August 30, 2011

[GUITAR LESSONS 1]

PHYSICS OF THE GUITAR

The guitar is a string instrument which basically works on the phenomenon of controlling the frequency of the vibrating string. There are three ways this is accomplished in the guitar 1. Tension: By controlling the tension of the strings in the guitar, we set the frequency of the open strings in the guitar. This is called tuning the guitar 2. Length: By pressing at different frets (refer to the image of the guitars anatomy), the player can control the length of the vibrating string 3. Linear density: By choosing the strings of different thickness, we can control the range of frequencies a string can give you The vibrations hence produced by the string are very feeble and imperceptible to the human ear. The vibrations are hence amplified either acoustically (by a resonance chamber) or electrically (by amplifiers). This is exactly what is done in an acoustic guitar and electric guitar respectively.

ANATOMY OF GUITAR
Why do we learn this? This helps us to get familiar with various parts of the guitar so that we can talk to other fellow musicians and vendors easily. This also helps us to understand the instrument and its operations better. There is a website already with a lot of information with this. I suggest you read this once for your understanding. This website might be copyrighted and hence Ill not be copying it in this material. I personally recommend various parts of this website. However I would suggest you to refrain from looking into other sections of the website. I shall link the other sections when we come to that topic. In this link there is a mention of numbering the fretboard etc. Dont worry about it. It will be covered in the class. Just read (google) the various parts of the guitar that is mentioned in the tabular format. http://www.guitarlessonworld.com/lessons/guitar-anatomy.htm

August 30, 2011

[GUITAR LESSONS 1]

Youll be able to answer the following questions if you have done the section properly 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) What is a fretboard? What is a pick up? What are machine heads/Tuning keys used for? What is a plectrum? What is a bridge? What is a nut?

Please bring the following for the class 1) Guitar with all strings intact 2) Plectrum 3) Notebook (if you need)