Clip-on guitar tuners offer a quick way to tune a guitar, but that speed is accompanied by a series of compromises. The speed comes from their position on the headstock: clip-on tuners effectively become part of the guitar, turning the instrument’s … Continue Reading about Clip-on guitar tuners: the best choice for accuracy and speed
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Strings
Why capos are for more than just changing keys
A capo does far more than change the pitch of guitar strings – it also changes the instrument’s tone depending on which fret is selected. Clamping … Continue Reading about Why capos are for more than just changing keys
Tests reveal most harmonic guitar strings sets: Ernie Ball, D’Addario and DR Pure Blues
Inharmonicity is a part of the guitar’s unique sound, but if it becomes too pronounced, it can make a guitar sound harsh and dissonant. String … Continue Reading about Tests reveal most harmonic guitar strings sets: Ernie Ball, D’Addario and DR Pure Blues
How guitar strings affect the sensitivity of the whammy bar
The sound of the guitar was revolutionised when Leo Fender launched his ‘synchronized tremolo’ bar in 1954, allowing guitarists to create subtle or … Continue Reading about How guitar strings affect the sensitivity of the whammy bar
Coated guitar strings: why they work
Coated guitar strings are a simple solution to help stop a guitar's sound becoming dull as sweat, moisture, dirt and even humidity corrode the bass … Continue Reading about Coated guitar strings: why they work
Should you recycle guitar strings?
Musical ideas have been recycled for hundreds of years, so why not the guitar strings that help make that music? String manufacturer D'Addario … Continue Reading about Should you recycle guitar strings?
The ultimate guide to classical guitar strings
Strings mark the starting point of the guitar's sound and help shape its sonic characteristics. Making the right choice of string is no easy … Continue Reading about The ultimate guide to classical guitar strings
Gut guitar strings: the temperamental sounds of history
Legendary classical guitarist Andrés Segovia was a fan of Hermann Hauser's guitars. He was less keen on the gut strings he had to use on … Continue Reading about Gut guitar strings: the temperamental sounds of history
Black nylon strings versus clear: is there a difference?
The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts, said Marcus Aurelius. If it's true, then perhaps musical tone can also be changed by the color … Continue Reading about Black nylon strings versus clear: is there a difference?
High versus normal tension strings: the secret trade-off
Play any guitar for a few minutes and it quickly becomes clear that string tension plays a crucial role determining an instrument's playability or … Continue Reading about High versus normal tension strings: the secret trade-off
How to choose the best flamenco guitar strings
The right 'Spanish guitar strings' can help bring flamenco music to life by enabling dazzling rhythmic techniques such as rasgueado, the golpe, and … Continue Reading about How to choose the best flamenco guitar strings
Picks
Guitar pick durability: comparing plastics
The durability of a guitar pick is largely dictated by its material – and guitarists today have never had such a wide range of plastic compounds to choose from. Celluloid revolutionized the guitar pick landscape in the 1920s and 1930s and, while the material remains popular, Tortex, Nylon, Delrin, and Ultem have gained ground. But […]
Nylon versus Tortex guitar picks: faster picking speed versus attack
The flexibility of nylon guitar picks allows for moderately faster picking but Tortex guitar picks produce a more defined attack and sustain, according to tests by the Victoria University of Wellington. The tests were conducted by the Engineering department as part of an experiment to build a robotic bass playing arm that involved testing seven […]
The ultimate guitar pick guide: material, thickness and tone
Guitar picks may be small, but they play an outsized role in sculpting a guitarist’s tone. The thickness and material, as well as technique, all contribute to the guitar’s unique sound. The choice of material is almost limitless, from the earliest days of stringed instruments when quills were used to pluck the strings, which led […]
Coin guitar picks: why not all is as it seems
Some of the world’s best guitarists make an unorthodox choice: they prefer to use a humble coin to strike the strings rather than a traditional guitar pick. While it makes an undeniable contribution to their unique tone, not any coin will work. In fact, the extreme thickness and inflexibility of coins might make the guitar […]
Maestros
How to play Will Ferrell’s guitar solo in John Mayer’s Daughters
Learn to play Will Ferrell’s guitar solo in the movie “Get Hard”.
The most expensive guitar art in the world
The most expensive guitars in the world have sold for millions of dollars, yet they look like a steal in comparison to the prices paid for art featuring guitars.
Adam del Monte: a flamenco guitar masterclass
Insights from the maestro.
The best classical guitars in the world chosen by 1000 of the world’s best guitarists
An artist’s instrument of choice can define more than their sound – it can also define their persona. This comprehensive table reveals the instrument of choice of many classical and flamenco professionals.