – The Minor Pentatonic Scale
October 8, 2009 by rserpe
Filed under Learn Acoustic Guitar Scales
The minor pentatonic scale is the workhorse of blues and rock music. The minor pentatonic scale is formed by employing the scale degrees 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7 of the natural minor scale. (Click on the link in the resource box below to download and examine your own copy of the minor pentatonic scales). The minor pentatonic gained popularity partially because it is one of the easiest scales to use. This is partially due to the fact that it only has five notes. Of course a lesser number of notes makes the scale easier to learn and remember, but there is another, more basic reason for the scales relative ease of application. With less notes involved, there are less opportunities for tonal clashes.
Let’s take an example: if you solo over a C minor chord, you will find that specific notes “work” or harmonize and others clash or are dissonant, and thus may only be useful as passing tones.
If instead, you solo over a C major chord, you will find a slightly different set of compatible notes.
Now if you simply improvise over a single C note-a C pedal tone, you will find that both sets of notes are compatible with the pedal tone. Certainly, for the solo to be pleasing you will have to be careful with the mixing of the major and minor tonalities in the phrasing. But, the fact remains that you will have more notes on your musical palette initially to work with. This is because, with less notes involved (pedal tone versus a chord) there is less opportunity for harmonic clash.
Such is the case with using a pentatonic scale versus a diatonic scale. The second and sixth scale degrees have been left out. This, once again, means that there are less total notes involved, which leaves less room for potential dissonant combinations.
In addition, chords tend to be stacks of major or minor thirds-often constructed from some form of the root, third, fifth and seventh. So the second and sixth degrees may be thought of as somewhat “less harmonic” than the other scale degrees. You can hear this in the major 6th chords (which add a sixth) and 9th chords. (The 9th chords add the ninth tone-which is an octave above the second). Both the 6th and 9th chords have a harsher, more aggressive sound due to the addition of these two “oddball” scale degrees.
The pentatonic minor scale has occupied a prominent position in modern popular music for the past several decades. It is one of the most-used scales in blues, rock and other popular genres, partially because it is easier than many other scales to use. By leaving out the second and sixth scales degrees, the pentatonic minor scale creates a smaller chance for harmonic clash because a fewer number of notes are involved. In addition, the tones that are omitted are two scale degrees that tend not to harmonize as well as many of the other scale tones.
Robert M. Matthews (better known as Bob Matthews) is currently retired after more than 30 years of engineering and management experience.
As an avid guitar player for more than 35 years, Bob has created a website specifically for guitar players and future guitar players. The site is packed with a wealth of information and articles on guitars, music theory, guitar tips and lessons, as well as many entertaining and instructional videos.
Feel free to visit the site at http://www.Learn-Guitar-Quick.com for great guitar-related information. While there, be sure to claim your FREE PENTATONIC SCALES (and much more) available on the front page in the FREE BONUSES section in the right sidebar.
And… be sure to follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/GuitarBobb
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_M._Matthews
http://EzineArticles.com/?Learn-Guitar-Quick—The-Minor-Pentatonic-Scale&id=2923130
Beginner Guitar Lesson – How To Play a Chromatic Scale
August 13, 2009 by rserpe
Filed under Accoustic Guitar Scales, Video Lessons
This is a very easy to follow and well made 
beginner guitar lesson created by Peter Vogl on how to play a Chromatic Scale on guitar. The Chromatic Scale is a wonderful exercise with numerous benefits. It will build strength in your hands, help to create calluses on your fingertips and also help to familiarize you with strings and frets of the guitar.
Enjoy!
Hire a Guitar Teacher or Learn on your Own
July 11, 2009 by rserpe
Filed under Beginner Acoustic Guitar
So you are looking to further your learning as an acoustic guitarist but not sure what to do next? There is a vast array of options available to you and things can get rather confusing. You basically have two options when learning 
how to play acoustic guitar: Hire a guitar teacher or Learn on your own. This topic is open for debate. Honestly, I feel it really depends on you and your particular needs as an individual. We will explore both options in this article, so that you will be able to make a better decision.
Learning on your Own
Learning on your own can be broken down into two simple categories: You can either learn for free or you can invest in a home study course.
Learn For Free
Learning for free is definitely a possibility. With the Internet at your fingertips, anything is possible these days. There are a handful of excellent free guitar websites that offer lessons and other great resources for those of us on a tight budget. However, some of these free sites and resources may be difficult to locate and not all of them are created by professionals. So you may find, after some time, that the free route may not be enough or may prove to be too frustrating.
One huge advantage to the free learning, besides being cost effective, is that it gives you the option to test the waters before you invest any money into private lessons or home study courses. Guitar playing is not for everyone. You may find after playing for a short while that your heart isn’t into it. In order to become a good guitar player you must be passionate about playing, have patience and dedication. Without those qualities, I am afraid you won’t get very far.
Our Picks For Free Learning Resources Online:
Learn-Acoustic-Gutiar.Com - Of course we are going to recommend this site! You will find a wide variety of free acoustic guitar lessons here on this website. Use the navigation bar up top to look around or search for specific lessons using the search bar at the top of this page.
YouTube - YouTube is loaded with free acoustic guitar lessons. You will find an endless amount of free videos there. Head over today and browse around. There are two specific users to search for on YouTube that we find offer excellent instruction. Search for the keywords: “next level guitar” and “justinsandercoe”.
AcousticGuitar.Com – Great selection of lessons from beginner to advanced.
TheoryLessons.Com - One of our favorite websites for learning guitar. It is packed with lots of free lesson on guitar theory. This is essential learning for beginner and advanced guitarists.
Home Study Courses
With the right home study course, learning how to play guitar is very possible, assuming you are dedicated to working hard and practicing. With the right home study course, you will not only save money (when compared to hiring a private instructor), but you will also be able to learn at your own pace. You also have the option to access the same information whenever you want and for as many times as you want. That is probably the biggest advantage to this option. We learn best by repetition. Sometimes we have to hear or watch something over and over again before it sinks in. With a home study course, you simply pop a cd or dvd in and watch or listen whenever you feel the need. With an instructor you don’t have that option.
There are several excellent home study courses available that can be just as effective or better than hiring a private instructor. Courses can cost anywhere from $30 to as much as a few hundred dollars, depending on the quality and content of the home study course.
Here are our picks for the best Home Study Courses For Guitar:
Learn & Master Guitar – Our #1 Pick!
Hiring a Private Instructor
First and foremost, this option is expensive. Private guitar lessons,on average, can cost about $15 – $30 for a half hour lesson, and $20 to as much as $75 for an hour lesson, depending on the teachers experience and reputation.
One big advantage to a private instructor is the direct feedback they can provide . One of the most common problems a beginner faces is developing bad habits. A good instructor will help you recognize your bad playing habits and help you correct them on the spot.
Finding a “good” teacher can be a difficult task and you should choose one carefully if you decide to go that route. Even the most talented guitarists, that have been playing for decades, can make terrible instructors, so your criteria for choosing a teacher should not be based on experience alone. You need to find a person that actually “enjoys” teaching and isn’t just doing it for a paycheck.
The first thing I would do is to come up with a list of possible instructors in your area.
You can do this by:
Asking Your Friends and Family
A great place to start when searching for a guitar teacher is to simply ask your friends, family or co-workers. You may have a close personal friend, relative or co-worker that has already taken lessons and will be able to recommend a good instructor.
The Internet
The Internet is a great resource for finding possible instructors. You can simply do a search on Google for guitar teachers in your local area. You could also visit guitar discussion groups online and ask around there.
Yellow Pages or other Publications
Grab a yellow pages, newspaper or other publication and search for local guitar instructors that way.
Once you compile your list, you need to make certain you are getting the best possible instruction for your money, so be prepared to ask your instructor a few questions. Ask him or her how long they have been teaching, the teaching qualifications he or she has, the number of students he or she currently teaches and ask for the phone number or contact information of a few of his or her students. From the answers you receive, you should be able to determine which instructor is right for you.
So the choice is now yours. Only you can determine which option is right for you. Some of us simply cannot afford to hire a teacher, so the choice is rather simple. Others are simply unable to learn on their own and need the guidance and encouragement that a teacher can provide.
I wish you luck!
The Beginners Guide to Playing the Acoustic Guitar
June 24, 2009 by rserpe
Filed under Beginner Acoustic Guitar
Learning acoustic guitar is an extremely broad topic. One that would no doubt fill many books. The following guide focuses on some of the most important aspects of playing guitar providing you with an excellent starting point. This guide was written for the right handed, absolute beginner using a steel string guitar. My apologies to all of you left handed guitarists in advance.
ABOUT THE STEEL STRING GUITAR
The steel string guitar is a masterpiece of musical instrument engineering. Before the steel string, the acoustic guitar was very limited. The guitars of old were very quiet when played, so much so, that a guitarist was not able to play along with other musicians as the sound produced was simply too low. In order to overcome this shortcoming, the steel string guitar was born. The steel string produced a louder sound, but also caused too much stress on the instrument because of the added weight. The body construction therefore needed to be altered to accommodate the heavier strings. These changes not only made the guitar stronger, but they also increased the life of the guitar.
GUITAR STYLES – WHAT STYLE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Guitars are available in a variety of different styles and sizes and it really depends on what is most comfortable and enjoyable for you. Popular guitar styles include the Dreadnought, Nex, Artist, Classic and Jumbo. Each guitar has its own unique look, feel and sound. The larger styles like the Jumbo and Dreadnought produce more bass and are more difficult to hold and play. The smaller models like the Nex and Artist favor the midranges and treble and are much easier to hold and play. The Classic guitar is a whole different animal. It can only be played using nylon strings and produces a sound that is noticeably different than steel string guitars. So if you aren’t sure what guitar style is right for you, then head over to your nearest music center and give them all a test drive.
Need a reliable, high quality and affordable acoustic guitar? Click here for our list of the top best selling acoustic guitars!
HOW TO HOLD THE ACOUSTIC GUITAR
Holding your acoustic guitar is not an exact science. Everyone has different body types, finger lengths and there are a variety of different sizes and shapes of guitars. There are many points to keep in mind and it really comes down to how comfortable you are when holding and playing your guitar.
I posted an excellent video on this topic not too long ago that demonstrates and explains how to hold your guitar in detail.
Follow this link to view this video on how to hold your acoustic guitar.
HAND, FINGER AND THUMB POSITIONING
How to position your hands, fingers and thumbs may seem obvious to some, but there is a right and wrong way to do this. It would be very difficult for you to visualize how to position your hands when playing guitar if I were to explain it here. A video would do a much better job, so I included a link below to an excellent video.
Guitar Lesson – Hands, Fingers & Thumb Positioning
LEARN HOW TO TUNE YOUR GUITAR
Make certain that you spend time learning 
how to tune a guitar. Purchase a guitar tuner at any local music store and practice tuning your guitar with the guitar tuner. Or if you do not own a guitar tuner, there are plenty of lessons and tools online that will guide you. I have posted several videos on this topic that I recommend you watch:
How to keep your electric or acoustic guitar in tune
LEARN HOW TO CHANGE YOUR STRINGS
Learn how to change your strings and change them often. I know the idea of changing your strings on your own is intimidating, but it really isn’t that difficult and eventually it will become second nature. I put together a post not too long ago that includes video instructions on how to change strings on both an acoustic and electric guitar.
Click here to reach that post on changing your guitar strings.
GUITAR MUSIC THEORY
Guitar music theory is where all of your scales, chords, progressions, notes and more come into play. It is such a huge topic and would fill many books all on its own. Music theory is extremely important to your growth as a musician and should not be overlooked. Many beginners frown upon guitar theory and completely ignore it. They would much rather take the short route and learn tablature and start playing their favorite songs. There is nothing wrong with learning tablature and playing your favorite songs, but don’t make that your only form of study.
There are a plethora of free sites online that teach guitar music theory, but not all are created equal. One of the best sites I have found on this topic is: TheoryLessons.Com. I highly recommend you start there. The owner of that site starts at the very beginning and covers all the major bases. Your guitar is like a challenging puzzle and guitar music theory is a key that will open up many new doors for you.
SHOULD YOU HIRE A GUITAR TEACHER OR LEARN ON YOUR OWN?
Learning on your own
With the right home study course, teaching yourself how to play is quite possible, assuming you are dedicated to working hard and practicing. Teaching yourself how to play will save you a ton of money in the long run and allow you to learn at your own pace. You also have the option to access the same information whenever you want and for as many times as you want. There are several excellent home study courses available that can be just as effective as hiring a a good teacher. Courses can cost anywhere from $30 to as much as a few hundred dollars, depending on the quality and content of the home study course.
Here are our picks for the best Home Study Courses For Guitar:
Learn & Master Guitar – Our #1 Pick!
Hiring an Instructor
First and foremost, this option is expensive. Private guitar lessons, on average, can cost about $15 – $30 for a half hour lesson, and $20 to as much as $75 for an hour lesson, depending on the teachers experience and reputation.
Finding a good teacher can be a difficult task and you should choose one carefully if you decide to go that route. Even the most talented guitarists, that have been playing for decades, can make terrible instructors, so your criteria for choosing a teacher should not be based on experience alone.
One of the most common problems a beginner faces is developing bad playing habits. A good instructor will help you recognize your bad playing habits and help you correct them.
The choice is yours. Only you can determine which options is best for you. Some of us simply cannot afford to hire a teacher, so the choice is rather simple. Others are simply unable to learn on their own and need the guidance and encouragement that a teacher can provide.
PRACTICE
Whoever coined the phrase: “Practice Makes Perfect”, knew what they were talking about. Practice as many days out of the week as you can for at least twenty to thirty minutes, more if possible. The more often you play the faster you will learn. Be careful not to overdo it though and take breaks of course. Your brain can only absorb so much information before it needs a break and your hands and the rest of your body need time to recuperate as well. When you practice guitar do not rush through any of your exercises. Twenty minutes of quality focused practice is much more effective than an hour of sloppy practice.
Be sure to visit our section on acoustic guitar practice for more great tips on how to practice your guitar.
EASY GUITAR SONGS
As I explained earlier in this guide, there is nothing wrong with learning how to play your favorite songs. In fact, it is an excellent and fun way to familiarize yourself with the guitar as long as your are not making this your only form of practice.
That being said, I put together a post that includes 20 easy guitar songs that you can start playing right away. This post includes free video lesson as well as links to chords, lyrics and tablature.
Follow this link to view this post on easy guitar songs for the beginner.
