If you are intending to take guitar lessons, either online or offline, there are a few things you need to get clear about whether you take acoustic guitar lessons before focusing on a particular genre. If you are taking guitar lessons a regular practice schedule is going to start the process of forming callouses on your finger tips and training your muscles to perform the actions involved in guitar playing.

The nylon string acoustic guitar offers some advantages to the novice guitar player. Steel strings tend to slice your fingers if they are not calloused and that is not a pleasant sensation. The slices in the fingers require you to stop playing until they heal. It is much less stressful to toughen your fingers up on nylon strings. Also the nylon string acoustic forces the guitar student to press the strings with enough pressure to make a clean sound. The electric guitar is a little more forgiving in this respect so it is best to train yourself as a guitar player using the acoustic guitar.

All this takes for granted that you are interested in careful, gradual progress as a guitarist. If you are interested in becoming a rock and roll guitar player as soon as possible you could get into it from the start but this will be at the expense of some of the solid training the acoustic gives.

Let's take a look at the kind of experience you are likely to go through if you decide to take online guitar lessons. Instead of observing how you approach the guitar and offering you personal advice on how to play, online guitar lessons will offer you written instructions, maybe supplemented by video, and if you are short on experience and confidence you might have some trouble picking up the basic practices of guitar playing using online acoustic guitar lessons.

Even though there are quite detailed video lessons on how to practice, the online guitar student is in danger of forming bad playing habits. This is why many guitarists recommend that you take at least a few lessons with a live guitar teacher so you will start off in the right way.

When you are deciding whether to take online or offline acoustic guitar lessons the question of a practice regime is going to come up. You have a guitar that you are just learning to tune, you have sore fingers and assorted muscular aches, now you have to start regular daily practice that isn't going to yield too much in the way of instant results. It is going to take some discipline to get through the initial stages of your acoustic guitar lessons, whether you decide on offline or online lessons, so you might need some guidance from a teacher to get you into the habit of regular practice.

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Do you want to learn to play the guitar? Learn How To Play A Guitar For Free is a constantly updated blog which contains all the resources you need for: learning to play solo guitar, how to learn guitar chords, how to learn to read and play easy acoustic guitar tabs, finding a free online guitar tuner, looking for free guitar lessons online, and how to learn guitar scales.

Blue microphones are known for their superior quality and unique designs. The Snowball model is one of the widely used condenser microphones with a USB interface. Featuring a retro style, spherical microphone within a white plastic case, it is definitely a nice addition to your desktop or laptop.

Depending on where you buy, there are a lot of bundles which can come with the Blue Snowball. Podcasting bundles are usually with tripods and wind screens, making it easy for pod casters to record right out of the box in total ease without compromising the quality of clicks and pops. Tripods also make it versatile, allowing you to mount it and adjust its position to record in comfort and in high fidelity.

For the musicians and the songwriters, using the Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone Bundle can also be great. The cute sphere design on top of the tripod allows you to turn it around easily, let it focus on one source or place it anywhere. You may choose from three recording modes available, depending on your preferences and usage: omni-directional, cardioid 10dB cut and cardioid.

The omni-directional mode lets your Snowball acquire sound from all directions. This is particularly helpful for those who need to get that certain ambiance in the recording situation, especially in live concerts or live band music. With this mode, sounds would seem as if they are around you, helpful for those who want to be 'within' their recordings.

For vocal uses, the cardioid mode is the best setting. It picks up audio signals straight from the front, without the other directions so you can sing and make pod casts with such mode. Record voice overs, sing your own songs, and speak directly on your Blue Snowball. It focuses the recordings only on one source so you get to have rich quality each time you speak or you sing.

For loud audio sources, you may choose to record via the cardioid -10dB. This makes sure that you have high audio quality without audio distortion. It effectively lessens the volume by 10 dB, picking up loud sources without sounding too loud. You can then focus recording on one sound, and forget about the sound being too loud - perfect for musical instruments. The results would always be rich quality without sounding too loud or too distorted.

Available in three colors, gloss black, textured white and brushed aluminum, the Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone Bundle allows you to choose whichever one suits your needs. While it is always loved by pod casters, it can also be a great addition to any computer as it is a USB microphone. Choosing accessories that you want to be bundled with it is also easy, and it can definitely help you with all your recording needs - all in one, retro-looking and high quality USB condenser microphone.

Rich Rowland has been a serial gadget addict for the last 30 years. His family and credit cards suffer the strain of researching the latest gadgets so you don't have to! Get your free guide to the Blue Microphones Snowball USB Microphone Bundle and learn how you can get up to 46% off the RRP

Taylors are very good guitars. I believe Martin makes a few guitars in that price range now. I suggest you play a Taylor and a Martin. My experience that dollar for dollar, Martins are better, especially over time. Look for solid wood construction...spruce, rosewood, etc. Some of the new "smart woods" you find on Martins and other fine instruments are very good as well, but they wont age as nicely as a solid wood guitar.

Take a look a Guild, Gretsch, and even Yamaha in that price range. If you are going to drop a thousand bucks on a guitar, you are making a long term committment here. So try before you buy.

Bottom line is, if you could get a Martin in the thousand dollar range, go for it. I've been playing acoustic guitars since somebody stole my drums back in 1970. And I've played some really fine guitars. But my D-28 is the sweetest sounding acoustic I've ever heard, and people I've played and recorded with agree. You are going to get a fine instrument in this price range. Just make sure you get one that gets better with age the way you will.

EDIT: For Majorette

Yeah, that 310 is a fine axe. I met a guy on Block Island many years ago. He was playing a Taylor that was actually one of the first Taylors out there. Back before they were mass produced. One word. SUUUUUUWEEEEEEET!

Hi! Please check out http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylv=3?qid=20090913012053AAp3V97 and http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylv=3?qid=20090413141954AAcsIxg for some thoughts on the differences. Best regards, Dana

If you want the ultimate, amazing sounds when you are playing the guitar then no doubt about it, you have got to have an amplifier for your guitar playing experience! An amplifier will give you the guitarist, the ability to stand out more when playing for a crowd, the other instruments will not be so loud, that they totally end up drowning your sounds out. An amplifier will also allow you the ability to create some really amazing special affects when you are playing guitar, along with always having a more controlled, smooth sound, when playing the guitar. Ofcourse obviously, you will also have a tremendous amount of volume, which everyone loves. The sounds that you can create will be mind blowing, compared to playing the guitar without an amplifier.

Keep in mind when you are out shopping for the perfect amplifier that you do not need to purchase the first one that you come across and always, no matter what, try out the amplifier, before you take it home! It depends on which type of guitar you are playing as to what kind of amplifier you will be needing for your purchase. Each one may sound a little bit different. Some amplifiers may not give you a crisp, smooth, loud sounding guitar, as you are hoping for, because it may not be compatible with your guitar that you are using. Take your guitar with you, everywhere you go. Just in case you are out one day and decide to go into a music store to purchase an amplifier for your guitar. This way, you will have it with you so that you can try it out with that amplifier before you decide on purchasing it or not.

Volume is key when you are playing the guitar, so having the correct amplifier is a must when it comes to creating those unbelievably, outrageous, loud tunes! You will know right away if the amplifier you are looking at buying is right for you or not, if when you crank it up, it begins to sound poor, like crackling or unclear, you will know to look for something different for your guitar. There will many different types of amplifiers to choose from when you are out on your search for the perfect amplifier for your guitar playing fun. Bigger is not always better when it comes to purchasing the best amplifier, you will find that many smaller amplifiers have the ability to offer you the best quality sound. You want good, quality sounding volume so that you can play your little heart out and know that everyone in the audience is enjoying themselves and what they are hearing.

Amplifiers will change your guitar playing experience completely. Once you have the wonderful experience of playing your guitar hooked up to an awesome amplifier, you will never go back to playing guitar with one. The sounds are amazing and incredibly loud, which is what every rock star wants!

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Looking for a guitar or accessories? Check out Guitar Heaven for a full range of guitars and accessories. Also download free guitar lessons.

But the question still stands about which provides a foundation in technique that will form a basis for improving guitar skills? If you are going to teach yourself guitar then which guitar type does not hide your faults?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both at different stages of a guitarist learning so any assessment needs to take into account the short and long term benefits of each. Over the years I have taught other guitarists using whatever guitar they had to hand. I noticed that you can nearly tell from a guitarist's technique whether they started on electric or acoustic just by watching them play.

So here are the pros and cons we saw of each approach.

Beginning On Electric Guitar

Pros

* Easier to play using the narrower gauge strings and narrower guitar neck.

* Develop a subtlety of playing. Amplification of what you play highlights various effects and nuances in your play (for hammer ons, vibrato, etc.).

* It is possible to practice using earphones (neighbors will appreciate this).

Cons

* Muscle strength in the fingers does not build up as strongly as when playing acoustic.

* Using effects/distortion hides a multitude of sins.

* Strong tendency for incorrect placement of the left thumb on the guitar neck.

Beginning On Acoustic Guitar

Pros

* Lower startup costs.

* An amp is not required, which allows you to play and practice anywhere.

* Finger muscle strength builds up from day one.

Cons

* Temptation is there to strum through all songs. Beginners should take the time to learn finger picking styles.

* Guitar solos can get 'lost in the mix' if playing in a group which may put off some beginners.

* Using earphones with an acoustic guitar is not an option.

From my perspective, guitarists who start out on electric build up a speed of playing (solos, chord changes, etc.) which is admirable, but it is often at the cost of good playing technique. Playing the electric guitar hides a number of faults such as incorrect placement of the thumb and not holding down strings solidly that results in strings buzzing or being muted during play (this is highly noticeable when recording an electric).

In comparison, the acoustic guitarist builds up the finger strength, learns better hand placement on the frets and fosters clear sounding play.

That said, if you can handle the bill for buying both electric and acoustic guitars then you could split out the beginners training on both instruments and they will benefit from both approaches.

Are you frustrated with the lack of progress from your current guitar tuition/guitar course? Read Ed's review of Jamorama online guitar lessons at teach yourself guitar the modern way.

Overview Pictures of Microphones - Do You Make These Mistakes?

The microphone is never absent in any recording, and in any performance. You may think that it is just a tiny detail and will not affect the music - wrong! In fact, in some cases, microphones can make or break the performance of the song and that is why there is a great need to choose the right microphone to ensure your road to success.

There are two types of mic and each will have their own strengths and weaknesses. The choice between these two is usually dictated by where you will be using it and the purpose of the recording or performance. These two mics are called condenser microphones and dynamic microphones.

Dynamic Microphones

Most probably, the microphones you are familiar with will be the dynamic microphone. This is because dynamic microphones are built for rough conditions which make it a natural choice for outdoor performances such as concerts. Some legendary dynamic microphones are the Shure SM57 and Shure SM58 which will be used by any decent rock clubs. But over the years of abuse their appearance may not be as mint as when they first came out of the case.

Dynamic microphones do not require their own power supply, and their sound may not be as accurate. This is the case when the singer seems to have a bad cold and the words cannot be herd properly. This is because dynamic microphones have a limited frequency response.

Condenser Microphones

Now let's go to the condenser microphone which can be said as the more "behaved" type of microphone. Condenser microphones require the use of power supply and will almost always be what's found in recording studios, owing to the fact that condenser microphones have larger output. Although as a consequence of the louder output, condenser microphones pick up sounds other than the singer's vocals, editing the track will easily correct this. Condenser microphones are also generally higher-priced than the dynamic microphones.

Condenser microphones are also ideal for recording acoustic guitar and concert taping.

There are a lot of available condenser and dynamic microphones and prices will range from less than a hundred to about seven hundred dollars. Before worrying about the price, make sure to know which particular microphone is best for your purposes and you can easily do this through the internet. There is a lot of information on the net which might help you decide on choosing the proper mic for your specific need. Couple this with the budget you have in mind and you be able to find something that fit your need perfectly.

About the Author

Ed Byrd - Home Recording Center

Music Production tips and tricks / Home Music Production

go to guitar center etc.......