| The GUITAR is one of the most admired musical | | | | strumming styles, percussive strum, deadening, |
| instruments of all times. It's not only popular with | | | | staccato strum, tricked out scales, hammer-on, |
| the music-bugs, but it also tends to create a | | | | pull offs, transposing keys, vibrato, palm muting |
| remarkable style statement. The rocking head | | | | etc. This could take a while, but the great golden |
| shake style of the guitar players is so cool; it | | | | rule applies here, that of practising more and |
| makes the audience go crazy. | | | | more for flawless motions. After this the simple |
| Talking about the history of guitar, the use of | | | | tunes can be started with and slowly going ahead |
| similar musical instruments dates long back to | | | | with different range of tunes which cover number |
| thousands of years. The cool instrument has its | | | | of chords. The basic chords are very important, |
| roots back to Europe and central Asia. Since then | | | | once a player learns them he or she will be able |
| the guitar has evolved aesthetically. The guitar has | | | | to bang out a decent range of several songs. If |
| many forms broadly two- acoustic guitar which | | | | the learner likes to be taught then e should ask a |
| includes classical guitar, ten-string guitar, | | | | guitarist to show few basic chords, this is the |
| Portuguese guitar, Archtop guitar and many other. | | | | best mode to learn and will go a long way. After |
| The other type is the electric guitar and electric | | | | this, taking a cue from the internet itself can help. |
| bass guitar. | | | | This can be done by looking at the tablature of |
| The guitar has well maintained its special place | | | | songs which shows where to put the finger to |
| across the music lover's community. I can be said | | | | play the chords to a tune. It is perhaps a great |
| that the guitar is all the rage with all almost | | | | way for guitar learners who can't read music. |
| age-groups, especially among the youth. The | | | | Now, comes learning to play 'barre' chords. These |
| young music lovers aspire to learn the jamming | | | | are basically chord shapes that can be moved up |
| style which seems greatly appealing and simple | | | | and down the neck of the guitar. When a learner |
| which indeed is not. Learning guitar takes a great | | | | 'barre' the chord with finger, he is moving the top |
| deal of effort and dedication, coupled with | | | | fret down to get in the different key. The easiest |
| immense passion for music which is found wanting | | | | way of learning the 'barre' chord is by using a |
| in most cases. As a beginner player the first step | | | | book and practising the shapes on the guitar and |
| should be to understand the instrument itself. . It | | | | moving them up and down on the neck. For |
| is important for the new players to acclimatise | | | | beginners the fingers get cramps and sores, but |
| with various parts of guitar. It means getting | | | | over time the hands will become stronger and |
| introduced to basic segments like the head | | | | fingers will develop calluses. Learning finger picking |
| stocks, nut, machine heads, truss rods, neck, | | | | can also enhance the playing; many songs are |
| body, pickups, electronics etc. All this is to | | | | entirely composed of finger picking. There are |
| fundamentally understand what is where and how | | | | many different styles of it, it takes time to get |
| it works. Next comes the part of holding the | | | | comfortable with how the fingers move, but with |
| guitar in the right position. Guitar can be made to | | | | time it will almost move by themselves. After |
| meet the requirements of both left and | | | | being conversant with the guitar the most |
| right-handed players. Traditionally, the dominant | | | | important part comes that of practise. The more |
| hand is assigned the task of strumming or | | | | a player practises; his fingers will glide smoothly |
| plucking the strings. For majority of people this | | | | and effortlessly over the neck of the guitar. As a |
| means using the right-hand. This is because the | | | | thumb rule the best way to learn is to play that |
| tune expression is largely determined by the | | | | song. People who have become pros in guitar |
| plucking hand while the other hand is assigned the | | | | have not achieved it over-night. Of course, it has |
| lesser mechanical work of gripping the strings. | | | | taken long hours of practice, hard-work and |
| Starting with the playing, its important to build | | | | dedication. It is after years of good practice |
| vigour and dexterity to be more like a pro, so | | | | sessions that bring out a true guitarist in oneself. |
| that the gauche fingers can be moved smoothly | | | | Some of the new learners find it difficult to move |
| for effortless tunes. | | | | ahead and learn fresh and more difficult lessons |
| After being comfortable with the strings, the | | | | but what can stop a guitarist whose true soul |
| learner should emphasise on techniques of | | | | knows nothing but the essential ardour for music. |