Category Archives: Guitar Tips and Tricks

Guitar Strings That Are Easy on the Fingers

Hands playing guitar strings

As a guitar player, you know how important it is to have a comfortable playing experience. Your guitar strings are a crucial part of that equation. Strings that are too stiff or rough can cause finger pain and fatigue, making it difficult to play for long stretches. Investing in a set of smooth, flexible strings […]

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Comprehensive Guide on Stringing a Classical Guitar: A Step-by-Step Tutorial

Restringing a classical guitar involves removing the old strings and installing a new set. This important maintenance task should be performed periodically to keep the guitar sounding its best and a player’s touch and expression most consistent. Old strings can distort and even corrode over time, affecting tuning stability, response, and tone. Stringing a classical […]

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Guitar Slides – Choosing The Right One For You

Guitarists have been using guitar slides for over a century to produce crying, wailing sounds, chunky rhythms, and sweet, vocal-like tones. These little tubes of glass, metal or ceramic that slide onto your finger open up a whole new world of sounds and techniques on both acoustic and electric guitars.  As you’ll soon find out, […]

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Can Amplification Impact Repetitive Motion Issues?

Introduction Ken Donnell, a lifetime musician and master luthier, is the foremost authority on “close-mic” applications for stringed musical instruments. (The field of using “close-mics” involves placing miniature microphones directly on to, or inside of, an instrument for amplification or recording.)Ken holds the original patents in this field of audio engineering, and continues to manage […]

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Performance Anxiety, Part 6: More on Creating Durable Memorization

A series of articles beginning with Part 1. Introduction Veteran performer, Strings By Mail owner, and guitar teacher for 15 years at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, John Wunsch presents a series of articles on alleviating performance anxiety. Controlling Performance AnxietyPart 6: More on Creating Durable Memorization by John Wunsch (Originally published in Mel […]

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Performance Anxiety, Part 5: Creating Durable Memorization

A series of articles beginning with Part 1. Introduction Veteran performer, Strings By Mail owner, and guitar teacher for 15 years at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, John Wunsch presents a series of articles on alleviating performance anxiety. Controlling Performance AnxietyPart 5: Creating Durable Memorization by John Wunsch (Originally published in Mel Bay’s Guitar […]

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Performance Anxiety, Part 4: Reducing the Likelihood of Anxiety

Performance Anxiety, Part 2: Building the Bridge

Introduction Veteran performer, Strings By Mail owner, and guitar teacher for 15 years at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, John Wunsch presents a series of articles on alleviating performance anxiety. A series of articles beginning with Part 1. Controlling Performance Anxiety, Part 4: Reducing the Likelihood of Anxiety by John Wunsch (Originally published in […]

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Performance Anxiety, Part 3: Reasonable Expectations “Taking the Long View”

Performance Anxiety, Part 2: Building the Bridge

Introduction Veteran performer, Strings By Mail owner, and guitar teacher for 15 years at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, John Wunsch presents a series of articles on alleviating performance anxiety. A series of articles beginning with Part 1. Controlling Performance Anxiety, Part 3: Reasonable Expectations “Taking the Long View” by John Wunsch (Originally published […]

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