Guitar Licks and Tips

The Acoustic Guitar magazine is celebrating 20 years of service to all those die hard acoustic guitarists out there everywhere!

I’ve always found some great topics and intriguing issues in this magazine. The way the articles are phrased makes them simple to understand and the writers don’t talk down to you. I find this magazine to be unmatched and highly recommend it to any level of guitarist.

I’ve picked up some real nice little riffs and chord progressions in it that I find myself using without even realizing it! The website is just fabulous! If you have an online subscription, the guitar videos will help you become not only a much better guitarist, but a well rounded musician as well. I can’t say enough about the guys and girls that work there.

Acoustic Guitar’s 20th anniversary issue has what they consider to be the top 240 essential albums from the past 20 years. Some are from albums/guitarist that are familiar and some musicians that are very obscure to most, but in the end will help you expand your playing styles in new and exciting directions.

The anniversary installment, January’s issue, covers some great guitar and gear innovations over the past 20 years. Products like the Trace acoustic TA-100, the Kyser Quick Change capo (I’ve got one and I NEVER leave home with out one in my case), the Fishman Acoustic Matrix piezo pickup, tons of guitars and pedals. It also has a real nice article about how guitar making technology has helped change the sound of modern instruments.

Acoustic Guitar 20th Anniversary collector’s edition is out and I highly recommend that you pick this one up for either yourself or a guitarist that you know.

Keep on Jammin’ Acoustic Guitar!

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As you all know by now my guitar playing style relies heavily on the strength and durability of my finger nails on my right hand for picking the strings when I’m playing the guitar. I’ve tried tons of nail hardener products over the years and I have yet to find the right one for me. In this post I want to hear about your personal experiences with any of the products below and find out what you think of them. Every bit of detail that you can share with us will be important to us. Learning is what drives this post!

Hard as Hoof is one product that I hear about but I personally don’t know anyone who has used it. I did find this ringing endorsement from a classical guitarist named Perfecto De Castro who uses it. When viewing a youtube video of him playing shows you the stress that he puts on his nails. He’s not a spokes person for the company and that fact makes me feel a little more comfortable about his statement. There is another guitarist named Rico Stover who wrote a book called The Guitarist’s Guide to Fingernailsand he talks about Hard as Hoof and he recommends this product as well.

Sally Hanson, Hard as Nails Extreme Wear is another one that keeps creeping up in my searches. According to the company, they have removed all 3 of the unhealthy elements that are considered dangerous to our health that is found in most nail salon products. The three ingredients are toluene, DBP (dibutyl phthalate) and formaldehyde. The effects of these ingredients are something that I did not know about until I was doing my research.

I’ve tried this product for around a week but I then found myself way too busy to get back to using this one. This was because we had just bought our home so renovations and nails don’t mix, trust me on this one! I think I might re-visit this product later on.

Nailene, Acrylic Strong is a product that I was introduced to by a nurse at work. I am so envious of this woman’s nails that it drives me crazy! When she let me take a closer look at them, they looked like you could use them as screw drivers! She says that it’s idiot proof, ah she was thinking of me, and that it is a low maintenance product. Ah, gotta put that one on the list too!

A guitarist on a guitar forum said some good things about a nail hardener by Barielle. Nail Strengthener Cream is the line that he was talking about and I really wish that I saved that article damn! As some products proclaim, this stuff was originally designed for the hoofs of horses around the world, really?

Last is this product by guitar players, for guitar players. It’s called Guitar Player Nails. This is something that has been on the market for a while but I’ve never heard of it before. It doesn’t mean that it’s no good but … well I haven’t heard of any other reviews of this one. Now this is where you guys come in!

I am pleading to you, my good readership, to help me out in the quest for the ideal nail hardener product! Has any of these concoctions, that I have just posted about, worked for you? If not then please inform me/us about the ones to avoid!

Keep on Jammin’

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Here are my top ten inexpensive Christmas gifts for the guitarist on your list!

1. Electric Guitar strings If the guitarist in your life plays an electric guitar. Make sure that Santa gets or knows what gauge of strings he or she uses. Just don’t go out and get the first ones that you find! If you don’t want to ask them, then look for an empty pack that they have lying around the house that have the old strings put back in them in, just case they need a spare string if one breaks. This is a very simple present that comes in handy trust me. Get 2 packs! When that special day comes, make sure that they place one pack in their case and one in the CAR! The one in the car will come into play when they run out of the ones in their case, ok?
2. Acoustic Guitar Strings Read above description!
3. Guitar Picks Buy around 50 individual picks because they fit everyone’s budget! You can never have enough of these things. I am constantly looking for some around the house! Also put some of these in the car, in their wallet or purse, give them to friends to hand out when needed and if he or she plays acoustic, throw a couple in the open sound hole of the guitar! They will forever be in your debt when the times presents itself!
4. Guitar Finger Picks This gift will make them try out different approaches to playing and even challenge them to branch off in uncharted musical waters! The worst this one can do is make them think about using it and you never know, it might provide them with a different style to add to their arsenal. I have some National Brand metal Fingerpicks and Dunlop 9002P Medium Thumb/Finger Picks . Both of these picks are designed to be flexible enough to mold slightly to the guitarist’s fingers. If you look at getting the plastic ones, I boil them in hot water before molding them to each finger.
5. Guitar Capo If you know which one they use purchase 2. I use the Kyser Quick Change Guitar Capo . Give them one and place the other one in the car just in case an emergency comes up. If you don’t know which one they use invest in 2 or maybe even 3 different types of Capoes. This will allow then to figure out which one suites them the best.
6. Guitar Stand This one is always a welcome sight to any guitarist or bassists! If they have more than one axe or guitar, get 2 if you can afford them. With this present it also makes the guitar easier to access and maybe make them practice more.
7. Guitar Music Stand This will be for those with a few bucks in their wallet or purse. Don’t get a bargain basement that is flimsy, this will only support a few pieces of sheet music and not much more. If it keeps falling over due to the weight/volume of sheet music on it, it may be a waste of money!
8. Guitar Tuning Machine You don’t have to acquire the top of the line model here. If the guitarist in your life doesn’t like it, keep the bill and they can go back and return it for something that they might find worthy of using. This will make both of you go to the local music shop and shop together. This will bring you both closer (Ah, isn’t that sweet?!)
9. Guitar Cords If that special someone uses these items, this is the wire that connects the guitar to the amplifier or PA system that they use, they will always breaks down at one point that’s for sure. I recommend you getting a top of the line brand. The ones that I have are the CBI American Made Instrument Cable – 10 Foot. I have used these cords for years and with good up keep, they might be around a few more. This type of guitar cord will provide long use and pay for itself over the long haul. Pick up 2 lengths if possible.
10. Gift Certificate for Guitar Set ups at your local music store I saved the best for last here folks or folkies! A guitar set up is when a trained guitar technician fixes the action on the neck (they adjust the truss rod) of the guitar that makes it easier to hit the strings down onto the fretboard! I can’t say enough of this gift. It may run you a few bucks but IT WILL MAKE playing the guitar easier to perform with. Sometimes guitars have a factory set up that is just too generic and at times the guitar gives off a buzzing sound when they hit certain strings in particular places on the guitar. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

So that’s it for this years top 10 inexpensive Christmas gifts for guitarists. I hope that I gave you some different ideas or things to think about. If you have any questions then just post a comment and I’ll get back to ya soon!

Ok 2 more bonus things to add to the list of gifts! If you can’t get out of the house for some reason and you want to purchase something on line and right away then these 2 ideas are for you.

Get a subscription to a online guitar magazine! Acoustic Guitar Magazine is one guitar related magazine that I’d love to get (just in case you listening Santa). Guitar Player Magazine is the other one. Both sites provide a wealth of guitar info that any guitarist will use! The lessons that they have in their video section will knock their socks off. Remember, the worst thing they can do is learn something right?!

So good luck in your search for the ultimate gift and let’s hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and …

Keep on Jammin’ in the New Year

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