Used Musical Instruments

acoustic guitar?

Q: I'm trying to teach myself how to play acoustic. Do you have to use a guitar pick? Any other tips? =]

A: You don't have to use a pick unless you want to. You can play with your fingertips which is known as fingerstyle or fingerpicking.
As for tips...practice every day, even if its just for half an hour, learn a new chord every day, and learn some

Andy McKee - Rylynn - Acoustic Guitar - www.candyrat.com

CD "Art of Motion" available at www.candyrat.com Rylynn - Andy McKee Original Song

Playing Acoustic Guitar | TRIP to

You’ve got to admit it. It’s fairly easy to learn the acoustic guitar. That’s why there’s so many guitars sold each and every year. However, it’s another thing to actually become proficient in it. And it’s not just about the basics of learning. You also need some information regarding the instrument itself and how to take care of it.

The vast majority of acoustic guitars are made of wood and are usually hollow. They are sensitive to differences in climate, such as extreme heat or extreme cold. It’s dead easy for parts of the guitar to warp or otherwise become damaged depending on how you house it and what it is exposed to daily. Think about the old cassette tape and how it would melt into an useless mess if left on the back seat of your car on a sunny day.

One of the major necessities for a guitar is a good guitar case. It really should be water resistant and also give protection from heat. Black cases will absorb the sun’s rays more than lighter colored cases, so remember that when shopping for one for your guitar. There are soft shell cases and hard shell cases. In almost all situations, I would endorse the hard shell case unless you can’t afford it.

Guitar strings are susceptible to heat and cold as well. Have you experienced how quickly guitars go out of tune, especially if you put on a new set of strings? The neck of your guitar will give and let go depending on the type of strings you use, and if you decide to use a particular gauge of string, it’s probably best, as the shock of going from one type of string to another isn’t good for your instrument. Also, never take all the strings off your guitar at once, as that might cause warping of the neck. Change them one at a time, as that will keep the tension on the guitar neck at a constant level.

If at all possible, it’s a good idea to have at a minimum two guitars, a beater you use for practice and another that you use for performances. Your practice guitar doesn’t have to be great, something in the $100 range. You won’t have to change the strings on it as much as the guitar you use for performances.

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