Guitar Adjustment (Get All The Right Advice In One Spot)

Guitar Adjustment Made Easy

In this article we will be going over the best ways to make guitar adjustments. Guitar adjustment is an important part of playing guitar. "It is kind of like the untold secret." If your guitar adjustment is not correct you will have a hard time playing and learning guitar comfortably. In fact it will actually set off the sound pitch of your guitar.

Guitar adjustment is a very important part of playing guitar. Do Not Over Look It!

All guitar adjustment instructions should be done in the order of which they are laid out on this page. If guitar adjustment is done in any other order you may spend a lot of time repeating earlier steps.

Guitar adjustment takes time so please do not get in a hurry when doing these guitar adjustments.

So let's get down to it. This guitar adjustment article will cover Fret board conditioning, Bridge Adjustment, Truss rod adjustment, Pick up adjustment, Intonation and Fret Buzz.

Guitar Adjustment - Fret Board Conditioning

How do you know if your fret board needs to be conditioned? If your frets are not shiny, or if you see an oil build up happening, or discoloring on the wood itself it is time to clean and condition your fret board.

You will need to find a guitar friendly fret board conditioner. There is one guitar conditioner that many guitar players use, called Guitar Honey by Gerlitz. Conditioning the fret board can have a great impact on your guitar. It will make it look and feel better as well as make it easier for you to move around on the neck of the guitar.

Step 1. Remove your guitar strings.

Step 2. Apply Your Favorite Fret board conditioner.

Step 3. Wipe down the fret board making sure to go the same direction as the frets on the fret board and re-apply if necessary. You may want to use a soft tooth-brush for the tight spots by the frets.

Step 4. Install new strings or use rubbing alcohol to clean the strings.

Step 5. Install strings and tune.

Do Not use rubbing alcohol on the fret board of your guitar it will take the finish off over time.

Guitar Adjustment - Bridge Adjustment

How do you know if your bridge height adjustment is wrong? If it is hard for you to push down on the string and change notes your guitar bridge maybe out of adjustment. Or if the strings buzz no matter what area you play in.

Please keep in mind that you will want to use the measurement below only to get the adjustment close. You will want to adjust your bridge to fit your playing style and comfort.

To do this you will need to get a gaping tool that measures 3/64 of an inch and an appropriate Allen wrench.

Step1. Starting at the high E string and working your way up to the low E string. Measure this gap at the 12th fret open string. If the gap is to high loosen or drop the highest of your bridge. If the height is to low you will want to tighten or raise the bridge using the adjustment screws.

Step 2. Once You get the adjustments right with the gaping tool you will want to re-tune your guitar and try it out. If it seems like the strings are still to high then you can adjust them to suit your playing style.

Guitar Adjustment - Truss Rod Adjustment

What is a truss rod? If you look up by the head of your guitar right in front of the string nut there is a hole with a bolt in it. Note: Some guitars truss rod adjustment are located on the other end of the neck by the pickups. To make guitar adjustment to the truss rod if it is located on the pick up side of the neck you will need to remove the pick guard on most guitars.

Why Does your guitar Have A Truss Rod? The truss rod on your guitar is their to adjust the bow or Ark in the neck. Your guitar neck should never be completely flat unless your playing with nylon strings. You want your guitar neck to have a little bit of a bow in it to allow for string clearance.

Step 1a. So how do you know if the truss rod on your guitar is out of adjustment? You should be able to hold your finger on the 6th fret of the low E string and play the note without any buzzing sound. If it buzzes this is an indicator that your truss rod is most likely to tight.

Step 1b. Another Great way to test if the truss rod on your guitar needs adjustment is to hold your left hand index finger on the 1st fret of the low E string and your right hand pinky on the highest fret of the neck. Then tap on the 12th fret with the index finger of your right hand. If you hear a buzzing sound that most likely means that the truss rod is to lose.

Ok, so at this point we have a good idea of what the truss rod and neck are doing. So now if your neck is fine you are done. But if either one of the steps above resulted in a buzzing sound then it is time to get the tools out and do some adjusting.

Step 2. tools you may need will include a small Philips screw driver "To remove the truss rod cover" if there is one. An Allen wrench "For fender guitars there are 2 common sizes 3/16 And 3/32 and for Gibson it will be a 5/16.

If the Truss rod adjustment is at the top of the neck and has a cove the first thing to do is remove the cover. Then insert the Allen wrench and either tighten or loosen.

Step 3. When you put your finger on the six fret it buzzed then you would want to loosen it (counter-clockwise). If the guitar made a buzzing sound when you put your finger on the first and last fret then tapped the 12th fret, then the truss rod is to loose. You will need to tighten it (clockwise).

Please always remember you only want to turn the Allen wrench 1/8 of a turn each time. Then re-check the adjustment by using the steps above (Step 1b.).

Step 4. So how do you know if it is right? You should be able to put your index finger on the 1st fret of the E string and your other index finger on the highest fret on the E string. Now you will want to look at the gap or distance between the string and the metal fret at the 6th fret. There you want to see a small gap about 1/64 of a inch or less. You may need to adjust and check several times.

If truss rod does not move Take it to the pros and have them free it up for you.

If you are having problems with the adjustment or it seems like it is so close but you can get it right on you will be better off letting the guitar sit over night and allow the neck to acclimate, then give it another try.

Keep in mind it does take time to get things adjusted right.

Guitar Adjustment - Pickup Adjustment

After you make all the necessary guitar adjustments above you will need to check that your pickups are still adjusted right. If your pickups are to far away from the strings you will not get a very powerful sound. Although if your pickups are to close to the string the magnetic field from the pickups will give off a distorted sound and destroy sustain.

To make these adjustments you will need to hold the string down on the highest fret and check the clearance between the string and the pickup.

For Fender Guitars Adjustment follow the gaping table below.

Pickup Height

Texas specials

Bass side: 8/64"

Treble Side: 6/64"

Vintage Style

Bass Side: 6/64"

Treble Side: 5/64"

Amer/Mex Std

Bass Side: 5/64"

Treble Side: 4/64"

Lace Sensors: As close as desired, allowing for string vibration

For Gibson Guitar Adjustment follow the gaping table below.

Neck Pickup: 3/32" on bass and treble side

Bridge Pickup: 1/16" on bass and treble side

You will want to use a gaping tool to get this close and then adjust it to your personal playing style. If there is too much low end when you strum a chord then you will need to lower the pick up on the top or low E string side. If there is too much treble then you will need to do the same on the bottom end of the guitar or the high e string side.

The guitar adjustment above can be done with a simple Philips screw driver in most cases.

Guitar Adjustment - Intonation

What is intonation? Is making sure that the guitar is in tune with its self. If you tune your guitar perfect and then play a chord it should still sound in tune. But if it sounds like it is out of tune or some of the notes sound sharp or flat then you know you have an intonation adjustment problem.

Tools needed to adjust intonation. Guitar Tuner and screw driver or what ever tool is used for your guitar.

Step 1. Play a harmonic note at the 12th fret on the e-string and check it on the tuner. Then you should be able to play the note of the 12 fret and check it on the tuner. If these two notes show the same on the tuner then the intonation is correct.

If one is higher or lower than the other on the tuner then you will need to make an adjustment.

Step 2. Tune the string using the harmonic.

Step 3. Play the fretted note now and check it on the tune if the fretted note is higher or sharp then you will need to tighten or bring the saddle back away from the pickup. Make only very small adjustment each time.

Step 4. If fretted note is lower you will need to loosen or bring the saddle adjustment toward the pickups. Make only very small adjustments each time.

Step 5. Re-tune open string then repeat step 2 -4.

Step 6. Make sure harmonic note is the same pitch as fretted note, them move on to the next string.

When you are done with intonation guitar adjustment your guitar should sound a lot better. You will want to check what you just did by playing a full chord like E major or G major. If guitar sounds good then you are done if not you will have to keep working with it to get it right.

Just remember that guitar adjustments like this are very important and take time. So please do not get in a hurry when making your guitar adjustments.

Guitar Adjustment - Tips

When making any of the guitar adjustment above always work in a well-lit area and Use the correct tools.

Also be sure that you take your time on the guitar adjustment steps above. If you don't it could result in damage to your guitar. (Such as scratches or broken strings)

Best of luck and have fun playing and I will see you in the next article.

Learn How To Play Guitar

Advice For Beginning Guitar Players - A 10 Article Primer

Greetings fellow aspiring guitar players everywhere! I am an amateur guitar player. Over the years I have developed a great love for this amazing instrument. I decided it would be fun to write a series of articles targeted towards the beginner guitar player or the person who is thinking about taking up the guitar as a hobby.

I put together a 10 part series of articles that might help those that are interested in pursuing the guitar, or who are just in the beginning stages of playing. Hopefully you'll get something out of the series that will be helpful to you as you begin this fulfilling journey of creating beautiful music with your guitar.

How To Choose A Good Guitar (Part 1)

Picking out your guitar can be a fun experience, especially if you have the money to buy the one you want. You may not even know what kind of guitar you want or what kind of music you'll end up playing. You may also wonder if you'll play it enough to make it worth spending so much money.

Actually there are some good, relatively cheap guitars out there that will provide you with many hours of playing pleasure. They also won't break your pocketbook.

Here are some important things to keep in mind when you're shopping for a new guitar.

Electric or Acoustic?

It is generally recommended that beginning guitarists buy an acoustic first. The main reason for this is that it's harder than you think to get an electric guitar to sound good. Another reason you may not want to start with an electric guitar is, you'll also need to buy effects and an amplifier, and that can get very expensive.

If you're starting out and you're not sure what you will be playing, don't spend big dollars on a guitar at first. When you buy an acoustic guitar there's no need for all the extras. What will concern you is finding a guitar that feels and sounds good. Once you've been playing awhile, you'll know a lot more about what you want and then you can choose more wisely.

Cheaper Isn't Always Better

Here's the bottom line. Just because you don't have a whole lot of money to blow on atop of the line guitar, doesn't mean that you should get the cheapest thing either!

If the guitar that you buy doesn't feel good or sound good to you, you won't want to play it. I'll

say it again, don't buy the cheapest guitar. In fact, a badly made, cheap guitar is no fun to play. If your guitar sounds bad, chances are you're likely to put it down and never pick it up again.

The good news is, there are lots of good, inexpensive guitars out there. What I mean by inexpensive is anywhere between $99.00 and $300.00. If you look around and are patient, you will find a guitar in this price range that's a pleasure to play.

Play Everything

The best way to find out what features and feel you like in a guitar, play as many as you can. Play your friends guitar. Go to all the guitar shops and play everything there. Take notes. There are a lot of factors to consider.

Don't be swayed by popular brand names. Just because a guitar has a name you've heard of on it doesn't mean it's a good guitar. It also doesn't mean its right for you. It's best not to go shopping with preconceived notions about which guitars are "the best." Every individual guitar is different. Every manufacturer turns out the occasional dud -- and the occasional gem. Don't be a snob and refuse to look at unknown brands. You might miss out on something special.

What is it made of? Some cheap guitars have tops made of plywood. You don't want that, because over the years the guitar will pull itself apart. (It also won't sound very good, since plywood isn't known for its fine resonant qualities.) For acoustic guitars, a spruce or cedar top is ideal. Most acoustics you see will use one of these two for the top. As long as it's real wood, though, if you like the sound, it's probably fine. The back, sides, and neck can be just about any solid wood; mahogany and curly maple are both popular and attractive.

The fretboard is usually either rosewood or ebony. (Fender Guitars puts lacquered maple fretboards on many of its models, which seem to hold up well.) Ebony is preferable, because it's extremely hard and won't wear as easily, but rosewood is perfectly fine. If the fretboard has been painted or stained, it's probably bad news.

Is it well-made? Look carefully. The frets should be even, and none of them should stick out more than the others. Many acoustic guitars have binding around the edges of the body. That's a good sign, but it isn't strictly necessary. Run your hands all around the edges of the body. If it feels like the wood doesn't quite meet properly in some places, don't buy that guitar. Hold the guitar up and sight down the neck. The fretboard may be either flat or slightly curved side-to-side, but if it doesn't look even, the neck may be twisted or warped. (This is something you're more likely to find in used guitars than new ones.) From the side, the neck should look straight. The tuning machines should work smoothly.

Does it feel good? This is the most important consideration. It's even more important than the guitar's sound

Is the neck a comfortable width? Different guitars have necks of varying widths. Classical guitars have very wide necks. Electric guitars usually have narrow necks. Most steel-string guitars' necks are somewhere in between. If you have thick fingers, a wider neck will make it easier for you to play. If you have small hands, a narrow neck is more comfortable.

Are the strings at a comfortable height from the frets? This is called action. Most people prefer a guitar with "low action," meaning the strings are relatively close to the frets. Low action makes a guitar easier to play.

Is the body a comfortable size? This is something a lot of people overlook. Most steel-string acoustic guitars have what's called dreadnought style bodies. These are big guitars, and if you're a small person they can be quite uncomfortable to play. When you sit down with the guitar in a normal playing position, you should be able to reach the sound hole easily, without having to stretch. If it's even a little uncomfortable, it will affect your playing. People play best when they're relaxed and comfortable. If the dreadnought body is a problem for you, consider a smaller guitar.

Does it sound good? Have someone else (a salesperson or a friend) play the guitar for you. Just because it sounds good to you when you play it doesn't mean it will sound good to your audience. What "sounds good" means is subjective, of course. If you like the sound, it sounds good.

What else do you need?

o A case. A flight case or hardshell case is best. Cardboard cases and nylon gig bags don't provide nearly as much protection.

o A strap. Pretty much any strap will do, but it's a good idea to buy a strap lock at the same time.

o Something to tune with. Since you're just starting out, a pitch pipe or electronic tuner will make things easier for you.

o Strings. The strings that are on the guitar when you buy it have been on it too long already. You need to change them. To start out, (for electric or steel string guitars) buy "light gauge." They're reasonably easy to play, but aren't so thin you'll break them right away.

o Picks. Buy a lot. You're going to lose them. To start out, get an assortment of sizes, shapes, and thicknesses, and try them all. Decide what works best for you.

In the next article, we'll discuss the basics of learning the guitar.

Eric Jacobson lives and plays his guitar with his wife and 4 kids in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. He is passionate about sharing his love for the guitar, and is always on the lookout for good programs and learning systems for beginning guitarists. He reviews some of the better programs he has found that teach good fundamentals and are easy to follow.

You can find out more at his blog here: [http://youtoocanplaylikeapro.blogspot.com/]

How To Buy A Guitar - Advice for Beginners

Every year thousands of people get guitars with the hopes of learning to play. But truthfully, not all guitars are suitable to learn on. If you are serious about learning to play yourself or if you’re buying the guitar for someone else to learn on, the following information is what you must know to properly select a guitar.

Playability

The most important aspect of any guitar is that it must have a good playable action. What this means is, the strings must be close to the fretboard to make them easy to press. When the strings are too high the person attempting to learn to play usually quits in frustration. They find it too hard. The saddest part is they think that it is something wrong with them. As a sales consultant at a music store I've heard so many adults say, “Yeah, I tried to learn when I was a kid, but I just couldn't do it.” I then put my right hand fingers under the strings at the sound hole and lift the strings away from the fretboard. I’d say to them, “I'd bet the strings were up like this.” They almost always say, “Yes!” I am emphasizing the playability of the guitar so strongly because strings that are too high is the #1 reason why a person quits.

A Simple Test for String Height

The quickest and easiest way to check for the proper string height is to stack two quarters (25¢) and place them under the 1st string (the thinnest string) at the 12th fret (two dots). Ideally the distance should be the equivalent spacing of 1½ quarters. Two quarters that just fit without lifting up the strings is the maximum acceptable height. Anything above this is too high.

Tuning

The next thing that is crucial is getting the guitar in tune and it playing in tune. A clear indicator of cheap tuners is seeing the tuning gear exposed. Better quality tuners are die-cast which are completely encased. Also, if the strings are too high at the nut (near the guitar tuners), the guitar will sound out of tune even when it is played properly. This is common when the guitar is very inexpensive.

Should You Buy Acoustic or Electric?

When it comes to purchasing a guitar, you have two immediate choices; whether to buy an acoustic guitar or an electric. They may look somewhat different, but the finger positions for chording, picking and strumming are identical. If you can play an acoustic then you can play an electric and vice versa. It is identical in the way that if you can drive a car you can drive a van. The differences are in the body of the guitar.

An acoustic guitar has a hollow body and doesn’t need an amplifier. The topboard if it is laminated (plywood) must have each layer made of solid strips of wood. The “toy store” variety has particle board for the middle layer. This does not provide the proper support for the strings so in no time the strings will become too high and the guitar will become unplayable.

Electric guitars normally have a body that should be solid wood. Electric guitars are designed to be used with an amplifier.

There are people who will tell you that it is better to learn on an acoustic guitar first. This is simply not true. You can begin on either one. If a person wants an electric, buy an electric. If they prefer an acoustic, buy an acoustic. If a person “loves” their guitar they will practice more.

Guitar Sizes and Finishes

When you select a guitar there are a few different sizes to choose from. A three-quarter size acoustic has a smaller body so it is ideal for younger people ages 8 - 12. The folk or parlor size is an adult guitar that is marginally smaller than a full size and is well suited for young teenagers and preferred by many women. The full size dreadnought is comfortable for anyone who is an adult or young people who are adult size.

At the entry level stage of beginning to play the guitar, the woods and finish of the guitar are the least important providing they meet the previous criteria. Of course, I wouldn’t buy a guitar that I didn’t like the sound or the look of but that determination only comes after the playability and tuneability have been assessed.

Where to Buy a Guitar

If you truly want to learn to play the guitar, your best bet is to buy from a music store. They are staffed with musicians who are qualified to help you select a good beginners instrument. They know what you’ll need to get started.

If you are buying a used guitar from a second-hand store, pawn shop or privately, it would be to your benefit to take a guitar-playing friend with you to access the guitar. If your friend has even a couple of years of playing experience, they will know if the guitar has a playable action, if the guitar tuning heads seem to be working fine and if the guitars "nut" and "bridge" are OK. Their experience will tell them if the guitar is generally OK.

How Much Should You Pay

You would be wise to purchase a guitar from a company who makes guitars that are used by professional musicians. These companies know what a beginner needs for an instrument in order to succeed.

For a good quality beginner guitar the retail price is generally between $175.00 and $375.00. In that price range you'll get a playable guitar action as well as all of the other necessary components. Naturally the closer to $375.00 the better the guitar will sound. Guitars above the $375.00 range are entering the intermediate level and are not necessary at this point. As well, you can get complete electric guitar packages (guitar, amp and accessories) within this price range.

For buying used, the rule of thumb is to pay around half of the guitar's new retail purchase price. This includes everything. The guitar, the case, the strap and the tuner etc.

Buy the best instrument your budget can afford. Select the kind of instrument the person learning wants to play and get some good instruction.

Buy a Guitar Tuner

It is important that your guitar is in tune. Tuning is a process that is learned. Nobody automatically knows how to tune a guitar. Fortunately, there is a small battery operated device called a “guitar tuner” which by picking a string and watching the meter you’ll get your guitar in tune easily and quickly. They are relatively inexpensive, starting at around $20.00. Remember that even professional musicians sound lousy out of tune. Using a tuner and always being in tune helps to train your ear and you will sound better.

Conclusion and More Help

Guitar is a great instrument. You can learn a few chords and have a lifetime of fun or you can spend your lifetime becoming a master.

At the website [http://www.5-easy-guitar-lessons.com/guitar-how-to-get-started.html], there is access to various pages and other information for beginning guitarist. Pamphlet #2 will give you the chords you need to know to get started and Pamphlet #3 tells you how to take care of your guitar.

Go ahead, get started and have fun.

Brian Hawthorn has been a professional musician for more than 35 years. He has also taught hundreds of people to play the guitar, some of whom have become professional musicians and teachers themselves. Brian is also a sales consultant for a music store chain in Eastern Canada. His focus is on helping beginners get a solid start at learning to play the guitar. He has written guitar books for beginners such as: "Guitar - How to Get Started - 5 Easy Lessons" which is found at http://www.5-easy-guitar-lessons.com and "The Easiest Way Guitar Method" at http://www.easiestwayguitar.com