Tell me about your Alvarez guitar. Or, what are some good acoustic guitars?

I'm looking for a good solid Acoustic/electric guitar to last me a long time. Price range: $500-1000.

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!

You Just Gotta Have an Amplifier When you Play the Guitar!

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!

About the Author

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

Buy a New Guitar without Getting Ripped Off

If you’re looking to buy your first guitar, upgrade the guitar you have or add to your growing collection, you’d be very wise to do your research first to make sure you get a decent instrument that you’ll be happy with.  It makes no sense at all to rush the process. You may wind up hating the guitar you get, you’ll never play it, be angry with yourself that you wasted the money and you might lose money on it when you go to re-sell it.

Most people will suggest that you to go down to your local music shop and try what they have.  We'll  get to that point, but there is some fun and easy legwork you need to do before you ever set foot in a music store, especially if it’s one of those that are crawling with commissioned sales people.

You’ll need to narrow down exactly what type of guitar it is you’re looking for.  The two basics types of guitars are acoustic (hollow body) and electric (solid body).  After you’ve picked the basic type you also need to consider what you want the guitar to look like.  While this makes absolutely no difference to how the instrument sounds, you’re going to have it for a long time and you want to be proud of it.  What the guitar looks like is an extension of your personality so don’t be ashamed to make the look of an instrument a priority.

Guitar magazines can be great sources of information as they usually have monthly reviews of guitars and equipment.  Be careful with these though.  While most guitar magazines will give honest and unbiased reviews of instruments if you flip through the magazine you’ll also notice that the magazine has full page ads for most of the top companies.  The companies pay the magazines big bucks to run those ads so obviously saying their instruments are junk in a review wouldn’t be good for business would it? The good things is that most companies now make entry level guitars as well as many levels above, so a magazine is not likely going to bother reviewing guitars that are likely to be terrible.

Next you’ll want to check out the web.  Go to www.google.com and type in forum:guitar and you will get a whole list of forums that are based on guitars.  Of course this will cover all aspects of guitar playing, guitar lessons, and even guitar players but it will give you a starting point to find forums that contain honest user reviews.

After you’ve trawled the forums and found some reviews you should be narrowing down the choices and reading up on a few models.  Before you head to the music shop to try them out, check out what your favorite guitarists are playing.  Many have signature models which generally cost more but they have customized them based on years of experience and trial and error.

Armed with all of this knowledge you’ll be able to make a very informed purchase and hopefully buy a guitar that you’ll be happy with for years to come!

About the Author

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What are Exams and the Different Examination Boards

What are exams and the different examination boards?

Music examinations are a method of formally assessing the accomplishments of pupils learning musical instruments. Although there are music examinations available to school and university students alongside other regular qualifications and assessments, there are also a number of independent, examination bodies who solely provide assessment in musical ability which are open to all.

Music exams are set in both theory and practical aspects. The theory examinations are taken by pupils of all instruments and typically cover areas such as musical notation, construction of scales and composition. The practical exams concentrate on the particular instrument favoured by the pupil, for example piano, guitar or flute. They cover elements such as playing set pieces; scales; sight reading and aural.

Most students who enter these exams have taken a course of music lessons with a private teacher. Often this is a way for children to receive music training over and above what is provided at their usual place of learning.

Examination Boards:

* ABRSM: Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music

http://www.abrsm.org

The Associated Board is the world's leading examination body for music, with a system of examinations and assessments in over 80 countries around the world. The Associated Board is linked to some of Europe's leading Conservatoires - the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in London; the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama.

Established in 1889, the Associated Board provides schools, private teachers of music and the general public with a scheme of music examinations of recognised authority. Examinations are offered in 35 instruments, singing, theory and practical musicianship and are open to students of all ages. The Associated Board examines over half a million candidates each year making it the largest examining body for music in the world.

In 1991, the Associated Board was delighted to be asked to return to examine in Australia after an absence of more than 30 years. Associated Board examinations are conducted at St.Andrew's Cathedral School, with the Board's examiners making regular visits to Sydney.

*AMEB: Australian Music Examinations Board

http://www.ameb.edu.au/

The Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) provides a full range of music and speech and drama education, from the first steps through to Diploma level performance and scholarship. The AMEB exists to provide a graded system of examinations in music, speech and drama, by offering high quality syllabuses, educative services to our teachers, examiners and candidates, and quality publications to the highest editorial standard.

The AMEB has a long record of providing quality music examinations for students, with over 100,000 students nationally taking its examinations each year. AMEB standards are well respected internationally, and it is the only examining body with formal links to the major Australian universities and Ministers of Education.

*AGMS: Australian Guild of Music Education

www.guildmusic.edu.au

The AGMS was founded in 1969 as a continuation of the London Guild of Music and Speech (Australia). It is non-profit, Public Education Institution, constituted to provide professional and private Teachers and Students of Music and Speech (including Drama) with a responsive organization through a comprehensive set of syllabi throughout Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore with examinations which recognize excellence in the selected study, as well as providing supportive encouragement for teachers and all music and speech students and candidates.

The Guild education system provides an avenue for music & speech teachers to offer a methodical teaching and assessment system for their students via the Guild's public examinations and opens the way for further education at Tertiary level, for both themselves and their students, by distance education in the Creative Skills program from Certificate to Advanced Diploma and the Higher Education program with the Bachelor of Music degree.

*ANZCA: Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts

www.anzca.com.au

Australian and New Zealand Cultural Arts Limited (ANZCA) offer syllabuses and both practical and written examinations in modern and classical streams, which stimulate students of all ages. For over twenty-three years, examinations have been conducted throughout Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

*Trinity Guildhall Examinations (Australia)

www.trinitycollege.co.uk

Trinity College London, the international examinations board incorporating Trinity Guildhall, offers accredited qualifications in English language and the performing arts. Trinity has been assessing students since 1872 and is considered a leader in performance assessment.

Trinity is supported by the leading performing arts organizations, teacher associations, colleges and universities in Australia and worldwide.

500,000 assessments are conducted each year worldwide, from graded examinations and certificates to diplomas and higher level vocational qualifications. Trinity offers a flexible range of syllabuses, across a variety of teaching and learning styles, to encourage and motivate students to achieve their personal, vocational and professional goals.

Sources

http://www.musicteachers.com.au/examinat.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_examination

written by Janet Yun from www.shinemusic.com.au teachers of piano, saxophone, violin, singing, drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, flute and clarinet

About the Author

Life does not always play into our favor. Sometimes we need to take a stand for what we want, even though we are intimidated or we are fearful. A life filled with regret does not offer us a chance to correct the mistakes we've made. Therefore it is important that we act when we have the chance and run with our decisions as far as we can. This applies to life just as much as it applies to love.

The sweet sound of an Ibanez electric guitar under a window would once have been seen as a beautiful serenade. Today, you can be arrested. Losing the love relationship of your life can be very difficult, and when you want to get it back, you're willing to go pretty far.

On the extreme flip side you can rally the drummer and that guy that plays the Ibanez electric guitar and you can spend your time trying to cut the love of your life an entire CD. This might be a little over the top, but before you chuck your own Ibanez acoustic electric guitar to the floor, remember that often moderation and tact gives you the chance to express yourself.

You can easily use such an illustration and replace the guitars with art, poetry, statements of declaration, or whatever your heart desires. When we feel big feelings we often feel them strongly and we aren't satisfied that our love relationship is falling down we often like to act big.

When it comes down to it many people who are losing their love relationship resort to a single act that expresses their devotion and their desire to continue the relationship and make it better. Sometimes it works. Often it doesn't. Regardless of how strongly you may feel, violating personal space or requests that you back off makes it seem like perhaps you are pushing the envelope of reasonable.

It can be difficult for an emotionally charged individual to draw the line between what seems like reasonable intentions and what is construed as reasonable acts. When your relationship is failing you can feel desperate. When you start acting desperate it really shows, and it can translate into a rather unsettling need for contact.

Romantic gestures are a sweet plea when a love relationship is dying. Obsessive gestures can be downright scary for the recipient. Take a step back, give it a little room. The most romantic move in the world doesn't matter if it is never heard.

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