Elements Which Make a Great Acoustic Song

A lot of times there is more than just one element which makes a great acoustic song. The best acoustic songs have multiple things working for them which makes them great. Below are just a few of those elements that can turn a middle of the road acoustic song into one of those songs that potentially can live on forever.

Probably the most important element in any acoustic guitar song is how well the guitar is played. Now I do not mean how difficult and intricate the guitar is played, but is it played well. It does not matter how technically difficult a song is to play, if it is played poorly, the song as a whole is going to suffer. Some of the best acoustic songs are nothing more than strummed chord transitions. But the chords are played well enough and crisp enough that the simplicity is over shadowed by the skill.

Next, at least for me, is the lyrical content of a song. No matter how great the music is, if the lyrics are cliche or just plain bad, the song loses any ground it gained, even if the music is out of this world. Being a song writer is probably one of the most demanding forms of art. A song writer has to portray an emotion or a thought for an extended period of time and the words have to flow together perfectly. It is a daunting to task. But this is what separates decent acoustic songs from the best acoustic songs. Lyrics are an essential piece of the puzzle.

Melody ranks right up there with lyrics in my book. It is what draws the listener in and usually what they hum after hearing the song. The melody, and I am referring to the vocal melody here, has to flow effortlessly with what the acoustic guitar is doing. If one is good, but the other lacks, the song is doomed from the start. This combination is one of the most difficult parts of song writing and requires a good ear to be able to hear what works, and what doesn't. A great melody can make a song stand out against all the rest.

Well what I just gave is the basic break up of a song, all the elements, and how they work together. When these three elements combine, they summon a great acoustic song. But remember, when writing your own music, it is important to be overly critical. Never settle for second best. Because if you do, that is all you will ever be.

Benjamin J. Cloyd is a guitar instructor and has a website called best acoustic songs where you can find and print great songs for beginners to intermediate to advanced. He also has a humorous clothing line for musicians at Music Tshirts ETC.

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Best Songs on Acoustic Guitar - Part 6

Thus far we have covered a bunch of awesome songs that feature the acoustic guitar. Unfortunately we have only just covered the tip of the ice burg. So why not keep the list going? Here are a few more songs that have earned a much deserved spot on the list of best acoustic songs.

What's It's Like - Everlast. This song, like a few that have made this list is, at least to me, not that special. But what is special about it is the melody the acoustic guitar picks through out the song. What is great is that it opens in a minor chord, but the rest the other chords in the transition are major. It just works so well together. The lyrics are a little generic in that they just discuss people who have hard lives. But other than the amazing melody on the guitar, the other thing that makes it great is the fact that the singer, Everlast, used to be the rap group House of Pain. And to me that is cool that he can be so versed to write rap songs and cool blues songs. Again the song's topic is really nothing special, but the guitar work is simple and beautiful enough to make the song worthy of this list.

The Dance - Garth Brooks. I am not a country music fan by any means. But I love Garth Brooks. The guy can sing a song and portray an emotion like no other in his genre. The Dance is one of those amazing break up songs that anyone going through one can listen to and know exactly what he is talking about. The acoustic guitar work in the song is subtle, and that is what makes it so good. The piano leads the songs, but underneath is the beautiful finger picking of the chords the guitar is playing. It is all around an amazing song. Perfect lyrics, perfect guitar, perfect voice, perfect everything. Garth makes the list of the best acoustic songs with The Dance.

Pink Moon - Nick Drake. Nick Drake is one of the musicians who, like so many others, died way before his time. He was young and he was a genius. To pick one song of his worthy of this list was in itself a difficult task. But Pink Moon captures what he was great at. Writing amazing lyrics set to awesome guitar work. The song is a perfectly basic song, only featuring the guitar and Drakes awesome voice. I could write a book on how great Nick Drake is so I am going to stop it right there. But if you have never heard anything by Nick Drake, you should check him out.

That's it for now. Hope you have found this list helpful and perhaps maybe you'll discover some new music which you'll love. These songs are truly worthy to be mentioned on the list of best acoustic songs.

Benjamin J. Cloyd is a guitar instructor and has a website called best acoustic songs where you can find and print great songs for beginners to intermediate to advanced. He also has a humorous clothing line for musicians at Music Tshirts ETC.

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Acoustic Guitar Packages - A Great Place To Start

When you're shopping for cheap acoustic guitar packages, you'll want to go about it just as you would if you were picking a cheap acoustic guitar. Most of the same criteria will apply. You'll have to decide what brand, style, finish, size and price range you can live with. If you're shopping for a package with a kids acoustic guitar in it, you should probably consider a starter guitar package containing a smaller instrument and, and whether it will have steel strings or nylon strings. You may even be looking for a package that contains a guitar designed specifically for a young girl. Will you be looking for a pure acoustic, or an electric acoustic?

How much money are you willing to spend? All these things will need to be considered before you even begin shopping. luckily for you, there are a great number of acoustic guitar packages to choose from these days. Most of the top names in the industry offer starter packs, and one for almost any budget can be found. Most of these packages will include everything anyone would need to begin their acoustic guitar to experience. Of course you will need to do a little research on the guitar that is included in the package, as some of the packages at the lower end of the price ranges may include really, really cheap guitars that can only be considered a toy. These poorly made instruments sound awful and most are very hard to play. The combination of those two things is the quickest way to ensure that someone will just give up trying to learn to play.

Many however, we'll be a good value for the money invested, and depending upon the package, will include an electronic or digital tuner, strings, picks, a strap and a gig bag or a hard case. Some may even include learning tools such as books or CD's. Some of the name brand, higher priced packages may even have solid top guitars, although many will not. As I said, just do some research before making that final decision. 

Right off the bat, you're going to notice that there is a really big selection to choose from. You'll see that prices began at next to nothing and will range into the several hundred dollar category. At the lower end of the price scale, some of the packages will have guitars that use nylon strings, and some will have nylon and steel strings. You'll also notice that the acoustic accessories included will vary from package to package. Using your budget and the style and quality of the acoustic you are looking for, you should be able to find something that will suit just about anyone. Many, if not most of the top names will have packages to choose from in different price ranges. At about $200 Fender offers the FA-125 Acoustic pack.

This is a very highly rated package which comes with the FA - 125S acoustic, which has a smaller body, an electronic tuner, gig bag, picks, string winder and an instructional booklet. This combo has the highly desirable solid top guitar, which makes this package a very good value. Another popular package in the $100 - $200 range is the Yamaha Gigmaker Standard Acoustic package. Yamaha is another brand known for the quality of their cheap acoustic guitars and the great sound these acoustics produce. Beginner guitar packages with quality construction, and great sounding instruments in the $150- $300 range are also available from Takamine, Dean, Epiphone, Silvertone and others.

At the lower end of the price spectrum you will find just as many, or probably more, acoustic guitar packages to choose from. A package with guitar, bag or case and some accessories can be found for as little as $20 or so. Just be aware that when you drop below the $200 - $150 price range you should research descriptions, construction, etc, of the instrument that comes in that particular package. It will really be to your benefit, when choosing a package for a child, to determine if that child just wants a toy to make noise with or is seriously interested in learning to play guitar. That can be a huge factor when deciding which package to select, as well as the size of the instrument included. As in the more expensive acoustic packages, in this price range you will be able to find packs with left hand acoustic guitars in some, and several that are designed specifically for young girls. Bottom line. Common sense dictates that a $20 package will not have the same quality guitar as will be in the package you pay $300 for. Again, just do a little research before hand, so that you will have a good idea as to what to look for when you are buying cheap acoustic guitar packages

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Best Songs on Acoustic Guitar - Part 5: Covers

The list continues. Here are a few more songs that could be added to the list of the best acoustic songs. Only this time, they are all cover songs.

Signs - Tesla. Not a lot of covers have made the list thus far, in fact if memory serves me correctly I think only one other one has. But here is another. Telsa is one of those 80's bands that has basically made a career on three of four songs, Signs being one of them. Originally done as a protest song in the sixties by Five Man Electric Band, Tesla made the track very much their own. They decided to go acoustic with it, which was an awesome choice and they added their flavor of rock. For an acoustic jam, it is definitely rocking. Again it is a cover, but a great cover at that. That is why Tesla's version of Signs deserves to make the list of best acoustic songs.

Boyz N The Hood - Dynamite Hack. This song is amazing because of how ridiculous it is. It was part of a compilation disk released by MTV called Rap Goes Punk. Basically MTV got a bunch of punk bands to do iconic rap songs. Dynamite Hack was asked to Boyz N The Hood, originally by N.W.A. They did the songs, but not as I think most expected them to. Instead of doing it their dirty, grungy kind of way, the boys played a beautifully finger picked number and gently sang the lyrics. It was hilarious. But the guitar part was very complicated and intricate, not what Dynamite Hack is known for. Again this song is not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but it is funny and clever enough to make the list of one of the best acoustic songs.

Wild Horses - Bush. Bush is one of those band you either love or hate. But love them or hate them, they did an amazing rendition of The Rolling Stones - Wild Horses on Jay Leno. It wasn't a straight up acoustic number, but the lead was played on an acoustic guitar. Okay there was only one acoustic instrument in the set, but this songs needs to make the list. It was an amazing rendition of an amazing song. I never thought anyone but The Stones could do that song, but I have to give Bush credit, they slayed it.

That's it for now. Three awesome cover songs that feature the acoustic guitar. Again, they may not be amazing or mind bending, but they all have that one undefined quality that makes them worthy of being added to the list of best acoustic songs.

Benjamin J. Cloyd is a guitar instructor and has a website called best acoustic songs where you can find and print great songs for beginners to intermediate to advanced. He also has a humorous clothing line for musicians at Music Tshirts ETC.

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Acoustic Guitars for Girls - The Real Deal

Acoustic guitars for girls have become big business these days. Teenagers and preteens, both boys and girls, have always been interested in music, and these days they seem to really be interested in playing music, as well as listening to it. They like most all instruments, but they seem to be especially intrigued by the guitar. Most teenagers would probably prefer to play the electric guitar because it is deemed to be cool, and many think that is easier to learn to play. However, many adolescents and teenagers and young adults are opting for the mellow, less raucous sounds of the acoustic guitar. Many teens/preteens and young adults are tiring of the loud, mind numbing clamor of the electric guitar playing rock or any other kind of loud music. Not surprisingly, many girls and young women have decided to take up acoustic guitars as their instrument of choice. As I said, this is not surprising, given that some of the biggest names in music are younger girls or women, who sing and play guitar.

Female entertainers such as Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus (a.k.a. Hannah Montana), and others, have truly captured the imagination and adoration of young girls the world over. And because these two superstars and many others, play the acoustic, it also has gained well deserved respect. This exposure has, in turn, sparked the development of guitar lines targeted specifically at young girls and women. several brands of acoustics are now made specifically for girls and young women, and these acoustic guitars for girls are selling in larger numbers than ever before. This new guitar market spurred the manufacture of acoustic guitars built for the smaller frame and smaller hands of girls and women. They incorporate smaller bodies, slimmer necks and finishes and ornamentation aimed squarely at the female's sense of aesthetics and style. One has always been able to find a youth acoustic guitar, and smaller versions of almost every style guitar, but, not until a few years ago, could you find them made, finished and ornamented especially for young women and girls, as they are today.

Today, girls and young women alike, may find top rated guitars from well known, established brands and also, some brand names that are not so commonly known. Taylor guitars, a big name, has several guitars, including, in the Baby Taylor line, acoustics that are endorsed and named after the singer, Taylor Swift. One can also get a Taylor acoustic autographed by Taylor Swift herself, though it will not be modestly priced. The Hannah Montana name is also on some guitars, though Miley Cyrus is not known as great guitar player. Lines and brands such as Darling Divas, Daisy Rock and Luna are all marketed to girls and young ladies, although, you'll find some full size models there too. Many of these beautiful guitars come with fantastic finishes, including just about all colors and even sparkles. Some will come with great graphics also. When you start looking for nice acoustic guitars for girls or young women, I think you will be absolutely surprised at the great selection that you are going to find. You'll also see that many of these instruments are not your classic acoustic guitars any longer, and that prices can range from well under $100 to several hundred dollars. You'll also find that, these days, it is really an experience looking for acoustic guitars for girls.

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Best Songs on Acoustic Guitar - Part 2

As stated in the first article of this series, the acoustic guitar is a bare-bones instrument. Its sound quality almost solely depends on the skill and technique of the player.

Here are a few more songs that feature great acoustic guitar parts. All of them deserve to be mentioned on a list of best acoustic songs.

1. She Talks to Angels - The Black Crowes. This songs comes to us via the Brothers Robinson, that would be older brother Chris and young brother Rich. The two brothers formed the Black Crowes in the late 80's and this song was on their 1990 debut album "Shake Your Money Maker," which was a huge album for them. The song start with a beautiful acoustic guitar melody played by little brother Rich that repeats throughout the track and the lyrics and vocal melody supplied by Chris fit the song perfectly. And the lyrics are absolutely perfect. It is a very sad, yet incredibly beautiful song at the same time.

2. Dust in the Wind - Kansas. Cliche? Yes. Corny? Perhaps. But no matter what your feelings are about this over-played, over-done song, it is still worthy to be on this list of best acoustic songs. The whole song is centered around a repeated finger-picked melody that does not deviate often. It's one of those songs everyone knows, but may not know who sings it. The lyrics are what you would expect from a band called "Kansas," kind of blah and cliche, but the memorable finger-picked acoustic guitar part is the reason this song makes a bid to be on this list.

3. Over the Hills and Far Away - Led Zeppelin. I am kind of deviating from the list a bit here because this song is not a genuine "acoustic" song. However it is Zeppelin and they were going to make an appearance at some point. I think it is fair to say when people think of a Led Zeppelin acoustic piece, "Stairway to Heaven" instantly comes to mind, but not me. The acoustic guitar part that leads "Over the Hills and Far Away" I think is one of the best uses of acoustic guitar in music. It is fast, it is clean, and Robert Plant's voice works so well with what Jimmy Page is doing on guitar. That is why "Over the Hills and Far Away" makes the cut for one of the best acoustic songs.

4. To Be With You - Mr. Big. It does not get more 80's than Mr. Big. One, of what seems like a million bands of the time that blew up fast and faded even faster. Though the 80's metal genre was notorious for turning over crappy bands left and right, every once in a while a gem of a song slipped in, and that is where "To Be With You" comes in. With a simply chord transition with a sold vocal performance by singer Eric Martin, the song has stood the test of time. Everyone knows the song, and whether they want to admit it, everyone loves the song. Simply put, it deserves to, at least, be a mention on the list of best acoustic songs.

Benjamin J. Cloyd is a guitar instructor and has a website called best acoustic songs where you can find and print great songs for beginners to intermediate to advanced. He also has a humorous clothing line for musicians at Music Tshirts ETC.

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Encouraging Young Kids To Learn To Play Acoustic Guitar - How?

Have you ever been curious about how some individuals are able to effectively teach guitar to individuals who are very much keen to be trained? To be honest, it is not as complicated as perhaps you might believe. If perhaps you happen to have a solid guitar skills and you like to share your abilities with other people, you will simply need to figure out an approach. It doesn't matter if you would like to teach professionally or just help kids learn to play, there are several significant things to understand about the distinctions between kids and adults in relation to learning how to play acoustic guitar.

Two of the most important principles are:
1) Recognize that it's tough for kids to start learning guitar, therefore do everything for them to learn proficiently; and
2) Understand that it may be annoying and boring, and so do all you can in order to make it enjoyable. Listed below are some of the ways on how to effectively coach kids to play guitar.

Assist Them To Pick The Right Instrument

Guitars appear in many styles and sizes and it may be quite challenging to anyone buying their first guitar. You shouldn't support spending too much. They should be informed that they're almost certainly going to upgrade just after a year at any rate, by which time, they will have a far better notion of exactly which guitar instrument suits them best, and also, don't opt for cheap guitars which are impossible to tune and tough to play. The single most significant considerations are: Is the acoustic guitar easy to carry? Is it easy to strum and chords on? For really young students, you may want to advise them to get a nylon or steel strung 3 4 acoustic guitar.

Assist Them To Tune The Guitar

It's not actually necessary to guide them learn to tune their guitars early on, yet make sure that their guitar is well in tune for the training and additionally see if there is someone at home who can help them keep the guitar in tune. Learning to tune a guitar is actually somewhat tricky for kids. In the end of course, it is very useful to help them to learn to tune by hearing but, in the beginning it's much more important to make tuning simple. So, cheat and encourage them to make use of a tuning device that will help make tuning an easy task.

Help Them Improve Chord Changing Pace

Help them further improve chord changing pace by working against the time. On the subject of improving chord changes a good trick is to teach two new chord shapes (say A and D) and then ask them to switch from one chord to the other in a minute. Set the clock and have them do it. Then temporary halt to tell them some tips on how to shift a lot easier. You may advise them to always move fingers in the same order, sense where the guitar strings and frets are rather than look. Then try again to see if they can break their own record.

Simplify Chords

In the event that they want to learn a particular tune, but the chords or riffs are ahead of their current ability level yet, make an effort to determine ways to simplify them. Typically this suggests shifting key, with the use of a capo or simply working out fingerings of chords on three strings rather than 4, 5 or 6. It takes some musical skill, however, this will help you develop your own musical abilities.

Encourage Practice

Encourage practice, but avoid making it too much of a chore. In the beginning, greatest results are attained by a few very short practice stints, rather than a long one. Minimal and frequent is the key.

In training kids to play guitar, patience is equally important as picking the right guitar for kids. Consider getting a good beginner acoustic guitar. Learn more about 3 4 acoustic guitar at http://www.34acousticguitar.net/.

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Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners

The best acoustic guitar for beginners is an excellent start-off musical instrument that graces the hands of many wannabe musicians. Its musical notes are loved by all. Usually, renowned players start their careers with these acoustic guitars and slowly progress gaining experience, eventually shifting onto regular or electric guitars.

In the early stages of learning, students need not have an expert guitar in order to express themselves musically. It is enough if they have an entry-level, one that can produce quality sound, and there are many such guitars available on the market nowadays.

For children, it is enough if they have a small fret board initially and later on they can be given a better acoustic guitar with which they can start some serious learning. There is a wide range of best acoustic guitar for beginners and some of the best ones, along with their key features are discussed below.

Yamaha FG700S

One big name is Yamaha, who has dominated this field for many years together. They have an established and greater fame which will attract people. Their fret boards are made of rose wood and they also have a die-cast. This is one top of the range model.

Takamine G-340

Another highly demanded product on the market. Those who do not compromise on the quality of tone, mostly do not prefer it as the best acoustic guitar for beginners due to its lack of popularity. Still, it's among the top 10 guitars for ambitious musicians.

Seagull S6

One of the best products for the beginners. It has a solid cedar top and the body is completely made of mahogany wood. They produce the best quality sound and expressions. The only drawback is their price, still worth it though.

Fender CD140S

It is one of the lowest price guitars on the market. It is used by many beginners as they produce crystal clear sound and very high clarity. The disadvantage is that their life span is short, they do not support long run ambitions.

Epiphone EL-00

Customers who have bought this guitar recommend it for beginner to intermediate guitar players. The surprising note is the quality that it puts out at the marked price. It is really cheap considering the brilliant sound it produces.

Ibanez AC30NT

This is a type of electric guitar made for beginners. It features an affordable price tag and also produces a decent quality of sound output.

The best beginner acoustic guitars offer great quality sound at an affordable price and now that we've touched on some of the better guitar options on the market, you should have no trouble finding the best acoustic guitar for beginners. Time to rock n roll...

Click here now to find out the best acoustic guitar with affordable price in the market today such as the Yamaha FG700S acoustic guitar.

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Best Songs on Acoustic Guitar

When it comes to popular music, the acoustic guitar is the corner-stone. It is, in my opinion, the most honest of all the musical instruments.

What do I mean by that? It is a bare-bones instrument that does not allow the player to hide behind anything. It is unlike the electric guitar which can take advantage of effects and distortion. Those effects offer the guitar player some room for sloppy technique. The acoustic guitar, on the other hand, is what it is. If the musician misses a note or their technique is not clean, it is very noticeable.

With its softer tone, not only is the skill of the guitar player tested, but it is also crucial for the lyrics and vocals of the song to be great as well. These elements combined is what truly makes a great acoustic guitar song.

With that in mind I have come up with a small list of what I feel are some of the best acoustic guitar songs. Some simple, some a lot more difficult, but all deserve to be considered one of the best acoustic guitar songs.

1. Butterfly - By Weezer. Starting off the list is one of my favorite songs of all time. "Butterfly" by the geek rock group Weezer is simple, yet amazing. Off of their second album (and some would say their best) "Pinkerton", the band was able to take a simply chord transition, a beautiful melody, and heartbreaking lyrics to craft and melancholy breakup song about lost love. Again the music is simple, but it is well deserving to make this list.

2. Sweet Baby James - By James Taylor. I think most people would agree that "Sweet Baby James" is clearly one the best acoustic guitar songs of all times. Off of his second album of the same name, James Taylor, beloved singer/songwriter wrote this haunting tune while driving to meet his baby nephew for the first time. The finger picking technique used on this track is difficult and involved, yet flows so beautifully through out. With his amazing voice, amazing guitar playing, and his knack for writing hits, James Taylor hit the nail right on the head with this one.

3. St. Augustine - By Band of Horses. This song appears on the debut album of Band of Horses, an indie band that released the album in 2006. The acoustic guitar work is perfect for the song, a leveled mixture of strumming and plucking, and the lyrics are boarder-line mind-blowing. But what makes this song worthy to be mentioned on the list of best acoustic guitar songs is the harmony of the two vocalists. It is subtle, but it is there, and it was what really sets this song apart.

4. Tears in Heaven - By Eric Clapton. Not much needs to be said when the name Eric Clapton is mentioned. The man is a guitar and music legend. Most known for his blues and electric guitar, however his acoustic guitar skills are rarely paralleled. Sadly one of his best acoustic guitar songs was written after the tragic death of his young son. Clapton put his emotions not only in his heartfelt lyrics, but also into the acoustic guitar part of the song. It is masterfully finger picked by Clapton and the melody almost always brings a tear to the listeners eye. That is why it earned a spot on this list.

Though this list is short, mainly because it could go on forever, it really captures the depth of what can be done with an acoustic guitar when played properly.

Benjamin J. Cloyd is a guitar instructor and has a website called best acoustic songs where you can find and print great songs for beginners to intermediate to advanced. He also has a humorous clothing line for musicians at Music Tshirts ETC.

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An Open Letter to New Acoustic Guitar Players Who Can't Hear Themselves Sing When They Play

As a beginning acoustic guitarist there is every possibility that you won't be able to hear yourself sing when you play.

No it is not because you are deaf or anything as dramatic as that. It is because the sound being generated by your acoustic guitar as you play is so loud that it overshadows your voice and you can hardly hear what you are singing.

So it that how it is always going to be? I mean you hear songs on the radio and no matter how loud the guitar is you are still able to hear the voice of the artiste. If you cannot accomplish the same thing then you are forever doomed. You should simply forget about playing the acoustic guitar because you are not just talented enough right?

No. Nothing like that. There are a few things you can do to fix the problem. If you are ready then let us get started.

Dear New Acoustic Guitar Player:

I know you are sick and tired.

You are sick and tired of playing the acoustic guitar while you sing but can't really hear yourself because what you are playing is very loud. You have tried to strum lightly to get it quieter but the attempt just makes strumming very uneven. You barely touch the strings and miss them often whenever you try to play lightly.

You hear people like Jack Johnson play and find that their guitars are so quiet compared to when you hear yourself play. Their playing sounds really nice and you can't help but wonder: how can I play quietly like them?

Well here's how:

1. Try Using a Foam
Let me guess. One of the other reasons why you want to be able to play quietly is because you don't want to be a pain in the ass. You don't want to be the one to always have to wake your neighbors up whenever you play. So what can you do?

Simple: try using a foam and see if you are able to get the result you want.

What you need to do here is look for a foam that is just thick enough to fit into the space between the strings and the surface of your acoustic guitar. The foam should not only be able to fit into the space but also be able to touch the strings. Then all you have left to do is slide it under the strings very close to the bridge and viola! You can play till eternity without having to wake the whole neighborhood.

2. It Is Not By Force
Yes I know you want to be able to play in such a way that you produce a smooth and pleasing sound. But the way to do it is not by force.

One thing I have noticed about beginning acoustic guitar players is that they apply a lot of force when they strum. That is not the way to do it. Your state of mind needs to be relaxed. Your arms need to be relaxed. Your wrists need to be relaxed. In short your whole body needs to be relaxed. That is the only way your strumming can be effortless and that is how you can accomplish the effect that you want: to be able to play quietly.

And one more thing. Use a plectrum that is 0.46mm thick. Your playing will sound smoother and a lot less loud.

3. Use a Leather Strip
Okay listen to this.

This tip is from one of the all time guitar greats, Manuel Barrueco. In 1974 he won the Concert Artist Guild Award. He was 22 at the time and that made him the first ever classical guitarist to win the award. After that other classical guitarist started to win the prestigious award which means that he was the one to kind of break the jinx.

Anyway ever since then Barrueco has become well known. There was even a time where he got to play with guitar greats like Steve Morse popularly known as Deep Purple and Andy Summers popularly known as The Police.

So what is the point of all this? The point is that this guy is a guitar freak and he knows what he is doing. So if he says "try doing things this way" you should know it is going to work.

And that brings us back to the main point. According to Manuel if your acoustic guitar happens to be giving you a lot of problems in terms of too loud a sound, all you need to do is use a leather strip to cage its sound.

How do you do this? Look for an averagely long leather strip and then weave or roll it round the strings at the bridge. Believe me it will surely reduce the loudness of your guitar. Try it out and see how it turns out.

4. Change to Nylon Strings
Ask classical guitarists and you will find that most of them use nylon strings. It is not because nylon strings are better than steel strings or vice versa. It is because nylon strings have this kind of sound that sounds peaceful. And that is the kind of effect you want to achieve when it comes to classical music.

So if your objective is to produce a peaceful and quiet sound when playing the guitar, here is my advice. Change your strings to nylon.

The reason why I like them is because they not only sound sweet but are also easy on the hands. Of course if you are serious about becoming an extremely good player your fingers will still hurt and the tips of your fingers will still become hardened if you use them. But they will make it a lot less painful and the experience amazing.

Of course nylon strings will not give you the same sound effect as their steel counterparts but they will give you a peculiar sound that will touch your soul. Whenever you play you will always get a good feeling.

I know this because I have tried it and the experience has been wonderful. You too should do the same.

So What about You?
Have you ever been in a situation where you can't really hear what you sing when playing the acoustic guitar? What did you do to fix the problem?

I am waiting to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Samuel Lab

About the Author: Samuel Lab blogs at One Hour Acoustic Players. If you would like to learn more about what it really takes to become an extremely good acoustic guitar player, check out his blog on learning acoustic guitar with ease.

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Acoustic Treatments for Churches

Churches and other large, spacious venues often have trouble with the quality of sound being produced by bands and preachers using microphones and speakers. From drums and guitars to organs and brass instruments the chances for distortion due to reverberation and sound reflection are increased when you don't have the right acoustic treatments to deflect and absorb sound waves. If you are in charge of the music at a church or similar house of worship consider high quality sound baffle equipment to help reduce reverb time in the venue and achieve optimum sound that will be enjoyed by the entire congregation.

SORBER sound baffles can be permanently attached to walls and ceilings to effectively control sound and greatly reduce reverberation time so drums and guitars don't drown out the sound of a chorus or preacher. Made from rigid 1.5" thick compressed fiberglass encased in heavy duty trunk cloth, SORBER sound baffles help to contain sound and control reflections that occur when instruments are played in enclosed but spacious areas. Without sound baffles this sound is free to bounce off walls and ceilings creating a distorted tone that can ruin the music being played or a hymn being sung. Easy to attach to ceilings and walls of a church SORBER baffles will help temper the reflections of sound waved producing a crisp and clear sound.

Many church bands include drums and while some have tried electronic drums to soften the tone many have complained that the sound from V-drums is artificial and not conducive to a church environment. A great way to optimize the acoustics of a church while still using natural percussion drums is to use high quality acrylic and Plexiglas drum shield enclosures. Using free-standing acrylic panels to form an enclosure around a drum kit you effectively temper the loud nature of the drums while still getting the desired natural sound of percussion. You can use drum enclosure kits in conjunction with SORBER baffles to fully control the reflection and reverberation of sound.

Almost every church will have an organ but again the acoustics of the church venue have to be planned accordingly so the sounds from the organ don't bounce off ceilings and walls and drown out a choir or pastor. Using superior speaker isolation equipment including Plexiglas panels and SORBER baffles you can effectively contain the tones from the organ speakers and reduce reflected sound. Many church goers enjoy the sound of organs and choirs but if the music produced isn't clear or is distorted by poor acoustics the experience is not the same. Keep your congregation happy by optimizing the acoustics of your church with excellent church acoustic treatment equipment.

For a great selection of sound isolation equipment visit ClearSonic where you'll find high quality drum shields, amp enclosures, SORBER sound baffles and vocal isolation booths.

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