Alternative Hard Rock

One of the problems that many new guitarists face is that there is just so much out there for them to learn, that they’re just not sure exactly what they should tackle next.  Without having anything in particular to focus on, a guitarist can easily just end up noodling aimlessly, or repeating the things that they already know because that is what they are comfortable with.  With that in mind, here are some concrete suggestions of things that any new guitarist can and should learn.

New chords - Chords are a great place for guitarists to learn from.  Learning new chords builds finger strength, and gives the player knowledge of something that will be of direct use in new songs they learn.  Open Chords are usually the best place to start.  From there you can learn Barre Chords, and then suspended chords, seventh chords, augmented chords, diminished chords and so on.  It’s always worthwhile to learn different voicings and inversions of the same chords too.

New scales and modes – There are a lot of scales and modes to learn, but it’s good to start major scales, minor scales, and the blues scale.  The mixolydian mode is used a lot in popular music too.  Learning the scales you already know in different positions on the neck is useful.  “Boxed” scales are a handy way to learn new patterns, but ideally you don’t want to stay trapped in particular neck positions forever.

New chord progressions – There are a few chord progressions that are common to a lot of popular music.  The 12 bar blues is one of the best known of these, and something that any new guitarist can easily learn – and definitely should, if they don’t know it already.  For people who want to get into jazz guitar down the track, it’s good to get very familiar with a basic I – ii – V progression.  A lot of metal and rock guitar follows a I – Flat VI – Flat VII progression.

There are always new things to learn.  Have fun with it!

Finding the right guitar can be difficult, if you’re after a left handed electric guitar the process is made so much harder. Firstly you find a guitar you like, then you find out the manufacturer doesn’t make a left handed version; it can be a real nightmare. This article is going to suggest 3 instruments you may want to consider if you’re a left handed player, irrelevant of whether you play electric, acoustic or bass guitar, there’s something for everyone in the following paragraphs.

The Epiphone Les Paul Standard left handed electric guitar (wow that’s a mouthful) is perhaps one of the best left handed 6-strings on the market; its humbucking pickups give the instrument a really warm tone which sounds great under distortion. The built quality is fantastic too, Epiphone have used only the best materials on this line of instruments, the neck and body of this guitar are both solid mahogany, the neck is really comfortable and makes the guitar just a joy to play. If you’re really interested in finding a great sound left handed electric guitar, then look no further than the Epiphone Les Paul standard range.

For those bass players out there, the Ibanez SR300L is one of the best left handed bass guitars on the market for the money, with a price tag of only £270 this instrument really goes along way for your money. Regardless of your playing style this left handed bass guitar will meet your needs, its thin SR Neck makes playing really comfortable and the dial on the body of the instrument can be used to adjust the EXF pickups to play any kind of music style! If you’re after a great all rounder, then the Ibanez SR300L left handed bass guitar is definitely one to consider.

Finally, if you’re more of an acoustic player then maybe the Fender’s CD line of left handed acoustic guitars is for you. This have been one of the manufacturers best selling instruments, retailing at £120 the Fender CD-100 LH is probably one of the best cheap guitars for guitarists on a budget, but don’t let the price tag fool you, this guitar has got a seriously great quality tone. This if probably one of the best left handed acoustic guitars to get you started, the dreadnought shape and satin finish make for a really great looking strummer.

Going to a karaoke bar for the first time can be an intimidating experience because people don’t know what to expect. Some people even might have the fear that somehow they might get dragged up on stage to sing. But there are no hidden surprises like that waiting for people who decide to see what it’s all about. In fact, you will probably find a supportive atmosphere where people are having fun, and the last thing on their minds will be to force some unsuspecting patron to sing a song. Karaoke can be great fun for those who appreciate it, and if you’ve ever thought about going to see what it’s like, here are some pointers to prepare you for the experience.

When you go to a karaoke bar, you should find out first about the whether it’s a simple room, or a full-fledged karaoke entertainment complex. Some karaoke establishments can be quite fancy and they cater to people who take their singing seriously. These types of places might even offer dinner and dancing in addition to private rooms with your very own karaoke machine. A karaoke bar is a more relaxed venue where people go to listen to the music and have a few drinks. Both types of places are fun, but you should always know what you’re getting into so you can dress accordingly.

Your first karaoke experience should be with a bunch of friends, so grab some of your best buddies and make a reservation. And despite what you may see, you should never treat karaoke as a joke or you risk making the regular patrons angry. You should always be polite and make sure to support whoever is up on stage. And as always, be kind to the staff and tip your waitresses generously. You can expect to see a variety of singers, each with their own range in vocal talent. It’s perfectly fine to remain a spectator the whole night, but if you want to sing just remember it won’t be the same as using a home karaoke machine. All in all, you should have a great time and with the first time out of the way, you might find yourself coming back for more.