Theory Archives

Nitro vs. Poly – Which Guitar Finish Is Best?
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Nitro vs. Poly – Which Guitar Finish Is Best?

Guitars, Theory

Nitro vs. Poly – Which Guitar Finish Is Best?

Last update 26/8/2023 Close your eyes and picture your dream guitar. Perhaps you are thinking about a bright, shiny Fender Stratocaster, its solid color gleaming under bright stage lights? Or maybe a vintage Les Paul with stories to tell. In addition, its nitro finish has 'checked' and is worn unevenly from decades of passionate play. Table of contentsGuitar finishesNitrocellulose vs NitrocelluloseWhat is a guitar finish?What is the purpose of guitar finishes?Humidity and guitarsHumidity controlled roomsGuitar finishes help protect the guitar.Types of guitar finishesNitrocellulose guitar finishesHistory of NitrocelluloseFender and NitroGibson and NitroNitro featuresNitro finish checkingNitro examplesRelicing guitarsIconic guitars and players with [...]

Peter2023-08-26T11:34:09+10:00March 25th, 2022|

A Glossary of Gibson Les Paul Guitar Terms

Last update 24/9/2023 Some of the glossaries of terms for the Gibson Les Paul electric guitar described here are also valid for many other electric guitars and acoustics. That is to say, many of these terms are worth remembering; alternatively, bookmark this page for future reference. Table of contents 60's neck The flatter, thinner neck profile was adopted on Les Pauls and most SG Electric guitar models in the 1960s. Conversely, the slim-taper neck is another name for it. Pickup 490R A neck (or R for rhythm) pickup from Gibson's Modern pickup range uses Alnico 2 magnets to deliver a [...]

Peter2023-09-24T17:55:54+10:00August 21st, 2021|

Guitar Scale Length | How to Decide What Is Right for You
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Guitar Scale Length | How to Decide What Is Right for You

Guitars, Theory

Guitar Scale Length | How to Decide What Is Right for You

Last update 20/9/2023 For many beginners, the concept of a guitar scale length may not seem all that important. We mean, all guitars pretty much look the same, right? Why would someone even need to consider scale length as a factor? Table of contentsWhat is the scale length of a guitar?Understanding guitar scale lengthDo all guitars have the same scale length?The effects of scale length on playabilityString tensionFret spacingScale Length and Small HandsString actionConclusion The scale length of your guitar will make much more of a difference than you think. It has a considerable impact on just about every facet [...]

Jerry Mathis2023-09-20T14:22:14+10:00March 21st, 2021|

Essential – What You Need to Know About Electric Guitar Pickups
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Essential – What You Need to Know About Electric Guitar Pickups

Electric, Guitars, Theory

Essential – What You Need to Know About Electric Guitar Pickups

Last update 23/8/2323 Believe it or not, there once was a time when electric guitars didn't exist. Big band' music was all the rage in the early-to-mid 1900s. The time bands truly lived up to the name more often than not. They were light by today's standards! And with the majority of those band members being horn players. There was a tendency to be many volumes onstage from various instruments. Table of contentsWhat are electric guitar pickups?What are the different kinds of pickups?Single coil pickupsHumbucking pickupsConclusion And there lies the problem. The guitars of that era just weren't loud enough [...]

Jerry Mathis2023-08-26T08:57:24+10:00March 7th, 2021|

Essential – What You Must Know About Acoustic Guitar Pickups
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Essential – What You Must Know About Acoustic Guitar Pickups

Acoustic, Guitars, Theory

Essential – What You Must Know About Acoustic Guitar Pickups

Last update 19/9/2023 Sometimes there's nothing like a cranked-up electric guitar! The volume gets deep into your soul and makes your body want to move differently. It even…[hard stop - needle scratching off a vinyl record - all of that stuff (you get the point here)] Table of contentsSoundhole pickupsInternal microphone pickupsCan you add a pickup to an acoustic guitar?How do acoustic guitar pickups work?Why do acoustic guitars need batteries?Piezo pickupsSoundboard transducersConclusion ...wait a second. You don't play an electric guitar. In fact, you don't even own one. Your claim to fame is a great acoustic guitar. But the acoustics [...]

Jerry Mathis2023-09-17T07:13:37+10:00January 15th, 2021|

Band Member Tips You Need to Think About
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Band Member Tips You Need to Think About

Guitars, Theory

Band Member Tips You Need to Think About

Last update 16/9/2023 We're going to take a little break from talking directly about the guitar with today's article and talk about some of the things that can come with learning to play. Table of contentsHaving an egoUnderstanding your role as a band memberIn conclusion One of their main goals for many guitarists is playing in a band. Our intent here is this: There is much more to being in a band than just playing your instrument well. But how can you get several people with different quirks, goals, and desires to get along and be the best collective musical [...]

Jerry Mathis2023-09-16T07:39:35+10:00January 15th, 2021|

Best Guitar for Small Hands – What You Must Know
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Best Guitar for Small Hands – What You Must Know

Guitars, Theory

Best Guitar for Small Hands – What You Must Know

Last update 13/9/2023 "My hands just aren't as big as they should be…Can I still learn to play guitar?" Looking for the best guitar for small hands | Age DOES MatterCompensationShort Scale GuitarsSuitable guitars for small handsBest Bass Guitar for Small HandsConclusion The question above is common for people considering taking the plunge and trying to learn how to play guitar. It's understandable why some may think that! Also, seasoned players may struggle with playing specific chord fingerings, let alone full-out barre chords that may go across the entire neck or solos with superhuman finger stretches to reach that last high [...]

Jerry Mathis2023-09-13T06:51:32+10:00December 28th, 2020|

Chord Progressions | an Overview
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Chord Progressions | an Overview

Guitars, Theory

Chord Progressions | an Overview

Last update 9/9/2023 Chords are the backbone of pretty much every song that has ever been written. This is true no matter the genre of music or how complex the piece may be. For example, it's not uncommon to find an old jazz standard that changes chords on almost every beat; simultaneously, 'Tomorrow Never Knows by The Beatles is one single chord all the way through. Table of contentsBasic chords for this scaleChord progression notation translates to any key.Common chord progressionsFamous examples of the I-IV-V chord progressionsThe I-V-vi-IV progressionConclusion Several chords are found in numerous songs; some are much more [...]

Jerry Mathis2023-09-09T14:53:30+10:00September 14th, 2020|

A Guide to Acoustic Guitars and Humidity
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A Guide to Acoustic Guitars and Humidity

Acoustic, Guitars, Theory

A Guide to Acoustic Guitars and Humidity

Last update 9/9/2023 Most acoustic guitars are constructed almost entirely from wood. While that means they can be somewhat durable based on the quality of their construction and finish. Naturally, they can be damaged by factors that create an 'unhealthy' environment (unhealthy for the guitar itself, that is...). Table of contentsGuitar humidity -AcousticsWhat is humidity?What is the proper relative humidity level for an acoustic guitar?Effects of not enough humidityEffects of too much humidityGuitar humidifiersSo what's a guitar player to do?Water (sponge) based guitar humidifiers.'Automatic' fluid packsEffects of humidity on different types of guitarsElectric guitarsAcoustic guitars with laminated woodConclusion Humidity is [...]

Jerry Mathis2023-09-09T14:47:19+10:00September 1st, 2020|

How to Tune a Guitar Properly
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How to Tune a Guitar Properly

Guitars, Theory

How to Tune a Guitar Properly

Last update 8/9/2023 Let's talk about how to tune a guitar. We shall frame up a pretty familiar scenario for many beginning guitar players: You walk into your local music store to do a little guitar shopping. Some more prominent retailers practice letting customers pull a guitar off the wall. (They are typically hanging on a rack). Once you have it down, you can't help but notice how cool it is...how good it feels under your fingers… Table of contentsHow to tune a guitarIt's all about tension.How to change the tension of your guitar stringsHow to tune a guitar - [...]

Jerry Mathis2023-09-08T09:54:49+10:00July 27th, 2020|

All about Barre Chords – Open Up Your Playing
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All about Barre Chords – Open Up Your Playing

Guitars, Theory

All about Barre Chords – Open Up Your Playing

Last update 8/9/2023 One of the best things that you can do to advance to the next level with your guitar playing is learning how to play barre chords properly. Table of contentsAbout barre chordsWhat is a barre chord, and how are they different from open chords?Barr chords - pretty simple, right?Positioning on the neckFlexibility and movabilityHow to play a barre chordGuitar setupConclusion They are commonly found in almost all styles of music. Furthermore, having a good grasp of playing them (and playing them correctly) will significantly enhance all you can do with the instrument. That being said, barre chords often [...]

Jerry Mathis2023-09-08T09:58:51+10:00July 21st, 2020|

How to Read Guitar Tablature and Get to Playing
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How to Read Guitar Tablature and Get to Playing

Guitars, Theory

How to Read Guitar Tablature and Get to Playing

Last update 24/8/2023 When you're a beginner just starting out to learn how to play the guitar. There may be many things about the whole deal that may seem a bit overwhelming to you. For many players, the idea of learning to read sheet music or guitar tablature can be one of them. Table of contentsGuitar Tablature DefinitionHow to Read Guitar Tablature SymbolsHow Does Guitar Tablature WorkSheet musicPretty easy, right? It is just that simple!How to Read Guitar Tablature ChordsPros and cons of guitar tablaturePro - SimplicityPros - Exact note positionsCons - TimingHistory of Guitar TablatureConclusion And, truthfully, for a [...]

Jerry Mathis2023-08-24T09:18:18+10:00July 14th, 2020|