Power Chords

Power chords are the basis of some of the best heavy metal and punk rock music. They are a great way to construct the rhythm of a powerful song. For a chunky, fuller feel, simply put your pointer finger down on the root note, and your ring finger seven steps higher.

Mixing power chords with lead guitar is a great way to construct a diverse song with a strong sense of variety. Throw on some heavy distortion, and you can create some strong sounds that go great with some progressive soloing on top.

Play around with some power chords combos and feel free to leave any good riffs that you come up with or any songs that have great power chord progressions.

Keep checkin' back!

Electric Travel Guitar

On The Road With A Travel Electric Guitar

By: David Smithe

The demands of a busy personal life may start to impact your music. If your job takes you around the world and back again, your guitar playing may start to suffer. It s not practical to take your valuable instruments on the road with you for short term travel. They could be lost or stolen. They could be seriously damaged beyond repair on an airplane. The risk is a costly one. Who wants their favorite axe smashed to bits? Certainly not me!

Believe it or not, there are some companies who focus entirely on making musical instruments and accessories that are geared toward simplicity and portability. A travel electric guitar may be the answer to staying on top of your guitar technique and maintaining your globetrotting lifestyle.

Traveler Guitars:

The Traveler Guitar makes several travel electric guitars that have many of the same features as standard instruments. Their guitars and basses feature unique, ergonomic designs that will keep you rocking on the road. Each instrument comes with a case and weighs roughly 5 pounds. Traveler Guitar even makes essential on the go accessories like small amp heads. They produce both electric guitars and basses for the road.

Hohner Guitars:

Hohner travel electric guitars feature a one of a kind design. Their headless construction makes the instrument much shorter, but it still packs a powerful punch in the sound department. The unique design is eye catching, and heads will turn when you pull this instrument out of a gig bag. You won t even need a strap to play this guitar, because it features a fold out leg rest that packs neatly away right inside the body of the instrument. Coupled with the perfect small sized or practice amp, this guitar packs a lot of power. It also performs well when plugged in to a standard amp, and might serve you very well in an impromptu gig or jam session.

Pignose Guitars:

The Pignose travel electric guitar features the ultimate in ease of portability, with an amplifier built directly into the instrument. Powered by a 9 volt battery, this little guitar is perfect for the traveler who doesn t want to haul an amp along. However, this instrument can also be plugged into an amp if desired.

A travel electric guitar is the perfect solution for staying on top of your musical game despite your busy work and personal life. An investment in a travel guitar is like an investment in your musical development, and it will protect your more expensive gear from dangers on the road. They feature accessories and amenities that are comparable to your regular instruments. These little travel guitars are perfect for jamming on the road, on your lunch break, or in between classes. Some of them are powerful and resonant enough that you could even use them in recording sessions if you wanted to!

Don t let your music suffer because of the inconveniences that are presented by traveling. Take your guitar along with you to relieve stress, pass the time, and entertain your friends, family and coworkers while you re at it.

Digitech RP250

Today I've decided to talk a little bit about one of my favorite electric guitar accessories, the Digitech RP250 multi-effects pedal. This little machine is a great toy. It comes equipped with about 80 preset guitar effects, which can each be customized to your liking.

The Digitech RP250 comes equipped with such effects as chorus, multi-chorus, flanger, delay, reverb, whammy, auto-wah, auto-yah, pitch, and many more. Each effect has its own settings so you can find exactly what works for your desired sound.

Need some more customization? No problem. The Digitech RP250 allows you to choose the type of amplifier you want to play out of. In other words, this machine has the ability to produce a simulated sound that nearly matches the original sound of such amps as Fender, Ibanez, and more!

Ok fine...you need EVEN MORE customization settings. Each amplifier can be set to a specific amplifier cabinet so that you can really get a unique sound. From here, you have the option to play around with the equalizer settings, including bass, treble, and mid-tones. You can choose presets for the equalizer as well as customize the individual settings. This is a great feature on the Digitech RP250.

The built in wah pedal works great. This saves you a lot of money since a good wah pedal is usually over $100.

Another feature I love on the Digitech RP250 is the built-in drum machine. This thing has a great variety of beats, which can each be sped up or slowed down. You can also adjust the volume of the drums, change the drum style, or just turn it into a metronome.

Lastly, the Digitech RP250 has a built-in USB recording device, so you can simply plug it into your computer and record quality sound. The software is free and easy to download from the Digitech website.

Go get your hands on the Digitech RP250. It's under $200 and its worth much more!

--
Ty Lombardi
Ty@ElectricGuitarBlog.com
www.ElectricGuitarBlog.com
Digitech RP250 Review

How to Choose Guitar Strings

When choosing guitar strings for your electric guitar, the decision is ultimately up to personal preference. Your guitar strings will effect the sound quality and the comfort of your playing. You need to find a balance between the two that works for you.

As far as the sound goes, certain strings produce different types of sound. Some strings produce a more metallic sound and others produce a more warm, blended sound. Regardless, certain strings will sound different on individual guitars because every guitar's pickups are different.

I personally like my top three strings to be a thin gauge, and my bottom three strings to be a thicker gauge. My range is usually 11-50, where 11 is the gauge of the high E string, and 50 is the gauge of the low E string. This is a good setup for heavier music, such as death metal.

There are hundreds of makes out there, but I stick with DR strings. Go to your local guitar shop and start experimenting to find out what works for you. Strings are cheap, so your best bet is to stick with trial and error.

Kids Electric Guitars

Quality Kids Electric Guitar

By: David Smithe

It is a long and arduous task. Your son or daughter has been begging you to buy them an electric guitar for months, weeks, and years. You have reached your breaking point and finally decide that your child is ready to accept the responsibility for owning a musical instrument. Kid s electric guitars come in all shapes, colors, and sizes. Whether you ve got an ambitious toddler or a teenager on your hands, there is a company making a guitar that will be a perfect fit.

Finding the Right Size:

The problem with buying a guitar for a child is that one day, it will eventually be too small. Just like kid s clothes, kid s electric guitars will soon become cumbersome and constricting like ill fitting jeans. It is important that you let your child try a few different sizes, just to see what looks and feels appropriate. The child will likely gravitate toward a bigger instrument, but make sure you consult with a knowledgeable staff member at a music store prior to making a purchase. It may be a good idea to take a trip to your local music vendor to get an idea for what is available, take detailed notes, and then continue shopping online.

Vivid Color:

In your child's eyes, the color of their guitar will play a significant role. Make sure you discuss the importance of finding an instrument that fits, rather than one that looks pretty before you ever set foot in a music store or start viewing products online. Only after you have determined what size is appropriate should you consider discussing a color scheme for your kid s electric guitar.

Getting Good Value:

If you get a guitar at Wal Mart for $45, then you will end up with a product that sounds and behaves like a $45 guitar. This means that you ll have broken strings. This means that you will have cracks, scratches, dents, and possible electronic failure issues. The sound and quality of your kid s electric guitar will be dependent upon how much you are willing to invest. Another consideration you should make is that if your child is taking lessons or a devout self learner, it will be challenging for them to experience success with something that came out of a box from Wal Mart. There are extremely affordable options produced by reputable guitar manufacturers all over the world. You probably wouldn t have your car painted at Wal Mart, but you would take it to a body shop. Likewise, if you re buying a guitar, don t shop at Wal Mart consult a music store or music website.

Choosing Between the Brands:

Most major guitar manufacturers produce kid s electric guitar models. When you shop online or in a store, look for familiar guitar names like Fender or Yamaha. Consider purchasing a package deal that comes with everything your child will need to start rocking.

As with any new responsibility, it might be a good idea to sign your child up for lessons after you ve purchased your kid s electric guitar. Your child will learn how to handle their instrument properly, while developing great techniques. They may continue on with a teacher or decide to take a more self directed approach. This will also help you both make the most out of your guitar investment.

Printable Guitar Chord Chart

Alright guys. Before you start writing your own guitar songs, your best bet is to memorize some guitar chords. I've decided to provide you with a very helpful printable guitar chord chart. This chart is neat, simple, and extremely useful.

All you have to do is click the image below and it will pop up in full size. Once it is full size, simply press "print" from your file menu or press ctrl+p. Feel free to show your friends this online guitar chord chart and print plenty of copies for everyone to use!