Guitar Archives - Page 5 of 5 - Metro Sound & Music Ltd.

Posted on January 5, 2021April 21, 2021 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

How To Care For Your Acoustic Guitar

Your guitar requires proper care to preserve its sound and looks. This means you don’t just toss your guitar into your gig bag after performing and forget about it until the next session. Follow these care tips to ensure your acoustic guitar stays in tip-top shape.

Storing Your Acoustic Guitar

Keep It In A Case

When you’ve finished jamming, you need to make sure you store your guitar correctly until your next session. This means you should put it in its case, as it is much easier to control the humidity versus if you were to leave it exposed on a stand. You also want to make sure you’re not storing it in somewhere too hot or too cold, or the extreme temperatures will damage your guitar. So, you shouldn’t keep your guitar in your car overnight in winter (not that you should keep it there, anyway!).

Use A Humidification System

Wood is hygroscopic, meaning that your guitar will either release or absorb moisture from the air around it. To counteract this, you need to monitor and control the humidity. Ensure your guitar is kept at a constant humidity level of 45-50%. Humidity levels can fluctuate throughout the year, and cold Canadian winters are tough on your instrument. So, invest in a humidification system such as a hygrometer to keep in your guitar’s case. It’s an easy and important way to care for your guitar. If you neglect to do so, your guitar will likely end up cracked or warped.

Maintaining Your Acoustic Guitar

Keep Clean

Wash your hands before playing to make sure you don’t get dirt, oils, and sweat on your instrument. Doing this will keep your guitar clean of the grime that we carry on our hands. This will also help prolong the life of your strings.

Also, make sure you wipe down your guitar after every session. You don’t have to deep-clean it, but running a polishing cloth over it after practice will keep it clean. Use string cleaner to keep your strings free of built-up grime.

Change Your Strings

Learning to change your guitar strings is something every guitarist needs to do. You should change your strings at least once every six months, but every three months is the recommended minimum. If you don’t, you will likely find that your guitar loses its tuning quickly and your strings will eventually break.

Ensure you clean the fretboard every time you change strings with a fretboard conditioner (unless you have a maple fretboard). This will help prevent cracks and other damage. Only use a conditioner made for fretboards, as household cleaners and polishes will damage your fretboard.

Bring Your Guitar to a Technician

A guitar technician can help your guitar stay in shape by adjusting the action, checking for loose frets, amongst other things. Take your guitar to a technician for an annual tune-up. Your instrument will thank you for it.

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Posted on December 3, 2020December 4, 2020 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

The Best YouTube Channels for Guitar Lessons

There are many resources available on YouTube to help you learn to play guitar. Everything from tuning, finger position, theory, and song tutorials are available. With so many options available, how do you know which are the best? You’re in luck: we’ve compiled a list of some of the best channels for guitar lessons.

JamPlay

Mark Lettieri is the man behind JamPlay and has collaborated with artists such as Snoop Dogg and David Crosby. Together with his team, Lettieri provides a wide array of guitar lessons on his YouTube channel and offers detailed courses on his website. JamPlay provides various tutorials to guitarists of any skill level, meaning any musician can find something to learn on their channel. However, the videos aren’t full explanations of the concepts but rather previews of what the complete courses offer. Despite this, you will learn something from JamPlay’s channel.

GuitarJamz

For the absolute beginner, there is no channel better suited than GuitarJamz. Mark Schwartz provides comprehensive lessons that explain and demonstrate things slowly. He also answers common questions guitarists may have throughout his videos. Marty also has a great sense of humour, so his lessons are delightful. However, his patience level is great for beginners looking to learn the ropes, but the pace may be frustrating for more advanced guitarists. If you want to learn how to play a particular song or mimic an artist’s style, Marty provides videos on these topics as well.

GuitarLessons & The Guitar Fam

Nate Savage is the man behind both GuitarLessons and The Guitar Fam. He has been creating online guitar lessons for more than ten years, so he is an experienced tutor who knows how to create valuable lessons. GuitarLessons was his original channel; however, he recently moved to The Guitar Fam with his partner, Chelsea Amber. GuitarLessons still has its videos listed, however, so you can take a look through its extensive library. His channel is straightforward to navigate and covers mostly beginner topics, including playing chords and holding the guitar. So, if you want videos that cover beginner essentials, check out these channels.

Justin Guitar

Justin Sandercoe covers everything you want in a guitar channel, including acoustic guitar lessons, electric guitar lessons, and ukulele lessons. He also provides plenty of videos to improve your music theory and general guitar knowledge, meaning that guitarists of all levels can get something out of his channel. Justin also has an amiable, inviting attitude that reflects in his videos. No matter your skill level, Justin Guitar will surely teach you something.

Rick Graham

For those looking to play riffs, look no further than Rick Graham. Although he plays extremely difficult rifts, he breaks them down into digestible chunks. He also goes over the techniques he uses to make the riffs easier, meaning that his viewers can perform their stunning versions with practice and guidance. Guitarists of all levels can learn something from Rick Graham.

Each of these channels can teach you new guitar knowledge. Take a look at their channels and learn something new!

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Posted on November 26, 2020December 4, 2020 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

Best Christmas Gifts for the Electric Guitarist In Your Life

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. If you’re searching for gifts for the guitarist in your life, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of great gift suggestions that they will love to open on Christmas Day.

Ibanez TS9

The Ibanez TS9 is a classic overdrive pedal, and for good reasons. For the electric guitar player, there is no distortion pedal so well-known and widely-loved. Guitar Hero called it the best there is. So, if you’re shopping for an electric guitar player who doesn’t already have the Tube Screamer on their pedalboard, this is a must-get.

Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT Wireless Over-Ear Headphones

The closed-back Audio Technica ATH-M50xBT is one of the most popular studio headphones on the market. They’re comfortable to wear and offer noise-isolation features. With Bluetooth connectivity, it’s easy to take them on the go (although they come with an audio cable for wired connection, too!). These headphones are the best on the market for guitar amps, delivering crystal-clear audio and rich bass.

TC Electronic PolyTune 2 Mini Guitar Pedal

The PolyTune line from TC Electronics provides the best polyphonic guitar tuners. The 2 Mini provides ultra-accurate tuning (/- 0.1 cent) to ensure electric guitarists always sound their best. TC Electronics is continuously making these models more convenient for guitarists. This pedal leaves an ultra-small footprint, ensuring that it can fit on the guitarist’s pedalboards. So, if you want to give the gift of a great tuner, consider the 2 Mini from TC Electronics.

TC Electronic Ditto Looper Guitar Effects Pedal

The TC Electronic Ditto Looper is easily the most popular looper and boasts high ratings. With a straight-forward and simple design, with a single footswitch and knob, the Ditto Looper is a humble but powerful pedal. All of the essentials are there and can be controlled from the footswitch, including record, undo/redo, stop, and erase. The sound quality is a significant feature that makes this pedal popular, producing loops in 24-bit uncompressed high-quality audio. If your electric guitarist doesn’t already have a looper, this one is a no-brainer.

Orange Micro Dark Guitar Amp

The Orange Terror series provides a high-gain tube tone in a small size. This amp is deceptively loud, and you will be hard-pressed to find something better for the price. If the guitarist in your life needs a high-gain head amplifier that’s portable and convenient, look no further than the Orange Micro Dark.

Marshall MS2 Micro Amp

A tiny amp with Marshall style and quality, the Marshall Ms2 Micro Amp packs a punch. Battery-operated and one watt, this mighty amp has switchable Clean and Overdrive channels. This amp is ultra fun and portable for any guitarist. It also comes in black, red, or classic for stylish options.

Ibanez IJRX20Z Jumpstart Package with Guitar, Amplifier, Gig Bag & Accessories

Have an aspiring electric guitarist in your life? This Jumpstart Package from Ibanez includes everything they will need to start their musical journey, including an Ibanez IJRX20Z solid-body electric guitar, 10-watt amp, gig bag, clip-on tuner, guitar strap, instrument cable, picks, and an accessories pouch. This package gives you some serious bang for your buck and ensures that your guitarist will have everything they need. The Jumpstart Package comes with either a black or blue guitar to suit your guitarist’s preferences.

Hopefully, this list will give you some ideas about the best gifts for the electric guitar player you know. No matter what you go with, getting them a gift that shows thoughtfulness for their craft will put a smile on their face on Christmas Day.

Posted on October 4, 2020December 4, 2020 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

Beginner Mistakes to Avoid With Your First Guitar

Choosing your first guitar is a significant decision. With so many different options, it’s easy to make a mistake with your purchase. Here are nine common mistakes to avoid with your first guitar.

1) Buying The Wrong Type Of Guitar

Guitars come in three main varieties – acoustic, classical, and electric. Each one of these guitars produces different sounds, so it is essential to get the type that matches the genres you like. If you want to create sounds from bands such as Metallica and The Foo Fighters, you’ll likely want an electric guitar. Otherwise, if you prefer artists such as Kelly Clarkson and Luke Bryan, an acoustic guitar is better suited for you. Classical guitars are best suited for classical and flamenco music. With this considered, you shouldn’t be buying a guitar off of looks alone, or you’ll likely be producing the wrong sounds. So, it is important to know what sort of music you want to make.

2) Choosing The Wrong Size Guitar

Guitars aren’t all the same size. We recommend starting with a full-sized guitar, although if you are a small-statured individual or if the guitar is for a child, a regular guitar may not be comfortable. So, there are 3/4 and 1/2 size guitars available for those who may want a smaller instrument. Although it is important to keep in mind that there is a learning curve when upsizing your guitar, so we recommend starting with a full-size guitar if possible.

Also, electric guitars tend to be smaller but weigh more because of the electronics inside. On the contrary, acoustic guitars are generally bulky, making them a bit difficult for some people to play. Therefore, consider the weight you can hold while playing and your arm span when choosing your guitar.

3) Getting A Guitar With Too Many Features

If you’re a novice guitarist, you’ll want to focus on learning the guitar basics. Buying a guitar with extra features, such as built-in tuners or whammy bars, not only costs more but may complicate the learning process. So, keep it simple and buy a basic guitar until you’ve mastered the basics – then you can look into getting a higher-end guitar with more features.

4) Buying A Guitar With Bad Machine Heads

Machine heads are the pegs at the head of the guitar for tuning strings. One type is the basic covered machine head, which is made out of pressed metal. This gives your guitar more of a vintage look; however, it doesn’t hold string tension well and can cause your guitar to lose its tuning. So, make sure your guitar has die-cast machine heads that can maintain their tuning for longer. Regardless, you should tune your guitar every time you play.

5) Shopping at Online Marketplaces

Although they offer bargain deals, shopping at eBay and Craigslist for your first guitar is not recommended. Since you are buying from a likely unverified seller, you may not be able to see the condition of your guitar until you pay for it. The last thing you want is to end up paying for a damaged guitar that is unplayable. So, it is recommended that you buy from a verified, trustworthy website or dealer.

6) Not Getting the Essential Accessories

As a beginner, you may think you need the guitar, and then you’re good to go. However, to play, you need a few accessories with your first purchase, especially if you opt for an electric guitar. So, what do you need? The top accessories every guitarist needs are picks, an amp (for electric guitars), extra strings, a tuner, a guitar stand, and a guitar bag. Having these accessories on hand will make playing a lot easier.

7) Not Tuning Your Guitar Regularly

You (should have) bought a tuner, so make sure you’re putting it to use! You should be checking the tuning every time you play to make sure you’re playing notes and chords correctly. So, get an excellent electronic tuner to sound your best whenever you play.

8) Not Changing Your Strings

Although changing your strings can seem like a daunting task, it’s a necessary skill for every guitarist to learn. You should be changing your strings at least once every six months, or more often depending on your climate and how often you play. Not only are old strings more likely to break, but they also wear down your guitar’s frets and fretboard and diminish your playing quality. So, you should be wiping your strings after every playing session to prolong their lifetime and changing them regularly.

9) Not Cleaning The Guitar Properly (Or At All)

Never use household products on your guitar, or you will damage the finish. So, only use cleaning products specifically for guitars to ensure you do not damage your instrument. Also, note that unlike strings, you don’t have to clean your guitar that often, unless you’re sweating all over it. If you’re only playing casually from the comfort of your home, a few cleanings a year will suffice.

So, although buying your first guitar is an exciting process, be sure to avoid these mistakes that countless guitarists before you have made. When you’re ready to get your instrument, take a look at our extensive collection of guitars!

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Posted on September 20, 2020December 2, 2020 by Jasbir Kumar — Leave a comment

Electric Or Acoustic Guitar For Beginners?

So you want to learn the guitar. That’s a fantastic decision to make! The guitar is an extremely fun, expressive, and versatile instrument that you will love playing. Now you must be wondering – should I learn acoustic or electric guitar? While either choice is a good one, we will discuss the benefits and disadvantages between them to help you make your choice.

Acoustic Guitars

Benefits Of Acoustic Guitar

Starting with an acoustic guitar has many benefits, including:

Cost-effectiveness: Acoustic guitars tend to be more budget-friendly than their electric counterparts. With an acoustic guitar, all you need is your guitar and a few other accessories; however, you need an amplifier and other accessories that add up quickly with an electric guitar.
Focus on the basics: With an acoustic guitar, you do not have volume knobs, pedals, and distortion. This helps you stay focused on learning the guitar basics and lets you easily hear your mistakes.
Mobility: With no cords required, you can easily take your acoustic guitar with you anywhere. Just throw your guitar in its case, and you’re good to go! The same can’t be said for an electric guitar, which needs an amp and a power source.

Overall, starting with an acoustic guitar provides numerous benefits, including lower costs, helping you focus on learning the basics, and providing better mobility.

Disadvantages Of Acoustic Guitars

There are only a few disadvantages of starting with an acoustic guitar, namely:

Heavy strings: As a novice player, your fingers will not have the dexterity required to perform with the heavy strings that acoustic guitars have comfortably. As such, the strings will hurt your fingers until you play enough to get used to them. However, your fingers will gain strength over time.
Harder to fret: Since they have heavier strings, it is harder to fret notes with an acoustic guitar. Unlike you establish a firm fingering style, you may find it difficult and frustrating to navigate the fretboard. However, this is another skill you will develop as you practice.

While starting with an acoustic guitar has a few drawbacks, you will overcome these with time. These guitars are overall great for beginners.

Acoustic Guitar Genres

You’ll likely be interested in an acoustic guitar if you enjoy the following genres:

Acoustic music
Bluegrass
Country
Folk
Singer-songwriter

So, think an acoustic guitar is the right choice for you? Shop our wide selection of acoustic guitars!

View Acoustic Guitars

Electric Guitars

Benefits of Electric Guitar

Although acoustic guitars are a great option, there are benefits to going with electric guitars, including:

Ease of playing: Electric guitars tend to have lighter strings, narrower necks, and lightweight bodies. This means that your hand can make more chord and scale shapes with ease. So, a beginner would play an electric guitar for hours versus an acoustic guitar, which would tire their fingers.
Volume adjustment: Unlike acoustic guitars, which have a set volume, electric guitars can have their volume adjusted. So, whether you want to turn the volume up, down, or plug in your headphones, you have options you don’t have with acoustics.
Guitar effects: Electric guitars have a wide variety of sounds available to them through guitar effects. So, they are more versatile than acoustic, and that may be appealing to you.

Therefore, electric guitars provide ease of playing, allow for volume control, and produce an assortment of sounds through guitar effects.

Disadvantages of Electric Guitar

Electric guitars are fun and expressive instruments, but they come with certain disadvantages, namely:

Price: Electric guitars are more expensive than their acoustic counterparts, and then factoring other necessities such as amps makes them even more pricy. So, electric guitars may not be the choice for you if the price is a big factor. To minimize costs, you may be interested in picking up a beginner-friendly Jumpstart Package that comes with the guitar and any accessories you need!
Covers your mistakes: While having a guitar that covers up your mistakes may seem like a benefit, if you genuinely want to learn to play the instruments, you should properly learn the basics. As the sound you produce is augmented with electricity, your mistakes become less obvious, meaning you may not correct them like you would on an acoustic.

So, while electric guitars are fun and beginner-friendly, these drawbacks may turn you away from starting with the electric guitar.

Electric Guitar Genres

You’ll probably want an electric guitar if you picture yourself jamming out to the following genres:

Blues
Jazz
Metal
Punk
Rock music

Decided an electric guitar is what you want to try? Check out our selection!

View Electric Guitars

Which Guitar Should I Choose?

Overall, choosing your guitar comes down to your preferences. If you’re more interested in rock-‘n’-roll, you’ll likely be inclined towards the electric guitar. Likewise, if you are more of a country person, you will probably want to pick up an acoustic guitar. However, just because you decide to go with an acoustic guitar doesn’t mean you can’t pick up an electric guitar in the future, and vice versa. So, pick a guitar that inspires you and makes you want to play and practice. In time, you will master the basics and develop an original style like those of your idols.