Building A Good Relationship With Your Guitar
Building A Good Relationship With Your Guitar
by: Ismael D. Tabije
The guitar is considered the friendliest musical instrument there is. It is because the guitar is the handiest musical instrument that could stand on its own. A group can enjoy music with just a guitar even without the accompaniment of winds and percussions. The term “acoustic” is referred to, in the music context of today, the rendition of songs in all the glory of guitars. No percussion and piano and other instruments needed, just guitars. Sometimes, it can be the jamming of more than just one guitar. Acoustic is a favorite type of music today because of its relaxed and soulful rendition of songs.
The guitar can be carried everywhere and is one of the easiest instrument to be learned in no time. All you need is a songbook or song hits and you’re ready to take the stage and perform to your heart’s desire. It may sound so easy and can be done in a snap, however, playing a guitar is an art that needs to be perfected with constant practice. There are basic steps you need to know before mastering playing the guitar.
Basically, a guitar is like a friend you need to familiarize yourself with. Get to know the guitar and you’ll be able to make good music together. For beginners, the first lesson starts with getting to know the guitar and its parts. Some examples of different types of guitars are the electric guitar, the base guitar, the 12-string guitars and the non-electric acoustical guitar.
Parts of a guitar:
Head – is where the tuning keys are found. The strings are wound up around pegs which can be twisted to loosen or tighten the strings.
Tuning Keys – are the keys which hold the strings. These keys are twisted to adjust the tones of the strings
Nut – found at the edge of the fret board on which the strings pass before wrapping around the tuning keys
Fret board – is where pitch and expression of the tones are controlled.
Frets – 19 divisions on which fingers are placed
Little Metallic Bars/Fret bars – thin metallic bars dividing the frets
Neck – accommodates the fret board
Sounding Board – the body of the guitar
Sounding Hole (Rosette) – sounds produced are resonated. This serves as the amplifier of the acoustical guitar
Strings – are of different sizes made up of either steel or nylon which are the foremost cause of sounds
Bridge – the part where the strings are attached opposite. It is found at the body of the guitar.
Tuning the guitar is the next thing a guitar player should know. It is where he can further intensify his mastery and familiarity with the guitar. It is a gift if a person has the remarkable natural ability of hearing. He can determine if the guitar has good quality through hearing its tune for the first time. However, there are people who do not posses that certain gift. But
