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Category Archives: Musical Instruments
Independent Guitar Makers Models Builders Luthiers Companies
Check our website page “Independent Guitar Makers and Models” if you are looking for things like the best independent guitar builders, independent guitar luthiers, or specific models like the Monteleone archtop Eclipse. We also list independent guitar companies.
- Independent Guitar Makers and Models <= click here
If you need a guide, advice, or tips on anything musical please comment below and I will try to answer your questions.
Paul Gibson
Learning to Play the Ukulele
The ukulele is a great instrument for beginners. It’s four nylon strings make it very easy to play. It’s a great musical instrument for children to learn to play on. They are quite tough and can take rough handing from a child. The ukulele is a very affordable instrument. It is becoming quite popular as well; watch this video from the band Train that features a ukulele.
Musical Instruments Bass – The Electric Bass Guitar
Before Fender invented the precision electric bass guitar there was only the upright bass guitar. The upright bass guitar’s weren’t very loud and could be easily drowned out in a band. Fenders invention of the precision electric bass guitar revolutionized the music industry. Having an amplified bass guitar allowed the bass guitar to be a prominent part of any band. An electric bass guitar was also much easier to pack and carry. The electric bass guitar is a major instrument in most bands today thanks to Leo Fender.
Guitar Truss Rod Adjustment
It is important to know when your electric guitar or acoustic guitar truss rod needs to be adjusted. First make sure your guitar is in tune. When the guitar strings are under tension they are perfectly straight. By holding down the guitar strings at the first fret and the twenty first fret you will be able to see how much of a bow is in your neck. There should be a slight bow on your guitar neck. If the strings are laying (or touching) on all the guitar frets, the truss rod is too tight and needs too be loosened. The strings at the 7th guitar fret should be at a height of approximately 1/32” – 1/16” above the fret board. If there is more than a 1/16” bow, your truss rod needs to be tightened. Think of the truss rod as a curved rod with a nut on the end. Turn to the right to tighten, turn to the left to loosen ¼” to ½’ at the most.
Guitar Repair – Temperature and Humidity
Acoustic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, and violins are greatly affected by temperature and humidity. Guitars will swell up and dry out in just a couple of days from the relative humidity. When a guitar moves from one environment to another you may need to loosen or tighten the truss rod. This adjustment may be necessary a few times before it settles into its new environment. Don’t let your guitar get too hot or cold, too damp, or too dry. All of these things will affect the wood, the finish, and the sound of your musical instrument. When the temperature reaches 200 degrees, the glue that holds your instrument together will melt. If the humidity is too high and your guitar gets too damp the strings won’t vibrate properly. The guitar strings will buzz and it will sound like you are playing a chunk of wet cardboard. Humidity also causes the guitar to expand. When the wood dries out you will have damage to the finish that will appear as small hairline cracks. In addition, if your musical instrument gets too hot or dries out too fast it can cause the neck, back, and sides of your guitar to move out of position potentially ruining your guitar.
Acoustic Guitar and Electric Guitar Set Up
When you buy a new guitar or a used guitar it needs to be calibrated. When you change the strings on an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar it needs to be calibrated as well. This will make the guitar play and stay in tune. The bridge pieces on your guitar need to be set in their proper place. The truss rod needs to be adjusted. Be sure to have an experienced guitar technician set up your new or used guitar.
Guitar Repair – how to fix a stripped out screw
This is an easy fix to repair your electric guitar or acoustic guitar; in fact it works well on most musical instruments that are made out of wood. When you find your guitar strap button screws have stripped out; dip a toothpick in some white glue and place it into the hole, break it off flush with the guitar and depending on the size of the hole, repeat. Now replace the guitar strap button screw, let dry. If your pick guard screws or machine heads have stripped out, use this same trick.
Learn to Play Guitar Chords
Learn to Play Guitar Chords video’s.
Now that you have an electric guitar or acoustic guitar it’s time to start learning chords. It is helpful to hear how a chord sounds when you are learning your fingerings. There are many instructional video’s available online. Here is a simple video on youtube to help you to begin.