Ze – Page 4 – Liberty Park Music

Using a pick, fingers or both?

At a glance… 1. Flatpicking vs fingerstyle 2. Technique 3. Tone 4. Using both styles A really common question that I get from beginners is, “Should I learn to play with a pick or my fingers?” Like many things in music, this is a matter of personal preference. One is not more difficult than the other; they’re just different styles of playing. In this article, I will explain the differences to help you make an informed decision. What is flatpicking and fingerstyle? Flatpicking requires the use of a plectrum, or more commonly known as a pick, which is a small … Read more

Fundamentals of Music Practice

by ZeMusic in General Music Practice

Without a doubt, the most effective way to improve your abilities as a musician is to practice. It seems like common sense, but in today’s fast-paced world that favors activities that provide instant gratification, many people tend to forget the importance of practice. Although there is no shortcut around practice, there are ways to make your practice sessions more enjoyable and effective. In this article, we’ll talk about how often we should practice, how to mentally prepare ourselves for our practice time, the obstacles of practicing and how to overcome them, and how to establish good practice habits. How often … Read more

Academic Benefits of Music Lessons for Children

by ZeMusic in General Music Practice

At a glance… 1. Relationship between music and intelligence 2. Jamming versus reading 3. Music and speech 4. Importance of active participation 5. Patience, diligence and discipline Many parents believe that music and learning musical instruments can enhance children’s intelligence and academic performance. Some pregnant women even play Mozart for their unborn babies in hopes that classical music will give their children an academic edge. It turns out that learning a musical instrument indeed benefits the development of a child’s brain. Ample evidence suggests that taking music lessons at a young age can improve intelligence, cognitive and social development, and … Read more

The Guitar Jedi Workout for Speed and Accuracy

by ZeGuitar Music Practice

At a glance… 1. Metronome 2. About speed 3. Chromatic exercise 4. Scales 5. Finger gym 6. The spider Most guitarists wish they have more speed and accuracy, and with good reason too. Although it’s not necessary to play extremely fast for effective expression of musical ideas (Eric Clapton and B.B. King for example don’t play at ridiculous speeds), it definitely is a good tool to have! In this article, we will explore a couple of exercises and ideas to help build speed and accuracy. Metronome Unless stated otherwise, all of the following exercises require the use of a metronome. … Read more

Guitar Maintenance for Beginners

by ZeGuitar

At a glance… 1. Professional setup 2. Temperature and humidity 3. String maintenance 4. Cleaning and maintenance while changing strings 5. Long term storage Guitar maintenance is often overlooked because most guitarists would rather spend time practicing than doing maintenance on their guitars. However, there are benefits of keeping your instrument in tip-top shape. For example, it keeps the setup of your guitar consistent so you won’t have to keep adjusting the string action and intonation. It also retains the resale value of your instrument. Neglecting your guitar’s condition can result in overly rusty strings, a bloated body, a warped … Read more

How To Choose Your First Guitar

by ZeGuitar

At a glance… 1. Price 2. Style 3. Availability for trying out 4. Inspecting the instrument 5. Warranty Buying your first guitar can be a confusing process as there are several different kinds of guitars, many different brands, and a large number of designs. The array of choices can make you hold off on your purchase and lose interest in the hobby before you’ve begun. To help you make a confident and informed decision, this article discusses five things to consider: price, style of music, availability for testing, condition of the instrument, and warranty. Price You will first have to … Read more

Electric, Classical, and Acoustic Guitars: What Are The Differences?

by ZeBuyer Guide Guitar

At a glance… 1. Strings 2. Sound production 3. Genres 4. Shape and size 5. Feel and suitability 6. Price One of the first questions I get from people who are looking to pick up the guitar is, “what is the difference between a classical, acoustic, and electric guitar? And which one should I choose for my first guitar?” It really all comes down to what you would like to accomplish with the instrument and your personal preference for genre of music, sound, feel of the instrument, and of course, price. No arbitrary rule states that, for example, all beginners … Read more

Guitar Guide For Beginners: Guitar Terminology

by ZeGuitar

Throughout the course of your guitar journey, there will be essential guitar and musical terms that help facilitate effective communication, especially if you’re planning on playing with a band. This article introduces some of the most important terms. Guitar Acoustic Guitar – A steel-string instrument that has either six or twelve strings. An acoustic guitar produces sound acoustically without the help of electronics or amplifiers. Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Sometimes called a semi-acoustic, an acoustic-electric guitar is fitted with electronic pickups in its body so that it can be electronically amplified with an amp. The acoustic-electric guitar is useful for playing … Read more

Easy Guitar Songs and Tips for Beginners

by ZeGuitar

At a glance… 1. Factors determining difficulty 2. Number of chords 3. Guitar friendly keys 4. Anchor fingers 5. Barre chords 6. Strumming patterns 7. Simplifying chords 8. Tempo 9. Patience 10. List of easy songs One of the fastest ways to get beginners to give up on playing the guitar is to have them learn songs beyond their skill level, which can be incredibly frustrating, demoralizing, and even physically painful. Have you ever encountered a song that has one too many barre chords, or maybe one with chords with strange symbols like G#7b5#9? Songs like these typically turn off … Read more

How To Use a Capo for Guitarists

by ZeGuitar

A capo is a tool that clamps down on all the strings at a certain fret, which effectively moves the guitar’s nut up to that fret. It can also act as your index finger when you play barre chords. It is a great tool that many guitarists use to make songs easier to play or sound different. With planning, you can use the capo to minimize the number of barre chords needed (not that you should avoid them though!). Without a capo, songs with complex voicings are almost unplayable. A couple of examples include “Here Comes the Sun” by The … Read more

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