Thursday Tip
Keep your guitar wood at a relative humidity level of 45-55% to prevent cracking and/or other serious issues. But wait…are you thinking, ‘…hmmm, what is a guitar humidifier and how do I use it?’ Then watch this video of the 10 Best Guitar Humidifiers. Guitar humidity, for playing fluidity!
Play on…
Marlene
P.S. They’re all good options, I use #3!
Playing guitar is not just fun, it’s really good for you too. In this wonderful video How Does Music Affect Your Brain? by Tech Effects for WIRED, you’ll learn about the many scientific facts relating to your brain health and playing a musical instrument. Guitar, it’s good (for you) fun!
Play on…
Marlene
New guitarists should keep these 5 simple tips in mind:
1. Be Patient
2. Always Tune Your Guitar Before You Play
3. Don’t Compare Your Playing To Others ~ even Eric Clapton was once a beginner!
4. Try New Skills and Songs
5. Never Give Up ~ The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you succeed (Ancient Chinese Proverb)
Play on…
Marlene
Scary movies get scarier with the right music, for example think about the first two notes in Jaws. In this video you’ll learn how music is vital in helping to form an emotional connection related to a movie scene. Happy Halloween!
Play on…
Marlene
P.S. Challenge yourself to find some scary sounds on your guitar.
Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival is a fun song to play this time of year, or just about any time. You’ll find the chords are pretty easy; D, A, G, and it can be played with a basic strum or a calypso strum. Get that moon ah rising!
Play on…
Marlene
If you would like to learn to read music, watch this excellent and simple explanation of how to read notes on a staff of music. Let’s F.A.C.E. it, sometimes Every Good Boy Does Fine!
Play on…
Marlene
Seasonal songs can be fun to play like this popular Halloween themed song Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon. It can be helpful to listen to it first to get reacquainted with the tune and then give it a try with these lyrics and chords. Ahhh-oooo!
Play on…
Marlene
Yes, I know, singing can be intimidating, but it goes so beautifully with your guitar playing. From Making Music Magazine, here’s 8 Tips To Help Build Your Singing Confidence. Sing your songs, loud and proud!
Play on…
Marlene
This is a beautiful song that's perfect to play this month, or any time. It's called September Song by JP Cooper and it's basically played with 4 chords; A, Bm* (B minor), G and D as you can see here in this tab. Song-of-the-month!
Play on…
Marlene
*I recommend you play the Bm like this
Try ‘string slapping’ with your picking. Fingerpicking is beautiful and fun to play, and incorporating a ‘slap’ into your pattern adds a unique percussive element to your music ~ as seen in this Acoustic Guitar article/video How To Play Fingerpicking with a String Slap. It’s slap happy guitar playing!
Play on…
Marlene