Nine great words to live by

"You're only as good as the risks you take."

This applies to every choice you make in your life. Yes, sometimes the risk doesn't work out. The decision can set you back. But the amount you learn about your mistake is equal to how much you grow in another way.

There is nothing different about your experience playing music. Except, maybe, one thing. It can be more fun. Especially (but not limited to) when you are improvising. The worst that can happen is you make a clam. What's a clam? It's the best word I know for a note you play that is so wrong EVERYONE hears it, and it makes you cringe from embarrassment. And as HUGE as that feeling is, when you go for it, when you TAKE that risk and GET that note or phrase, there is no better feeling in your heart! Because of the music that popped out of your fingers, it can surprise even you. It's instantly energizing. Don't think about what you are playing, stay in the moment. You might not know if you sounded good. It doesn't matter. The next time you have a chance to repeat a phrase, DO IT! Because that's a big learning that you will then be able to remember. You are only as good as the risks you take.

The three most dangerous words

The three most dangerous words in the English language are: I know that!

Those three words stop people in their tracks faster than a speeding train. As soon as we say, "I know that!" then we shut down to new growth. If someone is telling you something you know ABOUT, listen, nod, and take it in. You can add your own knowledge to what they were saying (after all, they were probably trying to help you). Something new will come to you.

The first thing you need to know is how you get the guitar to make sound. I hope that everyone knows that you strum the strings to make noise, but if you just strummed you'd only be able to make 6 notes. Now, if you look at your guitar that there are silver bars on the neck (for those who don't know, the neck is the skinny part) called frets. You can vary the pitch of the strings by pressing down JUST ABOVE the frets, don't press on them, press JUST ABOVE them. The fret at the very top is the first fret, one fret down is the second one, then third, and just keep counting Now you should have some fun with the frets, play around until you get a nice solid sound, it should only take like three minuets though.

Next we'll talk about the strings. The only thing really worth saying about them is their names. If you're holding the guitar right then the lowest string should be at the top. The lowest string is the low E string, or the 6th string. The next one down is the A string, or the 5th string, then the D string or 4th string, then the G string, or the 3rd string, the B string is next, and guess what, it's the 2nd one, and FINALLY the 1st string is the high e string. I didn't capitalize e on purpose because most of the time the 6th string is referred to as the E string and the first one is the e string.

Now if you want to learn any cool songs then first you need learn to read tablature. Tablature, or tab, is pretty much just a diagram of where your fingers go. Below is an example.

E---0---3------------------------------------------------------|

A-----------0---1---2-----------------------------------------|

D--------------------------0---2-------------------------------|

G-----------------------------------0---2---3------------------|

B------------------------------------------------0---3----------|

e----------------------------------------------------------0---3-|

As you can see, on the left are the strings, and then there are some numbers on lines also. You read tab the same way you read a book, right to left. In tab, the numbers show which fret you need to press (if there is a 0 than don't press anything). So if there is a 3 on the line labeled A, then you press down the A string on the 3rd fret. It's really simple. Why not you try playing that sequence of notes. That sequence of notes is the E scale. Learning and practicing scales is the first step to learning to play solos.

Now that you have learned the basics, practice until you can do the scale flawlessly, then you can move on to my next guitar article!

In this tutorial I will attempt to teach you how to do two things:

1. Play the didgeridoo
2. Circular breath

Materials needed:

1. A didgeridoo (almost any tube will do, I learned to play on a piece of PVC pipe!)
2. Yourself

Play The Didgeridoo

In order to make the didgeridoo resonate and emit a sound you must blow raspberries into it just as you would do with a trumpet.

If you get a low pitched humming sound, you need to tighten your lips and try again, if you get a high pitched squealing sound or a fog horn noise your lips are too tight.

It may help to lick your lips before each attempt as this makes it easier to get your lips vibrating.

You should be aiming for a reasonably low pitched warbling sound.

If you find you have to breathe too hard or fast in order to get any sound at all from the didge, you may need to close off the hole slightly.

If this is the case simply grab some plasticine, roll it into a sausage and lay it onto the rim of your didge, then flatten it down.

It may take a while but keep at it and eventually you will find your lip's sweet spot for playing the didgeridoo.

Circular Breathing

Just when you thought you had the didgeridoo down pat, another more Difficult technique is introduced, Circular Breathing, the skill that allows You to play for minutes on end without a break. Circular breathing is the art of exhaling from the mouth and inhaling From the nose simultaneously. Although it may sound almost impossible, it's not quite what you think. I think many people learning to play the didge are mislead when it comes Circular breathing as they are told that they must exhale and inhale from Their lungs at the same time which is not actually the case. Obviously you can't breathe in and out at the same time, your diaphragm Wouldn't allow it, that's where your cheeks come in. The theory here is that you breathe through tight lips (raspberries) and When you need some more air you let your cheeks squeeze air slowly Into the didge (but fast enough to keep it playing) and breath in quickly With your nose.

A few ways to practice this might be, obviously with your didge, or with a straw in a cup of water, try to keep the bubbles going, or even just breathing on your hand and making sure you can constantly feel a stream of air.

After a bit of practice at both playing the didge and circular breathing you should be well on your way to experimenting with different sounds, try maybe talking into the didge while you play or even dome percussive sounds.

Playing the didge is an awesome achievement.

Good luck.

1. Hobbies are Fun

   Well, learning the guitar is fun! It may not be at first, but once you learn the basics, you can start to create things on your own. Your friends will be entertained when you play for them, and if you practice, they will want to hear you even more.

2. Writing Songs

   Are you feeling sad? Happy? Write a song! Writing and playing songs can really boost your feelings. Not only this, but you could record your songs. Have fun. Play for your friends. Guitar doesn't just have to be notes, write down some words. Guitar opens up the entire music world, not just the guitar world. Maybe you could make an album someday? And you will tell thank yourself for learning the guitar

3. Awareness and Reflex

   Eventually, you will move your fingers fast, and this can really make some muscle in your hands. You will often catch yourself tapping on a table with your fingers. And you will be doing it fast. And people will be like, “Wow”. Guitar can increase your ability to learn, and be more alert and fast thinking. It is actually proven that learning any instrument can boost your learning ability.

4. Shows and Braveness

   Eventually you will be good enough to say to yourself “I want to perform in front of people”, and no matter how much you had stage fright, you will know you will do good, and it will seem to just go away. Not only is it fun, but you will gain reputation for your talent, and people will look up to you.

5. Opening the World of Music

   When you learn the guitar, it opens up everything about music. You will notice you will be able to play almost any string instrument. Maybe not read its music and know what to play, but you will be able to just know what to play and make simple beats. It just happens. Your mind will tell you what sounds good, and you will interpret that into what you are playing. If you learn to sing with the guitar, you can really lead yourself into fame.

So learn the guitar. You will be happy in the outcome and you will thank yourself for learning the guitar. Instruments brighten your life, and if you stick with it, you will open up so many possibilities in your life. So have fun!

First of all you need to select your instrument. Any pair of spoons will do but you will find that large ones with deep bowls sound best. Teaspoons work well and are easy to hold but the sound is not so rich. It is not a good idea to use silver spoons because they are soft and will dent easily.

Hold one spoon with bottom of the bowl facing down, between you thumb and first finger and the middle one between your first and second fingers. Make a fist. The bowls should be about half an inch apart and held still. This takes a little practise.

You can fasten the spoons together, putting cardboard between the handles, to make them easier to hold, especially if you have small hands, or you are teaching children to play.

HOW TO HOLD YOUR SPOONS

Tap the spoons on your leg and if the position is right you will hear a sound. Always hold your instrument firmly and remember that it is the action of hitting the spoon on your leg, arm, fingers, or your other hand that make the different ones of sound.

This looks very impressive but it is quite easy to learn.

It will take lots of practise to play rhythms and riffs and learn to play along with your favorite music but the effects you can achieve are quite amazing.

This short film demonstrates how easy it is to play this instrument.

You can even form your own spoon band but be careful, it can become addictive. You may find yourself picking up spoons and playing along to music in the most unlikely places.

Have fun!

Well the true is that many people has this ability and they don’t even know it. If you can tap your foot to the beat of a song, then you probably has this ability. If you don’t since to have it then I recommend you to listen to a lot of music and try to follow the beat while tapping your foot to the floor. Make sure you are in time.

Timing is usually determine by the drum or by the snare. Other instruments can mark the timing too. When practicing your timing exercises determine what instrument is marking the time. Then follow that beat, tap, tap and tap. While relaxing and enjoin this tap.

Once you get this timing ability, try to use it when playing guitar. First star taping and think about that tap, imagine that the tap is the drum beat, then try to play your guitar to the beat of these taps. Practice one note per tap, then switch to two notes per tap, three, fourth, and so on until you get to six.

Once you get the ability of taping and playing notes per taps, you will have a good cense of timing, and you will be able to play in time with music.

Is very important to learn these things because in order to become a good guitarist you need to practice exercises that requires the use of this ability. Then you can use this timing to determine your ability on the instrument; How fast you are and how precise.

Even though I know my limitations on the instrument, I know that I play on time, thanks to timing. In order to find out at what speed are you able to play certain amount of notes per beat, you need to buy a metronome. A metronome can be found at any of your local music store, there are several kinds. A cheap one will do the job too.

If you visit here, you will find several videos that I have being posting with the purpose of learning from them. When I record this videos I pay close attention to my mistakes or weak points, then I develop exercises to overcome those weaknesses, but at the same time I share with the world my little knowledge on the guitar, is all about having fun anyways!

Any click is very welcome!

Here is the trick! If you like to learn how to play guitar with freedom you need to be able to have complete control of the right and left hands. You need to have a good cense of timing, recognize pitch, tones and speed. You must be able to play with your eyes close, letting your fingers do the job.

Mistakes? don’t worry about it! They always get in your way, but developing techniques to overcome them is very important.

I remember the first time I try to play my guitar, it was so frustrating, I was scare of crossing strings, or just placing my fingers on the frets, it was painful, uncomfortable and it sounded terrible. I couldn’t play a note clearly and never even dream about playing a song. But due to my interest on the instrument I got better as the time past by. If you are just beginning to play guitar I understand how you feel. But don’t worry, because if I learned it, so you surely can also.

In this lesson I wont teach you all the things that I being learning but I can tell you that I will be posting more lessons and if you fallow them I promise you that you will become a master, maybe even better than me, cause its being hard for me to learn. Maybe there is a big talent hidden inside you, and you don’t even know!

Search for all the basic chords first than all, learn them by heart: C, D, E, F, G, A, B strum your guitar don’t matter if it sounds bad, cause the purpose is to free your hands. Break the barrier that wont let you play. I will be glad to help with the little that I know about guitar. Search for my lessons, and if you know less than me learn from them.

Become a Lead Guitar Master!

It has come to my attention that with access to the internet becoming much more available to everyone, the use of the internet to learn how to play guitar has become extremely popular. I would love nothing more than to help out whoever I can and answer any guitar-related questions that you may have.

Please feel free to post any questions that you may have, along with any songs that you would like easy and correct tabs for. It would be my pleasure to help anyone out with their guitar related problems.

Happy playing