Options for Jazz Guitar Learning Lessons

When considering taking lessons for guitar at any level, there are a considerable number of options available, as can be seen from exploring the website: www.guitarlessonssingapore.com. The problem lies more in the choice than the availability. However, this can be a good thing as you can weigh the pros and cons of each choice and decide according to your needs and limitations. You can also easily switch from one option to the other if your circumstances and needs change over the course of your learning. Let us see what the advantages of each option are.

Group lessons

• If budget is a factor, then group guitar lessons will mean lower expense. Sharing your lessons with other students places less time constraint on the teacher who then reduces the price.
• You learn how to practice with others and how to perform in a group, which is important if you intend to perform gigs in a band. This will also rub out your rough patches and help in overall improvement.
• The competitive spirit remains high and it gives you an incentive to improve and learn quickly.

Private lessons

• Students having trouble in keeping pace with the rest of the class should opt for private lessons. This is also applicable to students who are far ahead of their peers.
• These are flexible and are suitable for a very busy person, who cannot commit to regular group lessons. Make sure to find a teacher who can be flexible, though.
• Travel time will be reduced, which means you can use that time for practicing. You also don’t need to lug your guitar about whenever you have to attend classes. This is especially a great plus for children.

Web lessons

• This is a great resource for those tied to the home due to lack of time or are too busy to find the time for scheduling classes. Just switch on your computer and you are ready to roll!
• You can make contacts and start long-lasting relationships with people you meet online, based on your shared interest. This will automatically improve your chances of working professionally as a jazz guitarist.
• There is a lot more flexibility with web jazz guitar lessons than any other option. You can ask for your lessons to be customized fully to your needs.

Books & Videos

• Books and videos covering important topics on techniques and basic skills are essential for any musician. As important as a teacher is, there is simply no way to proceed without a good explanatory resource which you can consult whenever you like.
• For those unwilling or unable to find the money for regular classes with a decent teacher, books and videos can to some extent assist you in learning, especially once you have a good basis.
• Good learning videos or books usually have a large number of examples that will help you learn well. It is unlikely you will be able to find such an extensive resource anywhere else.

You can also check out some web resources for learning the guitar. This article has a wealth of information on this subject: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/guitar-resources/. Irrespective of which option you are choosing, it is important to remember that you choose a good teacher or resource for imparting you with the knowledge properly and sufficiently. At the same time, you too need to put in some decent practice in order to show ongoing improvement.

Why Take Ukulele Lessons?

In the recent years, ukulele has established a stronger presence in the music world than ever before. There are uke classes, uke websites and even uke fests! Big names like Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton have been uke lovers. Even George Harrison declared that ‘everyone should have and play a uke’. But let’s not take his word for it. Let us find out why exactly the ukulele is so popular, and why it is a good choice to take up ukulele lessons for budding musicians everywhere. Check out our website for more information on learning the guitar and ukulele: www.guitarlessonssingapore.com.

It’s Cheap!

This might not be the most interesting reason ever, nor is this a reason that many people would admit. But you have to be practical because you cannot live on music alone, as much as you would like to. If budget is a constraint, then the ukulele is a great place to start your journey with musical instruments. Cheaper than most other instruments, a good ukulele can be obtained at affordable rates.

It’s easy to carry

The ukulele is much lighter than the guitar and hence makes a good instrument for those who are unable to or don’t want to use heavy instruments. This is especially true in the case of children who might prefer the ukulele to a guitar just because it’s so much easier to handle. It is easier to develop the right posture for beginners with the ukulele because of it weighs less. It is also useful when you want to transport the instrument to classes and gigs. This is one of the reasons ukulele lessons for kids are very popular as can be seen in this article: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/ukulele-lessons-are-easy-for-your-children/. 

Only four strings

If you have the talent for stringed instruments, the ukulele would be the simplest of them all. With only four strings in the instrument, it is far easier to learn than the guitar which has six strings and can produce far more sounds than the ukulele. It is a common belief that learning the ukulele first paves the way for learning the guitar at a later stage. So even if your main aim is to learn guitar, you can still start with the ukulele. Many guitarists are also great ukulelists.

Popularity

This should not technically be a factor, but since most people learn music because of what they see and hear around them, the ukulele becomes a primary choice. With it being such a popular instrument, the chances of finding a good teacher also increases, which means that you could gain a better grounding of the basics. It also increases your career opportunities since there is a good demand for ukulele players. This in itself makes choosing the ukulele a wise choice for budding musicians.

Simple to learn, easy to use, lightweight to carry and over all, inexpensive – there really is no reason not to learn the ukulele if you are looking for something that will help develop your musical skills but are not yet sure enough to commit the time and money to it. And what’s more, the soulful and beautiful tones of the ukulele might just draw you deep into the music world, developing a strong passion inside you for this instrument, and indeed music in general.

Qualities of Good Jazz Guitar Teachers

Jazz music has its adherents and many students who sign up for learning this particular genre are already well aware of the nuances of jazz music. When they seek someone for teaching them how to play jazz guitar, they need to find one who has a good understanding of teaching as well as of the specific genre of music. Many guitar teachers often have no specialized learning in the genre but tend to take up students merely to make up the numbers. So keep a few things in mind when searching for a jazz guitar teacher.

Awareness of jazz music

If you want to learn jazz guitar, you need a teacher who knows a lot about jazz. Without this, you would just be receiving a hotchpotch of different genres, which might not be helpful in the long run. They must have a good ear, great timing and what’s more, they must be able to teach you how to develop these very essential skills. The idea is that your teacher should always know far more than you do. They must have a lot of heads memorized so that they can guide you at every point. In short, your teacher must be a veteran in jazz music, and not just a guitarist with basic knowledge of jazz.

Trained as a guitar teacher

Seek a teacher who is trained in how to teach jazz guitar. Many teachers just take on students and hope to go through the motions with the help of their knowledge. Many of them have not even learned to play the guitar formally from another teacher but have learned through trial and error. While such people can have amazing talent and are to be appreciated, it does not always follow that they would be able to teach the skills to others. Formal training and being trained in teaching will ensure that your teacher knows how to impart basic skills. There are many techniques for teaching the guitar and it is only with such training that your teacher will be able to help you during your jazz guitar classes.

Organized

A good teacher must be organized in their planning and teaching. This means being punctual whether the classes are in your home or in their studio or home. He or she must not use class time for their personal work, including attending phone calls or entertaining visitors. Remember that you are paying for their time. If you see a teacher behave like this consistently, find another teacher. A good teacher must also prepare their lessons beforehand and have a good overview of what will be completed in each lesson. They must also plan ahead on a long term basis to cover different concepts over time.

Achieving your goals

First, you need to set goals in your music learning. A good teacher will help you do this, if you are clueless or not too sure in which direction to proceed. You will need to set both your short term and long term goals and accordingly learn. It is important that you find a teacher who is able to assist you in achieving your goals by using specific teaching strategies tailored to your specific needs. Avoid teachers who use generalized teaching for all their students or force their goals upon you.

If you are living in Singapore, jazz guitar lessons are available from many sources. With the above tips, it will be easier for you to find a decent teacher who can help you along on your journey.

Tips To Supplement Bass Guitar Lessons For Beginners

For those aspiring to be ‘rock stars’, playing bass is more often an unlikely choice.  It is like taking the ‘road less travelled’.  Yet those who seriously pursued their bass guitar lessons for beginners, regard it as a truly fulfilling experience.

Mastery of the basics is crucial to your progress as a bass guitar player.  Here are some guidelines to take you to the next level:

Know the body parts.  The body, neck, strings, tune controls, head stock --- it is important you know where and how to use them even with your eyes closed.   This could help you master the different aspects of playing bass such as plucking, correct fingering for chords and scales, tuning, and other techniques.

Know the difference between electric guitar and bass guitar.  Not all guitars are created equal, literally. The most glaring difference between a bass and a guitar is the number of strings.  A guitar has six, while a bass has only four strings.  They are tuned with almost the same set of notes, namely EADGBE for guitar, and EADG for bass.  Of course, leave out the last two strings on the guitar since they are non-existent on bass.  Also, the bass is tuned one full octave lower in pitch than the guitar.

Moreover, knowing how to play the guitar is not a prerequisite for bass lessons. Singapore students often have this erroneous impression.  Your guitar playing skills will definitely come in handy as you learn to play bass, and vise versa.  You can easily switch or learn both.

Observe proper posture. Improper body position could be uncomfortable and distracting. It could also cause pain and injury.  Bad posture could deter you from proper technique execution and restrain sound quality.

Time is of the essence.  Yes, you share timekeeping duties with the drummer.  You have to learn to get a solid grip on the timing of the music.  One way to practice timing is by using a metronome.  Yet, it is more important to listen and work with your internal clock to keep you in synch with the beat and time of a song.

Hammer time!  The Hammer-on is one of the most basic and popular playing techniques in bass guitar. It gives off a smooth sound as you transition from one note to the next. 

There are various techniques you could learn in basic bass guitar lessons.  Here is an overview of the different bass guitar fundamentals for the absolute beginner.  Check this out:  http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/which-type/bass/

Average bass players still hold the fallacious notion that they should play away from the spotlight.  But great bass players know where they stand and know when to stand out.  Think of songs like: “My Girl” by The Temptations, “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi, “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson, among many others.  Once you hear the bass lines, you could recognize the song a mile away, right?   Kids and beginners need not only learn technique.  They have to be fine-tuned to the right mindset and motivation to learn their craft.  A suitable and capable teacher at www.guitarlessonssingapore.com could help you in your search to find the right mentor in making those ‘rockstar dreams’ come true.