“From now on, it’s not going to be about how pretty the voice is. It’s going to be about believing that the voice is telling the truth.”
Sam Cooke, on Bob Dylan

Bob: Sings Like an Angel

Sam Cooke=Pretty Voice

Bob Dylan= Not So Pretty Voice

Both were/are legends and outstanding musicians, songwriters, and performers.  Most people can agree that Bob Dylan sounds like a dead frog when singing.  Yet his voice has that certain truth to it.  You believe his stories and you want to know more about him.  You appreciate his perspective, even though his vocals are far from pretty.  It doesn’t matter if he is not the most technically trained singer.  It doesn’t matter if his tone is not what any other singer strives for.  It matters because it’s truthful and who he is at that moment in time.

Now ask yourself these questions:

Are you trying to play as fast as you can and throw in a bunch of shredding licks to prove yourself to the guitar community?   Are you making your chord progressions and changes more complex than necessary?

Are you thinking too much rather than feeling and just letting things come naturally pouring out of you?

We all are guilty of these things.  I have been working on some original songs lately, and one thing I noticed after listening to a section over and over was that it sounded fake.  It sounded forced.  Now the part I was listening to was a vocal part and not a guitar part, but the same applies to any instrumentation.  I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at first, but it just hit me when it finally came.

“This sounds like shit because it doesn’t sound REAL”

It wasn’t a truthful or believable vocal performance.  It lacked a certain intangible energy behind it that is necessary to grab a listener’s attention.

So basically, I am going to have to re-do the vocals for the song.  I am not a great singer, nor is everything I sing going to sound “pretty” and fancy, but damn it, I know I can at least make it truthful and real.

And that is what matters most in music.

Popularity: 1% [?]

When I came across this site, I thought to myself, “wow, this looks like a great site, I bet there’s a lot of really good articles here,” and sure enough, there are.  Since I found this blog so useful and informative, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share some information about the company I work for, in the hopes of adding even more value to this site.

The name of the company is <a href= “your url> www.RhythmStrummer.com </a>, and its focus is on acoustic guitar lessons for beginners.  Not only does this company have easy song lessons for beginners and an enhanced technique library, but it also has a surrounding online community that can be found on Facebook at <a href= “your url> http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/GuitarLessonsForBeginners?ref=ts </a>), on Twitter at <a href= “your url> https://twitter.com/RhythmStrummer </a>, and now in the blogosphere at <a href= “your url>,  http://howtopracticeguitar.com/blog/ <a>.  Any of these community sites will give you the opportunity to read about and discuss practice techniques, musical accomplishments, and the mind body connection.

So please feel free to stop by any of our websites to get a feel for what we’re about.  We also have some free trial lessons available on our YouTube channel at <a href= “your url> http://www.youtube.com/user/RhythmStrummerDotCom </a>, and at <a href= “your url> http://strum1.com, where you can get even more free trial lessons in exchange for your email address.  And don’t worry, we will not share your contact information with anyone else, period.

Feel free to stop by any time, we’re open 24 hours for your edutainment and enlightenment.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Guest article written by Corey

Armed with genuine, useful information, choosing your first acoustic guitar does not have to be a difficult process.  It can seem overwhelming with all the makes and models available. Some music stores are more helpful than others in helping beginners. However, much of the guesswork can be removed by considering a few important details, such as cost, size, motivation and purpose.

Most beginners desire to play the guitar for pleasure.  They usually do not need professional equipment or a fancy instrument to impress others.  There are various styles and quality varies may vary from one model to another, even within the same manufacturer.

First, you must consider the guitar size that will fit you. A small framed 100 lb lady will not like be comfortable with a guitar that a larger man can handle.  There are sizes to fit children that may work for small adults. When you have determined the appropriate size, you should then determine how much you are willing to spend.  Some models of decent quality are reasonably priced. Often music stores will reduce their prices when new stock arrives, just to make room.

When you have determined what you are willing to pay, browse music stores, online ads and personal classified ads as well. Families often sell musical instruments when their children leave home.  When you find a guitar of interest, do not be shy about looking it over carefully.  Check the base and neck for any signs of cracking or previous repairs. Look at the bridge as well.  This is the part that the strings will run across.  It is important that this part be in good condition, as it can affect sound quality.

Lastly, check for broken or frayed strings.  New strings are not expensive, but can be tricky to replace.  Most music stores can replace the strings for a nominal charge.  Decide whether you will use steel or nylon strings. This is really up to the individual. Some people prefer a combination, but it is easier to use one or the other. If you find a good used guitar in excellent condition, do not let a few broken strings deter you from purchasing it.  Often it will still be cheaper after having the strings replaced, than buying a brand new guitar of lesser quality from a music store.

Keeping these basic considerations in mind will make choosing your first acoustic guitar a much more pleasant experience.  Something like an Ibanez acoustic guitar is a good first step to look into.

Thanks for the article Corey! 

Are you interested in sharing your guitar zen with the world?   GPZ would love to have you as a contributing author.  It is a great way to share with the community, and an outstanding way to promote yourself and your music.  

Just register for free on the sidebar, and login to begin posting away.   We will then go through and edit your article and publish it to the guitar community!

Popularity: 6% [?]

“Where there is great doubt, there will be great awakening;
small doubt, small awakening, no doubt, no awakening.”

-Zen Proverb

It seems lately my life is filled with doubt.  But it is a weird doubt.  Intellectually and objectively, I know I am a good musician and guitar player.  I know in my mind that I am intelligent, have a pretty decent sense of humor, and have some unique talents.

But this doubt has been more subjective.    I know these things to be true, but lately I have been feeling “off” and not myself.    It’s sort of an intense frustration.   I keep questioning my abilities, my future, my beliefs and what makes me who I am.  Is my brain malfunctioning and giving me wrong information?  Have I been doing it all wrong?  Or am I just doing it wrong right now?    It’s as if I am watching a movie of someone playing myself in some weird strange role, and they are doing a really, really shitty job at it. 

But one interesting thing about it all is that I can feel something intense and completely awesome inside me that is about to manifest.  I have no idea what the hell it is going to be, but the only thing I can do is to keep being autotelic.  And to keep on playing the good ole gee-tar.

Have you ever felt this way before?

I’d love to hear some stories about your lives if you have in the comments!

Popularity: 7% [?]

Worldwide Launch – Thursday, May 20^th, 2010

Six String Bliss, the longest-running guitar-centric Podcast on the Internet announces the release of What The Fuzz, a collaborative effort by members of their listening community. The theme of this album is the Fuzz Effect; it was not a requirement to use Fuzz specifically on guitar, but each track submitted contains the prominent use of Fuzz.

What The Fuzz will feature 10 songs performed by an international community of artists, with submissions coming from 5 countries. Each of these submissions is the work of members of the Six String Bliss listening community. This is the fifth such project produced by Six String Bliss, the first being 2007’s A Blissful Christmas, which was followed up in fall 2008 with Stay Tuned (a collection of TV Themes), last spring with Big Screen Bliss (a collection of songs featured prominently in movies), and in fall 2009 with Scales of Horror (all original, Halloween Themed songs).

According to Alicia Searcy, co-host of the What The Fuzz Episode and regular contributor to the show: “Six String Bliss’ “What the Fuzz” project is a testament to the amazing talent of its contributors. Each song really shines, and each artist has put his/her uniquely “fuzzy” stamp on their piece. Yet again Six String Bliss has raised the bar by delivering a wide range of music that is certain to be engaging and entertaining to listen to.“

All guitarists are welcome to join in the fun of the Six String Bliss Forum. Projects like this will continue to thrive so long as there is an active community to make these happen. So please come by, introduce yourself, and join in the next project!

Podcast Episode 187 which will feature What The Fuzz will be up on the RSS Feed(http://sixstringbliss.libsyn.com/rss) and on iTunes at 11:00PM (CDT) Thursday, May 20^th, with the show notes added to the website soon thereafter at www.sixstringbliss.com. As always, there will be a direct download link from the main website which will include the Album itself, as well as front and back cover art and liner notes. These albums are available to the general public for free – you just have to go and get them!

About Six String Bliss

Six String Bliss is the longest-running guitar-centric Podcast on the Internet. Co-hosted by guitarists PT, Pipes, and Pappy, the weekly show caters to players of all ages and abilities, and features segments including Email of the Week, Guitarist of the Week, Guitar News and general discussion of all things relating to the guitar. Interviews have featured internationally renowned guitarists as well as luthiers, store owners, and manufacturers of pickups, effects, and recording software. In addition, each episode concludes with a listener-submitted “Outro” track; all listeners are encouraged to send in their recordings for use on the show. The website includes an active international forum.

Popularity: 7% [?]