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.

What has Made Fender such a Popular Guitar Company

Just about every guitarist out there has played around with a Fender at some point in their life. For the past 60 plus years, Fender guitars have been one of the most relevant and important guitars available, and have an important role in the story of rock music through the ages. This article will take a look at the company’s history and some of the reasons why it has been successful.

Origins

The Fender brand finds its origins in California back in 1938. The company’s founder, Leo Fender, was running an electronics repair store at the time, fixing up a wide range of appliances and equipment, including amplifiers. Fender’s capability in the field and his noticing of apparent poorly put together amplifiers started building and creating his own.

In just a couple of years, Fender found himself a business partner and established a company that was focused on manufacturing amplifiers and electronic musical instruments, though the majority of their work came from repairs. By 1945, Fender was wanting to move away from repairs and set up a company that was solely about designing, manufacturing and marketing instruments, which he believed had higher profit margins. This is how the Fender Electric Music Company was born, and Fender’s designs for the Stratocaster lead to its release and mass production in 1954.

Eventually, CBS purchased the company and through its 20 years under CBS reign, Fender launched some guitars that would make a huge mark on rock music, including the Telecaster and Starcaster. Through the 90’s, the company - which was under new management - extended its product range, launch the inexpensive alternative Squire guitars, bass guitars, amplifiers and even acoustic guitars. Fender even started manufacturing electric violins in the 2000s.

Legacy

There is no doubt that Fender is one of the most important guitar brands to date, with many of the world’s most renowned guitarists making it their instruments of choice. The Fender Stratocaster, is the most iconic model,  was/is played by the likes of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison and John Lennon, Pink Floyd’s David Glamour, Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s John Frusciante and Eddie van Halen to name just a few. This has made it one of the most popular and important rock guitars of all time.

Without any doubt, these high profile names playing Fender guitars certain had an impact on sales and how popular they became. But this doesn’t account for the influence and legacy the Fender brand has built.

Design-wise, Fender guitars were always a step ahead. The general design of the Stratocaster, in particular, has influenced many other brand designs over the years, and the shape and look are often what comes to mind for many people when they think of an electric guitar. This was something new and original in the 1950’s and the design really hasn’t changed all that much since.

Further, these guitars, most notably the Stratocaster were easy to play and produced a versatile tone and a sound you simply couldn’t get with other commercial guitars. The three-pickup system, allowed players to mix up the tone and pitch without the need for additional equipment. Its biggest rise to fame came in the 1970s, where its funky tone suited guitarists that were playing funk and disco music that was becoming popular during this period.

If you’re looking to start playing or you’re after a new guitar that is easy to play and versatile, a Fender is a great option. Feel free to browse the Guitar Paradise website through our Fender range or contact us if you have any questions.

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