[20 Jan 2012 | One Comment | ]
The Guitar Nut (how it could help your guitar sound and play better)

   by Tom Bills If you are seeking a way to improve the tone of your guitar or thinking of having a custom guitar made for you, one small detail you might consider that can have a big effect on the tone and playability of your guitar is the nut. The nut is the part [...]

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Featured, Rock and Blues »

[26 Apr 2012 | No Comment | ]
Stealin’ Steel Stuff

by Sam Smiley Let’s face it, guitarists are thieves. We steal from other players, other styles, and even other instruments. One of my favorite places to steal from is the pedal steel guitar. It’s a lot of fun and always perks up a few ears in the audience. Plus you can get instant cred with [...]

Featured, Fingerstyle »

[26 Apr 2012 | No Comment | ]
Sound Check

by Richard Gilewitz In regards to a successful performance, at this point I’m convinced it all comes down to a combination of elements such as repertoire, momentum, execution of the selected pieces, the player’s personality, and for me one of the most important items – exquisite sound quality. There are, without a doubt, a multitude [...]

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[26 Apr 2012 | No Comment | ]
Guitar Scale Length

by Tom Bills What is it and why is it so important?   For many guitar players the concept of scale length may be something that they have heard of once or twice but never really understood. Many players may simply view it as a measure of how close or far apart the frets will [...]

Featured, Fingerstyle »

[26 Apr 2012 | No Comment | ]
Don’t Be Weak at the Bar

Richard Gilewitz If I had to pick one topic students and players have asked me about regarding difficulties in playing the guitar, I still believe I would lean towards addressing the frustrations that are shared when beginners (in particular) attempt bar chords. While observing some players as they approach applying bar chords within tunes, I [...]

Featured, Jazz »

[1 Jan 2012 | No Comment | ]
Stumbling on New Chord Voicings

by Harper Willis A lot of guitarists add chord voicings to their repertoire by learning the root position of a new chord type on a given set of strings, and then all of its inversions on that same set of strings.   Example of Major7 Voicing and its Inversions   Learning chords as part of [...]

Featured, Rock and Blues »

[1 Dec 2011 | 3 Comments | ]
Stealin’ Steel Stuff

by Sam Smiley Let’s face it, guitarists are thieves. We steal from other players, other styles, and even other instruments. One of my favorite places to steal from is the pedal steel guitar. It’s a lot of fun and always perks up a few ears in the audience. Plus you can get instant cred with [...]