Play classical guitar harmonics

Submitted by guitar-list on Sun, 2011-06-12 17:33

Harmonics are the bell-like tones you can get by touching the top of a string. This guide, from an article by Ray Mitchell in Guitar Magazine March 1973, describes the techniques used by classical guitar players to get harmonics on open and fretted strings.

Convert a 6 string to B standard tuning

Submitted by guitar-list on Sat, 2011-02-05 07:57

Gary Shutt shows how to get the low 7 string sound on a normal 6 string, using B standard tuning. What you need to do is get yourself some really thick and heavy gage string like 13 through 56 or a 7 string set and just not use the 9. Once you have your strings on, you tune everything down to perfect fourths. Going from the lowest (bass) to highest strings you will have: B-E-A-D-G-B.

So both of your outer strings will be B's and they will have the same lowness and chunkiness as a 7 string without the high E string. You can play your normal 6 string chords this way.

Seymour Duncan Factory Tour

Submitted by guitar-list on Fri, 2010-01-29 10:57

Premier Guitar is On Location in Santa Barbara with Seymour Duncan, learning how to make pickups, with Evan Skopp and Seymour Duncan himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCR4w4hAtRo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCqrGyEJFqc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=144MHgNrKb8

How to remember effects pedal settings

Submitted by guitar-list on Fri, 2010-01-01 12:37

This tip comes from Tim Lillis an artist who does a "Tricks of the Trade" comic in each issue of MAKE magazine. He's sharing some of these tricks of the trade comics on his Flickr pages.

Prototype a guitar shape

Submitted by guitar-list on Tue, 2009-02-03 06:19

You have sketched your ideal guitar shape, it looks good on paper but will it work full size? Berlin guitar blogger GuitarRen has designed some great guitar shapes. GuitarRen tested his designs with cardboard mock ups, painting them and adding aluminium foil. He even added pickups and control knobs. This is a great way to test a design before starting to build. I think the one on the left is best, the long lower horn should give it good balance and ergonomics.

Change Acoustic Strings: A Beginner's Guide

Submitted by guitar-list on Tue, 2007-10-09 09:52

Changing strings can be daunting for new guitar players. There are many ways that you can do it, especially the bit where you secure the string to the tuning peg. Is there a right way to do it? Dan Cross of about.guitar.com thinks so. Have a look at his step by step illustrated guide to changing strings on an acoustic guitar.

Link: Illustrated beginner's guide to string changing on an acoustic guitar.

Make weird noises with a remote control

Submitted by guitar-list on Tue, 2007-04-17 12:34

A well known way to make weird noises with a electric guitar is to point an infrared remote control at the pickups. This makes a sound like a series of high pitched clicks or beeps.

Convert your guitar to Drop B tuning

Submitted by guitar-list on Sun, 2007-01-21 07:13

Drop B tuning is an alternate tuning for a six string guitar used by metal guitarists to achieve a deep and powerful sound. To get this low 7 string sound on a normal 6 string you need to do get yourself some really thick and heavy gage string like 13 through 56 or a 7 string set and just not use the 9.

play basic guitar chords

Submitted by guitar-list on Sun, 2007-01-21 06:59

This is a useful instructional video for absolute beginners on the guitar. Jeff Isbell shows how to play the basic open chord shapes, E-A-D-G-C. Jeff gives a few fingering alternatives for the basic shapes.

http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/fingerstyle-guitar-chord.htm

Guitar effects: reverb basics

Submitted by guitar-list on Thu, 2007-01-04 16:24

This is another video guide from Gary Schutt, about the basics of reverb. Reverb effects create a copy of the incoming signal slightly time-delays it, making it sound like you are in an echoing room. By varing the delay and volume of the echo, you can sound as if you are playing in a phone booth or a cathedral

http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/guitar-effects-reverb.htm

Compression effects: introduction

Submitted by guitar-list on Thu, 2007-01-04 16:05

This is an introductory video guide from Gary Schutt about compression effects. Gary gives a quick run though of the uses of compression. The best part is when he says:

"It's a really subtle effect, if you don't know you're using it you probably won't know you're using it."

http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/guitar-effects-compressor.htm

Palm muting

Submitted by gtr_admin_70 on Thu, 2007-01-04 02:43

Palm muting is a common technique in rock guitar playing. Resting the side of your palm on the guitar bridge gives a percussive quality to distorted chords. The trick is using just the right amount of palm pressure: too much and you wont get any sound, too little and you will loose the chunkiness.

Have a look at this video from Gary Schutt . Gary has a degree in songwriting from the Berklee College of Music and has written over 150 songs, has 5 CD's, and 1 DVD currently available.

Tools for guitar maintenance and setup

Submitted by guitar-list on Thu, 2007-01-04 02:30

This is a video guide to tools for basic guitar setup and maintenance, by Tim Ambrosius a guitar technician and manager at Keller Music in Cincinnati, Ohio.

http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/guitar-maintenance-tools.htm

wah guitar effects: basics

Submitted by gtr_admin_70 on Thu, 2007-01-04 01:24

This is a video guide from Gary Schutt about the basics of the wah wah pedal

http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/guitar-effects-wha-wha.htm

Make your own guitar picks from a credit card

Submitted by guitar-list on Sun, 2006-11-05 19:11

This project shows you how you can make guitar picks (plectrums) from a credit card. Before you start you will need:

An old credit card
A pick to use as a template
A pen to draw around the pick
A pair of scissors

Using credit cards gives a pick of medium to thick - thickness. You could experiment with plastic containers or other materials to get your perfect guitar pick.

Guitar-List

Top Brands

guitar-list

easy