How To Get Clean Guitar Notes and Chords

Here are a few tips to getting a clean chords on your guitar, so your worship songs sound great

1. Trim your left-hand fingernails. If you have nails it’s impossible to hold the strings down cleanly.

2. Hold a string down with the tip, or pad, of your finger right behind the frets. If you hold a string down on top of a fret it can produce a muffled tone. If you hold down a string too far from the fret it can produce a buzzing sound. Stay on the tips of your fingers and hold each string firmly, as close to the frets as you can. More on Getting Clean Notes On Your Guitar

This is a very charming video that will put a smile on your face. The second half of the video is the cutest. God has certainly made 'A Wonderful World.' Here the the delightful friendship of a cat and a young deer.

In the recent survey there were two related questions:  "How to control stage fright?" and "Tips on playing in front of an audience."

In looking at the questions it occurred to me a better question is "How to play with confidence."

Years ago I learned that even when the poles are far apart, there were a lot of people hitting telephone or electrical poles in accidents. Before the accident, turns out their predominant thought was 'I can't hit that pole!' You naturally head towards what you're focused on.

"How to control stage fright" presupposes you will have stage fright. When I first started playing the guitar, I was very nervous playing in front of people, so I'm not saying it doesn't exist. I does. You can experience stage fright, but you don't have to stay there. Stage fright can become a distant memory. Yes, every one of you can learn to play with full confidence.

Here are my suggestions for playing with full confidence: More on Playing with Confidence

In the last survey, quite a few people requested help with finding time to practice and tips on how to practice. Here are a few ideas that you may find helpful.

1. Make Time To Practice.
We each have the same 24 hours a day. Only God is omnipresent so we need to be making choices of how to spent this gift of time we each have.

It's a good idea to think about where you could cut back to open up a half an hour, or more, to spending on playing. I have a good friend who decided to cut out 2 hours of TV in the evenings. I also know a number of famlies that use their family devotional time for a perfect opportunity to add worship songs played on the guitar.

2. Make It Easy To Practice.
Set up a 'practice area.' Get a music stand to hold your music, a chair without arms and a convenient place for your guitar. I used to recommend leaving your guitar on a guitar stand, but in earthquake areas like California that wasn't the best idea. A nearby case can keep it more protected. (I keep my good instrument in a case but still leave out an inexpensive one on a guitar stand just because it's so convenient to get to.)

3.. Start With Prayer.
Our minds can be full of distractions. It's good to get them quieted and focused on the task at thand, plus, as a Christian we can ask for resources beyond our own for help in all areas of our lives. This definitely includes help with learning to play the guitar.

For more ideas check out - How to Practice the Guitar

If you have some more tips on practicing, just add them to the comments.

We just celebrated Resurection Sunday and I wanted to make you a song arrangement of 'I Know My Redeemer Lives.' I was hoping to have it for you before Easter Sunday, but didn't get a chance to get it out. Click here for the song. Hope you enjoy the song!