Characteristics a Lead Guitarist Needs

Being able to play a guitar in front of a crowd efficiently and magically is not the ultimate dream of every artist. Though beginners often state that they only wanted to play some music, it just doesn’t stop there, especially if you see yourself going somewhere. He somehow should see himself advancing to being the lead guitarist of a band. Involving himself in a band is one thing but playing as the lead is another.
Why is the lead so important that the band wants to keep him and respects him? Because he calls the shots. He decides on the music the band must play. In other words, he is their leader.A lead guitarist is someone who, aside from the vocalist, establishes rapport amidst the crowd. He is responsible for getting everyone’s attention and at the same time being able to entertain them with his skills on the guitar and somehow satisfy them with their need for loud, soft, hard metal, or jazzy music. A crowd pleaser.This is a good opportunity to let the artist in you sparkle amidst the limelight. But first, you have to start working on the most important thing that you must consider before entering such commitment, yourself.After you’ve decided which path you’d go, either a rock star or a blues type of a guy, you have to double check if you are really capable of stating your name and plunging into the career of your life as a lead guitarist. One must possess and observe:
a. A goal
Most guitarists don’t really know what they want that may lead to a dream or frustration. You need to set goals for yourself. Set a time frame when you’ll be able to see the path you have to tread. A goal is like a road. Help this goal inspire you to push through elevating your career.

b. Right Attitude
Aspects like this require a great deal of persistence. If you want to see yourself on top of that stage with lights and all, you must have the potential to play the part. Your confidence must shine. Never let your energy spill. The crowd must never take advantage of you. You own the stage, remember that.

c. Practice
Just because you have that part on being the lead doesn’t mean you have to stop practicing. This should give you more reason to keep playing. It would be a disgrace if you’ll be the reason for inappropriate unpleasant remarks. Without religious practice, you can expect to see your career fall apart.

d. Skills and knowledge
What good are you without your talent in guitar mastery? Aside from the basic conventional way of playing the guitar, you have to figure out a way to exhibit other tricks that will definitely blow your audience away. One typical example is Carlo Santana. He is considered as a music genius for his impeccable way of manipulating a guitar. Sometimes, not one, but two at the same time.

e. Flexibility, Discipline and Respect
Joining a group or band demands its members to be flexible enough to cope with the pressure, stress, and sometimes the attitude of the other members. Discipline must be maintained to gain cooperation and tranquility while respect must strictly be imposed within the group. These three important elements are the keys to a successful working relationship.

Easily Learn to Play Electric Guitar

You can’t learn to play any musical instrument if you don’t own one especially in the case of an electric guitar. So if you want to easily learn to play an electric guitar, you should find the perfect guitar to suit your playing style.Once you find the electric guitar that you love, you can now learn to play it. As compared to an acoustic guitar, electric guitars are mush easier to play. It would also be best if you can purchase a pick and an amp.As you may have noticed, the electric guitar has several buttons or switches and you need to learn all of them. But before anything else, you should know the essentials in learning to play such a musical instrument.Each kind of guitar has its own qualities. You have to familiarize yourself with the electric guitar’s qualities and features. Know all the guitar’s knobs or switches. You must know how to control them so that once you start playing the guitar you will know the right mixes of the knobs or switches.If you can do this, you can expect the guitar’s sound to be at its best. Electric guitars are not simple instruments. Before you can effectively play this type of guitar, you would have to spend a huge portion of your time in learning to play it. Most especially, you need to learn to mix the tones and sounds together.Aside from the electric guitar, you also need to get an amp and that was already mentioned awhile ago. Guitar amps are available in many sizes and you need to get the appropriate guitar amp. Since you’re a beginner, you need to get an amp that you can use during practice sessions. Buy only the best quality amp and make sure that you try it out before paying for it. Some stores allow their customers to test the amps at its highest point. Also, remember to purchase an amp that already has a distortion box because this is very important when it comes to playing an electric guitar.
There are many songs and guitar tracks using electric guitars. You need to be familiar with these said tracks so that learning to play such instrument will be a lot easier. If you’re a good listener to these guitar tracks and songs, you will learn fast. Try to reproduce the sounds you hear and if you can do it, then you can tell if you’re learning.You can find further techniques, information, and tips online if you’re determined to learn to play an electric guitar. Remember these three essentials in learning to play such guitar: have your own electric guitar, get other guitar accessories like a pick and amps, and listen to guitar tracks or songs. If you know these three essentials, you’re on your way to learning to play an electric guitar.
So you see, you can easily learn to play an electric guitar by knowing the essentials. Now its time to pick out the method to use – whether you will hire a professional guitar instructor, buy a guitar instruction book, or learn through DVD programs and other internet guitar programs.Be sure to choose the appropriate method to learn quickly. Your learning will depend greatly on your personality and attitude. If you’re patient, determined, and motivated, you can will not encounter many problems in learning to play the electric guitar.

Guitar Amplifiers - Which Amplifier Is Right For You

So you've invested in a state-of-the-art guitar - what next? Chances are you'll need an amplifier. Guitar amplifiers are an essential part of your music gear; in fact, most musicians agree that a good guitar is no use without a good amp.

When shopping for an amp, you usually have four options: tube, solid state, digital, and hybrid. While the last two are certainly more high-tech, newer isn't always better when it comes to amps. Each type has its own advantages, and it all comes down to your budget and personal preference.

Tube guitar amplifier

The first amps to become available were tube amps. Many experts find them their warm, full tone more natural, and digital amps have tried and failed to duplicate it. Another reason they're still around is power-saving: they sound much louder than solid-state and digital amps at the same wattage. The only drawback is that the glass tubes break easily, so you'll have to be careful moving them around.

Solid state guitar amplifiers

In solid-state amps, the tubes are replaced by transistors. While this makes them sturdier, it tends to make them sound harsh or distorted at high frequency. However, these amps will stand up to heavy use better than tube amps.

Digital guitar amplifier

Digital amps are programmed to imitate a wide range of amp sounds, including distortions, riffs, and the classic tube amp sound. Cheaper digital amps sound synthetic, but with high-end ones you can hardly tell the difference. Get a digital amp if you like being creative and trying out different styles.

Hybrid guitar amplifiers

These amps combine tube and solid-state technology into a single machine. The sound quality isn't as great as the original tube amps, but they will do if you want tube-quality sound without spending on a high-end digital amp.

More guitar amplifier information is available in Picky Guide which contains thousands of quality product information for picky consumers.

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