Guitar Solo Lessons

Where to Start Learning Guitar Solo Lessons

2010-01-23T21:45:00.007-06:00

As many of you may know, I wanted to learn how to play guitar at a young age. Grandpa played anything with strings including piano, all by ear. So when I asked if he would give me a guitar lesson or two, he pointed to the old Stella Harmony acoustic he had at the time and said, “If you want to play guitar, there it is. You either will or won't.” I was so overwhelmed. Where do I start?

I was really enamored with that guitar and after a couple weeks I made a deal with him. If I could learn to play that guitar would he give it to me for my 12th birthday present which was coming up in two months? To my amazement, he agreed. I began strumming the strings that sounded so sweet and melodic whenever he or dad played, but when I ran my fingers across the strings, it sounded just as sweet but was anything but melodic. I caught dad after work one night and had him teach me how play “Your Cheating Heart” and set out on my conquest; master of guitar.

To make a long story short, on my birthday I played grandpa the song Dad had taught me and received my prize. I kept it for years, but finally lost it in the early '70's when a tornado went through and took our house out. Hopefully this little insight into my journey with my love of music and guitar will motivate you and re-ignite that fire that burns inside of each of you.

Perhaps you are fortunate enough to have a choice of which kind of instrument you begin to play guitar on. The different styles of music you want to play will demand different styles of instruments. Taking nothing for granted as there are readers here who are exploring this subject for the very first time, basically there are two types of guitars to start you on your quest. Acoustic and Electric.

Let's look at acoustic guitars. There are more than a few good reasons for this. First and foremost, they are easier on the ears of your family and neighbors. Seriously though, they are great to learn to play guitar on and since they don't require power, amps or speakers you can simply pick them up and play. The classical styles come with nylon or cat-gut strings that make them easy on your fingers. The steel string acoustic styles are not as forgiving on the fingers but are more popular with those playing folk, country and rock music. They are both made to have fun with and you get to choose: either classical or steel string.

Electric guitars alsocome in a variety of shapes and sizes. You will find them used in a variety music genres too.

Just one word of caution should be made here and this applies to all guitars. They range in price from inexpensive to the skies the limit; especially for collector pieces. The price doesn’t necessarily make for a better guitar. I’ve played on some high dollar axes that were terrible. Then I have picked up one the so-called entry-level makes on the market and found them to be a remarkable value.

My point is this, especially if you are just beginning, the price you pay for a piece will not determine how good you are or will become. Practice, Practice. Practice, that's the key.

If you don’t know what you are looking for; do this. Listen to a lot of music. Listen for the guitar in each piece. Is that a style you like? Who’s you favorite artist? Watch their music videos. Can you tell what kind of guitar they are using? What brand is it? Go to your local music shop and talk with them. Most often they can give you many of the details you are looking for.

People play music for a lot of different reasons. To get the sounds that you will hear from the pros you will most often need thousands of dollars, not only for the gear but also the studio time to make those cuts.

However; they do have one thing in common with you. They have all been where you are now. Whether just beginning or a seasoned guitar god in your own right, we all only get there through practice.

So grab you ax and let’s have some fun. Play on!

Adult Guitar Lessons for the 40+ Guitar Hero

2010-01-20T17:40:00.003-06:00

This post is for all the over 40 aspiring guitar gods out there. Although Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton or one of the like may be your guitar hero let's face it, we'll never see 40 again. But that shouldn't deter you from pursuing your life-long dream of playing guitar to enhance your music pleasure. GuitarSoloLesson.com has something for you too.

I want to introduce you to Keith Dean. He is founder of Adult Guitar Lessons.com and a 30 veteran of stage and studio. He toured extensively as a road musician throughout the US and Europe, was a former lead guitarist for Jason Aldean, and has shared stages with Little Big Town, Wild Rose, Winger, Confederate Railroad and more. He is a published songwriter, owned and operated a successful music store, and has instructed numerous students in guitar.

Why do I mention Keith and his program? Listen to me closely. When you turn on the TV on any given night and pay attention to the commercials. One thing you will notice is the disproportionate number of ads that target a younger audience. The fact is that many advertising budgets are focused on separating the 35 year old and under demographic from their wallets.

As we get older - past 40, 50 or 60 - it is sometimes hard to admit that we are no longer part of the "cool" generation that these advertisers are forking out big bucks to appeal to. Sure, there are the "senior" organizations and pharmaceutical ads beamed in our direction - but how cool is that? This is where Adult Guitar Lessons comes into play. (No pun intended)

If you've shopped around for guitar lessons you may have experienced a similar revelation. Studies show that the prime demographic for guitar lessons is the "12 to 25 year old males" category. As a result, most guitar lessons courses target this segment of the beginner guitar population. And understandably so - that's where the money is. If you're considering picking up the guitar "later in life", then it's important to realize there are dramatic differences between guitar lessons designed for a younger crowd, and adult guitar lessons.

When shopping particular guitar courses, be aware of certain key words that will indicate to you that the program is focused on selling to the younger demographic. Words and terms like: - Shredding – Speed - Picking - Become a Guitar God - Blazing Fast - Be a Guitar Superstar.

Also note the artists and songs that the course teaches. If you see names of songs and artists that you don't recognize, then that may be an indicator that the course is primarily intended for the 12 to 25 age group. That's not to say that any of these courses are bad, in fact there are a number of good ones out there - it's just to say that, as an older, more mature guitar student, one of these courses may not be the best choice for you.

So how do you choose?
First understand that you will need to decide what "type" of guitar lessons program is best for you. Basically you have a few choices - private guitar lessons, home study guitar lessons, online guitar lessons, and going it alone.

1. Private Guitar Lessons
This is a great way to go, if you can afford it. Like any program, not all instructors are created equal. You will be making a considerable investment in private lessons so don't hesitate to "interview" a number of instructors before making a decision.

2. Home Study Courses
These usually include DVDs, CDs and books, and there are a number of good courses on the market. Be sure to determine to "target audience" of these courses before buying because, although less expensive than private lessons, some can be a little on the pricey side.

3. Online Guitar Lessons
This is typically the most economical solution, but care should be taken when shopping. Like any other course, determine what generation the material taught is focused on.

4. Going it Alone
There is so much free information floating around on the internet that it's often tempting to attempt learning guitar by grabbing bits and pieces of "this and that". These students are often referred to as "Google Guitarists". The problem is, without a structured learning program to follow, most of these students flounder and eventually end up quitting the guitar in frustration.

Once a decision is made as to what type of guitar lessons program is right for you, then take a hard look at the guitar instructor. Guitar lessons instructors can range from well known international guitarists, to veritable "youngsters" barely out of school. Quite often, guitar students of "our generation" relate better to an instructor with a wealth of "real world" guitar playing experience, coupled with a healthy dose of "life experience".

Learning how to play the guitar is a fulfilling and rewarding experience at any stage in life, and choosing the right adult guitar lessons program will ensure that the joys of making music stay with you for many years to come. The young or old would benefit from this course, but if you are over 40 and would like to check out some Free Guitar Lessons designed for Active Adults you will definitely want to check these out.

Taking Acoustic Guitar Solo Lessons

2010-01-20T13:04:00.006-06:00

In the article, A Breeze to Learn Guitar Solo Lessons On, I told you about my latest love, the new electric I got for Christmas. I really stepped on the feelings of one of the other types of guitars many of us have, acoustics. Many who are just beginning to learn to play guitar may have one and they are great. My first guitar lessons were on an old acoustic. Let me tell you about an old friend I dearly love.

My Alvarez Yairi DY 61 Signature was made in 1996 for $1770.00. I bought this high quality Japanese Hand Made acoustic used in 1998 for $650.00 The solid cedar tops reside on Burled Mahogany back and sides that are bound on the front and back. A soft satin finish highlights the natural wood grain of this Dreadnaught. A simple shell and exotic wood inlay surrounds the sound hole and it has a Rosewood Bridge.

It has a Nato neck with Ebony fingerboard with Shell inlay. It has high quality gold die-cast tuners in the exclusive Yairi inlaid headstock. This unique design uses hand inlaid strips of maple, shell and other exotic woods in a distinctive pattern. It also has the optional Alvarez System 500 Pickup installed featuring the volume and tone controls with 3 band EQ for total noiseless control when you need to amp it up. She came with a used premium quality case. Even at the full retail value I would have to say it is worth every nickel.

Sound: The acoustics in this guitar are outstanding. I try to play various styles of music (Country, Folk, Blues Classic Rock) and this is right at home with everything I do. Run your fingers across the strings and they just sing whether I am chording or finger-picking. I use 11 thru 50 strings which creates a bright voice that goes on and on. If you use a little heavier strings you would get more low mid-range and bass, but I like the crispness with my setup.

Action, Fit, & Finish: I bought this used and it had the normal wear you would expect on any instrument that was born to be played, but the fit was perfection. A good clean and polishing brought up the satin beauty of this piece dispelling any pick rash. A new set of strings and I was ready to play. And so I do, the ebony fretboard adds to the ease fingering as well as the resonance and sustain. And it's narrow enough even the ladies have no problem reaching for those 4 fret stretches.

Reliability/Durability: This Yairi can and should be used 7 nights a week on any stage, just remember it is Cedar so it takes a little more care than spruce because it is a softer wood. What you gain in melodic tone, you sacrifice in endurance. With the proper care it is solid as a rock and the star of the show.

Impression: Like I said, my first guitar was an old Stella Harmony acoustic my grandfather gave me when I was 12. That was 47 years ago and since then I've had and played many many others, both electric and acoustic. I've had and/or have a 1952 Gibson Melody Maker, Gibson Les Paul, Epiphone Les Paul Gold Top, Fender Tele and now a Jay Turser 300QMT when it comes to electrics. I mention this so you know I know quality when I see it. I like my Martin,Yamaha and Takemine acoustics, but I love this Alvarez. It would stand out in any collection. They don't make this model any longer, but if you get the chance to pick one up don't pass it by. You won't be sorry.

A Breeze to Learn Guitar Solo Lessons On

2010-01-19T02:59:00.004-06:00

My latest love is actually one of the Christmas presents my wife got me. It really is a Pretty Thing and practicing guitar solo lessons are easier than ever. There isn't a better motivation to learn to play guitar again than a new axe. I'll take a picture and add it, but for now, here's my full review for you.

This is a new '09 model for Jay Turser often referred to as a Beginner's Guitar. But let me tell you, this is good for even a seasoned player that doesn't want to take their expensive pieces to a gig to get mistreated or ripped off.

Features: This is a Strat style, double cut-away Alder body with Quilted Maple Top. A triple-ply Perloid pickguard protects the high luster finish while enhancing the eye-candy without making it look cheap or tacky. You get a gold-toned adjustable bridge and tremolo bar adding to the theme. The solid bolt-on Maple Neck has a Rosewood (21 Fret) Fretboard set with Perloid position markers and Gold die-cast turners to keep it in tune. BTW, all the hardware is a nice gold-tone finish. The nut is plastic so you may want to change this in the future if you get any string pinch as it wears over time.

Sound: It has solid electronics on board with one volume, two tone controls and a 5-position switch so you can achieve all the sounds you want in many genres of music from Classic Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz or Country & Western. Your local tech can help you select just the right amp for the precise sound you are looking for, but right out of the case the pickups will give you a rich, full range of sound and more than you expect from guitars many times the price. The tremolo is a little weak if you are into really whammy-ing, but that said it will suffice for those of us into playing music without all the noise! (Oops, I'll get some static out of that last line. LOL) I'm one of those straight to the amp' players so I can't give you an honest assessment of how this would sound with effects, but with the excellent sound it produces for me, I can't imagine anything but total satisfaction for those who do.

Action, Fit & Finish: I commented on the finish earlier. My choice was the Transparent Amber, but there are several to choose from: Transparent Blue, Transparent Red, and Tobacco Sunburst. The fit is superb, you won't be disappointed in the craftsmanship. The action of any guitar is a matter of preference for each individual and their playing style so this is hard to rate. The C-shape neck and Rosewood fretboard make fingering a pleasure. I have mine set at low and fast, which is easily obtainable without any buzz. When you couple that to the alder body you can get an unbelievable sustain out of this animal.

Reliability/Durability: At first I bought this to check out the Jay Turser brand. But after getting it, I plan on using this as my gig axe and leave my expensive equipment at home or at the studio. I would hate to loose it, but I'm tired of having my other pieces mistreated, abused and ripped-off and at this price I can afford to take that luxury without sacrificing anything needed on stage in small to medium sized venues where I perform. As any serious player will tell you, never go out without a back-up, at this price you it's easy to afford two.

Impression: My overall impression of this guitar is: "Jay, can you stay in business at these prices?" lol
I've been playing for over 45 years now, and I've had or have a Stella Harmony, Yamaha, Martin, Takemine, and my favorite acoustic, my Alvarez Yairi DY-61 Signature. When it comes to electrics: a '52 Gibson Melody Maker, Gibson Les Paul Custom, Epiphone Les Paul Gold-Top, Fender Tele's and Strats (2 each) from the '60's, so I know quality when I see it.

If I were to make any changes in the future it would probably be with the nut to get away from the plastic. Eventually I will be changing out the pickup's to Lindy's Split-Blade or Lindy Blues Special Strat pickups, just because that's what I like and still have less than $400 into my whole set-up. With those two simple changes, I would put this up along-side any of the high dollar guitars for playability and durability and save a bundle.

This guitar is way under-priced, but let's not say that too loudly, ok? Retail it goes for around $300 without case or gigbag. What's not to love? I could only dream of learning how to play on something this nice.

'Til next time - Play On!