Written by Happy NGD on June 20th, 2010
Every guitar player eventually discovers that not all guitar picks are created equal. A pick is a flat tool usually held with the dominant hand and used to pluck the strings. The most common shape used is a triangle that has two identically rounded corners and one that is less rounded. There are many styles of picks to choose from and they can be manufactured from a wide variety of materials.
D’Andrea Picks manufactured the first plastic pick in 1922. Before that, they were handmade from tortoise shell. Luigi and his son, Tony, came up with the idea of using plastic after finding sheets of celluloid that looked like tortoise shell. Picks made out of stone can be crafted by a mason but may also be found with a natural shape and thickness for use. The tone created by a stone pick will depend on the type of minerals it contains. Metal picks produce a bright sound.
photo credit: matsuyuki
These days, plastic picks can be found made out of celluloid, Lexan, nylon, Ultem and Acetal, just to a name a few of the materials that are commonly used. … continue reading ⇒
Posted in: Commentary
Written by Happy NGD on June 17th, 2010
Back when I started playing guitar the internet did not exist, there were no online lessons, youtube instructional videos, webcam guitar instructors….nothing like that. The closest thing we had to this at that time were a few guitar magazines that had about five song tabs per month and a couple lessons (with no audio!).
You kids these days have it so much easier! LOL!
Since I started blogging about the guitar, I have read quite a few excellent posts on other guitar sites and blogs that I wished I would have had back when I first started playing the guitar. Things would definitely have been a lot easier then.
Here are some of the most excellent blog posts and guitar related articles that I have seen over the past little while online. Hopefully, if you are either a new guitarist or seasoned guitar veteran, it will allow you to increase your guitar knowledge and playing abilities: … continue reading ⇒
Posted in: Commentary, Education
Written by Happy NGD on June 11th, 2010
With the recent release of the new Apple iPhone, it got me thinking about running around the internet in search of some cool iPhone apps for guitarists. About a year or so ago, I looked into this and found quite a few cool ones (sorry for not posting about it then!) so I assumed that there would be a lot more now.
Here is a list of some of the coolest guitar apps that you have to check out — assuming you have an iPhone!
1. 
GuitarToolKit.
What more could you ask for? Guitar tuner, chord library of over half a million guitar chords, scales and it has a left hand mode for all you left handed players. … continue reading ⇒
Posted in: Commentary
