Video Question: Guitar Travel Tips, Flying, Humidity and Altitude

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Date: June 9th, 2008 | Length: 4.333 | Instructor: Nick Greathouse

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!!!" 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:

Chord Theory - September 19th, 2007 (5 minutes, 18 seconds)

noamde41 writes "'m stuck at lesson 7, scene 2 of steve's lesson. I'm trying to figure out what makes a basic chord (minor or Major), but I seem to be missing something. I get how he builds the maj7, 7th, and 6th from the basic chord. But I can make sence of a basic chord itself?! Can you give me a little extra material on what makes a basic chord or another website that would explain the basic theory. Thanks for your help and really enjoy your lessons, Steeve." View Response

Help Changing Chords - April 25th, 2007 (1 minutes, 00 seconds)

Danny91 asks "Well i've been having a problem and its kinda hard for me to change between chord to chord like im up to lesson 3 in beginners and im watching steve's lessons and he teaches great but i have a problem switching chords when im strumming so is it possible if u guys could send me a practice tape that will get my speed up and that i can change chords while strumming because i stop strumming when i change it cause im not fast enough so if it possible help me out . thanks" View Response

- July 17th, 2008 (3 minutes, 13 seconds)

Jerzi78 asks, "I am just starting out and have been going through the video tutorials. My question is how fast should you advance to the next lesson? For example alternate picking and neck finger exercises, should you work at these until it can be done as fast as some of the instructors on here? Will it slow you down in the long run or make it much easier with hard finger positions and playing different chords when learning a song? Thanks, Jason" View Response

Whammy bar - August 5th, 2008 (6 minutes, 40 seconds)

Rockerdon asks, "Dear Brad and DMAC, I have two questions. First, I have a simple guitar,a peavey predator and a peavey backstage amp(a small transtube amp). I have been playing seriously for about 2 months.I am between beginner and intermediate. I'm closer to intemediate. I have finished Dmac's beginner lessons and I'm working on Brad's Classic rock lessons. I want two add some spice to my playing. My guitar has a floyd rose double locking tremelo whammy bar system, but I don't have a wammy bar. At my skill level , could I use a whammy bar and where could I buy one? also what would be a good price for one? Also my amp has overdrive, but i want more. Would u recommend an effects box or peddle? And I tryed out a Wah Wah box at guitar center. Could I use a Wah wah peddle or box?Also would u recommend a box or peddle?Also what ould be a good price for effects and wahwahs?Thanks for all the help u can give.This Site rocks. ROCK ON!!! RockerDon" View Response

Guitar Action - April 28th, 2008 (2 minutes, 13 seconds)

Jdemail78 asks, "I hear a lot about guitar action but I'm not really sure what is good or bad. I had purchased an acoustic guitar that I believe had very low action (strings were very close to the neck of the guitar) and it was very easy to play but it ended up having some issues with fret buzz and other ringing sounds that I did not like and could not get corrected at the local guitar shop. I've since replaced it with a little bit better guitar and I no longer have any fret buzz nor do I have any ringing sounds but it seems like the action is higher (strings are much higher off the neck of the guitar) and therefore, for me as a beginner, it is harder to play. My question is when it comes to an experienced guitar player (which I am not...yet...) is it good to have a guitar with higher action or lower action? What would one typically prefer? Do really nice expensive guitars come with very low action making them easy to play but don't have any buzzing issues or is it a case where as you get better, higher action is ok because your better at fretting chords and notes? My curiosity with this comes from a hope that the guitar I have now, with it's strings higher off the fret board, will slowly become easier to play as I get better and I'll become ok with the higher action because it does sound better and cleaner than the one I had with the lower action. Also, please correct me if I have the "high action" "low action" descriptions backwards." View Response