Video Question: First Guitar

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Date: April 28th, 2008 | Length: 1.5 | Instructor: David MacKenzie

Paigew asks, "I'm buying my first electric guitar and I am stuck.I was thinking about getting a fender strat but I do not know if I am starting out to big.Do you think I should go less or stick with the strat?" Another benefit of being a member of JamPlay is the video response section. Our expert staff fields questions from our members and provides video responses each week.

Other Video Responses:

Learning How to Solo - December 16th, 2008 (4 minutes, 44 seconds)

Ianb63 said "Hi all and thanks to Jamplay for a truly wonderful site. You guys are all amazing. After quite a few years of frustration alot of the theory has started to make sense at last. I know, and understand all twelve key signatures and there relative minor scales. I can play all the scales in five different patterns on the neck. I also know every note on the guitar neck by name. Chord theory makes sense to me and i understand how they are constructed. Modes took a while to get my head round, but i got there in the end. Given all this knowledge you would think i would have no trouble improvising, but in fact i am really struggling. My problem is this. If i concentrate on where i am on the guitar and what i want to play, i lose track of where i am in the chord progression i am following. If however i concentrate on counting the beat, i can keep track of the chords but then i cannot keep my focus on where exactly i am on the neck and it all goes to pieces. Any chance of a lesson to simplify the process and build n on how to up to it in stages....Thanks Ian" View Response

Guitar Travel Tips, Flying, Humidity and Altitude - June 9th, 2008 (4 minutes, 20 seconds)

nmound asks, "Hello JamPlay, I was wondering if you could provide some travel tips. Soon, I will be getting mobilized to Hawaii for a year and want to bring my Washburn acoustic with me. New York to Honolulu is quite the journey and I want my guitar to make it in one piece. One friend recommended de-tuning the strings b/c the pressure changes on a plane can make them bust. Also, is there a place on the plane for instruments as it is to big to fit in overhead compartments. Or, do I have no choice but to make it checked luggage (cringes at the thought of those careless baggage handlers)? Of course i will call the airline to get their policy, but tips from the tried and tested JamPlay instructors on their previous travels would be great. Thank You...keep up the good work!!!" View Response

Modes - July 9th, 2008 (1 minutes, 12 seconds)

john873 asks, "Lets say we are improvising in the key of G Dorian, I want to begin moving down the fretboard to get some higher notes. When i move up to the A Phrygian position do i continue to use G as my root note; or instead, do i switch to A?" View Response

Loop Station - November 5th, 2007 (2 minutes, 10 seconds)

Kc8tgq asks: "I just recently purchased a Jamman Loop station along with a Mixer, Drum Machine, ect... I was wandering If any of the instructors would be willing to teach a few songs incorporating a Loop station?" View Response

Tablature Numbers - May 19th, 2007 (1 minutes, 20 seconds)

Jason Z asks "When reading tablature i know the numbers on the line represent the fret to be played but what does is mean when there is a 3b on a line?" View Response