Wednesday 29 October 2014

Changing Your Guitar Strings

Changing your guitar strings every 2 - 4 months is preferable for good guitar tone and the overall "in-tuneness" of your instrument. Keeping old strings on your guitar is like keeping old tires on your car: the general performance goes down. At first, putting new string on a guitar can be tough and confusing thing to do so below I will give step by step directions for consistently good string changes.

Step 1.  Loosen and remove all old string off the guitar. With acoustic guitars you will need something to pull out the bridge pins after you free the strings from the tuning pegs. *Music stores sell inexpensive string winders that have a notch in them that will do the job nicely. 

Step2.  Insert ball end of new strings (making sure they're in the right order) down the bridge holes followed by the bridge pins. Pull up gently on the string while holding bridge pin in-place and you should fell it lock in place. *Be careful not to kink the string as you pull.

Step 3. Starting with the 6th string, stretch it over the peghead and using wire cutters, cut string at the 5th string's post. Repeat this for the 5th string cutting the string at the 4th string's post. For the 4th string cut string at the end of the headstock. *Each string should be cut approximately 1 1/2 inches longer than the post it will wind around. Repeat the same process for the strings on the other side of the headstock. *String 1 should be cut at the 2nd post, string 2 at the 3rd, and string 3 at the end of the headstock. 

Step 4. *This is probably the most critical stage so take your time and do it well. Guide strings through the tuning post so the string is sticking an 1/8 inch out the back end of the post. Turn tuner counter-clockwise to tighten strings and make sure to keep the string tight against the tuning post at all times, winding in a downward spiral until each string is semi-tight. *Failure to keep the strings tight against the tuning post will affect the tuning and the life of the string. 


Step 5. Gently stretch each string and tune to pitch. Repeat this process 2 -3 more times until string stay in tune.






Tuesday 14 October 2014

More Than Just Guitar...

Here at my guitar studio in Fort Langley I have started some new lessons and courses to meet the musical needs of the ever-changing culture of our modern times and to expand the musical horizons of my students. Included in the area of lessons now offered are Bass, Ukelele, and Songwriting and on the class side of things there is an exciting Digital Recording class and a fun Practical Music Theory course.

These changes have added a lot of variety and excitement to my regular lesson year and will help give students opportunities to grow and enhance their own musical creativity using the tools of technology and a practical hands-on approach to music theory.




Monday 6 October 2014

Welcome to Grove Guitar Studio

This Blog will serve as a resource to students of Grove Guitar Studio and for information to the prospective students looking for a place to learn the art of guitar. There will be posts on "everything concerning the guitar" plus current updates on new classes, 'spotlights' on student activities and local happenings in the guitar and music community.

"For me, it's about the music. I'm just the messenger, and I hope to do it as long as I live." Eric Clapton