Question. Often when I am reading about guitars on the internet I hear about different parts of the guitar, can you give a brief description of the different parts of a guitar?

Answer. Here is a brief description of some of the more commonly misunderstood parts of the guitar.

Headstock

The headstock is the part of a guitar at the end of the neck opposite to the body.

The headstock is generally used for supporting the tuning pegs used to wind the strings. There are many shapes that headstocks can come in depending on the type of guitar.

The headstock usually displays the brand of guitar.

Machine Heads

The machine heads or tuning pegs are found at the headstock.

The machine heads tighten or loosen the strings so the string can be tuned.A basic gear mechanism is used to wind the strings.

Winding tools are available and can be used to rapidly unwind and wind strings for quick changing.

Frets

Are the bars or ridges (usually made of metal) that sit on the fingerboard or neck of a guitar; when the string is depressed by your fingers at the metal bar it will make a note of the desired pitch.

Frets are arranged on guitars to produce specific musical pitches. On the typical guitar or bass each fret represents one semitone or half step.

Fretless guitars do exist.

Bridge
The bridge is found down on the body. The function of the bridge, in addition to simply holding the strings in place, is to transmit their vibrations to the top of the guitar, to the instrument’s soundboard or pickups.

There are many different types of bridge and they can be made from a variety of materials depending upon the type of guitar. For example electric guitars usually have metal bridges and acoustic guitars usually have wooden ones.

While developing a clear picture of what you sound like is important you should never take that to mean being closed-minded about other styles and their techniques. It is important to try to develop an individual sound, but you should spend at least a portion of your time listening to other types of music.

In your musical life you will probably change styles at some point. This is natural and it is a sign that you are developing as a musician and as a guitarist. Some people begin playing folk music and Bob Dylan songs and end up playing hard rock, and vice-versa. So while you should have an idea about what you want to sound like be open minded about changing.

What do I want to sound like? This can be very difficult or very easy depending on the individual. Some people are inspired to play the guitar like an individual or a band. For these people their style will generally mimic their favorite player. Also if you’re fond of a particular style you can learn the songs and techniques that fit that style.

For people who don’t particularly want to sound like anyone there is a bit more work to do to find and define a style. The best way to do this is to listen to a lot of music and try and play as many different styles as you can and see what you find the most enjoyable and rewarding for you.

Finding a sound that suits you can take some time. For some people this could be years. For others it could be a split second decision that comes from hearing a particular player. For others it may take some serious listening to a lot of different music to decide what they want to sound like.

Once you have decided on your style then it is time to learn how to play like that. The best way to do that is learn songs that are classics in the genre you want to emulate. This means learning a few of the most popular songs from that style and becoming familiar with the techniques used in this kind of song. It is a good idea to learn songs by a few different bands instead of just one. This is so you get exposed to a few different playing styles.

Related to this is using the right kind of guitar for the style you want to play. You don’t need to be too worried about playing the exact same axe as your favorite player. However you should have a guitar that is common with players of the genre you are trying to emulate.

It is a shared belief amongst the entire Jamorama Team that it is never too soon to start writing your own songs. Even if you can only write the most basic songs it is worth trying. You should try and add elements from the songs you have learned. You may find yourself writing stuff that is quite derivative initially, but that’s OK. Just keep working on your playing and trying to get the sound that you hear in your head into your hands and played on the guitar. Don’t get frustrated if you have trouble. Some players spend their entire life trying to get the sound they want. Writing your own music is very rewarding and will give you another direction in your musical life.

Question. I’ve just spent a reasonable amount on a new guitar. What should I be doing to take care of it and what are some of the common problems that I should look out for?

Answer. The main things you should pay attention to are heat and humidity. These are the two things that will turn your instrument to mush. Heat is obvious enough; too much heat can warp the wood in your guitar. This will kill any chance of your guitar staying in tune or sounding good. It might also make it harder to play.

People who have guitars damaged by heat generally have left their instrument in a car in the sun. This is not good for your guitar, and you MUST NOT do this. Guitars can stand some varying temperatures but anything extreme will warp and damage your guitar.

Low and high humidity can also be a problem. Low humidity can cause you guitar to dry up and crack. This will ruin your string clearance, causing your strings to rattle. High humidity can also be a problem especially for electric guitars. Moisture from the atmosphere or sweat can tarnish and corrode the metal parts. A little tarnish is not a big deal, but rusted electronics are a big deal.

You can prevent problems caused by high and low humidity by keeping your guitar in a place that is neither very dry nor very moist. This will depend somewhat on where you live. Some places will naturally have more of a problem with high or low humidity. Keeping your guitar in a cool place out of sunlight is the best option, but you should use your judgment depending on where you live. Your guitar is an important part of your life and you should treat it well.

Next week we’ll give you some tips on developing your own “sound”.

A metronome is a device that makes a sound to indicate beats so you can keep in time when you are playing the guitar. A metronome keeps perfect time so that you can learn the songs you love properly. Also metronomes are adjustable, meaning you can make them beat faster or slower. This lets you learn a song at a slower pace before building it up to full speed.

Older metronomes were like wind up clocks that had a swinging pendulum and were generally powered by a spring. On the end of the pendulum was a weight that could be moved to change the tempo (tempo is a musical term that basically means speed). Modern metronomes are electronic and generally battery powered. They are operated by pressing buttons or turning a dial. Older metronomes make a clicking sound like a clock whereas more modern metronomes generally make a pinging sound to denote each beat.

Metronomes are very important for all musicians because they will keep your playing in time. Nearly all modern rock recordings are made with a metronome and most dedicated professionals practice with one. The reason for this is that without a constant beat it is easy for a musician to go out of time. This also applies to practice as you should be trying to play in time as much as possible.

Newer metronomes can do some pretty amazing things like playing differing time signatures like 3/4, 6/8, and 7/8 for example. They can also be set to make different sounds depending on the beat. For example you can set most newer metronomes to have a different sound at the start of a bar so you always know where beat one is.

When using a metronome you should push yourself but practice with tempos that you can handle. This will make you a better player — though you may find it difficult at first it is something that will pay dividends in the future.

Using a metronome is very important when you are practicing but there are times when you should play without it. When you are trying to be creative or if you are experimenting with different things there is no real need to use a metronome.

As you can see a metronome is a very useful tool to have in your “learn to play guitar” toolbox and there are many good online metronomes you can use for free.
We also include a software based metronome in the Full Jamorama Beginners to Advanced course if you are interested.

Tune in next week when we provide some great Tech Tips about looking after your prized guitar to keep it in the best condition for years of playing.

Question: “Which is best on an electric guitar, a set neck, a bolt-on or a neck through body?”

Set Neck Guitar

Answer: It’s not so much an issue of “best” as it is “which sound do you prefer?”
The way a neck attaches to the body colors a guitar’s voice. String vibration transfers to the body through the neck/body joint (as well as through the bridge).

With a set neck guitar such as a Les Paul, the fit of the neck to the body is crucial – there must be no gaps or high spots to compromise the glue joint.
This way the neck and the body are “bonded” without adding pressure to the overall construction. Some builders feel a set-in joint gives the guitar a “singing” quality – notes seem to swell after the pick attack until they reach their final amplitude.
Smooth, warm sustain with moderate attack are characteristics often attributed to set-in guitars.

Bolt-On Neck Guitar

A bolt-on neck is practical – it’s easy to remove for repair or replacement – and versatile. A number of cottage industries have arisen that provide replacement or modified bolt-on necks for Fender Stratocasters, Telecasters and basses.
A good fit is still critical, as one builder/repair expert explains: “For a bolt-on to have the best possible tone, the neck must fit tightly in the pocket and make good contact on all sides of the joint. Any gap will result in lost sound”.
A bolt-on produces an identifiable timbre that emphasizes certain frequencies over others. It’s often defined as a “twang,” and is the result of the pressure exerted when you pull the neck into the pocket with screws.

Neck Through Body Guitar

Neck through body construction usually employs maple for the neck paired with softer woods for the “wings” that form the body. Since the majority of the instrument is maple, the tone is often bright, with quick attack and tight bottom end.
The small body wings of a neck-through don’t develop the lower frequencies that a separate body produces, and the result is often a bright, thin-sounding guitar.
Neck-through instruments work well in high-volume playing situations that call for definition and clear low end. Some neck-through guitars – Gibson’s Firebird, for example – use a mahogany neck section. This softer wood provides a warmer, rounder tone more characteristic of a set neck guitar.

It’s amazing to think that a simple profile like this can make you think so much differently about a fantastic star and how much he has been through since the most innocent of days in childhood. Mike was born into a Jewish family and studied in a Jewish run school before joining Calabasas High School. He spent two years at Kadima Hebrew Academy until second grade. He then attended Hebrew School three times a week after his usually elementary school classes. Mike continues to believe in his religious background but prefers to dramatise his life in the spiritual background rather than the religious. Since he has grown up and viewed life very differently from his youth Mike has branched his beliefs away from the traditional ways of Jadaism but continues to believe the basic principles that are taught by the religion.

Mike first picked up a guitar at the age of about 8 years old, in third grade and proceeded to take lessons for a couple of months but soon became bored with the monotonous teaching and decided that he’d teach himself ‘rock’ songs that were his passion. However, it took four years for Mike to begin his own teaching on the guitar having picked up a few bits and pieces in between. Mike soon became incredibly hooked and from that moment on spent every second of his free time trying to figure out songs. His first triumph was learning the theme to James Bond, before taking any lessons whatsoever.

Mike considers the music he creates as ‘rock’ and frowns upon accusations that today’s musical triumphs such as the albums; ‘A Crow Left Of The Murder’ and ‘Morning View’ are a mixture of funk and metal. Mike does not conceive that their style is anything like that although they have touched on those elements previously in their musical career. He sees the need for change in music otherwise the monotony of it encroaches on everyone that listens and it soon becomes very boring. So Mike chooses to describe their music as rock because it is an extremely loose term, which fits accurately to their ever changing style of music and lyrics.

Mike’s life is all about making music. The celebrity aspect that often comes with stardom holds no interest for the guitarist who feels no excitement at the prospect of large functions and simply says: “I just prefer to stay as far away from that type of energy as humanly possible”. In fact Megalomaniac touches on aspects of society where people look to the cameras for their joy, yet there are those as impassive to the scene as a human to an ant. People believe the song to be about George Bush, to whom Mike says “I think that guy sucks”.

And to that ‘Jewfro’ Mike is never without he says: “It’s not really a choice I have, actually. It’s kind of like — it’s nature. It’s what God gave me. It’s why I’ve been put on this earth”.

After the band met at College a firm friendship was wrought from the musical awareness and fondness that each of the artists shared. and ‘rockstarishly’ picked a name by sticking a finger on a word in a thesaurus! But it soon became clear that they were ‘destined’ for greater things. Brandon had the knowledge for writing powerful lyrics, but Mike had an understanding of those words and the ability to tweak their power with some splendidly written and recorded music. Each song was written with not just notes to make a tune, but a true understanding of what was required to add that bit extra to lyrics that already made Incubus something different.

There is no doubt that Brandon Boyd and Mike Einziger and the combined technical abilities of each of the band members have made Incubus what they were meant to be. They are a band, and brilliant artists in their own right. But brought together they form one of the most inspirational and powerful song making bands of this era.

If your interested in learning to play an Incubus song check out our Video lesson over at Songpond.com where Moses teaches you step by step to play “Drive” one of the bands more famous tracks.

Question. When I play chords I always touch the strings that I should be playing open. How can I avoid this?

Answer. Touching the wrong strings when you play chords is a common problem that many beginners face when learning the guitar. Today we will look at some simple solutions.

1. Try and press your fingers straight down. Your finger should be at a 90 degree angle with the string. This means that only the tip of your finger should be connecting with string.

2. Are your fingernails short? If your fingernails are long, your fingertip will not be able to sit on the string and your fingers will touch the other strings on the guitar.

3. Place your thumb directly on the back of the neck of your guitar. This puts your hand in a good position to keep your fingers clear of the wrong strings.

4. Practice with chords you find easy. Look at how your hand sits when you play these chords. Try to use the technique that you use on easier chords with more difficult chords.

5. Using a capo at higher frets can make it easier on your fingers as the frets are closer together. However for people with big hands this can make it more difficult. So experiment with a capo to see if it helps you.

Each person has different size hands, finger shape and flexibility. For this reason there is no universal rule that will change your playing to avoid touching the wrong strings when playing. You should practice chords as much as you can until you feel confident and comfortable with them.

Good luck with your practice.

1) Do Your Homework
When you’re buying a guitar you have to do your homework. As a beginning guitar player it’s easy to get confused with all the information and advice that is available. There are a lot of places you can get information and you should check them all. Guitar magazines are a good place to find prices and reviews on different models of guitars. You can also get information at your local music store. Another great tool is the internet – you can get information on the manufacturers, search for other guitarist’s reviews and opinions and find the best prices online.

Remember that a lot of the information and opinions that you will find will be biased. A salesman in a music store wants you to buy the brand of guitar that HE SELLS, so make sure you read reviews and opinions from independent sources.

2) Stick to Your Budget
Once you’ve got the background knowledge that you need, you should make a short list of guitars that you are interested in and set a budget for yourself. THEN STICK WITH YOUR BUDGET! Don’t let salespeople talk you into spending more money than you planned.

Research price differences on the internet with a trusted site like Ebay. You could buy new or used but again, it is worth finding out how much the same item generally costs.

3) Play it BEFORE Your Buy It
Trying out the guitars you have short listed can be intimidating for beginners. It is important to remember that you are not in a guitar store to show everyone how good a guitar player you are – you are there to decide whether the guitar on your list is right for you.

One of the most important things about a guitar is how it “feels” when you play it. There are also mechanical things to check. Check the frets for buzzing by playing each one. Make sure that the neck is not warped by looking down it as if you were sighting a gun. Check that all of the volume and tone controls work.

4) Borrow Someone Else’s Experience
It is also a good idea to take an experienced guitarist along with you when you are looking at guitars. Not only will they be able to offer helpful advice, they will be good moral support when it’s time to pick up the guitar and play it in public.

Good luck with buying a guitar!

Question. I find it hard to change between chords and when I do it sounds bad. Because of this I can’t make my guitar sound good. What can I do?

Answer. This is the most common problem for beginner guitarists. Don’t worry, nearly every professional guitarist has had your problem!

The best way to avoid this is to start with the easiest chord changes for your fingers. Also, there is a lot to be said for slowing down everything that you are trying to learn.

Before you try playing along with your favorite band, practice the chords and chord changes by yourself until they are flowing nicely. Play things slowly to get accuracy and once you have that you can start speeding up.

Playing things at full speed without first learning them properly will make your chord changes sound muddy and unclear. If you start slowly and build your chord changes progressively you will find that you can improve your playing and stay motivated. Remember, like anything, playing the guitar takes time and effort.

You can’t expect to wake up and play like a pro. If you keep working on it you will improve your playing and achieve what you want on the guitar.

There are two main factors when it comes to discipline in practice. They are practicing regularly, and practicing well. Both of these are important points.

Practicing regularly is the most obvious and easy thing to do. Basically, you should play the guitar every day. These don’t need to be mammoth, three hour long sessions, 30 minutes will generally be fine if you are focused during that time. Doing regular, small amounts of practice throughout the week is far better than doing one or two long sessions.

Life gets busy and it can be hard to make the time to practice but to be honest, 30 minutes a day is achievable for most people. There is no set time that is best for practice but many people prefer to do it in the evening simply because they find that playing the guitar is a relaxing way to wind down after a stressful day.

Practicing well is a much harder thing to do and there are many reasons for why this is the case.
Bad practice affects even the most experienced player but it can be overcome with some help. Here are some of the problems that you may have when practicing and some useable solutions:

1) Problem: Getting stuck in a rut. This is a very common problem that affects nearly all guitarists at some point in time. You end up playing the same thing over and over every time you play and you can’t seem to move on to anything new.

Solution: Aspire to play everything perfectly. However, if you are stuck on this one thing and you feel like practice is getting a little stale, you should really move on to something else that inspires you. It is so important to be inspired in your practice and you can always come back to something later when you are in the right mood.

2) Problem: Moving on to new skills too quickly. Also a very common problem, moving on too quickly will ultimately turn you into a “jack of all trades and a master of none”.

Solution: This problem is the opposite of the last problem we looked at. You can now see that there is a balance between too much and not enough emphasis on perfecting a song. You should master each thing before you go on to the next, but if you are finding a particular skill impossible to master and you are dying of boredom trying, maybe that skill is a little out of your reach. In this case, it is best to go back and learn something less difficult.

3) Problem: Becoming narrow minded in relation to the different areas of learning within musicianship. Some people get into the situation where they are practicing only one style and neglecting everything else.

Solution: Try splitting your playing into parts. For example, spend 5 minutes practicing new scales or chords, 10 minutes working on writing new music and maybe 15 minutes learning a new song or part of a song. This way, your practice never gets boring and you can achieve a lot more.

4) Problem: Playing things too fast when learning them. This can cause you to become disillusioned with your playing when you are trying to learn a new song.

Solution: A fairly obvious solution here – Slow down. Try playing a song or new skill at a slow speed before trying it at a fast pace.

Practicing properly and regularly is the best way to become good at anything including playing the guitar. This requires discipline; not only discipline to practice regularly, but also discipline to stay focused and on track when you are practicing. If you stay disciplined with your playing you will develop in to an excellent player.