Top Guitar Tips

Tuning Your Guitar

It is good practice when playing the guitar to get the instrument in tune for everyone's benefit! It can also be very discouraging for a guitarist to sound out of tune. If you want to play with other musicians then each string should be tunedl to a standard pitch (usually Concert pitch); the same goes if you want to play along to your favourite songs or you may just simply want to sound in tune when you play alone!

There are a few choices and various devices available to you. They include electronic guitar tuners, pitch forks, tuning pipes, a piano, or another instrument that is in tune. These are all great ways of getting into tune.

I highly recommend purchasing a guitar tuner; particularly if you only have half an hour to practice you don't want to spend ten minutes or more trying to get the dammed thing (guitar) in tune!

To aid tuning your guitar, you may wish to memorise the order of the strings from the bass string upwards. The open notes from the bass (the thick string), to top the (thin string) are as follows:-

You can use fun sentences to help you to remember, eg

Step by Step Guide to Tuning Your Guitar (Without a Guitar Tuner)

Step 1

• If you are tuning the guitar without a guitar tuner, the first step is to try and get the bass E string as in tune as possible, by tuning to another instrument.

Step 2

• To tune the A string (2nd string) to the A note being played on the E string, hold down the 5th fret (which is the A note) on the E string.
• Sound the A string, tune this string by turning the machine head until the note being produced sounds the same tone as the note on the E string.
• You have now tuned your A string into tune with the bass E string.

Step 3

• To tune the D string (3rd string) to the D note being played on the A string, hold down the 5th fret (which is the D note) on the A string.
• Sound the D string, tune this string by turning the machine head until the note being produced sounds the same tone as the note on the A string.
• You have now tuned your top D string into tune with the A string.

Step 4

• To tune the G string (4th string) to the G note being played on the D string, hold down the 5th fret (which is the G note) on the D string.
• Sound the G string; tune this string by turning the machine head until the note being produced sounds the same tone as the note on the D string.
• You have now tuned your top G string into tune with the D string.

Step 5

• To tune B string (5th string) to the B note being played on the G string), hold down the 4th fret (which is a B note) on the G string.
• Sound the B string; tune this string by turning the machine head until the note being produced sounds the same tone as the B note on the G string.
• You have now tuned your top B string into tune with the G string.

Step 6

• To tune top E string (6th string) to the E note being played on the B string,hold down the 5th fret (which is a E note) on the B string.
• Sound the E string, tune this string by turning the machine head, until the note being produced sounds the same tone as the E note on the B string.
• You have now tuned your top E string into tune with the B string.

Step 7

• Finally all 6 strings should be in tune with each other.  Slowly play all 6 strings on an open chord eg (E,G chord).  You may find you need to do some fine tuning.

Step by Step Guide to Tuning Your Guitar (With a Tuning Device)

The idea is to match the pitch of the instrument you are tuning to, eg the bass E note on the guitar is tuned to the same pitch as the E note on the piano, or the letter on your guitar tuning device registers as E or maybe your using a pitch pipe or a tuning fork, going one note at a time.

Step 1

• Decide what tuning device or instrument you will be using to tune your guitar to standard tuning (eg concert pitch).

Step 2

• Sit the guitar on your lap (or place it on a table), with the thickest string (the low E string) being nearest to you.

Step 3

• Play that E string, turn the tuning devices, known as the “machine heads”. Turning one way will de tune the string, while the other way will make it tighter. Musically speaking, sharp (#) would be higher in pitch and a lower pitch would flat (b).

Step 4

• The aim is to match the E string to the correct pitch of E. If it is not exactly tuned to the correct pitch the string and the guitar will sound out of tune. Check out guitar accessories below to see the options for tuning devices. It is possible to have the guitar in tune with itself, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it has been tuned to the correct pitch.

Step 5

• Finally the E string needs to be in tune to “standard concert pitch”. Repeat the same process for the A string, D string, G string, B string and finally the top E string (the thinnest string).

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When to Restring Your Guitar

How often should I change my guitar strings? Quick answer: as often as you like or can afford, when the strings look dull dirty and lifeless and you have about £5.oo spare change!

There is no set time before you should change your strings, but when you put a new set on the guitar the difference can be vast in sound, which becomes a lot more vibrant - some guitarists like that and some don't! So, it just comes down to your personal taste and to experiment to find out what you prefer.

Which strings to choose?

Nylon or Steel? Electric and acoustic guitars generally use steel strings. Classical guitars (also known as the nylon string guitar) use nylon strings!

Each guitar requires different strings that are particularly designed for that guitar type. Strings are measured in gauges, the size is based upon the top E string (the thinnest string) and the size is measured in millimetres. A 9 gauge is known as a 'light gauge' set of strings, and a 12 gauge is known as a 'heavy set gauge' of strings.

How to Restring Your Guitar

When re-stringing the guitar, it is advisable to first check which way the strings are wound on (they should all be wound the same way) so you know which way to turn the machine heads to make the strings tighter and which way to turn the machine heads to undo the strings.

The next step is to clean the fret board with warm soapy water, using a tooth brush (not your current one!) to get rid of any visible dirt. You may want to use a professional cleaning kit for the fret board. GHS fast fret and lemon oil are both good ways of maintaining both the strings and the fretboard.

Step by Step Guide to Restringing Your Guitar

Step 1

• The guitar has no strings attached, take the bass E string (the thickest one out of the packet), thread the new string through “the bridge” section.

Step 2

• Un-ravel the string along the neck of the guitar, through “the nut” (the plastic bit at the top of your guitar).

Step 3

• Wrap the E string around the “machine head” once and then put it through the eye of the machine head; this way the string is wrapped on itself so it has something to hold onto - this way the string is less likely to slip out of tune.

*tip, E string wraps around the machine head once, the A string wraps around the machine head twice and the D, G, B string and the top E (thin strings) wrap around 3 to 4 times.

Step 4

• Start turning the machine head anti clockwise to tighten the string. Make sure you don’t turn it too tightly or you are likely to snap the string or damage the guitar.

Step 5

• As the string begins to tighten, tune up each string to the correct pitch. If you are tuning an acoustic guitar, make sure that the peg doesn’t come out. You can do this by applying a little bit of pressure to keep the peg in place when you begin tuning.

*tip, The string should now be in tune. The next step is to do what is known as “stretching the string” (or strings). This is to help keep the guitar to stay in tune, which is particularly useful if you are bending strings or strumming the chords heavily.

Step 6

• Take hold of the string at the centre. Gradually and gently pull the string away from the body of the guitar (you will note that this will take the guitar out of tune).

Step 7

• Whilst holding the string away from the body of the guitar (stretching the string), start turning the machine heads anti clockwise, slowly tuning the string back into tune. This process takes the slackness out of the string. The string will bite at the machine head. Repeat the process approximately 3 times until the string holds its tune. The strings and the guitar are now holding now “holding its tune”, thanks to a little process called “stretching the strings”.

Step 8

• You may find that stretching the strings and re-tuning again and again has sent the guitar completely out of tune. The remedy to this is to retune! Repeating the process, but this time the strings should hold their tune. Now you should have confidence when bending the strings that the guitar will hold its tune.

How to Find the Right Instrument For You

Ask yourself:-

Maybe you want to learn both, but generally you have to choose one type of guitar to start off with.

Visit music shops to try out guitars - this is advisable whether it's your first guitar or tenth guitar. My advice is that you shouldn't buy a guitar online, as each guitar varies from subtly to vast amounts, even if they are the same make, model and year.

See performers for inspiration - whether it’s at a jam night or at Wembley Stadium. If you see a performer with a guitar that you like the sound of, that's a good place to start.

Do you aspire to either play in a band or play at jam nights? If this is the case, then your guitar will need a pick up so you can plug into amplification.

Guitar Accessories

Whether you play the electric or acoustic guitar, there are certain accessories that you may wish to acquire:-

Choosing a Plectrum (Pick)

The depth of the pick is measured in gauges. Different gauges will change the tone of the sound produced. Different picks have different advantages eg:

It all comes down to personal taste. It is important to use a pick that you feel comfortable with. It's worth having a selection of different gauge picks to experiment with.

How to Use a Plectrum (Pick)

The pick is a very effective tool. However, not every guitarist chooses to use one!

Guitar picks are held in the right hand (unless you have a left handed strung guitar) between the thumb and index finger, with the tip of the pick (the pointy bit) pointing towards the strings.

The pick should be held with a relaxed grip but not so loose that it moves when you play or flies out of your hand! When using a pick a lot of the movement stems from the wrist and elbow.

It is worthwhile learning to use the pick using upwards and downwards motions, as this creates a smoother and slicker performance. It also helps with speed and fluency and is a standard way to practice scales.

How to Read Tabulature (Tab)

To display the notes on the guitar in a simpler form than musical notation there is a system called guitar tablature or 'guitar tab'.

It is very useful for a guitarist to learn, read and write guitar tab. It is a great way of learning a song quickly or to take note of a good idea! Tab does not tell you which finger to use. To avoid getting your fingers into knots, the general rule is to try and keep one finger per fret, especially when practising scales.

e|1st string ---------------------------------------------------thin string
B|2nd string ------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|3rd string ------------------------------------------------------------------|
D|4th string ------------------------------------------------------------------|
A|5th string ------------------------------------------------------------------|
E|6th string ---------------------------------------------------thick string

Guitar tab is read left to right. Chords in tab form are written vertically; that’s if all the notes of the chord are to be played at the same time.

Scales are written across the tab one note at a time.

The C Major chord in tab form is played from the 5th string (or the A string)

e|--0------ no finger open string --------------------------------------------|
B|--1------ finger 1 ---------------------------------------------------------|
G|--0------ no finger open string --------------------------------------------|
D|--2------ finger 2 ---------------------------------------------------------|
A|--3------ finger 3 ---------------------------------------------------------|
E|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

The E blues scale starts with the open E string (2 octaves)

e|------------------------0----|
B|--------------------0-3------|
G|--------------0-2-3----------|
D|----------0-2----------------|
A|----0-1-2--------------------|
E|0-3--------------------------|

E G A A#B D E (repeated)

Finger Picking

Finger picking is used in many different genres of music and has a very effective sound.

The most common technique uses the thumb targeting the bass strings: E, A and D (6, 5 and 4) while the index finger is allocated to the G string (3), the middle finger to B string (2) and the third finger to the top E string (1).

The most common of the finger style techniques is called the clawhammer!

Hybrid Picking

Hybrid picking is an advanced technique and is achieved by using a combination of pick and finger style. The pick is held between the thumb and index finger as standard, whilst also incorporating the use of fingers 2, 3 and 4 on the right hand to pick; this technique is used most commonly by country guitarists.

Warm Up Exercises

It is important to have a warm up routine to get your fingers up to operating temperature, particularly if you are going to do a performance, a gig, an exam, studio work, or just running through your repertoire etc. If you are warmed up and composed then it will give you more confidences when it is time play. This is a good box to tick on the way to delivering an assured performance.

Good warm up routines start off slowly and gradually build up in speed. Five to fifteen minutes should be enough. You want to warm up both hands but generally the fretting hand is the hand that sees the most action so warming up with scales is a good routine.

Practice Routines

Scales are best practiced ascending and then descending, not forgetting to pick in alternative directions, up down up down etc. A good speed to practice scales to start off with is to the tick tock of a clock. Alternatively, you may want to use a free online metronome. Practicing scales is not the most exhilarating of experiences but there’s no substitute for this routine. They help to give a better understanding of the fret board, the guitar and music in general. It will also help to train your ear to tune into the music and will definitely improve your lead guitar playing. It is also a very good warm up exercise, helping to improve left to right hand coordination. It will also help to build up finger speed agility and strength.

Scale Practice

Here is a great practice exercise that can be incorporated into your guitar solos it will also help with left to right hand coordination. This exercise is based around the A minor pentatonic scale. Don’t  forget to use up and down picking motion when practicing.

 

 

e|8-5---5------------------------------------------------------|
B|----8---8-5-8-5---5------------------------------------------|
G|----------------7---7-5-7-5---5------------------------------|
D|----------------------------7---7-5-7-5---5------------------|
A|----------------------------------------7---7-5-7-5---5------|
E|----------------------------------------------------8---8-5--|

e|--------------------------------------------------------5----|
B|--------------------------------------------5---5-8-5-8------|
G|--------------------------------5---5-7-5-7---7--------------|
D|--------------------5---5-7-5-7---7--------------------------|
A|--------5---5-7-5-7---7--------------------------------------|
E|5-8-5-8---8--------------------------------------------------| 

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Meeting Other Musicians

Meeting other guitarists/musicians to make music with is an important step to becoming a well-rounded musician. There are many different ways to take this leap of faith:-

Aural Skills

Learning to train your ear to recognise and identify what you hear is key to your musical progress. There are several components to listen out for and this takes much practice.

Discovering the key of the piece of music is the first step, then you need to work out which scale is used and then finally which chords are used for the chord progression. Once you have mastered this basic approach you can work out the finer details.

Looking at guitar tab is a very easy and convenient way to learn to play a certain piece of music. Alternatively, listening to a recording and working it out is very good practice. This will help tune your ear into identifying intervals and notes within music, which will in turn improve your playing.