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The Guitar Effect

Riffmaster Pro

Riffmaster pro is very useful piece of software. It takes any mp3, WMA, and several other popular file formats and allows you alter the speed they are played at the pitch. Its very versatile, and will definitely help you out with your playing. Useful for finding that one note you just can't quite find, or making learning a lightning fast riff by ear manageable.

My personal favorite thing about Riffmaster Pro is the feature which lets you select individual parts of a song, slow that part down, and loop it. Its a great speed training tool, and I can't really think of any better way to really nail your favorite solos, other than finding really good tablature.

I wouldn't say this product is a must, at its $60 price tag, however it does come with some pretty good features, and right now its on sale for $47. My advice: act now, its got good features, its incredibly useful for ear training, and is great for anyone at any level of guitar playing, novice to expert. Another one of those products previous generations of guitarists would've killed for!

Features:

Slows down any song to a playable pace without changing the pitch

Loop specific phrases and sections of a song

Find the specific phrase you want to work on, down to the note

change the key of a song without changing the tempo

Rips music from any cd to mp3 format

Save slowed songs for training purposes

Strengths:
very versatile tool for increasing ability, great features, all around great product for ear training.

Weaknesses:
A bit pricey, wont necessarily help you with reading music, if thats a goal of yours, and although it has many awesome features, its really only useful for learning other people's songs.

Overall:
A good product with good features. I'd vouch for it. On a scale of 1-10 I give this product a 6.5
only because of its price and its somewhat limited capability as far as teaching the more technical side of guitar. That being said, it's still a good product not to be overlooked.

Read more about Riffmaster Pro click here.

Guitar Pro

This is probably the only product I will ever insist is crucial to any guitarist of any skill or experience level. It is the only time you'll ever see me say you "need" something. The software I'm talking about is Guitar Pro, and if you're interested in saving yourself quite literally years of learning time, get it now.

Guitar Pro is essentially a tablature program, but it will be vital for your learning, improving, or even perfecting your playing. I wont be so brazen as to say you can't learn guitar without it, but I will ask, "why would you want to?"

Using Guitar Pro, you can create your own music (its a great place to write) end even write and learn your own licks, download tabs to your favorite songs, and exercises to increase your skill. I cannot vouch for this product enough. If you can think it, you can probably do it with Guitar Pro.

Some of the features this product boasts are:


Tablature Editor

Scales Tools

Audio Playback

Digital Tuner

MIDI & ASCII Import/Export

Metronome

Chords Diagrams

Speed Trainer

Animated Guitar Fretboard

And really, thats just the tip of the iceberg.

Strengths:
Its proof that there is a God, and that God is a guitarist. Everything about this product is a strength.

Weaknesses:
Well....it doesn't practice for you...

Price: 49.95 is the ultimate deal.

Overall:
On a scale

If I had to give guitar pro a rating on a scale of 1-10, it'd be 11. Thats right, Guitar Pro Goes to 11. Get it now!

Guitar Pro

The Beginners Guide to Unlocking the Guitar

The Beginners Guide to Unlocking the Guitar is based around 8 simple steps, and is designed to both teach you the guitar and enhance where you’re already at in only 48 hours.

Using Muscle Memory Techniques, sound files, chord charts, pictures, and step-by-step instructions, the program helps build confidence and makes practicing fun and interesting. The lessons help with all aspects of playing, even including singing the songs you’ll be learning on guitar. What I really like about the product is how easily the practice methods and teaching style can be adapted to learn any genre of music. This program does more than just teach a plethora of top-100 songs like other products I’ve tried; it teaches techniques to actually improve your playing, and does so in a fun, easy to understand way. And it does so without getting too caught up in technical jargon that the average person can’t comprehend or follow.

The only real downside to the product is that it is aimed specifically at beginner to intermediate players. A more advanced player may benefit slightly from this product, but they’d probably do well to invest their time and money in a program that offered material a bit more advanced.

That being said, “The Beginners Guide to Unlocking the Guitar” is an awesome product for the aspiring guitarist and anyone looking for a little help breaking through some walls in their playing. The course makes the journey of guitar playing fun and exciting, and is definitely a worthy product.

Product features:

Muscle Memory training
“Press and Listen” sound files
Chord Charts
Over 150 pictures
Step by step instructions

Strengths:
Great for beginning/intermediate players
Easy to use and follow
Makes practicing fun and captivating

Weaknesses:
Might not be so good for more advanced players
Those looking for more technical information might not be fully satisfied

Overall:
This is a great product for following the dream of learning guitar. Will definitely help you on those first few steps to learning guitar, and will help take intermediate players to the next level.

Price: $49.95 is more than reasonable to ask for what you’re getting. I’ve seen products three times as expensive with about a third of the material.

Overall rating: on a scale of 1-10, I’d give this product an 8. Its definitely a worthwhile investment for the beginner or intermediate player, but may leave more advanced players with more to be desired.

To read more about “The Beginners Guide to Unlocking the Guitar”click here.

Learn the Guitar

Welcome to my new blog dedicated to learning to play the guitar. It's my goal to share with you my experience as a guitarist, and help you with whatever you may need to take your guitar playing to the next step.

Over the next few weeks and months, I'll be writing reviews on products designed to either teach you how to play the guitar, or improve your playing, as well a posting any articles relating to guitar that I find interesting or helpful in any way.

I'll rate any products based on their price, features, function, and ease of use. Each product will be given a total final score of 1-10; so check it out, and hopefully you'll find whatever you may need to get you started, or take you where you want to go!


Be sure to check back soon!

Best Wishes

Luke