Unanswered Questions 6
- The American Guitar Academy
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Let us explore some more questions I have been asked recently. There are some
interesting ones this time!
What is the difference between two and three note power chords?
There is no theoretical difference between two and three note power chords. We are all familiar with the power chord mantra of “one string below, two frets along” - but those of you who may have explored chords, or notes on the fretboard, in more detail will know that two strings down, two frets along gives you an octave.
Due to the shape of three note power chords, you are only playing two notes that are different - the root and the fifth. The extra note is an octave, which provides no harmonic difference.
Deciding which one to play is a matter of personal preference for the most part. Although, it must be said that the bigger chord has a bigger sound, so it may be to your advantage to opt for the bigger shape.
How often should I change my strings?
Here are some links to blog posts referencing the changing of strings. I suggest you read them for more specific detail.
Here is a post by Ryan, where he discusses the strengths of different string types. For a different perspective, here is an older blog that post I wrote discussing finger pain, and that replacing strings might help with that.
My personal preference is based on two things - which of my guitars I am playing, and what brand of strings I am using. Let’s address the first point:
1 - Whilst cleaner strings help avoid muting higher frequencies, they also make certain techniques a little easier to play. On my electric guitars, I opt to change the strings as soon as I notice any change as a result of deterioration. However, for my acoustic guitar that spends most of its time strumming away or fingerpicking, I might leave them for several months or more. My bass has never had new strings - and I have no idea when my friend, from whom I purchased the bass, changed the strings.
2 - In Japan I prefer to use coated strings, usually Elixir Optiweb. The lower, wound strings are coated in such a way that they last a long time and stand up to the humid weather a bit better. These strings take longer to deteriorate, therefore string changes will be at longer intervals.
Some other points to consider would be how often you play, how you store your guitar and if you can only afford a lower cost brand. Whilst you should always make an effort to find your favorite brand and string gauge, try to avoid the absolute cheapest ones available. They will cost half as much, but will last half as long and probably won’t feel as nice or stay in tune as well.
How do I change strings?
One venerated luthier will argue that you should always change one string at a time, whereas another will swear by the removal of all the old strings before new ones are added. As you grow more experienced in changing your own strings, you will develop your own little method, likely similar to many others but personal to you.
I opt to take all of the strings from my guitars when I change them, as it gives me the chance to clean the guitar properly and condition the fretboard if needed.
Please read this blog post by The American Guitar Academy teacher, Ryan. He explains a great approach to changing strings.
Here are some great videos you could also take some tips from:
Acoustic Guitar
Electric Guitar
Why is my friend better than me at guitar?
Soon I will be writing a blog post about being jealous, and methods for dealing with it. However, there are a couple of points I can make on the subject here.
What are you comparing to? Their speed, tone, songwriting or technique? Think about how they might have different needs to you, therefore their journey may have taken them on a different path. Learning guitar is a journey, and we are all at a different point in that journey - with a different destination too!
It is easy to tell someone to not compare themselves to someone else, but it really stems from not being very happy In your playing or confident in your own abilities. If you can play exactly what you want and need to, then not comparing yourself to someone else would be a much easier task. Additionally, part of this is recognising that you are still learning, being aware of it and also supporting others who may be in a similar situation, but looking up to you instead.
I remember being shown the power chord shape when I was 12, and thinking that it was by far the coolest thing I had ever seen - I distinctly remember thinking “why can’t I do that?!”.
Keep a look out for that blog post soon, if it is not out already, where I’ll discuss this in more detail.
How can I sound better?
Sounding better is a matter of opinion. As a guitar player, we seem to be predisposed to eternally chase our tone until the end of time. This is especially true in the past few decades, where a larger variety of equipment is available at almost every price point. An oversaturated content library, easily accessible via YouTube etc, is probably also to blame.
That leads on to the more important questions. What needs to improve, your tone or your technique? In a recent interview with guitar maestro Nick Johnston (keep an eye out for the video soon), we agreed on the point that you should be able to work towards the same tone that is uniquely yours regardless of what equipment you are using. This could be based on technique specifically, or possibly how to manipulate controls on the amplifier, pedals and guitar.
However, sometimes there is an element of your signal chain that just lets everything down. We have discussed before how you don’t need the most expensive cables, but cheaply produced, unshielded cables are more susceptible to noise, do not always translate the signal very well and often break very quickly. It could also be a pick-up in your guitar that is broken, causing excessive noise or not working at all.
There is no true answer to any of these. Instead, it would pay to sit down with a friend, or your teacher, and identify the problem. Whatever you do, don’t go and spend 1,000,000円 on a guitar just to make yourself sound like your favorite player!
I want to be a famous guitar player. How do I do that?
Do you really? It is an admirable goal, but oftentimes people underestimate the work that goes into being a professional guitar player, let alone a famous one. Most of the time, the music industry, as well as many others, is rooted in who you know rather than what you know.
My advice would be as follows:
Get out there! Be seen playing, socializing and hanging with other musicians,
Have something tangible - this could be songs/recordings or even just proof of your accolades,
Be one time - it is a cutthroat business. If you are late, people will notice,
Be visible - This one is relevant to being online. Not everyone actively uses social media, but I always feel disheartened when I can’t find someone's artist page, or website.
Final Thoughts
Be sure to always ask your guitar teacher if you have any questions, regardless of how insignificant they seem. You could always reach out to the American Guitar Academy, or even ask a trusted friend if you think it will help.
Sometimes an answer from one person can pose more questions than it answers, with true understanding coming from an unlikely source!
Keep rocking!
