Video Question:

June 20th, 2008 - 3jennijarre asks, "i just had a ? on amplification our band is good 2 go with guitar anps and bass amps but we were wondering what we should get for the singer because whatever we use seems just to get drownd out by the playing! i have bee nsnooping around and maurgurietes music and musitians friend.com but we dont know if we shoulg get a portable start up pa package or just a big guitar amp. would that work.???????? i know this is a hard topic but please help and give any info that you have thanks jarrett" Return to Video Q&A Listing


Length: 3.5 | Instructor: David MacKenzie 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:

Strumming - December 14th, 2007 (4 minutes, 40 seconds)

Zcarter wrote "Hey Steve, Is there any correct way to "strum" when using the guitar? I have been strumming a specific way for a long time and I think it works okay, however one of my friends said if I keep strumming this specific way, it will be more difficult to play songs in the long run. Does it really matter how I strum? Currently, I hold the pick in between my thumb and index finger, but I think it may be a different way than most people... Thanks! Zac" View Response

Strumming - February 11th, 2008 (2 minutes, 15 seconds)

Erk1024 asks, "Hi, After trying out several other teaching web site, this is by far my favorite! When you are strumming up and down, do you turn your hand a little bit on the up-strums? It seems like my down strums are OK, but when I up-strum the pick seems like it wants to catch a little bit. It seems to work better with a thinner pick. Do you roll your hand a bit so the pick is at an angle to the strings, or do you always keep it perpendicular? Thanks! Eric" View Response

Playing Guitar Fast - October 10th, 2007 (2 minutes, 45 seconds)

Metalman says ,"Hello i was wondering if you would teach me how to play faster,and by faster i mean to help me with more 'string skipping' meaning to go from one string to the other really fast and also a little help in alternate picking techniques i would greatly appreciate at least the first one-Thank You!!!!!!" View Response

- August 7th, 2008 (8 minutes, 32 seconds)

Onlythehunter asks, "Hi. I took acoustic lessons as a kid but never completed them, then as a teen and early twenties I self taught well enough to strum and write my own songs, which is my passion. I just bought a couple electrics (one with a temolo, one without) to try to learn to play it and also work on home recording with a newly purchased home studio system. I have two quick questions. First, I know some basics, although I am in the "learning scales is scary" stage. Do you suggest I start strumming my familiar chords on the electric to get comfortable, or to learn lead should I study power chords and scales, which I've never done? What's the best option? Second, one of my favorite songs is Springsteen's Tunnel Of Love. The sheet music has a chord notation of G5 with a slach through a 3. I assume it means a G5 omitting the third, but I can not get it to sound right or figure out what the chord is. Any ideas? Thank you very much, I am recommeding you guys to everyone I know." View Response

Barre Chords - November 5th, 2007 (3 minutes, 26 seconds)

Louis Aves asks: "Hi Steve- What is the correct position of the thumb when making a barre chord ? I have tried putting my thumb in line with my first finger and also running my thumb along the neck pointing toward the nut but both cause a lot of pain around the base of my thumb when I move position.The only way I can kind of do it is by bending my thumb in almost a right angle shape and using the tip, not the pad,to press on the back of the neck but this makes for quite a lot of movement and time to get from open to barre chords and vice versa. Any suggestions? (Apart from sell my guitar ! ) Love the lessons Steve." View Response