PlayZmith's Top 10 Articles of 2016

In year 2016, PlayZmith has published articles on a wide range of topics in guitar learning, including guitar lessons and learning tips mainly for beginners, musical knowledge of scales and chords, as well as guitar gear and accessories. In fact, each of them has received different ratings by the public and here are the top 10 articles with the greatest number of reach.

10. Make Progress on Guitar as You Wish

Do you find your guitar playing process dull and frustrating, simply because you have been making a slow progress most of the time? If this is the case, click here>> Make Progress on Guitar as You Wish to figure out the key to effective guitar practicing—to play the guitar both physically and mentally. Have fun making progress on guitar as you wish!

9. 8 Essential Open Chords for Beginners

What are the 8 open chords that every beginner should know? The answer is C, A, G, E, D, Am, Em and Dm. In fact, even with only 4 of them—G, C, D, and Em, you can already play great music. Click here>> 8 Essential Open Chords for Beginners to view You’re Beautiful by James Blunt as demo (tips for chord playing included!).

8. 5 Essential Strumming Patterns – Pop Music

Soon after acquiring the 8 essential open chords, that accompanying on guitar is only a little way off. Let’s first build up tempo and rhythm with the chords you’ve learnt! Click here>> 5 Essential Strumming Patterns – Pop Music to learn the 5 patterns commonly used in 4/4 pop songs.

7. 4 Ways to Play Happy Birthday on Guitar (Part 1)

What’s the best birthday present ever? It must have been the birthday song played on guitar! Click here>> 4 Ways to Play Happy Birthday on Guitar (Part 1) to check out the ways to play the song on your own or together with your friends.

6. 10 Ways Fighting Finger Pain Battle

Many beginners suffer from finger soreness when they first learn to play the guitar. Along with toughening up your fingertips, click here>> 10 Ways Fighting Finger Pain Battle to try out the tips for dealing with sore fingers.

5. Finger Workout: Major Scale in Groups of 4

What do incredible lead guitarists do to create ear-catching melodic lines or licks? One way to do so will be making use of the ideas from the finger workout introduced in this article. Click here>> Finger Workout: Major Scale in Groups of 4 to have a look at the 3 ways to sequence major scale in 4’s (major scale patterns (box shapes) 2 & 4 included)!

4. Beginners: Electric vs. Acoustic - Which to Pick?

One of the most common questions in the guitar world is whether learning on an electric or acoustic is more suitable for beginners. We have compared the two in terms of musical features and level of difficulty, simplicity and price. Click here>> Beginners: Electric vs. Acoustic - Which to Pick? to find out how a beginner can be benefited from learning one than another.

3. 11 Ways to Practice WITHOUT a Guitar

Treasure the time you and your guitar spent together. Cool. But how about the time WITHOUT a guitar in hand? Here provides 11 suggestions to improve your playing without actually playing on the guitar. Click here>> 11 Ways to Practice WITHOUT a Guitar to start cherishing every moment in life from now on.

2. Top 10 Must Learn Guitar Scales (Part 1)

Undoubtedly, practicing scale helps to expand your all-round musical ability—it enables you to understand music, improves your hearing and allows you to create music in the long run. The real question is what scales you should learn first. It depends on the particular types of music that you play. Let’s say, minor pentatonic scale and blues scale are what you should master if you love to play blues music. How about the others—pop, rock, country, jazz, metal and Neoclassical Rock music? Click here>> Top 10 Must Learn Guitar Scales (Part 1) to find out what scales are most common for each genre.

1. Finger Stretching Exercise: 1-2-3-4 Permutations

Finger workout is perfect for developing dexterity and increase your speed. This article lists out 24 finger stretching sequences to be adopted in your regular workout. Click here>> Finger Stretching Exercise: 1-2-3-4 Permutations to find out.

Year 2016 has been a fruitful year thanks to your embracing and supporting us. In the year to come, we wish to continue in writing articles and posts that are in your best interest. Hope that you will have many pleasant experiences as a guitar player in 2017!