Electric Guitars
CONTENTS:
Choosing An Electric Guitar: Main Points To Consider
Why Did Electric Bass Guitars Become Popular?
Choosing An Electric Guitar: Main Points
To Consider
by: Peter Mack
Ask any guitarist, and they will you that nothing comes close to
jamming with a guitar. In fact, no other instrument has influenced
modern music so much as the guitar, and its ongoing popularity is
reflect in its ubiquitous appearance in bands, radio stations and
music videos throughout the world. Certainly one of the coolest
instruments, the guitar is synonymous with contemporary pop and
rock music. That said, no guitar is more symbolic of rock music
than the electric guitar.
Whether you are an expert or a mere learner, getting
a new electric guitar is a thrill. Perhaps you have only ever played
an acoustic guitar, and want to branch out? Maybe you are simply
learning guitar from scratch? Whatever your reasons, buying an electric
guitar means you will be able to play searing riffs and haunting
melodies like you have never experienced with any other instrument.
There are a number of things to decide upon when choosing
an electric guitar.
The first decision you need to make is what body shape
you want your guitar to be. To date, the most popular guitar shape
is the solid-body Les Paul shape. You can also opt for the SG Style,
which has a thinner double cut-away body. Other most common shapes
are the Stratocaster and Telecaster.
Once you have chosen the shape of your guitar, you
will need to decide what pick-up you want, either single or humbucker
pick up. These refer to the copper wire that is wrapped around the
bar magnets. As its name implies, the single pick-up it is composed
of one copper wire wrapped in a single coil around a single bar
magnet or several rod magnets. The humbucker pick-up, on the other
hand, uses two coils which tends to increase the intensity of a
guitar’s sounds.
Choosing the right bridge is another important step.
You will need to decide between the stock tremolo, double-locking
or Floyd Rose double locking system. Depending on the style, the
strings may be positioned differently, looser or tighter, and more
or less responsive to your touch.
These are just some of the things you will need to
consider when you select your new electric guitar. The choice you
ultimately make will vary depending on the sort of music you want
to play, as well as your knowledge and level of experience. Your
budget will also bear upon your decision, and for those with less
money, secondhand guitars are always an option.
Seeking help from friends who play the electrical
guitar, or staff at the music store is always invaluable. Once you
have the right guitar, your playing will be more enjoyable... and
the better for it.
About The Author
Peter Mack writes for http://electricguitarshow.com,
a website packed with electric guitar articles and resources.
Why Did Electric Bass Guitars
Become Popular?
by: Mark J Emslie
Bass guitars have been around as long as ordinary guitars. A
bass instrument is always required in a band to provide the depth
of sound required to make listening full and pleasurable whether
it is a brass band, where they would use the E or B flat bass
or a modern pop group that would use electric bass guitars.
The electric guitar as we know it has been evolving since the
1930's and became increasingly popular in the 1950's. Traditionally,
in the pop bands of the 1950's, the double bass or slap bass was
used. As the development of amplifiers progressed and bands became
loader it was hard for the acoustic bass to be heard and amplifying
them by way of a microphone was awkward and cumbersome. Electric
bass guitars were therefore developed and become popular using
the same technology as electric guitars with electric pick-ups.
Additionally, transporting a large double bass was not an easy
affair; that was remedied with electric bass guitars which, still
bigger than electric guitars are considerably smaller than the
acoustic double bass.
The Construction of Bass Guitars
Given the deeper sound required from bass guitars, their construction,
whilst similar to ordinary electric guitars, differ mainly by
their size. Generally 4 or perhaps 5 bass strings are used which
are generally tuned one whole octave below the normal guitar and
therefore somewhat thicker which enables them to produce those
lush, deep and low tones. The necks and scale length on bass guitars
are also longer.
Given the way modern bass guitars are constructed they are more
easily mass produced and their price therefore will be considerably
cheaper than a quality slap bass guitar. With the modern styling
including contoured bodies and bevelled edges, they are more comfortable
to hold and play for longer periods.
Bass guitars continue to be developed for different styles of
music and sound - the headless and almost bodiless Steinberger
is extremely light weight and fits nicely with bass players playing
a funky style of music. The rich tones of the Fender Precision
range of bass guitars fit well in a jazz environment but are also
flexible enough to be used for country music as well as modern
pop music.
The range of bass guitars is massive and your choice will depend
on the style of music you intend to play and of course how deep
your pockets are! Just like any instrument, you have a choice
from relatively cheap mass produced bass guitars to the beautiful
hand made models with superior woods and very high quality craftsmanship.
About The Author
Mark J Emslie has been a guitarist and musician for over 35 years.
Much of that time has been in a professional capacity. More information
on learning the guitar and guitar lessons can be found at http://www.GuitarPik.com.
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