Understanding Guitar Tonewoods

Traditionally over the years guitars have been built from a carefully chosen selection of timbers noted for their inherent tonal qualities. Up until quite recently, many of these timbers have been in plentiful supply but suddenly it seems ( although we all had plenty of warning) these valued timbers are becoming scarcer by the day.
There really hasn’t been much of a panic in the past about losing these timbers , after all, I expect that one mahogany tree would produce about two or three thousand guitars but of late things have started to really tighten up.
For example, take Brazilian Rosewood, all of a sudden it seems, it’s impossible to get. There is apparently a whole stack of it around still but you simply cant it out of the country. An export embargo was imposed on it in the late 1960’s largely as a result of overharvesting the forests.

It now finally seems that many people are only now beginning to take their guitar building timbers seriously and the great Bob Taylor of Taylor guitars clearly has centred his whole credo around the conservation and preservation of beautiful timbers.
Now we are starting to see quite a few alternative timbers popping out of the forests now the other stuff is going the way of all flesh.
For example, Sapele, an African tonewood that is sometimes called African Mahogany. This timber gives much that Mahogany does and even excels in the treble qualities. It seems that many guitar builders will be using Sapele in the future for their work.

So why has Tropical Mahogany been so sought after for guitar building?

Well, availability must be one reason of course and naturally it has good tonal qualities especially in the mid ranges and has a very pleasant range of tonal characteristics. It has really become the standard benchmark for quality guitars over the years. The harmonics of mahogany are very constant and the wood too is stable, a must for guitars.
Mahogany guitars have been the choice for many of the old time blues and roots players for many years and many older guitars that are now fully ‘seasoned’ and produce wonderful overtones and ‘chewy’ mid range tones are very much sought after. Smooth, balanced and stable would probably describe a Mahogany guitar and let’s not forget the positive and environment friendly characteristics and woodworking abilities that have endeared it to generations of luthiers.

Another tonewood that you are like to see developing in the future will be Ovangkol.
Once again this wood was introduced out of Africa by Bob Taylor to help supplement the timbers that were become too scarce or too difficult to obtain.
This timber is a relative of rosewood and is reputed to be a great sounding timber that shares many properties with rosewood, ie brighter at the top end and fuller in the midrange and lows. One problem of course with newer timbers is that its quite one thing to claim a new timber is the bees knees but quite another to overcome natural market resistance ..it has to earn its reputation like all quality products and claim a place in the heirachy of acceptable guitar tonewoods.


However the trend for new tonewood timbers is here to stay and another ( relative ) newcomer in the range of timbers is a beautiful timber Cocabola that originates from Central Mexico.
Similar to Koa across the spectrum it is bright, fresh and full of sparkle. It does not have the fuller bass ends of rosewood or Ovangkol but with time and hard playing opens up beautifully.

Well, now, on to one of my particular favourites, Big Leaf maple and of course not forgetting Australian Maple. I built a Weissenborn acoustic lap steel guitar out of Australian Maple some two years ago now and every characteristic about it is positive. The volume of my Weissenborn is really stunning, quite loudest guitar I have ever heard, unamplified! The overtones that run thought this guitar are hair raising and the top end sparkles like a firework! The decay is slow and airy and playing this guitar really is another worldly experience.
To say I am stunned every time I play it is an understatement and I a cant wait to get home to start playing it. When you get a reaction from a guitarist who has played for twenty five years you know that the timber is good, really good.

I also own a 70’s Levin Goliath guitar built by Carlsson Levin, This instrument I first saw played in Putney folk club in the 60’s by a great calypso guitarist, Johnny Silvo.
The guitar then was huge, loud and just snapped back jauntily when it was played by Johnny as if eager to produce more and more great music. Little did I know that I would in the distant future own this beast!
The guitar has had a hard life and had been damaged and repaired but still wont lay down and die. If anything it is greater than ever and I have converted it to the sweetest ever slide guitar. The sound of it entrances me so much I sometimes actually forget what I am playing and just listen over and over again to certain chords..that’s true love!
The table is Sitka spruce and the body Big Leaf Maple..
Heaven on Earth! Incidentally the neck is mahogany and does its fair share of contributing to it’s great sound sound too.
I will continue with these articles on guitar tonewoods and publish them onto to my site the url of which is below in the authors bio.
If you are interested in more information and would like to read more guitar building and related articles why not visit me there? Who knows you might get a little entranced yourself?
Terry Buddell is freelance writer and lives on board his yacht in Gladstone, Australia.
Last year Terry, a keen blues guitar player, built a Weissenborn lap slide acoustic guitar, his first ever. Terry, amazed by the original rich tone and incredible volume of the guitar, designed a plan, built a website, wrote a book about building the guitar on his yacht.

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Why Acoustic Guitar Songs Touches Your Soul

When you turn on your radio you will most likely hear acoustic guitar songs on either of the stations. It is definitely so nice to listen to these songs because they are relaxing. Listening to these songs is calming and you can really feel the message of the song being played. Because of this, a lot of people are inspired to learn how to play the guitar.

Whether you are already an expert in playing the guitar or you would like to learn playing this wonderful musical instrument, you will surely love the idea of searching for songs which can be played on your acoustic guitar.

Nowadays, it is quite popular to create renditions of famous pop songs and turn it into acoustic songs. Those who are already adept in playing the guitar would already be able to play the pop songs into their acoustic guitars just by simply listening carefully to the song. This is because they are already familiar with the tunes as well as the sounds that are produced by each chord. This skill would take time before you’d be able to develop it, so if you are just a beginner and you would like to turn those popular songs into acoustic songs, you may be able to do so by referring to a chords chart or a tablature of chords for that certain song.

Usually, you will be able to look for such tablatures through the internet. The internet is a vast source of almost anything so if you would like to search for tablatures of acoustic guitar songs, you’d be able to find it in the internet.

Listening to music being played on the acoustic guitar is definitely something that brings you relaxation because of the mellowness of the music; it feels like as if it touches your soul and moves you. It surely is a wonderful experience to be able to play these kinds of songs and listen to them at the same time.

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How Do You Begin Playing Guitar

So, you have decided that you would like to learn the way to play the guitar.

Sadly , it can appear extraordinarily frightening to start. You may stare at the guitar and not have any concept what you

are intending to do with it. It is time to lose the fear and meet your fantasies of turning into a guitar player today.

The very first thing you must do is think about why you wish to learn how to play the guitar.
Outlining your goals will help you follow thru with them. Or, if they do, they quickly give up and move onto something

else. Understanding the explanations why you need to play the guitar will help you stick to it and become a better player.

After you have done that, you want to investigate getting a guitar. You will need some direction for this, as there are numerous different sorts of guitars out there.

Still, do not let the options overwhelm you. A straightforward acoustic guitar is all anybody truly has to have to start.
Naturally, after you have gotten your guitar you'll have to take a course to discover how to play. Many folks fret at the

very idea of that since hiring a personal teacher can be quite deal. For many folks, a better idea is to coach themselves.

This is simpler said than done though -- unless you have the right course. Fortunately, there are some great online guitar

teaching options that can actually work for you. The fact that learning how to play the guitar online works so well is often

because it covers some new learning modalities.

You can read info, watch videos, and hear audios. You may work with interactive software to be certain all the info is

sinking in. It is also good to understand the best online courses will not cost a fortune. Start learning the way to play the

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Hollow Body Electric Guitars Make Sweet Music

Hollow body electric guitar is also called semi acoustic guitar. It consists of more than one electric pickups and a sound box. It is not similar to any other electric guitar, which has other amplification added by player or the manufacturer. This instrument is primarily designed with amplifier. The sound box is specifically used to produce amplified sound which is not possible by any other solid instruments. The other acoustic and semi-acoustic electric instruments are mandolins and bases. The construction of these guitars is similar to other semi-acoustic electric guitars and has the same limitations as semi-acoustic guitars and are used in the same way as acoustic guitars.

Some guitars are border line between solid body and hollow body electric guitars. Telecaster guitars fall under this category. Some of the guitars have complete hollow body, while others may have solid centre. Hollow body guitars produce richer tone when compared to solid body. An amplifier can be connected to semi-acoustic guitars for a louder sound. This sound cannot be produced by an ordinary guitar. Hollow body electric guitars are considered as ever green and are the favorite guitars for jazz players and band troops.

Gibson, Rickenbacker and Gretsch are one of the top most manufacturers of these types of guitars. In the recent years several manufacturers are producing different new models of these guitars but they cannot beat the top brands listed. No matters how many new guitar models enter into the market the reputation of the top manufacturers of hollow body electric guitars stands on their own merit and is demonstrated by high consumer demand.

When comparing solid body guitars with others, they are heavier in weight than semi-acoustic guitars. In hollow guitars additional chambers are utilized to produce loud sounds and the size of the body is also reduced. There is, however, a negative point about these guitars and that is that they face problems in conditions of high gain amplification. In this situation the sound chambers produces undesireable feedback.

Semi-acoustic guitars consist of pickups which are similar to electric guitars. They have an empty body that helps in producing unique sounds. Electric acoustic, semi acoustic and hollow body are interchangeable terms used for electric guitars. Acoustic guitars consists of pickups where as electric guitars consists of sound chamber. Acoustic electrics and electric acoustics are considered as electric guitars designed with piezoelectric transducers, electromagnetic pickups or condenser microphones. Electric acoustic guitars will not fall under either category of semi-acoustic or hollow body electric guitars. They are entirely unique from these two guitars. Semi-acoustic guitars consist of solid block within.

The most important thing to bear in mind when looking for a hollow body electric guitar is to stick with the most popular manufacturers who have stood the test of time. After all, they've been around awhile for a reason! These products will definitely be of a higher quality than other lesser-known brands.

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You Want To Learn Guitar? Which Type Of Guitar?

I am not being smart about this or even trying to put you off from the start before you have even picked up a guitar, but have you asked yourself which type of guitar you might want to spend a whole lot of time with? If I can put it another way, when you imagine yourself playing guitar was it an electric guitar? Do you imagine being down on your knees sliding across the stage floor, in front of a huge audience roaring for more? Or was it more like a quiet evening on the porch strumming and picking your favourite tune? If it was neither of these first two and if you are not exactly sure about which style of music you might want to play, we might want to back up a little bit and start at the beginning.
Let us go through a few of the choices and options available. We can break them down into types of instrument and types of music. Electric or acoustic guitar. We could also say four string, bass guitar, or six string, the most common acoustic or electric, add onto that the acoustic with electric pickup. Then we could move onto twelve string, again electric or acoustic. Musical types are something I would not even attempt to list. Broadly speaking, there is Classical, Rock and Pop, Country, Blues, Jazz and a whole range of crossover types of music.
From personal experience I can say I started off on Rock and went onto Classical. Rock did not satisfy me. After spending a lot of money on lessons I went over to Classical and it was one of the best experiences of my life. It made playing the rock stuff so much more easy when I went back for a bit of fun and I learned to spot where some of those modern tunes came from. What would it be for you? Bass guitar teams up with percussion and drives stuff along. Got to be solid on the beat everything is built on top of it. Lead guitar, well you know about that stuff, except it is good not to play those boring seventies riffs unless you can bleed your heart into them. Acoustic guitar can be almost anything. Especially steel string set up as opposed to gut string found on a classical guitar. Very adaptable with an electric pickup it can serve a multitude of purposes. From picking to rhythm to the downright outrageous such as classical gas acoustic guitar can fit into most set ups for performance. Classical guitar demands practice on technique of hands posture and study of the period from the composer.
With so much to explore it is a good benefit to have the opportunity to easily access online guitar tuition. It is so much cheaper than guitar tuition on a one to one basis and the lessons can be repeated at will or on demand. It is worth reading around the subject and seeking advice before parting with cash. That goes for the type of tuition as well. To be like your online guitar hero look at the online guitar shops for best information.

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Basics of Bass Guitars

The history of bass guitars dates back to 1930s when it was first developed by Paul Tutmarc of Seattle, Washington. A bass guitar looks similar to an electric guitar except it is larger in terms of body and neck length. The guitar is tuned to pitches that are one octave lower than those of the four lower strings of a guitar (E, A, D and G). Like electric guitars, bass guitars are attached to an amplifier or speaker for live performance.

What are bass guitars made of?

The bass guitars usually have bodies made of wood. The body may also be made of other materials like graphite as in some of the Steinberger guitars. Different types of woods are used for the making of the neck, body and the fretboard of the bass guitars. Usually the body is made of alder; the fretboard is made of rosewood and the neck of maple. Other types of woods used are ash, mahogany and maple for bodies, maple and ebony for the fretboard and mahogany for necks. The bass guitars have various flat and curved designs and oil, wax, or lacquer finishes.

What creates the bass effect?

Most of the bass guitars have bodies with hollow chambers to enhance the resonance and tone of the instruments. This design also reduces the weight of the guitars. Acoustic bass guitars usually have piezoelectric or magnetic pick ups and amplifiers. Bass Guitars may also be classified on the basis of the frets. The Fender basses have about 20 frets whereas modern basses have about 24 or more frets. The Fretless basses produce distinct sound due to lack of frets. Usually the bass guitars have four, five or six strings.

You can take formal bass guitars training in a wide range of styles like jazz, rock, Latin, funk and R&B. You may even learn informally from records or CDs. There is a wide variety of brands and styles of bass guitars. You can buy them along with many different accessories according to your individual needs. Some of the accessories that are often required are amplifiers, cables, straps, tuners, headphones, Instructional DVDs and gig bags. You can even shop online. The different websites will offer you the opportunity to make a well informed buy. They can also create personalized packages that contain the accessories that you want to suit your individual tastes and preferences

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How to Choose Guitar Strings - Not all Guitar Strings are the Same!

When you are making a decision to take up a hobby like playing the guitar, the last thing you need is a complicated process on how to decide what types of equipment to buy, and how to create the different sounds that a guitar can make.

If you are just learning to play the guitar, you probably to want to choose a nylon guitar string, as they are easier on your fingers and will allow you to learn how to apply the correct amount of pressure with minimal discomfort to your fingertips. Nylon guitar strings produce a mellow, soothing tone. If you are going to play the classical guitar, you are likely to want to stay with these guitar strings as your playing improves, as they are very common in the classical style of guitar playing.

Ball-end nylon guitar strings are a popular choice for the folk-style guitar player. These strings can handle the strumming associated with folk style playing.

Silk and steel guitar strings are what you want for finger style playing, because they are gentler on your fingers.

Bronze guitar strings provide a brilliant, bright tone and are often used on acoustic guitars. They are wrapped in a bronze coating to provide the "brightness" commonly heard from an acoustic guitar.

There are also mutliple choices in electric guitar strings as well. Flat-wound guitar strings are easier to play and produce a tone that is common in jazz styles.

Nickel wound strings, commonly found in brands like Ernie Ball, they are made from pure nickel wire wrapped around tin plated hex. Nickel strings produce a warm, rich toneThese are the types of strings that are commonly heard in rock-n-roll style guitar playing.

Round wound strings, popular in manufacturers like GHS, are made of nickel plated steel, and they produce a bright, long-lasting tone, commonly used in heavy metal, rock, country, blues, and pop styles.

There are also multiple gauges (or thickness) of guitar strings to consider when making your choice. Heavier gauges are better for rhythm style playing and lighter gauges are better for bending and playing solos. It is important to determine which thickness is best for your needs, and remember that they may change as your ability improves. I would suggest a medium light to medium gauge if you are just beginning, as these can be a little more versatile than heavier gauged strings.

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How to buy an electric guitar

For most of us, all the major purchases like a new refrigerator or new car, this cacophony of options and confusion; want a silver or black? How can we spend? Will it be the last time? If anything, at least we know that we need such devices, a microwave to make hot meals fast the car will help us from one place to another without a break. When it comes to buying a new guitar, guitarists, even with the experience, perhaps, the difficulty to decide what they want and need. However, if you have a few simple tips, you can buy a guitar and experience a whole lot easier.

1. Determine your price, you can for $ 99 to $ 20,000 on a guitar, so make sure your home or business before it in the shops round. Quality guitars are available in all price ranges, so do not believe that the call to the bank to what you need.

2. Know what you want to sound. This is probably the most important aspect of learning how to buy an electric guitar. Some well-rounded guitar, can go from blues, jazz, rock, without any skip. Others are more one-sided, designed specifically for a certain type of music. Listen to some of your favorite guitar sounds on the CD-ROM or on the radio, and then ask a music professional what type of guitar for recording. Perhaps you could specify the guitar near the sound in your head. In addition, if you know what music plays in the first place, it can also facilitate the process.

3. What inspires you. In short, if the guitar is not easy in his hands, if you just do not feel "good", although it is assumed that perfect guitar, it does not fit you. Shop around, both in stores and online until you find that screams "Choose me, pick me!"

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Brief history of guitar

If you want to learn and master guitar, they just love the game
Then the document is not necessary that you know about
The history of the guitar. In fact, there is no need to touch the historical aspect, if ever
They want to learn and master guitar, because the two things
are not in any way. But if you love
himself, and charisma, and then safely
To learn more about an instrument of their choice.

Describe the history and origins of the guitar is not an easy task to
means. In the history of this magical instrument dating
Nearly 4000 years. Indeed, the guitar, perhaps a modernized version of the
identical documents, consisting of more than 5000 years old, were
the existence of many cultures and is widely used throughout the
World so far.

Guitars and other musical instruments may be considered similar
Stringed instruments. According to archaeological evidence, the first
String instruments, known as the bowl, harp and tanburs. During the first
The days of string instruments in the visual presentation, the
very simple design. There was no real evidence of his
There is no continuous music for them. It
This was during the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance, that the world
Witnesses to the origin of a string instrument, which in comparison
with the modern guitar. During this period, Guitar
The course is for four or five courses. Nevertheless, these musical instruments,
a richer sound than the modern six-string guitar. Gradually, the six
Stringed instruments in force during the 18 th century and was
Widely popular. Gaetano Vinaccia considered to be the first man
Have the first version of the modern acoustic guitar. Finally,
That was in 1936 that George Beauchamp received the first patent
For the electronic guitar.

Even the word "guitar" has an interesting history. With regard to language
Experts, "guitar" is the adaptation of words in Spanish as "Guitar"
which was from the Greek word "Kithara. go beyond the
deeply into the history of language, although some experts believe that the word
"Guitar," Indian origin "Guitar" is music and "tar":
The rope or chain. Indeed, some musical lines
Tools such as the sitar "by the roots" Tar "in its name.

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Guitar Lesson: How to improvise on the classical guitar path

When I was fifteen years old guitarist plays rock guitar solos and classical works, I remember that it is the desire to be able to improvise on my guitar in a classical way.

Today, I developed this opportunity, and I love the improvisation in the style of composers like Sor, Tarrega, Paganini and others, or attempt to somewhere between the notes. These special moments are a form of meditation. My mind and helps me as a composer to express my creativity.

The main reason for the study of classical guitar improvisation is that it is fun!

If you learn classical guitar improvisation benefit you in many ways including:

1. This is easier for you to memorize classical guitar music.

2. You may find it easier to create your own guitar pieces in the style of classical guitar.

3. You can create your own exercises techniqal his guitar on the fly. "

4. They have a better understanding of the guitar.

There are many opportunities for the development of the classical guitar improvisation. How?

You can use the major scale, experimenting with easy chords, or easy classical guitar pieces. The fundamental requirement is that you learn this art and the desire is the way to practice classical guitar improvisation in all of his guitar.

I would just like to point out to the classical guitar pieces in this article. But where to start?

I propose that, beginning in May, with a simple melody with a voice, and perhaps a piece of low-two vote with an open string. Learn a few bars in the center and play the melody over and over again, and try a little melody with classical touch.

The latter event is a modern classical guitar solo.

If you believe that you will realize that classical guitar pieces with a wonderful licks, more or less complex.

These licks can be developed and materials that will help you to improvise their skills.

For example, one step at a bar on a classical guitar piece that you like and practice to master, and then remember them.

Now you can go to, they break, modify, analyze, and so on. If you want to improve the quality of improvisation guitarist and musician you can regard classical guitar pieces as collections of very musical licks just waiting to be used.

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