Strings n Things Music Group Trearddur Bay

Tips

Guitar

Here are some good resources for the guitar

1. Guitar Chord Chart Basic Here 2. Guitar Chords Advanced Here 3. Fretboard - Notes on the fretboard Ukulele

Here are some good resources for the Ukulele

1. Complete Beginner Lessons by Phil Doleman - Phil Doleman's "Complete Beginners Ukulele" tutorials are free on YouTube, assume no previous knowledge and include hints and tips across 5 carefully structured lessons. Each lesson is no more than 20 minutes (some a lot less) and they introduce a variety of techniques, chords, strumming as well as tuning, posture and sample songs. Just let Phil guide you through. 2. Here’s a simple printable Ukulele Chord chart. 3. Here’s a Comprehsive Chord chart 4. Chords4Ukes is a free iOS app that is a quick reference for chord shapes and alternates. Harmonica

Here are some good resources for the Harmonica

1. The LeeOskar-Quick Start-Booklet

Jamming Etiquette

One of the best ways to improve your musical skills and boost your stage confidence is to play in a group or ‘Jamming’. If you’ve never joined a jam session before, it’s easy to feel like you’re either not ready or not “good enough” (or both!), however, anyone with an instrument can jam. Here are a few tips to ensure your first jam session is a fun and rewarding experience. 1. Enjoy the experience - It’s got to be fun for everyone. 2. Let the song leader lead - Relax and follow the song leader to wherever he or she wishes, even if it means changing the tunes and lyrics. The whole point of a jam session is to experiment and have fun. 3. Leading a song - When leading, try and make sure everyone knows the name and key of the song that you are doing and that everyone is ready. If the song is new to the group try to distribute copies of the song, so that others can join in. 4. Respect others while jamming - Encourage others, Jamming isn’t about showing off or competing for that #1 spot. Rather, it’s about nurturing and supporting each other. Respect people during their playing, singing and solos. 5. It’s OK to not play in every song - There will be songs you don’t know or like. Instead of judging others’ taste, take a break. Sing along, drink some water, tune your instrument, and just enjoy watching others play. 6. It’s ok to skip or substitute chord - Sometimes chord changes can be too fast, In these case just skip a chord or two. With chord substitution, if (for example) you find F7 or Gm too difficult, play the route chord i.e. ‘F ‘or ‘G’. instead. In general, jam songs consist of just 3 or 4 chords, which is perfect for beginners. Avoid selecting songs with too many chords that no one knows. 7. Listen as much as you play - Jamming requires teamwork. It’s essential to make others sound better, not just yourself. You will learn to appreciate others’ playing and learn a few things from listening to different sounds that don’t come from your instrument. 8. Welcome mistakes - In many ways, jamming is about trial and error. It should be a positive experience rather than a grudging one. Try not to beat yourself up if you hit a few wrong notes. A jam session is the perfect place to make mistakes – you should become comfortable with them. Moreover, most of the time, nobody will realise your error. 9. Set goals for the next jam session - After your first jam session, it’s a good idea to start preparing for your second one. The key is to identify any gaps that need to be bridged. Was there a tune you couldn’t play? Learn it. Was your playing too fast or too slow? Adjust your tempo. 10. Amplifiers - There is nothing worse than amplifier overload or competing amplifiers, particularly with acoustic sessions or in small rooms. Always check with the jam leader before taking an amplifier to a session. 11. Playing Percussion - If you play Maracas, Tambourine or any other percussion instrument it’s essential to keep in time with the basic beat of the song, i.e., listen to the main drum. Jamming is one of the best ways to enhance your playing skills and create a bond between other members. We hope that your first jamming experience with us will be a fun and fulfilling one!

Practice, Practice, Practice

Here are some tips to help you practice and play better: Make practice time a priority Practice every day. Allocate at least 45 minutes. Multiple sessions work well too Always tune your instrument before practice Make it fun and a little bit challenging Don’t focus on strumming patterns. Rhythm is key Keep nails short on the fretting hand thus, making chords easier to form A light touch on the fretboard i.e., use the minimum pressure to obtain a clear note Try to play songs you really like. Practice with friends Use repetition a lot Play a tricky piece slowly at first then speed up over time If a piece is too difficult, leave it and come back to it later Be patient with yourself, e.g, learning to play a new chords can take several weeks.