Learn Music Theory

If you came to this website then you probably want to learn something about music theory. You may be an absolute beginner or you may already know a lot of music theory already and want to learn some more advanced topics. In either case understand that learning music theory is one of the more beneficial things a musician can do and I hope you will continue the process.Why study music theory?

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!

PARAMORE

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Chorus Effect

Hey,

Tonight I was playing along with with a delay/chorus combo effect on my electric guitar. I put the delay to about 400 ms, with a 75% volume level, and combined that with a standard chorus at 20% max speed with a 60% volume level.

When combined with a high gain, compressed amp, the result was amazing! I was able to make the guitar cry for well over an hour to a beat that I created earlier today. The beat is a mid-pace rock/hip-hop combo percussion loop. I made it on Sony Acid Pro. I also put a reverb effect on the snare drum to really give depth to the overall sound.

I will be experimenting some more with many other new effects in the nearby future, so check back for some great recommendations on settings that you can use on your electric guitar.

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.