3 easy electric guitar songs to learn for any beginner (in my opinion)

In a very similar effort to my last post about acoustic songs, newbies also want some electric guitar appropriate songs to play during the infancy of their guitarist career. Without further ado, here are my top 3:

1. "Smells like teen spirit" Nirvana

This classic by Nirvana is so simple, all it requires for the simplest version is one shape to be moved around 4 frets. All it requires to get the original vibe is for some rhythmic chucking and some heavy distortion either by way of an effects pedal or simply by gain cranked up as high as it can go on any amplifier.

2. "Are you gonna go my way" Lenny Kravitz

This is not as simple as the Nirvana track but sounds far more complex than it is to a non-musician. It also allows room for addition as you become more advanced and can play fills and solos.

3. "Lounge act" Nirvana

Another Nirvana track, Cobain famously wrote his songs very simply and mainly using power chords in place of barre chords and technical solos. This is another great song that requires nothing fancy in order to sound great and largely consists of a simple octave progression down the neck.

Have fun with these and once again don't give up learning. Practice makes perfect. Good luck.

3 easy acoustic Songs to learn for any beginner (In my opinion)

Learning the guitar is a great decision that i have never regretted, but looking back on when i used to play and could only form around 3 chords, it was far less interesting than 4 years later when i would call myself reasonably skilled. Due to this, i feel like it might be helpful to any aspiring musician to know some songs that are not only easy, but also sound great as a beginner to play on any calibre of acoustic guitar. All of which are in standard tuning.

1. "Every rose has its thorn" Poison

This classic 80's love rock ballad is recognisable to any musician and ,though some may laugh at its cheesy nature, it is undoubtedly a song that any young non-musician will enjoy hearing. For the majority of the song, it consists of three chords: G, C, D, and due to the formulation of these chords, it is not necessary to move around the neck or indeed move the palm of your hand and thumb and so is a perfect song for a newbie who wants to play something recognisable and classic.

2. "Knocking on Heavens Door" Bob Dylan

This song has only 4 chords for the entirety of the simple version of the song which are G,D, Am and then G,D,C. These are some of the first chords any guitarist whether they are taught by a teacher or self taught such as myself and so it is handy to help them learn quicker chord changes and is another classic. The song has been covered by many including Clapton and Guns n' Roses. It is also a very easy song to sing along to due to the rhythm of the song.

3. "Come as you are" Nirvana 

This is a classic and well known song by people of all ages and tastes and will never fail to impress others. It is slightly different to the other two options as it is not chord based but instead single-note based around the first two frets and mainly over just two strings; E and A. This one is slightly harder to sing along with due to the odd picking pattern but others will be able to sing along and it will make people in their 30's nostalgic of their teen days.

These songs are all easy to find online and they will take minutes to learn. They can also be added to as you become more advanced with solos and reggae versions. Carry on practicing and you'll never regret it. Good luck and thank you for visiting as always.

Lets talk slides

Slides are a well-known and great sounding accessory for any guitarist to have. They have roots most strongly in blues but have also been used in jazz, rock, country, folk and many more. They are highly versatile and mastery of the slide is a very impressive and desirable skill. Personally, I'm not the best at using a slide but i can produce a basic sound largely in the realms of traditional blues-type-vibe. My dad can slide very well and it was listening to him that made me want to learn to slide correctly and i would like to share some of my knowledge of slides with you right now on here.

Types and styles

Just like guitars and musical genres themselves, slides come in all shapes, sizes, and materials. They vary from standard brass or copper slides and can include a range of materials such as metals, plastics, and even traditional bottle-neck slides. The different material along with the length and thickness of that material will decide what type of sound you will get from them. For example, a long and thick plastic slide will give you a far duller sound that a short and thin metallic slide, which will consequently sound brighter and more crisp. They increase ability for vibrato and when paired with a 12 string guitar they can produce some very unique and deep tones.

Price

Just like with the sound, this will vary very much depending on the style and the material you choose. A simple, standard long copper slide will cost in the region of £10 whereas a silver slide will cost more towards the £20 mark or possibly more. It is possible to create your own bottleneck slide with a glass bottleneck and a sander although doing it properly will require a certain level of skill. 

Artists

Many artists all over the world and genre spectrum use guitar slides in their music. These include the likes of BB King, Eric Clapton, Billy Gibbons, Richie Sambora, John Mayer, Slash, Ronnie Wood, and many more. They are versatile and relatively cheap and easy to acquire and give you another sound to infuse into your own personal style.