Howcast

How to Buy an Electric Guitar

Howcast — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 11:01:15 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Choose style Choose from the four basic styles of electric guitars: solid body, hollow body, semi-hollow body, and chambered. Each has a unique sound, so match the style to the type of music you’ll be playing.
Step 2: Set a budget Set your budget. If you are a beginner, look for guitars in the $300 or less range. Experienced players should buy the highest-quality guitar they can afford.
Step 3: Know makers Know that two of the top manufacturers of electric guitars are Fender and Gibson, used by professional musicians. Gibson’s lesser-priced line is Epiphone and Fender’s is Squier, which produce copies of their popular main line models. Ibanez is another affordable option.
TIP: Find out what type of guitar your favorite artists play to use as a jumping off point.
Step 4: Compare Compare reviews by manufacturer and model online and in guitar magazines. Look for comments regarding sound, construction, and price.
Step 5: Look at style Choose the look that appeals to you. There are many body designs, sizes, colors, and types of wood, which are a matter of personal preference as well as indicators of sound quality.
Step 6: Head to the store Head to a reputable guitar store to test out your picks. Pay attention to the quality of the sound, the size, and the feel of the strings and neck. Have adjustments made before you take it home. Rock on!
FACT: Radio repairman Leo Fender was the first to successfully mass-produce and market a Spanish-style solid-body electric guitar, eventually called the Telecaster, in 1951.

You Will Need

Body style
Budget
Knowledge of manufacturers
Reviews
Reputable dealer
Your favorite artist’s guitar model (optional)

How to Rule on Double Guitar

Howcast — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 12:31:02 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Buy guitar Buy a double guitar that suits your needs.
TIP: Both acoustic and electric double guitars are available.
Step 2: Tune Tune the guitar.
TIP: Use the standard tuning method, or customize the tune to your liking.
Step 3: Activate each neck Put the toggle switch in the correct position to activate each neck. Flip the switch up to activate the top neck, down to activate the bottom, and position it in the middle to activate both necks.
Step 4: Switch between necks Practice switching between necks until you can pull it off smoothly.
Step 5: Play chord Have all 12 strings in an open tuning, such as DGDGBD or DADGAD, and play a chord without moving your arm away from the lower neck.
Step 6: Play melody and rhythm Play a steady rhythm on one neck, and play a lead melody on the other neck. Both necks will need to be tuned in the same key.
Step 7: Play a full-sounding chord Strum through both necks, tuned in the same key, for a full-sounding chord. You are now on your way to book a gig at Madison Square Garden!
FACT: In 2001, an Englishman named Chris Black married his guitar.

You Will Need

Double guitar
Ability to play the guitar
Willpower

How to Buy an Acoustic Guitar

Howcast — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 06:30:55 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Visit a guitar dealer Visit a guitar dealer rather than a music shop as they usually have a better selection and staff to guide you through your purchase.
TIP: Acoustic guitars are best for beginners, as well as for people who live in a confined space, since they don’t require loud and expensive amplifiers.
Step 2: Avoid cheap guitars Avoid cheap guitars that use plywood. Instead, look for spruce or cedar for the top, mahogany for the sides and bottom, and ebony for the fretboard.
TIP: If you’re not satisfied or find your musical aspirations shifting, most guitars have excellent resale value.
Step 3: Test everything Hold every guitar you can. Feel the guitar’s weight and strum it. Keep trying until you find an instrument that sounds good to you.
Step 4: Reserve brand judgment Reserve your brand judgment as name brands are not always the best and just because you haven’t heard of it doesn’t make it the worst.
Step 5: Try a used guitar Try purchasing a used guitar. Not only are they cheaper, but their aged and worn condition often sounds and feels better.
Step 6: Decide on steel or nylon strings Decide between steel strings, which offer a smoother sound, or nylon strings, which don’t bruise the fingertips as much.
Step 7: Take care of your guitar Take care of your guitar by purchasing a hard-shell case and a strap. Don’t forget the pick. Now you’re ready to strum away.
FACT: The Guqin is China’s oldest stringed instrument, dating back almost 3,000 years. Unlike the guitar, the Gugin is placed on the lap and played horizontally.

You Will Need

Time
Patience
Good ear

How to Make a Cigar Box Guitar

Howcast — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:46:00 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Measure and mark Measure from the top of the oak, which will be the neck, and make a mark horizontally across it with the pencil 1/2 inch from the top. Make 3 more marks, spaced 1 inch apart, measuring from the first mark. Draw 3 vertical lines the length of the horizontal lines, spaced about 3/8 of an inch apart, starting from the outer edge.
Step 2: Mark drill holes Mark the spots on the grid to drill the holes where the lines intersect. With the oak piece in front of you horizontally, mark the first spot where the first horizontal line meets the third vertical line away from you.
Step 3: Continue marking Mark another spot directly underneath the first one on the next horizontal line down and another next to it on the second vertical line. On the third horizontal line down from the top, mark the first and second line intersections, and on the fourth horizontal line, mark the intersection with the first vertical line closest to you.
Step 4: Mark the anchors Make 3 marks where the strings will be anchored at the other end of the piece of oak. Measure 1 inch up from the bottom, and make the first mark 1/2 in from one side. Mark the next 2 spots 1/2 inch apart to give you 3 centered marks. Drill holes through the spots where you marked using the 1/4 inch drill bit.
Step 5: Add string lifts Add the 1/2-inch by 2-inch piece of wood 6 inches from the top. This will function as the bridge. Then add the 1-by-2 piece of wood 1 1/2 inches from the bottom. This is the nut, which lifts the strings off the guitar. Secure both pieces with epoxy, clamp them down, and allow the epoxy to dry.
Step 6: Cut string grooves Using the saw, cut 3 small, equidistant vertical grooves for the strings to sit in across the bridge and nut. Insert 1 eyebolt into the topmost hole of the neck, the second bolt into the middle hole below, and the last eyebolt into the first hole on the third level. Secure them in the back with the washers and wing nuts. These will serve as the tuning pegs.
TIP: Although a regular guitar has 6 strings, cigar box guitars often have only 3 or 4 strings.
Step 7: Insert wood screws Drill pilot holes for the 3 wood screws on the back side of the oak, about 1/2 inch up from the end to hold the strings. Insert the screws.
Step 8: String the guitar Cut a length of twine and double-knot it to one of the wood screws at the bottom. Thread it through the hole to the front of the guitar and up through the nut, and then back down the hole at the top to double-knot it to the top of the eyebolt. Repeat for the 2 remaining strings. Then turn the bolts to tighten and tune the strings. Cut away any excess twine.
Step 9: Add frets Place 4 nails horizontally below the bridge, underneath the strings, at regular intervals to serve as frets. Secure them with rubber bands fastened to either end and around the back of the neck.
TIP: Grind off the sharp ends of the nails using the grinder.
Step 10: Attach cigar box Glue the cigar box shut and center it underneath the oak neck, just above the string holes at the bottom end. Epoxy it on and let it dry thoroughly. Then tune it up, and you have a finished acoustic guitar.
Step 11: Make it electric Make your guitar electric by adding a piezo transducer. Tape the round end of the transducer directly underneath the nut and solder the other end to an electric guitar cable. Plug it to your amp and jam!
FACT: The Cigar Box Guitar Extravaganza, an annual event begun in 2005 in Hunstville, Alabama, is billed as the largest cigar box guitar concert in the world.

You Will Need

3 ft. piece of 1 in. x 2 in. oak
Ruler or straightedge
Pencil
Power drill
1/4 in. drill bit
1 piece of 1/2 in. x 2 in. wood
1 piece of 1 in. x 2 in. wood
Epoxy
Clamp
Saw
3 eyebolts with wing nuts and washers
3 wood screws
Nylon mason twine
4 1-in. finishing nails
Cigar box
Piezo transducer
Soldering iron and solder
Electric guitar cable
Amplifier
Grinder (optional)

How to Buy an Amplifier

Howcast — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 12:01:52 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Choose between combo or stack Choose between combo amps or the stack variation. Combo amplifiers have both the amp head and the speakers in one unit, whereas with the stack variation you can mix and match.
TIP: Pick the combo amps if you are planning on playing smaller venues.
Step 2: Know the types Know the different types of amplifiers. Solid state amplifiers use transistors and are affordable, but have a cold sound. Tube amps have a warm sound, but require more maintenance. Modeling amps let you modify the tone and sound digitally.
Step 3: Get a thick amp Get an amplifier with a thickness of at least 1/2 inch.
Step 4: Take control Take control with an amplifier that has knobs to let you adjust EQ settings, control tones, gain, reverb, and presence.
Step 5: Carry it Carry the amplifier around to test its portability and see if it is big enough or too big for your needs.
TIP: Test drive the amplifier before you buy it, and see if it gives you the sound you want.
Step 6: Budget Budget how much you are willing to spend on an amplifier. Buy an amplifier in your price range that fits your needs.
FACT: In 1906, Lee De Forest invented the audion, a vacuum tube device that was used in phones and radios to amplify weak electrical signals.

You Will Need

Budget

How to Restring a Bass

Howcast — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:46:14 +0000

Instructions

: Never change all the strings at once; do it one at a time.
Step 1: Unwind the string Unwind the tuning peg by turning it to loosen the string; then pull the string off the tuning peg. Cut the crimped end off and pull the rest off the guitar.
TIP: You can use a string winder to unwind the string quickly.
Step 2: Prepare new string Take the new string out of the package and unravel it from the coil.
TIP: Check the package to make sure you’re using the correct gauge of string.
Step 3: Prepare the bass Stand the bass on end and turn the tuning peg so the hole in the peg is in line with the bass and not perpendicular to it.
Step 4: Thread the string Thread the end of the string through the tail piece, over the bridge, into the ridge piece, up the neck, over the nut, and through the peg from the top.
Step 5: Wind the string Secure the string at the nut with your thumb; then wind the string a few turns to secure the slack.
TIP: Do not wind the string too tight or it will break.
Step 6: Cut the string Crimp the string about a half inch away from the tuning peg; then cut the string about a half inch past the crimp.
Step 7: Tune the string Tune the string either by ear or with a tuner. Bend the string a bit while you’re tuning to help break it in. Get ready to jam.
FACT: Leo Fender introduced the bass guitar to a larger audience with his “Precision” bass in 1951.

You Will Need

Wire cutters
New strings
Tuner
String winder (optional)

How to Buy the Right Guitar

Howcast — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 14:31:07 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Establish your budget Establish your budget, deciding whether you’re willing to invest $200, $2,000, or more, remembering you will also need to buy a case and accessories.
Step 2: Consider aspirations Consider your musical aspirations. Select an electric guitar to play rock, semi-acoustic for jazz and blues, and acoustic to play classical or jazz.
Step 3: Size your instrument Size your instrument so that it easily rests on your lap, making sure you can reach around the body and neck. Also, make sure neck width and string spacing are a fit.
TIP: Shop at several stores. Test drive several different guitars until you find the perfect fit.
Step 4: Examine construction details Examine a guitar’s construction details, looking for die-cast tuning gears and a solid top. Keep in mind that dark and light woods create different tones.
Step 5: Check the warranty Check the warranty for your guitar purchase, as you would for any major purchase.
Step 6: Select a guitar Select a guitar that is the best match and that you’ll enjoy playing. Now, tune up and get ready for an exciting musical journey.
FACT: Electric guitars came on the scene in the 1930s and 1940s, made popular by music pioneers such as Muddy Waters and Merle Travis.

You Will Need

Budget
Goals
Test drives (optional)

How to Make a Guitar Pick from an Old Gift Card

Howcast — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:46:16 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Position pick Position the guitar pick on the flat surface of the gift card, so you can use it as a template for the new pick.
TIP: Make guitar picks from hard plastic or any stiff cardboard packaging.
Step 2: Trace new pick Trace the shape of the new pick by holding the template down firmly and tracing the outline with the felt-tip marker.
Step 3: Remove pick Remove the template pick from the surface and lay it aside.
Step 4: Cut out pick Cut out the new pick using the utility knife or scissors. Now start shredding!
FACT: Legendary guitarist Les Paul built the first popular solid-body electric guitar.

You Will Need

A used gift card
An old guitar pick
A felt-tip marker
A utility knife or scissors

How to String an Electric Guitar

Howcast — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:32:58 +0000

Instructions

: Never remove all six strings at the same time, which disrupts the balance of tension, making it necessary to reset the guitar’s neck, or adjust the bridge.
Step 1: Remove the string Rotate the tuning peg to unwind the popped or old string, and extract it from the tuning peg. Using the wire cutters, snip off the crimped part of the string, throw it away, and slip the rest of the string off the guitar, being careful not to let the tip of the string scratch the finish. Throw the old string away.
TIP: Use a string winder to unwind the string quickly.
Step 2: Get the new string ready Remove and unravel the new string from your pack. Check the package to make sure you’re using the correct gauge string.
Step 3: Line up the tuning peg with the neck Stand the guitar up on its end. Turn the tuning key so that the hole in the tuning peg is in line with the neck – not perpendicular to it.
Step 4: Thread the string Thread the tip of the nonball end of the string through the tailpiece, over the bridge (making sure it’s in the proper groove in the bridge piece), up the neck, and over the nut. Anchor the string under the correct tree, if your guitar has them. Thread the end of the string through the hole of the tuning peg, from the top.
TIP: Some electric guitars require you to begin threading the string through the back of the guitar.
Step 5: Tighten the string Hold the string against the nut, leaving a few inches of slack. Turn the tuning key three to four times away from the headstock, allowing the slack end of the string to tighten. Do not tighten too much, which could cause the string to break.
Step 6: Snip the end Crimp the end of the string at a right angle away from the headstock, a half-inch from the tuning peg, and cut the string a half-inch past the crimp.
Step 7: Tune the string Tune the string, either by ear or by using a tuner.
TIP: “Bend” the string up and down on each fret as you’re tuning to help break it in.
Step 8: Move on to the next string Once your string is in tune, cut any excess string and move on to the next one.
FACT: Did you know? Instruments resembling the guitar have existed for more than 4,000 years.

You Will Need

A guitar
Wire cutters
New strings
A string winder (optional)
A tuner (optional)

How to Play a Basic Bar Chord

Howcast — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:55:37 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Lay index finger across strings ‘Bar’ (in other words, lay) your index finger across all six strings just behind any ‘fret’—those ridges of metal or wood set across the fingerboard of the guitar that are there to help guide your fingers to the correct points.
TIP: When it comes to playing the guitar, your fingers are numbered. Your index is your first; your middle finger is second; your ring finger is third; and your pinky is fourth.
Step 2: Press down on strings Bite your lip and press down as hard as possible. It’s going to hurt at first, but over time your fingers will toughen up.
Step 3: Position your middle finger Place your middle finger on the third string, behind the fret adjacent to the one you are barring.
Step 4: Position your third finger Place your third finger on the fifth string behind the fret adjacent to the one that your second finger is on.
Step 5: Position your pinky Place your fourth finger next to your third finger, this time on the fourth string. You now have formed a major bar chord.
TIP: The note that your first finger holds down on the sixth string will determine what chord you are playing. For example, if you’re playing this chord with your first finger on the F, you are playing an F major chord.
Step 6: Practice forming a chord Take your hand away from the fret board and shake out your hand. Then see how quickly you can form the chord again. The more your practice, the less you will have to think about where to place your fingers.
FACT: The late Kurt Cobain claimed he was trying to rip off the group The Pixies when he wrote ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit,’ whose opening riff is comprised completely of bar chords.

You Will Need

A guitar

How to Tune a Guitar by Ear

Howcast — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 19:19:45 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Strike your fork Strike your tuning fork against something hard so that it begins to vibrate, then listen closely to the note that rings out. It’s an A.
Step 2: Adjust the string Loosen or tighten your A string (also known as the fifth string) by rotating the pertaining tuning key until the string sounds at the exact same pitch as the fork.
TIP: Don’t worry if you don’t have perfect pitch. Just listen closely and be patient. The more your ears familiarize themselves with an exact pitch, the better a musician you will become.
Step 3: Press the E string Press the lower E string (also known as the sixth string) down on the fifth fret.
Step 4: Adjust the string Pluck the fifth and sixth strings, one right after the other, allowing each string to ring out. Listen closely and then loosen or tighten the sixth string until it matches the pitch of the fifth string.
Step 5: Press A string Press the A string down on the fifth fret.
Step 6: Adjust the string Pluck the A string and D string (that is, the fourth string), one right after the other. Adjust the fourth string so it rings out at the same pitch as the fifth.
Step 7: Tune third string Tune the third string (the G string) using the same method as you have for the other strings. Tune the open string so that it matches the lower, adjacent string (the fourth string) when the fourth string is pressed on the fifth fret.
Step 8: Press the G string Press the G string down on the fourth fret.
Step 9: Adjust the string Pluck the G-string and B string (the second string), allowing each string to ring out. Loosen or tighten the second string so that these two strings are exactly the same pitch.
Step 10: Press the B string Press the second string on the fifth fret.
Step 11: Adjust the string Pluck the second string and first string, and adjust the pitch of the first string until it matches that of the second string.
Step 12: Enjoy Enjoy your now pitch-perfect instrument. As for your voice–well, we leave that up to you…
FACT: Studies suggest that all babies are born with perfect pitch.

You Will Need

A guitar
A tuning fork with a frequency of 440 Hz