Here is a list of beginning chords you should memorize first. You’ll be able to play a ton of songs even with so few chords memorized.
1.) G
2.) D
3.) Em
4.) C
5.) Am
6.) F
7.) Dm
Much Respect,
The Musician’s Toolbox
This post really hasn’t much to do with the guitar specifically, but with learning things in general. It is increasingly hard to sort through what’s good information, what’s excellent information, and what is indispensable information. Certainly, “Every one is entitled to their opinion,” however, the ability to discern a good opinion from a bad one determines how quickly you can learn something.
Facebook and Twitter are the rivers of information-giving waters. You can find out almost anything from your friends, or from your friends’ friends. This is especially true when you need to know something that you’re hardly an expert at. Just ask your friends. This seems to be Facebook’s main strength, and in a very round-about way, it’s like walking down Main Street in your town and being all chummy with your neighbors. The community is closer and larger at the same time.
If Facebook is Main Street, then Twitter is the 101 freeway in Hollywood. Worst traffic EVER. (Although I’ve never lived in NJ). Twitter is a great way to follow those people / businesses that you’re interested in, but it’s very difficult to get people to follow YOU. The same can be true for Facebook or MySpace users if you are a business.
And here is why: No one cares about YOU. They only care about themselves. That’s why a virus entitled “Is this YOU in this video?” can spread so quickly. Is that ME? I’m in a video? Oh boy, I can’t wait to see ME in a video!
As a newbie business owner (I’m only 30) that has much to learn about fostering a fledgling business, I’m trying to understand social media’s role in The Musician’s Toolbox. Why should you care about my business? After all, I don’t care about yours. It’s only fair, there’s too much work to do. How do Twitter and Facebook really make a difference?
CONTENT. Real, indispensable content. Not fake articles, not re-posted articles from someone’s blog from 1999, not get-rich quick marketing guru wanna-be posts of promises to make me rich. Content! I need to learn something, I click on your site, you tell me exactly what I need to know without trying to up-sell me something I didn’t ask for, and I like you. I might come back.
The Musician’s Toolbox is interested in real people that have actual questions about music. We’ll continue to post great content and trust that it will rise to the surface. And that’s my rant for the year.
Andrew Wonacott, President
The Musician’s Toolbox, LLC
The Learn Guitar Chords DVD is available on Amazon.com here:
Now your Christmas Shopping Ideas have a 1-Up.
Peace,
The Musician’s Toolbox
If you find that when you are tuning your guitar, and as you turn the tuning head your strings go “CLINK” or “BING” or they just generally sound like they’re stretching and at any point they could snap, then listen carefully.
What’s happening is the NUT at the base of the headstock is catching your strings as they stretch when you turn the tuning heads.
The Nut Of Your Guitar
So, the fix is to take some pencil lead (graphite) and rub some graphite dust in the little channels that the strings sit in.
No more “BING” or otherwise scary sounds.
Much Respect,
The Musician’s Toolbox
Question #1: “How much is this going to cost me?”
Answer: Less than a lot, but more than $100.00. Two things to keep in mind: there are acoustic guitars and electric guitars. Both are acceptable as a first guitar, but I would recommend an acoustic guitar. It’s portable, (you don’t have to plug it in) and therefore you don’t have to spend the extra money on cables, amps and the like. That said, if you know your spouse / child wants an electric guitar, there are cost-effective ways to purchase one. (Including all the accessories). More on that in a minute.
There are essentially three price categories of guitars:
1.) $99-$250
2.) $250-$500
3.) $500–3rd mortgage.
Question #2: “What brand should I buy?”
Answer: Choose one of the following, and you’ll have made a good decision, regardless of the purchase price.
Acoustics:
1.) Fender
2.) Gibson
3.) Taylor
4.) Epiphone
5.) Takamine
6.) Yamaha
Electrics: (the “Starter-Packs” are a cost-effective way to get started)
1.) Fender
2.) Gibson
3.) Epiphone
4.) Ibanez
5.) Gretsch
The basic rule is, the big brands are usually big brands for a reason, because they have a history of producing instruments that last. Stay away from “obviously cheap” guitars. If it looks like it will fall apart in a couple of months, it will.
Question #3: “Ok, so where do I buy the guitar?”
Answer: Either Best Buy, Guitar Center, or Sam Ash.
If you buy the guitar from a big retail chain, you can haggle with them about the price and the return policy. Always try to get the sales person to throw in picks, straps, tuners, or other accessories with the purchase of the guitar. Walk in, say, “I have exactly $XXX amount of cash to spend, and I want the hookups. If you hook me up now, I’ll come back and find you personally and spend more money during your New Year’s Sale.”
Question #4: “What else should I buy?”
Answer: You need to buy a chromatic tuner if you want that guitar to sound good and not like a train wreck. A chromatic tuner is the easiest way to tune that guitar, and it’ll be an extra $15-40. You also need a good starter DVD that teaches the basics.
Chromatic Tuners:
Korg
Boss
Beginning DVD:
The Musician’s Toolbox Learn Guitar Chords DVD
If you have any questions, you can email me and I’d be happy to help:
1stpersonguitar@gmail.com
Happy Shopping!
Andrew Wonacott, President
The Musician’s Toolbox, LLC
www.1stpersonguitar.com
