Acoustic Guitar Purchase Guide

Posted by | Posted in Home-Based-Business, Music | Posted on 23-08-2009

Although the most basic guitar may be the acoustic guitar, still there are a number of things that you should consider and look for before you purchase yourself one.

The body style of acoustic guitars is not at all the same. There is quite a variety of shapes and sizes that you can choose from, these can range from the small guitars which are made fit for travel, to the jumbo guitars designed for jumbo people, to the dreadnought. The body style of acoustic guitars is an important consideration because this determines the tonal emphasis as well as the sound projection of the guitar. In some cases, guitar players can choose to sacrifice comfort in playing the guitar in order to get good tonal quality. Albeit, if you do your shopping well, you can get one without foregoing either. If not, then you can always set your mind into thinking that comfort is nothing to quality and you will get used to your guitar’s body shape in no time.

If you plan to play your acoustic guitar on large venues then you should know that you need preamps to make sure that the acoustic tunes coming from your instrument is loud enough to fill the room so that everyone can hear. Preamps are mounted in the hole located on the side of some guitars while several ones have sound holes where the preamps are mounted inside. A number of guitars also have systems where you can combine a microphone, EQ, tuners, preamps and piezo pickups.

In choosing the neck of your guitar, the thing to consider is the size of your hand. The body size of the instrument is the basis in determining the width as well as the thickness of the neck of your guitar. The neck’s width also takes into account the number of fret that it contains. The usual number of frets is 12 or 14. Intonation check is imperative as it can influence your tunes. Look at the distance between frets. The guitar may be out of tune if such distance is off. And if your acoustic guitar is out of sync then it does not serve its purpose; it is useless as a musical instrument.

Don’t you know that the kind of wood used in an acoustic guitar can affect its tune? If you didn’t, well now you do. Each type of wood produces a different sound as the other. The wood used on the top part of the guitar is the one that determines its tone and sound. The typical wood used is Spruce. The wood of an acoustic guitar also is one factor in its pricing. The rarer the wood is, the more expensive the guitar will be.

How the guitar sounds is the result of fine tuning. This is the reason why it is critical that your guitar’s tuning machine is A Ok. It is the tuning machine which allows you to modify and adjust your pitch and tones according to your musical preferences so as the guitar should really produce lovely music to your ears.

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A Guide to Downloading Music to Your PSP

Posted by | Posted in Music | Posted on 21-08-2009

Like many people, I love games and I love music. And I can enjoy my games and my music anywhere with my Sony PSP. I do know that some people have had trouble downloading music to their PSP. It is actually very simple to do, but some technical difficulties do come into play, so I can understand how people can have problems with downloading music to a PSP. I have written this guide to help anyone learn how to do it.

The first step is to make sure that your music files are in a media format that can be played on the PSP. Not all music files on your computer are the same. They can be encoded in different ways, known as formats. The Sony PSP can only play music files encoded on the MP3, AAC, and WMA codecs. Other types of music files will not work on the PSP. For example, music downloaded from the iTunes store is in the M4A format and so will not play on a PSP.

To determine the format of a music file on a Windows desktop, open Windows explorer and select the file in question. The box labeled “Details” on the left explorer bar will describe the file type, such as MPEG Layer 3 Audio for an MP3 file or Window Media Player Audio for a WMA file. Both of these file types can be played on a PSP.

If your music is not of a compatible type, then you need to convert it. One easy way to do this is to first burn your music files to a CD, then rip the CD you just made into MP3 files on your computer. You will need software that can burn and rip audio files to CD. Your music player can probably do this already. The iTunes, Windows Media Player, and Music Match Jukebox programs are all capable of ripping and burning audio. Consult the help file of your music program to learn how to do it properly.

Next, you need to have a PSP memory stick that is formatted correctly. You can format a memory stick from your PSP. Just open the system settings menu and select the option to Format Memory Stick. This should automatically create a folder labeled Music on the memory stick, along with folders marked Video and Photo.

Connect your PSP to your desktop computer using a USB connector or a wireless link. Then open the memory disk folder. Select the music files you want to transfer and copy them to the Music folder. The music will be downloaded to the PSP. Wait for all downloads to complete, and then disconnect your PSP from the computer.

That’s it, you should be able to play the music on your PSP without any problems. If you still have trouble after following these instructions, you may have a hardware problem, perhaps even a fake memory stick. That’s a different issue, and all I have to say for now is, be sure to buy memory sticks from a reputable dealer.

Did you find my tips on downloading music to your PSP useful? Get tips on free PSP downloads and more at All PSP Games

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Getting Your Song Idea Underway

Posted by | Posted in Music, Poetry | Posted on 21-08-2009

I had to write up a flow diagram the other day for the process I need to follow to get a song/lyric from idea to completion. You might find it useful;

1./ You are walking down the street thinking about nothing in particular. One thought leads to another and suddenly you are struck by what seems to be a great idea. A concept arrives waiting to be fleshed out. This is often called ‘ The Muse’. Any bit of inspiration or muse that passes by is worthy of pursuing. It might come from your walk down the street or it might come from an exercise such as object writing. Object writing is the process of writing from your senses about a particular object/thing/person/place or time, within a set time frame of 5 or ten minutes.

2./ If your great idea has not come from object writing then you need to do some; Find a quiet place to set yourself up with pen and notepad, or word processor if you’re computer inclined. Set a stopwatch or timer, most mobile phones have one these days, and write for 10 minutes on your subject. For example this afternoon I came up with the concept of “losing altitude”. This could be about a relationship running out of steam or taking a dip or going through a period of turbulence, so, the challenge is to get metaphors related to the concept and make them into useable phrases for our song. Here’s some example writing;

Losing altitude, we’re dropping down, my tummy is left up in the sky somewhere. Losing altitude, who’s in control of this plane? I’ve got my hand on the controls, but you keep wrestling them away. While we’re wrestling the plane is going into a dive and we’re losing altitude. The ground is spinning up to meet us, I want to jump out of this plane and be free wheeling on a parachute, pulling my own cords, not be your puppet on a string. etc.

Usually you can find a few choice phrases from your stream of consciousness sense based writing that can be valuable to expand on, which is part 3.

3./ Pick key words or themes from your main idea and find rhymes. I am a great fan of the methods of Pat Pattison of Berklee Music college. In his book Writing Better Lyrics Pat advocates that we not just look for perfect rhymes, but also family rhymes, assonant rhymes and near rhymes. So, from our example we might look at the words altitude, dropping, sky, control, plane, dive, losing, spinning, parachute and cords, to find a database of rhymes we can use.

For “altitude” you might try: solitude, latitude, attitude, unscrewed, voodooed, argued, stewed, mood and feud. Now any of those combinations can open up a world of possibilities,but if you stick ‘on theme’ you might get a coupe of rhyming lines like;

Hey, I know we argued
and you’re in a terrible mood
but, I’m reaching for my parachute, ‘cos , [ I brought in one of the other key words which happened to be a near rhyme]
baby, we’re losing altitude.

Not the greatest prose in the world but a starting point. What about dive? Drive, test-drive, arrive, survive, alive, real-life, jaws of life.

We’re in a nose dive
this isn’t a test-drive
if we’re gonna survive
somebody’s gonna have to go and get the jaws of life.

4./ Once you’ve got a few more ideas flowing try to story board your song and work out if there is a narrative flow. What will each part of the song say? To carry on the example, part one could be; boy and girl are going on holiday they are flying and he thinks that there are problems in the relationship. Part 2 could be the woman’s perspective, what she thinks is wrong. Part 3, a bridge, might be them playing out disaster scenarios, and a final verse might be a happy ending as they are coming in to land at their destination, losing altitude, but in a controlled way. Could this journey be a plan to rekindle the romance?

5./ Rewrite the main idea using new lyrical/rhyming ideas within the story board

6./ If you’re stuck for a rhythmic idea try to extract it from the working title of the song. Our working title of “losing altitude” could be broken up to represent he following; Loo-zing-al-ti-tude or, ta Tum ta ta Tum. Try ta Tum ta ta Tum at different speeds to see what matches the ‘feel’ of the song.

7./ Start speaking out loud some of your rough prose and rhyme to see how it might fit against the rhythm and start trying out melodic ideas

8./Hit the “record” button on your tape recorder or computer and get writing, and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite, until you’re done!

About the Author:
For more information on home recording and songwriting visit Paul Warren’s websites ObjectWriting.com and MyHomeRecordingStudio.com

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Is An iPod Right For You?

Posted by | Posted in Music | Posted on 21-08-2009

Should I get an iPod? A lot of people are asking if they should get a portable music player, and if so, they want to know which one they should get. Well, if that’s you, then you have a few options.

First of all, the Apple iPod is the most popular digital music player on the market. It does have a lot of great features, sounds great, and is a robust (durable) piece of equipment.

With that said, there are other digital music players from big names like Sony, Samsung, and Roxio that are just as good! One of the major differences between most digital music players is that the Apple iPod is, in fact, not an mp3 player. People often call it that, for lack of a better term, but this is a misnomer.

An mp3 player is a portable digital music player (like the aforementioned offerings from Sony, Samsung, Roxio and others) that plays mp3 music files, like those you can purchase at online stores like emusic, amazon and others. The iPod on the other hand, does not play mp3 files. It will only play the Apple format, mp4 (or m4p) files.

What does that mean to you, from a practical sense? It means that any music you buy that is not from iTunes will not be as easily loadable into your iPod. It will need to be converted into the Apple format (m4p) before it will play on the iPod. It also means that you cannot play files purchased from iTunes on an mp3 player without converting them first.

Sound confusing? Well, it can be, but there are two ways to simplify this situation. One is this: purchase an iPod (or iPhone) and only purchase your music from the iTunes music store. The other option is this: purchase an mp3 player from a non-Apple brand, and only purchase music from basically everywhere BUT iTunes.

Those are your two best options, if you don’t want to have to deal with converting files (which, let’s face it – who does?).

Your decision should be based on a couple factors, one of them being whether you are a Mac user already. (If you use a PC, you can still use iTunes and iPods, though! It’s just a little more natural on a Mac computer!) Another factor is whether you already have an mp3 collection. If you do, you should shy away from iTunes and iPods so you don’t have to convert your files!
About Author:
Get an ipod at http://www.electroland.gr/ipod-family.htm

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IPod Battery Maintenance Tips

Posted by | Posted in Music | Posted on 21-08-2009

The battery of the iPod is a small piece of equipment that looks fragile but is the most vital part of the iPod. Hence, it is important to prolong the life of the battery, as much as possible, to listen to uninterrupted music for long hours of time. There are certain tips that would help to prolong the life of the iPod battery.

Basically, the battery should be kept at room temperature, since extreme heat or cold would reduce the optimum performance of the battery. The optimum temperature is given to be around twenty degrees Celsius. Most of the users make the battery go in vain by accidentally pressing the play button while the iPod is in pocket. So, in order to save some battery life, it is better to hold the iPod in hand while listening to it.

The battery is used up even when the iPod is in sleep mode and hence it is advisable to charge the iPod, once the battery is over. Also, while listening to music, the pause button must be used as much as possible and played again when needed. This would help to prevent the use of battery when it is not needed.

The back light settings eat up most of the battery life and so it can be switched off while using the iPod in bright areas and if not, the back light timer setting can be set to the minimum, say, three seconds. This means when the iPod is not being used for three seconds, the back light will get switched off automatically. The brightness of the backlight can be reduced to a great extent while not watching videos that would save a huge amount of battery.

The battery should not be allowed to drain fully and recharging quite often makes no harm to the iPod. While using the previous and next buttons, the hard drive of the iPod is opened and this takes up a lot of battery life. Hence, it is better to avoid changing tracks quite frequently. Another influencing factor is the graphic equalizer. The music can be equally enjoyed without meddling with the equalizer very often and turning the equalizer off lengthens the life of the iPod battery.

It is a good idea to create play lists in iTunes. This way, one need not waste the precious battery power by manually selecting the songs that he or she wants to hear. IPods are designed and devised to enjoy uninterrupted music while on the move and it could be very annoying, if the battery suddenly dies down while listening to the favorite music or song.

The very purpose of iPod becomes futile when this happens and hence one should be wise enough to do all that is possible to lengthen the battery life. This would help to enjoy the music more, uninterrupted.

Visit http://ipodepot.info to find the best of Apple Ipods at cheap prices and reviews of different models.

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Information For Cartoon Song Downloads

Posted by | Posted in Music | Posted on 21-08-2009

How to make the best use of internet with anime music download? For all those who are not aware what Anime means, Anime means animation in Japanese. Anime has taken the globe by a storm. If you are someone who is new or have not seen any of these anime programs or films then it is likely that you may be under-estimating the impact of anime music download and the impact on anime fans. There are a number of anime music download websites available online; you only need to search through a search engine.

The word anime is Japanese in origin meaning animation. The style of anime has also made an impact on the Hollywood industry and can be seen in movies like Kill Bill and animations like Power Puff Girls. This also shows the range of age captivated by anime and anime music download is from kids to senior citizens. Anime music download is the latest in thing. With video iPods and other music players, anime music download provides more fun.

Points to remember with anime music download: Do some research to find websites offering the best deal and quality in anime music downloads. The anime music download should be compatible with your video player or convertible to suit your player. Read the websites terms and conditions to ensure their anime music download is legal.

Downloading anime is not expensive as it is mostly available for a very nominal fee. A lifetime membership with a good anime music download website is wise, if you are a fan of anime music download. You also get to download the latest anime characters, films, wallpapers and more.

Anime music download is mostly in Japanese with English subtitles and many anime music download sites are offering increasing number of English downloads.

For those who like to know about the download speed offered for anime and anime music downloads, well it is no mystery that it depends on the internet service you use. A good anime music download website will offer faster downloads and good quality video and audio to increase your listening and viewing pleasure. If you have a high speed internet you can also consider downloading anime movies from the anime music download websites.

There are other additional features available at these anime music download websites like, English subtitles, all genres of anime music download and even free anime movies. Add in free anime wallpapers and free anime video clips; you get your money�s worth by joining an anime music download website.

There are often no limitations to the Anime music downloads, and you can continue according to your wish. The speed depends solely on the internet connection you are using. You just need to register at these sites and the process is pretty simple, where you can start the downloading process in minute�s time! Anime Music Downloads can be got in a variety of ways on the internet.

At Any Music Downloads, we are pleased to have Isaiah Henry as reviewer on free music downloads. He has written on the likes of Rhapsody review. Visit Any Music Download for useful info today.

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Indian bands and their music

Posted by | Posted in Music | Posted on 21-08-2009

Indian bands have successfully made it on the Internet, gathering even more enthusiasts through specialized websites such as My Band. Possessing musical knowledge or not, these listeners have become true fans of Indian music and they visit the web regularly to discover new songs. Filled with melody and rhythm (Raag and Taal), Indian songs are unique and they definitely represent a gateway into the Indian culture. They allow one to expand his or her imagination, impressing with their distinct qualities and melodious tunes.

If Raag represents the melody, Taal is actually the rhythm of any song created by Indian bands. The rhythm comes from the musical instruments used for the making of Indian music, with one of the most illustrative examples that could be given being the tabla. Indian artists are trained in the secrets of percussion and they make sure that each and every song posted on My Band has both melody and rhythm. Improvisation is a very important part of making Indian music, most artists engaging in such practices and creating subtle improvisations for their songs. It takes a trained ear to discover such modifications but the end result is definitely fantastic.

When making music, Indian bands bring vocals, instrumentals and improvisation into the picture. They choose a professional and experienced melodic performer, they search for the perfect rhythmic foundation and they always work with a good percussionist. You cannot even begin to understand the hard work that is found behind one simple song, one that you’re humming all day and repeating the words. The performance of Indian bands is appreciated by people of different ages and occupations, coming from all corners of the world and influences by the most diverse cultures. My Band represents the portal where Indian music is offered to the entire world, whether we are talking about rock, pop or Indie.

When listening to Indian bands, you might have a hard time distinguishing exactly the musical instruments that have been used. Only someone with knowledge of music and experience can achieve such an objective. As a regular listener, you will enjoy the beauty of the song and nothing more. However, you should know that the role of musical instruments is taken very seriously, both the melody and the rhythm depending heavily on their proper use. Indian songs (like the ones you will be listening on My Band) represent the perfect blend between vocal and instrumental performance, followed up closely by percussion. The interaction between all of these is indeed exciting and you are given the opportunity to listen to the final product, which is indeed fantastic.

Genuine artists know how to synchronize every aspect in a song in order to produce the expected results. Everyone appreciates the creations of Indian bands, realizing how much hard work and dedication is lies behind them. As a dedicated player, you too can contribute to making Indian music known out there. Tell your friends and acquaintances about My Band. They will surely be grateful for having opened such a wonderful universe in front of their eyes.

We would like to welcome you on My Band: http://www.myband.co.in/, the place where Indian bands: http://www.myband.co.in/index.php?t=artists feel like at home. You and your friends will feel like you were home here as well, enjoying the good music that is being presented to you.

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Indian band songs – the very best of Indian music!

Posted by | Posted in Music | Posted on 21-08-2009

If we were to talk about Indian music, we would have to take into consideration the most diverse aspects. Even when we are speaking about modern Indian band songs influenced by Western styles, we still have to think about the rich history and culture Indian music possesses. My Band might represent just the thing one needs to discover Indian band songs in their entire splendor, with each group presenting a little bit of information about themselves and putting their creations online for everyone to listen. It is such an honor to be granted access to these songs, given the fact that they are so wonderfully written and they sound so amazing.

There are two things that fascinate when it comes to Indian band songs, meaning the melody and the rhythm. The blend between these two is what actually makes an impression on the listeners, easily transforming them into dedicated fans. Regardless of the musical genre chosen, it is practically impossible not to fall in love with the Indian band songs present on My Band. The melody is captured in such a way that it enthralls and fascinates at the same time, the rhythm being perfectly chosen for each song. At the end of the first song, you start to understand why so many people love Indian music, dedicating so much of their time to listening to Indian band songs. It’s all about the mix of Raag (melody) and Taal (rhythm) that contributes to the making of unique sounds.

Many people have become interested in the fundamentals of Indian music, referring to the Internet in order to find the information on Raag and Taal. They soon discovered that Raag is an important part of Indian band songs, being associated with the most diverse feelings, including love and happiness. How do such feelings apply to Indian music? The truth is that love and happiness apply to the melodic sounds you are listening to. Both the artist and the listener are influenced by Raag, the melody delivering exactly the feelings that were mentioned above. You just have to listen to any of the Indian band songs found at My Band and it won’t take too long before you are convinced of that fact.

Even though there are rules associated with the melody of the song (Raag), the most important thing is the song actually delivers the intended emotions. Indian band songs create a certain mood, they evoke strong feelings and they contribute to one unique musical experience. The amazing thing is that not only the listener is influenced by these sounds but the artist as well, leading to one unique creation indeed. My Band represents indeed an amazing resource to discover your passion for Indian music, experiencing what they’ve got to offer in a song, the melody and rhythm, the mixture of sounds.

Whether the song is based on improvisation or it has a more defined structure, the truth is that Indian band songs are amazing to listen to. Some have a strong rhythm and they impress with the intricately chosen notes. Others are chosen to be both melodically and rhythmically, guaranteeing a unique musical experience. My Band does not enter into the fundamentals of Indian music but they present some of the best Indian band songs of the moment, leaving to the listener the decisions which are the most incredible. My Band is even accessible on on iPhone and other phon models which allows you to stream music on the move and listen to your favorite songs. Top artists present their sounds online at My Band and you definitely have to listen to them, discovering what Indian music is all about.

Discover the melody and rhythm of Indian band songs: http://www.myband.co.in/index.php?t=artists at My Band, your favorite place to be at any moment of the day. If Indian music is what you are interested in, then you have every reason to be a regular visitor on this website: http://www.myband.co.in/ . Enjoy!

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How to Start Consulting – Here’s how you can start a career in consulting

Posted by | Posted in Music | Posted on 21-08-2009

Here’s how you can start a career in consulting:

1. Specialize. Choose a field of consulting that compliments your skills, expertise, and passion. If you are considered an SEO guru for example, you can offer consulting services to ebusiness owners who want to improve their page ranking.

2. Decide where you want to work. You may opt to offer your consulting services online or go with the traditional method. You must also decide if you want to be an independent consultant or if you want to work for consulting firms. Keep in mind that every option has pros and cons. Weigh these first before you make decisions to avoid committing potentially costly mistakes.

3. Do your research. It would work to your advantage if you increase your knowledge about the field of consulting. Read as much online and offline resources as possible. You can also interview consultants who have excelled in this field so you’ll know right away what to expect.

4. Experience. If you are leaning towards going solo (independent consultant), its necessary that you have relevant experience to easily win the trust of your target audience. I recommend that you take advantage of internship programs or consider offering your consulting services free to your friends and family members at least for the mean time.

5. Enhance your communication skills. Offering consulting services is synonymous to talking to different people on a regular basis. Thus, it’s a must that you do not have any problem voicing out your thoughts. If you are not confident with your communication skills, go and take advantage of relevant training programs and seminars before you totally sink your teeth into the field of consulting.

6. Do your research. It would work to your advantage if you increase your knowledge about the field of consulting. Read as much online and offline resources as possible. You can also interview consultants who have excelled in this field so you’ll know right away what to expect.

7. Specialize. Choose a field of consulting that compliments your skills, expertise, and passion. If you are considered an SEO guru for example, you can offer consulting services to ebusiness owners who want to improve their page ranking.

8. Enhance your communication skills. Offering consulting services is synonymous to talking to different people on a regular basis. Thus, it’s a must that you do not have any problem voicing out your thoughts. If you are not confident with your communication skills, go and take advantage of relevant training programs and seminars before you totally sink your teeth into the field of consulting.

9. Specialize. Choose a field of consulting that compliments your skills, expertise, and passion. If you are considered an SEO guru for example, you can offer consulting services to ebusiness owners who want to improve their page ranking.

10. Enhance your communication skills. Offering consulting services is synonymous to talking to different people on a regular basis. Thus, it’s a must that you do not have any problem voicing out your thoughts. If you are not confident with your communication skills, go and take advantage of relevant training programs and seminars before you totally sink your teeth into the field of consulting.

11. Enhance your communication skills. Offering consulting services is synonymous to talking to different people on a regular basis. Thus, it’s a must that you do not have any problem voicing out your thoughts. If you are not confident with your communication skills, go and take advantage of relevant training programs and seminars before you totally sink your teeth into the field of consulting.

12. Do your research. It would work to your advantage if you increase your knowledge about the field of consulting. Read as much online and offline resources as possible. You can also interview consultants who have excelled in this field so you’ll know right away what to expect.

13. Experience. If you are leaning towards going solo (independent consultant), its necessary that you have relevant experience to easily win the trust of your target audience. I recommend that you take advantage of internship programs or consider offering your consulting services free to your friends and family members at least for the mean time.

14. Enhance your communication skills. Offering consulting services is synonymous to talking to different people on a regular basis. Thus, it’s a must that you do not have any problem voicing out your thoughts. If you are not confident with your communication skills, go and take advantage of relevant training programs and seminars before you totally sink your teeth into the field of consulting.
(Res Box) Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed a brand new free guide. Download it free here:
1. Specialize. Choose a field of consulting that compliments your skills, expertise, and passion. If you are considered an SEO guru for example, you can offer consulting services to ebusiness owners who want to improve their page ranking.
1. Specialize. Choose a field of consulting that compliments your skills, expertise, and passion. If you are considered an SEO guru for example, you can offer consulting services to ebusiness owners who want to improve their page ranking.

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How To Play Power Chords

Posted by | Posted in Music | Posted on 21-08-2009

Ok. So you have your electric guitar, your plugged in to your distortion pedal going into your amp on the highest volume setting possible, but your still not sure how to rock the bejeezus out of it. Well the answer is with power chords.

A power chord is a very simply chord. Most guitarists are used to playing these big chords that use every guitar string, but power chords on the other hand only use 2 or 3 strings. But the great thing about power chords is not that they are easy to play, but how great they sound when playing loud with distortion. Go ahead and play any of those open position chords that use all 6 strings you first learn when beginning to play the guitar. On an acoustic guitar or a clean electric signal they sound great, but once you turn up the distortion, unless you have a perfectly tuned guitar, will sound HORRIBLE. Power chords, on the other hand, will sound kind of dull and boring on an acoustic guitar or clean electric signal but with distortion they sound unbelievable.

So What Exactly Is A Power Chord? (Warning, Contains Some Theory)

A simple major chord is built from the 1st, 3rd and 5th degree of a major scale. A power chord is the same as a simple major chord but the 3rd degree is taken out, leaving just the 1st and 5th degree. Why you ask? Well I’ll try to make is as simplistic as I can. A note is basically just a sound wave that vibrates at a certain frequency. In the case of a power chord, you have two notes vibrating at two different frequencies, but those two frequencies have a stable relationship. When you add the 3rd degree of a major chord you’re adding another frequency. Now the relationship between all three frequencies has become much more complex. The chord still sounds great on a clean sound, but unfortunately when you add distortion, the distortion seems to magnify the differences between those frequencies. The end result is this huge wobbling sound that just turns the ear off. But power chords don’t have this wobbling effect which makes them so useful when playing with distortion.

How To Play Power Chords

Power chords are really simple to play. Start by playing any note on the Low E string of the guitar with your 1st finger. Then play the next string up (in this case the A string), but 2 frets higher on the neck with your 3rd finger. That’s it. This is the infamous power chord. Do you even want a more beefy sound? Add a note on the next string up (in this case the D string) on the same fret as the previous string with your 4th finger. You can use these two shapes anywhere’s on the neck on the first 3 strings or the next set of 3 strings. The root of these shapes is always the bottom note, so if you want to play a G power chord, place your 1st finger on the 3rd fret, 6th string; your 3rd finger on the 5th fret, 5th string; and your 4th finger on the 5th fret, 4th string.

Power chords are extremely easy to play but they are also extremely useful to use especially if you are the type of guitar player that loves playing loud and loves playing with distortion. With just one shape you can play any power chord in any key anywhere’s on the neck with the root on either the 6th or 5th string. Some people make out music to be hard, but power chords are really that simple.

Jonathan Dykerman is a professional guitar player and instructor. For more information on power chords please visit Guitarwarp.com. This article may be reprinted providing this resource box is included. Copyright 2008.

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