Guitar / Ukulele

Tips for Purchasing an Acoustic Guitar

Tips for Purchasing an Acoustic Guitar

 

When starting out, most people prefer to buy an acoustic guitar. It is the guitar most recommended for guitar lessons for beginners as it helps you easily discern the sounds and notes, in comparison with other types of guitars. However, acoustic guitars come in many shapes and sizes, materials, and price ranges. It can get quite confusing for someone who doesn’t know where to start. It’s a good idea to get some basic knowledge before making a purchase as you’ll be using the instrument for quite a while. If you need more persuasion to choose an acoustic guitar, check out this article: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/why-learn-to-play-the-acoustic-guitar/.

Test the guitar

Selecting an acoustic guitar is a serious business. There are so many choices available that you really need to try out quite a few before settling on something that you find suitable. If you don’t have the experience, take along an experienced friend or even your guitar teacher along when you go to purchase your instrument. It has become normal for many people to buy guitars online, but considering how much you are spending, it is always better to go to the shop and try out the instruments yourself. Play a few notes yourself and check whether the resonance is good. You can also ask someone to play the guitar in your presence so you can check whether the projection is good as well. If it doesn’t feel right to you, then it’s not the right guitar for you.

Check out the body style

Each guitar model is slightly different from the other, even if they are the same type of guitar. So there are literally hundreds of choices when you go to purchase an acoustic guitar. The build of the guitar does have a slight effect on the sound it produces but that is not the sole reason why you should keep an eye out for the body style. Each person’s physical make-up is different and a particular guitar might not feel comfortable for everyone. So trying out the guitar to make sure you are able to play on it comfortably is extremely important. If you buy a guitar that is uncomfortable, you will soon develop problems in your posture and muscular pains and aches. To avoid this, choose a guitar that fits your body and your arm without putting too much pressure on your body. You can try out simple guitar lessons as a test.

Price does matter

Acoustic guitars can differ vastly in prices depending on the model and brand you choose. It is best to go for a decent and well-known brand so that you know what to expect from the instrument. Moreover, it is much easier to get such instruments tuned or repaired if the occasion arises. The first thing you must do is set a budget for your guitar purchase. For a beginner guitar, you need not spend a lot of money, but it should still be enough to get you a decent model. Remember that you cannot learn to play well on a second-grade instrument. For more advanced players, there are a large number of options that you can consider, especially if money is no object. In the matter of guitars, you get what you pay for. So be prepared to research all the different models available in your budget range.

To get a better idea about guitars in general, check out the website: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/.

 

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Jazz Guitar Lessons: Types of Jazz Guitars

Jazz Guitar Lessons: Types of Jazz Guitars

 

Jazz enthusiasts will often turn towards a jazz guitar as their instrument of choice. This is a perfect choice for playing the kind of music you love. Sooner or later, you would want to buy a jazz guitar of your own. There is a large variety in jazz guitars, a number of different brands and prices ranging from really cheap to extremely expensive. What you buy must be according to your requirements and limitations, but there are some basic things you need to consider when deciding on the type of jazz guitar you want for your guitar learning lessons. http://www.guitarlessonssingapore.com has more useful information on guitars.

Jazz guitars come in four distinct types, each of them having their own advantages and disadvantages. They are archtop jazz guitars, solid body jazz guitars, semi-hollow and semi-acoustic jazz guitars and custom jazz guitars.

Archtop

This is the guitar that is associated with jazz in the public mind. Most guitarists purchase the archtop guitar. It is the traditional jazz guitar, which produces a warm tone, so essential for jazz musicians. It’s a classic guitar for jazz and immediately makes you stand out as a jazzer. One of its main advantages is that it produces the authentic, original jazz sound since it was created for. It is also big, which makes it steady. It’s also the cheapest option, though any kind of jazz guitar is prone to be expensive. On the flip side, it has fewer tonal variations than many other types of guitars and it can be too heavy for some people, causing posture problems.

Solid body

These are the ordinary guitars used for rock and country music, but they have also made inroads into the jazz genre as well in recent years. It is lighter in weight and has a smaller size, which would suit people who are not able to deal with the size and weight of the archtop guitars. For such people, this guitar helps in solving any posture issues. It also has a large variety of tones and has no feedback problems. On the other hand, it does not produce the authentic jazz sound and you will have to work hard for it. The look of the guitar is also more rock than jazz, which might put off some people.

Semi-hollow

This guitar provides you the best of both worlds. It is a compromise between the archtop and the solid body guitars, being smaller and lighter than the former and larger and heavier than the latter. Semi-hollow guitars have a large tonal variety but can also work well with other genres with ease. It is also quite inexpensive when compared to other types of guitars, making it quite popular for beginner jazz guitar lessons. However, it has fewer tonal variations and everyone will not find the body shape comfortable to work with.

Custom guitar

If money is not a problem, then a custom guitar is an excellent option, especially for advanced users. You can single out your preferences for material, body type and playing style and have a guitar created that would suit you the best. The only problem is that it’s hugely expensive and not affordable to everyone. It also has a long waiting list, so it might take a while for your guitar to be built.

Once you have your jazz guitar, you can consider your various options on taking lessons. This article will help you with this: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/options-for-jazz-guitar-learning-lessons/.

 

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Ukulele Lessons: Caring for Your Ukulele

Ukulele Lessons: Caring for Your Ukulele

 

Like any other instrument, your ukulele requires handling with delicacy and care. The ukulele is a delicate instrument that produces lovely sounds, but it will only give you good and long service if you maintain it properly. Without proper care, ukuleles can get warped, lose their beautiful tones and even simply disintegrate at some point. To avoid all this, make sure you know how to take care of your ukulele as soon as you purchase one. To learn more about tuning a ukulele, refer to: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/how-to-tune-a-ukulele/. Here, we will see more about maintaining the instrument.

Play it!

This shouldn’t have to be said but sometimes people keep their instruments locked away for years and then take it out and expect it to perform as usual. It won’t, obviously. So keep playing the ukulele at every opportunity, whether you are still taking ukulele lessons or not. Even if you are too busy, try and play it once a week to keep it in working order.

Clean the ukulele regularly

When you play the ukulele, it tends to gather dust. If not immediately wiped off, it can gather gunk, making it unpleasant to handle and tougher to clean. All you need is a soft cloth to wipe down the instrument after handling it. Avoid rough cloth or paper towels as it can scratch the ukulele or damage the polish. Polishing should be done sparingly and carefully because too much of the cleaning agents can damage the instrument in the long run. Be very careful when polishing the instrument as the polish must not be applied on the fretboard. It also helps to wash your hands before handling the instrument to prevent the germs and dirt in your hands from transferring to the ukulele.

Avoid exposure to elements

Chances are that if you are already taking ukulele strumming lessons, you know a bit about the instrument and how delicate it is. A ukulele is made mostly of wood and is very reactive with the climactic conditions. In order to ensure longevity, it must not be kept away from the extremities of the weather. If it’s too humid, the uke can shrivel up and warp, affecting the playing. If it is too dry, it can crack and cause buzzing when playing. If it’s too hot, the uke can even come apart. So avoid exposing the instrument to such extreme environments.

Store the ukulele properly

Storing the instrument properly and under the right conditions is essential for its longevity. Keeping the ukulele in its case will prevent it from getting dented or bent or even destroyed by accident. Even the slightest bent can change the quality of your playing. Moreover, storing it safely will help in keeping it safe from extreme weathers. If you feel that the air is too dry, you can keep a small humidifier in the case. On the other hand, if the air is humid, then keep a silica gel pack in the case. Keeping an eye on the general climate and taking these simple measures will go a long way in keeping the ukulele in good condition.

With a little care and exertion on your part, your ukelele can last a long time and you will have the pleasure of enjoying it for years. For more on ukuleles, you can check out. www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

 

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Tips for Electric Guitar Beginners – Part I

Tips for Electric Guitar Beginners – Part I

Electric guitar, like everything else, requires you to learn the basics before you can play complex songs. Some beginner guitar lessons teach you all the things you need to know before you begin the actual classes. Other teachers prefer to get straight to playing the songs in order to keep your motivation alive. Whichever path your teacher chooses, you will need to learn and understand some things before you begin. More on selecting a guitar teacher here: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/selecting-an-electric-guitar-teacher/.

Know your guitar

Most beginners to guitar are advised to learn the basics on an acoustic guitar even if they eventually want to play on an electric guitar. If, for some reason, you don’t want to do this or are unable to do so, learn how your electric guitar works. Electric guitars need power and amps. An electric guitar has metal strings, which when strummed, interact with magnetic pickups on the guitar. This produces a current which passes through the preamplifier, reducing any interference and adding to the power of the sound. This current is finally sent for amplification. It is a complex system and it is helpful for you to understand exactly how the guitar works. It is your tool for learning music, and one needs to have a good understanding of your tools.

Play to time

Learning to play to time is the most important lesson you would ever learn. It is one of the most basic tenets of any kind of music. The problem arises for beginners because they aren’t yet familiar with a lot of other aspects, so they have to look things up. They have to make sure their fingering is correct, that they are playing the right notes, and so on. This might put you way off the time. It is important to play correctly, but it is also very important to play to time. What you can do is to set some time aside for practicing your timing. You can use a metronome for keeping time. In fact, it is an essential tool for beginners. Without learning how to keep time, your electric guitar lessons for beginners might not be very successful.

Ear training

Music theory, timing, learning to read tabs and other basics are important to learn, but before everything else, you must train your ear. It is not just important; it is the main thing for any budding electric guitarist to develop. It is a skill, a knack that must be worked upon endlessly. The trick to doing this is to pick up easy tunes in the beginning and then play it. The tunes can be as simple as nursery rhymes. Play them on a single string while working on your ear training because that takes minimum skill, and you can concentrate on figuring out the music. Ear training must go hand in hand with music theory because that’s the only way you would figure out where to place the sounds you are listening to, and why they are grouped together. Ear training should typically form a significant component of beginner guitar lessons. At least half of your practice time should be devoted to ear training as this is the single most important component of learning to play the guitar that will help you over the years.

Learn more related to the electric guitar at http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/.

 

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Buying an Electric Guitar – Part I

Buying an Electric Guitar – Part I

 

When you set out to learn something new, you need to ensure that you have all the materials required. The same goes for electric guitar. If you are planning to take electric guitar lessons, you need a reliable instrument to practice on. Without a decent instrument, you might not be able to pick up as fast as you might otherwise. There are two main things you require for this: a good teacher and a good instrument. For tips on selecting an electric guitar teacher, check out this article:http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/selecting-an-electric-guitar-teacher/. For more on selecting a good instrument, continue reading.

Learn about guitars

The first step before buying an electric guitar is to actually know what you are doing. You would not just go out and buy a pet without knowing the first thing about it. Well, a guitar is the same, and an electric guitar, more so! So it is a good idea to learn some things about the guitar. Understand the components that go into the making of a guitar. Learn about how each component functions and how they are useful to the player. Once you learn what goes where, you will know whether the guitar you are inspecting is exactly what you require or not. Without this basic understanding of the instrument, you might never be able to make the right choice.

So the first step before starting your basic electric guitar lessons is to learn about guitars. You can check out online tutorials or sites, or you might even ask your guitar teacher to help you with the basics. Once this is done, you are ready to go guitar shopping.

Decide on a body style

The body style of a guitar plays a huge role in its functioning. When it comes to comfort, the body style of the guitar is the most important factor for players. Without having a basic understanding of the different body styles and how each of them can impact your playing, you will be unable to make a good choice.

Solid body guitars: These are guitars that are made up of a single piece of wood. It is always the better choice because you don’t have to worry about whether the different wood parts are attached properly together. The fewer the parts, the better the construction. Solid body guitars weigh more and are sturdy. However, these guitars require amplifiers because of the lack of resonance chambers within the instrument.

Hollow body guitars: These guitars have a hollow interior and use different types of pick-ups than the solid body guitars.

Semi-hollow body guitars: These guitars are hybrid models. They usually are shaped with a cut-out design and have a small hollow portion in the body. These guitars have a bright tone very suitable for certain musical genres.

Electric – acoustic guitars: These are electric guitars shaped to look like acoustic guitars. The one advantage of these guitars is that they can be played without amplifiers.

By making the right choice here, you will be able to enhance your playing the way you want. Picking the correct body style for you will go a long way in making you a good guitar player.

We shall be continuing further with tips on what to keep in mind while purchasing an electric guitar. Meanwhile, if you are interested in more information about electric guitars, please refer to: www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

 

Acoustic Guitar Lessons: Online Learning vs. Regular Classes

Acoustic Guitar Lessons: Online Learning vs. Regular Classes

 

The guitar is an extremely popular instrument that is why more people are choosing to learn to play the guitar than any other instrument. Since it is so popular, there are many acoustic guitar classes held. You can choose to attend the type of class that you would be comfortable with and learn to play the guitar. There are many ways for you to do this.

Personal experienced guitarist teacher

If you are a beginner, hiring a personal guitarist is one of the best ways you can learn. There will not be any distractions since you will be the only student. The teacher would also be able to give you his undivided attention. You can move at your pace and learn more. There are many professional guitarists who give lessons to people wanting to learn. You can also approach a friend who has knowledge about guitars to help you out with tips.

Group guitar classes

Once you pass the beginners’ stage, it is always better that you join such classes. It will expose you to more musicians, you can learn from others’ mistakes, their style, and their knowledge. You would get a chance to evaluate yourself with respect to your peers who are in the same class as you. These classes are a better option than online learning as there would be a teacher present on hand to correct you immediately or answer any queries that you might have.

Online acoustic guitar lessons

The internet houses a large collection of documents on the subject of acoustic guitar including theory. There are thousands of videos showing every information possible from which you can mimic and learn. You can also visit websites which act as a virtual platform for you to practice. Along with all these necessary information on how to play, you will also find tips on how to maintain your guitar, how to practice, how to carry on your routine so that it benefits you in all ways and more.

Take a decision based on your level

If you are enrolling your child, or you are a beginner, then the ideal route for you would be to take personal classes or group classes according to your preference. If you are past the beginner stage, you can also learn with the help of the internet. Beginners can use the internet as a support tool for learning more but relying on it primarily might not get you the desired results. Beginners need someone to teach them basics such as the right way to hold a guitar, the correct body posture and so on.

Dedication is the key!

It doesn’t matter if you are taking personal classes, group classes, or online acoustic guitar lessons, dedication is still the key. Practice as much as possible. In most cases, people who are learning on their own tend to lose concentration over time. Be aware of this and make sure you are putting in your best efforts every day. There might be times when you might seem stuck and that you are not moving forward. It is what you need to consider before you are ready to take acoustic guitar lessons and move ahead. To know more on how to maintain your guitar, check out: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/acoustic-guitar-lessons-caring-acoustic-guitar/. For more on acoustic guitars, you can refer to www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

Ukulele Lessons: Home or Classes?

Ukulele Lessons: Home or Classes?

 

Ukulele is a stringed instrument. It is just as popular as guitar and there are thousands aspiring to learn the Uke. If you want to kick off with ukulele lessons, you have a lot of options in choosing how to go about it. There are various factors that play a role in choosing a class. Check out some of the factors listed below.

Budget

This is the first factor and one that needs to be considered by almost everyone. The fee should be within your budget. Group classes are generally less expensive than private classes. But the advantage you get in private classes is that you get the teacher’s full attention and there is nobody to disturb you. Some people are shy and are not comfortable asking questions in front of others. For them, private classes is the solution. But most people like group classes for they get an opportunity to meet new people and learn as a group.

Distance

Sometimes, you might not be able to find good ukulele classes in your neighborhood. You need to think whether you would be able to travel long distance for the classes. This can cause tiredness and stress eventually leading to a lack of interest. Make sure you have really thought well about taking up classes that are far away. If you are thinking of enrolling your child and the classes are too far away, think whether they would be able to manage the travel alone and if not, would you be able to act as the driver to them. Also, make sure that the child will not get too tired with the traveling as it can impact their learning.

If there are no suitable classes nearby, you can go for personal classes where the teacher would come to your place to teach. This can cost more, but sometimes, it is better than traveling long distance.

Infrastructure and space

If you are planning to take home lessons, think twice whether you have enough space to hold ukulele lessons. You also need to consider if you have sound proof rooms and if not, would it disturb the other members of your household. The advantage of music schools is that they have proper infrastructure with sound proof rooms, chairs and other necessary tools. You can practice here in comfort.

Practice and dedication

Practice is the key to performing like a pro. If you attend classes, you would be getting assignments and homework which would end up as practice for you even if do not get time or are unable to set specific practice hours. But if you are learning on your own, you need to formulate a plan for practicing and learning as there would be no one to keep an eye on you. You need to be self-motivated and disciplined in order to achieve excellence.

Take into consideration all these factors and more. Think twice before committing yourself to a class as changing music schools and teachers might lead to an inconsistent learning experience. Choose the best and most experienced teacher possible and practice as much as you can. You will definitely master the Uke! For more tips for a ukulele beginner, check out this link: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/tips-ukulele-beginners-lessons/. For more on ukulele, you can refer to www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

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YouTube: Shawn Mendes – Treat You Better – Guitar Cover | Mattias Krantz

Check out this nice guitar cover of Shawn Mendes’ “Treat You Better” on YouTube:

Why Take Ukulele Lessons?

Why Take Ukulele Lessons?

 

In the recent years, ukulele has established a stronger presence in the music world than ever before. There are uke classes, uke websites and even uke fests! Big names like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton have been uke lovers. Even George Harrison declared that ‘everyone should have and play a uke’. But let’s not take his word for it. Let us find out why exactly the ukulele is so popular, and why it is a good choice to take up ukulele lessons for budding musicians everywhere. Check out our website for more information on learning the guitar and ukulele: www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

It’s Cheap!

This might not be the most interesting reason ever, nor is this a reason that many people would admit. But you have to be practical because you cannot live on music alone, as much as you would like to. If budget is a constraint, then the ukulele is a great place to start your journey with musical instruments. Cheaper than most other instruments, a good ukulele can be obtained at affordable rates.

It’s easy to carry

The ukulele is much lighter than the guitar and hence makes a good instrument for those who are unable to or don’t want to use heavy instruments. This is especially true in the case of children who might prefer the ukulele to a guitar just because it’s so much easier to handle. It is easier to develop the right posture for beginners with the ukulele because of it weighs less. It is also useful when you want to transport the instrument to classes and gigs. This is one of the reasons ukulele lessons for kids are very popular as can be seen in this article: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/ukulele-lessons-are-easy-for-your-children/.

Only four strings

If you have the talent for stringed instruments, the ukulele would be the simplest of them all. With only four strings in the instrument, it is far easier to learn than the guitar which has six strings and can produce far more sounds than the ukulele. It is a common belief that learning the ukulele first paves the way for learning the guitar at a later stage. So even if your main aim is to learn guitar, you can still start with the ukulele. Many guitarists are also great ukulelists.

Popularity

This should not technically be a factor, but since most people learn music because of what they see and hear around them, the ukulele becomes a primary choice. With it being such a popular instrument, the chances of finding a good teacher also increases, which means that you could gain a better grounding of the basics. It also increases your career opportunities since there is a good demand for ukulele players. This in itself makes choosing the ukulele a wise choice for budding musicians.

Simple to learn, easy to use, lightweight to carry and over all, inexpensive – there really is no reason not to learn the ukulele if you are looking for something that will help develop your musical skills but are not yet sure enough to commit the time and money to it. And what’s more, the soulful and beautiful tones of the ukulele might just draw you deep into the music world, developing a strong passion inside you for this instrument, and indeed music in general.

Tips To Supplement Bass Guitar Lessons For Beginners

Tips To Supplement Bass Guitar Lessons For Beginners

For those aspiring to be ‘rock stars’, playing bass is more often an unlikely choice. It is like taking the ‘road less travelled’. Yet those who seriously pursued their bass guitar lessons for beginners, regard it as a truly fulfilling experience.

Mastery of the basics is crucial to your progress as a bass guitar player. Here are some guidelines to take you to the next level:

 

Know the body parts. The body, neck, strings, tune controls, head stock — it is important you know where and how to use them even with your eyes closed.   This could help you master the different aspects of playing bass such as plucking, correct fingering for chords and scales, tuning, and other techniques.

 

Know the difference between electric guitar and bass guitar. Not all guitars are created equal, literally. The most glaring difference between a bass and a guitar is the number of strings. A guitar has six, while a bass has only four strings. They are tuned with almost the same set of notes, namely EADGBE for guitar, and EADG for bass. Of course, leave out the last two strings on the guitar since they are non-existent on bass. Also, the bass is tuned one full octave lower in pitch than the guitar.

Moreover, knowing how to play the guitar is not a prerequisite for bass lessons. Singapore students often have this erroneous impression. Your guitar playing skills will definitely come in handy as you learn to play bass, and vise versa. You can easily switch or learn both.

 

Observe proper posture. Improper body position could be uncomfortable and distracting. It could also cause pain and injury. Bad posture could deter you from proper technique execution and restrain sound quality.

 

Time is of the essence. Yes, you share timekeeping duties with the drummer. You have to learn to get a solid grip on the timing of the music. One way to practice timing is by using a metronome. Yet, it is more important to listen and work with your internal clock to keep you in synch with the beat and time of a song.

 

Hammer time! The Hammer-on is one of the most basic and popular playing techniques in bass guitar. It gives off a smooth sound as you transition from one note to the next.

 

There are various techniques you could learn in basic bass guitar lessons. Here is an overview of the different bass guitar fundamentals for the absolute beginner. Check this out: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/which-type/bass/

 

Average bass players still hold the fallacious notion that they should play away from the spotlight. But great bass players know where they stand and know when to stand out. Think of songs like: “My Girl” by The Temptations, “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi, “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, among many others. Once you hear the bass lines, you could recognize the song a mile away, right?   Kids and beginners need not only learn technique. They have to be fine-tuned to the right mindset and motivation to learn their craft. A suitable and capable teacher at www.guitarlessonssingapore.com could help you in your search to find the right mentor in making those ‘rockstar dreams’ come true.

Essential Accessories for Your Basic Electric Guitar Lessons

Essential Accessories for Your Basic Electric Guitar Lessons

 

When you first begin to learn guitar, there are many things with which you would need to familiarise yourself. These include the instrument itself, learning to read the music, developing an ear for good playing, and so on. The best guitar lessons also give an indication of the kind of accessories you would require on your musical journey and how important they are for your life as a guitarist. For interesting information on this subject, consult the website: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/, a veritable resource of all things guitar! But for now, let us see what kind of accessories is essential for a guitarist.

  • Guitar picks are essential for any guitarist. As a beginner, it is a good idea to buy the thinnest possible picks. For good measure, buy a couple of medium thickness and thick ones too. Picks are not too expensive, so if you can afford a guitar, you can afford picks.
  • Get a nice strap for your guitar, especially if you are playing with the heavier guitars. This helps in developing good posture, keeping your balance while playing, handling the instrument properly and is more comfortable. You can consider purchasing a padded strap to minimise the effect on your shoulder.
  • A guitar tuner is an absolute essential for any guitar beginner. Getting into the habit of automatically tuning your guitar as a part of your guitar learning experience has several benefits, the chief among them being that you will always be assured of having a well-tuned guitar! If you are practising in a group, then it is absolutely essential.
  • One thing no guitarist can afford not to have in hand is a spare set of strings. Since the guitar is an instrument that has the unhealthy habit of getting its strings broken, very often in the middle of playing, there is no way to avoid this. Always keep two or three sets of spare strings so you can immediately use them as and when required. At the same time, also purchase a string winder, which will help you to get the job done quickly.
  • To ensure that you develop great timing and are able to work well with any given piece, a metronome is important. It is used by musicians as a standard tempo reference and helps you work on irregular timing problems when you play. All professionals use metronomes, so for beginners, it is even more important.
  • If you are buying a guitar, spending money on guitar classes and all the other accessories, it makes sense to purchase a guitar case in order to keep your guitar safe. While many people prefer to just hang their guitar on the wall, this is not good for the long life of your instrument. In addition to being exposed to accidents and being dented, your guitar is also sensitive to the weather and will develop cracks if exposed to the elements.
  • Capos, footrest, strap locks, guitar humidifiers, guitar cleaning rags, guitar stands, batteries and e-bows are other accessories that come in handy for handling, playing, cleaning or maintaining your guitar.

Once you have all the accessories required to start your lessons, you are ready to face the guitar world well prepared. For an overview of what to expect from basic electric guitar lessons, check out the article: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/what-will-you-learn-in-an-electric-guitar-course/.

Qualities of Good Jazz Guitar Teachers

Qualities of Good Jazz Guitar Teachers

Jazz music has its adherents and many students who sign up for learning this particular genre are already well aware of the nuances of jazz music. When they seek someone for teaching them how to play jazz guitar, they need to find one who has a good understanding of teaching as well as of the specific genre of music. Many guitar teachers often have no specialized learning in the genre but tend to take up students merely to make up the numbers. So keep a few things in mind when searching for a jazz guitar teacher.

Awareness of jazz music
If you want to learn jazz guitar, you need a teacher who knows a lot about jazz. Without this, you would just be receiving a hotchpotch of different genres, which might not be helpful in the long run. They must have a good ear, great timing and what’s more, they must be able to teach you how to develop these very essential skills. The idea is that your teacher should always know far more than you do. They must have a lot of heads memorized so that they can guide you at every point. In short, your teacher must be a veteran in jazz music, and not just a guitarist with basic knowledge of jazz.

Trained as a guitar teacher
Seek a teacher who is trained in how to teach jazz guitar. Many teachers just take on students and hope to go through the motions with the help of their knowledge. Many of them have not even learned to play the guitar formally from another teacher but have learned through trial and error. While such people can have amazing talent and are to be appreciated, it does not always follow that they would be able to teach the skills to others. Formal training and being trained in teaching will ensure that your teacher knows how to impart basic skills. There are many techniques for teaching the guitar and it is only with such training that your teacher will be able to help you during your jazz guitar classes.

Organized
A good teacher must be organized in their planning and teaching. This means being punctual whether the classes are in your home or in their studio or home. He or she must not use class time for their personal work, including attending phone calls or entertaining visitors. Remember that you are paying for their time. If you see a teacher behave like this consistently, find another teacher. A good teacher must also prepare their lessons beforehand and have a good overview of what will be completed in each lesson. They must also plan ahead on a long term basis to cover different concepts over time.

Achieving your goals
First, you need to set goals in your music learning. A good teacher will help you do this, if you are clueless or not too sure in which direction to proceed. You will need to set both your short term and long term goals and accordingly learn. It is important that you find a teacher who is able to assist you in achieving your goals by using specific teaching strategies tailored to your specific needs. Avoid teachers who use generalized teaching for all their students or force their goals upon you.

 

If you are living in Singapore, jazz guitar lessons are available from many sources. With the above tips, it will be easier for you to find a decent teacher who can help you along on your journey.