To understand guitalele history, let’s step back in time and place to Hawaii. Though the commercialized guitalele is more of a recent instrument, the history of both the guitar and ukulele is older. As we know, the guitar has a rich history of its own. The guitar and related stringed, fretted instruments have existed for […]
If you’re looking for a guide to standard and alternate banjitar tunings, this post is for you! (And check out this post if you’re just getting started with the banjitar and are looking for more information about it.) The banjitar is an instrument with the tone of a banjo and the tuning system of a […]
If you’re looking for more information about mando-guitar strings, this post is for you! Although I’ve covered similar information in my post about banjitar strings, I’m excited to discuss this same concept in the context of the mando-guitar. Goldtone Mando-Guitar String Gauges Goldtone is one of the most prominent mando-guitar manufacturers. They are also one […]
Banjitar history is a small part of the very long and interesting story of the history of stringed instruments. Although you can read a bit about the banjitar on Wikipedia, its entry doesn’t address much of the history of this instrument. That’s what I aim to expore in this post. With such a wide variety […]
As with any stringed instrument, there are many different options and choices when it comes to banjitar strings. Just like with a guitar or a banjo, there are a ton of differences in strings you can use on the banjitar. And for the most part, there is no right or wrong type of banjitar string […]
If you’re curious about standard and alternate mando-guitar tunings, this post is for you! I’ve discussed what a mando-guitar is in some of my other articles. But as a refresher: A mando-guitar is a hybrid instrument with the range and tone of a mandolin combined with the tuning of a guitar (but one octave higher). […]
If you’re looking for banjitar songs to learn in 2021, this post is for you! I’ve compiled a list of 10 great banjitar songs to learn on the instrument this year. Although not always easy, I’ve tried to find songs originally written and performed on the six-string banjo. Of course, you can also find some […]
If you’re debating the pros and cons of the guitalele vs. the travel guitar, this article is for you. I’ve played the guitar since 2003 and the guitalele since 2019. In this post I address differences between the two instruments and which is better to learn depending on your style. What are the Differences Between […]
If you’re looking for interesting guitar industry statistics and data, you’ve come to the right post! With Guitar Center filing for bankruptcy, and young people seeming more interested in electronic dance music than the guitar today, I decided to dive into the statistics to see what’s really going on with the guitar market. Here’s what […]
If you’re interested in how to learn the guitalele, here’s my quick guide: Get the right instrument. Learn basic chords. Practice simple songs that use those chords. Continue learning songs of increasing complexity. Learn music theory and different styles of playing when you get in a rut. In the sections below, I’ll elaborate on each […]
If you’re looking for some modern acoustic guitar songs to learn, you’ve come to the right post! In this guide, I’ll discuss a handful of songs all written after the year 2000 that you can start learning on the guitar today. Most of these are simple songs that are great for beginners. But I’ve also […]
If you’re trying to choose between a Martin or Taylor guitar, this post post is for you! Taylor and Martin are some of the most popular guitar brands in the world. Given each brand’s popularity and similar pricing, there is a lot of comparison between the two and a heated debate as to which is […]
If you’re interested in learning more about Orangewood Guitars, you’ve come to the right post! Unlike brands like Ibanez, Fender, Epiphone, Gibson, and others, Orangewood is not a household name. In fact, many guitarists don’t know of this brand. Regardless of how much you know about Orangewood guitars, I hope this article helps you learn […]
If you’re looking for the best amps for acoustic bass, you’ve come to the right post! Basses add depth to music that’s hard to find in another instrument. And acoustic basses are a super-fun addition to a jam session that not many incorporate into their sessions. (If you want to know how else I recommend […]
If you’re curious about Esteban guitars and wondering whether they are worth the investment, read on! If you’ve ever looked for a new guitar, you’re probably familiar with the research phase. This is the time when you look up information about all sorts of guitars like Fenders, Gibsons, Ibanez, Yamahas, or in this case, Estebans. […]
If you’re looking for simple guitalele chords to learn, you’ve come to the right post! Like the guitar, the guitalele is as much a chordal instrument as it is melodic. Thus, you’ll want to know the most common chords on the guitalele! In this article, I will show you fourteen basic guitalele chords that should […]
I started playing the guitar in 2003. In 2011, I began playing the ukulele, and since 2019, I have played the guitalele too. I don’t have everything figured out with these instruments. But I’m happy to share what I’ve learned about them so far, their differences, and which instrument I think you should learn in […]
If you’re looking for songs for guitalele, this post is for you! Unfortunately, there aren’t many songs written specifically for the guitalele. (But if you know of some, let me know in the comments!) That said, you can learn to play a guitalele version of any song. However, I think the best songs to learn […]
If you’re wondering what the difference is between the banjitar and the banjo, this post is for you! The banjo (and banjitar) belong to the chordophone family of musical instruments. This family is one of the densest and richest. Many chordophone instruments are unique to a certain geographical area. In Africa, for example, you can […]
If you’re wondering how guitaleles differ exactly from guitars and which you should learn, this article is for you! Several factors contribute to selecting the right musical instrument for you and your situation. Some of these factors include: the availability of the instrument, the style of music you want to play, awareness (just knowing that […]
I’ve been playing the guitar since 2003. And although I prefer the steel string guitar, I’m very familiar with both the nylon and steel string acoustic guitar. If you’re like me when I first started playing guitar, you probably thought all nylon string guitars were the same. But there are actually two broad categories of […]
I’ve been playing the guitar since 2003, the ukulele since 2011, and the guitalele since 2019. As I’ve played these instruments, I’ve become familiar with each instruments’ standard tuning and tuning variations. So what’s standard tuning for the guitalele? A guitalele is tuned to ADGCEA in the same intervals as a guitar but up a […]
I’ve been playing the guitar since 2003 and the ukulele since 2011. In 2019, I finally purchased a guitalele, a hybrid guitar ukulele instrument. The guitalele has:  the body of a concert or baritone size ukulele six strings like a guitar instead of 4 strings like a ukulele a tuning in the same intervals as […]
When I first started playing guitar at age 12, I wondered how easy guitar was to learn. After decades of playing instruments, I have a better idea of measuring how easy or difficult it will be for you to learn the guitar, no matter your background. In fact, I’ve boiled it down to a simple […]
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How to Learn Guitar Songs by Ear
Even though I’ve been playing the guitar since 2003, I still rely heavily on tabs to learn guitar songs. Using tabs to learn songs on the guitar isn’t necessarily bad. In fact, it’s great if you’re beginner guitarist. If you don’t have 10 or so songs you feel comfortable playing at any given time, I […]
In 2019, I purchased a guitalele after playing the guitar since 2003 and the ukulele since 2008. So what is a guitalele? A guitalele is a hybrid guitar ukulele instrument with: the body of a tenor or baritone size ukulele, six nylgut strings like a classical guitar instead of the ukulele’s usual four, and a […]
If you read my article about deciding whether to play the guitar or the banjo, you know I sold my banjo and bought a banjitar in 2019. Why? I ultimately decided the banjitar was a better instrument for me than the banjo. But before we dive into whether the banjitar is the instrument for you, […]
In 2019, I sold the mandolin I had owned for over a decade and bought a mando guitar with the proceeds. So what is a mando guitar, anyway? It’s a hybrid between a mandolin and a guitar with: the body of a mandolin and the same number of strings as a guitar with the standard […]
I purchased my first banjo in college after I had been playing the guitar for about 8 years. I’m no banjo expert, but I’m familiar with both instruments and can tell you how they differ and help you decide which one to pursue. First, let’s discuss their differences. How are guitars and banjos different? The […]
I’ve owned and played acoustic and electric guitars for over 15 years and ultimately spend a lot more time playing acoustic than electric guitar. In this post, I’ll explain why I play acoustic guitar more and how you can decide which instrument is better for you to pursue. So how do you decide whether to […]
When I bought my first guitar 15+ years ago, I had no idea what to buy. Several guitar purchases later, I now have a good handle on what guitar to buy depending on your situation. So what acoustic guitar should you buy as a beginner? The 1/2 Size Yamaha Classical Guitar if you’re purchasing for […]
I’ve played guitar since 2003 and have dabbled with piano for just as long. Though I don’t have as much experience with piano, I know enough to tell you about some of the contributing factors that may help you decide which instrument to pursue. So should you learn piano or guitar? Piano might be a […]
Since I started playing the guitar in 2003, I’ve received quite a few gifts for guitarists on special occasions. I’m going to share the best gifts I’ve received (and some I’d like to receive) in this post. From a few dollars to thousands, there’s a gift choice in this post for every budget and every […]
One of my favorite ways to get better at guitar is to learn new songs. In fact: This is how I recommend every beginner learn the guitar: by learning songs first, music theory later. So what’s the fastest (and best) way to learn songs on guitar? The fastest and best way to learn songs on […]
Apart from lessons from two different teachers with each for about a year, I’ve taught myself guitar since I started playing in 2003. Since you’re reading this article, I’m guessing you prefer the idea of teaching yourself guitar as opposed to getting lessons. Even if you’re set on teaching yourself guitar, I recommend checking out […]
I first picked up the guitar at age 12 thanks to a simple guitar chord book. Since my sister had begun learning the guitar at that time, I had access to both her guitar and learning resources. When I discovered how much easier the guitar was than the violin (which was the instrument I was […]
I’ve used a capo with my guitar for years to change the key of songs and the sound of my guitar. It’s an absolutely vital tool for the guitar player, particularly the acoustic guitar player. So how do you choose the best guitar capo for you and your style? If you exclusively play lead on […]
When I first started learning the guitar, I wanted to know how to jam with other guitarists. I don’t have it all figured out, but after jamming with other guitarists since 2003, I’ve learned some tips along the way I wish I would have known when I first started. So how do you jam with […]
I’ve owned and played an electric/acoustic ukulele since 2011, and I have owned and played an electric/acoustic guitar since 2003. Each instrument has its pros and cons and they have some significant differences. So how are guitars and ukuleles different? The ukulele has four strings and the guitar has six strings. Ukulele strings are typically […]
I’ve messed around with slide guitar tunings since 2005, and I love the way a slide sounds on the guitar. If you’ve ever played the guitar with a slide, you know it can be tricky to play with in standard tuning. So what are the best guitar tunings to use when playing the guitar with […]
I remember when I first heard Bron Yr Aur by Led Zeppelin around 2004, and I learned about alternate guitar tunings. The possibility of getting new sounds out of my guitar with alternate tunings opened up a whole new world to me! I hope this article opens up that same world to you. Popular alternate […]
When I first started playing guitar at age 12, I wondered if guitar lessons were worth it with everything you can learn online, through books, and with other resources. 15+ years later, this question is even more relevant today since the internet has become a bigger place with better resources to learn guitar. So are […]
If you’re a guitarist wondering what other guitar-like instruments are out there; Or if you’re an aspiring musician wanting to know what options you have besides playing the guitar, You’ve come to the right post! I’ve played the guitar and other guitar-like instruments for 15 years and counting, I own a mandolin, banjo, ukulele, violin, […]
I started playing the mandolin 4 years after I started learning the guitar (and I’ve played both instruments for over a decade). One of the first things I wanted to know when I started playing the mandolin was how exactly these instruments differed. So how are guitars and mandolins different? They have different numbers of […]
If you want to know how guitars and violins differ and which one you should learn, you’ve come to the right post! I debated this same question when I first started playing musical instruments at age 9. I ended up choosing to learn violin and played for 3 years before I touched a guitar. Once […]