I am having problems tuning my 12-string guitar. How do I do it?

Answer. Even though it may look like a big challenge, ‘standard’ tuning a 12-string guitar is actually quite easy. For the bottom four strings (four thickest) you will tune each pair of strings to the same note but the thinner one will be tuned an octave higher.

An octave is the interval between a note and a note with the same name either higher or lower, example: E4 – E5. The top two strings (two thinnest) have both strings tuned to the same note at the same pitch so they sound exactly the same.

Sounds simple? In theory it is, however when strings are tuned in octaves it is easy to hear slight mistunings. For this reason it is important to tune your strings perfectly when you are tuning a 12-string. Also sometimes you may have a problem keeping some of the strings in tune as the some of the smaller strings are tuned quite tightly. For this reason it can be a good idea to get the best quality strings you can when stringing up a 12-string. Ask your local dealer about strings, hopefully they can help you out.

Hope this helps for now and good luck getting your guitar in tune!

Posted by Dan Orr

What is the definition of a band?
A band or musical ensemble is a group of two or more musicians who perform instrumental or vocal music together. The more people you have in your band the more fun you can potentially have. At the same time, big numbers can mean big mess if you don’t have the skills or experience to coordinate things. You should start by trying to get together with your friends. If none of your friends are interested you can put advertisements up on your social media pages or at your local music store.

What is the most important part of a good band?
Many musicians would agree that the most important part of a good band is being able to have fun with the other members. You could be in the tightest band in the world with the best songs – but if you’re not enjoying it, what’s the point?

Do I need to be a good musician to play in a band?
No. Get out there and if no one wants to play with you start your own band.

What is the minimum amount of talent for the other musicians I will play with?
None. Music is about having fun, especially when you are just getting started. Just try and be creative and keeping everything simple. There are so many songs that sound good and are easy to play. Don’t worry about surrounding yourself with experts, in fact, playing with others at your level is a good idea, at least to start.

Overview of a basic band:
The typical rock band has one singer who may or may not be the guitarist, a bass player and a drummer. However often there are extra guitarists or a keyboard player, but don’t feel restricted by these general rules. If one of your friends plays the violin or some other instrument get him in and try and work some thing out.

What makes a ‘Band’?
More than anything it’s the music that you make together. It is the music you make and songs you play together as a group. It is an amazing feeling to play together and grow as musicians.

Your very first band:
Your first band will probably be made up of your friends, but starting a band can also be a good way to meet people with common interests. You should act like a musical support group. Gently encouraging your co-members to practice and improve. Desire is the most important characteristic for the members of your first band. If you are motivated and enjoy playing you can achieve your musical goals.

What kinds of songs should my band play?
If your band is made up of your friends then there is a good chance that you will all have similar musical tastes. If you do have different tastes in music then it is important to reach a compromise that keeps everyone happy. Try playing songs in a style that all of you like, if that doesn’t work, each of you can choose a few songs that you can play as a band.

Playing in a band is a lot of fun and it is never too early or too late to start out playing with other people. As long as you still have time for your own practice try and play with other people as much as you can.

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.