Friday, June 17, 2011

How To Make Tunes Of Your Own

By Jack Wogan


Words don't seem to do sometimes. The ones you're speaking to are the ones who love you and you're the one who's right and yet, words don't touch them enough. You know all it takes is the right guitar and the right guitar effects pedal and your garage becomes the place where you can work wonders if you feel like this world could be a better place for you and your friends, even if for several hours a day only.

For some, making your own music means making your own instrument. The Red Special magic was born this way: an 18-th century fireplace would supply some wood parts, a few parts from a dismantled old motorbike did most of the rest, with a knitting needle and some minor parts of a bike following. The result was lacquered carefully. The world of electric musical instruments was still recent and there was a scarcity of valuable items, when a British youngster aged 16 who had enjoyed his classical piano training up to switching to a banjolele (the rather peculiar sounded combination between a ukulele and a banjo) persuaded his father to collaborate in manufacturing a guitar that would reflect his own conception on what its sounds had to be like. Musician Brian May, its owner, who seldom played anything else at the peak of his career, modestly dubbed the result Fireplace or The Old Lady, but it is world famous as the Red Special.

Others have started out guided mainly by a personal vision, stronger than the other ones. This kind of voodoo has proven to be strong. In a still segregated America, the mother of a 15 years old poor black boy has died leaving him very upset, and from petty 5$ received from an acquaintance the boy buys a cheap acoustic guitar. A scholarship and several schools are the next step, and the amazement of his instructors at young Jimi Hendrix's totally unorthodox perception regarding composition, which was soon to turn him into the world's greatest electric guitar player.

Many iconic guitarists use instruments from different commonly-known manufacturers but have a very distinctive individual sound. You cannot be wrong, no matter what you know about legendary Santana's favorite guitar, because he often swapped instruments and manufacturers. His followers swapped along. Many other custom made models alongside those have become largely affordable now, while other experimental instruments appear, in answer to the demands of accomplished performers who have highly individual needs, which manufacturers strive to cater for. This has led to the extended and well-balanced market of today. The same fast evolution is characteristic for the electric device which enhances the possibilities for sound modulation that contemporary guitar players enjoy.

In conclusion, if you want to make your own music and you favor electric sounds, low-end instruments made in Germany, or Canada are on hand. Bass guitars from well-known manufacturers also come at affordable prices. More sophisticated second hand instruments are also low-priced and thus in reach of beginners. All it takes next is confidence, determination and an excellent guitar effects pedal.




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