3 Reasons Learning Guitar Is Different To Learning Other Instruments

The guitar has always been a popular instrument to learn for a variety of reasons. It’s relatively cheap to buy, it has a fairly steep learning curve and the music you’re probably listening to features a lot of guitar work that you can learn from. Learning the guitar is different from learning other instruments and the experience is unique in a number of ways. This article will discuss just a few of them.

People Are Able To Learn By Watching Others

 

While there’s no doubt that taking lessons with a guitar teacher is going to give you the best chance of learning how to play the guitar well, there are a great many guitarists out there that initially learnt just by watching other people play. A lot of this has to do with the visual nature of guitar playing and our psychological response to it. Many people remember chords by the way they look, for instance, the position of the hand and the fingers when they are played. This enables people to pick up a few chords relatively quickly just by observing others and apply what they have seen.

Your Favourite Songs Only Have A Few Chords

Another reason for playing the guitar is so popular and is often considered different to other instruments is the fact that with just a few chords, you can play a huge number of songs from some well-known artists. In fact, with just a G-chord, C-chord and D-chord under your belt, chances are you can play along to the large majority of rock and country songs. Add another couple of chords and you can play almost anything.

This makes learning guitar more rewarding earlier compared to some other instruments, which require that you develop and refine your skills before you are able to really get something out of it and see your progress.

The Perfect Campfire Instrument

 

One of the big reasons learning and playing the guitar is so appealing is the fact that it’s practical compared to most other instruments. It’s pretty easy to transport and take with you wherever you go, and requires little to no set up if you want to play. This makes it a great instrument to play in a group setting just about anywhere and it’s great to sing along to, as the music the guitar more often than not produces the foundation for the main melody. The guitar is the perfect addition to a camping trip or just a hangout with friends for this reason.

If you’re looking to take lessons at some point, it’s worthwhile picking up a guitar at some point and trying your hand at it first. There are plenty of affordable guitar options down at Guitar Paradise that are worth checking out. Go to our website or just pop into our Richmond store today.

The Instruments Of Choice For Some Of The World's Famous Guitarists

We all have our specific tastes when it comes to our instrument of choice. Depending on your playing style and the type of music you want to play, different brands and models of guitars can be appropriate. In this article, you will find information about some of the world’s most famous guitar players and their ‘weapon of choice’. 

 Gibson Guitars

The legendary Bob Marley was a very passionate Gibson guitar fan. In fact, he was very much in love with the Les Paul Special, so much so that he was buried in a mausoleum with the Gibson guitar by his side. In memory of this great musician, Gibson launched its release of a Bob Marley signature Les Paul Special in tribute to his love for Gibson guitars.

Paul McCartney of The Beatles was another influential Gibson enthusiast and a line of the Les Paul Standard was released in his honour. In fact, many of the members in the Beatles were all about Gibson guitars and this does include John Lennon, who used the J-160E during his time with the Beatles. Even after Lennon moved on from the Beatles, he still used Gibson guitars, including the Les Paul Special and Les Paul Junior. 

Arguably the most famous guitarist known to play Gibson guitars is Elvis Presley, who used a 1956 J-200N Gibson guitar in both his presence in concerts and films. His passion for Gibson guitars was such that he engraved his name onto each on as a memoir of his successes and achievements. 

Fender Guitars

While there have been many great guitarists that have used Fenders, the musician I think of first is the great Eric Clapton. Clapton was initially a Gibson user however in 1967 he switched over to Fender guitars and has since used a Stratocaster. In fact, Fender released a Clapton signature line in tribute to the great man. Over the year, Clapton and his Fender have written many a catchy riff and the guitar suits his blues-influenced playing style.

Another renowned Fender guitarist was Jimi Hendrix who was a significant icon in developing the era of the blues. Hendrix was often seen with a Stratocaster on his right hand despite him being left-handed. Hendrix’s influence on the rise in popularity and demand of Fender guitars cannot be understated. In fact, when Hendrix was asked about his reaction to his famous on-stage burning of his Stratocaster, he replied with this: “The time I burned my guitar it was like a sacrifice. You sacrifice the things you love. I love my guitar.” As a tribute Fender produced a limited edition Jimi Hendrix model Stratocaster.

Ibanez Guitars

Often more suitable for heavy rock, Ibanez guitars have many famous advocates in the music industry. Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, known for their highly technical instrumental and experimental guitar playing, have used custom models throughout their careers.

Wes Borland, former guitarist from Limp Bizkit, about Ibanez guitars extending to custom-made Ibanez guitars such as a 4 stringed baritone as well as the notable RG7 CST (which were of an extremely limited edition with only 18 made in 1999). 

Other notable Ibanez guitarists include the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ guitarist, John Frusciante, with his use of the Ibanez RG250DX throughout the recording of the album Mother’s Milk in 1989.

Changes in Music Technology as Instructed By Line 6

From the early days of Tom Morello, down to the days of Jimi Hendrix, musicians and guitarists have always been looking for innovative ways to enhance their sounds with a variety of amplifiers and sound effects.

Line 6, one of the most prolific companies in recent history, changed the fortunes of the music industry with its digital modelling guitars, amplifiers, and other musical equipment. The company is, in fact, the pioneer of guitar amp modelling.

Some of the most popular Line 6 products include electric, bass, acoustic, and guitar amplifiers. With the release of Variax, Line 6 audio was able to convert all the pundits that doubted that anything good could come out of guitar amplification and modelling.

With its subsequent Variax products, Line 6 has been able to redefine the cherished guitar classics; it has also paid homage to the finest guitarists of all time. The company has various types of acoustic and electric guitars that offer limitless possibilities with various models like Gibson, Fender, Martin, and Guild.

Another very popular product released by Line 6 is the kidney-bean shaped ‘POD’, which has completely changed the way guitarists record their sounds. With its success, came other series with improvements including active user communities, and software that allows the downloading and sharing of patches or device settings.

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