What are digital guitars, and how do they work? This article goes over everything you need to know about these cool instruments and showcases some of the best digital guitars of 2022.  

The music we make is changing, and so are the instruments we use to create it. Inventors and instrument-makers have merged musical instruments with technology, opening a new avenue for musical creation. 

Now, some guitars look and sound completely different than their predecessors. 

Let’s check out some of the new guitar designs that people are coming up with and the musical powers they grant you. 

What is a digital guitar?

Digital guitars–guitar synthesizers or midi guitars–come in many unique shapes and sizes. Some look similar to electric guitars. They have standard-looking bodies decked out with steel strings and long necks. Other digital guitars look different. Their bodies have odd shapes (in some cases, they look nothing like a guitar), and some fretboards have buttons instead of strings.

How do digital guitars work?

A digital guitar is an electronic musical instrument that produces sound by converting the strings’ vibrations into digital data. The data is then processed by a digital signal processor, which converts it into an audio signal that can be amplified and played through a speaker or headphones.

The digital signal processor can be programmed to change the sound’s timbre, pitch, and other characteristics. 

Digital guitars typically have various features that allow the player to control the instrument’s sound. These features include neck and body sensors, which detect the position of the player’s hands on the neck and body of the guitar. The signals from the neck and body sensors are used to control the instrument’s sound.

History of digital guitars.

Digital guitars aren’t a new type of guitar about to take the industry by storm. They’ve been around for a few decades. 

SynthAxe is a guitar-like midi controller that was manufactured in England in 1985. It uses electronic synthesizers to produce sound via the stringed neck. However, as the first of its kind, it was expensive, and only a handful of professional musicians ever used it. 

It wasn’t until the early 2000s that companies like Yamaha and Starr Labs began creating digital instruments. 

Starr Labs’ Ztars use buttons on the fretboard instead of strings–giving the instrument some polyphonic qualities.  

In 2010 the You Rock Guitar was introduced. Using ‘virtual’ strings, the midi controller senses your finger positioning along the fretboard, determining the pitch of the notes.  

These are just a few designs that have emerged over the years. Manufacturers continue to create and develop new models to this day. 

If you’re curious about the history of the guitar, take a look at our blog, Who Invented the Guitar? A Brief History.

What are the pros and cons of playing a digital guitar?

Pursuing a musical instrument (digital or other) can be a deeply fulfilling experience. Just like any instrument, there are some pros and cons to using a digital guitar.

Pros: 

• Ability to play unique sounds.
• Seamlessly connect your instrument to DAWs and other digital devices.
• It can be easy to transport.
• Make you look like you’re from the future.

If you’re looking to play an instrument that resembles the guitar, the digital guitar may not be an ideal choice. 

Cons: 

• Digital guitars don’t sound like acoustic or electric guitars. 
• Digital guitars don’t typically feel the same as electric or acoustic guitars–many of them look and feel entirely different from actual guitars and require you to play them differently.
• They often require an amplifier or computer for sound. 

The five best digital guitars in the market.

Shopping around for a digital guitar? Start your search on the right foot and check out our top choices for 2022.

Jammy Guitar

The Jammy G is as sleek as it is portable. You can quickly take it apart and put it back together, making it ideal for travelers.

This midi controller has the shape and aesthetic of a guitar. With a body, neck with 15 frets, and steel strings, it feels like you’re playing the real thing. However, the device struggles with certain techniques like slides, mute-palming, and hammer-ons. 

As advertised, you can use this device to play virtually any instrument as a guitar. The Jammy G comes with classic, acoustic, and electric voices and a Jammy Guitar app to help you learn how to play. You can connect this midi controller to your computer, tablet, or phone, and it has a 4400 mAh battery, allowing you to play for up to six hours. So you can play it anywhere.

Jamstik 7 Bundle Edition

The Jamstik 7 comes with a guitar strap, case, extension piece, batteries, and some picks. So you’re fully equipped to jam to your heart’s content.

With just seven frets, the midi guitar is compact and easy to bring around. While some musicians may dislike the lack of frets, you can easily access higher frets by changing the settings on your laptop. The Jamstik 7 has a set of steel strings, giving it a guitar-like feel. With wireless capabilities, you can position yourself comfortably while playing. 

There are tons of cool sounds for you to experiment with. However, like other midi controllers, it doesn’t produce sound independently. You need to connect it to a device. 

Suzuki 49-Key Q-Chord

The Suzuki 49-Key Q-Chord doesn’t look like a guitar. However, it has all of the essential elements.

The device has a strum plate on the body, a short neck with buttons, and a speaker to project sound. And with four octaves and 109 midi voices, it offers users a ton of sounds to play with.

What’s cool about the Q-Chord is that it’s compatible with other midi controllers. The device is great for anyone who wants a convenient medium to create fun sounds and interact with other musicians. 

Pocket Digital Guitar

All of the digital guitars on our list are easy to pack and carry around, but when it comes to portability, the Pocket Digital Guitar is in a league of its own.

However, this device is more of a training tool than an instrument. 

The Pocket Digital Guitar is a digital set of frets, and they can quite literally fit in your pocket. The device has steel strings and comes with a cool training tool that teaches you chords and other fingering positions, and it has a built-in metronome. 

Not every environment is suited for playing guitar, but with this tool, you can sharpen your skills anytime and anywhere.

Sensus Smart Guitar

Last but certainly not least is the Sensus Smart Guitar. This instrument is the first of its kind, a full-blown guitar (It creates sound via vibrating strings) with amazing digital capabilities. 

The instrument looks and plays just like an electric guitar. However, embedded in the body and neck are modulators that allow you to manipulate the sounds without the assistance of a computer. 

The IoT device offers musicians a new level of expression. You can easily jam with people long-distance, record your music, and add infinite sound modulations. 

Digital guitars need digital teachers.

Digital guitars come in all shapes and sizes. Some emulate a guitar, others are guitar-like midi devices, and some are neat training tools. With smart guitars emerging, who knows what kind of music guitarists will make.

Speaking of neat tools. Simply guitar is a fantastic app that helps beginner guitarists learn and practice essential guitar skills. You can practice with short and effective lessons at a time and place that works with your schedule. Try it today!

FAQs.

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Whether you’re a professional singer or just dabble with singing in your spare time, this beginner guide is jam-packed with simple guidelines for arranging vocal harmonies. Ready to upleve your singing? Let’s go!

Implementing vocal harmonies into your song gives a dramatic effect if done correctly. 

But first, we need to understand some basic music theory. 

For instance, a solid grasp of intervals, chords, and musical scales provides you with the foundation for creating an epic vocal harmony.

Music intervals.

Music intervals refer to the spacing between notes. Understanding intervals makes assembling chords much easier. 

The musical alphabet consists of seven letters.

A – B – C – D – E – F – G

And part of playing music is knowing how these notes interact. Intervals have two parts–the interval number and interval quality. Determining the interval number is as simple as counting the distance between each note. For instance, the distance between A and E is five. Therefore the interval is a fifth. 

• The interval numbers: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Octave. 

• The different types of intervals: Perfect, Major, Minor, Diminished and Augmented.

Understanding intervals helps you assemble better-sounding chords with more proficiency. In essence, chords are harmonies, and some notes work better together than others. 

What is musical harmony?

A musical harmony occurs when several notes play together as a singular musical unit. A harmony includes two or more sounds–in different pitches–that add an aggrandizing effect to a song.

Harmony refers to building chords, chord qualities, and chord progressions. Notes in a harmony are a pitch above or below the melody. You can also play both the higher and lower pitch at once. 

We typically see the power of harmony through instruments such as pianos and guitars, and many of our favorite songs also use vocal harmonies. 

Vocal harmonies

Vocal harmony is the same as musical harmony, except it refers to two or more vocal tones reverberating in unison.  Just like chords, there are additional vocal inputs that support the lead vocal. They serve as background vocals to add texture to a song. Because of the unique timbre emanating from vocal harmonies, their effect on a song differs from instrumental harmonies. 

Whether you’re just starting out or not, vocal harmonies are essential for any songwriter–they’re in every kind of music genre known to man, from R&B tracks and folk songs to classical music.

The building blocks of harmony 

When designing a harmony, you need to replace the chord’s name with a roman numeral with the corresponding scale or pitch of the root note.

The three categories of harmony include:

• Tonics Chords–The base or root of the harmony. 
• Dominant chords–Place these on the fifth or seventh degree of the triad.
• Pre-dominant chords–A bridge between the tonic and dominant chords.

Knowing which notes work well together is crucial for assembling chords and harmonies. This template will help you find the correct tension between the tonic and dominant harmonic progressions.

The motion of harmony

There is also the chords’ motion or vocals to consider when it comes to harmony. As a song progresses, so do the notes that people sing and various ways it can happen.

In sheet music, harmonies can move in four different types of motion:

• Parallel—Two voices move in the same direction while maintaining the same interval number.
• Similar—Two voices follow the same melodic contour.
• Oblique—One voice moves while the other stays in place.
• Contrary—Two voices move in opposite directions.

Now that you understand the building blocks of harmony and how they work, it’s time to refine your technique. 

How to use harmonies.

While there is a mechanical element to the music, ultimately, it’s an art form. There’s no universal rule on how to use harmonies. However, some practices produce better effects than others. 

Here are some things to consider when creating your harmonies.

Wrapping up

Understanding and knowing how to use vocal harmony can be tricky. There’s a lot to account for, and assembling a vocal harmony is much easier if you understand intervals, chords, and musical harmony.

And what better way to practice musical harmony and chords than on your piano? With SimplyPiano, you can learn all about chords, intervals, and ultimately musical harmony in small, doable steps.

Once you grasp the various parts that make up harmony and the different ways they can move, you can start to explore the effects they can produce.

Harmonies add a unique texture to your song and add layers of complexity that can drastically impact your music. 

FAQs

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If you’re looking for the best keyboard piano for beginners, look no further! Simply Piano has the perfect instrument for you.

When choosing your keyboard, it’s essential to strike the right balance between cost and a beginner-friendly instrument that motivates you and provides room to grow.

There are all sorts of keyboards. Some prioritize portability, sound quality, and even aesthetics.

A lot goes into a keyboard. Each design offers unique qualities and capabilities that may be what sways your decision. 

So let’s dive into the world of keyboards and find the best keyboard piano for a beginner.

The number of keys for a beginner.

Generally speaking, most keyboards come with 49, 61, 73, or a full 88 keys, like a piano. There is no correct number of keys per se, but you may develop a preference as you continue practicing. Until then, you might not know the type of music you want to play or what qualities you will most appreciate from your keyboard. 

And there are qualities aplenty!

Keyboards come in various shapes, sizes, styles, with different numbers of keys and tools built in. You can learn a lot about playing the piano with just 49 keys. However, we recommend going with 88. You won’t be able to make the most out of all 88 keys when you begin. But that’s okay –  you will have plenty of room to grow. 

Weighted versus unweighted keys.

As a beginner, you will need to consider buying a keyboard with weighted versus unweighted keys. You have a third choice too – semi-weighted. Each of these keys offers unique qualities and changes how it feels to play.

Why weighted keys are better.

Weighted keys are better because they provide a similar feel to a classical acoustic piano. As such, keyboards with weighted keys have greater articulation and sound control than keyboards with unweighted keys.

For instance, applying more pressure on a key produces a vastly different sound than using a softer touch. These subtleties can drastically affect the energy and emotion in music.

This will help you understand and feel the sensitivity needed to push down the keys with different levels of control.

Number of sounds.

Part of what makes the keyboard so fun to play and an excellent instrument for beginners is its number of sounds. 

Keyboards can have from ten to 400 different sounds! This gives you the chance to explore a range of possible musical styles.

So if you’re feeling funky, you can adjust the settings and play funk music. Additionally, you can synchronize your sounds to mesh with other musicians because of the electronic nature of your keyboard. 

The best keyboard piano for beginners.

Whether you’re just starting out or nearing the level of masterhood, it’s essential to be inspired by your instrument. 

Playing on a keyboard that feels more like a toy than an instrument can negatively impact your experience. That’s why we recommend the following keyboard as the best keyboard for a beginner.

Introducing the Korg B2N. 

This keyboard has 88 semi-weighted keys on an NT (Natural Touch) keyboard. 

The NT keyboard reproduces the touch of an acoustic piano, with heavier action in the low register and a lighter feel in the upper register. 

Korg gives the right balance of beginner-friendly playability while allowing you to dip your toes into the intricate world of sensitive key strikes. 

As far as aesthetics go, the Korg B2N makes most beginner keyboards look and feel cheap. For a portable keyboard, it’s on the larger side and costs just over $500. 

The B2N comes with twelve different sound settings, from the electric organ to the harpsichord. These sounds create powerful and vibrant reverberations thanks to Korg’s latest piano engine. 

Another helpful feature is the USB port that you can plug into various music software and hardware. That means you can create and record music from your tablet or phone! 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with any pedals. However, you only need a sustain pedal for digital pianos and keyboards that you can find a separate pedal and plug into your keyboard.

There’s a lot to consider when purchasing an instrument. Knowing what you want from your keyboard, the kind of music you want to play, the price, and its portability should all factor into your decision. 

Regardless of what keyboard you choose, it’s ultimately a tool – a rather important one, to be sure – in the journey of learning and playing music. 

Many tools can help you get better. It’s just about knowing where to look and what to look for.

Add some spice and speed up the process of your keyboard journey with Simply Piano!

FAQs.

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Trying to learn all the major and minor chords? This short article breaks down what you need to know to play the Bb minor chord.

Chords can be a whirlwind of numbers, letters, and sounds. It’s easy to get lost and confused, especially when just beginning on the piano. 

Luckily for you, music theory is full of easy tools to help you figure out and understand chords. We’ve collected all the essential information, including clear and easy tables, to help you play Bb/A# minor. 

Chords and inversions.

The definition of a chord is to play two or more notes simultaneously. When you play three notes at the same time, you’re playing a triad. 

A triad generally will be major or minor. You build a major chord using the major scale’s first, third, and fifth notes. It comprises two intervals, a major third and then a minor third.

Minor chords have the same two intervals in reverse – a minor third and then a major third. You build them from the major scale’s first, third, and fifth notes, but the third is flat (lower by a semitone).

An inversion is when you play these notes in a different order. Triads can appear in three positions:

Root position: 1, 3, 5.

First inversion: 3, 5, 1.

Second inversion: 5, 1, 3. 

Building a Bb minor chord. 

To make a Bb minor chord, we begin with the Bb major scale.

Then make a Bb major chord, using the first, third, and fifth degrees of the scale: 

To make it minor, flatten the third degree of the scale (which is the second note of the chord):

First inversion – Bb minor.

The first inversion is when you play the chord like this:

3, 5, 1.

Here is Bb minor in first inversion:

Second inversion – Bb minor.

The second inversion is when you play the chord in the following order:

5, 1, 3.

This is Bbm in second inversion:

Bb’s long lost sister: A# 

Did you know Bb is also called A#? It’s all about the context. This system comes from a rule that you cannot have the same letter appear twice in a scale or chord. 

In the case of A#, this causes a confusing lettering situation. The letters C, F, and G all have a ‘double sharp’ symbol (which looks like x). This is because all of these notes are already sharp on an A major scale. So when A becomes A#, they all raise up by another semitone. 

All of the above Bb tables are here below, with the new lettering of A#. Remember that they still sound exactly the same as each other. 

A# major scale:

G# major chord:

G# minor chord:

G# minor first inversion:

G# minor second inversion:

You can find a fast and effective rundown on our blog to Quickly Learn Piano Notes and Chords.

Popular songs with Bb/A# minor.

Do you want to figure out some popular songs that use the Ab/G# minor chord? Check out these:

• Burn – Ellie Goulding
• Midnight in Manhattan – Peter White
• Sleeping with Ghosts – Placebo
• I See Fire – Ed Sheeran

Here we go!

There is no time like the present for learning chords. They give you a major step-up in your musical journey and get you through every minor challenge! Start to play Bb/A# minor, and make sure you download the Simply Piano app–it’s an interactive, fun, and easy guide to learning chords. 

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Left-handed and learning guitar? This article shares everything there is to know about left-handed guitars.

According to statistics, about ten percent of the world is left-handed. That adds up to about 700 million lefties on the globe. If you are a leftie, you notice that the world revolves around right-handers whenever you pull out a pair of scissors. 

So how can you play guitar left-handed? 

As a leftie, you have a few options. You can play right-handed, restring a guitar, or buy a left-handed guitar. 

Let’s see everything you need to know to become a left-handed guitarist.

What is a left-handed guitar?

A left-handed guitar is a mirror image of the average guitar. Everything from the strings to the slant of the saddle is opposite. This allows a left-handed guitarist to strum with the dominant hand and finger chords with the right hand. Since the dominant hand is more graceful, strumming and picking with the left hand can make for smoother-sounding music. 

However, left-handed guitars are a niche market, while right-handed guitars come with more options. For this reason, many lefties choose to start on a right-handed guitar as beginners. 

Before you decide to play as a leftie or learn like a rightie, it’s best to study the differences. You can even try out both designs in a guitar store to see which style is more natural for you. 

Left-handed guitars vs. right-handed: What are the differences?

The guitar is a reasonably symmetrical-looking instrument. So, it would be easy to assume that a leftie can just turn a right-handed guitar upside down to make a guitar more comfortable to play. However, making a left-handed guitar out of a right-handed guitar is not that simple. 

Here are a few key differences between left-handed and right-handed guitars:

The strings

The main difference between left-handed versus right-handed guitars comes down to the strings. The bass strings should be at the top of your guitar, and the treble notes should be below them. 

However, if you flip a right-handed guitar over to the left side, the bass notes are now at the bottom. To make a right-handed guitar a left-handed one, you need to restring the instrument from top to bottom.

The pickguard

Many acoustic and electric guitars have pickguards. The pickguard rests under the sound hole. This guitar piece protects your instrument from getting scratched up by over-enthusiastic strumming. However, if you play a right-handed guitar upside down, the pickguard would rest above the hole. This position is not very useful and looks wrong visually.

The pickguard is correct when you buy a left-handed guitar–below the soundhole. 

The saddle

The saddle angle can also reveal if the guitar is for lefties or righties. Notice that the saddle slants slightly to give the guitar a proper intonation. A left-handed acoustic guitar’s saddle needs to slant in the opposite direction. This slant ensures that the low E is the longest string and the treble strings are shorter. 

The strap peg

The strap peg on a right-handed guitar is above the guitar neck. However, if you flip it to the left side, the strap peg is now under the fretboard. This would make it awkward to play guitar with a strap! However, when you buy a left-handed guitar, the strap peg rests above the fretboard. This allows you to attach a guitar strap without interfering with the strings. 

The body shape

Some acoustic guitars have a symmetrical shape, but not all guitars do. Many guitar bodies have a single or double cutaway. This ergonomic design makes it easy for your fingers to reach the strings on the upper frets. With a left-handed guitar, you can strum with your dominant hand. This puts you on an even playing field with right-handed guitarists. 

Famous left-handed guitarists.

Suppose you are a left-handed guitarist, no worries. You are not alone on your musical journey. Many famous musicians have walked the road you are on. (But did you know they were left-handed?)

Jimi Hendrix

While left-handed guitars are available in the musical world today, Jimi Hendrix missed out on this opportunity.

He still chose to play his instrument as a leftie, but he had to flip a right-handed guitar to do it. Notice the pickguard is above the soundhole in pics of Jimi with his guitar. (Okay, we admit the flipped pickguard doesn’t look silly when it’s in this guitar icon’s hands.) Jimi Hendrix went on to write one of the 5 Best Guitar Solos of All Time.

Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney is another leftie who chose to flip the guitar on its head and restring it.

George Harrison may be the official lead guitarist of the Beatles. However, Paul certainly had some shining riffs and solos of his own. Some even argue that Paul is the better guitarist of the two. Whether you are Team George or Team Paul, it is undeniable that Paul McCartney is a gifted left-handed musician.

David Bowie 

Although David Bowie was a leftie, he learned to play the guitar as a rightie.

Left-handed guitars were few and far between, so he decided to take the mainstream route. It doesn’t seem to have slowed down his career any! 

Some lefties find it easier to use the dominant hand to finger chords since it is the naturally stronger hand. Whether you use your dominant hand to fret or strum, practice is what makes perfect in the long run.

Kurt Cobain

Kurt Cobain was a frontman for Nirvana and the face of 90s grunge rock.

He wrote and played drums right-handed, but when it came to guitar, he played as a lefty. Was he right-handed, left-handed, or ambidextrous? With Kurt Cobain, no one knows for sure. Cobain unsuccessfully for the perfect left-handed guitar and flipped several right-handed models. When he got into the spotlight, Fender designed a left-handed guitar just for him. That’s just one of the perks of being famous—and left-handed.

How to hold left-handed guitars.

The proper guitar position is a critical part of guitar playing, whether right-handed or left-handed.

The right hand’s job on left-handed guitars

As a beginner, it’s best to start sitting down with the guitar. Remember to keep your back straight and your feet on the floor. You can also raise one foot slightly to balance the guitar. 

With a left-handed guitar, your right hand plays the frets. You don’t want to bend your wrist. Instead, keep the wrist straight and curve your fingers. Place your digit behind the fret bar to finger a chord. This finger position gives you the clearest sound. Play in the middle or on top of the fret can give you unwanted string buzz. Keep the thumb of your right hand upright and rest it on the back of the guitar neck for support. 

The left hand’s job on left-handed guitars

On a left-handed guitar, the left-hand strums or picks the strings. First, get a comfortable grip on the pick. You should hold it between the first knuckle of your pointer and thumb. Keep your wrist straight and strum using your entire forearm. Generally, you want to land your strokes between the soundhole and bridge. However, you can experiment with different strums for unique sounds. 

Check out How to Hold a Guitar Properly for more techniques on holding your guitar correctly. Just substitute the terms right and left with dominant and non-dominant to play a left-handed guitar.

The five best left-handed guitars on the market.

If you feel more comfortable strumming with your left hand and fretting with your right, a left-handed guitar may be for you. Here are some of our favorite options on the market for lefties:

1. Best for beginners: Lyx Pro Left Hand 39-Inch Electric Guitar Starter Kit

This small-scale Lyx Pro electric guitar is perfect for beginning guitarists ten years old and up. The starter pack includes all the necessary equipment for a budding rockstar to begin his musical journey. The 39-inch guitar has a beautiful Canadian Maple top and rosewood fretboard. Its classic SSS pickup and 20-watt amplifier produce a satisfying sound for practicing at home. A headphone jack allows students to practice with a favorite song or a backup track. Extra amenities include a clip-on digital tuner, replacement strings, and an instruction booklet. 

The Lyx Pro left-handed electric guitar is an affordable option for a beginning guitarist. This complete kit can make dreams become a reality.

2. Best budget acoustic model: Fender CC-60S Left Hand Concert Acoustic Guitar

This concert Fender guitar is comfortable to hold and easy to play. Beginning guitarists can learn the fretboard and strum patterns as they play this small-scale concert guitar. 

The classic dreadnought body with its spruce top is perfect for either strumming or fingerpicking. It gives off a rich sound without an amp. 

This left-hand concert-size acoustic is an inexpensive model compared to many other left-handed guitars. However, the quality of the build and sound is everything you expect from the Fender brand.

3. Best mid-range electric guitar: Ibanez GRX 6 String Solid-Body

The Ibanez brand builds a quality guitar that musicians love. However, they make models to fit into a variety of budgets. This mid-range Ibanez electric guitar looks snazzy on stage with its iridescent blue poplar guitar body. The New Zealand Pine fingerboard and white dot inlays give this guitar great aesthetic appeal. And the sound doesn’t disappoint. The infinity R humbucker pickups create a warm, high-output sound. You can also try out the 5-way selector switch and T106 tremolo to add a unique touch to your pieces. The great looks and sound quality of the Ibanez guitar make it a perfect choice for beginning or advanced leftie guitarists. 

4. Best for performing: Candy Apple Red Fender Newporter 

The Fender Newporter acoustic guitar has a sound you can take to the stage. The glossy solid spruce top with cream accents provides visual appeal. This lightweight instrument also packs in the sound with superior sound resonance and sustain. You can also plug in this instrument for added volume. However, the natural acoustic tones still shine through. You can play solo riffs with this instrument. Or, use it to back up a lead vocalist. Whether you go solo or join a band, this high-performing, unconventional instrument is ready to bring a sound that doesn’t disappoint. 

5. Best luxury model: Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar 

This mid-century style guitar is a carbon copy of the Fender 1965 Jaguar that Kurt Cobain played at the forefront of the band Nirvana. This luxury electric guitar has a solid alder body, metal accents, and pearlescent fret markers. Not only is it a gorgeous instrument, but it also includes a super distortion bridge pickup and a three-position toggle switch. Some extra perks are its hardshell case and an exclusive Fender book on Kurt Cobain. The Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar is a professional instrument built for legends. 

These are some of our top picks for left-handed electric and acoustic guitars. You can also check out some of our favorite right-handed kids’ guitars for comparison: Kids Guitar: How To Buy A Guitar For Children.

Left-handed guitars for the win.

For a leftie who wants to play the guitar, two roads diverge. You can choose to invest in a left-handed guitar or a right-handed design. 

Whether you play a guitar upside down like Jimi Hendrix, right-handed like David Bowie, or decide on a left-handed guitar like Kurt Cobain, regular practice is key. You can build strength and grow your skills with the Simply Guitar app in as little as five minutes daily. This app takes you from the basics and lays a solid framework for more advanced material. Choose to try it free for two weeks and see if it works for you!

FAQs.

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So, you’ve started learning how to play the piano? Looking for a way to bring a little excitement to your piano lessons? At JoyTunes, we figured that including some piano games for beginners into your routine is a nice way to spice things up!

Learning to play an instrument is a journey. One that comes with its fair share of challenges – especially at the beginning. A part of overcoming obstacles is taking a different approach to the problem! 

And what better way to shake things up than by playing a game? 

By mixing a little fun into your lessons, you can make your musical journey more alive and enjoyable. 

Not to mention all the dexterity your mind and fingers will gain! 

Besides, changing up the routine is nice every so often.  

So without further ado, let the games begin!

The best games for piano beginners.

Countless creative games can help you improve your piano skills in a fun way. So we cut that list down to the best three piano games for beginners. Each game offers a unique approach to practicing your piano skills.

1. Finger Twister

Sometimes stepping away from the piano can be helpful. Too much of anything can become overwhelming or redundant. 

As an athlete, if you only practice a single exercise, you may find that the path you’ve taken to improve yourself narrows or constricts, limiting your ability to learn and grow.

The first game we thought of for beginner piano students is Finger Twister! It’s like the kid’s game (or adult, if the only things twisted are the ice teas). There’s just one difference – this version is only for your fingers (ice tea optional). 

While this may seem like an odd approach, the idea has merit.

Rules & pieces.

For this game, you’ll need a spinner and a color-coded board. 

If you’re a DIY person, you can be creative and make your own. On the other hand, if you’re more goal-oriented or itching to get straight to it, the only thing standing between you and an existing template is a quick Google search. 

The standard board has five colors that line up with one color per column. The dots should form a square with 25 colored dots. 

As for the spinner should be at the center of the circle with an arrow pointing towards the perimeter of the circle and the various colors. 

You can make the game more complex by adding a ‘left hand’ and ‘right hand’ section of the spinner, increasing the number of dots on the board, or including numbers in the spinner and board.

It’s essential to consider the size of the board. Ideally, it will share a similar measurement to that of the keys of a piano.

All you need to do is spin the spinner and place your fingers in the right spot to play the game! 

Why you should play.

As someone just starting their musical journey, you might find that your fingers can’t quite make specific movements or positions, and reaching for some keys feels a little unnatural. 

Finger Twister is one of the best piano games for beginners because it can improve the agility and strength of your fingers. 

Like any athlete, you need to spend some time in the gym to maximize your potential. While it’s essential to play the sport (or piano) and practice specific drills (or musical sequences), a little training can go a long way. 

Including exercises that keep your body in the best possible condition will help you perform the specific movements for your given hobby.

Stepping away from your piano and taking the time to explore your movements and improve your mobility can drastically affect your ability to reach all the keys. 

2. Musical Alphabet Game

While having mobile, fast fingers helps you hit the notes more proficiently, you need to sharpen your mind too.  

Playing the piano is a significant part of your ability to read sheet music. The best piano players can simultaneously read music sheets and play at the same time. 

But you need to master the alphabet before writing words, or in this case, learn the notes before playing music.

Improving your piano skills with music theory games for beginners like Musical Alphabet can help familiarize you with your piano’s various notes and keys.

Rules & pieces.

For this game, you’ll need a couple of items:

• 2x dice
• A timer
• A piece of paper
• Several sheets of music

To play the game, you need to mark down the letters or notes of the piano – A, B, C, D, E, F, G – on a piece of paper. 

Next, you’ll want to assign each note to a number. 

Roll the dice and see which letter you get! The goal of this music game for beginners is to identify every time that particular note appears on the sheet music.

As you get better, you can increase the intensity of the game. 

For example, you can add a time constraint. Now, not only do you have to identify the note on the sheet, but you also have to do it within a specific time frame. You can also increase the number of pages you have to cover or add a letter to locate!

The faster you can read, the more you can focus on moving your fingers!

Why you should play.

When you’re just starting, reading music can be a little confusing if you’re unfamiliar with the symbols on the page. However, learning to read music sheets can make learning the piano and playing songs you love that much more accessible. 

Ideally, you will develop an intuitive touch with your instrument. Meaning your hands will feel where they are on the keyboard. This way, your eyes can focus on which note comes next. 

This game can drastically improve your ability to read sheet music. 

By sharpening your ability to spot and identify the notes on the sheet, you can focus on moving your fingers to the correct key. Gradually your ability to read and play music will become more fluid. 

3. Smarties

Smarties harnesses the timeless teaching method of rewarding good behavior. As we said earlier, learning the piano is a journey. And that path can be filled with heartache and frustration or a challenging and fulfilling experience.

It’s easy to get lost in our thoughts, and if you’re not careful, the same hobby you pursue can become a source of stress. So, it’s vital to ensure that your relationship with the piano remains positive. Besides, learning is smoother and more enjoyable when you feel the inspiration!

So knock those barriers down with some positive reinforcement!

Rules & materials.

This game is ideal because it only requires one thing. 

Smarties! 

Although, if you’re not into smarties, you can switch the reward to something more delicious for you. 

Place a set number of smarties on one side of the piano to play the game. To determine the correct number of treats to use, set a goal of how many successful repetitions you want to perform. Move one smarty to the other when you complete the sequence you’re working on. 

Each smarty or treat that makes it to the other side is yours to keep!

Why you should play.

No matter what you’re working on, practicing, or learning, there will always be hurdles to overcome. Sometimes the things we struggle with can feel like a wall blocking our path. 

That can be discouraging. 

However, moving past obstacles just takes patience and consistency. 

Implementing a reward system provides you with an additional incentive to push forward even when you feel stuck. This can alter your perception of the barrier that you’re facing. 

Instead of seeing a sequence as difficult or unpleasant, you can see it as a challenge – the perfect lesson to help you improve. 

Piano games for beginners – a tool for learning.

Playing the piano is a great way to develop a skill you’ll carry throughout your life. No matter what level you’re at, learning is part of the journey. 

So, it’s essential to enjoy the process. 

These games can help you improve creatively, sharpen and strengthen your mind, increase your digital agility, and ultimately make your piano journey more enjoyable and fulfilling.

For more unique and fun ways to learn the piano, check out the Simply Piano app!

FAQs.

The post 3 Ridiculously Fun Games for Piano Beginners appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

My name is Ms. Becki, and I am a private music teacher.  I mostly teach piano, but also teach drums, guitar, and many other instruments.  I learned them because I have ADD but totally did not know it while growing up.  My husband and I have two kids who also suffer from ADD.  Between the ages of four to twelve, I had no idea what ADD/ADHD (no, I’m not going to talk about the differences between them—I’m not a doctor. Focus!) looked like in my son. He is bright, artistic, good with his hands, and has no difficulty with authority. However, he cannot remember to put on two socks when we leave the house, and his grades are hit or miss—and mostly miss because he can never remember to put his name on his papers.  Fast forward to today: after he was diagnosed and began treatment, his overall concentration showed much improvement.

As an educator, you’d think that I would have recognized the symptoms earlier.  ADHD 1 and 2 look different on everyone. Since music lessons are great for ADHD kids, I want to share with you some of the recommended music apps (and one company in particular) I used with my own son. See: an ad. I’m sorry!

Keezy Drummer

I love Keezy Drummer because it teaches rhythm.  It’s a creative yet concrete way to teach your musician the structure and fractions of rhythm. It will also help with math and algebra, but don’t tell the kids that! I also a way

SoundBrenner Pulse

I’ve just ordered the SoundBrenner Pulse; it’s an app that physically taps you. If you have a serious musician in the house, this will really help them “feel” time.  My son is super excited to get it; I, sadly, don’t need it because I slept with a metronome under my pillow for years to learn tempos. This, however, would have been much better. Technology for the win! 

Piano Maestro 

Piano Maestro is an app that, quite simply, teaches piano skills and is a real game changer for teachers, but also this company’s really amazing to its parent- and student-users. You create a login and begin to play: no cables, no setup, no hassle.  Put your iPad on the piano or keyboard and, when you see the highlighted key on the iPad, press the corresponding key on your instrument to play the song.  

When it’s over you get your results. Three stars? Whoot, you mastered it!  For the ADHD crowd, it’s great to receive that feedback. The songs are short and the library is full of current top-forty pop hits; in other words, songs that every kid wants to learn. The app also has video game and movie themes.

You’ll have a hard time stopping your child from playing this app, but why would you want to anyway if they’re having such a good time and learning so much? 

Another great aspect of this company: if you need a teacher who’s trained in music technology, they will help you find one in your area.  Yup. They certify thousands of teachers who are ready and able to help make the musical journey a great experience for your child. It kind of makes you want to learn to play too, doesn’t it? If so, check out Simply Piano, also by JoyTunes. 

As you can tell, I get super excited about teaching—you might even say I get jump-up-and-down, can barely be contained excited when I find apps that really connect with my kids. 

The combination of music and an ADHD musician is the most wonderful way to bring new music into the world.  An ADHD musician’s creativity and energy is amazing to see and experience.  Give your kids the tools to be all they can be!    

The post Music Learning Apps That Help With ADD & ADHD appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

Do you know what an arpeggio is, and why do you need them to play the guitar? In this article, we cover all the essentials of guitar arpeggios.

We know that arpeggios are essential to guitar playing because guitarists waste no time telling us they are.

Many guitar players don’t even touch their songs without warming up with scales and arpeggios. But for beginners, guitar arpeggios can be more complicated than strumming along to actual songs. 

So, where do you start? Is there an easier way to play arpeggios than hunting down each note across the fretboard?

The key is to learn arpeggios methodically and increase your skills step-by-step.

Also, you can learn shortcuts to help you simplify the process.

Let’s look at some practical examples to learn how to play arpeggios on the guitar.

What are guitar arpeggios?

An arpeggio takes basic chords and breaks them apart so you can hear each note separately. It’s similar to a broken chord, except broken chords allow notes to overlap in sound. 

For arpeggios, you want to articulate one note without the sound bleeding into the next. This note progression requires finger dexterity on the guitar.

When you play an arpeggio, you strum the three or four notes inside the chord separately instead of strumming the notes together.

After you play each note, you should lift your fretting finger to mute the sound before moving on to the following one. Articulate notes as you play the arpeggios going up or down the fretboard.

Why are guitar arpeggios important?

Many guitarists recommend practicing arpeggios in addition to scales on the guitar. But why are arpeggios so important? 

Improve finger skills on the guitar

Arpeggios break up chord blocks into individual notes.

Your fingers must intentionally fret a note without string buzz. Then your finger should stop the note before moving on. 

When you play each fret separately, intentionally position your finger against the fret to get a clear sound with no fret buzz.  Then, each finger knows its part when you put the notes back together in a block chord. Arpeggios can help you become familiar with chord shapes and note articulation.

Add depth to guitar songs

Arpeggios also allow you to highlight the harmony in a piece and improvise.

Take a blocked chord and replace it with an arpeggio to play over the melody line. You can add rhythm and movement to a song or guitar solo. 

While arpeggios can be a great way to improve finger dexterity, they can also add depth to a piece. Especially in jazz or blues guitar rhythms, arpeggios are invaluable.

Playing through arpeggios is especially useful for guitar beginners trying to land chords and add interest to songs. 

The differences between guitar arpeggios & scales.

You often hear how important it is to practice scales and arpeggios, but are those the same thing? While scales and arpeggios are similar in some aspects, they have different purposes. 

A regular scale hits every note available in a key signature. In Western music, the scale uses whole and half steps. However, arpeggios can include different intervals. 

Use a scale that matches your key signature as you improvise guitar riffs. Or, you can play an arpeggio in the harmony line instead of strumming a blocked chord. 

Practicing scales and arpeggios can help you become familiar with the notes and chord shapes in different key signatures. To learn more about guitar scales, check out: How to Play the Major Scale on Guitar for Beginners. 

Learning scales and arpeggios can help you learn your way around the fretboard until you know it like the back of your hand.

Triads and arpeggios.

Chords have at least two notes but can have five or more. You can choose to arpeggiate any chord on the guitar. However, the most common arpeggios in guitar music are major and minor triads. 

A triad contains only three notes. And you can build one on the guitar by using intervals of thirds. 

To form an arpeggiated major triad, start with the root note of the key. Then add the third and fifth tones. Make a minor triad by simply lowering the third tone a half step. 

In addition to major and minor arpeggios, you can also have augmented, diminished, and suspended triads. 

Read up on other common chords in Guitar Chords for Beginners: Ultimate Guide.

Examples of guitar arpeggios on the fretboard.

Once you know what arpeggios are, you need to know how to apply your knowledge to the fretboard. So, what are some practical ways to play arpeggios on the fretboard?

Pick a key signature

To play arpeggios on the guitar, first, pick a key. You can start with the G key since this is one of the simplest keys in standard tuning. Then, run through the G scale from low G to high G and back down.

Play a chord in the key’s root position

Find a chord on the guitar in the same key signature as your scale. Since triads are common chords, you can use the root, third, and perfect fifth. In the key of G, you can play a triad using the notes G, B, and D. Now, arpeggiate the chord using those same three notes.

Try a two-octave arpeggio

Once you play the basic G arpeggio scale, add in another octave. Take the two-octave arpeggio up and then back down several times. Two-octave arpeggios force your fingers to find the same G, B, and D notes in different places on the fretboard. 

Play the arpeggio diagonally

Playing the two-octave arpeggio keeps the pattern in a vertical position. However, you can expand the arpeggio by playing it diagonally. You can use a metronome to play up and down the fretboard. Start slowly. Then, as you become more confident in your finger positions, you can speed up the pace.

Try different strum patterns

When you master your arpeggios, you can play them using different techniques and strum patterns. 

Try out techniques such as:

• Alternate picking– Pick strings using an up-and-down motion.
• Hammer-ons–Play one note and “hammer” a second note on the vibrating string using your finger.
• Finger rolling–Roll your finger from one string to the next to play successive notes.

You can kill two birds with one stone when you try new fingering techniques as you play arpeggio patterns.

Guitar arpeggios shapes.

Focusing on playing each note in an arpeggio can be overwhelming. That’s a lot of different finger positions to learn! To simplify the process, zoom out to look at the big picture. Paying attention to the shape of the chord blocks can help you fret the right notes. 

The CAGED system makes it easy for many beginning guitarists to find the correct chord positions on the fretboard. CAGED focuses on five basic chord shapes. These include C, A, G, D, and E. This memorization tool is a shortcut to help you play arpeggios like a pro without diving into complicated guitar theory. 

Most arpeggios use each of the five CAGED shapes. However, the diminished 7th arpeggio has only one shape. 

Minor arpeggio shapes

Major arpeggios tend to sound upbeat and happy and are slightly more common than their minor counterparts. However, you also run into many minor guitar songs, so it is necessary to know both major and minor arpeggio scales.

Minor arpeggios usually sound poignant, dark, suspenseful, or mysterious. 

Once you know the major open-string arpeggio shapes, it is easy to play the minor arpeggio shapes with a few adjustments. The basic chord shapes are the same. Keep the root note and the perfect fifth. Then, lower the 3rd interval for each major arpeggio a half step to make it minor. 

To practice, each of these arpeggio shapes starts on the root note of a chord. Then play the arpeggio notes up and down the frets until you land on the root note again. 

Guitar arpeggios all day.

Once you learn basic guitar scales and chords, you are ready to tackle arpeggios on the guitar. At first, arpeggios can seem complicated to play. However, they become easier when you stop focusing on each note and start memorizing them in CAGED shapes. When you master scales and arpeggios, you can start playing the guitar like a pro.

Learn more about the basic skills you need to play the guitar using the Simply Guitar app. With this structured program, you can learn guitar theory fun and easy.

FAQs.

The post A Beginners Guide To Guitar Arpeggios  appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.