This thing is so nice… it’s got a nice feel to it. the neck is really sleek, and it’s not maple. cheap guitars can be good.

The First Hawaiian Conservatory of Music didn’t really exist, it was a marketing ploy to sell cheap guitars via mail order in the early parts of the 20th Centuary. Check the actual ad from Popular Mechanics in the video. Regardless, these surviving examples are the quintessential blues guitars, made famous by the likes of Blind Willie Johnson et al.

For more gear reviews and videos check out guitarworld.com In this video Guitar World’s gear editor Paul Riario demonstrates the features of the First Act Delia LS electric guitar.

We caught up with Cold War Kids at First Act Guitar Studio in this exclusive interview shot January 16, 2007. www.firstact.com

This is my first recording with the BOSS DR-880. A cheap electric guitar plugged directly into the DR880 without any stomp boxes. The DR800 was plugged into my sound card in the computer to make the recording. Not including the computer, only one device, two cables, and a guitar. I have been playing acoustic guitar off and on and ignoring the electric. My fingers don’t work like they used to. So I will be practicing ALOT (and yes I know, I need it for sure) So don’t be too critical of my cheesy guitar riffs. I am a novice and just having fun. More to come later

Buying your first electric guitar can seem like a pretty daunting experience. Having no doubt admired many an axe-wielder, the obvious idea would be to buy the same guitar as one of your heroes. The problem with that is the equally obvious issue of money. Unless you’re willing to spend several thousand pounds on a plank of wood you can barely play, a few helpful hints can ensure that you buy the right guitar to suit your needs, skill level and budget.

The right type of guitar will depend on the style of music you are most likely to play. For example, if heavy metal is your thing, a semi-hollow body guitar, like the Gibson ES-355, made popular in recent times by such luminaries as Noel Gallagher, will probably not be what you’re looking for. For the right style, see what kind of guitars your main influences are playing and see if there are cheaper versions available.

When it comes to the price you’re willing to pay, there must be some leeway. A cheap guitar might be within your budget, but if the wood, pick-ups and frets are substandard, it will lessen your incentive to keep playing. That’s not to say your first guitar should cost a fortune, but even spending £100 more could significantly improve the quality of guitars available. The same can be said for the shape of the guitar, although the most aesthetically-appealing guitars might not always be the best-sounding. The key is to always try the guitar before buying, even if you can’t really play anything, be it in a guitar shop or from a private seller. The sound and feel of playing the guitar should feel right before you part with any of your money.

Every electric guitar needs an amplifier, so unless you’re buying a guitar and amplifier together as part of a deal, you should try several ones to find the right one for you. As a general rule of thumb, always try playing through the amplifier with your guitar or one similar to your own. The amplifier might sound fantastic with a top-of–the range PRS Custom guitar, but that might not be the case with your Squier Strat.

Even though several guitarists, from Jimmy Page to Matt Bellamy of Muse, have been mainly self-taught, it is still worthwhile taking a few lessons to learn the rudimentary workings of a guitar. A look through online classifieds will allow you to see quickly and easily if there are guitar teachers in your local area. In addition, there are several online resources to further your training, where you can learn guitar chords and find transcriptions of your favourite songs. Certain software packages, such as Tab Editor can play transcriptions of songs as MIDI files, with notation to teach you how to play the song in real-time. This is great for when you’re starting out, but be beware of relying too much on these packages, as figuring out songs for yourself is needed to develop your musical ear.

At the end of the day, the most important thing about progressing as a guitarist is, unsurprisingly, to keep practicing. It can seem frustrating to not be able to play your favourite songs straight away, but with tenacity and the right equipment you can reach far further than may seem apparent at first. Rock on.

One word describes the CD Women And Children First from Van Halen. . . AWESOME!

This one literally grabs your attention right from the start with And The Cradle Will Rock. . . and doesn’t let go until the very last note of the very last song In A Simple Rhyme, which by the way is another great track.

Women And Children First is a nicely varied, mix of 9 tracks that are very well written and brilliantly performed songs by these clearly outstanding musicians. Most of the songs display a lot of the kind emotion that makes for a really great listen. Clearly drawing from what I can only imagine are their own real life experiences. At different points touching on the most real emotions of love, heartbreak, pain, failed relationships and unattainable romance. They’re all here.

Overall Women And Children First is an outstanding release. What I call must have music. I give it two thumbs up and is most definitely a worthy addition to any Rock collection. Truly an outstanding Rock CD. One of those that is completely void of any wasted time, as each track is simply superb.

While the entire album is outstanding the truly standout tunes are track 2 – Everybody Wants Some, track 7 – Take Your Whiskey Home, and track 9 – In A Simple Rhyme.

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [. . . as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 1 – And The Cradle Will Rock. . . . Wow!

Women And Children First Release Notes:

Van Halen originally released Women And Children First on September 19, 2000 on the Warner Bros. Records label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. And The Cradle Will Rock. . . 2. Everybody Wants Some!! 3. Fools 4. Romeo Delight 5. Tora! Tora! 6. Loss Of Control 7. Take Your Whiskey Home 8. Could This Be Magic? 9. In A Simple Rhyme

Van Halen: David Lee Roth (vocals); Eddie Van Halen (guitar); Michael Anthony (bass); Alex Van Halen (drums).

Everything has to start from something, right? if you really want to learn how to play the guitar, first of all, you should have your own guitar. The guitar of choice for beginner should have soft strings so that they don’t cut or hurt your fingers as bad as first. Choosing a heavy guitar is also not advisable for beginners as this may give you discomfort when you use it. Since you are a beginner it is not advisable for you to buy guitars that has a hefty price tag. There are many cheap guitars but equally dependable. You can also check online auctions for second hand guitars. It’s your first guitar anyway. First things first, after getting yourself a good guitar, it’s time to tune it. It’s very important for a guitar to be properly tuned before playing it. Tuning your guitar is a little tricky for beginners like you. An electronic tuner is advisable to make sure that you get the correct sound every time you tune your guitar. Another useful tool for a beginner is a pick for strumming and plucking. It is not advisable to use long finger nails to strum or pluck the guitar because your fingers are going to be sore. Getting sore fingers won’t help you at all in practicing, and worse, this feeling might even give you an idea to give up. Learning guitar chords is also essential. Any learning materials, tutorials and resources that you invest in should be able to teach you on this aspect. It is a must to learn how to put the correct fingers in their designated strings. Practicing and learning how to use chords is a must before learning guitar tabs. There are many instructional videos for a beginner who wants to learn how to play guitar. They are readily available on the internet and all you have to do is search for them and then watch the instructors’ hand and finger movements carefully. Take note of how they hold the guitar and how they keep their body and arm postures. Most online tutorial and guitar lesson resources should be able to cover these very well. After mastering the infamous chord chart by memorizing and learning most of the guitar chords, you are now ready to play songs for beginners on your guitar. So long as you have the proper instructions and resources, you will be able to move from zero to few songs. Playing the guitar is not different with any other skills. Determination and proper motivation from your resources or tutorials can keep you going from one point to another, from beginning to mastery. The more you practice and the more time you put into it, the better you will become. It’s expected for you as a beginner to commit many mistakes in the course of your lessons, but don’t let these frustrate you. Instead take these as challenges and do your best in order to improve.