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He owns and operates one of the most popular guitar theory sites on the web, guitar-music-theory.com.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9209,"name":"Desi Serna","slug":"desi-serna","description":"Desi Serna is a guitarist, a guitar teacher, and as called out by Rolling Stone, an expert in music theory. He's the author of several instructional books on guitar. Learn more at guitarmusictheory.com.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9209"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;guitar&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781118646779&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-626984e40be73\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;guitar&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781118646779&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-626984e40c7ae\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":162886,"title":"Getting to Know the Notes on a Guitar Fretboard","slug":"getting-to-know-the-notes-on-a-guitar-fretboard","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/162886"}},{"articleId":162865,"title":"Sample Major Scale Patterns in Guitar Theory","slug":"sample-major-scale-patterns-in-guitar-theory","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/162865"}},{"articleId":162885,"title":"Guitar Theory: Roman Numerals and the Major Scale Chord Sequence","slug":"guitar-theory-roman-numerals-and-the-major-scale-chord-sequence","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/162885"}},{"articleId":162887,"title":"Guitar Theory: Modes of the Major Scale","slug":"guitar-theory-modes-of-the-major-scale","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/162887"}}],"content":[{"title":"Getting to know the notes on a guitar fretboard","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Guitar players must know the notes on the fretboard to keep track of the specific scale patterns and chords they play all over the neck. But rather than memorize every single note in every fret on every string, guitarists do better to just know the natural notes along the 6th and 5th strings. After all, most scale patterns and chord shapes are rooted on these strings. Octave shapes can be used to track other notes in other positions.</p>\n<p>The following fretboard diagram shows you the notes along the 6th and 5th strings.</p>\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 535px;\"><div class=\"figure-container\"><figure class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 545px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/389496.image0.jpg\" alt=\"[Credit: Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna]\" width=\"535\" height=\"129\" /><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna</figcaption></figure></div><div class=\"clearfix\"></div></div>\n"},{"title":"Sample major scale patterns in guitar theory","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>As you explore guitar theory, you&#8217;ll learn that the major scale is a series of notes played in an ascending and descending fashion. Guitarists use the major scale to play melodies, riffs, solos, and bass lines. Additionally, it&#8217;s used to play intervals, build chords, and chart progressions.</p>\n<p>The following sample patterns show you how to play the G major scale in four positions on the fretboard:</p>\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 535px;\"><div class=\"figure-container\"><figure class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 545px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/389498.image0.jpg\" alt=\"[Credit: Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna]\" width=\"535\" height=\"193\" /><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna</figcaption></figure></div><div class=\"clearfix\"></div></div>\n"},{"title":"Roman numerals and the major scale chord sequence","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Guitar theory reveals that the major scale is stacked in thirds to make triads and chords. Each scale degree of the major scale produces a triad and major or minor chord. Starting with the first degree of the major scale, the chord qualities go as follows:</p>\n<blockquote><p>major-minor-minor-major-major-minor-minorb5 (also called a diminished triad)</p></blockquote>\n<p class=\"Remember\">This seven-chord sequence is one of the most important patterns in music. When it comes to playing chord progressions, musicians refer to this pattern by using uppercase Roman numerals to represent major chords and lowercase Roman numerals to represent minor chords.</p>\n<p>The following chart will help you keep track of the system:</p>\n<blockquote><p><b>Upper</b><b>case Roman numerals</b><b>:</b> I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII</p></blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><b>Lower</b><b>case Roman numerals</b><b>:</b> i-ii-iii-iv-v-vi-vii</p></blockquote>\n<p>Here&#8217;s what this naming system looks like in action when you apply it to the major scale chord sequence and the key of G, specifically:</p>\n<blockquote><p><b>Major Scale</b></p></blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>I-ii-iii-IV-V-vi-viib5</p></blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><b>G Major Scale</b></p></blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>G-Am-Bm-C-D-Em-F#mb5</p></blockquote>\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 535px;\"><div class=\"figure-container\"><figure class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 545px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/389500.image0.jpg\" alt=\"[Credit: Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna]\" width=\"535\" height=\"469\" /><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Illustration courtesy of Desi Serna</figcaption></figure></div><div class=\"clearfix\"></div></div>\n"},{"title":"Modes of the major scale","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>As you study guitar theory, you&#8217;ll hear terms like mode, tonic, and scale. The most common scale in music is the major scale. It includes seven degrees, or pitches, and involves seven steps or intervals. When you play the major scale beginning on its 1st degree, you create the familiar &#8220;Do, Re, Mi . . .&#8221; sound. But the starting position of the major scale isn&#8217;t always the 1st degree.</p>\n<h2>What is a mode?</h2>\n<p>Music often centers on other degrees in the major scale besides the 1st one. For example, start a major scale on the 6th degree and you create what is known as the minor scale (also known as the <em>relative minor</em> or <em>natural minor</em>). The 1st and 6th degrees of the major scale produce the major and minor scale. In music, you say that the scale has these two different <em>modes</em><em>.</em></p>\n<p>The major scale has more modes than just the 1st and 6th degrees. The truth is, any scale degree can be used as the starting point. However, the major and minor modes are the most commonly used scales in music. In fact, they&#8217;re so common that they&#8217;re not usually thought of as modes. Instead, they&#8217;re thought of as plain or natural scales. It&#8217;s only when music centers on one of the other degrees in the major scale that the music is considered modal.</p>\n<h2>Of modes and tonics in the major scale</h2>\n<p>There are seven degrees in the major scale, and each one can function as the tonal center, or first tone <em>(tonic)</em> of the scale. Long ago, the Greeks named each one of these modes. The names are as follows:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>I. Ionian:</strong> More commonly known as the plain major scale.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>ii. Dorian:</strong> A type of minor scale with a major 6th. Fairly common. &#8220;Oye Como Va&#8221; by Santana is an example of a song that centers on the 2nd degree of the G major scale using the chord progression Am7-D9. You say that it&#8217;s in A Dorian mode.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>iii. Phrygian:</strong> A type of minor scale with a flattened 2nd. It has a Spanish flavor to it, but it&#8217;s not used much. One example is &#8220;The Sails Of Charon&#8221; by Scorpions, which centers on the 3rd degree of the G major scale, producing B Phrygian mode.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>IV. Lydian:</strong> A type of major scale with a sharpened 4th. Occasionally used temporarily in a song before the music settles on a more stable tonic, such as I. Listen to &#8220;Man on the Moon&#8221; by R.E.M for an example of C Lydian, the 4th mode in the G major scale.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>V. Mixolydian:</strong> A type of major scale with a flattened 7th. Very common, almost as much so as the plain major scale. You should recognize this mode anytime you start on a major chord and then move down a whole step to another major chord. A change like that is almost always V-IV. &#8220;Seven Bridges Road&#8221; by the Eagles centers on the 5th degree of the G major scale, producing D Mixolydian mode.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>vi. Aeolian:</strong> More commonly known as the natural or relative minor scale.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><strong>vii. Locrian:</strong> Not used. The 7th triad has a flattened (or diminished) 5th making the chord too unstable to function as a usable tonic.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-01-18T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":207857},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:55:01+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-13T18:56:25+00:00","timestamp":"2022-04-14T00:01:04+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Music","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33730"},"slug":"music","categoryId":33730},{"name":"Instruments","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731"},"slug":"instruments","categoryId":33731},{"name":"Trumpet","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33739"},"slug":"trumpet","categoryId":33739}],"title":"Trumpet For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"trumpet for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"trumpet-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"This Cheat Sheet helps new trumpet players get quickly up to speed on choosing an instrument, caring for it, and basic fingerings.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"When you first start thinking about taking up the trumpet, finding an instrument that’s right for you is at the top of your to-do list. You need a mouthpiece as well — one that’s a good size and design for your needs.\r\n\r\nOf course, when you have a trumpet and mouthpiece, you need to know how to take care of them so that they last a long time and stay in good working order. Finally, you need a map for your journey, so a fingering chart is essential information, telling you which of those three valves you need to push down for the notes you want to play.","description":"When you first start thinking about taking up the trumpet, finding an instrument that’s right for you is at the top of your to-do list. You need a mouthpiece as well — one that’s a good size and design for your needs.\r\n\r\nOf course, when you have a trumpet and mouthpiece, you need to know how to take care of them so that they last a long time and stay in good working order. Finally, you need a map for your journey, so a fingering chart is essential information, telling you which of those three valves you need to push down for the notes you want to play.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10259,"name":"Jeffrey Reynolds","slug":"jeffrey-reynolds","description":"Jeffrey Reynolds is an accomplished trumpet teacher, conductor, and performer. He is the coordinator of the Performance Division at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, where he also conducts the Wind Symphony. Reynolds has worked with the Victoria Symphony and the Stratford Festival, and toured throughout Canada and the US as principal trumpet with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Reynolds has taught at all levels and has written articles about trumpet playing, conducting, and teaching music in Canadian Winds and The Recorder, among other journals. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10259"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33739,"title":"Trumpet","slug":"trumpet","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33739"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":190232,"title":"Taking Care of Your Trumpet","slug":"taking-care-of-your-trumpet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","trumpet"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/190232"}},{"articleId":190233,"title":"The Road Map for Trumpet Playing: Your Fingering Chart","slug":"the-road-map-for-trumpet-playing-your-fingering-chart","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","trumpet"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/190233"}},{"articleId":190234,"title":"Getting a Trumpet and Mouthpiece","slug":"getting-a-trumpet-and-mouthpiece","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","trumpet"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/190234"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":190232,"title":"Taking Care of Your Trumpet","slug":"taking-care-of-your-trumpet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","trumpet"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/190232"}},{"articleId":190233,"title":"The Road Map for Trumpet Playing: Your Fingering Chart","slug":"the-road-map-for-trumpet-playing-your-fingering-chart","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","trumpet"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/190233"}},{"articleId":190234,"title":"Getting a Trumpet and Mouthpiece","slug":"getting-a-trumpet-and-mouthpiece","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","trumpet"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/190234"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282642,"slug":"trumpet-for-dummies","isbn":"9780470679371","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","trumpet"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470679379/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0470679379/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/0470679379-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0470679379/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/0470679379/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/trumpet-for-dummies-cover-9780470679371-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Trumpet For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"10259\">Jeffrey Reynolds, PhD,</b> is a lecturer in music at the University of Toronto. A trumpet player with almost 50 years' experience, he has performed all manner of engagements, from funerals to weddings, from jazz gigs and dances to orchestra concerts. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":10259,"name":"Jeffrey Reynolds","slug":"jeffrey-reynolds","description":"Jeffrey Reynolds is an accomplished trumpet teacher, conductor, and performer. He is the coordinator of the Performance Division at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, where he also conducts the Wind Symphony. Reynolds has worked with the Victoria Symphony and the Stratford Festival, and toured throughout Canada and the US as principal trumpet with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Reynolds has taught at all levels and has written articles about trumpet playing, conducting, and teaching music in Canadian Winds and The Recorder, among other journals. ","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10259"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;trumpet&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780470679371&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6257644076a5d\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;trumpet&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780470679371&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6257644076f6e\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":190234,"title":"Getting a Trumpet and Mouthpiece","slug":"getting-a-trumpet-and-mouthpiece","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","trumpet"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/190234"}},{"articleId":190232,"title":"Taking Care of Your Trumpet","slug":"taking-care-of-your-trumpet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","trumpet"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/190232"}},{"articleId":190233,"title":"The Road Map for Trumpet Playing: Your Fingering Chart","slug":"the-road-map-for-trumpet-playing-your-fingering-chart","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","trumpet"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/190233"}}],"content":[{"title":"Getting a trumpet and mouthpiece","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>First, the basics: Many kinds of trumpets, and cousins of trumpets, are on the market, but you’re looking for a B♭ (B-flat) trumpet. In North America, you want piston valves (many European players use rotary valves).</p>\n<p>If you’re shopping for a first trumpet for a young child, you may want to consider a cornet; the tubing of a cornet is wrapped more tightly so that the weight is distributed differently and the balance is more comfortable for small hands.</p>\n<p>Even though you know what kind of trumpet you want, your choices aren’t over. When you walk into a music store to buy a trumpet and mouthpiece, you have to make several decisions:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>New or used?</b> The decision whether to buy new or used is often a matter of budget. A new trumpet is a safer bet, if you can afford one. But don’t discount used trumpets or feel discouraged if you can’t afford to buy new. A used trumpet can be a real bargain — the trick is to find one that’s in good condition. You improve your odds by buying from a music store or from someone you know and trust.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you’ve found a used trumpet you’re considering, bring a trusted teacher or advisor with you to examine and play the instrument, if you can. If that’s not possible, at least make sure that the valves go up and down smoothly and that there are no obvious dents or actual holes in the metal.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Student model or professional model? </b>Start with a student model and upgrade to a professional one down the road, after you’ve decided to continue playing the trumpet. In the student lines, Yamaha YTR 2335, Bach TR 300, and Getzen 390/490 are all excellent makes. If you’re buying used, an older trumpet called the Olds Ambassador is another great option.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">If you’re shopping for a professional model, both Yamaha and Vincent Bach Stradivarius are good choices. You’ll see so-called “intermediate” trumpets on the market; they cost more than student models but aren’t as good as professional ones; you’re better off going either with the student or the professional, and skipping the intermediate model altogether.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>What finish? </b>Most student trumpets have lacquer finishes, which is no coincidence: Lacquer is the least expensive finish. Silver plate is popular with advanced players and professionals, but it adds up to $200 to the price. Gold plating is even <i>more</i> expensive and uncommon, even among professionals.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>What type of mouthpiece? </b>If you buy a new trumpet, the mouthpiece will come with the trumpet. If you buy used, you’ll need to buy a mouthpiece separately. Make sure you get a medium-size mouthpiece, meaning that the diameter of the inner rim and the depth of the cup are in the middle of the range of choices. A Bach 7C is the standard make and size for a beginning trumpet student. The equivalent in Yamaha is an 11C4-7C.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Taking care of your trumpet","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Trumpets are pretty easy to look after, and mouthpieces even more so. All you need are oil, slide grease, and a lint-free cloth to care for your musical equipment.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Oiling the valves: </b>A new trumpet has a breaking-in period of about a month during which you should oil the valves and give the valves an oil change more frequently. During the first month, you should oil the valves every day. To do this, apply just two drops of good-quality valve oil (Hetman Synthetic Classic Piston Lubricant, Al Cass Fast Valve Oil, or Holton Valve Oil) on the silver section of the valve.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">In addition, once a week, do a full oil change: Carefully remove the valves and wipe them clean with a lint-free cloth; apply no more than three drops of valve oil on the silver section of the valve, and insert the valve into the casing, tightening the retaining cap without too much force. Work on one valve at a time.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">After the first month or so, oil your valves two or three times a week; if you’re playing several hours a day, you might want to oil them daily. Every couple of months, give your valves an oil change.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Greasing the slides: </b>Lubricate the main tuning slide with slide grease. (Hetman and Yamaha are two excellent manufacturers.) Don’t apply too much lubricant, and only do this maintenance once a month. The goal is for the slide to move smoothly, but not too freely. The third-valve slide <i>does</i> need to move easily, so a different, lighter lubricant (called key and rotor oil) is needed.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Cleaning the mouthpiece: </b>Mouthpieces are simple. Swab the inner diameter with a mouthpiece brush whenever you think of it.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Your trumpet fingering chart","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Here are the fingerings for the notes you’ll be playing on your trumpet for at least the first few months. The first valve is the one closest to you, the second valve is the middle one, and the third valve is — you guessed it — the one farthest from you. The notation “0” means no valves at all.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/228825.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"214\" /></p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-13T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":208794},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:53:27+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-05T17:47:44+00:00","timestamp":"2022-04-05T18:01:06+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Music","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33730"},"slug":"music","categoryId":33730},{"name":"Instruments","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731"},"slug":"instruments","categoryId":33731},{"name":"Saxophone","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34388"},"slug":"saxophone","categoryId":34388}],"title":"Saxophone For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"saxophone for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"saxophone-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"This handy Cheat Sheet explains the parts of a saxophone and has tips on buying vs. leasing, practicing, and approaching new songs.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The saxophone has influenced many styles of music. Saxophonists have left their indelible mark on music, whether it’s in the big bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, Bill Haley’s legendary rock ’n’ roll band, or the funk master James Brown. And in the bossa nova song “The Girl from Ipanema,” the breathy sax is the icing on the cake.\r\n\r\nThis Cheat Sheet provides some basic information to help you start playing the saxophone: buying or leasing a sax, sax parts and their functions, practicing with your sax, and playing a new sax song.","description":"The saxophone has influenced many styles of music. Saxophonists have left their indelible mark on music, whether it’s in the big bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, Bill Haley’s legendary rock ’n’ roll band, or the funk master James Brown. And in the bossa nova song “The Girl from Ipanema,” the breathy sax is the icing on the cake.\r\n\r\nThis Cheat Sheet provides some basic information to help you start playing the saxophone: buying or leasing a sax, sax parts and their functions, practicing with your sax, and playing a new sax song.","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34388,"title":"Saxophone","slug":"saxophone","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34388"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":0,"slug":null,"isbn":null,"categoryList":null,"amazon":null,"image":null,"title":null,"testBankPinActivationLink":null,"bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":null,"authors":null,"_links":null},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;saxophone&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-624c83e2a10e6\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;saxophone&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[null]}]\" id=\"du-slot-624c83e2a165e\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":187054,"title":"Leasing or Buying a Saxophone","slug":"leasing-or-buying-a-saxophone","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187054"}},{"articleId":187052,"title":"Saxophone Parts and Their Functions","slug":"saxophone-parts-and-their-functions","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187052"}},{"articleId":187056,"title":"Saxophone Practice","slug":"saxophone-practice","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187056"}},{"articleId":187053,"title":"Playing a New Saxophone Song","slug":"playing-a-new-saxophone-song","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/187053"}}],"content":[{"title":"Leasing or buying a saxophone","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Whether you choose the soprano, alto, tenor, or baritone saxophone, another decision remains: Should you buy a saxophone or lease one? (Don’t worry, you’re not alone on this — your wallet has something to say here.) Each option has its pros and cons. The following sections help you choose the option that’s right for you.</p>\n<h2>Leasing a saxophone</h2>\n<p>Are you still dabbling in dreams of being a saxophonist? If you’re unsure about whether the saxophone suits you, and you’re not ready to spend a lot of money, leasing is a good idea. Many music stores and dealers offer this option. You can get a decent instrument and pay for it month to month.</p>\n<p>If, later, you decide to buy the saxophone you&#8217;re leasing, some retailers will credit what you’ve already paid toward the purchase price. And if you decide that the saxophone isn’t your musical match, simply return it.</p>\n<h2>Buying a saxophone: New or used?</h2>\n<p>If the saxophone is the instrument you were meant to play, and you’re ready to make the commitment, you’re likely prepared to buy.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">When buying a saxophone — or any important accessories — consider asking an expert, such as your future saxophone teacher or an experienced saxophonist, to be your personal sales consultant. Getting an expert opinion is worth the peace of mind, and it almost guarantees that you’ll find the right saxophone for you.</p>\n<p class=\"Warning\">Many people choose to buy new instruments, but some used saxophones are available in good or very good condition and are ready to play. Perhaps the previous owner didn’t play much, or the instrument was recently reconditioned.</p>\n<p class=\"Warning\">Some vintage horns are real classics. For example, most pros would only sell their old Selmer Mark VI over their dead bodies. These old instruments can sound beautiful and their value often doubles in price compared to a new one.</p>\n<p class=\"Remember\">A well-maintained saxophone can last a long time. For example, the pads (the leather on the underside of the keys) can remain intact for six to ten years, depending on the quality of the pads, maintenance, and usage.</p>\n<p>With a used saxophone, pay special attention to the condition of the instrument:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">What condition are the pads in? Is the leather still smooth, dark, and hard, or is it cracked and moldy?</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Do the pads still cover the tone holes perfectly?</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Do the mechanics run clean? Can you press down on all of the keys comfortably and simultaneously?</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>If you answer no to any of these questions, the sax in question might need a general overhaul. And if it’s in really bad shape, repairs could cost more than the instrument is worth! Get advice from an expert if you’re concerned.</p>\n"},{"title":"Saxophone parts and their functions","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The saxophone is a woodwind, not a brass, instrument. This fact can be hard to believe, because the saxophone is, after all, made mostly of brass. The saxophone is considered a woodwind instrument because the part that creates the actual sound, called the <i>reed</i>, is made out of wood, or more specifically, cane (similar to bamboo).</p>\n<p>This section familiarizes you with the important components of the saxophone, by describing how they fit together and how the whole system works.</p>\n<p>The saxophone is made up of the following parts:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Reed:</b> The sound generator, which has the same function as human vocal chords. It’s fixed onto the mouthpiece by a ligature.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Mouthpiece:</b> When you blow into the mouthpiece, the reed vibrates. Without the aid of the other parts of the saxophone, it produces a high, shrill sound.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Neck:</b> The mouthpiece is attached to the neck, which is the joint between the mouthpiece and the body. The sound generated by the vibrating reed enters the body through the neck. If you compare the saxophone’s neck with your own, and with your voice, the saxophone’s neck works the same way.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Body:</b> This is the most important resonance chamber of the saxophone. The sound vibrates within the body and is amplified. By holding down the keys, which are located on the body, you change the length of the air column to create a different pitch or note. The longer the air column, the lower the corresponding note; the shorter the column, the higher the note.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Neck strap:</b> More of an accessory, this is a strap that is looped through an eyelet on the back side of the horn and worn around the player’s neck. The neck strap lets the player carry the saxophone and supports the instrument so the fingers can move freely over the keys.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Thumb hook:</b> The right thumb sits in the thumb hook, which is a hooked-shaped piece of metal or plastic, to balance the saxophone’s weight.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Thumb rest:</b> The left thumb sits on the thumb rest (located below the octave key) to balance the saxophone.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Saxophone practice","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Practicing with your saxophone brings you closer to your musical goals. Your saxophone should perform the way you want it to. Good technique, knowledge, and experience will help with this, and that means you have to practice, practice, practice.</p>\n<h2>Practice with your saxophone regularly</h2>\n<p>As in sports and many other activities, you improve by practicing regularly a little bit at a time, rather than practicing a lot every now and then. Five 15-minute practice sessions per week are much better than a single marathon session of two or five hours right before your next saxophone lesson. The regularity helps you memorize and internalize what you’re practicing. You can get accustomed to your saxophone step by step. Even three sessions of five minutes per day is productive.</p>\n<h2>Structure your saxophone practice</h2>\n<p>Try devising a practice schedule or a practice routine. Such a routine can look like this:</p>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">First, warm up.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Start in the middle range and play soft, long tones.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b></b>Second, turn to different combinations of notes to work on your finger technique.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b></b>Next, start phrasing and articulation exercises.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">These help the coordination of your tongue and fingers.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b></b>Now, practice a scale, preferably from memory.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">This trains your fluency and speed.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b></b>Last, select a piece and play it.</p>\n</li>\n</ol>\n<p class=\"Remember\">If you’re interested in improvisation, play typical jazz phrases or use the vocabulary of a different musical style, possibly in one or more keys. If you need more to practice, you can work on rhythmic exercises. And listen to exemplary solos from your favorite recordings and transcribe them, or focus on training your ear.</p>\n<p>You can always find something to practice or improve on. Not everything has to go by the schedule, even if you set out to do so.</p>\n"},{"title":"Playing a new saxophone song","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>You want to learn a new song to play on your saxophone, and this section tells you how to do so effectively. You can learn new saxophone pieces and even master difficult songs this way. The idea is that you approach the song from different angles. Put appropriate emphasis on note material, rhythm, and dynamics. Follow this approach:</p>\n<h2>Examine the key and scale</h2>\n<p>Your first glance should be toward the notation on the upper left. What is the key signature? Does it contain sharps or flats? For instance, one sharp in the key signature indicates G major, and one flat indicates F major.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">When working on a new piece, you learn the key by playing the corresponding scale. This is a good approach for preparing to play the song.</p>\n<h2>Practice the notes and fingerings</h2>\n<p>Practice the notes and their fingerings independently of the rhythm. As soon as you recognize the notes instantly, finger and blow all the notes of the song in sequence. You can handle difficult note combinations best if you repeat them often, that is, if you “loop” them.</p>\n<h2>Work on the rhythm</h2>\n<p>At this stage, work on just the rhythm, meaning figure out the note and rest lengths without considering their pitch. Go through individual bars of the song. Clap the rhythm. In the case of rhythmically complex measures, get an overview by penciling the main beats (1, 2, 3, 4) with a vertical line above the notes. Clearly structure each measure. Filter out difficult rhythms and clap them several times — just like the note combinations — and “loop” them.</p>\n<h2>Pair the notes with the rhythm</h2>\n<p>When the notes and rhythm are second nature to you, combine the two. Approach this measure by measure and increase the tempo gradually.</p>\n<h2>Pay attention to breath marks and song sequences</h2>\n<p>When you can play the entire song, go into more detail. Pay attention to the notated breath marks and try only to breathe where indicated. If no breath marks are given, try to find spots at which it makes sense to inhale, and mark them with your pencil. You should inhale only after slurs, and during rests in such a way that you always have enough air for playing.</p>\n<p>Also try to notice a few other things: Musical symbols, such as repeat signs, that could be marked with first and second endings. In addition, look for <i>Da capo</i> (<i>D.C</i>.), <i>Dal segno</i> (<i>D.S.</i>), and <i>Coda</i> symbols.</p>\n<h2>Focus on articulation and dynamics</h2>\n<p>Musical notation also includes articulation symbols that give instruction on how you should use your tongue and air. Emphasize the accented notes (&gt;) accordingly, or play notes with the <i>staccato</i> symbol (snappy and short) as indicated.</p>\n<p>Next pay attention to dynamics:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>p</i> (<i>piano</i> = soft)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>mp</i> (<i>mezzo piano</i> = half as soft as piano)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>mf </i>(<i>mezzo forte</i> = half as loud as forte)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>f</i> (<i>forte</i> = loud)</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p><i>Crescendo</i> and <i>decrescendo</i> also indicate volume, which you should consider.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-05T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":208543},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:47:25+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-15T14:34:03+00:00","timestamp":"2022-03-15T18:01:08+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Music","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33730"},"slug":"music","categoryId":33730},{"name":"Instruments","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731"},"slug":"instruments","categoryId":33731},{"name":"Guitar","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33735"},"slug":"guitar","categoryId":33735}],"title":"Guitar Rhythm & Technique For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"guitar rhythm & technique for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"guitar-rhythm-technique-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"This Cheat Sheet has some handy tips that you can keep in your practice area for quick reference.\r\n\r\nUse these techniques to review your basic rhythms and warm up your hands at the beginning of a playing session. Before you begin, trim and file the nails on your fretting hand so that nothing comes between your fingertips and the strings.\r\n\r\nAlso, you may need a warm up before your warm up. Make sure your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers are loose and warm. Stretch and massage yourself to get the blood flowing if need be.","description":"This Cheat Sheet has some handy tips that you can keep in your practice area for quick reference.\r\n\r\nUse these techniques to review your basic rhythms and warm up your hands at the beginning of a playing session. Before you begin, trim and file the nails on your fretting hand so that nothing comes between your fingertips and the strings.\r\n\r\nAlso, you may need a warm up before your warm up. Make sure your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers are loose and warm. Stretch and massage yourself to get the blood flowing if need be.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9209,"name":"Desi Serna","slug":"desi-serna","description":"Desi Serna is a guitarist, a guitar teacher, and as called out by Rolling Stone, an expert in music theory. He's the author of several instructional books on guitar. Learn more at guitarmusictheory.com.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9209"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33735,"title":"Guitar","slug":"guitar","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33735"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":144868,"title":"10 Steps to Singing and Playing Guitar at the Same Time","slug":"10-steps-to-singing-and-playing-guitar-at-the-same-time","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144868"}},{"articleId":144867,"title":"Following a Lead Sheet","slug":"following-a-lead-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144867"}},{"articleId":144864,"title":"Using Half and Double Time When Playing Guitar","slug":"using-half-and-double-time-when-playing-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144864"}},{"articleId":144865,"title":"Using a Capo on Your Guitar","slug":"using-a-capo-on-your-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144865"}},{"articleId":144866,"title":"Looking at The Edge’s Guitar-Pick Sound","slug":"looking-at-the-edges-guitar-pick-sound","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144866"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":210308,"title":"How to String A Steel-String Acoustic Guitar","slug":"how-to-string-a-steel-string-acoustic-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210308"}},{"articleId":210307,"title":"How to Vary Guitar Articulation with Pull-Offs","slug":"how-to-vary-guitar-articulation-with-pull-offs","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210307"}},{"articleId":210306,"title":"How to Vary Guitar Articulation by Using Hammer-Ons","slug":"how-to-vary-guitar-articulation-by-using-hammer-ons","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210306"}},{"articleId":210305,"title":"How to Use a Capo","slug":"how-to-use-a-capo","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210305"}},{"articleId":210304,"title":"How to String a Nylon-String Guitar","slug":"how-to-string-a-nylon-string-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210304"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282261,"slug":"guitar-rhythm-and-techniques-for-dummies-book-online-video-and-audio-instruction","isbn":"9781119022879","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119022878/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119022878/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119022878-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119022878/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119022878/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/guitar-rhythm-and-techniques-for-dummies-cover-9781119022879-193x255.jpg","width":193,"height":255},"title":"Guitar Rhythm and Techniques For Dummies, Book + Online Video and Audio Instruction","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9209\">Desi Serna</b> has built a substantial online platform as an engaging and approachable guitar guru-a guitar player and teacher with more than 10,000 hours of experience providing private guitar lessons and classes. Serna is hailed as a \"music-theory expert\" by <i>Rolling Stone</i> magazine. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":9209,"name":"Desi Serna","slug":"desi-serna","description":"Desi Serna is a guitarist, a guitar teacher, and as called out by Rolling Stone, an expert in music theory. He's the author of several instructional books on guitar. Learn more at guitarmusictheory.com.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9209"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;guitar&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119022879&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6230d4648a464\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;guitar&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119022879&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6230d4648ab7b\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":144855,"title":"Playing a Rhythm Pyramid","slug":"playing-a-rhythm-pyramid","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144855"}},{"articleId":144854,"title":"Warming Up with Alternate Picking","slug":"warming-up-with-alternate-picking","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144854"}},{"articleId":144853,"title":"Warming Up with Fingerpicking","slug":"warming-up-with-fingerpicking","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144853"}},{"articleId":144850,"title":"The Spanish Fingering System","slug":"the-spanish-fingering-system","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144850"}},{"articleId":144851,"title":"Playing a Chromatic-Scale Pattern","slug":"playing-a-chromatic-scale-pattern","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/144851"}}],"content":[{"title":"Playing a rhythm pyramid","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>A <i>rhythm pyramid, </i>like the one below, is the most basic way in which a measure of music is subdivided. For practice, you can strum the different note values on open strings, chord shapes, or muted strings.</p>\n<p>Set your metronome to 80 beats per minute, give or take, and spend a few minutes alternating between quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes.</p>\n<p>It’s a good idea to count out loud, like this: “1 2 3 4, 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and, 1-e-and-a, 2-e-and-a, 3-e-and-a, 4-e-and-a,” and so on.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/467895.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"334\" height=\"135\" /></p>\n<p>The following figure shows you the rest equivalents to the notes in the previous figure. As you practice strumming rhythms, place rests into your playing as well.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/467896.image1.jpg\" alt=\"image1.jpg\" width=\"299\" height=\"80\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"Warming up with alternate picking","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The following figure is good for working on alternate guitar picking and getting to know the placement of the strings under your picking hand.</p>\n<p>Set your metronome to a comfortable tempo and rehearse the figure for a minute or two. Aside from moving across the strings in the two directions shown, you can use random movement and skip strings.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">To sound more musical, hold down a chord shape with your fretting hand. For more of a challenge, the same exercise can be played using sixteenth notes.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/467898.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"336\" height=\"169\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"Warming up with fingerpicking","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The following figure gets the blood flowing in your fretting-hand fingers. You can practice the fingerpicking pattern by playing at various tempos and over different types of chord progressions.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">Try changing the pattern by reversing the order of your fingers. Reversing your fingers, but still starting with the thumb is another option.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/467900.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"336\" height=\"98\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"The Spanish fingering system","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>In traditional guitar notation, the letters <i>p</i><i>,</i> <i>i</i><i>,</i> <i>m</i><i>,</i> and <i>a</i> are used to refer to the fingers on the picking hand. Taken from the Spanish language, here’s what the letters represent:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>p</i> = <i>pulgar</i> (thumb)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>i</i> = <i>indice</i> (index or first finger)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>m</i> = <i>medio</i> (middle or second finger)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><i>a</i> = <i>anular</i> (ring or third finger)</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Below is a visual example of this Spanish fingering system. Occasionally, you come across <i>pimac,</i> where the letter <i>c</i> stands for <i>chico,</i> the pinky finger.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/467902.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"100\" height=\"118\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"Playing a chromatic-scale pattern","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Playing a chromatic-scale pattern is great way to exercise all four fingers on your fretting hand. In the following figure, you see two examples. The numbers indicate which fingers to use. Use alternate picking as you play up and down each chromatic pattern in order to improve the synchronization of both hands.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">To challenge your fretting hand more, use hammer-ons as you ascend the pattern and pull-offs as you descend, picking only the first note on each string.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">You can practice at your own pace, or confine your playing to eighth or sixteenth notes while following a metronome. These chromatic patterns can be moved around the neck and started at any fret.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/467893.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"304\" height=\"498\" /></p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-15T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":207551},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:58:24+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-14T18:30:54+00:00","timestamp":"2022-03-15T00:01:11+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Music","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33730"},"slug":"music","categoryId":33730},{"name":"Instruments","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731"},"slug":"instruments","categoryId":33731},{"name":"Guitar","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33735"},"slug":"guitar","categoryId":33735}],"title":"Classical Guitar For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"classical guitar for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"classical-guitar-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Get started mastering the classical guitar with this handy guide covering note range, the circle of fifths and free versus rest strokes.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Playing classical guitar starts with figuring out the notes, noting major and minor keys on the circle of 5ths, and knowing what situations in classical guitar call for playing the free stroke or the rest stroke.","description":"Playing classical guitar starts with figuring out the notes, noting major and minor keys on the circle of 5ths, and knowing what situations in classical guitar call for playing the free stroke or the rest stroke.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9006,"name":"Jon Chappell","slug":"jon-chappell","description":"Jon Chappell is a guitarist, arranger, and former editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9006"}},{"authorId":9005,"name":"Mark Phillips","slug":"mark-phillips","description":"Mark Phillips is a former director of music at Cherry Lane Music, where he edited or arranged the songbooks of such artists as John Denver, Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, and Metallica.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9005"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33735,"title":"Guitar","slug":"guitar","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33735"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":210308,"title":"How to String A Steel-String Acoustic Guitar","slug":"how-to-string-a-steel-string-acoustic-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210308"}},{"articleId":210307,"title":"How to Vary Guitar Articulation with Pull-Offs","slug":"how-to-vary-guitar-articulation-with-pull-offs","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210307"}},{"articleId":210306,"title":"How to Vary Guitar Articulation by Using Hammer-Ons","slug":"how-to-vary-guitar-articulation-by-using-hammer-ons","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210306"}},{"articleId":210305,"title":"How to Use a Capo","slug":"how-to-use-a-capo","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210305"}},{"articleId":210304,"title":"How to String a Nylon-String Guitar","slug":"how-to-string-a-nylon-string-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210304"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":290253,"slug":"classical-guitar-for-dummies-2nd-edition","isbn":"9781119873020","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119873029/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119873029/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119873029-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119873029/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119873029/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/9781119873020-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Classical Guitar For Dummies, 2nd Edition","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9006\">Jon Chappell</b> is a guitarist, arranger, and former editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine. <b data-author-id=\"9005\">Mark Phillips</b> is a former director of music at Cherry Lane Music, where he edited or arranged the songbooks of such artists as John Denver, Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, and Metallica.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9006,"name":"Jon Chappell","slug":"jon-chappell","description":"Jon Chappell is a guitarist, arranger, and former editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9006"}},{"authorId":9005,"name":"Mark Phillips","slug":"mark-phillips","description":"Mark Phillips is a former director of music at Cherry Lane Music, where he edited or arranged the songbooks of such artists as John Denver, Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, and 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guitar notes","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>This diagram illustrates the guitar’s entire range of notes, including sharps and flats, on the treble clef, using ledger lines below and above the staff. Each of the six string’s 12 frets is shown allowing you to see some pitches that are played on multiple strings in classical guitar.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/139783.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"771\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"The circle of 5ths in classical guitar","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The circle of 5ths (an interval encompassing five notes) is a helpful tool in classical guitar for viewing the 12 major and minor keys by the order of sharps and flats in their key signatures. The key of C (no sharps or flats) is at the top, or 12 o’clock position. Moving clockwise from C you progress, by ascending 5ths, through all 12 keys beginning with sharps.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/139785.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"400\" height=\"400\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"Playing classical guitar in free stroke vs. rest stroke","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>How do you know when to use the free stroke or the rest stroke when playing classical guitar? This table notes when you should choose to use the free stroke and when your better option is the rest stroke for your guitar playing.</p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Use the Free Stroke When You Play</th>\n<th>Use the Rest Stroke When You Play</th>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Arpeggios</td>\n<td>Slower, more expressive melodies</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Chords</td>\n<td>Scales, scale sequences, and single-note passages</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Light-sounding melodies, or filler notes between melody and<br />\nbass parts</td>\n<td>Loud notes, or notes requiring maximum volume or feeling of<br />\nintensity</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Melodies or passages where the rest stroke can’t be<br />\napplied because of tempo considerations, string conflicts, or<br />\nawkwardness and impracticalities in the right-hand fingering</td>\n<td>Passages that must be drawn out from their surroundings (either<br />\nother notes from the guitar or in an ensemble setting), assuming no<br />\nconflict with other strings</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-01-12T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209436},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:57:40+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-10T20:41:48+00:00","timestamp":"2022-03-11T00:01:06+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Music","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33730"},"slug":"music","categoryId":33730},{"name":"Instruments","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731"},"slug":"instruments","categoryId":33731},{"name":"Guitar","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33735"},"slug":"guitar","categoryId":33735}],"title":"Guitar All-In-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"guitar all-in-one for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"guitar-all-in-one-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"This handy cheat sheet for learning guitar has fingerboard diagrams, tablature, notes on the neck, and a chords chart.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Learning to play the guitar is a lot fun. Use this cheat sheet to help you get started with your guitar finger placement and guitar chords. If you need help with finger placement on your guitar, use tablature (tab) and fingerboard diagrams.\r\n\r\nPractice playing the most common <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/art-center/music/guitar/playing-guitar-common-open-position-chords/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">open-position chords</a> on your guitar to get that “jangly” sound, and make sure you know the notes on the neck of your guitar to change starting notes in <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/art-center/music/guitar/basics-of-scales-for-the-guitar/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scales</a>, chords, and arpeggios.","description":"Learning to play the guitar is a lot fun. Use this cheat sheet to help you get started with your guitar finger placement and guitar chords. If you need help with finger placement on your guitar, use tablature (tab) and fingerboard diagrams.\r\n\r\nPractice playing the most common <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/art-center/music/guitar/playing-guitar-common-open-position-chords/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">open-position chords</a> on your guitar to get that “jangly” sound, and make sure you know the notes on the neck of your guitar to change starting notes in <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/art-center/music/guitar/basics-of-scales-for-the-guitar/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scales</a>, chords, and arpeggios.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9007,"name":"Hal Leonard Corporation","slug":"hal-leonard-corporation","description":"Hal Leonard Corporation is a United States music publishing and distribution company currently headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is the largest sheet music publisher in the world.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9007"}},{"authorId":9006,"name":"Jon Chappell","slug":"jon-chappell","description":"Jon Chappell is a guitarist, arranger, and former editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9006"}},{"authorId":9005,"name":"Mark Phillips","slug":"mark-phillips","description":"Mark Phillips is a former director of music at Cherry Lane Music, where he edited or arranged the songbooks of such artists as John Denver, Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, and Metallica.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9005"}},{"authorId":9209,"name":"Desi Serna","slug":"desi-serna","description":"Desi Serna is a guitarist, a guitar teacher, and as called out by Rolling Stone, an expert in music theory. He's the author of several instructional books on guitar. 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It is the largest sheet music publisher in the world. <b data-author-id=\"9005\">Mark Phillips</b> is a former director of music at Cherry Lane Music, where he edited or arranged the songbooks of such artists as John Denver, Van Halen, Guns N' Roses, and Metallica. <b data-author-id=\"9006\">Jon Chappell</b> is a guitarist, arranger, and former editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine. <b data-author-id=\"9209\">Desi Serna</b> is a guitarist, a guitar teacher, and as called out by Rolling Stone, an expert in music theory. He's the author of several instructional books on guitar. Learn more at guitarmusictheory.com.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9007,"name":"Hal Leonard Corporation","slug":"hal-leonard-corporation","description":"Hal Leonard Corporation is a United States music publishing and distribution company currently headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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Check out these diagrams to help with finger placement on your guitar:</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/162747.image0.jpg\" alt=\"Fingerboard diagram and tablature to help with finger placement on your guitar\" width=\"535\" height=\"648\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"Open position guitar chords chart","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Open position guitar chords sound <i>twangy</i><i> </i>because they<i> </i>include unfretted strings that are permitted to ring open. This chart represents 24 of the most useful open chords you use to play guitar:</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/162743.image0.jpg\" alt=\"guitar open chord chart\" width=\"535\" height=\"602\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"Notes on the guitar neck","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>This figure of the nine-fret guitar neck has the notes in letter names for all six strings’ frets up to and including the 9th fret. Use this diagram to help you move any scale, arpeggio, or chord to a different starting note.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/162745.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"123\" /></p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-01-18T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209310},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:47:54+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-10T18:01:58+00:00","timestamp":"2022-03-11T00:01:04+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Music","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33730"},"slug":"music","categoryId":33730},{"name":"Instruments","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731"},"slug":"instruments","categoryId":33731},{"name":"Guitar","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33735"},"slug":"guitar","categoryId":33735}],"title":"Guitar Amps and Effects For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"guitar amps and effects for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"guitar-amps-effects-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn how the various components of a guitar amp work to produce the sound you hear, and check out these tips for creating different sounds.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Every guitarist seeks to produce an expressive and distinctive tone, but trying to figure out what kind of gear you need to create your sound can be baffling.\r\n\r\nThis Cheat Sheet explains the three main equipment categories that comprise your music-making rig: your electric guitar, guitar amps, and effects pedals and units. These components all work together to create your sound. And because you can swap out equipment and change settings, the creative possibilities are virtually limitless.","description":"Every guitarist seeks to produce an expressive and distinctive tone, but trying to figure out what kind of gear you need to create your sound can be baffling.\r\n\r\nThis Cheat Sheet explains the three main equipment categories that comprise your music-making rig: your electric guitar, guitar amps, and effects pedals and units. These components all work together to create your sound. And because you can swap out equipment and change settings, the creative possibilities are virtually limitless.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9374,"name":"Dave Hunter","slug":"dave-hunter","description":"Dave Hunter is a writer and musician. He's the author of more than a dozen books on guitars and amps. Hunter also fronts the band A Different Engine, called a cross between Johnny Cash and The Clash.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9374"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33735,"title":"Guitar","slug":"guitar","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33735"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":203539,"title":"The Building Blocks of the Guitar Signal Chain","slug":"the-building-blocks-of-the-guitar-signal-chain","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/203539"}},{"articleId":203538,"title":"Classic Guitar Tones from 4 Classic Body Woods","slug":"classic-guitar-tones-from-4-classic-body-woods","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/203538"}},{"articleId":203537,"title":"Guitar Neck and Fingerboard Woods","slug":"guitar-neck-and-fingerboard-woods","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/203537"}},{"articleId":203536,"title":"5 Newer and Alternative Guitar Tonewoods","slug":"5-newer-and-alternative-guitar-tonewoods","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/203536"}},{"articleId":203535,"title":"Standard Guitar Control Layouts","slug":"standard-guitar-control-layouts","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/203535"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":210308,"title":"How to String A Steel-String Acoustic Guitar","slug":"how-to-string-a-steel-string-acoustic-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210308"}},{"articleId":210307,"title":"How to Vary Guitar Articulation with Pull-Offs","slug":"how-to-vary-guitar-articulation-with-pull-offs","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210307"}},{"articleId":210306,"title":"How to Vary Guitar Articulation by Using Hammer-Ons","slug":"how-to-vary-guitar-articulation-by-using-hammer-ons","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210306"}},{"articleId":210305,"title":"How to Use a Capo","slug":"how-to-use-a-capo","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210305"}},{"articleId":210304,"title":"How to String a Nylon-String Guitar","slug":"how-to-string-a-nylon-string-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210304"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282258,"slug":"guitar-amps-effects-for-dummies","isbn":"9781118899991","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118899997/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1118899997/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1118899997-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1118899997/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1118899997/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/guitar-amps-and-effects-for-dummies-cover-9781118899991-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Guitar Amps & Effects For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9374\">Dave Hunter</b> has made a career out of explaining the relationships between guitars and amp tone, and the technology that creates it. He has authored or coauthored dozens of books on guitar topics, columns in <i>Guitar Player</i> and <i>Vintage Guitar</i> magazines, and is considered a top authority on amps and effects.</p> ","authors":[{"authorId":9374,"name":"Dave Hunter","slug":"dave-hunter","description":"Dave Hunter is a writer and musician. He's the author of more than a dozen books on guitars and amps. Hunter also fronts the band A Different Engine, called a cross between Johnny Cash and The Clash.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9374"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;guitar&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781118899991&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-622a9140f0ff1\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;guitar&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781118899991&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-622a9140f21ea\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":149608,"title":"Understanding Guitar Amps","slug":"understanding-guitar-amps","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/149608"}},{"articleId":149609,"title":"Quick and Easy Ways to Change Your Guitar Tone","slug":"quick-and-easy-ways-to-change-your-guitar-tone","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/149609"}}],"content":[{"title":"Understanding guitar amps","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Your amp is where everything gets louder. In effect, the amp takes the signal from your guitar and translates it back into sound waves in the air that your listener can hear. But even at this seemingly final stage, plenty more happens to your sound than just the &#8220;gets louder&#8221; part of the equation.</p>\n<p>The circuitry within most guitar amps contains several stages that shape your guitar signal in a variety of ways, one after the other. This allows you to alter and enrich your guitar tone, above and beyond merely amplifying it. After your signal goes in through the input in the front of the amp, it hits:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>A <i>preamp</i> stage:</b> This stage increases its strength and also, in some cases, adds some slight distortion that enhances its texture, the way an overdrive pedal does. Many amps have multiple preamp stages.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>A <i>tone</i> stage:</b> This stage alters the signal&#8217;s frequency content somewhat, according to how you set this stage&#8217;s controls.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>An <i>output</i> stage:</b> Here, the signal is ramped up even further, ready to be pumped through an output transformer that blasts it through the speaker, but where additional body and texture is also added.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>A <i>speaker</i><i>:</i></b> The speaker pumps the signal back into the air for you to hear, and it also adds some of its own sonic character to everything that has come before.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Quick and easy ways to change your guitar tone","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Have you grown bored with the way your guitar sounds? You don&#8217;t have to buy a new guitar, amp, or effects pedal to craft a fresh sound as long as your existing equipment is serviceable and of a decent quality.</p>\n<p>Try these simple ways of mixing things up a little:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you&#8217;re in the habit of playing on one pickup all the time, switch to a different one, adjusting your amps to suit, if necessary.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you keep your guitar&#8217;s volume and tone controls full up, maybe dial them down a little to see what happens.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Turn all your amp&#8217;s controls to 0, take a few minutes to forget your usual settings, and dial in something completely different.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Check out some guitar forums and chat rooms to discover what settings players with the same gear as yours are using to achieve different sounds.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Listen closely to some music you like that&#8217;s made using a completely different rig from yours, and then try your best to replicate the sound with what you&#8217;ve got.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Ultimately, be aware that the key to sounding the way you want lies in your hands and your head more than anywhere else. The way a player attacks the strings — the nuance, dynamics, and subtleties of the playing technique — usually has a bigger influence on how he or she sounds than any other single ingredient in the rig.</p>\n<p>Try to play mindfully, being keenly aware of the variations in sound produced when you simply play the guitar differently, and you will quickly develop an original voice.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-10T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":207650},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:47:44+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-10T15:38:29+00:00","timestamp":"2022-03-10T18:01:08+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Music","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33730"},"slug":"music","categoryId":33730},{"name":"Instruments","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731"},"slug":"instruments","categoryId":33731},{"name":"Violin & Fiddle","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33741"},"slug":"violin-fiddle","categoryId":33741}],"title":"Fiddle For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"fiddle for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"fiddle-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"You can't hoedown if you don't practice up! Check out these tips for left- and right-hand techniques and good bow movement on the fiddle.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"They say that practice makes perfect, and playing the fiddle is no different from other disciplines. Your fiddle playing will improve if you work on various drills and techniques during your practice sessions, including setting up your instrument and preparing to play, maintaining proper posture, positioning your fingers correctly, practicing left- and right-hand techniques, and establishing good bow movement.","description":"They say that practice makes perfect, and playing the fiddle is no different from other disciplines. Your fiddle playing will improve if you work on various drills and techniques during your practice sessions, including setting up your instrument and preparing to play, maintaining proper posture, positioning your fingers correctly, practicing left- and right-hand techniques, and establishing good bow movement.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9320,"name":"Michael John Sanchez","slug":"michael-john-sanchez","description":"Michael Sanchez has played fiddle in many country music bands, as well as playing fiddle for the Medora Musical, a well-known and popular show held each year in North Dakota. He is the creator of the Violin Tutor Pro channel on YouTube and is CEO of Superior Violins.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9320"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33741,"title":"Violin & Fiddle","slug":"violin-fiddle","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33741"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":147613,"title":"Putting It All Together: The Fiddle Checklist","slug":"putting-it-all-together-the-fiddle-checklist","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/147613"}},{"articleId":147593,"title":"10 Encouraging Tips to Get Out of a Practice Slump","slug":"10-encouraging-tips-to-get-out-of-a-practice-slump","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/147593"}},{"articleId":147591,"title":"How to Read a Few Musical Road Signs","slug":"how-to-read-a-few-musical-road-signs","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/147591"}},{"articleId":147592,"title":"Finding Notes to Play during a Guitar Chord","slug":"finding-notes-to-play-during-a-guitar-chord","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/147592"}},{"articleId":147594,"title":"Tips to Improve Your Sound with Various Fiddle Techniques","slug":"tips-to-improve-your-sound-with-various-fiddle-techniques","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/147594"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":208398,"title":"Violin For Dummies Cheat Sheet","slug":"violin-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/208398"}},{"articleId":180226,"title":"Protecting Your Violin from Damage","slug":"protecting-your-violin-from-damage","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/180226"}},{"articleId":180227,"title":"How to Take Your Violin Out of Its Case","slug":"how-to-take-your-violin-out-of-its-case","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/180227"}},{"articleId":180228,"title":"Examining the Parts of Your Violin","slug":"examining-the-parts-of-your-violin","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/180228"}},{"articleId":147613,"title":"Putting It All Together: The Fiddle Checklist","slug":"putting-it-all-together-the-fiddle-checklist","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/147613"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282196,"slug":"fiddle-for-dummies-book-online-video-and-audio-instruction","isbn":"9781118930229","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1118930223/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1118930223/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1118930223-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1118930223/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1118930223/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/fiddle-for-dummies-cover-9781118930229-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Fiddle For Dummies: Book + Online Video and Audio Instruction","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9320\">Michael Sanchez</b> has played fiddle in many country music bands, as well as playing fiddle for the Medora Musical, a well-known and popular show held each year in North Dakota. He is CEO and creator of Violin Tutor Pro (www.violintutorpro.com) and is CEO of Superior Violins (www.superiorviolins.com).</p> ","authors":[{"authorId":9320,"name":"Michael John Sanchez","slug":"michael-john-sanchez","description":"Michael Sanchez has played fiddle in many country music bands, as well as playing fiddle for the Medora Musical, a well-known and popular show held each year in North Dakota. He is the creator of the Violin Tutor Pro channel on YouTube and is CEO of Superior Violins.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9320"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;violin-fiddle&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781118930229&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-622a3ce4c2298\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;violin-fiddle&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781118930229&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-622a3ce4c2bfc\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":147613,"title":"Putting It All Together: The Fiddle Checklist","slug":"putting-it-all-together-the-fiddle-checklist","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/147613"}},{"articleId":147589,"title":"Developing Great Practice Habits","slug":"developing-great-practice-habits","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","violin-fiddle"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/147589"}}],"content":[{"title":"Putting it all together: the fiddle checklist","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>With so many things to think about when playing the fiddle, how do you know whether you&#8217;re practicing everything the right way? The following checklist will put you on the right path. It&#8217;s split into six sections and includes the purpose of each technique.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">There are 30 techniques here, so it&#8217;s important for you to focus on only one section at a time. Take a simple piece (like &#8220;Mary Had a Little Lamb&#8221;) and work on these points.</p>\n<h2>Good posture leads to good technique</h2>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A straight back promotes a straighter bow.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Using a shoulder rest leads to good holding habits.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A proper fiddle level promotes better tone and bow straightness.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Holding the fiddle at a 45-degree angle (more in front) helps you get to the tip of the bow.<i><u></u></i></p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Good instrument setup leads to great tone</h2>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Having your fiddle in tune helps achieve good intonation.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A properly tightened bow helps you get the best tone and avoid bow bounce.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Having enough rosin on the bow helps avoid bow wispiness.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Good left-hand technique leads to great melodies</h2>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Keeping your knuckles up helps intonation and your ability to play fast.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Keeping your finger angles back helps you find notes efficiently.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Using your fingertips leads to good finger contact and solid note tones.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Keeping your hand still and only moving your fingers promotes finger speed/efficiency.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Keeping your fingers curved and close to the fingerboard helps you find notes quickly.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Hitting half steps/whole steps helps you play more in tune.<i><u></u></i></p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Good right-hand technique leads to a clean sound</h2>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Having your thumb curved in the groove helps restrict tension up against the bow.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Having your pinkie curved on the button helps restrict tension up against the bow.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Keeping your bow hand fingers on an angle helps you apply proper index finger pressure.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A loose grip helps restrict tension up against the bow.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Having your index finger over the stick helps you produce a clean sound.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Keeping your knuckles on top of the stick helps to keep your hand relaxed.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Using your index finger helps to phrase passages cleanly and musically.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Good right-arm technique allows your index finger to speak</h2>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A relaxed shoulder helps prevent bow bounce.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">An extended arm allows your smaller muscles to transition the bow.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Adjusting your wrist and keeping it level helps prevent bow squeaks.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Minimal arm movement allows you to get a cleaner sound when playing fast.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pivoting your elbow to the E, A, D, or G location helps keep the bow straight across the strings.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Good bow technique allows your index finger to speak</h2>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">A consistent bow speed helps prevent bow squeaks and improper tone.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Lightly using your index finger when changing bow directions allows you to get a clean and smooth sound.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Getting to the tip helps you get a full and clean sound on the fiddle.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Keeping bow hairs evenly on the strings helps you get the best tone out of your fiddle.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Keeping your bow grip relaxed while going toward the tip helps you get a better transition sound.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"Remember\">Don&#8217;t get overwhelmed by everything on this checklist. As you progress, you&#8217;ll find that this checklist will continue to help you, even when you have more experience. As songs get harder, you&#8217;ll notice that some of these things are harder to do, even if you&#8217;ve mastered them with simple songs such as &#8220;Mary Had a Little Lamb.&#8221;</p>\n<p>Try to become comfortable with at least 75 percent of these techniques (with one song) and then move on. Don&#8217;t feel like you have to get everything perfect; moving forward and learning new material is just as important as dwelling on one thing. If you practice &#8220;Mary Had a Little Lamb&#8221; forever, you won&#8217;t be good at anything other than that one song.</p>\n"},{"title":"Developing great practice habits","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Practicing isn&#8217;t always easy, especially if you don&#8217;t have the right mind-set in place. If you follow the steps outlined here, you&#8217;ll improve both your technical ability and your musical ability.</p>\n<h2>What to do to prepare for your practice session</h2>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Make sure your fiddle is in tune.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Find a place that&#8217;s quiet, with no distractions.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Set an amount of time that you&#8217;re going to practice and stick to it.</p>\n</li>\n</ol>\n<h2>What to do in the first third of your practice session</h2>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Choose at least two drills to work on.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Work on drills for five minutes, focusing on repetition.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Focus on doing the drills properly.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Choose a song that you&#8217;d consider to be easy, and try to focus on technique.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">For example, if you&#8217;re doing the wrist drill, try to focus on bending your wrist in the easy song.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Pick another song and work on your finger placement.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">You can do this by using a tuner, which will tell you whether you&#8217;re placing specific notes in the right spots.</p>\n</li>\n</ol>\n<h2>What to do in the second third of your practice session</h2>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Choose a harder song to work on.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Focus less on your technique, but anytime you hear an unwanted sound, try to think about why it may have happened.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Identify one or two problem spots in the song and practice these spots over and over until you get them right.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Play the song all the way through to the end.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">If you have time, do this process with another song.</p>\n</li>\n</ol>\n<h2>What to do in the final third of your practice session</h2>\n<ol class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Get into a more musical mind-set.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">This is the time to think less about technique and more about just playing.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Choose a medium to difficult song.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Focus on the rhythm of the music and the ornamentation. Try not to focus on how you sound but more on whether you&#8217;re following the music properly.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Once a week, record yourself playing a song.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">Keep this recording in an archive that you can listen to later. Listen to the recording in three months&#8217; time. Do you see how you&#8217;re improving?</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Because this area of practice is about musicality, make a goal of playing for at least one other person.</p>\n<p class=\"child-para\">It doesn&#8217;t have to be each day or even each week, but once in a while, playing for someone else will really help improve your playing ability.</p>\n</li>\n</ol>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-10T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":207611},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:54:53+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-04T21:08:52+00:00","timestamp":"2022-03-05T00:01:10+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Music","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33730"},"slug":"music","categoryId":33730},{"name":"Instruments","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731"},"slug":"instruments","categoryId":33731},{"name":"Guitar","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33735"},"slug":"guitar","categoryId":33735}],"title":"Blues Guitar For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"blues guitar for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"blues-guitar-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"As you're learning to play the blues on the guitar, this Cheat Sheet is a handy reference to chord positions, tablature, and guitar parts.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"To play blues guitar, first you have to know the basics of guitar in general, which means identifying the parts of a guitar and being able to translate a chord diagram. Then, you can get familiar with common open and moveable chord forms and create your own blues guitar style.","description":"To play blues guitar, first you have to know the basics of guitar in general, which means identifying the parts of a guitar and being able to translate a chord diagram. Then, you can get familiar with common open and moveable chord forms and create your own blues guitar style.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9006,"name":"Jon Chappell","slug":"jon-chappell","description":"Jon Chappell is a guitarist, arranger, and former editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9006"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33735,"title":"Guitar","slug":"guitar","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33735"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":206633,"title":"How to Play an E Major Chord in the Guitar","slug":"how-to-play-an-e-major-chord-in-the-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206633"}},{"articleId":206629,"title":"How to Test a Guitar Amp before You Buy","slug":"how-to-test-a-guitar-amp-before-you-buy","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206629"}},{"articleId":206626,"title":"How to Tune Up a New Electric Guitar Amplifier","slug":"how-to-tune-up-a-new-electric-guitar-amplifier","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206626"}},{"articleId":206620,"title":"Proper Slide Guitar Technique","slug":"proper-slide-guitar-technique","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/206620"}},{"articleId":200852,"title":"Playing the Blues Guitar: Acoustic Meets Electric","slug":"playing-the-blues-guitar-acoustic-meets-electric","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/200852"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":210308,"title":"How to String A Steel-String Acoustic Guitar","slug":"how-to-string-a-steel-string-acoustic-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210308"}},{"articleId":210307,"title":"How to Vary Guitar Articulation with Pull-Offs","slug":"how-to-vary-guitar-articulation-with-pull-offs","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210307"}},{"articleId":210306,"title":"How to Vary Guitar Articulation by Using Hammer-Ons","slug":"how-to-vary-guitar-articulation-by-using-hammer-ons","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210306"}},{"articleId":210305,"title":"How to Use a Capo","slug":"how-to-use-a-capo","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210305"}},{"articleId":210304,"title":"How to String a Nylon-String Guitar","slug":"how-to-string-a-nylon-string-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/210304"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282004,"slug":"blues-guitar-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119695639","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119695635/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119695635/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119695635-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119695635/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119695635/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/blues-guitar-for-dummies-cover-9781119695639-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Blues Guitar For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9006\">Jon Chappell</b> is a guitarist, arranger, and former editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9006,"name":"Jon Chappell","slug":"jon-chappell","description":"Jon Chappell is a guitarist, arranger, and former editor-in-chief of Guitar magazine.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9006"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;guitar&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119695639&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6222a8464274b\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;guitar&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119695639&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6222a846430be\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":189917,"title":"Guitar Parts, Chord Diagrams, and Tablature","slug":"guitar-parts-chord-diagrams-and-tablature","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/189917"}},{"articleId":189911,"title":"Common Open-Position Chords for Blues Guitar","slug":"common-open-position-chords-for-blues-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/189911"}},{"articleId":189916,"title":"Moveable Chord Forms for Blues Guitar","slug":"moveable-chord-forms-for-blues-guitar","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","guitar"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/189916"}}],"content":[{"title":"Guitar parts, chord diagrams, and tablature","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>To play blues guitar, or any style of guitar music, it helps to be able to identify the parts of the guitar, which are identified in the diagram below. It also helps to be able to read chord diagrams and the six-line guitar <i>tablature</i><i> </i>that<i> </i>tell you which frets press on which strings<i>.</i></p>\n<p>A sample chord diagram and tablature are shown here as well:</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/231667.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"585\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"Common open-position chords for blues guitar","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p><i>Open-pos</i><i>i</i><i>tion</i> chords are aptly named because they involve unfretted strings that can ring open, along with the fretted notes.</p>\n<p>Open-position chords have a “jangly” pleasant feature, sometimes referred to as “cowboy chords.” These 24 chords make-up just about all the chords you need for rock guitar in open position:</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/148783.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"355\" height=\"400\" /></p>\n"},{"title":"Moveable chord forms for blues guitar","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>A <i>moveable chord</i><i>, </i>unlike an open-position chord, does not include open strings. If you can move, without rearranging your fingers, from position to position on the neck of the guitar, it’s a moveable chord.</p>\n<h2>6th-String Root</h2>\n<p>These moveable, or power, chords get their name because they get their root from the 6th string.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/148785.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"135\" /></p>\n<h2>5th-String Root</h2>\n<p>These moveable, or power, chords are rooted from the 5th string.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/148786.image1.jpg\" alt=\"image1.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"134\" /></p>\n<h2>5th-String Root (more chords)</h2>\n<p>These additional chords are also rooted from the 5th string.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-04T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":208773},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:58:00+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-02-25T18:37:11+00:00","timestamp":"2022-02-26T00:01:05+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Music","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33730"},"slug":"music","categoryId":33730},{"name":"Instruments","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731"},"slug":"instruments","categoryId":33731},{"name":"Drums","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33734"},"slug":"drums","categoryId":33734}],"title":"Drums For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"drums for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"drums-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Becoming a great percussionist is more difficult than just hitting drums with sticks. Developing your own fluid and easy style on the drums involves practicing rudiments (sticking pattern exercises) in one of two ways: with a metronome or drumming at various tempos.","description":"Becoming a great percussionist is more difficult than just hitting drums with sticks. Developing your own fluid and easy style on the drums involves practicing rudiments (sticking pattern exercises) in one of two ways: with a metronome or drumming at various tempos.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9352,"name":"Jeff Strong","slug":"jeff-strong","description":"Jeff Strong is a renaissance man with experience in the fields of percussion, woodworking, recording, and neuro-developmental disabilities. He is the director of the Strong Institute—an auditory brain stimulation research organization—and creator of Brain Shift Radio, an interactive brain stimulation music site. He has been a drummer for over 40 years and has released dozens of CDs.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9352"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":33734,"title":"Drums","slug":"drums","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33734"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":199618,"title":"Beating the Bongos","slug":"beating-the-bongos","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199618"}},{"articleId":199526,"title":"Choosing the Perfect Rhythm for Your Drum Part","slug":"choosing-the-perfect-rhythm-for-your-drum-part","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199526"}},{"articleId":199416,"title":"Deconstructing the Drumset","slug":"deconstructing-the-drumset","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199416"}},{"articleId":198934,"title":"Tuning Your Drumset","slug":"tuning-your-drumset","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/198934"}},{"articleId":194873,"title":"Drumming the 26 Standard American Rudiments","slug":"drumming-the-26-standard-american-rudiments","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194873"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":199828,"title":"Miking the Drumset in Your Home Recording Studio","slug":"miking-the-drumset-in-your-home-recording-studio","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199828"}},{"articleId":199618,"title":"Beating the Bongos","slug":"beating-the-bongos","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199618"}},{"articleId":199526,"title":"Choosing the Perfect Rhythm for Your Drum Part","slug":"choosing-the-perfect-rhythm-for-your-drum-part","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199526"}},{"articleId":199416,"title":"Deconstructing the Drumset","slug":"deconstructing-the-drumset","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/199416"}},{"articleId":198934,"title":"Tuning Your Drumset","slug":"tuning-your-drumset","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/198934"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282161,"slug":"drums-for-dummies-2nd-edition","isbn":"9781119695516","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119695511/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119695511/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119695511-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119695511/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119695511/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/drums-for-dummies-2nd-edition-cover-9781119695516-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Drums For Dummies, 2nd Edition","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9352\">Jeff Strong</b> is a renaissance man with experience in the fields of percussion, woodworking, recording, and neuro-developmental disabilities. He is the director of the Strong Institute—an auditory brain stimulation research organization—and creator of Brain Shift Radio, an interactive brain stimulation music site. He has been a drummer for over 40 years and has released dozens of CDs.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9352,"name":"Jeff Strong","slug":"jeff-strong","description":"Jeff Strong is a renaissance man with experience in the fields of percussion, woodworking, recording, and neuro-developmental disabilities. He is the director of the Strong Institute—an auditory brain stimulation research organization—and creator of Brain Shift Radio, an interactive brain stimulation music site. He has been a drummer for over 40 years and has released dozens of CDs.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9352"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;drums&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119695516&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62196dc19be0f\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;academics-the-arts&quot;,&quot;music&quot;,&quot;instruments&quot;,&quot;drums&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119695516&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62196dc19c79c\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":194873,"title":"Drumming the 26 Standard American Rudiments","slug":"drumming-the-26-standard-american-rudiments","categoryList":["academics-the-arts","music","instruments","drums"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194873"}}],"content":[{"title":"Tuning your Drumset","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Regardless of the size of a drum or what its drum head is made of, the fundamentals of getting a good sound out of a drum are the same. You need to tune your drum to its sweet spot in order for it to sound its best. The <i>sweet spot</i> is simply the pitch where the drum resonates best. This spot varies from drum to drum based upon size, the construction of the shell, and the type of head that you use.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">Finding the sweet spot is fairly easy: Just adjust the pitch a little bit at a time until the sound is clear and without a lot of <i>overtones</i> (higher pitched sounds that the drum creates, which are usually hidden behind the fundamental tone of the drum). After it&#8217;s tuned well, you shouldn&#8217;t need to dampen (stop from vibrating) the head with tape or an internal system in order to lessen the overtones because there won&#8217;t be any.</p>\n<p>If you use the techniques in this article to tune your drums and still can&#8217;t get the sound you want, more than likely your heads are the problem. A few people do seem to have a drum-tuning deficiency. If you&#8217;re one of the few who can&#8217;t seem to tune your drum, don&#8217;t hang your head in shame; just find someone who can do it for you and then ask that person to teach you.</p>\n<h2>Tuning a drum with lugs</h2>\n<p>Got a wrench and a few minutes? Well, that&#8217;s all you need to tune up your lug-tuned drum. Lug-tuned drums are by far the most common style these days; drummers use lugs on all drumsets and many hand and stick drums. For the most part, drums with this type of tuning system are pretty straightforward to tune.</p>\n<p><!-- break --></p>\n<p>Start by removing the drumhead and the rim from your drum, and putting the drum on the floor. Wipe the edge of the shell with a dry cloth to get off any dirt or dust. Next, put the head on the drum and then the rim over that. Then follow these steps:</p>\n<p class=\"number\">1. Tighten the lugs by hand until they&#8217;re as tight as you can get them.</p>\n<p class=\"article-list\">Work the lugs by going across the drum as you go around. Start with the lug at the top (12 o&#8217;clock position), go to the lug at the six o&#8217;clock position, back up to the one o&#8217;clock position, to the seven o&#8217;clock position, and so forth until you go all the way around. This method ensures that you get the head evenly set on all sides.</p>\n<p class=\"number\">2. Press down on the rim over each lug as you tighten it further by hand, following the same pattern around the drum.</p>\n<p class=\"number\">3. After all the lugs are fully tightened by hand, gently press on the center of the head with your palm until you hear some cracking from glue on the head (be careful not to push too hard).</p>\n<p class=\"article-list\">This pushing seats the head and forces it to make full contact with the shell.</p>\n<p class=\"number\">4. Using the drum key (tuning wrench), work around the drum in the same manner described in previous steps and tighten each lug one-quarter to one-half a turn until all the wrinkles are out of the head.</p>\n<p class=\"article-list\">This process should take only one or two times around the drum.</p>\n<p class=\"number\">5. Check the drum&#8217;s pitch (how high or low the sound is) by hitting the drum in the center of the head.</p>\n<p class=\"number\">6. Continue going around the head using one-quarter turns until you get to a pitch that rings freely.</p>\n<p class=\"article-list\">If you notice overtones or if the pitch isn&#8217;t really clear, lightly tap the head with your stick about one inch in from each lug. The lugs should all be the same pitch. Adjust any that are out of pitch with the others until all are the same.</p>\n<p>Repeat this procedure on the bottom head if you have double-headed drums. Some like to get both heads tuned to the same pitch, but other people tune the bottom head slightly higher or lower than the top head. Experiment and see what you prefer.</p>\n<p><!-- break --></p>\n<h2>Tuning a drum with a rope system</h2>\n<p>Rope-tuned drums look hard to tune but they&#8217;re really not. In some ways, they&#8217;re actually easier to tune than drums with lugs, because you don&#8217;t have to worry about getting the drum in tune with itself.</p>\n<p>The process for tuning a drum with a rope system is pretty simple. All you have to do is untie the loose end (usually the long section) from the rope so that it&#8217;s free. You can find this section by noticing where the end of the rope is that&#8217;s strung around the drum. To raise the pitch, feed the loose end of the rope under the next two vertical strands (keep the rope taut where it was initially tied off). Next, loop the rope back across the second strand to the first and go under that one again. Hold the drum securely (maybe by resting your knee on it) and pull the rope tight until the first strand crosses the second and the rope is straightened out. Continue this procedure until you have the drum at the desired pitch. Tie off the loose end of the rope, and you&#8217;re set to play!</p>\n<h2>Tuning the untunable</h2>\n<p>Many frame drums are untunable — they don&#8217;t have a hardware system that allows you to adjust the tension on the head. That doesn&#8217;t necessarily mean that you can&#8217;t adjust the pitch of the drum — you can as long as the drum has a natural skin head.</p>\n<p>Because natural hide heads are affected by temperature and humidity, you can use these factors to adjust the tension on the head of your drum. Higher temperatures and lower humidity result in the head becoming more tense, thus producing a higher pitched sound. Likewise, lower temperatures and higher humidity result in a lower pitched sound. In most cases, you find that your drum drops in pitch, sometimes to the point where all you get is a &#8220;thud&#8221; when you hit it. This drop in pitch is especially evident in thinner-headed drums.</p>\n<p class=\"Tip\">To raise the pitch of your untunable drum, place it in sunlight for a little while until the head warms up a bit. You can also hold it over a heat source for a couple of minutes (some people use a hair dryer). Be careful though: If you put the drum too close to extreme heat or leave it in the hot sun too long, the head will break. If you want to lower the pitch of an untunable drum, put it in the bathroom, close the door, and turn on the shower (don&#8217;t put the drum in the shower though!). The humidity in the room will drop the pitch of the drum.</p>\n<p class=\"Remember\">These are both temporary solutions to tuning an untunable drum. The drumhead will eventually readjust to its natural pitch, as determined by the humidity and temperature in your room.</p>\n"},{"title":"Choosing the perfect rhythm for your drum part","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Playing a percussion instrument is all about rhythm. So if you play the drums, when you get together with other musicians, you need to be able to choose the correct rhythm for each song. If you end up reading music, this task is easy because the style of the music and basic groove pattern are notated on the chart (sheet music), but if you play without music, you have to figure out what to play. To do so, you need to listen to what the other musicians are playing and immediately choose a rhythm that fits.</p>\n<h2>Getting hints from other musicians</h2>\n<p class=\"Remember\">Often, somebody tells you the basic style of the tune by saying &#8220;straight-ahead rock&#8221; or &#8220;blues feel.&#8221; This hint gives you some idea of the genre of the music, but, depending on the person&#8217;s knowledge and skill level, it may or may not really help you figure out what to play. Just nod your head knowingly and listen very carefully (asking for clarification if you don&#8217;t understand is often okay).</p>\n<p>If the person counts the song in (for example, &#8220;one, two, three, four — play&#8221;) without playing an intro, you may have to fake it until you can actually hear what the other musicians are playing. The best thing to do is play the rhythm in Figure 1 until you can figure out what&#8217;s going on.</p>\n<p>The rhythm in Figure 1 works well in these situations because it contains the core instruments (hi-hat, snare drum, bass drum), and it won&#8217;t conflict with the rhythms of the other instruments, no matter what they&#8217;re playing.</p>\n<div class=\"figure\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/0-7645-5357-7_1401.jpg\" border=\"0\" /></div>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<div class=\"caption\"><b>Figure 1:</b> A great rhythm to use if you&#8217;re not sure what to play.</div>\n<p><!-- break --></p>\n<h2>Using the music as a guide</h2>\n<p class=\"Tip\">The most important factor that will guide you in determining which rhythm to use is the overall feel of the music (the section or song). To figure out the overall feel, start asking yourself the following questions:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Does the song have a straight or triplet feel?</b> You need to listen carefully to the music to answer this question. Depending on the song and the abilities of the other musicians, the feel is pretty easy to determine. In some cases, though, hearing it will prove more difficult. Fast songs in a shuffle feel, for example, can sound surprisingly like a straight feel.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul class=\"Tip article-ul-indent\">If you&#8217;re unsure if the song has a straight or triplet feel, asking is generally okay. However, if you&#8217;re in a situation where asking isn&#8217;t possible or desirable, the best thing to do is keep it really simple until you can figure it out (try starting with the rhythm in Figure 1).</ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>What subdivisions are being used? </b> Whether eighth or sixteenth notes are the basis of the main rhythm determines what type of rhythm you choose. If the guitar or keyboard player uses sixteenth notes, for example, you will probably find that playing sixteenth notes on the hi-hat will fit well.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Is the feel regular or half-time? </b> To answer this, listen for the basic pulse and watch other musicians as they play their parts (they often give this information away by the way they tap or sway as they play). It&#8217;s often pretty easy to tell the feel: One style fits much better than the other.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul>\n<li><b>What is the length of the rhythmic phrase?</b> After you know the overall feel of the music, start listening for the rhythmic phrasing of the other instruments. The length of the rhythmic phrase can help you decide how long you want your rhythm. The most common lengths for rhythms are either one or two bars, although it&#8217;s not unheard of to have a groove that&#8217;s four bars long. Listen to the bass player. His or her rhythms are your cue for what to play on the bass drum.</li>\n</ul>\n<ul class=\"Remember article-ul-indent\">Unless you&#8217;re playing in a free-form jazz-fusion band using bizarre odd meters or you&#8217;re into experimental music where there isn&#8217;t a distinguishable pulse, the style of the song gives you an immediate sense of what to play. In most cases, you draw from a handful of established grooves.</ul>\n<p>Figure 2 shows you an example of how a drum part relates to the rhythms of the guitar and bass player&#8217;s parts. Notice how the hi-hat pattern and the bass player&#8217;s notes on the one and &#8220;&amp;&#8221; of two (played on the bass drum) matches the guitar player&#8217;s eighth-note rhythm. Because this is a rock tune, the snare drum plays on the two and four.</p>\n<div class=\"figure\"><img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/0-7645-5357-7_1402.jpg\" border=\"0\" /></div>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><b>Figure 2:</b> This is how a drum rhythm fits with the other instruments in a band.&lt;/di</p>\n</div>\n"},{"title":"Drumming the 26 standard American rudiments","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Rudiments are drumming exercises to help you develop fluency in a number of sticking patterns. Practicing these exercises builds hand-to-hand coordination and develops a relaxed sound. The following rudiments can be practiced in two ways:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Set your metronome (or play along to some music) at a comfortable tempo and play steadily for a few minutes or longer.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Start out slowly, gradually building up speed until you hit the maximum speed that you can play them and still be in control. Hold that tempo for a few minutes and then slowly reduce your speed until you’re back where you started.</p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/156343.image0.jpg\" alt=\"image0.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"694\" /><br />\n<img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/156344.image1.jpg\" alt=\"image1.jpg\" width=\"535\" height=\"643\" /></li>\n</ul>\n<p><a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/155703.Drums2Page.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Click here to download and print a PDF of these exercises.</a></p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Explore","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-02-25T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209362}],"_links":{"self":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731/categoryArticles?sortField=time&sortOrder=1&size=10&offset=0"},"next":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731/categoryArticles?sortField=time&sortOrder=1&size=10&offset=10"},"last":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33731/categoryArticles?sortField=time&sortOrder=1&size=10&offset=1198"}}},"objectTitle":"","status":"success","pageType":"article-category","objectId":"33731","page":1,"sortField":"time","sortOrder":1,"categoriesIds":[],"articleTypes":[],"filterData":{"categoriesFilter":[{"itemId":0,"itemName":"All Categories","count":1208},{"itemId":33732,"itemName":"Banjo","count":118},{"itemId":33733,"itemName":"Bass Guitar","count":110},{"itemId":34590,"itemName":"Clarinet","count":1},{"itemId":33734,"itemName":"Drums","count":7},{"itemId":34591,"itemName":"Flute","count":1},{"itemId":33735,"itemName":"Guitar","count":559},{"itemId":33736,"itemName":"Harmonica","count":88},{"itemId":33731,"itemName":"Instruments","count":1},{"itemId":33737,"itemName":"Mandolin","count":6},{"itemId":33738,"itemName":"Piano","count":197},{"itemId":34388,"itemName":"Saxophone","count":1},{"itemId":33739,"itemName":"Trumpet","count":4},{"itemId":33740,"itemName":"Ukulele","count":14},{"itemId":33741,"itemName":"Violin & Fiddle","count":101}],"articleTypeFilter":[{"articleType":"All Types","count":1208},{"articleType":"Articles","count":1094},{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","count":29},{"articleType":"Step by Step","count":45},{"articleType":"Videos","count":40}]},"filterDataLoadedStatus":"success","pageSize":10},"adsState":{"pageScripts":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2022-05-16T12:59:10+00:00"},"adsId":0,"data":{"scripts":[{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"<!--Optimizely Script-->\r\n<script src=\"https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/10563184655.js\"></script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"<!-- comScore Tag -->\r\n<script>var _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1: \"2\", c2: \"15097263\" });(function() {var s = document.createElement(\"script\"), el = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0]; s.async = true;s.src = (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? 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Instruments Articles

Dance to the beat of your own drum. Or your own fiddle, your own banjo, your own trumpet. We've got pro tips and techniques to help you level up.

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1,208 results
1,208 results
Guitar Guitar Theory For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-27-2022

Guitar theory is an area of study that explains how you can play, improvise, and compose popular music on the guitar fretboard — and why certain elements of music go together the way they do. Dive into guitar theory by exploring a fretboard diagram showing notes along the 6th and 5th strings; some major scale patterns; Roman numerals and the major/minor chord sequence; and mode names.

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Trumpet Trumpet For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-13-2022

When you first start thinking about taking up the trumpet, finding an instrument that’s right for you is at the top of your to-do list. You need a mouthpiece as well — one that’s a good size and design for your needs. Of course, when you have a trumpet and mouthpiece, you need to know how to take care of them so that they last a long time and stay in good working order. Finally, you need a map for your journey, so a fingering chart is essential information, telling you which of those three valves you need to push down for the notes you want to play.

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Saxophone Saxophone For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-05-2022

The saxophone has influenced many styles of music. Saxophonists have left their indelible mark on music, whether it’s in the big bands of Count Basie and Duke Ellington, Bill Haley’s legendary rock ’n’ roll band, or the funk master James Brown. And in the bossa nova song “The Girl from Ipanema,” the breathy sax is the icing on the cake. This Cheat Sheet provides some basic information to help you start playing the saxophone: buying or leasing a sax, sax parts and their functions, practicing with your sax, and playing a new sax song.

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Guitar Guitar Rhythm & Technique For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-15-2022

This Cheat Sheet has some handy tips that you can keep in your practice area for quick reference. Use these techniques to review your basic rhythms and warm up your hands at the beginning of a playing session. Before you begin, trim and file the nails on your fretting hand so that nothing comes between your fingertips and the strings. Also, you may need a warm up before your warm up. Make sure your shoulders, arms, hands, and fingers are loose and warm. Stretch and massage yourself to get the blood flowing if need be.

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Guitar Classical Guitar For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-14-2022

Playing classical guitar starts with figuring out the notes, noting major and minor keys on the circle of 5ths, and knowing what situations in classical guitar call for playing the free stroke or the rest stroke.

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Guitar Guitar All-In-One For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-10-2022

Learning to play the guitar is a lot fun. Use this cheat sheet to help you get started with your guitar finger placement and guitar chords. If you need help with finger placement on your guitar, use tablature (tab) and fingerboard diagrams. Practice playing the most common open-position chords on your guitar to get that “jangly” sound, and make sure you know the notes on the neck of your guitar to change starting notes in scales, chords, and arpeggios.

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Guitar Guitar Amps and Effects For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-10-2022

Every guitarist seeks to produce an expressive and distinctive tone, but trying to figure out what kind of gear you need to create your sound can be baffling. This Cheat Sheet explains the three main equipment categories that comprise your music-making rig: your electric guitar, guitar amps, and effects pedals and units. These components all work together to create your sound. And because you can swap out equipment and change settings, the creative possibilities are virtually limitless.

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Violin & Fiddle Fiddle For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-10-2022

They say that practice makes perfect, and playing the fiddle is no different from other disciplines. Your fiddle playing will improve if you work on various drills and techniques during your practice sessions, including setting up your instrument and preparing to play, maintaining proper posture, positioning your fingers correctly, practicing left- and right-hand techniques, and establishing good bow movement.

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Guitar Blues Guitar For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-04-2022

To play blues guitar, first you have to know the basics of guitar in general, which means identifying the parts of a guitar and being able to translate a chord diagram. Then, you can get familiar with common open and moveable chord forms and create your own blues guitar style.

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Drums Drums For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 02-25-2022

Becoming a great percussionist is more difficult than just hitting drums with sticks. Developing your own fluid and easy style on the drums involves practicing rudiments (sticking pattern exercises) in one of two ways: with a metronome or drumming at various tempos.

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