Les Paul was a famous guitarist, and one of the first users of the solid-body electric guitar, the instrument which made possible the sounds of rock and roll. He was also one of the first widely recognized musicians to use new techniques such as phasing effects, tape delay, and multitrack recording.
In 1948, Paul was in a near-deadly car accident. His right arm and elbow were shattered– doctors told Paul that they could not rebuild his elbow, and his arm would remain permanently in the position they placed it. Paul asked them, for this reason, to set his arm at the right angle to be able to cradle and pick the guitar.
Playing the guitar is not just about learning the technical details– it’s also about the effort and love you put into the act. If you’re a beginner, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the skills many seasoned players have acquired. With time and patience, though, it’s not as difficult as it looks. Here are three useful tools for beginners that will start you on the right path.
1. Getting Your Guitar
An obvious first step is choosing the right guitar for your personal style and likely growth. There are two basic types of guitars: electric and acoustic. To get an idea of what you want, consider the type of music you plan on playing. Acoustic guitars are more loud and traditionally associated with “folksy” music, though they’ve been used in rock and heavy metal as well. This is a good choice if you’re aiming for playing music in coffee shops or other small gatherings. An electric guitar requires an amplifier to be heard– they can be a little more confusing to use, but they are also more easier to play, having lighter strings.
2. Sound Equipment
Even though you’re just starting out, like many, you might already be looking to the future of your needs as a musician. What sort of sound equipment will you need? Guitar pedal kits are used by both acoustic and electric guitar players. These pedals help to create sound modifying effects such as guitar distortion, which is when a wavy, fuzzy sound is produced. T-rex pedals and Walrus pedals are affordable while producing quality sound, making them good brands for beginners. Check out audio and video clips provided by online music stores to get an idea of what sound variables each equipment piece delivers.
3. Your Guitar Strings
Even though strings are an important factor in sound creation, many instructors give their students little to no instruction on choosing appropriate strings for their guitar. Luckily, online music stores will often give you the heads up on finding the right fit. Strings come in multiple gauges, or thickness. For acoustic, the average gauge is .012. For electric, .010 is more standard. With either, a thicker gauge will deliver a fuller sound, but it will be more difficult to play. Thinner strings might be best for a beginner, but in time, you might want the improved tone and volume of a thicker gauge. Each guitar type has multiple options for materials– nickle-plated are a good choice for beginner electric guitarists, and phosphor bronze is a good fit for acoustic players.
What type of guitar do you plan on buying from an online music store? Continue: www.lawkstarguitars.com