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As part of our new Events scheme for 2012 we are looking to start up live music on a Sunday Evening.

We are looking for musicians who are looking to showcase their skills with a various time slot. We will cover travelling costs. We cater to an older clientele and sometimes alot of business men who attend concerts all over Europe so whereas this would not be paid, it would also be great experience and exposure for those who apply.

All interested please email martin@newtownbar.co.uk for more details.

Thanks

Choosing the Right Music Accessories Part 3 – Guitar Picks

Once you have settled on the most appropriate brand and gauge of guitar strings it is time to focus on another key component that will determine your playing style – the guitar pick. Probably one of the most over looked accessories when people first learn to play guitar, the guitar pick has a huge impact on your playing technique and your sound.

There is more to this small little triangle then perhaps first meets the eye, and as any guitarist will have seen when shopping around on the internet or going in to music stores, there are millions of different guitar picks to choose from, all varying in size, colour, and material.

So here are some things you should take in to consideration when purchasing your first guitar pick.

• Material – As mentioned above there are a variety of guitar picks available made from a range of materials including Nylon, Plasttic, Tortex, metal, and even stone. Different materials create different sounds. For example metal guitar picks tend to give a heavier, harder sound, where as nylon picks might be more suited for lighter or more pronounced sounds.

• Thickness – This also has an impact on the overall tone of your guitar playing. Thinner picks with a sharper point tend to create bright sounds with a fair amount of pick ‘flapping’. A thicker plectrum (e.g 1.5mm) will create a broader, warmer tone with less pick noise when hitting a string.

• Size- As well as thickness, the general size of the guitar pick is something to consider. Although it might not have as big an effect on your overall sound as the material and thickness does, it will affect your guitar playing. Some people will have larger hands and fingers and therefore might prefer larger sized picks, which might prove to large to handle for other players with smaller hands, it’s all about what you feel most comfortable with using.

As I have said in many of my posts before, it’s all about experimenting and finding the pick that is most comfortable for you, and that helps to create the sound you want as well. If we have any experienced guitarists reading this it would be great to know what picks you use. And why you use them particular ones.


Author: Graham Burton

A guitarist with over 10 years of experience, Graham Burton is an avid user of Bandshop, suppliers of guitar picks, guitar strings, effect pedals and much more in the world of music accessories.

Choosing the Right Guitar Strap

For the second part in my series on ‘Choosing The Right Music Accessories’ I will be advising on how to chose the right guitar strap.

There are a wide range of guitar straps currently available on the market, and just like any other accessory, it can be a bit of a headache trying to work out what one you should buy.

So I hope this guide will make things a bit easier, particularly for beginners who haven't owned their guitar for very long and are looking to buy a strap for the first time.

1. Electric Guitar Straps – There are thousands of different varieties of electric guitar straps, in many wonderful designs. I would recommend you look for leather guitar straps, as this is the best material, giving both strenbth and durability. You might also want to consider buying one with extra padding; if you are playing for long periods of time you dont want the strap to cut into your shoulder.

Attaching a strap to an electric guitar is very easy, There are generally buttons at either end of the body which are designed to attach your guitar strap to, making it very easy to connect.

2. Acoustic Guitar Straps- Generally acoustic guitars come fitted with one button at the bottom of the body, and the guitarist then has to attach the top end to the headstock, This can be accomplished by tying one end of a bit of string around the strap and then tying the other end around the headstock, underneath a nut and behind the strings.

3. Bass Guitar Straps – In General, bass guitars are heavier than acoustic and electric guitars, so I would advise you look at buying a wider strap - the wider it is, the less it should dig in to your shoulder whilst playing.

4. Guitar Strap Locks – I would recommend purchasing some guitar strap locks. They fit on to each end of the guitar strap and lock in to place on the strap buttons, meaning that the strap won't just slide out of the button in the middle of playing, thus preventing the embarassment of having to stop playing in the middle of a jam or gig as well as potential damage to your guitar.

Once you have considered all of these things and you have found a guitar strap that is right for you, it’s now time to start practicing and find a way to wear the strap that is most comfortable, whilst making you look cool at the same time of course!

Author : Graham Burton

Graham Burton is an experienced guitar player and endorser of bandshop, suppliers of a wide range of electric guitar straps, effects pedals, guitar strings , tuners and many more music accesorries.

Belfast guitarist and songwriter (22 years old) looking for bass player and drummer to jam, write music and eventually gig with. Influences include early weezer, smashing pumpkins, david bowie, beatles, beach boys, qotsa, talking heads, nirvana, and many more, although to be honest influences arent that important as Im not interested in rippin any bands off. I dont give a shit if your a metalhead, or into jazz, or pop punk punk or whatever (I mean y'know, not that theres anything wrong with that), if you like my demos (which are early works in progress btw), feel free to give me a reply.

Demos at www.soundcloud.com/homeless-pervert