Madeline Dunsizer Osceola Middle School (Pinellas)

dunsizerm@pcsb.org
GUITAR RESOURCES
Guitar Music Websites Mostly Free:

www.finaleshowcase.com/showcase - fee free music

www.sibeliusmusic.com click on the Education tab for fee free music
www.forrestguitarensembles.co.uk all free material some are better than others and a
few have MP3 recordings
www.derek-hasted.co.uk both free & purchased music information about ensembles,
articles & tips
www.8notes.com/guitar - 50 free downloads free lessons, popular guitar riffs & groove
generator
www.hochweber.ch/guitar.htm - free for teachers PDF with MIDI
www.gmajormusictheory.org high quality PDF sheet music for all ability levels some are
TAB all are free and have audio recordings
www.sycamore-series.ndirect.co.uk has free ensembles of both original compositions and
transcriptions
www.classicalguitarschool.net lots of good material most of it is free
www.amberroseguitarmusic.co.uk solo, duo and ensemble material at all levels and some
free samples links to other useful websites

Guitar Music Websites Nothing Free:

www.music4classicalguitar.com cost between $2.00 - $7.00, but you can listen to the
majority of them prior to purchase
www.guitarensemblemusic.com music by Alan Hirsh recordings of all cost between
$3.00 and $12.00
www.guitaronline.it the Araniti Foundations is the first e-book publisher of guitar music in
the world (according to their site)
www.guitarinensemble.com music using guitar orchestra and duos with other instruments
www.productionsdoz.com/c215888.2.html - classical guitar sheet music for solo and
ensemble performance

Guitar Music Websites TAB:

www.guitarinstructor.com song tabs, jam tracks and video lessons most downloads are .
99 cents
www.chordie.com tabs, chords, lyrics, free online lessons and public books
www.ultimate-guitar.com song tabs, lessons, all the latest news and reviews of everything
guitar related

Other Music Home Pages:

www.fretnoteguitarrepair.com articles and photos on repairs and how to do many of the

repairs yourself
www.guitarteachermagazine.com articles covering a variety of subjects for both the
private and classroom teacher
www.guitarrabrava.com a fine website for classical guitarists, students and instructors
lots of material here, not just a list of links all about the classical guitar
www.rudolphsmusic.com free public domain sheet music of all categories, easy to find by
composer, style or instrument

www.everynote.com worlds largest digital music library sheet music download

www.classical.com offers listening, downloads, custom CDs and a large resource of
entertaining information to expand your classical music knowledge
www.juststrings.com bulk string orders and really good prices

Method Books:

H.O.T. Hands-On Training First Year Guitar Nancy Marsters

Hal Leonard Guitar Method, Book 1
Essential Elements for Guitar, Book 1
Alfreds Basic Guitar Method, Book 1
Jerry Snyders Guitar School, Method 1
21st Century Guitar Method 1

Supplemental Materials:

Hal Leonard:
o Easy Pop Melodies (Green)
o More Easy Pop Melodies (Yellow)
o Even More Easy Pop Melodies (Pink)
o Easy Pop Rhythms (Blue)
o More Easy Pop Rhythms (Purple)
o Even More Easy Pop Rhythms (Teal)
o Modern Rock Hits
o Easy Classical Guitar Duets
o Christmas for 1, 2 or 3 Guitars (Schmid)
Essential Elements Ensembles:
o Rock Classics
o Pop Hits
o The Beatles
o Jazz Ballads
o Christmas Songs
o Flash Cards
Alfred:
o Jerry Snyders Guitar School Ensemble Books 1 & 2
o Festive Collection for Guitar Ensemble (Morley)
o Folk Collection for Guitar Ensemble (Morley)
Mel Bay:
o Jazz Guitar Ensembles various levels some with improvisation
Class Guitar (H.O.T.)
o CGR20 Beginning Guitar Ensembles (Darker Blue)
o CGR21 Beginning Guitar Ensembles (Light Blue)
o CGR40 Advanced Beginning Guitar Ensembles (Yellow)
o CGR22 Christmas Carols and Tunes (Leo Welch)

Replacement Strings to Have On Hand:

Low E 20
A 20
D 30

G5
B5
High E - 20

Fret Buzz, Buzzing At Nut, Buzzes At Bridge

Types of Guitar Buzzing Problems
Fret Out or String Buzz - This happens when a string comes in contact with a fret and a buzzing
sound occurs. This is the most frequent cause of annoying buzzes. See chart for diagnostics.
Hardware Buzz - Parts can also cause buzzing. Probably the most common items which buzz on
acoustic guitars is loose input jacks and loose tuning machine bushings. Pre-amps and pickup
components that are not seated well can also rattle.
Sympathetic Buzz - Thankfully this is not too common. Certain frequencies can set off strange
rattling and vibrations. These types of buzzes differ in that they occur only when certain
frequencies are played.
Loose Brace Rattle- Braces that split or come loose in an acoustic guitar can sometimes be
heard rattling against the top or back when playing or tapping.

Causes of Fret Buzz

Symptom

Possible Cause

Remedy

Open String Buzz

Nut

Buzzes when played

open, stops when
string is fretted.

Worn or poorly cut nut slot is placing

the strings too close to the frets near
the nut.

Replace nut or shim

to add height. Set up
instrument properly.

One Spot Buzz

Frets

Buzzes on one note,

or one area but stops
when moving away
from that spot.

Frets are not level, one or more is too

high/low. Loose or sprung fret is rising
out of the fingerboard. Hump in
fingerboard. Wear or deep grooves in
frets.

Upper Fret Buzz

Fingerboard

Buzzes where the

neck attaches to the
body. Notes seem to
fret out when playing
near the body.

On acoustics, section of fingerboard

that is glued to the top may rise/fall
with temperature/moisture extremes
due to changes in the top.

Frets near f/b

extension may need
leveling.

Fingerboard is warped in a way to

render the end too high (most
common on archtop's).

In rare cases the

board must be planed
to remove hump.

Secure all loose frets,

level and dress. Fret
leveling and/or
replacement of worn
frets.

Evaluate for dryness,

humidify if necessary.

Buzzes When I Strum Hard

Set Up

Adjust truss rod.

Buzzing occurs when strumming or

picking aggressively but can be
silenced when playing lightly.

Insufficient relief in the

neck.

Set up instrument
properly.

Poor set up.

Use heavier strings.

String gauge too light.

Buzzes Everywhere

Frets

Buzzes nearly everywhere even

though it is set up properly, will
often disappear if string is fretted
hard or closer to the fret and
plucked softly.

Frets may be worn out

or too low.

Frets Out

Neck

Buzzes nearly everywhere all the

time, strings are literally touching
the frets in the center or other area
of the fingerboard.

Truss rod may be way

too tight back bowing
the neck.

Replace frets.

Very small fret wire

used.

Neck could be a
warped, or have
excess back bow even
after truss rod is
loosened.

www.fretnoteguitarrepair.com

Set up instrument
properly.
Adjust truss rod for
more relief.
Use heavier strings if
relief can not be
created thru truss rod
adjustment.

How to Change Nylon Guitar Strings

Things you will need:
Nylon guitar strings
Peg winder with cutter
1. Remove the old string by unwinding the tuning peg with a peg winder and
untying at the bridge.
2. Insert one end of the new string into the bridge hole, with about 2 inches of
slack through the back of the bridge.
3. Pull the slack end up toward the bridge, loop around the underside of the
string and pull back toward the rear of the bridge.
4. Loop the slack end around the string 2 or 3 times, working from the top loop
to the rear, and pull the long end of the string to tighten the knot, forming
and open-ended multiple figure 8 pattern.
5. Insert the top end of the string into the tuning peg string hole, leaving about
3 inches of slack string on the neck.
6. Loop the end of the string around the tuning post, inserting it into the hole
again to form a single loop knot by pulling taut.
7. Wind the string using the peg winder until the proper pitch is reached, while
pulling on the slack to assist with tension. You will turn the tuning peg away
from you to tighten it.
8. Stretch the string by pulling with gentle pressure until it will no longer go out
of tune. Nylon strings require more stretching that steel strings, and the
guitar may slip out of tune for several days until the strings settle in.
9. Clip the excess string with the cutting end of the peg winder.
This is what your bridge should
look like. Note the figure 8
pattern.