Are You Tired of Owning Boring Acoustic Guitars?
If you’re like most people, you probably started playing guitar because it looks cool and sounds amazing. But after a while, you may have found that your acoustic guitar feels a bit boring.
Maybe you’re playing the same old songs over and over, or maybe you’re just not getting the same rush from playing as you used to. Well, fear not! There are plenty of ways to spice up your guitar playing and make it more exciting than ever before.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the different techniques you can use to make playing your guitar more fun and interesting. From trying out new styles of playing to learning how to use pedals and effects, there’s something for everyone here.
Table of Contents:
1. Experiment with Different Playing Styles
2. Learn How to Use Pedals and Effects
3. Upgrade Your Acoustic Guitar
4. Join a Band or Play with Others
5. Incorporate New Techniques In Your Playing
6. Try New Genres and Songs
7. Conclusion
Experiment with Different Playing Styles
One of the best ways to breathe new life into your acoustic guitar playing is by experimenting with different playing styles. If you’ve been playing the same old strumming patterns or fingerpicking techniques for years, it’s time to try something new.
The first step is to find inspiration from other guitar players. Whether you watch YouTube tutorials or attend live concerts, there are plenty of talented musicians out there who can teach you new styles and techniques.
Some of the most popular playing styles include:
• Fingerstyle – using all of your fingers on your picking hand to pluck the strings individually instead of strumming, allowing for more complex rhythmic patterns.
• Slap Technique – using the side of your thumb or your fingers to slap the strings in a percussive way to create a deeper, more rhythmically driven sound.
• Hybrid Picking – a technique where you use both a pick and fingers on a picking hand to produce a different sound.
• Percussive – use the body of the guitar, tapping, slapping or banging in rhythmic patterns to create percussion as well as melodic sounds.
Learning new playing styles takes practice, but it’s worth it – it can add a whole new dimension to your playing and make it much more exciting.
Learn How to Use Pedals and Effects
If you’re looking to add some extra spice to your acoustic guitar sound, pedals and effects can be a great way to do it. While traditionally reserved for electric guitar players, more and more acoustic guitarists are experimenting with pedals and effects to create a richer and more complex sound.
Some popular pedals and effects to try out include:
• Delay – creates an echo-like effect, which can add depth and dimension to your playing.
• Reverb – simulates the sound of playing in a large, open space, giving your guitar a more spacious sound.
• Chorus – Creates a warm and smooth tonal effect which works well for ballads or softer genres.
• Compression- adds a sustained sound by level out the loud and soft notes
Using pedals and effects does require a bit of investment in different gears, learning how to use them properly however, it is a great way to add yet another dimension to your acoustic guitar playing.
Upgrade Your Acoustic Guitar
If you’ve been playing the same guitar for a long time, upgrading to a new one can be an incredible experience. There are endless options out there for acoustic guitars with different features, strings, shapes, tonewoods, and price points.
Upgrading to a better, higher quality guitar can drastically improve your sound quality and sustain. Moreover, a guitar that looks great or feels better or inspires you will motivate and reignite that passion in playing and practicing again.
Join a Band or Play with Others
Solo guitar playing can be a great form of self-expression, but playing with others can be even more fun and energizing. Joining a band or playing with other musicians can help you develop your skills, learn new techniques, and make new friends at the same time.
Playing with other musicians can also expose you to new playing styles, scales, and theory. Playing with others allows learning, adapting and growing, which would not be possible in solo and static playing.
Incorporate New Techniques In Your Playing
Learning new techniques and methods can make playing more fun and interesting. Fancy chords, harmonies and melodies provide a whole new array of colors to your guitar playing.
Here are some popular techniques to get you started:
• Harmonics – the production of a high-pitched sound by touching the string lightly at a specific point
• Arpeggios – picking notes of a chord one by one instead of strumming
• Barré Chords – playing chords with a finger pressed down over multiple strings
• Slide Guitar – sliding a metal or glass tube over the strings to produce a mournful tone
Trying out new techniques and then incorporating them into your daily playing can add excitement and variety to your guitar playing.
Try New Genres and Songs
Playing the same genre of music over and over again can be a bit monotonous. Trying new genres of music and learning new songs could breathe new life into your guitar playing. Diversifying your musical preference is one of the keys to becoming a better musician.
If you’re used to playing mostly rock and pop music, try branching out into jazz, blues, or country. Similarly, try out classical music, Latin music, flamenco, or world music. As an added benefit, the different genres will expose you to different rhythm, chord progressions, modes, melodies, and theory.
Learning a new song always has a sense of fulfilment and leaves a life lasting positive impact on your arsenal of songs. It never a bad idea to enrich your song collection with some classics, something conventional and evergreen.
Conclusion
To sum up, there are plenty of ways to make playing your guitar more exciting and less monotonous. From trying out new playing styles to incorporating pedals, upgrading your guitar and playing with peers, these are some great ways to make guitar playing much more fun and challenging.
And with the online education, resources, community, and platforms, learning a new style, technique, song, or genre has never been more accessible or cost-effective than today.
FAQ
Q: Should I buy an Electric guitar or Acoustic guitar when I’m bored?
A: That depends on your personal preference and stylistic preference. Though Electric guitar is versatile than acoustic, it requires an amplifier, pedalboard, and can be very noisy. So, before making an investment, do your research, and weigh your options.
Q: Is it okay to experiment with different genres of music?
A: Yes, it is. Experimenting with different music genre greatly helps to enrich your music journey. Moreover, it gives you exposure to different techniques, chords, scales, tempos, and even culture.
Q: How long does it take to learn and master a new technique?
A: The learning and mastering of a new technique greatly depend on the aptitude, learning speed, practice time invested, frequency of practice, and complexity of the learned technique.
Q: How often should I deviate from my current playing style?
A: Depending on your level of proficiency, daily deviation from your current playing style helps to keep it fresh, active, and exciting.
Q: Will I degrade the quality of my instrument by experimenting with pedals and effects?
A: No, pedals and effects are designed to complement and enhance the sound of an instrument. As long as you invest in high-quality pedals and use them properly, experimenting with pedals and effects will not degrade the quality of your instrument.
In conclusion, introducing variations and trying out new avenues in guitar playing can yield surprising and satisfying results. So, go out there, experiment, learn something new, and enjoy the journey.
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