GUITAR INTONATION - Is It important?

One of the most common problems that beginners face has to do with their guitar intonation. If the intonation is poor, the student will be unable to create a good sound on their guitar no matter how well they learn how to play.

If this situation is not corrected early on it can lead to discouragement and frustation which may keep the student from having the desire to play at all. It will also be hard for the student to hear the correct pitches, which is so vital to developing a good musical ear.

Right now some of you may be asking... "What in the world is guitar Intonation?"

It simply means to sing or play in tune.
There are several different ways to test your guitar intonation. Here is a method I often use...

1. Tune the guitar
2. While holding an E major chord at the first fret, strum one string at a time.
3. Listen to the tone of each string.
4. Do the tones blend? Does the guitar still sound in tune? If so...
5. Move to an F major barre chord and repeat the process.

Continue this process of moving the major barre chord shape up the neck one fret at a time, strumming each string, and listening to the blend. If at any point the guitar sounds bad, or like it is out of tune, then the intonation is probably off.

*Note - This test will only be accurate if you are able to hold and play a barre chord correctly. If you unintentionally bend the strings while playing the barre chord, the guitar will sound out of tune, but the intonation may be fine!

If you are not able to do this test yourself, ask someone at the store if they will do it for you while you listen.

Click the link below to find some additional help you can use when looking for a suitable guitar...

FREE GUITAR BUYING TIPS

Till next time...
Keep practicing

Free Learn Guitar eBook

SWITCHFOOT'S BENEFIT AUCTION & CONCERT...

Well, I just got word that Switchfoot will be holding their 6th annual Bro-Am benefit auction & concert this summer at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, California.

Proceeds will go to the non-profit "StandUp For Kids" volunteer organization. Over 7,000 people attended this event in 2009 which raised $100,00 to help "at-risk, homeless, and street kids" living in and around San Diego and Oceanside, CA.

Festivities will begin with an auction which is scheduled for Friday, June 25th. There will be a surf contest along with a free outdoor beach concert on Saturday, June 26th. The event will conclude with a party featuring Switchfoot's Jon Foreman and other special guest performers on Saturday evening at the Belly Up Tavern.

One of the first songs I ever heard from Switchfoot was Dare You To Move. 

Here is a video clip of them playing this song...



Click the link below to learn this song and more...

Christian Guitar Tab White Pages

Switchfoot's lead singer Jon Foreman was quoted saying...

"The Bro-Am has been my favorite day of the year ever since we started it back in '05... To see our hometown come together to help out a deserving group of kids is an incredible experience — surfing, music, and the San Diego scene at its best. Last year was our biggest year ever, and we hope to top it again this year."

Click the link below to learn more about Switchfoot and how you can get tickets to their big summer event...

Switchfoot Bro Am Summer Event

Hope you can make it!

Till next time...

Keep practicing!

Kathy Unruh
Why work when your can play?

DAVE MATTHEWS & TAYLOR GUITARS

The folks at Taylor Guitars have come out with a new signature model guitar that is based around Dave Matthews favorite concert ax- the 914ce. 

Dave has long been a fan of Taylor guitars because he just "likes the way they feel."  The first Taylor guitar Matthew's ever owned was a 714, of which he said...

"I liked the size of it, the shape of it, and the feeling of the neck. The sound cut through really well in our band, but it also had a really genuine,wonderful acoustic sound."

Sometime later, when Dave Matthews was living in Seattle, he visited an acoustic music shop where he found a Taylor 914ce...

"I picked up the 914 on the wall and really fell in love with that particular guitar. So I took it home with me, and it stayed my number one."

Well, being a Taylor guitar owner myself, I can definitely relate to Dave's enthusiasm! I own a 614ce Grand Auditorium which currently retails for $3,948. This guitar is very easy to play and produces a beautifully bright, rich tone.

Unfortunately, most people believe they cannot afford  a nice acoustic/electric Taylor guitar. The truth is, you can find similar models for much less, but you will probably pay top dollar if you buy directly from the company itself.

However, if you buy from a licensed dealer, like I did, you are more likely to get one at a much lower price. For example, Dave's 914ce is listed at Taylor for $5,438, but you can save 26% (that's almost $1,500) for this same guitar at Zzounds right now.

I was surprised to learn that Dave personally drew the original sketch that was used for the fretboard inlay of the new Dave Matthews signature DMSM guitar. It pays tribute to the band's ex-saxophone player, Leroi Moore, who died from an ATV accident in 2008.

The custom crown inlay shown between the 11th and 12 frets of the DMSM has one of it's 5 ball-tipped points partially missing in memory of Leroi. The saxophonist's nickname, GRUX, is also inlaid along the neck between the 13th and 18th frets.

I just entered the Ultimate Dave Matthews Giveaway for the chance to win his Autographed Signature Guitar & Flyaway trip to see him in concert this August!

Visit Taylor Guitars website for details on how you can enter too and may the best fan win! =)

Till next time...

Keep Practicing!

Why work when you can play?